TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1112, 3 August 1911, Page 4

TURF TOPICS.

A. Whittaker, the Auckland lightweight jockev, who finished second in the contest for the jockey’s championship with the fine score of 77 wins, left for Sydney by the Maheno on Monday in order to ride the Stead Brothers horses in their engagements in Sydney and Melbourne.

Provocation, who was greatly fancied for the Winter Cup, is an unlikely starter in that event, and W. Smart has secured the services of Hatch to ride Undecided in that event.

The three-year-old Cwydon Paul by St. Paul Sibil, is to be put into work shortly. He is a racy-looking customer, and is bred on lines that should mean speed.

A son of Carbine out of Dolly Watts, Carabas, won the Austrian Derby last month for Baron Springer, Carstake having the mount.

The consistent Gladiole, who has been spelled for some time is going back into the hands of F- Gibson of Awapuni, and will be brought along for the early spring racing.

WaitotO), by Conqueror—Waipuna, whose running on the flat has not been attended by any measure of success, is to be schooled over the sticks by Clarence O’Neill, of Foxton, Waitoto is a ha’f brother to the speedy Waipuna.

Wimmera’s departure for Australia, which yras to have been made last week, had to be postponed for a month, owing, to there being no room in the ship. He will now go across on August 11, his owner, Mr. E. J. Watt, travelling by the sajme steamer. ... /

Kelso has run. his last race, and is now used as a hack by his owner, Mr A. Donald.

Phil Brady, the Auckland horseman, is to have the mounts on St. Aidan and Dorando at the National Meeting. Both have been framing splendidly, and showing great proficiency in work.

Grand Slam, one of the candidates for the Winter Cup, who has been giving his connections lot of anxiety, pulled up lame recently, and is not a likely starter for. tne big race.

‘•Tartar” Julian’s rehearing started at Wanganui on Friday night, but at midnight, when an adjournment was made, very little progress had been made. It is probable that some little time will elapse before a decision is arrived at.

After a spell of over two months, Regain has been put into commission again with C. Norgrove as his mentor.

Peggy Pride which, may be shipped over to Sydney for the galloway races there, has been put into work again on the Ellerslie tracks, after a short spell.

Frank Wootton rode eight winners in two days at Goodwood last week. This record performance, following several other fine feats, puts the Australian well in the front of the field for the Jockey’s Championship. If he keeps out of mischief he will probably put up a record score before the season ends.

Monoform, the disappointing son of Hotchkiss, is still in the market in Australia, an offer of 600 gs. made last week having been refused.

B. Deeley, the Auckland lightweight, who went to Australia to ride Wild West for Mr F. Leslie, and won twice out of three starts, has returned to Auckland. He will remain here until after the Avondale meeting, and will then probably return to the other side of the Tasman. Sea.

Holly Root and Vane, two of Mr Geo. Currie’s horses, came up to Auckland a day or two ago, the first named to visit Marble Arch, and Vane to visit Salvadan.

Hoanga will probably go across to Sydney after the National Meeting at Christchurch. He fenced splendidly at Wellington, and didn’t touch a batten, finishing up with his legs as sound as when he started, after scoring two wins and a second. His deeds at Wellington have increased his weight fortheßiccarton race by 181bs, and he will now carry 11.2.

Dogger Bank’s performances at Wellington were so disappointing that his owner decided not to send him on to Christchurch for the Grand National Meeting. After mature consideration, however, Chaafe sent him South under the care of Hickman, and went down to Riccarton on Sunday night to put him through his final preparation. It is to be hoped that his pluck and persistence will meet their due reward.

“Bill” Lyons, who gave £7OO for Don Hannibal two years ago, and did not get a win out of him., has sold the fine-looking son of Explosion for stud purposes. Don Hannibal is a well-proportioned horse, and if he gets a chance should sire a winner or two.

A. Hall has put Firelock back into work again, after a lengthy spell.

Another of the Soult line has got back to work, A. Robertson having taken Princess Soult in hand again.

Ohura is showing promise in his schooling tasks at Ellerslie, and should, before long, be proficient at the jumping game. He is a fair galloper, and should not be long in making a return to his owners.

The St. Paul gelding Mendip, winner of the Hawera Cup, is being put into work again by C. Jackson, his trainer. He is well forward for this period of the year, and should run well in the early spring.

Sodden tracks at Riccarton have hindered training operations somewhat, but most of the charges are well forward, and as the course dries v6ry quickly, it will probably be all right before the meeting comes on.

Veteran Paritutu is looking well at Riccarton, and may possibly make a decent showing in the big Steeplechase. He meets Hoanga on 191bs better terms than when he ran second to the Regel gelding in the Wellington Steeplechase.

Lady Medallist is being strongly backed for the Epsom Handicap. She is weighted at 8.12 m the race, and with that burden should be able, if at the top of her form, to cut out a fast mile.

The Merriwee mare Magneto has been sold by Mr Middleton Melrose to Mr W. Brown, and she is now being trained at Albury, on the N.S.W.Victoria border.

Fort William, who raced here a little while back, will not be a starter at the National Meeting. He is now being treated to very easy work, his trainer fearing a breakdown.

A remarkable incident happened at Normanton, Queensland, last week, three dead heats being run in succession.

Three New Zealanders were at the top of the list in the Kensington 14.2 handicap last week, while Lady Zoin made the fourth runner in the race from this little Dominion. Miss Soult was favourite right through the betting, though once she was threatened by Rabbie, her countrywoman, which came down to narrow odds, and was then “backed backwards” until they were very wide. It was reported that the Vai Rosa mare had beaten Wild West in a trial, hence the reason for her being sought in the early stages of the betting. Ragtime made hacks of the field, carving out the five furlongs in 1.3. The exNew Zealander Mahinga, was second, while Miss Soult was never dangerous. Mahinga, who gave Princess Soult 121bs, is by Soult from Spiteful, and will probably do well when she races amongst the horses.

A well-known racing official passed away last week in the person of Mr J. W. Emmerson, secretary of the Waverley Racing Club. He had resided in Waverley for many years. Fifteen years ago he was a fine footballer, and played for Waverley under the Wanganui Union. Later he took a keen interest in trots. For the past two years he had been fighting against cancer, and his death was not unexpected. He is survived by a widow and young family.

Los Angelos, Genius, and Bonetta are now across the Tasman Sea. They were well forward when shipped, although Bonetta’s preparation was hurried. He is a colt with a. fair turn of speed, but it is doubtful if he is up to the Australian two-year-old standard. Genius is a moderate performer, who will probably not earn the cost of his transport across the water. P. O’Donnell is in charge of the team.

When the last mall left the New Zealand jockey, L. H. Hewitt, whose feats in the saddle in New Zealand and Australia when riding for the late Mr G. G. Stead, will not soon be forgotten, was at the head of the successful Continental jockeys with fifteen wins, 7 seconds, and 16 thirds. Sydney Ferguson, the ex-Australian lightweight, was second with 11 wins, 3 seconds, and 17 thirds, while Brownie Carslake and F. Bullock have also helped to uphold the Australian reputation. Ferguson and Carslake ride for Baron Springer, an Austrian nobleman, who does not bet and does not permit nls 'staff to gamble. He checks any tendency in this direction by paying his men so well that it is worth their while to leave it alone.

Though both bookie and tote are barred at some meetings, it will still be possible to have a mild “flutter,” for the Gaming Act provides that sweepstakes may be got up on any course when the total amount subscribed does not exceed £5, and the tickets ss, the whole amount going in the prizes. These sweeps will be very popular at “picnic” and Hunt Club races.

Lady Patricia has been schooled to the jumping game lately, a game for which she showed marked natural aptitude, for when turned out for a spell she jumped the fences of her paddock until her connections decided to put her ba<-‘k into work in order to keep her quiet-

The annual meeting of the Avondale Jockey Clul? ,will be held, on Tuesday next, August 8.

A profit of £l3lO was returned by the last A.R.C. Spring Meeting, £5966 at the summer meeting, £1287 at the autumn, and £2485 at the winter gathering.

The Auckland Racing Club has every reason to be satisfied with its past seasons’ operations, and the report and balance-sheet disclose a very healthy state of affiants, the permanent improvements effected during the year having ail been paid out of revenue. The racecourse is valued, for purposes of the balance sheet, at £2 8,100. One wonders how many times that sum it would bring if it could be cut up into building lots. The Ciub has been warmly congratulated on its decision to practically leave the total stake-money at the old level, although two rac.ng days have been cut out of their programme.

According to the view of the “punter’ the Grand National is a match between Corazon and Antarctic. The Auckland owned horse has continued to do well at Riccarton, and Sir Wm. Russell’s ’chaser has winning form to recommend him. Corazon has earned a penalty by his win at the Wellington meeting, and will now have to carry 12st 31bs. When they met in Auckland Antarctic was giving away 171bs, so that they now meet on 18lbs worse terms, Antarctic’s weight being 12st 21b. Antarctic was in the opinion of some critics, not fully wound up when he finished second to Corazon, and there are many who believe that in view of his satisfactory work he will now be able to reverse the order. The connections of Corazon are very confias indeed is proven by the mere fact of letting their horse incur a penalty and then sending him on to Christchurch.

The Rover, who has scored seven wins, five seconds, and four thirds in 2 5 starts this season, is to be started at Christchurch in spite of his poor showing in the F.nal Hurdles, which sent him down with a bomb in backers’ estimation. His owner expected the Advance horse to win in a walk, and was greatly disappointed with the pooi* form he showed. North East won with ridiculous ease, and there is no reason for anticipating a change in the relative positions if both go to the post for the two mile event at Christchurch.

Mr W. T. Jennings, M.P. for Taumarunui, and always ready to champion the cause of the down-trodden, has introduced a Bill into the House of Representatives with the object of returning some measure of justice to the clubs which have been “wiped out” by the Commission as the result of last year’s Act. When that Bill was before the House Mr Clark, Port Chalmers, succeeded, by a majority of a single vote, in getting a clause added providing that in making their reductions the Racing Commission should give “preference” to one day clubs. This the Legislative Council altered to “consideration,” and mighty little consideration and precious short shrift they got. The knocking out of so many one day clubs raised a feeling of resentment, which has evolved into hostility to the “tote” and may threaten its existence, while it also caused the country clubs to confer at Wellington when they decided to have a Bill introduced to re-instate the abolished clubs. Mr Jenning’g Bill gives permission to the Minister for Internal Affairs, who is in charge of the Department, power to grant totali’sator licenses yearly to one day country race meetings. There are about forty of such meetings in the year. A sultry discussion is sure to evolve from the Bill.

Goldfinder, who never appeared in a more healthy, bright condition than he does at present, is executing gcod serviceable tasks on the try out at Hastings. Followers of the game will only be protecting their own interests if when intending aspirants for Parliamentary honours mount the hustings, they are not questioned regarding their intended attitude towards sport in all its forms. The answers if satisfactory will surely help them along the road to gaining success, for the reality exists that sportsmen now that they are awake to their peril will exert the leverage that they possess, to cast their votes for the candidates who will look at matters connected with rational recreation in a common sense point of view.

Weights for the New Zealand Cup may be expected to see the glare of daylight on the 19th of this month.

Mr. J. A. Lucas, the owner of Continuance left Gisborne on Sunday last for Lyttelton to see the gelding ■battle at the Grand National gathering. It will be remembered that last season the big double was secured by the Poverty Bay owned pair; Te Arai and Paisano. No representative from Gisborne is listed in this years Steeplechase, but Continuance,. Paisano and Whakaweira will be on top to uphold the interests of Gisborne in the Grand National Hurdles.

The Dannevirke Racing Club have issued the programme for their Steeplechase meeting, which takes place on the 13th of September. The bill of fare is of an attractive nature, all sorts and conditions of horses being catered for, the menu tablet disclosing the reality that there are a couple of events for the hunting brigade; the chasing clan have been provided for to the extent of a brace of races, a Maiden Steeplechase and an open contest, and two flat races, one for the hack division, and one for the advanced school open class, are apparent on the tab'e of contents. In addition there is an open hurdle race, so it will be easily discernable that variety is the strong point from which the Dannevirke executive are playing. The ground committee are mapping out a suitable route for the lepping events, and it appears as if the controlling powers of the organisation are going to leave nothing undone which will tend to make the innovation one worthy of the consideration of all interested. # si; e

Last Wednesday the Manawatu Hunt Club held their annual meeting on the Manawatu Racing Club’s course at Awapuni. There was a fair attendance, and the sport was of a highly satisfactory nature. Mr Angus Keith officiated as starter and was very happy in his send offs. Jackman, an aged gelding, by Handsome Jack —'Scotch Mist, secured the opening event, the Waikanae Hunters’ Hurdles from eight others. The first award in Ithe ’Foxton Maiden Flat went to Bonnie Boy, a three-year-old gelding by San Fran—'Melinite. He was opposed by three others and had no difficulty in annexing the stake, for at no portion of the trip was he asked to do his best. Mr. D- Buick junior, rode his own neddy, Commodore, an aged gelding by Papakura to victory in the Manawatu Steeplechase, Glenmore and Flamingo filling the offices of second and third respectively. The Kiwitea Bracelet was captured by Mrs. H. C. Shannon’s Birdring, a five-year-old gelding by Nestor out of Cap-a-pie mare, Flying Cloud second and Jack third. Zoraida, a mare who a few years back won the Ladies’ Bracelet on the second day of the Napier Park Racing Club’s winter gathering, proved hei’ superiority in the Levin Hack race in which she was opposed by five others, the positions going to Fionacre and Eminent. . The ancient Jack (The Artist —Mona) comfortably annexed the Shannon Steeplechase, the only other to finish, being Review, the other three who lined up coming to grief throughout the journey. Jackman, who had proved the conqueror in the opening item, again came to light in the final event, the Fitzherbert Hunters’ Flat, in which there was a quintette being arrayed against him. He made no race of it for he was always on the spot, and the verdict came his way inThe easiest manner imaginable. Himitangi was second and the barren position of third shop was filled by Pukeroa.

Final payments for the Grand National Steeplechase, Grand National Hurdles and Winter Cup have to be made next Friday.

Wimmera is under orders to leave Wellington on the 11th of this month for Sydney. His withdrawal from the Winter Cup and Grand National Hurdles was due to the fact that his owner was under the impression that his poundage was far in excess of what he was entitled to, and he anticipates that over on the other side of the Tasman sea he will be given opportunities that he does not seem to have any prospects of getting in the Dominion.

The withdrawal of Wimmera, Provocation, and Dreadless from their National engagements must have meant a heap of shekels to the credit of the members of the book and pencil brigade: throughout the land, fbr all

of the ppsy have . been in the strong ligj-tt ever sinc£ th <5 nominations were made for the leading events on the winter card of the Canterbury Jockey Ciub.

W- (Tim) Jewell, who for a number of years was a contributor on sporting" matters to various journals in the Dominion, has quit the game and is now on the land. Good luck to him. He is one of the whitest of the white, and I have many kindly recollections of his valuable services when circumstances prevented me from attending a meeting, and I am quite sure that I was not alone in that respect, for “ Tim” was always ready and willing to give a comrade ft help along if the occasion arose.

It is rumoured that this comingseason, C. Jenkins will . not ' bind himself to the establishment controlled by J. H. Prosser at Porirua.

Cheddar, one of the fancied entrants for the New Zealand Cup, is in nice mellow condition/ and is in just nice order* to be seen going in earnest. When his educator returns from the Grand National fixture, he intends to slip the work into Brown Alice’s son in earnest.

Mr J. E. Henrys has been reappointed handicapper to the Dunedin Jockey Club, . and Mr Harry Piper has been .reappointed to the position of starter.

The annual report of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club states that at the commencement of the year the debit balance at’the bank was £213 6s 9d. After payment of £455- 19s 7d for improvements, and £290 balance of unpaid purchase money for sections adjoining the course,", the debit balance stands at £360. ,18s Id. The surplus on the year’s working expenses is £695 8s 9d. Not more than the required. number having been nominated as officers, the following will be duly elected at. the annual meeting. PresidentMr G. P. Donnelly; vicepresidents, Hon. J. D. Ormond and Mr G. Hunter; treasurer, Mr L- de Pelichet; committee, Messrs. F. Armstrong. AR F. Baird. H. M. Campbell, T. E. Crosse, W. J. Douglas, F. Logan, T. H. Lowry, C. L- Mackersey, J. E. Mclvor, and E. J. Watt. During the season the sum of £8 625 was distributed in stakes. totalisator tax amounted to £lBl7 19s, and £1142 14s was-paid in salaries. The receipts from the totalisator amounted to £7204 14s lOd, from nominations £25?7, gates £1415 6s lOd, privileges £773 5s 3d. and members’ subscriptions £759 3s.

When the mail left the scores of the leading jockeys in England were: — D. Maher (47 wins). F. Wootton (46 wins), C. Trigg (40 wins), W. Saxby (25 wins), F. Rickaby (23 vans), and S- Donoghue (21 wins). Wootton has done well during the last few weeks, and lie is probably in first place.

The New Zealand horse Formeden has been sold to Mr Shiel, of Camden, N.S.W., for stud purposes. The price paid has not transpired.

The report of the South Australian Jockey Club shows that the profits for the year amounted to £5750.

E. Davis, the Caulfield trainer, secured B ind Harry for 12% guineas, and has won nine races with him valued at 1250 guineas. Had Blind Harry’s purchase money been in pounds he would have returned exactly 100 times as much as he cost.

In an English exchange recently, reference was made to a 13.1 pony named Nans or Glyn, who is now 21 years old, and who, up to July 16, 1904, had competed in 268 races. Of these she won 184, was second 60 times, third 16 times, and only eight times unplaced. These performances were mentioned In a London paper of a recent date, and were productive of further information from the little mare’s present owners, Messrs. John Jones and Son, of Denarth Hall Pony Stud, Colwyn Bay. From their letter, dated May 12, the following is an excerpt:— "At the late owner’s dispersal sale in 1967, we purchased the old pony. By that time she had brought her record of first past the post to 212. In 1908 we ran her at three meetings, competing in five races, winning three and being twice second. Tip to this time she had never bred a foal. We put her to the stud, and she bred and reared a, foal in 1909 and again in 1616.”