TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1114, 17 August 1911, Page 5

TURF TOPICS.

Having been deprived of a day’s racing, the Avondale Jockey Club will this year give aw’ay in stakes £3975, which is £770 less than last year, but which affords a slightly higher average per race. 9 9 ® -• The Waikato Hunt Club, which is now denied both tote and bookie, has pluckily decided to go on with its annual meeting on September 9, and will offer about £lOO in stakes. Other clubs in the neighbourhood are awaiting the result of the meeting before deciding whether to proceed with their own or not. s • • • Some of the local “books” came out well over the Grand National double, but a few had laid the full amount on the winning combination. * * * Kakama is recovering from her recent bout of sickness, but has not yet been put in hand again. * * * J. Sceates has returned to Auckland from Hawke’s Bay and has joined C. Coleman’s stable. The Soult —Princess Alice filly Irish Wake has been taken in hand by W. Sharp. * • • ■» Mr. Fred Leslie, owner of Wild West among others, is again in Auckland, but intends to return to Sydney for the A.J.C. Spring meeting. * * * * The trotter Sylvie, which failed to reproduce her best form on the other side, has been brought back to Auckland. Trainers and jockeys in the Auckland district who wish their licenses renewed must return them to the A.R.C. forthwith, and in the case of jockeys particulars of their rides must be given.

A chill caught while running in the paddock caused the death of the Obligado—Sprite filly. - ■ a ■ One of the most notable foalings of the year is that of Lady Hester, dam of that fine horse Master Soult, who has thrown a fine filly to the imported sire Penury. * a ® a * A fine looking filly by Achilles out of Spoil is being got ready for transport to Sydney when her owner, Mr. C. B. Pharazyn, of Palmerston North, goes across. Two well-known Auckland sportsmen, Messrs. Harry Hayr and M. Foley, left on the Island trip by the Tofua on Tuesday, and will be back in time for the Avondale Club’s spring meeting.. * * * 9 The committee of the A.R.C. have appointed as stewards for the season Messrs. G. W. S- Patterson, F. Earl. W. C. Somers, O. Nicholson, C. J. Clayton, C. Ranson, T. J. Sinclair, A. W. Gordon and N. A. Nathan. There are thus three changes in the personnel, Messrs. Earl, Nathan and N’cholson replacing Messrs. W. D. Holgate, E. D. O’Rorke and J. Coe. Sft Mr. F. V. Fraser, S.M., whipped in some pretty stiff fines the other day to three men whom the police saw betting at the Stamford Park Plumpton on July 15. The case for the police was that the three men charged, Jesse L. Cotton, Edward Chitan and William Gray had been seen to take something from men before the heats and to write in a book and afterwards he was seen to hand out something to men who approached. When the police tried to get near a warning was issued and the men pocketed their books and walked away. Cotton stated that he was a commission agent and handed in his books in proof, and these the Bench accepted as bona fide, but still was satisfied that betting had been going on, systematically as a business. He fined Cotton £4O, Chitan the same, and Gray £3O. John Surtees, with whom a couple of policemen had bets without landing a winner, was also fined £3O. 9 * * ' Danny Maher, the American jockey, who is next in the list of successful riders to Frank Wootton, was suspended at Leicester on Friday for his riding of Sallust, which ran second in the Tower Plate, and he has been reported to the English Jockey Club9 9 9 9 Nominations for the Avondale Cup, Plumpton Handicap, Flying Handicap and Handicap Steeplechase, to be run at the Avondale Jockey Club’s spring meeting, close at 9 o’clock on Friday night. 9 ar 9 * New Zealand Cup weights this week, and the usual growl , from those who consider that they have been harshly treated will taint the air. ’Twas ever thus and always will be, and it must be admitted that the handicapper’s, lot like the policeman’s in the “Pirates of Penzance,” is not a happy one. However, there is one solatium in connection with the matter, and that is that the remuneration is worth lifting. * jr e • Undecided gave R. Hatch his first winning seat in the Winter Cup, and the records in regard to the event were well borne out, for in the majority of instances the light-weights have previously conquered, and Undecided was one of that pack this season. 9 9 9 9 The New Zealand-bred gepgees Los Angelos, Bridge, Lady Lucy, Broadsword, Fordemen, Vice-Admiral, Midnight Sun and Bandeira have made the first acceptance for the Melbourne Cup. * 9 9 <> The public worked well for the Treasury Department at the just-concluded National. fixture of the Canterbury Jockey Club, the .Government tax on the machine investments reaching the nice little sum of £2,416 18s 6d —a handy haul for no work or effort on behaif of the controlling powers of the land. And now the punters . are back again at their usual toil, building up more bullion with which to help the State chariot along. The good old public, how they, take. their medicine to be sure, swallowing it as if they liked it! It puts me in mind of what Barnum, the great American showman, used to say, “the public, sir, the more you gull them the better they like it,” and Barnum was a past grand at the order of making use of the public. And he knew what he was talking about, for he got off the mark with hardly a dime in the receptacle in his pants that man as a rule cor-

ners off his wad in, and when he was gathered to his fathers, the stack of dollars he left would have nearly broken the Brooklyn bridge down if they had been lumped in one place on that structure. 9 $ * * Fossil, who won the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle race in 1909, is dead. 9 9 9* The Hawke’s Bay horsemen, Rangi Thompson and J. Hercock, rode the one and two in the Grand National Steeplechase. The latter has never had the seat on a victor in the big cross-country event at Riccarton, though he has ridden third and second in successive years, for the last year’s National he had the leg-up on Sir Lethe, and last Tuesday week he piloted Corazon. 9**9 Considerable comment has been caused in sporting circles over the action of the Canterbury Jockey Club in refusing to renew the licenses of two trainers at Riccarton, unless they give an understanding that they will refrain in future from acting as sporting reporters to newspapers. In other respects it is admitted that no exception can be taken to them. The men in question act as correspondents at Riccarton to the two Christchurch papers. It is urged by the committee of the club that it is not in the interests of other licensed trainers that they should act in that capacity. That this reason is a very thin one will be seen when it is mentioned that a petition to the club asking for the decision to be reviewed was signed by every trainer at Riccarton except two, who expressed themselves favourably, but would not sign for private reasons. One of the trainers has had to submit to their despotic command, but the other was fortunately better placed, and, having withdrawn his application, will continue his newspaper work. o « — ® Previous to scoring in the Great Northern Hurdles, Whakaweira downed the foes ranged up against him at Hastings in a hurdle contest, and the last race that Continuance won before he silenced the arguers at Riccarton was the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles. A sort of a coincidence to be sure, and one that will no doubt be remembered next year when backers are casting about for probable conquerors in the Great Northern and National Hurdles, taking it for granted that the entrants are engaged at Hastings prior to the decision of the two leading hurdles at Ellerslie and Riccarton. c v • V Notwithstanding that Corazon met his Waterloo in the Grand National Steeplechase, he has accomplished a feat this season that, though attempted before, has never been accomplished in the one session by a horse, and that is he won the Wanganui Steeplechase, Great Northern Steeplechase and. July Steeplechase on end. Haydn proved successful in the Wanghnui, Great Northern, July and Grand National steeplechases, but his victories did not come to him in the one term. 9 9 9 9 The progeny of Castor have now . proved victorious in the following principal ’chasing events in the Domnion, Great Northern, Grand National, Hawke’s Bay and Wellington Steeplechases. 0 cj f Last season the progeny of Soult ran into places on 55 occasions. Stepniak’s productions were next on the scroll of fame, his sons and daughters getting into berths in 49 instances. 9 9 9 9 They find some useful names for horses in Ireland. As an instance, Kissaskatchewan won the Munster Handicap Steeplechase last month, and another curiously-christened one in My Bird Sings, scored in the opening race at the Birmingham July meeting for Lord Fitzwilliam. 9 9 9 9 The Grand National Hurdle race has now been secured by a Gisborne-own-ed neddy upon three instances, for previous to last Thursday, Medallius and Paisano had conquered on behalf of sports hailing from the Poverty Bay district, and now Continuance has made good on account of Mr. J. A. Lucas, the well-known proprietor of the Coronation Hotel, at Gisborne. * * * * Rangi Thompson placed another notch on his gun on Saturday at Riccarton, for on that day he landed Sir Lethe a winner in the Lincoln Steeplechase. There is no doubt that Rangi is both a capable and plucky horseman over the fences, and as he is not one of the feather headed brigade there will be plenty of employment ahead for him.

Weights for the New Zealand Cup are due to appear next Saturday. 9 9 9* Prior to being trained on the tracks Fuss and Veitalia are being given hack work on the roads by G. Pell. V * s • Mr. Geo. Morse will again be handicapper for the Avondale Jockey Club this season, while Mr. Fred Edwards will manipulate the barrier. »{• -k »$• *s* A lot of Auckland money fell over the fence that brought Dogger Bank down in the Styx Hack Hurdles at Christchurch on Saturday. He was heavily backed here. 9 9*9 The New Zealand bred gelding, Tanakaha, has been transferred from Melbourne to Mordialloc, and J. O’brien is to train him. The Agent holds the palm leaf for the Grand National Steeplechase, the son of Oliver Cromwell having captured three Grand Nationals, the awards being gained by him in 1879, 1880, and 1884. The only other equine to land the big cross-country on more than one occasion was Mutiny, who registered captures in 1895 and 1896. 9 * O # A. Atwood, who trains at Feilding, is said to be contemplating an invasion of the other Colonies. If he makes the trip Waiputere and Reumac will form some of the party, and it is quite on the tapis that W. Young will go over to pilot the pair. * * * * Wimmera was shipped from Wellington on Friday for Sydney. His owner, Mr. E. J. Watt, accompanied the gelding, who, on his arrival in the New South Wales capital, will be handed over to H. Raynor. The latter has a couple of Wimmera’s old stable comrades in Bridge and Midnight Sun in work for Mr. Watt. 9**9 It is rumoured that Corazon will most likely be sent to the Old Land to have a cut at the Liverpool Grand National. I should say that there is a colourable tinge of accuracy in the statement, for I know that when Sir Frederick Price (Sir William Russell’s son-in-law) was in New Zealand he was always on the look out for something suitable in the way of horse flesh to take home to England with him, and it was a jumper that he wanted. ■ * a a In the majority of instances, the odds quoted by the pencillers doing business in the Dominion over the New Zealand Cup are not of a liberal nature, and to demonstrate this contention, it will only be necessary to add that at the price on offer in a £IOO book, presuming each animal was backed, the layer of odds by betting to figures would show a profit of 67 sovereigns. « OB 9 QB More than the usual interest will centre in the first flutter of the two-year-olds under silk this season, which will be at Avondale in the Stakes on 20, for the reason that the beautiful weather prevailing has enabled trainers to bring their charges along under better conditions, perhaps, than ever before. All are well advanced in their preparation, and the race will have an important bearing on the two year old of the season. 9*99 Frank Wooton, the young Australian horseman, who is now in the lead for the jockey championship at Home, is only seventeen years of age, and has had a remarkable career so far. A cable from Home last week announced that he had ridden his hundreath winner during the present English racing season. Wooton rode 16 winners in 1906, 39 in 1907, 129 in 1908, 165 in 1909, and 137 in 1910, holding the position of champion jockey in each of the last two years, a feat which he is almost certain to again accomplish this year. Commentina: on the annual match between the North Island and South Island trainers and jockeys, which was played at Christchurch during Grand National week and was won by the North Island by 6 points to 3, a Southern writer says:—For the North Island, Murphy showed himself a fine stamp of a forward, working like a Trojan throughout. Arthur Oliver was looking for work and he got plenty of it, R. Hatch was not at all economical in instraictions, but, strange to relate, when one considers the business of the players, found very few who would ride to orders. W. Young was always where the battle was fiercest, getting up from a tackle with a murderous gleam in his eye that bod-

ed no peaceable time for liis assistant. It is impossible to immortalise them all. » m * * On the Randwick training tracks the New Zealand horses in work for the A.J.C. spring meeting are all coming along pretty fairly with the exception of Los Angelos. J. Franks has a strong hand in Culprit, Chin Chin, Bandeira, Bon Soir, Aphala and Sunburnt, while R. J. Mason is mentor to Peirene, Canute, Teviotdale, and ViceAdmiral, a couple of teams which should do something before they come ‘ back. Los Angelos, Bonita and several others are already in work at Randwick, ready to throw down the gauge on behalf of the Dominion. The New Zealanders who went over to Sydney last spring were very unfortunate. Some took colds across with them, others contracted them a iter landing and so much interference was caused to their preparation that none were seen at their best. It is to be hoped that they will get a better run this year and have a chance of filling the programmes mapped out for them. « ♦ ♦ * About sixty sportsmen, representative of almost every branch of sport and pastime assembled in the Auckland Chamber of Commerce Hall on Friday evening for the purpose of taking steps to arouse pu'b’ic interest in the Sports Protection League. Mr. John Rowe, Mayor of Onehunga and a thorough going lover of clean sport of every kind, was in the chair, and explained that the League intended to embrace all sports and to organise to prevent further encroachment upon legitimate amusement. He pointed out that unless they stood up in defence of sport they would be subjected to a series of further deprivations, while had such a body been in existence last year the Gaming Act of last session would never have been passed. Mr. R. A. Armstrong declared that the lack of organisation among the moderate section had led to extremists having things all their own way. They should oppose the attempt of the clergy to run the country. Mr. C. E. Major said that whi’e racing was the first thing to be attacked. other sports would receive the unwelcome attention of the Puritan later on. They should stand together and fight the agitation for the curtailment of sporting privileges, and should be vigilant in obtaining the views of candidates upon the tote at the forthcoming elections. He moved: That in view of the necessity for placing the public in full possession of the facts relating to the present perilous position of the sports and pastimes of the peop’e, the acting executive 'be empowered to arrange a public meeting, to be held at His Majesty’s Theatre in September. This was seconded by Mr. J. C. Gleeson and carried unanimously « • ® ® The horses engaged in this year’s Melbourne Cup who have the best rerecords are Prince Foote, 18 starts, 11 wins, four seconds, one third, and £16,520 in stakes; Trafalgar, 43 starts, 13 wins, 10 seconds, six thirds and £13,137 in stakes; and Comedy King, 15 starts, seven wins, one second, two thirds and £11,170 in stakes. .-♦■ * * * The New Zealand 14.2 pony Mahinga, which is now racing in Sydney, is proving costly to her backers and connections. She was solidly backed for the five furlong flutter at Roseberry last week, but could only get third to Lauri and Minvel. Two thirds and a second have been her last three performances. The King secured his first win at the headquarters of English racing when Dorando, by Cylleno—Nadejda won the Bothsham Plate at the opening day of the Newmarket July meeting. « « • • The fact that the dam of the Derby winner Sunstar was a mere selling plater led some of the English writers to speak contemptuously of the colt, which brought a sharp reply from Mr. J. Corlett, who wrote: “It is a waste of time to argue with this class. They do not seem to know that Gallinule’s dam -was a selling plater, as also that of Robert the Devil and the same with Galpon and many of the best horses we have known. Flying Duchess, dam of Galpon, ran in a selling race at Hampton, to be sold for £2O and did not win at that.” The Stepniak—Tempest mare Torrential, has been sent across to Australia. The change in climate may suit her, but she will certainly have to pick up a lot to pay for her oats in the island continent.