TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 4 June 1914, Page 12

TURF TOPICS.

General Madero, who arrived at headquarters, is in very forward condition, but he is not generally credited with being a stayer.

Te Onga, who was expected to be a Great Northern Hurdles proposition a couple of months back, would have been all the better for a race or two.

H. Tinker, the Christchurch horse dentist, is doing his usual rounds, and has already attended a number of the local stables.

Dr. Ring, who operated on Mauinina for throat trouble, informs me that the son of Menschikoff will be in work again shortly with a view to spring racing.

J. Deerey is going to Hastings after the A.R.C. Winter Meeting to school horses for J. Cameron, who has a ’earn there.

Mr. N. Dickie arrived with Kaween on Thursday, and C. Pearson sent her a solid mile on Friday morning.

Owners are again reminded that nominations close on Friday for the Napier Park Racing Club’s Winter meeting with Mr. J. E. Gleadow, the secretary.

Fuss, ridden by Foreman, was one of the starters at the Canterbury Park’s Races recently

English papers to hand contain the news that, the American horseman, Danny Maher, has fallen the victim to an insidious pulmonary complaint that may kepp him out of the saddle for life. It is hoped that with careful nursing he' will build up again, but the chances are against him.

H. McSweeney, the Porirua horseman, will ride the veteran Paritutu n the Great Northern Steeplechase on Saturday. In last year’s Great Northern the son of Castor finished third to Bercola and Dorando in a field of nine, A. Julian piloting him on that occasion.

Haskayne’s performance in winning the York Welter from end to end on the concluding day of last year’s Great Northern fixture is not forgotten by turf followers, and the Karamu representative will not want for admirers in his engagements at Ellerslie.

The Maniapoto gelding Encore, who was recently purchased by Mr. A. W. Rutherford, junr., for 450 guineas, is reported to be lame since his arrival at Riccarton, the ailment, it is thought, being confined to his kidneys.

Mr. lan Duncan, the Waikanae stud master, will again send a number of thoroughbred yearlings to Auckland to be sold at the annual sales held under the auspices of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company.

The eighteen nominations received for the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase, to be run on June 17, must be considered satisfactory. Of late years, the contribution from this end of the Dominion have not been large.

The prize money for the 15 days’ racing to be held at Poona (India) during the coming season totals about £20,000. The most valuable race is the Western India Stakes of £lOOO. Twenty-four races for Arabs and 22 for Arab ponies 14.1 and under will be decided.

Shortly before the latest mail left England the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase winner Sunloch was bought by Sir Charles Assheton-Smith for something like £4OOO. Snnloch’s new owner won the 1911 Grand National with Jerry M., and last year with Covercoat.

In chatting with a representative of a Perth paper, Mr. S. P. Mackay said his main reason for selling Bon Ton and Radnor was that he intended residing in West Australia for some months before proceeding to England. Recently Mr. Mackay and Mr. C. B. Kellow jointly purchased Gundaline Station, which is about 50 miles from Hay, and comprises 45,700 acres.

The owner of Rewi Poto informs us that the son of Maniapoto is go-

ing out of training and during the next three months will be used as a harness horse with a view to endeavouring to get him over his timidity. Rewi Poto is a bit highly strung and sweats a great deal, and it is hoped that harness treatment will have the desired effect.

An Australian exchange says that Wakeful’s colt, foaled this season to St. Alwynne, is a specially fine youngster. So far Wakeful’s progeny have shone more as sprinters than stayers, but her latest foal may be an exception. Last season Wakeful was mated with Earlston, and she again goes to that horse during the coming season.

The steeplechaser Bullawarra, who is now in England, will race in the joint ownership of Messrs. J. M. Niall and Norman Falkiner. If Bullawarra strikes anything approaching his best Australian form, “Pilot” suggests that he can be relied on to win a minor steeplechase or two, even if he is not quite equal to accounting for the coveted race —the Liverpool Grand National. « * * • The stud horse California is again advertised to be at the services of breeders in Hawke’s Bay, and his quarters will be at Hastings, and all particulars can be obtained from his owner, Mr. Chas. L. Lagor, there. In due course, we shall have more to say concerning this fine horse, whose progeny are said to be growing into usefulness, which is quite to be expected from one of his fine conformation and breeding. * * * * The Bezonian —-St. Evangeline colt purchased by Mr. A. Alexander at the sale of the Bushy Park yearlings last March, was in the saddling paddock at Wanganui, being led about by his breaker, W. Mantle, who brought him from New Plymouth. As he was ridden about the paddock he was greatly admired, and he was afterwards stripped for inspection. He comports himself well. * j! * * Meetings are being held at Ellerslie, Otaki and Wingatui on the King’s Birthday (Wednesday). The Dunedin Jockey Club’s winter meeting and the Otaki Maori Racing Club’s fixture will both be concluded on Thursday, June 4, while the second day of the Auckland Racing Club’s Great Northern meeting takes place on Saturday, June 6, the Ellerslie winter racing carnival being concluded on Monday, June 8.

Mr. J. Bull, of Hunterville, who has horses racing at Ellerslie this week was one of the first owners to arrive.

The Ascot (Melbourne) Racing Club is offering £loo'o and £5OO respectively for competition by two-year-olds (and upwards), 14.2 and under, on September 24 and 28 next.

At the Kensington Racing Club’s recent meeting, Te Kahurangi, by Conqueror, won the third division of the Flying Handicap, but in the runoff between the three heat winners finished third.

After retiring from the Wanganui races Mr. J. M. Pollock the Wellington handercapper, was taken ill, and his many friends will regret to learn that he has since been ■‘.onfined to his home.

Mr H. Piper who, is one of the best known starters in the Dominion is still confined to his home at Riccarton and will not be able to act at the Dunedin meeting this week. This his many friends will regret to learn. During a period of about twenty two years since Mr. Piper commenced starting the gallopers he has not been incapacitated, and it is to be hoped that he will soon be able to resume his duties-

The late Mr Claude Barnett of Feilding who died on Friday week was a steward of the Feilding Jockey Club and had also acted as Judge on many occasions. He was a keen observer and stood for clean sport, and acted as stipendiary for the last Waverley 'Taranaki’ and Stratford meetings. He had resded in the Feilding district for . some years and was one of the best known settlers and had inden■tified himself with various institutions there.

On Tuesday nominations for yearlings were taken in Australia for the following valuable races: Breeders’ Plate of 2000sovs., Gimcrack Stakes of lOOOsovs., December Stakes of 1500sovs„ A.J.C. Sires’ Produce Stakes (1915) of SOOOsovs., Champagne Stakes (1915) of 2000sovs., AJ.C. Derby (1915) of 5000sovs., and A.J.C. St. Leger (1916) of 1500sovs. Nominations for the Epsom Handicap of 2000sovs., and the Metropolitan Handicap of 5000sovs., to be run at the Spring meeting, 1914, fell due on the same date.

The crack cross-country rider, J. N. McGregor, formerly well known in the Dominion, but who has been located in Melbourne for some years past, was severely injured through a fall received when riding Athier in the Hurdles at Moonee Valley on May 20. The gelding blundered and unseated him at the third obstacle, and must either have struck him or he must have been hit by another horse, for his left leg was very badly broken below the knee, the bone, which was crushed and splintered, protruding through the skin. Immediate attention was given to the injury, and as •soon as possible McGregor was taken to St. Vincent’s Hospital. At the best, he will be incapacitated from riding for a considerable time, while if complications occur he may lose his leg.

The cable news this week from Quebec of the disaster in the St. Lawrence River through the colliding •of the ocean liners Empress of Ireland and Hanover has been received with deep regret in Auckland, as it will be in different parts of New Zealand. The loss of life estimated at nearly a thousand souls, owing to a -fog, has only twice been so large at -sea during the past thirty years. It is not known how many New Zealanders have perished, but it is feared that a number who left Auckland by the Niagara in April and whose names are not included in the cable may have perished. The passengers were from all parts of New Zealand. Colonel W. R. Bloomfield and his wife and daughter were making the trip and the news that the Aucklander, who has been a member of the Auckland Racing Club and a hunting enthusiast for years, and who is Colonel of the Second Auckland Regiment, had gone down was received amongst Its numerous friends with much concern. No news concerning Mrs. Bloomfield and daughter came to hand, and it was- hoped that these ladies, who have been prominently associated with the social life of Auckland, had escaped, but later information confirmed the worst fears, Deep sympathy is expressed to the relatives of both the families.