Totalisator Turf Topics.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 113, 30 August 1902, Page 25

Totalisator Turf Topics.

By 'Krect-Card.

The New Zealand Grand National Hurdle Raw winner, Tresham, ha,s been awarded 7st 101b in the Avondale Oup, run over a mile and a-quarter, on September 20th. It is stated that Cavaliero shows signs of soreness as a result of his exertion at the Grand National meeting. Notwithstanding that Siege Gun (Hotchkiss— Frailty) finished unplaced in the Winter Oup, many shrewd judges are of opinion that he will do better later on. On the strength of his late run in that race, he was backed for several sums during the week, and is now actual favourite for the New Zealand Cup, being quoted at 8 to 1. What a wonderful horse old Goldspur is to be sure ' On the concluding day of the C J.C fixture, he lumped his 12st home to victory in the Summer Handicap, and he was meeting some slippery opponents, too. Colonel Shilhnski's win in the Gaulfield Grand National is voted by the "Australasian" one of the luckiest ever seen on a racecourse. Lowland Chief, who was in command, ran down the last fence. There is a very handsome full-sister to Rosella (Seaton Delaval— Roie) amongst the yearlings running at Svlvia Park. Unlike her sister, who is a chestnut, the youngster is a bright bay, in which respect she takes after both sire and dam. It is reported that Pampero was backed during the week for the New Zealand Cup, and that the money was obtained on behalf of the stable connections. That the son of St. Clair has been treated leniently enough by the weight adjuster no one will gainsay, but I think a much shorter course would be more to his liking. The pencillers throughout the colony will have good cause to remember the New Zealand Grand National meeting of 1902, and the respective victories of Haydn and Tresham in the two principal events. This double was extensively backed from the appearance of the weights', and its success will make a big hole in the banking accounts of some of our prominent metallicians. When The Guard fell in the Grand National Steeplechase, he seriously hurt one of his shoulders, so much so that Prosser was unable to bring him home with the rest of the team, and left him in Murray Aynsley's charge. It is the unanimous opinion of onlookers of the race that but for his mishap The Guard •would have won in a canter. A Southern writer says that Miss Button, owner of Slow Tom, who won two Hunters' Hurdle races at the recent C.J.C. fixture, not only schooled the horse at home, but took him round the schooling fencesi at Riccarton nrior to the horse'si winning. She would have ridden the horse in his engagements' had it been possible. A good supporter of racing in Mr. J. T. Blake, of Hastings, has decided to relinquish the game for a time at least. For some months past his luck has not been too good, and he is going to try what a spell will do. Mr. Blake is returning Sylvanus to Mr. Rathbone, his owner, and Passion Fruit to Mr. McLean, but will keep that consistent little mare Daphne, who so often has come to his rescue when help was needed. M. Mooney, by winning both the Victorian National Hurdle Races in the one season, has emulated the deeds of J. Scobie in 1882, R. Batty in 1883, A Ferguson in 1885, and J. C. Brewer in 1895. Amongst the list of acceptances for the Australian Jockey Club's Derby, appears the name of Mr. D. A McLeod's brown colt by Hotchkiss — Ouida. Mr. G. G. Stead, the well-known Canterbury sportsman, has purchased from Mr. J. E. Brewer, of Melbourne, the three-year-old filly Farewell, by Bill of Portland from Melodious (dam of Wallace). Farewell, as a two-year-old, with 7st 111b ran second to Brakpan <9st 21b), in the Mona Nursery Handicap, run at Caulfield, and was beaten by a neck in 51^ sec. Behind the pair were no less than thirty-two others. On the third day of the same meeting. Farewell finished fourth in the Gwyn Nursery Handicap, four and a-half furlongs with Bst 71b, to Tronbridge Bst

101b, Groat Scott 9st 21b, and Homeward Bound Bst 31b At tho VR (' spima, footing,, Faiowell lan second to Niplietos m the Manbyrnong Plate, five furlongs, and wite defeated by three paits of a leneth, ui lmin 2isec Behind her in this race were Great Seott, Biakpan, Tionbridge, and others. Over five furlongs at Caulfiold, in the Juvenile Stakes, with 9st 21b, Farewell finished unplaced to Independence' 7st 121b At Moonee Valley, on Januai> 2">th, Farewell legisterd hei hist nm This was in a Maiden Plate, iuii ovei five furlongs She had Gst 21b, and lomned home by six lengths' in front of fourteen otheis in lmin 4|sec The filly started in all six times, winning once, and, even if not raced heie, will make a valuable addition to her new ow ner's stud Among the new legislation enacted by the Queensland Turf Club, at the late annual meeting, is the following lule — "If any horse be scratched withm twenty-four houis of the running of any race m w hich he is engaged, the stewards may call upon the owner for an explanation of or reasons for such scratchings, and if such explanation or reasons be deemed not satisfactory by the stewards, they may disqualify the owner or the horse, or both, for such term a® they may think fit, and may also fine the owner in any sum. not exceeding £50, but the stewards of the Q.T.C. may fine the owner in an-' sum up to £100." This appears somewhat stringent, but, if it checks what is now becoming a nositivei scandal in horse racing, it will have answered its purpose. At Maidenhead (England), a thiee-year-old racing filly met her death m a most unusual fashion. She was "done up" as usual in the evening, the eras subsequently being turned of?, as is customary in the stables. The stud groom, how-ever, omitted to turn the gas off at the meter, and it' is supposed that the filly during the night somehow turned the gas on in her box bv coming in contact with the tap, and the ventillators not being sufficient to carry the gas away she was found suffocated m her box the following morning In the report presented at the annual meeting of members of the Australian Jockey Club, a recommendation made that the added money to the A.J.C. Derby be lOOOsovs , and to the Metropolitan Stakes 2000sovs., was adopted. They have in Sydney a racehoise named "T.M.S." who has distinguished himself by doing nothing else but run second in races. The horse was ow ned by Bookmaker Oxenham, and was named after the politician T. M. Slattery, but a wag now suggests that the letters stand for "Too Many Seconds." The well-known Victorian owner and trainer, Mr. J. Wilson, jun., evidently has a poor opinion of the majority of those individuals who race horses in Australia, and he is not afraid to sav so. At a meeting of the members of the Geelong Racing Club it' was pronosed to extend the summer meeting over two days, and, in opposing this motion, Mr. Wilson said "In daysi gone o^ when true sportsmen patronised the turf, such a scheme would be possible, but it was out of the question now. The majority of those who follow the sport' are 'gentlemen, guns.' Out of all the owners in. Australia, only about four run their horses purely for sr>ort, and the others are, like myself, on business bent." As the subject of stipendiary stewards is one that is continually cropping up — and not without good reason, too*— I append a few extracts from, a letter from Mr. H. C. White, the proprietor of the well-known Havilah Stud, to the "Sydney Mail." The writer is well versed in matters relating to the turf, and the appointment of paid stewards by the A.J.C. was the occasion of his penning the following lines — "Much of the success of this new departure will depend upon the sort of men who are appointed, for it is better to have none than incompetent men — men who get appointed because they may be friends or relations of those in power. Ido not say that friendship and kinship will influence the committee in their choice , but all men are imperceptibly influenced by their feelings towards their friends and their relations. No doubt' any number of men can be found who would gladly take these appointments, but they are not the sort in whom the public would have confidence, and it would be better to have none than the cheap sort. "It will be necessary to pav good men a fairly good salary to do the work these stewards will be called upon to perform. It is quite likely that, when these stewards) begin, their work, there may be few or no convictions, because owners, trainers, and jockeys will be on their best behavious; but if the knowledge that they are watched will make people behave honestly, that is sufficient justification for these appointments. The 'enterprising burglar' is deterred from

'burgling' when he knows that two 01 three policemen are watching him. '■Prevention is at all times better than cure, and if the mere presence of paid stewards will prevent many of the very objectionable practices which now disgrace the turf from happening, then I sav the committee of the A.J.C. will have done more than has ever vet been done to purify the turf, and will deserve the thanks 1 of all those who wish to see this great national sport made clean." Away in the back country the leading sportsmen of the district held a meeting at the local "pub," and, says "Javelin," resolved to start a racing club. It was agreed, that a canvass for funds should be instituted, and, as the last round of drinks w ere brought in, the chairman said to the landlord "I suppose we can put you down for a fiver, Pat?" "Sure, thin," replied Pat, "it all depends ' If yez hould the meetings in the paddock beyant, have the winnin' posht in front of the bar door, and don't start the last ra,ce till siven o'clock, y&z can put me down for a tinner, or maybe twenty quid."

Football is a manly game That haidens muscle, knits the fiame, And makes New Zealand's hardy youth Oui pride and strength, and that's the truth Bad coughs and colds attack the strong, As much the weak that's sure, Let both —they never can go wrong — Take Woods' Grevt Peppermint Core.