SPORTING NOTES.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1998, 20 July 1880, Page 4

SPORTING NOTES.

By Sinbad. Allusion was made in these columns some time ago to a circular letter sent by Sir Hercules Eohinson to most of the leading clubs, having reference to giving allowances to the stock of marcs served in England. There can hardly be any question about the wisdom of such a change, and I have little doubt that the various clubs will make the suggested alteration in their weight for ago scales. The colt recently purchased by Sir Hercules from Mr E. Pcrgusson of the Waikato, is not the only one who will come under the allowance alluded to above. Mr Perguaaou has also a very grand bay colt by the same popular sire, Thunderbolt, out of the imported mare Duudoo Kate, also a filly by Pero Gomez out of the imported mare Locket. These are both for sale, and are certainly well worth the attention of breeders. Prom many good judges I hear groat things of the Thunderbolt colt out of Dundee Kate, while visitors to the Waikato often speak very highly of the stock of P6ve, who la at present lord of the harem at Mr Pergossan’s establishment at Gorton. “Old Turfite,” in the “ Auckland News,” writing of the recent annual meeting of the Auckland Stud Company, thinks that Musket will nick best with mares of the Weathorbit and lon blood, which he points out are obtainable from Australia through Kelpie on the one hand, and Talk of tho Hill or Tregoagle on tho other. “Old Turfite ” goee oa to say that owing to the Barn ton strain of her sire Golden Grape, he would sooner pick old Punga to throw a good colt to Musket than any mare he knows of. A correspondent writes to me as follows s —ln noticing the successful running strains at home of which we have representatives in tho colony, you have overlooked the relationship between Rosy Cross (the late winner of the Lincolnshire Handicap) and Anteros, now the property of Mr Eedwood, tho maternal granddam of both horses being Torment by Alarm. Thus Rosy Cross by Eosicrucian (whose pedigree shows Touchstone blood), dam Inquisition by St. Albans (son of Stoekwell), granddam Torment; Anteros by Loiterer (son of Stoekwell), dam Adrasta by Orlando (son of Touchstone), granddam Torment. Torment was also tho dam of Tormentor, Oaks winner 1866, and granddam of Praolein, winner of Doncaster Cup 1875 ; of Petrarch, winner of Middle Park Plate 1875, and was sister to Mortimer, Ascot Stakes winner 1855, besides being a direct descendant of mares whose stock were Bustard and Manfred, and other good ones. In his last week’s article, “ Mazappa ” suggests to the D.J.O. the abolition of the fixture on May 24th and the substitution of a well-arranged, amply .endowed Steeplechase Meeting.” He suggests that this should be run the second week in June, to avoid clashing with the Grand National. In the interests of what is certainly a very popular sport, I hope the committee of the Dunedin Jockey Club will give the suggestion of my confrere the consideration it certainly deserves. Mata and Caraballo left last week for Melbourne, under the care of Vallance. Say, who was unavoidably delayed, follows by an early boat. Until the horses arrive in Melbourne it is impossible, of course, to say what their owner’s intentions may be, but if specially reserved for that event, I am of opinion that Mata has an exceptionally good chance of winning the Melbourne Cup. According to telegrams he has already been hacked to win £IIO,OOO. I am sorry to learn that shortly after my departure from Spring Creek, Mr Eedwood lost the Putiri—Skybird colt from inflammation. ' Some weeks ago, says “Eapier ” (a week before the Derby was run), I made and published a calculation that the average betting against the winner of the Derby had been II£ —and I hope the figures were correct, for the result has found its way into papers in all directions. Thera is hope, therefore, for those who are not pinning their faith to Bend Or, albeit what is to beat him if he is fit is by no means clear, and believers in the doctrine of averages declare that this year the favorite ought to win. Last Derby the winner started at 201, the year before Soften was at 100 to 12, and Silvio the year before at 100 to 9 ; Kisber in 1876 started at 7 to 2, and Galopin in 1875 at 2to 1. George Frederick, tho season before that won at the tolerably healthy odds of 9 to 1, and in 1878 Bend Or’s respected sire, Doncaster, landed the Darby with 40 to 1 betted against him. And what hot favorites were beaten in some of these years! How firmly many pinned their faith to Oadogan and Victor Chief last year; and in the previous Derby, though Bonnie Scotland, Insulaire, and Sir Joseph all had their adherents, how confident were the supporters of each—and Ssfton won! In 1877 tho great majority of backers, especially of what are called the public, thought it perfectly useless to look beyond Rob Boy or Ohamant—and Silvio won ! Petrarch,’ it was enthusiastically proclaimed in 1876, was the greatest certainty ever known, and he started a tremendous favourite.; but Kisber won, though he, too, was heavily supported. In Qalopin’s year Salfe was the broken reed upon which public backers leaned, and when George Frederick won the groat body of amateurs was divided in its allegiance between Glenalmond and Oonronne de Fer. The year before that Kaiser, ‘Gang Forward, and half-a-dozen others were supported, but who thought of Doncaster. The celebrated trotting horse Smuggler (says the same writer) must be a charming creature to drive when he and his driver are of one mind ; hut under other circumstances, if Smuggler wants to have his own way, the odds are on his doing as he likes. In an heat of a recent match bis rivals looked “ like frightened phantoms fleeing from pursuing fate,” but—though wo are not told what he looked like—he beat them. In the next heat Goldsmith Maid was backed by many, that is to say, “ sold in the pools.” But —it happens that way sometimes—backers were wrong. “ Had they noticed the grim resolution of the stallion during one of the false starts, they would have saved much of their wagered gold. On the fourth score, so anxious was he to get off, that, when Marvin took a strong pull to restrain him, he resolutely took the bit in his teeth, and, stretching -out the powerful muscles of his neck, he hent over and straightened out the strong iron water-hook on the saddle, as if it had been only a bit of delicate tinsel ornament,” And he won, doing the mile under disadvantageous circumstances in2min. 17 isoo. With respect to the New South Wales Bill for the suppression of betting, a Sydney contemporary states :—" The patres conscripti have eliminated from Mr Berry’s Betting Sill the only clause that rendered it a terror to bookmakers. In the Legislative Council last week a debate took place which was not as lively, but infinitely more entertaining and instructive than the one which occurred during the previous occasion, when the Bill was before the ‘ Committee of the whole House.’ Lawyers differed. Mr Darley, Q. 0., moved the omission of the word ‘ public ’ from the third clause, the vital one of the measure, the effect of which will he that magistrates before whom a ease has to be tried will have to decide what a ‘ place ’ is—one of tho most difficult legal points known. Mr Foster protested, but it was of no avail. The words ‘habitually or at any time ’ were also eliminated at the instance of Mr Darley, and now the emasculated measure can he laughed at by bookmakers et hoc genus ovine. Sir Alfred Stephen, who, considering his lengthened experience, ought to know something about the matter, expressed his conviction that betting could bo suppressed, and thought that if a fine of ton times the amount of the wager laid were imposed, the evil would cease. As tho Bill is now amended by tho Legislative Council, betters, betting men, and keepers of betting houses are in exactly the same position as they wore before. It is hoped that Mr Terry and the Hon. J. White are satisfied with the result ■of their labors. The famous thoroughbred running mare Kincsem, bred in Hungary, has terminated her racing career in consequence of a kick re ceived from a '/-able companion. Thus has terminated the most brilliant turf career of any horse on record. This invincible daughter of Cambuscan, during tha four years of her public life on the turf, won fifty-four races without encountering a single defeat. Those unparalled series of notable triumphs placed her far ahead of any other thoroughbred in Europe, or in any other portion of the civilized globe. In 1876 ns a two-year-old, she won ten races ; in 1877, as a three-year-old, she won seventeen races; in 1878 as a four-year-old, she won fifteen races; in 1879, as a five-year-old, she won twelve races, making in oil fifty-four victories. In 1878, Kincsem, as a four-year-old, won the Goodwood Cup, beating Pageant and Lady Qolightly, by two lengths in a big gallop. This was her only race on tho English turf.

Pour of Lord Falmouth’s mares have thrown twins this spring—Lady Coventry and Cecilia to Dutch Skater, Eodwing to Golopin, and Wheatear to Kingcraft. This is a stroke of bad luck. Twins are no more welcome in a stable where the object in view is racehorses than they ore in the family of a poor man who labors to stop hungry mouths. I learn (says 1“ Beacon ”) that Mr Henry Yeend will leave for Melbourne in the course of a week or two, taking Customs with him. He intends watering there, and will no doubt give Customs an opportunity of trying his powers on his native soil. In the spring ho intends going to Now Zealand. A story is told (says the English correspondent of the Melbourne “ Weekly Times”) that many years ago the famous trainer of reoehorses, the recently deceased Thomas Dawson, paid a visit to Swinton Park, the home of his employer, Admiral Harcourt. The Admiral invited Dawson to accompany him to the adjoining paddocks in order to inspect the brood mares and foals. “I will show you an old favorite of yours,” said the owner of Swinton Park, as they approached a cluster of brood mares. “If Ellerdale \is among them,” observed Dawson, “ depend upon it that she has not forgotten her old grudge against me, and that she will run me out of the paddock. ” The mare in question lifted up her head as the voice of her. former trainer reached her ears, and after gazing upon him for a minute, she set off to pursue him, with oars laid back, and with flashing eye and snorting nostril.