SPORTING

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 352, 20 March 1889, Page 4

SPORTING

(Br JEhrroNA.)

I'm-; recent V.R.O. Autumn fleeting will long remain . memorable for the achievements of the t«o New Zoalanders, Carbine and Lochiel. I question whether any evonb that has been fought out on the Fleunington course has caused such wide and genuino interest as did the Loch Plate last Saturday, and tho hearts of the New Zealanders present must have swelled with pride as they pointed to the gallant pair. The V.R.O. Executive had something to thank us for in treating their patrons to such a match, as ifc may fairly bo termed, but at the same time it was a spirited and admirable act of Mr Donald Wallace to throw down tho gauntlet ito Mr Stead (to say nothing of the Hon. J. White, who was represented by Carlyon), for his colb Cat bine had decidedly the worst of the weights. Musket's good old blood, though, was once moro equal to the great task, and his son triumphed by a head. What cheering there must havt> been from the multitude of throats we can well imagine. Now that Caibine has lecorded such a phenomenal performance, we can cast our thoughts back and compare him with past three-year-olds. Peisonally, I won't go so far as to dub him the greatest of his age thao has been seen out in Australia, bub I do think that he can be classed with the very best. So far as brilliancy is concerned he has had no equal, excepting perhaps Martini Henry, who had terrific dash. Carbine's record shows that he has never had it stained by failing to gain a place, while it is doubly pleasing to think that the colfc cauies the colours of such a worthy turf supporter as Mr Donald Wallace. While giving &o much kudos to Carbine, it must be baid that Lochiel's doughty deeds throughout the meeting will always entitle him to a chapter in turf history. It was no disgrace that he had to stiiko his flag in the Newmarket Handicap and Loch Plate. The Australian Cup is described as being about the softest thing for Lochiel in the way of long distance races ever witnessed. With eight stone seven on his back — a bit more than lacing weight — he simply bided his time in front, made his own running, a feat which is supposed to be a difficult one, stalled oil Carbine's brilliant run and won very easily. In connection with Mr Stead's horse I notice tho cable this week has treated us to a repetition of the story that he has been sold to Dr. Prins, of Christchurch, for stud purposes. This is news indeed ! \\ c were told the same thing months and months aeo, and to New Zealanders it has become perfectly nauseating. When Mr Stead was here at our Summer Meeting, he told me that tho horse would go into the possession of Dr. Prins -s\hen he was done with him, and probably that period may be just as far off as ever. I mentioned last week that the Auckland Racing Club Committee had resolved to send woid to Mr Stead stating that they could nob see their way clear to alter the present date of their Spring Meeting, In a second letter, Mr Stead says that the mutual alteration in dates would be a distinc gain to both Clubs. He sets out as hisprnafe opinion that, for instance, the inteie? t in our two-year-old races at the last Summer Meeting would have been much greater had such performers as Cynisca and Dunkeld taken part, while with Wolverine contesting the Derby, and Dudu and Ravenswing the other events, the interest would have been further added to. Mr Stead saj's that so long as tho C J.C. keep their present date for the Midsummer fixture, it will always happen that some owneis are certain to btay in Christchurch, which is to our detriment. In answer to the objection that October is too early to run our two-year-olds, Mr Stead gives it forth that they run two-year-olds in England in March, and in Sydney in September. The Canterbury sportsman, I may mention, overlooks the fact that there is a sdong agitation in New South Wales against the early racing of their juveniles. The fact of the matter is, the C. J.C. fixture follows too closely on their big Metropolitan gathering, and I question whether they will ever make it a .success if they persist in holding it as at present. i fail to see how it can be made out that our Spring Meeting does them any harm. Although the A.R.C. Autumn Meeting will soon be upon us, there is nothing of importance being done at Ellerslie po far. Nelson is a regular attendant, and Hilda is doing long slow work. This mare's shoulder has troubled her of late. Ci?sy is looking big and well, and has furnished out since the Summer Meeting. The weights for the Easter Handicap and Steeplechase will make their appearance after the Napier Park Meeting is decided. A conference of delegates of the Metropolitan Racing Clubs takes place at Napier during next weak. The vaiious clubs will all be represented, and Mr Percival left on Thursday to act on behalf of the A.R.C. Mr Danvers has not been harsh on Tetford in the Napier Park Cup, and the son of Musket is to be sent down to take part in the meeting. The cause of The Australian Peer's withdrawal from his Y. R.C. Autumn engagements was an injury which he sustained while on the way to the railway-station in Sydney. During a bit of playfulness he strained him:elf, and although it was not looked upon as anything serious, he gradually became worse when he reached Melbourne, and there was nothing for ib but to scratch him. I see that Mr D. OBrien was a purchaser at the St. Albans sale of yearlings, the Canterbury sportsman securing a colb by St. Albans — Curlew, for 480 guineas. The youngster is very fashionably bred, for his dam is by The Marquis, from Sylvia, dam of Qoldsborough, Martini-Henry and Robin Hood. He is described as a very big yearling, with plenty of length, good back and loins, and sound legs and feec, At Mr John Field's sale. Mr OBrien secured a filly by Neckersgab — Fidelity, for 70 guineas. Mr R. Mason was also a buyer ab Sb. Albans, a filly by St. Albans— Waterlily, becoming his property ab 100 guineas. Mr J. Thompson, bho Victorian leviathan I layer of odds, has gone to England, where he has an idea of remaining. He is reported to be worth £100,000, Previous to his departure, Mr Thompson was interviewed by a " Sportsman" reporter, when the following was elicited :— lt's now five-and- thirty years sincellandedhere. Cameoub before the mast, you know, and although I had three years ab sea afterwards I have been in Australia permanently for moro than thirty years. When did you commence bookmaking ? About '58. Tell us, which was .your first big win ? InJToryboy'& Cup. In '65, wasn't ib ? I cleared £4,500 on that race. In those days there were only twelve bookmakers betting ; now, I suppose, there are nearer twelve hundred. When I first commenced fielding there were only five of us, Coker, Bevan, Bull, Goyder and myself. They are all out of it now, bar myself. Coker and Bevan have retired ; Bull is in England, I think ; Goyder is miming an hotel up in the Blue Mountains, and I'm off to England on Saturday. What was your biggest win on, if it's a fair question ? On Zulu's Cup. I had had a bad Derby Day, lost £8,000 over Segsnhoe and Darebin, Maribyrnong Plate and Derby, but I gob it all back over Zulu,

and twenty-ono thousand pounds besides ! Anyone in with you then, Joe ? No, •on my own.' Bub I have had some terrible uppercuts sinco. My worst years wero The Barb's, Tim Whiftler's, C4loncoe's Chester's. Calamia's, Martini-Henry's, and Grand Flaneur's. Chester was a terrible thorn in my side. His name spelt destruction in tact. He broke me, but I managed to pick up the pieces again. I laid the Hon. James White £10,000 to £400 straight out about him, during the llawkesbnry meoting. What do you think of the present system of betting ? It's all against o legitimate pencillor. The competition has brought a lot of men into the ring who sometimes offer 25 to 1 when tho odds should be 20 to 1. But they only lay it "in white" (silvor), whereas a good man lays the odds to big money, I contend that o man who has been betting for twenty or thirty yoais should not be placed on a level with any new man who can scrape together a pony to pay his registration fee. What about the future of betting? Gradually resolving itself, as you have written, into post speculation. This post betting is generally looked upon as not likely to affect the big men of the ring. This is all rubbish, as no bookmaker, however extensive his connection may bo, can afford to do without the support of the public. We can't stand being cut up solely by the stables. Without the public money we'd soon go to the Avail. "The stables" are, you know, even more 'cute than the layers of odd* in these days. You didn't win much over Don Juan, then ? No ; that yarn has long since been exploded. I certainly backed him to win £20,000, but 1 laid it all oiY, and only won a couple of thousand on the race. He went wrong in his last gallop on Tuesday (the Cup was run on Thursday then), and Kedfenrn, who worked like a nigger, together with young Jemmy Wilson, were fomonting the hoiso for four and twenty hours. You have owned some good horses in your time ? Yes ; I claim to ha\c been the owner of the best team of horses ever got together in Australia. St. Albans, King of the Ring, Argus Scandal, Belpheor, Uoniula, Lapdog, Jacko, Protos, Mentor, Steeltrap and Don Juan all belonged to me and in the one year. Unfoitunately, barring." Don Juan, who won the Cup in 73. neither of them ever distinguished himself aftei wards. Quite sure we shan't see you back before the ne>^t Cup ? No, you may lay ten to one against that — i'vo never missed a. Melbourne Cup since Archer won in *<U, but I .shan't have the pleasuie of seeing Mr White win in '89. Mr White, eh ? Yes, there's a tip for you. Good-bye. There were no sensational prices realised attheyeailing sales held in Melbourneduring the V.R.O. Autumn Meeting week, but on the whole the figures weie satisfactory. At Sir Thomas Elder's sale, a bay colt by Neckevsgab — Ada, full brother to Newstead, fell to Mr William Bailey, of Ballarat, for 620 guinoas, and Mr Mori is Jacobs bought a youngster by Neckcrsgat — Jarto for 420 guineas, and a iilly by Neckersgat was .secured by Mr Donovan at 410 guineas. At the St. Albans sa'e, the principal lots and buyers were :—: — Brown filly, by St Albans — Queen Mary, Mr Kelso, 150 guineas ; chestnut colt, by St. Albans — Medea, W. Duggan, 500 guineas; chestnut filly, by St. Albans — Hatasou, W. Long, 185 guineas ; bay filly, by Newminster — Primiose, T. Foulsham, 370 guineas ; bay oolt (full brother to Malua), by St. Albans— Edella, T. Foulsham, 560 guineas ; brown filly, by St. Albans -Zillah, C. M. Lloyd, 300 guineas; bay filly, by St. Albans— Maid of All Work, E. Sparrow, 260 guineas ; bay filly, by St. Albans — Pardon, T. Ivory, 270 guineas ; chestnut filly, by Si. Alban& — Leeside, S. Miller, 210 guineas ; bay colt, by St. Albans— Margaret T. Gunning, 520 guineas.