THE TURF.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1169, 3 July 1911, Page 8

THE TURF.

4 V.R.C. GRAND NATIONAL HURDLES. WON BY ARQUEBUSE. Br Tclecra'Dli-l'ress Association-CoDyrlihl (Kcc. July 2, 5.5 p.m.) Flcmington, July 1. The following if. the result of Iho GRAND NATIONAL HURDLES, of 15 r-ovs. each, with 1590 fovs. added; sceond 250 sovs., third 125 sovs. from the slake. Three miles. Arquebtisc, b. g. by l'istol—Bcrolion. Ost : (H. Hall) 1 Sparkle, b. h. by Sparta — Duchess, list. Sib (F. Burn) 2 Obi, eh. g. by Coil—Mousme, ' list. 51b (J. Chevally) 3 Air the acceptors started in the Grand National. Minato and Bob Gilder fell. The other acceptors telegraphed ■on Thursdav were:—The Beckoning, list. 131b.; "Kilcurua, list, lllb.; Minato, lOst. 71b.; Bribery, lOst. 71b.; Bob Gilder (inc. 71b. penalty), lOst. Gib.; Tundulyn, lOst. 51b.; Batterv. Ost. 131b.; Kradool, Ost. 131b.; Ladv Gleu, Bst. 91b.; Field Trial, Ost. 91b.; Nimrod, Ost. 71b.; Golden Cairn, Ost. 71b.; Huntexston, Ost. 31b.; Stern Anchor, Ost; Eufus, Ost; Lady Esker.-Ost; Boortkoi. Ost. _ Starting well. Golden Cairn led ont and was followed by Eufus. Lady Eskcr, and Arqucbuse. Leaving the straight, Bribery and Hunterston went to the front with Goldeu Cairn attending them. Passin.? the stand, The Reckoning assumed command, Arquobuse being closest, with Bribery running last. When half a mile from home, Arquebuse held the lead from The Beckoning, Sparkle being a couple of lengths away.' Arqu«busc showed the way into the straight, his nearest attendants being Sparkle and Hunterston. Then Sparkle made a determined effort to overtake the leader, but Arquebuso showed no signs of tiring, and won comfortably by four lengths, Sparkle beating Obi hy six lengths for second place. Time, Siuin. •lOsec. MOOREFIELD HURDLES. (Rcc. July 2, 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, July 2. Home Rule ran third to Loughrea in the Moorefield Hurdles. NOTES AND COMMENTS. [Bt Glencoe.] The Gisborne Racing Club's meeting commences on Thursday next. In connection with the.'Wellington Racing Club's winter meeting, owners are given a final reminder that acceptances for the first.day's handicap events, and also for the Wellington Steeplechase (second day) close at 9 o'clock to-night with tho secretary, Mr. A. E. Whyte. Entries for the Trial Plate are due at the same time. Tho Victoria Racing Club's Grand National meeting will bo continued on 'Wednesday, and concluded on Saturday next. S. Roid, who had the winning mount on Perceler at the Napier Park meeting, will also rido the chestnut gelding at the Trcnth'a'm meeting. Mallet has been withdrawn from his engagements at tho Wellington Racing Club's meeting.

In tho last four contests for the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdles, tho winner has carried less than lOst. Only twice in the last ten years has a winner carried more than lOst. over the long course.

Tho Waikanne-brcd Merry Oliver, who was a champion- amongst the ponies racing at Miratnar, is now meeting with much success in Melbourne. At Aspendalo Tark recently he carried list. 21b. to victory in a seven and a half furlong handicap for M.l ponies.

It is reported (says the "Otago Daily Times") that Obsono has been purchased by Mr. M. Hasett, of Sydney, tho price being stated as 700 guineas.

It is -expected that, the rehearing in the Julian case will be taken at Wanganui on Friday next.

Sardonyx, who went to Hastings from Wangamii with a great reputation as a jumper, has failed to justify it in his efforts during the past two weeks. At Hastings, on the first day, he stood on tho mark, arid took no part in the race. Next day ho ran off early in his only start, while, at Napier, he fell on both days. The old Saracen gelding is very infirm, and is not likely to stand up to racing.

The decision of the V.E.C. Grand National Hurdles will be a complete surprise to everyone, as Arqucbuso was. practically an unknown quantity as a hurdler. He was bred in Adelaide, and raced unsuccessfully there on the third day of tho recent Birthday meeting. He then accompanied J. Heywood's team (Matchlock, Sparkle, and Dyed Garments) to Melbourne, and wa's given a run in tlio Jumpers' Flat Race at Moonoe Valley, in which he finish- o '' out -if p nlao. 'Hie second horse, Sparkle, had his chances very highly assessed, and some time ago, F. Burn was paid a special retaining fee of* fifty guineas to rido tho Westralian champion. .Obi. the third horse, won the same race last year, and, on Juno 17, ho won the Richmond Cup (one mile and three furlongs) at Canlficld. Sparkle was first favourite, and Obi second.choice, while the winner was unbacked, and would-be a raro "turn up" for the ring men doing business on the race.

Weights for the Canterbury Jockey Club's Grand National Steeplechase and Hurdles, and for tho Winter Cup, are due on Friday next.

An agitation against, excessive cigarette smoking by jockeys is being stirred up in Melbourne, and, in this connection, a writer in the "Argus" says:—"Cigarette smoking, when indulged in to excess as it it' is by some jockeys addicted to the pernicious custom, is very few removes from the opium habit, and it.is tolerably certain that, the V.R.C. would, not license a jockey known to indulge in the Chinese vice. Some authoritative ,- restrictions should be imposed in the direction indicated. There are known owners who will not employ jockeys who are given to cigarette smoking. An. incident in this particular connection recently cropped up in a racing special while the English prospects of tho crack Australian jockey, W. H. .M'Lachlan, were being casually discussed. One well-known racing habitue and owner of horses expressed the opinion that M'Lachlan would not. be a success. When asked ■ for the reason why, he tersolv replied, 'Because- ho has taken to smoking cigarette;.' There can be no manner of doubt that cigaretto smoking, when indulged in to excess, as it is by some jockeys on and off tho racecourse, tends to unstring the nerves, and is therefore not conducive to proficiency in tho saddle."

In an English exchange recently, reference was made to a 13.1 pony sanded Nans or Glyn, who is now 21 years old, and who, up to July 16, 1004, had competed in 26S races: Of these she won 181, was second 60 times, third 1G times, and only eight times unplaced. _ These performances were mentioned in a Londou paper of a recent date, and were productive of further information from the little mare's present owners, Messrs. John -'ones and Sou. of Denarth Hall Pony Stud, Colwyfi Bay. From their letter, dated May" 12, the following is an excerpt:—"At the late owner's dispersal sole iu 1907, we purchased the old pony. By that time she had brought her record of first past the post to 213. In 100b we ran her at thioe meetings, competing in five races, winning three and being twico second. Yn to this time she had never

lire;l a foal. We P»t lior to stud, and she bred ami reared a foal iu I'JOO and again in 1910." FIXTURES. Inly C and 7-Gishorne R.C. Winter July 15, 19, and 22-Wellington R.C. Winter. August S, 10. and 12—Canterbury J.C'9 Grand National.