TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 1001, 13 May 1909, Page 6

TURF TOPICS.

It is stated that at one pan of the journey in the Hack Hurdles at Hawke’s Bay, won by North Head, the son of Birkenhead was fully twenty lengths in front. Delaney then took hold of him and won pulling up by about five lengths. * * * * At the Ashburton Racing Club’s Meeting yesterday, the principal event the Ashburton Cup was won by Dabchick, with Field Gun second and Gwendolina third. The mile and aquarter was negotiated in 2.12 2-5. * * * * Lady Lucy who annexed the Hawera Cup yesterday is a-3 year-old daughter of Seaton Delaval—-Hilda. Lady Lucy only started once last season when she finished unplaced in the Hastings Stakes won by Gravitation. A" * Sit * Maharanui who ran second in the Tongahoe Hurdles at Egmont yesterday won the Cup at the same meeting last year. * * ♦ * The double, Waipu and Audax was backed for a fair amount on Tuesday. Waipu is now one of the selections for the G.N. Hurdles. * + * * Maharanui who made his first appearance over hurdles at Egmont yesterday, filled the role of runner up to Somali who was in receipt of 101 b. The performance of Maharanui must be accounted highly satisfactory. •F y *F At the Magistrates Court on Friday, Wm. Wilson and Thomas Costello, who were represented by Dr. Bamford, pleaded, guilty to tote betting on the Ellerslie racecourse. In view ol the fact that the offence was a first one, and Wilson had lost his work through it, the Bench only inflicted a fine of £3 and costs on each accused. * * * * Frank Brown and W. H. Chamberlain pleaded not guilty to a similar offence on April 13, but on the information being amended to the 12th, they pleaded guilty. Dr. Bamford said the men had a clean record, and had been betting in small amounts. Fines of £3 and costs were inflicted. * * * * In North Head tne Hon. J. D. Ormond has one of the most promising hurdlers seen out for some years, and had he been reserved for either the Great Northern or Grand National Hurdles he would have been a rod in pickle for same, says a Hawke’s Bay writer.

Both Maharanui and Tui Cakobau, who are aspirants to jumping honours this season, finished first and second respectively in the York Welter at the Great Northern meeting last year.

The much-boomed North Head has been supported for the G.N. Hurdles with almost everything thought to have a winning chance in the Steeplechase. North Head’s only appearance so far over the sticks was at Hawke’s Bay, when he won the Hack Hurdles, one mile and three-quarters, as he liked in 3.18 2-5. When Master Soult defeated Husbandman and Whistlecraft in the St. Leger at Wellington, it took 3.17 to cover the same distance. Of course the going was heavy, and Master Soult cantered in, but nevertheless he did not have to carry 10.5 and jump hurdles, as did North Head.

First horseman: “Pulling, is he? Why don’t you try riding him on the curb?” Second horseman: “Ride him on the curb! Good ’eavens! 1 can’t scarcely ride ’im in the middle of the road.”

Waipuna paid a very substantial dividend when the son of Soult won the Elder Stakes at the South Australian Jockey Club’s meeting. Waipuna’s victory is said to have come as a surprise even to his connections.

Maharanui, who figures in the Great Northern Hurdles with 9.2, won the York Welter at the same meeting last year.

Eighty-three applications have been received for nominations in the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s First Futurity Stakes. From the list there should be a good field of two-year-olds when the race takes place next autumn.

R. Hatch, the successful lightweight, had previous to last week ridden 73 winners this season.

Acceptances for all events to be decided on the opening day of the Takapuna Club close to-morrow (Friday) at 9 p.m.

Mr. Buick, M.P., over a glass of sparkling beverage at the conclusion of the Hawke’s Bay Cup, stated that he purchased Tangimoana in the Hawke’s Bay district for £5O, but he hoped on some future occasion to win the cup at Hastings with one of his own breeding.

The well-known trainer Alf Shearsby, it is stated, contemplates severing his connection as private trainer to “ Mr. Highden,” and at the end of the present month will act in a public capacity.

Says an Australian writer: The bitterness of it! Rank outsider, Hyman (Doncaster) and Haco (Flying Handicap), to whom in each instance redhot favourite Irishman ran second, were each bred by the latter’s present owner, ana all three are by the same sire.

A. A. Norris, the Sydney pony horseman, has ridden 105 winners, 73 seconds, and 79 thirds at meetings of the Sydney Associated Racing Clubs since May 1, 1907.

me surprise of the Manawatu Meeting was the success of Brilliancy in the Hack Flying on the second day. He is an Auckland-bred norse, by Hotchkiss —Golden Shine, and is trained by H. Telford at Awapuni.

rrom India comes word that Peru fe doing well, while the report as to Apologue being unlikely to race again receives further confirmation.

The New Zealand gelding Wharekura is recovering from the injury he received when he fell in the Hurdle Race at Randwick.

Rumour says that the owner of All Red has again been tempted to part with this sterling horse, this time from Victoria, but he refused to entertain any offer.

Reports from Melbourne state that during the next session of the Victorian Parliament a strong effort will be made to have the totalisator legalised in that State.

Mr. S. Nettlefold, who is interested in Pink ’Un and other horses in D. J. Price’s stable, left Melbourne recently on a trip to England, where ue expects to purchase a few racehorses to bring back with him.

Fo- Chronic Chest Complaint, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, Is 6d and 2s 6d.

Tumut, who won the Flying Handicap at the Marlborough meeting, was one of the outsiders of the race.

The best average for yearling thoroughbreds sold in England during 1908 is held by Carbine, with 1800 guineas for one, and then comes Persimmon, whose five offspring produced an average of 1566 guineas.

Despite the strict supervision exercised by the authorities, there is reason to believe that a large trade in “ ringers” is still being done in New Zealand. If the information that has reached me is correct, and I have great faith in my informant, says “The Possible” in the Canterbury “Times, ’ there is at least one man in the dominion who is making a first-class income trading in “wrong ’uns.”

With his victory in the Jtiawke’s Bay Stakes, Provocation brought his racing career, with respect to the present season and his earnings total £2,585. As a two-year-old, Multiform won eignt races, and his winnings amounted to £2761.

The Merriwee gelding Tumut has so far this season won eleven races.

Even though the Canterbury Jockey Club insists on steeplechase jockeys wearing patent skull protectors, a writer in the Taranaki “ News ” thinks that some jockeys are sure to lose their heads as of yore.

During the present racing season J. Hall and W. Young have each ridden eleven hurdle winners, and C. Cochrane has ridden ten.

The fees earned by tnose jockeys whose services were in the greatest demand at the recent Avondale Meeting, were:- —J. Percival, £2B Ils. 6d.; x.. Deeley, £2B 2s. 6d.; McMillan, £25 3s. 6d.; C. Brown, £23 Ils.; P. Brady, £23 3s. 6d.; R. W. Brown, £2O 2s. 6d.; Greenwood, £lB 10s. 6d.; C. Cress, £l6 135.; Keenan, £l4 12s. 6d.; Killick, £l4 12s. 6d.; J. Brady, £l5 9s. 6d., and F. Speakman, £l3 13s.

An interesting phase of the result of the American anti-betting Acts of last year has come to light in New York. Since the Acts were passed, it is estimated that fully £lO,OOO a day is cabled to London for wagers on English events. America will soon be agitating for a new brand of “ protection to local bookmakers ’ if this continues.

There was a lot of money in Auckland for Twinkle in the Maiden Plate at Marlborough, which he won.