TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1066, 11 August 1910, Page 5

TURF TOPICS.

C.J.C- Grand National Hurdles to be decided to-day.

Paritiitu is stated to be suffering from a cold.

Jt * JQt * The New Zealand ’chaser Wanganui has arrived at Caulfield.

Programme for the spring gathering of the Wanganui Jockey Club appears in this issue.

Te Arai, who won the Grand National Steeplechase on Tuesday, started favourite in the event last year, and finished third.

Racehorse owner: “ William, you are too heavy. You say you’re wearing your lightest suit, and haven’t tasted food all day; then, for heaven’s sake, go and have a shave.”

A t Wanganui A. Hall is still on the sick list, suffering with a rather bad attack of sciatica. During his incapacity his team is being looked after by J- Peachey.

Mr. A. F. Douglas has selected the name of Thrave for Carnelian’s three-year-old son by Torpedo. In the early days of Scottish history Thrave was the name given to one of the strongholds of the Black Douglas clan in the highlands of Scotland.

Ribble, who put up an Australian two-year-old record at the New South Wa'es Trotting Club’s meeting last month, by covering a mile in 2min 25 4-ssec, is by Ribbonwood, his, dam, Amiable, being by Tuxedo —Miss Harold, by Childe Harold. Ribble is a full brother to Ribbonwood Junior, who took a record of 2min 28% sec as a two-year-old.

The following are the nominations for seats on the New Zealand Trotting Association for the ensuing year: —North Island: Messrs. J. H- Pollock and C. F. Mark. South Island: Messrs. E. Clarkson, W- H. Denton, R. O. Duncan, W. G. Garrard, W. Hayward, C. S. Howell, A- L. Myers, H. F. Nicoll and P. Selig. The two North Island members are elected unopposed, but a ballot will be necessary to elect seven South Island members.

The Needlegun gelding Lord Irwell came to his end in a rather sensational manner at the Woodlands Hunt meeting. He was made a very hot favourite for the Hack Handicap. Hercock got him off the mark very smartly, and he was running level with two others in the lead as the field came round the bend- Here he stopped dead, and his rider dismounted. The gelding then fell, and an examination proved that his back was broken. After that the only thing left to do was to use a friendly bullet to end his sufferings.

Wet Day was withdrawn from the New Zealand Cup on Friday last.

The annual report of the Australian Jockey Club for the year just ended shows a ■profit of £11,340- The stakes distributed amounted to £58,682 and the added money £44,950. The added money to be given for the present year will be £50,850. while a further sum of £2OOO is provided for the Derby of 1911 and the Sires’ Produce Stakes of 1912-

Advices from Australia state that the New Zealand-bred horse Canteen has been sold for 90 guineas. Canteen, it will be remembered, won the New Zealand Cup in 1903, defeating those two great horses Wairiki and Achilles, and leaving the two miles behind in the record time of 3-27 l-o-He was then purchased by Sir Rupert Clarke for 3000 guineas and taken to Australia, but, like numerous other New Zealand Cup winners was a perfect disappointment, and never succeeded in winning a race afterwards.

Golden Mite, a New Zealand pony, by Gold Reef —Kilmore, starting an odds-on favourite, made short work of the opposition in the Fourteen-one Maiden Handicap at Victoria Park.

The New Zealander Motoa, who was shipped to Australia about twelve months ago, won the Valley Handicap at the Moonee Valley races on July 30. Motoa carried 9.0 and won the mile race comfortably. As a result of his showing he has received some attention for the Epsom Handicap at the hands of backers. * * * * The Australian Hurdle Race, decided on Saturday was won by Tundulya, who carried the mimimum and defeated Kulcurna by threequarters of a length in 6-44% —a record for the race. The winner wouldl probably c< rank as one of the 'biggest outsiders in the race, as no mention of his name can be found in the latest files £ to hand. * » ■ _ • . • One of the rich events of the Ascot • meeting, the Alexandra Plate, of 2,00 Usovs, provided a very disappointing race, as only half-a dozen horses turned out. Class was poorly repre‘■sented, moreover, and Mr. Nelke’s .Lagos, a five-year-old son of Santoi, covered the course—two miles, six furlongs, and 85 yards—in smin 4 ■ 2- s sec, and got home with plenty to • •spare. There was little excitement over the race, however, for three of the half-dozen runners failed to finish, ln these . including last year’s Cesare- ' witch winner, Submit, who broke down badly. The stakes at Ascot are certainly worth winning, these amounting to well over £40.0 00 for the four days’ meeting. « * ■' ; The annual report of the Victoria ... Racing Club shows a most prosperous year. The added money totalled £40.000 and the liquid assets amount ..to £45,000. Aborigine is the ruling favourite for the Epsom Hndicap, and Tra- .. falgar is at the head of the quotations ( . in the Melbourne Cup. * * * » Master Soult in charge of his . trainer, D- Moraghan, left for Sydney by the Wimmera on Monday. * * * * Mr. R. S. Abraham has been reelected president of the Manawatu Racing Club, without opposition. * * * . • For the time of the year Sandstream is said to be looking very well, he will be started at Marton. ♦ & 3F . sft The Waikato-trained Wauchope was out with the leaders for the greater part of the journey in the Winter Cup but when the last furlong was commenced he was done with and finished out of a place. * & * * Red McGregor made a poor showing in the Grand National Steeplechase on Tuesday and he and Loch Fyne, another Aucklander, were the last to finish. F- Macmanemin, who played such , a strong hand in the two-year-old events at Auckland last season, has five youngsters in work at Ellerslie to do battle for him in juvenile events this season. * * ♦ * A football match, North Island . Trainers and Jockeys v. South Island Trainers and Jockeys, was played at Riccarton Racecourse last week, and . resulted in a draw, each side scoring 8 points. A large crowd of people viewed the game- * * * * Judging by the dividend returned the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s filly, Dreadr less started favourite in the Winter Cup.. ' # . r Wimmera ran a good race in the Winter Cup, and the Great Northern Hurdle Race winner was close up : fourth as the post was reached. Mr. J. Lecky’s colt Mandarine, who went to Christchurch to compete at - the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Meeting, ran third off the Isec mark in the August Handicap won by Marie Narelle 12sec.

This list of horses who have met their deaths while competing in steeplechases this winter was added to at Riccarton on Tuesday when Audax owned by the Hon. J. D. Ormond, broke a leg and was destroyed. Audax was a promising horse and though perhaps a little over-estimated, his loss is a piece of bad luck for his Hawke’s Bay owner.

F- Macmanemin has a string of 20 horses, including two-year-olds, in ‘ training at Ellerslie-

Fuss and Veitalia, who have been in Fiji for some time, are to be brought back to Auckland.

White Cockade and Paritutu are stated to be suffering with colds, and neither was produced on the opening day at Canterbury.

Kremlin was well supported for his Riccarton engagement in Auckland on Tuesday, but despite the fact that the field was a small one, he failed to gain a place.

W. Young, who rode Te Arai in the Grand National Steeplechase on Tuesday, will have the mount on Paisano in the G.N. Hurdles this afternoon-

After making all the running in the G.N. Steeplechase, the Porirua trained Lovell had to strike his colours to Te Arai.

The following is a list of acceptances for the Australian Steeplechase, to be run at Caulfield on Saturday next: — Grafnax, Ripon, Confederate, Acer, workmaster, . Nigel, Seymour, Kororoit, Coir, Generality, Diorite, Golden Brown, Charlemagne, Squirm, No Trouble.

Mr. Duncan has had a bit of bad luck at Waikanae stud farm. Olivette (Stepniak—Lady’s Maid) has thrown a filly to Achilles, but the little stranger made his appearance on July 31st, one day too soon. Thus when but twenty-four hours old she counted as a yearling, and this, of course, effectually disposes of any possible chance she might later on have possessed in classic or weight-for-age events. The last yearling by Achilles from Olivette realised 170 guineas.

It is now stated that, all going well, F. Tilley will take Lady Lucy, Milan, Equitas and Master Laddo to Australia. With 7-12 Lady Lucy must have more than a fair chance in the Melbourne Cup.

After the first forfeit, 166 horses remain in the Melbourne Cup.

While contesting the G. N. Steeplechase the St. Hippo gelding, Nero, broke down and had to be pulled up.

Evidently P. Brady was seriously hurt when Capitol fell with him at Wellington, as J. Jones piloted Master Paul to victory in the Trial Hurdles at Riccarton.

Were Bobrikoff, Master Soult, Crucinella and California to meet over a mile and a-quarter in Australia our friends across the Tasman would be envied by New Zealand sportsmen-

The Hawke’s Bay hunter, Spaniard, who was looked upon as a good thing for the Hunters Hurdles at Riccarton, could only get third.

Tile Auckland-owned Prophet was sent out favourite for the Jumpers’ Flat at Christchurch, but he never looked like winning at any part of the race.

Trainers at Ellerslie would gladly welcome a few days of fine weather, so that they could bustle their charges along.

Taskmaster, who met with a slight injury a few days ago, has returned to the tracks-

Lock Fyne was the last to finish in the Wellington Steeplechase, and the son of Lockness occupied a similar position in the National.

Just before the last files left Eng?, land five men were proceeded against on a charge of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers, and with forging addresses on letters, with intent to defraud. It came out in evidence that the men had struck an ingenious method of “finding” winners- It was to get accommodation address in the road in which the bookmaker livedA letter was posted in the morning to this accommodation address and received there in the afternoon, the envelope thus being stamped with the date stamp, which the bookmaker was ,to accept as showing the honesty of the transaction. On Its arrival at the accommodation address the lightly sealed envelope was carefully opened, the slip it contained taken out and another one substituted, on which was

written the name of a winning horse, which had been obtained from an evening newspaper. The pencil address was then erased and the bookmaker’s address written on in ink. Two of the prisoners went along the street and overtook the postman who was delivering letters- One jostled past him and the other would drop a letter on the pavement. The man who jostled past would look round and say, “Look here, postman, you have dropped a letter.” The postman innocently picked it up and delivered it to the bookmaker.

Of the twenty horses that won over £lOOO in stakes during the season of 1908-9 All Red, Armlet, Bobrikoff and Penates alone appear in the four-fig-ured list for last season.