IN A NUTSHELL

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 55

IN A NUTSHELL

— Ahna started first favourite in three Crri-nd National Steeplechases. — There is no truth in the rumour thai JLndax will be sent to England.

— Kaironia has been purchaesd for 200sovs, mnd will probably go to Sydney. — The St^ Leger mare Lady Hester has jaroduced a brother to Master Soult. — During tho past nine seasons horses carrying th« colours of Sir George Clifford liave won stakes to the value of £45,174.

— Exmoor ran in the National Hurdles as If he had joined the stiff- jointed brigade. — Stepniak sired four Winter Cup winners in Spider, Ostiak, Vladinmr, and 4 Kremlin. — Laonheart lias not lost his pace, but he Sid not laat out his journey in the National Hurdles.

— King Po*t is slow away from the barrier, bat he is • rare finisher st the business «nd of his races..

— Owners ax 6 reminded that nominations sr« due on the 28th for the Ashburton spring meeting. . — Th« National winner Compass is understood to have been in the market some little time ago at 400ga. — Aborigine Is pleasing ihe touts at Band•mck, and Tecentfy registered a smart gallop over seven furlongs. Moldavia hen bees sold- for 1500gs to a Java, purchaser, but she will fulfil her 'Australian engagements—lneu ran ia the nomination of Mr L.

Furx at Riccarton. There is no mention of leather in this paragraph.

— Stepenfeldt, who has been a bad-legged horse for several seasons, pulled up lame after his race on Saturday.

— Los Angelos finished so resolutely in his races last week that it would not be surprising if he developed into a stayer.

— Nadador is the first mar© to win a National Steeplechase, and one of the softer sex !has yet bo win 0. National Hurdle Race.

— A Sydney architect who has been in India, England, and Europe, says Randwick has the biggest (single-deck) stand in the world.

— A Melbourne cable states that so horse of importance has dropped out of the Mel■bourne and Caumeld Cups on the first two forfeits.

— P«Uada was not' allowed fo start in the Hunters' Plate, owing, it is understood, to some informality regarding his hunter's certificate-. ,

—An Adelaide cable states that the National Steeplechase, run on Saturday, was won by Vulcan, with Seth second and Deetillio third.

— The English Jockey Club have decided I that "no weight shall be allotted to a horse j in a handicap until ihe has run three times , in the United Kingdom." — The North Otago Jockey Club hay© deleted the word "hack" from the titles of the races for which that <pho.se of horse is eligible, to rua at their meetings. — Acting under .medical adlvioe, the wellknown horseman D. Maher contemplates taking a year's rest from the saddle in order- to revive his failing health. — American exchanges inform,-, us that it is estimated that £400,000 will be hung up in' purses and stakes for trotting and pacing races in the United States this year. — Lovell was handicapped to carry 13.9 in the Htmters' Plate at Riccaiton ,on. Saturday, or 4lb less than his fcalf-brother Pilot failed under in last year's race. . — Slaney carried Mr J. C N. Gxigg's colours when he scored in the Styx Hurdles at Riccarton. It is understood tiat 300sova was paid for the Dirk Hamerhand gelding. — St. Aidan is to be trained in Oamaxu during the season, but it is understood will rejein D. Moraghan's stable at the back end of the year in order to be schooled over hurdles.

—T. Cahill, •who lias been ho successful in Australia* was not particularly "busy at Rieearton. last week, btrt he managed to break a. collarbone on th« last day of the meeting.

— Virtus fell and broke his neck whilst Tunning in the Trial Hurdles last week. He was subsequently led away an^r shot. Most horses that break their necks usually remain on the ground.

— Though a bill to legalise the totalisator was rejected by the N.S.W. Parliament the other day, the measure may again be discussed in the same quai ter before' the present session ends.

— The Southland horse Homeward appeared to be outpaced in his races at Rac^~ carton last week, but he did not look so well as when he has. stripped for the fray on* previous -occasions.

— T3*e rider of El Dorado is improving in horsemanship but deteriorating in name. Last yewr he- rode Gold SeaJ as Rangi To"moana, but last week he figured in the pigskin as Rangi Tbbmson. — Temper, 2.12J, is d«ad. She was a daughter of EJyria, and was one of the smallest trotters in tb* 2.15 list, standing only about 14 hands Ligh. Despite her size, she had' trotted 2.09J to waggon. / — The contemplated improvements at the Aldington trotting track will be commenced almost at once. The ,track will be about 5J furlong in circumference when it has had the additional giound tacked on to i£. — The North Otago,, Jockey Club js giving away 1505sovs in prize money at their spring meeting, which is set down for October 20 and 21. The amount named represents an increase cf 70sovs above last year^a prize list

— During the past racing season in New Zealand 41 trotting meetings were held, extending over days. The amount of stakes distributed, was £35,628 12s, and the total sum passed through the totalisator was £304,911 10s. N

—Mr H. Piper is to act as starter at the North Otago Jockey Club's spring meeting. It is understood .that Mr L. C. Hazlett may run some of his horses a«t t(he meeting, and consequently resigned his position as starter to tbe -club.

— St. Kooringa has generally been reas a. 3xtre> feztoeir. tint lite came a. cropper in his race at Bicearion. Some of tbe snorts said that the new colours he carried were so noisy bhat thej frightened him at the fence.

— The West Australian stipendiary stewards — Messrs Barnett, Curtis, and M'Douetall — have been reappointed for a terra of 12 months at £700 per year. As ir Melbourne, the clubs on whose courses those gentlemen act, will contribute a share of the £2100.

— Penates is a, handsonio horse, and when • s°rtt out for the. Winter Cup looked as if he had been in the glass oase too long. His preat brilliancy has not been impaired since he was last seen at Ricoarton, and he should win again before man; moons have sped. — Pikopo W.l from tibe- clouds when he/ finished second to Auratus in the Trial Hurdles. He was a long way back in the early stages, but in the National Hurdles he waa always dope up to ihe front, and looked to hold a chance as they turned for home.

— The principal event to be decided at the Kurow annual meeting is the Otekaike Handicap of 60fovs, six furlongs. This is the most valuable stake ever given by the club The next best stake on the programme is the Belfield Handicap, of 45sovs, four furlongs.

. — The much-travelled E-nplish Trainer, Ernest Dsy. who took Carbine and Bill of. Portland from Australia to Great Britain, is about to pay another visit to the Conmonwealth. He is getting together a. team of colts and fillies, which he. intends to sell in Australia.

—At the AuteuH racecourse, in France, a stafE of men, with caps bearing the word " Interpreter," is engaged to pilot visitors who are unable to speak French fluently. In Ne^v Zealand the guessers do the interpreting when the punters cannot translate the dope eaids.

— Kelso fell in the Trial Hurdles when a mile from home. Up to that stage he was going stronger and outjumping Auratuß. who subsequently ran home ,a winner. Kelso gave an indifferent display in his next race at the mastinsr, and the fall apparently took some of the dash out of him.

— Bonr.y Glen won the Heatheofe Handicap, seven furlongs, wrtih 9.10 in lmin a? 3-Ssec. and in a convincing style. He is apparently sound again, and should be a good winner during tbe cominsr season. Under welter weights Bonny Glen's perfcrmance was undoubtedly smart.

— A North Island pcribe states that the Waaganni Trotting Club have appointed a 6ub-committee to draft a programme for their first totalisator meeting. It is intended to put on 1 most attractive bill of fare, as the olub is determined to make its gatherings eguil to the best in the Dominion.

— Tyrannic scored comfortably when he woi the Hunters' Hurdles', and also put up a solid performance when he concluded the meeting- by carrying 12.10 over a mile and a-half in 2min 47 l-ssec. In the latter event he led from end to end, bui had to be ridden out to stall off Blythe Boy at the finish.

— The stewards of the English Jockey Club sanctioned the use of the totalisator3 at the Newmarket July meeting, but the polioe would not allow it to be worked. It is claimed by some of tihe English authorities that it is not illegal to run a totalisator, and a test case may arise out of the matter.

— The following nominations for officers have been received for the Forbury Park Trotting Clvb :— President, Mr W. J. Gore; vice-president, Mr G. Hodges: committee — Messrs F. Johnston. J. A. Siigo, A. Findlay, T. Ritchie, and J. Morrison. The ballot will be taken at the annual meeting on August 30.

— It ' was Tumourect at Eiccarton that the stable did not support Los Angelos to any extent for his first wjn last week, but the S.P. merchants caught it hot over tfhe gelding's dual win; in fact, the money from home is understood to have flattened out one fielder, whilst anothei got wise and had a hundred back. , — The Messrs Elworthy, it is understood, had the offer of El Dorado at SOOgs prior to his -win - at Riccarton on Saturday. They also offered to give a big price for Te Aral provided a National win was guaranteed, so that it is evident those well-known sports are getting tired of seeing their colours on the plodding hunter. . < — Sairoma looked as if he was going to m«ke things merry in tibe , Sydenhamt . Hurdles. He was quickly out in front " of his field and pulling double, but commenced to drop back whilst still under a. pull when travelling along ihe back. On returning to 1 -the bird cage it was found that the gelding had' burst a blood, vessel. j — Nortih-East put up a record in the Wink tar Cup when he ran home in lmin 43 3-ssec. Gwendoline went one better by carrying 10.4, or 9lb more than the Winter Cup ; winner, and run a mile in the Islington Handicap in lmin 43sec. Gwendblina, however; was ridden out; but North-East won with something in "hand. — Sweet Angelus looked light, and was by no means guilty of sporting a great muscular development when she raced last week. Still, she gave a- brilliant display of pace in the «arly part of the Islington Handicap, whidh. Bonny Glsn won in lmin 28 3-Ssec. Sweet Angelus was sold on Monday for 255g5. and should) ba. cheap if she remains sound. — There- has" been a. good deal of talk lately about the scarcity of money, but at Riccarton they dug out £4865 to iplay up on the Winter Cup. What the books handled on the race would tot up to a fair sum. Ancther machine total during the same day was £3827. played on the National Steeplechase, and_ yet pun+ers are said to be loth to see their money in the air. — When a man owes a bit in England he generally goes to Paris. A bip; English bookmaker paid a visit to Auteuil recently, and on being- asked -what he thought of it replied : ' "It looks like the "Zoo with, a lot of the cage doors open and tEe animals running about loose." Asked- what be meant, he answered: "I can see a lot of monkeys about that belong to me, and I oan't lay my hands

on 'em." — Compass was close up to the placed horses in the Sydenham Hurdles, mn on the last day of the National meeting. He carried 12.0, and wa3 meeting Ben Jonson on 12lb worse terms amdi Scotty on 17lb worse over a shorter course. From this it will bo eeen that there was nothing fluky about the National win, as Compass appears to be a. better stayex -than either of the otfoer pair. — On« of the most notable exhibits m the thoroughbred section at the Queensland exhibition was the Melbourne Cup winner of JgOi Revenue. Tha son of Trenton and Waiter Lily, it may be remarked, now forms one of the team of horses owned by Lord Dudiley, Goveamor-G-eneral of the Commonwealth. Revenue holds the. record of being the hottest favourite that ever won. the Melbourne Cut>. . — One of tibe bter fielders operating a^ R'Coarton left the field of battle under the impression .he was on- easy street, but on 1 return to town a wire from- his stay-at-home partner informed him that it was R.O. to •the tune of £600— principally thanks to Loe Angeles. Tb<- steed appears to T*"-~™? smitten tie S.P. naerchanis pretty ntod all Tound, and there is a rumour to the same effect about Scotty. . — The Tuapeka County Jockej Club intend to have starting gates at. their next meeting and having increased stakes on their programme. - Tbe starting at Tuapeka during I'he past couple of seasons has heen most unsatisfactory, and it is to be hoped that the introduction of tbe gates will bring about a much-to-be-desired improvement. The club has, by tl>e wav, considerably augmented its membership list. — The fi^Jtticial wind vt-ns blowing decidedly North-Fast -when the horses went out for the Winter Cup last week. The Euroclydon geJdinsf carried nearly twice as much money.on the totalizator as any other horse in the lace. He wa3 credited with running down half a mile in 48 on the morning of the race, and that, in addition to other brilliant track work ana gossip in the paddock, sent out North-Eaet a very pronounced favourite. — The writer heard of a man conversant by personal knowledge with Jack Pot's recent formi in the North Ts'and who was prepared to make a sporting bet that the Chainlink e-eldine wouia beat any three others in th« Nutioi al Steeplechav*. l»<»r,» is no doubt the pre&ence of Jack Fot and Irish in the Xationci Sioeplecho-o would have greatly enhanced the interest in the race. &.nd it was bad luck that tbe-ir owiers had to put tho pen through the horses' names. — The Galopin horse Graf ton hoarls the list of winning stallions for the past Australian peapon wiMi £23.547 to his credit. The first of Grafton's stock raced in 1900, and since then they have won £129.504. Next on the lift comes Bill o" Portland wrth £14.982. Pogitano with £14 639, n^d Wallace •with £12,872 Four out of tbe first five on the list are of tht> Galopin line, and -thp other is a son of Carbine, who -was nought for England to breed to mares of the fct. Simon strain. — One does not care to oredict or hurry to meet -trouble, but at a st^eu'echa^ meeting to is reasonable to expect that all facilities for ambulance assistance should be on *h« course. On the firtt day a,t Eiccarton Kelso's rider was lying for some considerable time before a<=eieianee reached him, and then he wan wheeled in on a hand ambu-1-anoe This laxity or carelessness aroused a good a«al of -tronsc coniTr-snt amon?st thoFP who noticed the or~ur'v»nce. ar.d it is hoped will not be allowed <o happen again. _ — Nadador enjoys the distinction of being the first mare to win a N-cw Zealand Grand National Steeplechase, altbouf 1 ! Dromedary ■was believed to be winning in 1897 when she cannoned into a rvolicenmn after landing over the lart fence. Nadador was foal«d in 1899,

and was bred by Captain W. R. Russell. She was got by El Drague (Dreadnought—. Flaconet, by Musket) from. Noyade, by Lord of the Isles from Lorelei, by Leolinus from Naiad, by Traducer — Mermaid. Naiad was a sister to Lurline and Le Loup. — After riding Compass a winnei in the National Hurdles DeJaney announced from the saddle prior to dismounting that he did not care if he never saw another racehorse or another racing saddle again. Delaney, it is understood, wild not ride again, and his announcement was a sort of "speech from the throne" to that effect. Delaney gave a very capable display of horsemanship in landing Compass a winner. He had his mount well placed throughout the race, and came away atHhe business end after joining the leaders when racing to ihe last fence.

— The two-year-old colt G rattan Bells in trotting a mile in 2min 29|seo at Ascot on July 26 gained for himself the proud distinction of being the first and only two-year-old trotter south of the line to trot a mile in American standard time — viz., 2min 30sec and better. Previous to Grattan Bells' appearance on the truck the two-year-old record was -2min 59sec, and had stood since November 6, 1898 — nearly 11 years. The best mile by • two-yeax-old reported this season in America is one in 2min 25isec, made by a. colt' by Bon Voyage in California. — Geo. Price, . the well-known light- weight, who lias abandoned che- saddle and taken' up training, made an excellent start by sending. out a winner in Nyland at the first time of Asking. Nyland is smart and speedy over a short- course* and in running six furlong with 10.10 in lmin 26 3-ssec, with, something in hand, demonstrated he can go fast and carry weight. Nyland is a aißtei* to Yasa, and wasr got by Finland .from Paxera, by Cuirassier from Albotross, the dam of Merganser. Nyland was a foal at foot when he was- sold with his dam at 2Oogs. — Eurus was one of the big disappointments of the National meeting, and his faulty fencing considerably discounts his galloping and staying powers. He was going well in ihe National when iie came down in front of the stand. On the second day he bumped, his rider out of the saddle, and on the last day he appeared to be travelling really well when he hooked the last of the kennels double. This latter mishap knocked all the dash out of him, and it is quite evident that continuous racing over Riccarton has not converted the Euroclydon gelding into a safe conveyance over the big fences.

— Scotty was "apparently a well-beaten horse in the Jumpers' Flat and also in the National Hurdles, but in 4he Sydenham Hurdles he won a good race and created a mild surprise by scoring in fast time. Scotty, however, met Compass on the Jumpers' Flat form on no less than 441b better terms. 'Still, even with' this big concession in his favour Scotty was only fourth, favourite in his winning effort. Scotty met Compass on the National running with 831b in his favour. 'It is rumoured that Scotty was gone in* the -wind, but he- did not appear to be greatly , troubled when he re-, turned to the bird c»ge.

— According to a Melbourne paper Flemiegton will begin the new season with a record' number- -of horses in » work. . The list at present reaches well over ' 300. This number baa never beer reached before in the history of the tracks. A. Skirving leads the way among the trainers. His team at present ' totals 17 horses, And when up to full strength it 'will number 20. Walter Hiekenbotham has a string of 15, M. P. Whitty's stable 15, W. S. Cox 15, W. Kennedy -13, K. H. Frew 12, R. Bradfield 12, D. Allan 10, and so on from lots of half a dozen down to the "one-horse" man.

— One of the big drawbacks to -the racing at Chsristchurch last week was the groat length of the programmes. It is ridiculous that eight races a day should be run «t .this time of the year, but if the clubs deem it absolutely necessary to go the limit all •the y«ar round they should start * the first race at about 11 a.m. There is too much ranger in participating in racing in a bad light, and no pleasure in^ viewing the running when it is almost impossible to distinguish the horses. Such a thing is not catering for sport, but savours "strongly of the gold-grabbing principle. — Judging by Lovell's .form last week, those connected with the have evidently been "entertaining xan angel unawares." He finished full of running in the Hunt Club Cup after carrying 12.13 over three miles in 6min 18 4-ssec, and with about three stone off his back w.ould have betjn a dangerous candidate if included amongst the xunners in the National. He is probably at present a better stayer than El D«rado, who won the Lincoln Steeplechase, over the sarrro journey as the Hunt Club Cup, in 6min 13 4-ssec, but had 1.13 less to carry than, Lovell. The last-named is a half-brother to Pilot, but does not present the carty appearance of the latter. — Compass, the winner of the National Hurdles, was bred by his owner, Mr J. Casserly, and was got by Dsystar (Castor— Cissy) from. Mainbbom, by King Cole from Mesthead,' by Bamaram* from Spritsail, by Traducer. Compass consequently belongs to the Spray family, which fias produced British Lion (New Zealand Cup winner), Templeton, Ruby, First Blood, Paladin., PaJlaa, Crown Jewel, and other good performers. Daystar. the sire of Compass, is a beauti-ful!y-bred horse, as he was got by Castor from Cissy, a «ster to Trenton. The Castor ( line has supplied some- splendid performers i over hurdles and fences in the shape of I Record Reign and ELiatere. I — Lou Dillon (1.58) -took fright «t the strange spectacle of a woman and » dog harnessed double before * pedlar's cart in the streets of Hamburg, Germany, on landing there a short time ago, and fell down in her efforts to get away. The queen oi trotters bruised one of her hips, but was not seriously injured. She is now in training at the new Ruhleben trotting track, near Berlin, which cost £800,000. The course was opened with an exhibition of the American horses. To transport Mr Billings's eight trotters «nd their paraphernalia .by freight from Hamburg to Berlin, about 80 miles, cost £30, oi as much as it would cost to ship them by fast express from New York to Chicago

—El Dcrado gave very pleasing displays over the Riccarton. fences last week, and; his performances ore doubly creditable when it is remembered that he has just turned five years old. El Dorado failed to stay on for the National Steeplechase, but over shorter courses in thi Beaufort Steeplechase and Lincoln Steeplechase he won in good styleHe is a good fencer, and with more age slould be hard to beat between the flags over any distance. El Dorado was bred by Mr G. P. Donnelly, and was got by Gold Reef (son of Ben Oi and Crucible) from Fairy Dream, by Quilt — Nymipb, by.lngomar — Woodnymph, by Musket— Sylvia, by Fisherman. El Dorado is a first foal, and i= a beautifully-bred 'chaser; in fact, it is seldom one finds such a well-bred horse put to the jumping business in the early part of his career.

— North-Eaat, the winner of the Winter Cup, somewhat resembles Brighton, another son of Euroclydon, who could go fast '.ndl carry weight. The Cup winner is more on

the leg and has great liberty of movement. When he won at the Hawke's Bay meeting in June last attention was drawn in these columns to North-East's breeding, but soma reference fe it is again permissible in thai light of his recent victory. He was got byi ihe "triple crown" hero Euroclydon from l . Manama, a-- daughter of Navigator (winner of A.J.C. Derby, V.JL.C. St Leger, Victoria) Derby, A.J.C. Champagne Stakes, A.J.O. St.Leger, Australian Cup). His second damf waa lady Fanny, by Barbarian (son of Sin Hercules). Mariana, had only one foal ml New Zealand, and that is KbrtltEast. She came across from Australia in foal to Dorchester, tbe sire of Helen Portland, but the! result was a stillborn. In Australia she had! several foals, but produced nothing of note. — Three iorseV who were strongly fancied.' for their races -and gave brilliant displays up to a ceYbain point> but failed to stay out their tasks to a finish, were Te Araij Tauira, and Ben Jon so 9. In the National! Steeplechase Te Ar«i was going strongly up} to about half •a. mile from home, but he was well beaten before reaching the straight. It was claimed by some of the critics that' Te.Arad was made too much use of in the) early part, but apparently he was inclined to fight with his rider, and when done pulling was clone going. Making allowances, fart failing to , stay is like making excuses for. horses that fail to negotiate < their fences. It is -all in the game, and 1 -form has to be* weighed upon coJd facts. Tauirf does not fill the eye in a taking manner, and m the National Hurd'.es he was a first flighier right into tbe straight, but Compass cams a-way and won handsomely. Tauirs may, have gone off, but although excuses could no doubt be found the fact still r-emains tbati he did not come up to the can't-losa opinion formed by some of his northern admirers. Ben Jonson ran a good horse in r each of hi 3 races. He was right in front* ms they swung tntc -the straight as they} turned ..for home in the National Hurdles, • but, lik« Tauira, he failed co resist Compass's claim in the run to the post. Ben) Jomon was made a strong favourite for the Sydeuham Hurdles, and he looked to have & winning chance after landing over the last) fence, but ther? Scotty drew away from himi to win a fast run xace. . —In point of enthusiasm Derby sweepstakes, especially in the London clubs, beat all Tecords this year, no doubt owing to the King's chances in the great race. The biggest sweep in the. world is that of the Calcutta Turf Club. Last year upwards of 130,000 tickets were subscribed, which, afc ten rupees each,- means, roughly, £90,000. Ofl the amount subscribed the chance of the winner takes 40 per cent., the second 20 petf. cent., and the third 10 per cent., the other starters dividing 10 per cent, between them, and 10 per cent, going to the drawers of nonstaxterß left in the race at the time tha sweej closes. The club takes the remaining) 10 per cent., which, after paying expenses,. goes to the benefit of the race fund. Two Londoners, "F. J. H.." with ticket No. 62,356, and " Standard," with No. 42,264,drew Louviers and Electric Boy respectively, in this year's sweep. The former is a valefc' at the Badminton Club, but ho was •wise, or. unwise enough, to sell a share in his drawbefore the race to a well-known racing man') for £1400. Nevertheless, he is reported ss having won £8400. The value of the second' prize was £20,000, so that the valet lest over] h*lf in the deal; but he was still in luck"*' way, for he «lso drew Louviers in the Newi Imperial Club sweep. A year ago Signorinetta was drawn by a clerk in the Bank of Madras in the Calcutta sweep. Orby, ia 1907, fell to the third officer in one of tha British India Line steamers, while a few years ago £30,000 odd went to *n eugjn* driver on the G.I.P