True Topics.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 130, 27 December 1902, Page 25

True Topics.

By 'Krect-Card.

George Price, the popular young horseman connected with Mr. W. i>avies' stable, injured when riding Zealous at the recent C.J.C. meeting, has so far recovered as to be able to don the colours agaan. He rode Motor hi the Woodville Handicap, and was successful with his mount. Mr. G. G. Stead's crack colt, Royal Artillery, who claims an engagement m the O.J.C. Challenge Stakes, run on April 14th, is in commission again. It is understood that "Tattersall" intends to run a, consultation, on the next New Zealand Cup. It will be 100,000 tickets at ss. So far Seaton Delaval has not had a winning representative in the Auckland Cup although last year he had the run-ner-up in Nonette. He has Porirua, Idas and Northumberland to do battle for him in the contest on Friday next. The last three Cups have been, won by descendants of St. Leger, who has Bluejacket and Ma,tama,taharakiki to represent him this year. Quite a chapter of incidents is thus reported at the Victoria Park races, m Australia, on November 29th.— There were seven races, a dead heiat, a runoff a wrangle between two trainers, a protest, one iockey failed to draw the weight, and four horses were killed. The Hawke's Bay Jockey Club has decided to only use the one-two totabsators at its approaching meeting on New Year's Bay. The straight-out machine, which was tried at recent meetings!, was not a success from a financial point of view. The death is reported of Materoa, the full-sister to The Shannon, Brooklet, Brook, and la. The mare was. being given, a dose of oil when some of the liquid found its way into her lungs, and she died shortly afterwards. The latest betting on the Auckland Cup, run on Boxing Day, is 6 to 4 against Siege Gun, 4to 1 against Porirua, 5 to 1 against Bluejacket, 10 to 1 against Mars and The Shannon, 14 to 1 against Idas and Matamataharakiki, 20 to 1 against Legion of Honour. Pallas, Orloff, Wairiki and four or five others engaged in the Railway Handicap are being coupled in doubles with the Cup favourites. At* the recent Cfhristohureh Racing Olub's meeting, the Artillery mare Nance O'Neill was responsible for paying the largest dividend, viz., £21 18s. It is only sax weeks ago that the same lady returned her supporters £22 4s in the Port Cooper Hurdle Race, so that backers who take a fancy tlo one horse, and stick to that one right through the season, must be a good bit ahead of it so far. There is a possibility of Messrs. Miller, tihe well-kntown Victorian sportsmen, sending their crack chasers, Error and Colonel Shihnski, to England for the Liverpool Grand National. New Zealand blood was largely, but unsuccessfully, represented at the Ripon (England) meeting, on October 25th. Amongst the beaten division, during the afternoon's racing, were two representatives of Carbine, a colt and a filly by Trenton, and a gelding by Chainehot. R. H. Frew, the Victorian trainer, intends paying a visit to New Zealand, in the hope of picking up one or two good jumpers. Four horses were killed at a recent Adelaide meeting, three in a hurdle race and one in a steeplechase. When the last mail left England, the stewards of the English Jockey Club were inquiring into the running of Black Sand, the winner of the Csesarewitohi Handicap. In the Jockey Club Cup, at the Newmarket Houghton meeting, Black Sand was beaten by William the Third, at a difference of 31b in the latter's favour. The time for the two miles and a-quarter, was 4min llsec. Black Sand won the Csesarewitoh, run over the same course, in 3min 52seo. Out of about a hundred and fifty applicants, the Australian Jockey Club appointed Mr. A. W. Hutten and Mr. J. B. Witham, of New South Wales, and Mr. A. W. Pearson, of Victoria, stipendiary stewards, at a salary of £500. This action is a step in the right direction, and we trust that New Zealand authorities will soon follow in the same footsteps.

When the crack English filly Sceptre was placed' under the* hammer recently, with a reserve on her of 24,000 guineas, she did not evoke a single bid. Buyers of thoroughbreds at that figure do not wag their head's very frequently now-a-dayß. According to a London paper, Mrs. Langtry's proverbial luck has temporarily deserted her. She was the possessor of a very beautiful yearling by Merman out of Perovna,, which was entered for several important events. She was offered one thousand guineas for the foal, which she refused, to her soiriow later, as, a few days after it was made, the yearling broke a leg, and had to be destroyed. The Duke of Portland's Carbine: colt, Greatorex, got his name from a lady, a greengrocer and possibly, a spice of superstition in the owner. If he lives up to his divination, he will win tihe Derby of 1903, for the lady in a dream, saw a colt of his' colour, name aoid ownership doing so, and his Grace shortly afterwards noticed the name on a greengrocer's cart. The Duke's duty was obvious, and he did it. The bay colt) being tlhere, and entered 1 for the Derby, let him be called Greatorex, so that the owner's part of the combination might not be lacking. Made coincidences, however, have no great value, and the other sort are doubtful finger-posts to success. Some of tihe Victor lan cross-country riders do not relish the idea of another obstacle being added to the already formidable ones to be negotiated in a roundi of the steeplechase course at Flemington. The calculation in putting a medium fence before the stone wall, known as "the cathedra], " is that it will cause a steady nace to be adopted in that neighbourhood but, judging by the wa.y the leaders travelled in the last steeplechase won bv Kiota, says 1 an Australian writer, the required steadying of pace will not come aiboufc until the dispositions of riders are altered. With men like Mooney about, riding a horse likely to be chopped for pace at the end, who jump® well, it can be taken for granted an extra fence will not induce special consideration for the opposition, when there is a chance' of leaving tihem a bit behind. Colonel Harry MoCalmont, who died in England last week, was best known to the public as a racing man. He inherited a larere fortune from a relative, and this enabled him to gratify his love of racing on an extensive scale. Among the many performers which carried his colours 1 , the most prominent was Isinglass, who won the Two Thousand Guineas, Derby, and St. Leger in 1893. He raced for four seasons, and credited his owner with £57,455 in stake money, a record for one horse. Since his re^ tirement from the turf, Isinglass has been, fairly successful at the stud. Rising Glass, one of his sons, being one of the best three-year-olds this season. The late Colonel McCalmont has been represented during the past season in England by St. M'aclon, Rising Glass, and Glass Jug. It is not many months since the deceased sportsman was' mentioned in connection w'th the position of Gov-ernor-General of Australia. • • • At the Races. Same old racecourse, Same old ground, Same old horses Running 'round , Same old grandstand, Same old crowd, Same old "Betting Not allowed." Same old bookies Same old gate, Same old starter, Same old weight. Same old paddocks, Same old jccks Same old kicking, Same old knocks. Same old "easies," Same old scouts, Same old talent, Same old touts. Same old wise ones, Same old tips, Same old "sure things," Same old slips. Same old home stretch, Same old luck, Same old favourite In the ruck. Same old lather, Same old foam, Same old way of Walking home.