TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1034, 30 December 1909, Page 7

TURF TOPICS.

Auckland Racing Club’s Summer meeting opened on Monday. * * * • All Red wins the Cup, making two years in succession. *.* * * The four principal events decided in two days racing in Auckland annexed by visiting horses, viz.: Auckland Cup, All Red; Foal Stakes, Formby; Railway Handicap, Kilindini; Auckland Trotting Cup, Havoc. 4- * The sale of Glenora Park and Cambria Park yearlings, will take place at Papakura on January 4. * * ♦ * One of the easiest victories at Ellersiie, was gained by Golden Loop, in the Robinson Handicap. Over the last furlong he simply played with his field. * • a • While running in the Great Northern Trotting Handicap at Alexandra Park on Tuesday, John Harold fell his driver, (A. Mabee) being heavily thrown and receiving a nasty shaking. ♦ ♦ * Akarana pulled up very groggy at the finish of the Cup. « • « • In the Cup, Muskerry was the last to reach the post. .** * • During the running of the Robinson Handicap, Fuss fell, his rider (Chapman), escaping with a feW nasty bruises. 4 • « • War Song cut up badly in the Foal Stakes, but may do better before the meeting is through. Nearly every race at Ellerslie was started from 10 to 15 minutes late. ♦ * » Compass was withdrawn from the Cup and started in the Grafton Hurdles but he never looked like winning at any part of the journey. ♦ ♦ * * H. Gray rode three winners at Ellerslie on Monday, the horses to score under him being Wauchope, Golden Loop, and Antoinette. Grays’ other mounts were Elysian. First Gun and Tamainupo. » 4t ». Maheno put up a very attractive performance in the Christmas Handicap. At the head of the straight she was standing Tanekaha and Rauparaha up several lengths start and beat them easily at the finish. « * » * The running of Tattoo in the Trial Handicap was a severe blow to the touts who were of the opinion that he could not lose. If there is anything in track form we have not seen the real Tattoo this meeting. Kilwinning has gone very sore and was soon in trouble in the Christmas Handicap. In fact he was done with at the end of three furlongs. Elysian ran a good race in the Christmas Handicap and was galloping on at the finish. About 40 yards from the post he was on the outside but cut right in on the rails. Evidently Elysian in a race, and Elysian on the training track are two diferent horses. He is engaged ■in the Summer Cup to-day and may beat •both the top weights. * . * • • The stewards of the Auckland Trotting Club ordered Good Friday out of the race during the December Class Trot, it being considered he was galloping too much. A noticeable absentee from the saddle at the trots was W. Orange who did not have a ride during the opening day. Four favourites and three second favourites won on the opening day of the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting. Harold Rothschild, who won the Waitemata Trot, started one of the hottest favourites yet seen out at Alexandra Park. * ■* ♦ The attention of horseowners is directed to the programme of the Wanganui Jockey Clubs’ Autumn meeting, which appears elsewhere in this issue. The meeting takes place on March 3 and 5, the principal event being the Wanganui Cup of 675sovs. on the first dav. and the Jackson Stakes of 500sovs the second day. The other events are all well endowed with prize money, as a glance at the advertisement will show. Nominations for the whole of the events close on January 24.

loranz has 14sec. in the Summer Trot, to be run to-morrow. ♦ * Tne Tony Handicap on rriday will be four and a-half furlongs, and Mahinga has 10.12. She will have to hurry to give Cyrona a stone and five pounds. St. Swithin will be amongst the starters at Alexandra Paris on Friday. * The pony Mahinga was soon out in front in the Railway, but when the straight was reached she had shot her bolt. Hohungatahi has contracted a cold, and was withdrawn from tne Railway Handicap. * * * * A week before Boxing Day H. Gray was engaged to ride Aberbrothock and Hohungatahi in the Cup and Railway, but both, horses went wrong and had to be withdrawn. They were a very tired lot behind All Red and Advocate in the Cup after a mile and a-half had been covered. *»' * • One of the first horses beaten in the Cup was Taskmaster, but those who had noticed the Treadmill colt on the tracks were not surprised at his showing. ••■ • • The second day at Ellerslie takes place to-day. All interest will be centred in the meeting of All Red and Bobrikoff, who are weignted at 9.12 and 9.11 respectively. We have had evidence that All Red is in capital buckle, while Bobrikoff looks fit to run for a kingdom. •.• « • Individually backed, Kakama was the outsider of the field in the Railway Handicap.. She showed pienty of pace and finis.: ed a good third. Armlet ran very wide at the turn for home in the Railway Handicap, and had Hatch been able to keep the mare in towards the rails she may have won. '» * * « As usual, A. Julian rode the winner of the Grafton Hurdles, Dunborve being the one to score.

Danube received a bad bump at the five-furlong post in the roal Stakes, and was knocked right back last. He was galloping on well at the finish, and was within a couple of lengths of Formby passing the post. Downfall could not have had the best of a passage in the Cup, and when he returned to scale there was evidence of his being up against the rails. Pencillers report bad business, both at Ellerslie and Alexandra Park. Roosevelt was expected to run well in the Cup, but he never looked dan : gerous over the last mile. H, Gray rode Cyrona to victory in the Pony Cup at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting. • •' • ■ « Sir Antrim has evidently improved a good deal, as he scored a double a t Manawatu. * • * * St. Swthin, who scored a double at Wanganui, did not start at the trots on Tuesday. Papanui and Lady Lylian each trotted well in the Great Northern Handicap, but Robex beat them by more than his start, and is apparently at his best. x * Sir Prize, as usual, ran in the rear most of the way in the Cup, but finished well up in a tired field. » * In recognition of his success on Minoru in the Free Handicap at Newmarket, D. Maher was presented by King Edward with a jewelled scarfpin. « • « • Favourites on the first day of the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting fared as under:—Lady Wilhelmina, second; Harold Rothschild, first; Cyrona, first; xiavoc, first; miss Ngapara, third; Glenora, first; Papanui, second; Rita H., second. • * • • tloranz was very slow to begin in the Trotting Cup, but once she settled down she hit out in good style and ran a real good race, eventuany finishing third. Had she left the mark quickly she had a good chance of oeating Papanui for second money. Favourites on the first day at Ellerslie fared as follows:—Wauchope first, Danube second, Dunborve first, All Red first,' Golden Loon first, Lady Medallist nowhere, Apellrn ccnnd. Ki 1 - winninw nowhere.

' Hautapu died to nothing at the end of a mile and a-half in the Grafton Hurdles. *•< . • Aerina, who won both two-year-old races at Dunedin on Monday, was formerly owned by Mr. G. D. Greenwood, who sold her to Mr. J. Buckley. Just as the horses turned into the straight in the Nursery Handicap at Ellerslie a spectator named John McDougall, who was standing on the rails overbalanced and was knocked over by Solus. The unfortunate man was conveyed to the saddling paddock and after receiving medical attention was removed to the hospital. At latest advices he was doing well. The forward running of Sedition in the Auckland Cup was the surprise of the race. Those who were under the impression that the Papakura horse . woul not stay must be very quiet just now as his performance stamps him as a little above the ordinary. •.• * • Rita H., who finished tuird in the final event at Alexandra Park, left the impression that she would run better at the meeting. An English paper, in discussing the “American Racing Manual,” says that in a chapter devoted to “‘Remarkable Jockey Feats,” the coloured rider, James Lee, is credited with having established a world’s record on June 25, 1907, when he rode the winners of all the six races comprised in the programme at Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky. The writer adds that the only jockeys in England to ride as many winners on one day were George Fordham and Fred. Archer, and in America “Monk” Overton, but on each occasion there were more races. Thus there were seven, in all of which he rode, when the first-nam-ed scored half a dozen brackets in -’ne day at Stockbridge, and a similar number —in one of which he had no mount —when Archer won six at Lewes on August 5, 1882. “The Tinman,” as he was styled by his intimates, as during the period which elapsed between his first victory on Athol Daisy in 1870 and his last at Newmarket on Blanchland in 1886, he had the handling of the stupendous number of 2748 winners. As for the coloured rider. Overton, who flourished in the late eighties and early nineties, he won each of the six races in which he rode when there were seven st Washington Park on July 10, 1891. As manv as 44 American jockeys can boast the distinction of having ridden five winners on one. day, most notable of these being Walter Miller, who has accomplished the feat on four separate occasions, and V. Powers, who was twice successful in five rcces last year, each time at Port Erie in August.

The following are the chief partici pants in the stake distribution over the Manawatu meeting:—“ Mr. Highden” £989, J. Ames £5OO, W. H. Nicols £450, ,J. Symons £350, Sir George Clifford £244, J. Parson £2lO, J. N. Coleman £2lO, G. Morris £l9O, M. T. McGrath £175, E. J. Watt £l5O, A. Barclay £135, J. W. Lowe £l3O, W. J. Shannon £l3O, A. Hall £l2O, G. H. Miller £l2O, F. G. Roe £l2O, H. Hodge £lO5. The trustees of the late Mr. G. G. Stead receive £l5O as a result of Multiform’s two sons, Polymorphous and Multiple, running first and third in the Sires Produce Stakes.

D. Maher is riding as a freelance in England next year, and, according to a London exchange, this has caused a new clause to be inserted in the agreements made by certain stables with other jockeys for the coming season. The clause referred to stipulates that the jockey is only engaged for weights up to Bst 71b, it remaining at the discretion of the trainer whether another jockey may be substituted on occasions when a horse has to carry over that weight. This means that the stables concerned are prepared to employ Maher when opportunity offers, and Dillon is another jockey whose services will be availed of under similar conditions. Though a freelance in other respects, Maher has already contracted to ride Bayardo in all his engagements next year.

i>ayardo had a very easy win in the Liverpool St. Leger on November 10. He has finished his three-year-old career with eleven wins and two defeats. His stake earnings for this season total £24,797, and as he won ' 10s last season, his total to date is £37,835 10s.

It is understood that J. E. Pike, the crack Sydney light-weight jockey, will be on a holiday trip to New Zealand in January, and will apply for a license to enable him to ride at the Wellington (Tub’s summer meeting at Tr entham.

stratagem has been nominated for hurdle races in the South.

In the Palmerston ixortn Stakes it is said that Penates was standing Lord Soult up ten lengtns at the end of a fur.ong, and that had the pair got off the mark on even tefms the result would have been different.

An unusual accident happened in Tasmania recently. The jockey Crossin was riding a pony and leading Hospodar. He pulled up to light a cigarreite, and while doing so wound Hospodar’s rein round his wrist. The click of the match frightened Hospodar, who suddenly dragged Crossin off the pony, and, as the lad could not release the reins from his arm, it was a matter of going wherever Hospodar cared to take him. Crossin was bumped along, and when at last the tackle gave way the unfortunate fellow presented a pitiful appearance. He was bloodstained from head to foot, and, although no serious results are likely to follow, it was a most miraculous escape from death, or, at least, serious injury.

At Sydney Tattersail’s meeting yesterday the Carrington Stakes resulted as follows: —Metograph, i; Malt Mary, 2; Osmo, 3. There were 20 starters. In a good finish Metograph won by a neck. Time, Im. 13 3-ss.

Mistakes by jockeys are certainly not confined to Australia. The greatest “artists” are caught napping at times. “Itapier,” of the “Sporting and Dramatic News,” is a man who “has not ridden all his races in the grand-stand,” and his comments may be taken as reliable. He says: It is a long time since there was such a consistently good week’s sport at Newmarket —which means in England—as that which we saw last week, even marred, as it was, by a few untoward events. . . .Maher’s inexcusable failure on Symon’s Pride, who ought to have won Without any sort of difflcuity, was among the events to which reference is made. “If amateurs, in a race ior members of a club, had ridden as Maher did on Symon’s Pride, or as Wootton did on Queen’s Journal,” a friend remarked to me, “we should have heard it said what nonsense it was to let those sort of people make exhibitions of themselves, and should be told that racing was ridiculous without jockeys in the saddle.” The stricture was If Maher had come along from the distance he womd have won with perfect comfort. Apparently he disregarded Baron altogether, for she was rattling away on the rails, and there was no obvious reason why she should ‘ not continue so to rattle. It was not until too late to beat her that Maher called on his filly for a desperate effort, which started just too late, and must have taken a tremendous lot out of the unfortunate mare. It is such a finish as this that makes a horse hate racing. The Queen’s Journal fiasco opened Friday’s proceedings. Wootton went burrowing for the rails, in spite of the apparent impossibility of getting there. Tardily perceiving he pulled out, and came round his horses, getting level in a very few strides, and then, to all appearances, having the race well won; but, in , some mysterious way, he failed, and his younger brother finally beat him a head on Wiseacre. Nothing will ever convince me that F. Wootton should not have won.” Considering that he rides five days a week, often in every race, and is only 15 years of age, it is hardly to be expected that F. Wootton should always be at his best. He seems to have a great fancy for the inside place, even on straight courses.

In connection with trotting meetings in Auckland there is one subject upon which a good deal could be written. This is the late scratching of horses, a frequent occurrence at Alexandra Park and one hardly fair to the bookmakers doing business who pay their ten guineas with a good grace and expect to get a fair “go” for their money. To come to the point. At the Otahuhu meeting last month,, when the numbers were hoisted on the Class Trot John Harold was quickly installed a strong favourite, while a good price, was on offer about the other candidates. Then like a shower of rain money came for Scotia and what turned out to be a false price about his chance was obtained by the knowing ones. Then the pencillers received a rude shock when the word is whispered round that John Harold is not starting, notwithstanding that his number has been hoisted on the board in the first instance. Result, race won by Scotia, eventually the actual favourite. Now on Tuesday at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting when the starters were given out Francita was a hot favourite. Then the rrdr-

ey came for Glenora and those in the know received a price about ten points more than the actual starting price. The market favourite Francita is withdrawn and the pencillers are left with a bad book. Result: Glenora wins. Some people have the impression that this sort of thing is the work of the bookmakers, but the sooner they rid themselves of that impression the better as no one on the ground complains more than the man with the bag. It is certainly time something was done to remedy this sort of thing. ASCOT HEIGHT CLASS THOUSAND. The Ascot Racing Club, Melbourne, announces to-day that its neight Class Thousand Race (£1000) for next year will be run off in September, and only certificated ponies will be allowed to compete, the heights being 14 hands, 14.1 and 14.2. Certificates are good for the following periods from day of measuring, viz.: —Two-year-olds, six months; three-year-olds, nine months; four-year-olds, 12 months; five years and upwards, life. FUTURITY EVENT FOR TROTTERS AND PACERS. MELBOURNE TROTTING CLUB. Full particulars are advertised in the present issue regarding the Trotting Horse Sires’ Produce Stakes for foals of the season 1910, arranged by the Melbourne Trotting Club. Tne race, which will be for £SOO, is set down to be run off on the Richmond racecourse in July, 1913, and the necessary nominations are uue on the dates set forth in the advertisement. Sires are to be nominated on or before Sth May next, and mares on or before 14th July next. The race will be for trotters and pacers. The general manager of the club, Mr. J. Wren, adds a footnote to the advertisement to the effect that owners of stud trotters and pacers have in the past shown a wise discretion in the matter of submitting their nominations freely, having realised the great importance of these classic futurity contests for aristocratic youngsters. Failure to nominate, it is pointed out, may be taken as an indication of inferiority, and such admission must necessarily depress values of parents and offspring alike. The S.P. Stakes under notice is the last of the present series, and it is hoped by the management that a big response to the liberality of the club will be made by owners of good trotting stock.