Totalisator Turf Topics.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 189, 13 February 1904, Page 19

Totalisator Turf Topics.

Within the lust couple of months four horses have been killed at Auckland race meetings. The pony Annoyed, that won a double at Takapuna, was bought as a yearkng by her present owner for £7. She is a half-sister to Miss Nelson. Dolores' pronounced win in the Takapuna Cup caused punters to follow her in other events, with dire results. The daughter of Freedom appeared to go right off. Auckland scribes waxed warm on Inohcape's beautifully clean style of jumping when he won at Takapuna, but ere the meeting had ended so did his career. He fell at one of the fences at Takapuna, and met with such injuries as to necessitate his destruction. * * * On the 17th and 18th instant, the Egmont Racing Club's summer meeting takes place. Mr. Henry's handicapping has succeedel in making the task of picking them difficult, rendered more so by the fact that, at time of writing: the acceptances are not published. However, I like the following with a start Flying Handicap. — Anchorite 1, Marshal Soult 2. Meremere Hack. — Woodmount 1, Glory 2. Hurdles. — Midia 1, Fakir 2. Hack Hurdles. — Pharos 1, Eanana 2. Egmont Cup. — Putty 1, Liable 2 Hawera Welter. — Lass o' Gowne, -, Inglewood 2. Waipawa Hack.— Siandra 1, Black Cat 2.

By St. Simon.

THE attempt to "take down" bookmakers recently by means ot post-timed telegrams, resulted disastrously for two of the participators, who, besides, losing their employment, have had to bear the stigma of a criminal prosecution resulting in their pleading guilty and being admitted to twelve months' probation. The owner of Gladsome talks of sending the mare over to Sydney next spring, to try to emulate Cruciform's brilliant performances. Gladsome has few classic engagements bar the New Zealand St. Leger and the Hawke's Bay Stakes, therefore handicaps will have to be relied on, and I doubt if Mr. Reid will chance the risk of breaking her down with the imposts which she has justly earned. Achilles is said to be going on nicely in his training, in view of the Wanganui Cup. Ido hope to see the champion of Ponrua continue on satisfactorily, and change Prosser's luck. The weights for the Wanganui Cup are due on the 19th instant. The Upper Hutts trotting meeting is fixed for May 24th. On the programme just issued the two principal races are the Hutt Valley Trotting Club Handicap, of 40 soys, two miles, for horses that can do 5.40 or better, and the Mungaroa Trotting Handicap, of 20 soys, one mile, for horses that can do 2.50 or better. This new club is composed of trotting enthusiasts of experience in the management of such a club, so we can look for good and clean sport. "Pub" accommodat on at Tapanui during the race meeting was at a premium. Every inch of available floorspace was taken up with shakedowns. One horse-owner, who weighs in the vicinity of 20st, shared a bed with his light-weight jockey, who was heard to exclaim as lights went out, "Say, boss, for heaven's sake don't get cast in your box, or I'm a goner!" As Mr. Dugald Thomson will have to chancre the name of his filly Tangawai, I would suggest that she be called Tahawai, which means "by the water." Mr. Tom Cotton, the well-known and popular ex-Otago trainer and rider, is now resident at Auckland, where he has followed his avocation for the past four years. My first acquaintance with Tom dates back thirty years, in those good old days of Sir Tatton Taffrail, Atlas, Brunette, and Co. Tom Cotton and his brother, Jim, are still daring horsemen over country, and three of Tom's sons are following in the footsteps of their father. Tom Cotton, jun., goes to scale at Bst, Teddy, the second boy, is a light-weight of 4st 71b, but the champion of the trio is Victor, who can ride 6st, and adopts the Tod Sloan style. He has recently been, very successful. He scored three wins at Nelson, came on to Wellington, and got home on Tercelet. At Takapuna the. other day he rode Jewellery and Annoyed to victory in the principal handicaps. He is a taking little fellow, well guarded from all temptations by his father, who has aways been a straight-goer. Father and son passed through Wellington at the beginning of the week, en route for Christchurch, where Victor has three or four engagements at the forthcoming meeting. Mr. Cotton has an idea of shifting his headquarters to Wellington. Jewellery has been a bad mare to follow. Prior to winning the Summer Handicap, at Takapuna, she had no less than thirty-one consecutive defeats registered against her name. Her previous win was in the spring of 1901.