Totalisator Turf Topics.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 154, 13 June 1903, Page 23

Totalisator Turf Topics.

By 'Krect-Card.

The winter meeting of the Otaki Racing Club held last week, was one of the most successful the club has ever experienced. The fields were large, and the racing exerting. There was a large attendance, and the totaJisator returns show an increase on the gum handled at the corresponding meeting last year. The meeting passed ott without a hitch of any kind, which speaks volumes for the clubs officials. The starting was not quit© up to the mark, but where the fields were so big some allowance must be made for Mr. Hon. Te Warn. The course was on the heavy side, which accounts for the slow times recorded. The principal event on the first day the Raukawa Cvp — was won easily by the Gold. Reef— Pearl Powder geldin ~ Gold Dust, who was turned out in splendid fettle by J. Munn. There were nine starters, favouritism being conferred upon Volley, while Betsy and Ostiak were a,lso well supported. Ostiak out out the running for half the distance, and then retired, and finished second last. The favourite ran well to the straight but, when challenged by Gold Dust and Rubm, completely shut up. Plaidie came very fast at the finish, and secured third honours. Ballarat scored in the Flying Hack very decisively the first day, and, with extra poundage followed up the dose on, the second day. The daughter of Gold Reef is very well just now, and since she has been under the tuition of W. Davies 1 lias improved a lot. She was ridden bv W. Price, who was associated with her when, she was under the mentorship of F. Tilley, at Fordell. The same iockev had a winning mounb on Dick Turpin, in the Hurdles. It is not often that one sees the same jockey win two different kinds of races in succession. But this happened at Otaki. W. Price rode Ballarat to victory in the first race and then came out and w r on the Hurdles with Dick Turpin. The latter's victory is the first he has gained over sticks, and, as he won from end to end, his performance was a meritorious one. The son of Louis dOr jumps well, and, as he has a fair amount of pace he should in time turn out a stayer At present, a mile and a-half seems quite far enough for him, for in the race under review he appeared to me to be tiring fast at the finish. The Quoit, gelding Rags kept up his leputaition as a second-day winner. On the opening day, Rags kept with his field until the straight was reached, but bv this time the leaders had got too big a break an and, although he was travelling faster than anything at the finish, he could only get third. On the second day he made his ran a bi f earlier and snatched a half-length victory from Dick Turpin. Mr J. Prosser's stable annexed a double by the aid of Hanna and Posi-

tion. The former won all the way from a field of ten, while the latitei beat a field of seventeen in the Birthday Hack Welter Both were ridden by Jenkins, and these were the only two winning mounts he had, although he occupied second place on two occarsions, with Exmoor and Opaeae. The Rangiuru Handicap went to Mr. J. Calvin M.H.R., by the aid of Sanfoin. The start for the race was disgraceful, the field being spreadeagjed out when the barrier rose. The winner eot all the. best of it, and. making eveirv "ost - w inning one, he. lasted lon.g enough, to gam the verdict by three lengths from Exmoor. In this race Reclaimer was making his reappearance after an absence of some mouths fiom the racing arena, and, although on the big side hei ran creditably. Sanfom paid the biggest dividend of the day— £lo 11s. Shrapnel Shell was the hero of the second day's races, for he appropriated a double in very easy fashion. His victory was anticipated by his connections, and they had a tidy win over the gelding's success. This horse has proved a good stake-earner throughout the season for his owner, Mr. W. Smart and his condition reflects "Teat credit on his trainer, F. Higgott. The Vanguard mare, Valima, did her ow ner a good turn in the Stew ards' Hack and as she paid the largest dividend of the meeting — £19 odd — doubtless her connections are jubilant. Over a short, course she is very fast, and, properly placed would score oftener. On her breeding, she is capable of something better than hack company. In connection with the Louis dOr geilding, Dick Turpm's, success in the Hurdle. Race- at Otaki, a queer story is told. The day previous to the meeting a group of artillerymen were discussing thiei different candidates, up at the Barracks where lately the prisoners had been working. One of the former intended journeying to Otaki to tr«- his luck but was m somewhat of a dilemma as to which horse to back. After discussing the several candidates engaged in the Hurdle Race, he was no wiser, and ejaculated . "Well, I'm gomr to Otaki, but what to back I don't know." Quite distinctly came the reply from one of the convicts at w ork "Back Dick Turpin for all you're worth'" So surprised was the officer on hearing this, that he decided to take the tip so emphatically given, and, needless to say, had a good win in consequence. How the prisoner got the information no one knows, but there is little doubt that he was well acquainted with the horse, and that, he was just as certain that he w r ould succeed. Writing last week re Battleaxe as a hurdler, I stated that, after his run m the Remuera Hurdles, with a little more practice the son of Hotchkiss will hold his own with the best of them. On the following Wednesday when the Grand National Hurdle Race came up for decision Battleaxe made his second appearance at the Auckland meeting. From the accounts of the race to hand, he appeared to have the race at his mercy from the .start, .^nd simply played with his field. On returning to sca,le there wais< a demonstration, and both horse and rider were hooted. The stewards held an inquiry into the gelding's running on the previous occasion, but they declined to disturb the judge's verdict.. A propos of this, whe discussing the Remuera Hurdles, a Northern writer says — "There was a mild demonstration, against Battleaxe and Percy Johnston his rider, at the conclusion of the

Remueia Hurdle Race, at Ellerslie, today but the stewards did not deem t necessary to make a move. The crowd outside the paddock seemed to think that Johnston did not finish so resolutely on has horse as could bei desired. Personally, I did not see anything in Johnston's riding that called for an interview w ith the stew ards, but some shrew d ■judges* aie found holding the opinion that the Grand National Hurdle Race on Wednesday will show Battleaxe up n a different light." Itl iisi not often that, one man o\\ ns the. three placed horses in any race, but such was the result of the Grand Prix de Paiiis, run last week. The winner turaed up im Quo Vadis, and he was followed home by his stable companions, Caius and A 7 inicius. The second horse was successful on each occasion that he started as a two-year-old, while the third, Vinicius, ran, second to Rock Sand in thei English Derby only last Wednesday. All three are owned by M. Blanc. Mr. Stead's cracks, Cruciform and Orloff ha.ye been nominated for the Epsom and Metropolitan Handicaps, the two big events of the A.J.C. spring meeting. The former's name is missing from the list of NNcrw r Zealand Cup entries, so there is a probability that she will be sent across the waiter, provided of course, that the handicapper is not too seivere. The same gentleman has nominated four colts for next year's A.J.C. Derby, namely Sarcanet, Malakoff, Rubia, and Golden Night. Sportsmen generally would be pleased to hear of the success of the Squire of YaMhurst in this important classic race, and it is to be hoiped that. Australian owners will follow suit, and send in a nomination for some of our classic races. Fifty-four horses have been nominated for the next New Zealand Cup, and, while there is some excellent quality engap-ed, there is undoubtedly a lot of rubbish that can have no earthly chance of success, on this season's form at any rate. The most notable absentees are. Cruciform Treadmill, Advance. Nonette'. Vladimir, Machine Gun, Terrapin and Porirua Amongst those engaged are Orloff, Achilles, Wairiki Shrapnel, Melwood, Halberdier, Heroism, and Mars. The hurdler and steeplechaser, Scallywag, who ran second to Awahun in the Wamganui Steeplechase, has been purchased by a local sportsman from. Mr. G. Pilche/r, and is now located at the Hutt. The price is in the region of £260. The son of Turquoise— Stella is a proficient jumper, and, although he tnes quickly at the end of a long journey, he can usually be relied on to stand up, no matter how big the fences are. He will probably make his appearance in his nncrw r owner's interest at the Wellington winter meeting. A three-year-old filly, by Torpedo — Streamlet, was sold at Wanganui lecentlv for ten guineas. This filly is well bred, her dam being by The Mute — Rivulet, the dam of Brooklet, The Shannon, and The Brook, the three last named being by Torpedo. The inquiry into the running of Sojourner in the South Australian St. Leger ended in the exoneration of everyone concerned w ith the. Pilgrim's Progress oolt, there being no evidence that the colt was by unfair means, rendered unfit to run up to his best form. The £10,000 World's Fair Handicap, to b© run at St. Louis next year, did not fill as well as American racing men anticipated. The nominations total eighty-seven, thirty-six owners being lepresented. However, the stake will be re-opened and owners who feel so inclined can come in later on at an entry fee of £150. As the race is a handicap, it is safe to sa,v there will be no particular rush to get in at that hgure>. An endeavour was made to vet a nomination from King Edward, but nothing of his is engaged so far.