Totalisator Turf Topics.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 111, 16 August 1902, Page 23

Totalisator Turf Topics.

By 'Krect-Card.

A laige numbei of local spoits left during the week to attend the Giand National meeting at Chnstohnrch, and in consequence, sporting matters heie are very quiet. No doubt they will be gaaners when thej return , if not m pocket, in experience The well-known bookmaker, Mr. A. Law, returned from his trip to Austia ha last week, and looks as if the change had proved beneficial The most notable e*ent dm ing the past week has been the backing of Tortulla for the New Zealand Cup, and she now miles as good a favourite as anything. It is reported that commissions were w orked in various parts of the colony, and that the money w as obtained on behalf of the stable. Coronet, who, it was thought, had seen his last of the lacing track, is to be put m work again, his party being hopeful of lus standing a preparation. A. McMorran, the well-known crosscountry rider, had two falls at the recent Amberley Steeplechase meeting, the second one resulting m a bioken collar-bone. The well-known English tiamer, Richard Marsh, who numbers amongst his patrons King Edwaicl VII., has a full-sister to Persimmon and Diamond Jubilee, belonging to His Majesty, in work at present. Prior to his illness, the Eang was occasionally an mteiested spectator on the heath during the morning's training operations. In the list of winning sires for Australia for the past season, Gozo occupies pride of place with £12,330 o^osite his name. Following him are Trenton £11,710 Lochiel, £9021, Gi after, £8042; Metal 7980 Bill of Portland, £.5894 The Adnmal, £0b49 , Wallace £50b9. After pacing first forfeits, thirtythree horses remain in the Welcome Stakes, 3o in the Dei by Stakes, 27 m the Oaks Stakes (spring meeting) 43 m the Middle Park Plate (slimmer meeting), and ()8. m the Eleventh Challenge Stakes (autumn meeting) of the Canteibury Jockey Club The annual leport of the Auckland Racing Club states that at the four meetings held during the past season £21,774 was given in added montn . an increase of £1720 on the amount distributed during the previous year The totahsator investments were £I(>4 704, compared with £103,699 handled dm ing the previous year The profit earned to the oapita.l account is £1992. At the annual meeting of the Egmont Racing Club, the president (Mi Nolan) once again advised the election of non-betting stewards. For the last year or two, he said, the stewaids had met on) the morning of the laces, and agreed that they would be non-betting The club was unique in this resnect and if all clubs in New Zealand adonted the same principle it would be bettei for racing, for stewards would be able to do their duty impartially

The death is announced of John Watts, the famous English jockey, who was consideied the gieatest mastei of hoiseinanship of this century. For many years he wasfiist jockey for King Edward's (then Pi nice of Wales) stable and has since been a trainer. King Edward made inquiries several times dumis Watts' illness as to his health, and has sent condolences to the W iflO'W . The committee of the Queensland Tuif Club appeal to have made up their minds lesolutelv to take a detenmned stand against inconsistency of performances Tliev have issued a mandate to all and sundry who reel inclined to take lesson by the scriptural lily, bv framing the following rule, which will no doubt, be confirmed at the annual meeting If the stew ards of a meeting are satisfied that the w ninei of or any horse placed m any race at the meeting has not been permitted bv Ins owner, tiainer, nder, o<r other peison connected with or interested in him to do his best in am' lace run on the same course, not more than fifteen days before they may disqualify him for such race in which he was the- winner or placed horse, and award the stake to the second, third, fourth or any other horse qualified to receive the same. The stewards of the Queensland Turf Club shall have the above powers on whatever course the race in which the horse was not permitted to do his best was run." The object of such ai rule is obvious Since the inauguration of the Eclipse Stakes, in 188b five Derby winners have succeeded m canying off the ' ten thousand poundei ," but this yeai Mr. J. Gubbins's colt Arc! Patrick went lame and had to forfeit his engagement while the valuable prize was onnexed bv the Duke of Devonshire's colt Cheers, who unsuccessfully competed last month for the classic race Cheers was bred by his owner, and is by His Majesty's horse Persimmon, who, in 1896 secured the Derby, and the following year credited his royal owner with the Eclipse Stakes. Last season Cheers carried silk on thiee occasions, but only secured a places — second to Loweite, in the Prince of Wales Stakes at the Goodwood July meeting — and though he started several times this season his first victory was achieved in a race that has the names of sucOi equine celebrities as Bendigo, Avrshhe, Surefoot, Orrae (twice) Isinglass St Frusqum Persimmon, Flying Fox, and Diamond Jubilee on its winning scroll. A most ingenious device, ]ust legisteied and manufactured by Messrs. Power and Co., London, is certain to be as soon as circulated in the pocket of e\ erv punter" in the United Kingdom It consists of a cardboard dial, with hands woiking on a pivot, and by placing til** latter in a given position any odds on" or against" can be seen at a glance It fits the waistcoat pocket and certainly is a marvel of ingenuity. It is to be retailed at. the popular penny. Manton, by Musket-Tres Deuce who won the. New Zealand Cup, C.J.C Derby, and Canterbury Cup of 1888 is advertised for private sale in Sydney. Manton is one of the> few Muskets left, and is now about seventeen years old Seahorse started at Sandown Park, on Junei 18th, m a seven-furlong handicap. The ex-New Zealander, who had Bst olb, wa.s not mentioned in the betting and finished last. At Sandown Park, on June 13th, the Sandringham FoaJ Stakes (1724 soys., one mile and a-quarter) was won by Rising Glass who ran second to Ard Patnck in the Derby. Behind Rising Gla^s in his recent win was the American colt Intiuder and Pekin, the

liaJf-bi other to the defunct Wellington Park sire Castor. Prior to the commencement of Brisbane TattersalPs meeting, at Deagon, on Saturday the clerk went to the weighing-in room to adjust tlie scales, but found that they would not work properly. An examination proved that one of the flooring-boards had been pulled up and a piece of pine nailed to it underneath. Screwed into the piece of pine was a small swivel, \wth a wheel attached, through which a corded rope ran underneath the flooring. A blaick stocking, containing a lump of lead weighing nearly 31b, was tied to the storing, which was taken up through the flooring and attached to a lever ot the bottom of the scales. The other end of the ro>v>e had been taken outside the ground through a hole cut in the galvanised iron. Anyone outside by an easy pull of the rope could weigh out a boy considerably under Avedgrht or weigh him in just as muchi overweight. It is not known how access was obtained to the room. Fortunately, the contrivance was discovered before the first race, but a similar device may have been, used at the previous meeting. When the discovery wasi made the police were informed, but no one ventured to work the rope.