SPORTING NEWS

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 448, 22 February 1890, Page 4

SPORTING NEWS

BY HIPPONA,

FLEMINGTON NOTES. In ;*\ie\v of the approaching V.R.C. Autumn Meeting, the following Hem ingbon training notes are interesting :—Carbine is a veritable giant just now. He has been bowling along regularly with his stable companion, Tan* tallon, at a nice, useful pace. Boss is another that presents a healthy appearance, and, as usual, is a bit lusty. He and that good-looking horse, Bravo, exercised at half-pace. The Melbourne Cup winner has been built up a great deal, and, in his presont robust condition, looks all over a good one. Gladstone is kept at sharp exercise, and Dividend has been working at a pace that points to racing. I have also noticed Nicholson's pair, The Slave and Apropos, moving along. The latter is now showing permanent signs of coming on nicely. Richelieu’s recent work indicate March engagements. This colt never filled up as nicely as one could wish after his Derby tussle, despite a long course of easy treatment. Don Gioyan looks as well as ever he did in liis life. Fishwife is as gay and well as ever. She is kept up with an occasional “breather.” The Geelong heroine, Britannia, galloped at a strong pace, and Gasperone did likewise. Merriment has been doing the bulk of his work on the inside track. McNamara is evidently sparing no pains to get this shady customer really well.

MELBOURNE BETTING MARKET. The declaration of the first forfeits for the Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup had the effect of infusing a little life into the betting market. According to latest papers to hand, Rudolph is first favourite for the snort race, the best price on offer against him being 100 to 7. Apropos has been introduced into the market, and backed at 100 to 6, which price has also been taken about Consequence. Dreadnought has a number of supporters at 100 to 5, and Ginger at the same figure is in good request. Bar those mentioned, 100 to 4 is offered. Dreadnought is a firm favourite for the Australian Cup, 6 to 1 being the best ofl'er against him, Chintz meeting with support at 10 to 1. Singapore, Carbine and Melos are quoted at 100 to 8 each. A fairly good business has been done in doubles at prices ranging from 100 to 3 to 200 to 1, nearly everything picked finishing up with Dreadnought. AN IMPORTANT ALTERATION. In Australia, there has been grumbling amongst owners of horses, relative to tho conditions of the Newmarket Handicap as compared with last year. In 1889, the winner of a lOOsovs handicap had to carry 71b penalty, and of 200sovs 101 b, while this year the conditions read :—“ Winner of any handicap flat race, after declaration of weights, to carry 101 b extra.” This will, it is stated, exercise a marked effect on the final acceptances, also the field on the day of the race. The penal conditions of the Australian Cup are also different from last year. For instance, the V.R.C. St. Leger winner will be handicapped at Bst, or a couple of pounds more than previously. The winner of any handicap value lOOsovs carries 71b extra, as last year; but “two or more such races, 10lb extra,” this year reads a handicap “of 500sovs or upwards, 14lb extra.” GALOPIN’S BREEDING. There has always been some doubt as to the correct breeding of Galopin, the Derby winner, the sire of Donovan. Mr John Corlctt, in tho “ Pink ’Un,” says As showing how possible is the theory that is put forth as to the real parentage of Galopin, I have only to mention the stud of tho lute Sir Tatton Sykes. William Day himself told me that having bought a mare at one of Sir Tatton’s sales, he went to Sledmere to take her away. When he got there he saw Colsterdales and Daniel O’Rourkes running about in droves, and no one could tell him which his mare was. In the result he took the best-looking one that he could see, but to this day he does not know what her pedigree was. Again, with a well-managed stud like the Duke of Westminster’s, there is still, I believe, a very great doubt as to whether Bend Or is not Tadcaster and Tadcaster Bend Or. The stud grooms, who should know, profess to be very certain on the point. I, therefore, incline to the theory that Galopin is a son of Delight, and not of Vedette.” THE EPSOM DERBY. It is probably not generally known that this year’s English Derby is to be run under entirely new conditions. The race is now a stake of £6,000, of which the owner of the winner will take £5,000, the nominator of the winner £SOO, the owner of the second £3OO, and the owner of tho third £2OO. The subscription is of £SO each, or £25 forfeit if declared by Tuesday, January 7th. It may, therefore, be safely predicted,that the original entry (already diminished by the withdrawal of 63 animals, the owners of which got out for £lO each) will be very considerably reduced by the next forfeit, and indeed, nothing is likely to be left in, unless by mistake, which will not be prepared for the race. In looking through the present entry, it is impossible to discover more than thirty animals (including the Australians) which any owner in possession of his senses would think of leaving in. Under the circumstances, it is odd that there should have been even as much betting on the Derby as there has been.

RECORDS. Below will be found the best records of American and Australian horses for all distances from half a mile up to 3 miles : HALF-MILE. 473sec—Olitipa. N.Y., 1374 47 ,'sec -Sextant, N.Z , 1886 5 FURLONGS*. Jmin Jsee— Neyclla, Oregon. U.S , 1882 lmin lsec—Forrester, N.Z., 1886 6 FURLONGS. lmin 13sec—Force, Kentucky. U.S.. 1883 lmin 14sec—Volcano. Rand wick, 1886 7 FURLONGS. lmin 27Jsee—St. John. Flemington, Victoria 1885 . lmin 28sec—Joe Cotton, U.S., 1886 1 MILE. lmin 3935 e Broeck, U.S.. 1887 lmin 40soc—Kinglish, Hawkesbury, 1886 1 MILE 1 FURLONG, lmin 53jscc—Rosalie, U.S., 1881 lmin 55ssec—Cerise and Blue, Victoria, 1883 1 MILE AND A QUARTER. 2min 7.laec—Rinettc, Chicago. 1886 2min 71sec—Abercom, Melbourne, 1889 1 MILE AND A HALF. jnin 34scc—Luke Blackburn. U.S.. 1880 min 35tsec—Prince Imperial, Huwkesbury, 1835 1 MILE AND THREE QUARTERS 3min lsec—Glidelia, U.S., 1882 . 3min 4sec—Ensign, Randwick, 1888 " _ 2 miles. \ 3inin 27isec—Ten Broeck, U.S., 1377 3min 28fsec— Dunlop. Victoria, 1887 2 MILES AND A QUARTER, 4min 56Jsec—Preakness and Springbok, dead heat, 0.5.. 1885 '■■■ V ", Nelson, Auckland, N.Z., 1885 • ‘I I ‘

3 MItES. smiu 54eec— Drake Carter, U.S., 1884 smin 25^sec—Trident, Victoria, 1886. BACKING HORSES. An English sporting paper has been collecting the opinions of people relative to the possibility or otherwise of making money on the turf by means of so-called backing “systems.” Among the many replies received, the most sonsible was as follows Your correspondents exhibit a wonderful knowledge of phraseology, but a faint acquaintance with reliable methods of success. It is simply bosh to mention systems in betting. Horses are not mechanical inventions or chemical combinations that would . warrant the philosopher in creating any theory. that would direct the backer to predict the “ first past tho post” in any race. What I consider most requisite in the requirements of the backer is “mental firmness”— i. e. , control and placidity to let most races alone; and to back only the animals who are in form, and who belong to owners whom we know to be upright and above reproach as far as straight running is concerned. To do this you may have to bet on one or two race 3 a day, or one or two in a week, perbapß, according to circumstances; but never vary the sum you invest, and always desist when you have made a certain amount. For instance, you want to make £2O per week ; if you win that sum the first day at racing be an onlooker for the remaining time. Big handicaps should bo religiously avoided ; horses making their debut should be unsupported ; and jockeys’ mounts —that most idiotic of all modern systems—should be eschewed. Going into the ring and betting on every race with a view to win each time is the most sublime absurdity lam cognisant of. Even by adopting my suggestions, the wary backer must never expect to become a Mackay or a Rothschild. It is very long odds on bookmaking versus backing, and any attempt to reverse the order of things will tail, no matter how ingeniously it may be applied.

BITS OF TURF The Egmont meeting this week was noticeable for the success of Patchwork, who annexed the two leading events, which means something like £325 in stakes for Mr Bobbett. It has been the custom to describe the Thames sportsman as unlucky, but at the same time, his winnings usually show up well in the statistics at the end of the season. The names of Scots Grey, Medallion, and Corunna appear among the general entries for the V.R.C. Autumn Meeting. The Christchurch-bred Aglaos, who will be remembered as running third in Trident’s Derby, is to be given another chance. Mr J. Redfearn has charge of the colt at Caulfield. Kneecap is now an attendant on the Flomington training track. He has been nominated for tho Second Hurdle Race, to be run at Flemington next month. According to a Wellington paper, Mr W. R. Wilson was in negotiation for the purchase of Cynisca, but Mr Hunter refused to part with her. Mr Dakin has returned Manton to his owner, being disgusted at the way the handicapper has treated the horse. The New Zealander is now in Cripps’s hands. Apropos, at one time owned by Harry Goodman, of Dunedin, is in good repute for the Newmarket Handicap. Melbourne papers say she is a greatly-improved mare. Tartar is in work again at Flemington. One scribe says the little son of Steppe has got a belly on him like a stud matron. Writes “ Cranbrook : ” I made the acquaintance of an old friend, whom I have not seen for many months, at Flemington —Whakawai, towit. The son of Lure was gyrating slowly on the sand track. He looks remarkably well, abeit he has not filled out much. E. Keys, the Sydney trainer, hae bought a colt by Sir Modred from Salome, an own sister to Cap-a-pie, for £SOO. In Sydney, owners of ponies, gallowaye and trotters are dissatisfied with Mr T. Daly’s handicapping, and have got up a petition to the Pony Association requesting that Mr Frank Wilkinson be appointed in his place. The petition says “We may point out that we are not actuated by personal feelings against the handicapper, but think that he has not had enough experience to adjust the weights for this class of racing, which is now very popular.” 1 may mention that Mr Wilkinson is the wellknown turf scribe “ Martindale,” who has been identified with .Sydney sport for a very long period. lie also makes the “ starts” for the Botany Handicaps. Mick O’Brien, the well-known Victorian jockey, has been ill since Christmas, but is now much better.

A letter received in Melbourne from Calcutta, states that the Viceroy’s Cup was won by Lord William Beresford’s English horse Pennant, who beat the Australian Moorehouse by a head after a magnificent race, the two being neck and neck up the straight. This makes the fifth time Lord William Beresford has won the Viceroy’s Cup. The largest sum over known to have been paid for a horse was given recently in New York for Axtell, a three-year-old, after he had trotted a mile in 2min 12sec. The sum paid was £21,899. The rider of Cynisca, the winner of the Wellington Cup, just turned the scale with the help of a bridle in weighing in. A correspondent of the Melbourne “ Sportsman,” together with Mr S. G. Cook, A. Yuille, the well-known auctioneer, and several other sportsmen.recently had a look over the yearlings the Wilson Bros, bought at Sylvia Park and Mount Wellington. The several lots were greatly admired, and the visitors each preferred the Frailty colt to the Nelly Moore colt. The last issue of the “ Sportsman ” to hand publishes a lengthy article recounting the visit. A second pigeon shooting match for £IOO a-side, between . Captain Brewer, the American champion, and Mr L. Clarke, of the Melbourne Gun Club, the former shooting with 33yds rise, and the latter with 30yds rise, took place a few daye back. Clarke won, killing 96 birds out of 100, Brewer’s record being 95. The Ilosehill (Sydney) Club have issued the prospectus of a race called the “ Tontine Stakes,” which will be quite a novelty. The added money is l,ooosove. The race is for now yearlings, to be run for during the season of 1890-91, and following seasons if required ; the first race to take place on August 9th, 1890, $-mile; second race about April, 1891, 6 furlongs; and third race about July, 1891,1 mile. The winner of three races to be the ultimate winner of the stake. Weights: Colts, Bat 71b; fillies or geldings (at time of starting), Bst 41b. : :.r "v The Hon. J. White has decided after all not to visit England this year to witness his colts run in the Derby. ; EGMONT RACES. • ■ Hawera, Feb. 14. The concluding races resultedWaimate Handicap of 150eovs, one mile and a-half.— Bobbetfc’s Patchwork, 1 ; Kean’s Montrose,. 2; Chapman’s Montrose,’ 3. Only three started. A good race. Won by a short length. Dividend, £1 14b. Ladies’ Bracelet.— Lady Ledger, 1; Doncaster, 2 ; The Bean, 3. , Dividend, £1 Bs. V ■ ; 5 ’ >