SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 14 September 1907, Page 6

SPORTING.

THE SEASON'S RECORDS. Though the racing year just ended has been rather barren in the matter of . fresh records, as far as these colonics are concerned, ''Father Time" has not had matter.-; entirely his own way (remarks "Tnii|lar."') The only fresh record establisnrd in New Zealand was that made iiy Shrapnel at Riccarton, when he gut to the end of the two-mile 'Grard National Hurdle course in 3m. 44 3-55., which is marly a second faster than the previous best. Evidently it has been a must favorable season for jumpers, as at Caullirlili in February last, Player won the two-mile steeplechase in the remarkable time of 3m. 52'/ 2 5., whilst Childcc establish A a fresh three-mile record over fences by winning in Cm. 10s. So far as the colonial' Hat racers are concerned, I can discover no exceptional performances, but, nevertheless, the times recorded in all the big handicaps have been universally good. In the Old Country, however, the record breakers had a good innings, for in the Great -TiJbor Handicap Golden Measure compassed a mile and threequarters in 2m. 57 4-55., a big improvement on Dumont's colonial record of 3m OVis., which still stands good for Australasia. An even more notable ach-i-vement was that accomplished at Belont, New York, by the great American sprinter Roscbcn, who cut out seven* furlongs in lm, 225., a great advance on Savoury's colonial record of lm 26 3-ss. High jumping has lieen receiving additional'attention of late with the result that fresh records have be?n made with remarkable frequency. The world's record in this department is now held by an American horse, Heatherbloom, who, a few months back, got over Bft 3in, while in Australia Mahonga cleared the bar at 7ft 2in. Only a few seasons back quite a number of world's records, both •on the flat and in jumping contests, were held by New Zealand horses, but at present the only ones still standing are De la Rey's lm 53 l-5s for a mile and a distance established at Oamaru, and Shrapnel's 3m 44 3-5s for two miles over hurdles.

In England recently an offer of 12,000 guineas was made for Velocity, but the owner declined to sell. Velocity was wanted for stud purposes; but (remarks an English writer) 12,000 guineas is a big price to pay for an unfashionably bred horse as Velocity is, despite the fact that he has been a good performer. He certainly represents the HamptonBlair Athol cross, but then his sire, Sjiced, is not fashionable. The French studmaster, M. Gaston Dreyfus, was the intending purchaser. In discussing the New Zealand Cup handicap, and comparing Paritutu and Master Delaval, "The Possible," in the Canterbury Times, refers to Paritutu as having curried Ost 111b in the Autumn Handicap, won by Master Delaval (Bst 13]b). This, however, is not correct, but the Canterbury writer has a good excuse, for in the Turf Register Ost 111b is down opposite Paritutu's name, and what can lie voted a remarkable circumstance in connection therewith is that the compiler incorrectly credits Paritutu with carrying a 51b penalty. As a matter of fact, no penalty clause attaches to the Autumn Handicap, for the simple reason that such is unnecessary, seeing that the weights are not declared until the second cay's races are through. Master Delaval was only in receipt of 71b from Paritutu when he led him home at Ellerslie in April. _ England is threatened with an American winner of next year's Derby. He is named Kr.g James, and the following quotation will be read with interest-. "After King James had won Die Trcniont Stakes at Gravesend on Saturday (June 15), and while he was being cooled out, a crowd gathered around him, and his owner, John E. Madden, was asked by three men to name a price for the horse. He said 35,000 dollars. 'There stands an English Derby winner,' declared Mr Madden, pointing to King James. 'He is engaged in the big Epsom event next year. Just look at him. He has had several hard races this year, and he is a liettcr colt to-day than when I started to train him. He is a glutton, and only warm weather will strip the fat from him. When the weather is l hot and the races lengthen cut to six

furlongs King James will beat more colts than beat him. I expect him to

win a fortune tins year., as he is Bound as a new gold dollar, and is engaged in all the big events.'" The Thoroughbred Record, June 22: According to the lust Goodwins' Calendar King James had started twice previously, running second once and unplaced. The Tremont Stakes was worth 13,200 dollars. It was a very

hard race, and he won by a length. Distance, six furlongs (less 165 ft). Track heavy. Time, lm 3 2-ss.