NOTES BY SPREAD EAGLE.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 167, 24 November 1883, Page 6

NOTES BY SPREAD EAGLE.

— Lyra is the only mare that has not foaled at Sylvia Park. '— Leonora is scratched for all Spring engagements. She is in the same stable as Escopeta. — Archie cut up badly in the Royal Park Stakes, li miles : Le Grand, 1 ; Savdius, 2 j Hurricane, 3. — It seems Derritt's reason for leaving the Jjance-Robinson stable was because he was to ride Cheviot instead of Nonsense. —Dirk Hatteraick is a handsome horse and a beautiful mover, but is little more than a pony. He has a temper of his own. — The touts who imagined Eennolley would eend a three-year-old with lOst up in his gallops must be very green at tUegame. Mr Tancred has scratched Consul for all engagements in the Wellington Spring Meeting, being dissatisfied with the weights. — The Barb, so well known on every race-course in Australia some ago, and now 20 years old, was offered forsale the other day. He is as fresh as a two-year-old. — In reply to the question, " Did the strangles affect Snider ?" I thank the Figaro for a reply : " 'Tis plain that any throttle tumour ■' \Don't put a hdrae iv racing humour." wAt the annual meeting of the New Zealand. /Q-^rid ■ iiFatwnal ''Steeplechase Club, Mr Boyle's Aqtion tQ vholdi the 'meeting eVlry yQai'.^ii|.'O^^ lost. The next anniud mpo|iijg wla| :sl^ed^ the 24th May, 188£|ip Christchurph:;

— Mr Butler thinks; lie has a good colt in Fusileer, but, as he is oWof "the big roomy, kind, he will want time ; so the genial Patsy will probably not start him as a two-year old. —At the Wairarapa Spring Meeting, Administrator won the Maiden, Mount won the Steeplechase, Administrator . the County Plate, and Liability the Maiden Steeplechase. —A Dunedin tipster for Mr Abraham's prize, in the Otago Witness, gave Martini-Henry, 1 ; First Water, 2 ; Calma, 3. This was very close. What price would the books lay about picking the first three ? — At Sandown Meeting a nervous colt called Jumbo was overdosed with whisky, and after acting like a mad horse and bolting all over the course, the flag fell, and having his head the right , way, he won this " blue riband." Strange this, <; and on whisky ! —In speaking of the yearlings likely to come over from the Auckland Stud Company, " Augur" says : " Tfc may not be a successful venture, as there will be a glut of yearlings this season, but the names of Sylvia and Onyx are bound to cause respect in Australia." — Mr Wilson has met with a great loss in the death of his brood marc, Mischief, by Premier — Maid of the Mill. There are several mares of the same name in the Australian stud book, but this one was known as the dam of Maid of All Work, . First King, and Petrea. — A great many people have rather cried down M. Fennelley as a trainer, but on the occasion of the late V.R.C. Meeting he seems to have had his horses in good " 2iick," or that the horses wore just built of the sort of stuff to suit the boss of the Hon. James White's establishment. — Mr Hughes, who is often noted for producing one of his aged "yearlings" just at the right time, has just won with Organist, who won tue Chester Cup and Gold Vase at Ascot in 1874 as a three-year-old. There's rnauy a tune played by an old organist, so siugs Hughes — I hear the late Mr Gardener, the bookmaker, who died in Christclrureh just before the Cup, had a very good book on that race, and he clung to his favourite sport till the very last, being particularly anxious lo live till the Cup was over. However, it was fated otherwise, as ho was buried on the Derby day. — The horses in the St. Leger this year were below the usual quality. Ossian, the winner, was very fit, but English writers do not consider him first-class. Chiselhnvst. is small, while Highland Chief is ii cripple. This is the first Leger thnt has fallen to the lot. of cither the Duke of Hamilton or the jockey, Watts. — At the Cambridge Riices, Chandler beat Harkaway in both Hurdles and Steeple ; and Rewi won the Cup and Stewards' Handicap, Fishwoman being second in both race.?. Dewdrop was third in the Cup, and Victory in the Handicap ; Taipoura, won the Maiden aud Robert the Devil the Consolation. — Escopeta has been backed to win a thou by two or three local sports. The books, notwith standing the "gruelling" they got over MartiniHenry, are coming up to time like game 'uns. The Hawkes Bay Guineas winner has also been backed at 300 to 15. Welcome Jack was backed before the weights came out for about £800 at 100 to G. — " Spur " tells a story of the good old times when jockeys were scarce (good ones are now). An owner was in difficulty about getting a good jockey, the best rider being in durance vile-. So he set about in the proper manner; got the jockey liberated, and had the satisfaction of seeing him win the big event for him. Towards evening the jockey was again lodged in gaol. — The weights for the Auckland Cup and Steeples are out, and seem to me to be a very good production. So far I have not had time to analyse them carefully, but will try and do so next* week, and "dig up another little hymn" about the various horses, as Frank Wcston used to say when selling his Wizard Oil. By-tbe-bye, Jacob seems to have knocked the Wizard out altogether. —At Elaternwick Park Races. "Warrior" speaks of the bad behaviour of a lot of lightweights at the starting-post. It's tho same old game— be easy with them, and they'll give the starter a lively time. Thousands of poitnd^ are often chucked away over a good horse being loft at the post. In this instance, had Mr George Watson been starting them, half of them would have been filled. — A few names for yearlings : — Musket — Rangi, " Long Range ;" Anteros— Titan in, " Tit-up ;" Musket— Alll Steel, "Bayonet;" Musket— Pearl Ash, " Woodstock ;" Musket -Pungawereworc, "Hot Shell;" Musket— Onyx, " Beadsman" or " Foresight: ;" Musket — Perfume, " Musk ;" Musket — Lyra, " Wire Cartridge ;" Musket — Bergere, " The Crook ;" Musket— Locket, " Flint Lock;" Musket—Dundee Katie, " Bang .goes a Saxpence ;" Musket — Frailty, " Brummagem." — If the jockeys' mimes were up underneath the starters' numbers at our next meeting, I think it would be a step in the right direction. The trouble and expense would not be much, and many people have a fancy to back certain jockeys' mounts. It is always done at meetings of any standing, and, as they are doing so in the South, we ought, to at least, try aud keep pace with these little conveniences. There are various other reasons, well-known to racing men, why this should be done. — The Dunedin Cup weights are distributed from 9sfc 7ibs fco safe 81bs, starting 3lbs lower than the top weight in the Auckland Uup and going Gibs lower than the lowest weight in our race. The Northern and Southern handicappers have- agreed in most instances pretty well, with the exception of the scale mentioned above. There is one thing I am pleased to see, that the weights are being kept up, and that we shall not see more babies in the saddle than ii absolutely necessary. . - sporting (?) paper informs readers that '■' Australians have invented a new sporting sensation, namely, races for lady riders-. Theiair | jjHfcaonietunes lovely "jockeys .'use .'a' side 1 -saddle* • liSP*^ ** * s t^^ght that', whpn;^he- novelty be?. I there 'roughly accej>te"d^tKe~y wiUbe.^jher,. ■ -tli|i%jlra^ took place at :

the va^ue of .£256." The race' referred to was "The Ladies' Bracelet," and the astute editor concluded that the "jocks" were ladies on sidesaddles ! This is rather a " jokey " story. ' — The. Oamaru Pltimpton Company have authorised the committee to meet the lessees of the racecourse, and offer a guarantee of £100, with one-qxxarter of the gross proceeds of the grand-stand and booths, the company to have the right to let the course for sheep grazing only. It has also been resolved that a caretaker be appointed, whose salary should not exceed £100, two-thirds of which should be, paid by the company. What a pity our racecourse at Ellerslie cannot be utilised jn the same way. — Sporting writers must bo:tire<f of writing Martini- Henry's name, but over here there is naturally a great deal to interest us, and every little anecdote is read by many with pleasure. : In the V.R.C. Derby, Murphy, who 'had tho mount on Vernet, and used to ride for the Wbite stable, was in a very good position, and Williamson, on Martini, shouted, " Pull out, Jack, you've, got no show." " Haven't I, though ; I'm going for the greed," said Murphy. "Well, good-bye, old chappy, till you weigh in. I'm on a covey that can go outside and win in a little over 2-39." — George Fordham, the English jockey, has won something liko 3000 races since he rode his first race as a thirteen-year-old, some thirty years ago. After making a considerable amount of money by a string of almost unbroken successes, he quitted the turf and retired into private life. Land speculations and Amorican bogus companies soon " busted " the hardly-earned dollars of the "Demon," and he once more donned the silk jacket, sat down, and rode out as well as he ever did. While in retirement, like Custanco, he became so stout that he was hardly recognisable. • — Musket, the sire of Martini -Henry, and one of the Lest " stayers " that ever trod the English turf, was tho property of Mr George Payne, who during his long life lost four fortunes, without ever losing his temper. George Payne was a most accomplished card player, and enjoyed the reputation of being the best " hand at whist " in Europe. What an all-round S2^ortthis Northamptonshire squire was. Though of the old school, his well-known natty figure will long bo remembered by visitors to all the racing centres, and followers of the Pytchley and other Midland foxhounds. — I uni glad to learn that a numerously-signed petition lias been got up to be laid before the Auckland Racing Club Committee to take off tho disqualification from Bob Ray and Mata. I believe this onus on hor.se and jockey has been removed by all the principal Jockey and Racing Clubs in New Zealand with the exception of Auckland. As Ray trains for tho Lance and Robinson confederacy, if we want them ever to support our meetings, this will have to be done, and the time has nearly arrived, if not quite, when we shall have, more than one good handicap horse " road'yd up " to meet this clever Southern stable at their own game. — At the Waverley and Waitotara Races, Leoncssa and Wairuareka were the only two starters for the Guineas, and, as they were both in tho same stable, the public were led to believe Wairuareka was to win; but so as to get the whole of the stakes, Leonessa, was started, and, the race being run at a slow pace, when they came to tho run in the non-favourite won, much to the disgust of not only the public, but the stable also, and even causing a disturbance between owner and trainer. Mr D. Scott's Ahua won the Maiden Plate; Bugler won tho Hurdles ; Witiora won the Flying Handicap ; and Bayard won the Waverley Handicap, with Witiora second, and Hippona third. — At Christchurch thetotalisators were wonderfully well patronised, partially, no doubt, on account of the easy access to them. There are two outside the enclosure, and one in, at a pound a "pop." Frequently £10, £60, and even £100, are put on by a single individual. Such speculation as this must bring a big revenue to the Racing Club, but it must hurt tho boookmakers. Inside the totalisator, one official takes the money, another stumps and gives out the tickets ; there is one operator to work tho machine, and a boy to hand out a book if five or more tickets are wanted in one lot of one number. At the back of the machine they aye paying out on tho previous race, while the operators are working the totalisator on the coming one. — The Gympio railway station-master absurdly stood on red-tape the other clay, when two racehorses wore being sent by rail to Maryborough e-A ■route to Brisbane. He would not permit hay for the horses' food to be placed in the railway trucks with them, although a groom was in charge of each animal. Sporting men can easily imagine the harm that may be done to horses in training by compelling them to perform such an emptybellied journey. I believe the conduct of this duuder-headed official is to be brought under the notice of the Minister, for Railways. Red-tapcism j and obedience to instructions are all very well in their way, " but, hang it," (as a well-known , Civil Servant used to say) " hang it, a man of reason and common seuse must be allowed ' some ' discretion ! " — The following are the weights for the Thames J.C. Summer Meeting:— Hurdle Race: Reform, 12st; Woodpecker, list 12lbs; Harkaway, llsf.3lbs ; Lone Hand, list ; Chandler, list; Sportsman, lOst lOlbs ; Christmas, lOst lOlbs ; Jed water, lOst 7lbs; Fly, lOst 3lbs ; Totara, 9st 12lbs ; Actor, 9st 121bs ; Butcher Boy, 9st 71bs. Steeplechase : Reform, 12st 71bs ; Chandler, 12st 51bs ; Harkaway, list 71bs ; Lone Hand, list 4lbs; Woodpecker, list 31bs; Tvicotrin, list 2lbs ; Sportsman, list ; Christmas, lOst 12lbs ; Jedwater, lOst fibs ; Fly, lOst 71bs ; Actor, lOsfc; Robert the Devil, 1(M. Thames Plate : Fishwoman, Bst 121bs ; Luckpenny, Bst 21bs ; Dewdrop, 7sfc 91 bs ; Lone Hand, 7st 8lb3 ; Maoriland, fcst 71 bs ; Woodpecker, 7st 71bs ; Kenilworth, 7st 6lbs ; Golden Crown, 7st 2lbs ; Robert tho Devil, 7st ; Welcome Davy, 6st 71bs. G-oldifields Handicap i:,iLibeller> Bst;l2ibs ; Luckpenny, Bst ; Lone Hand, 7sfc 121bs ; Woodpecker, 7st 12lbs ; Dewdrop, 7st,lolßs jJKenilvyqrfch, 7^t Tttfp.jt Maoriland,' 7st 71bs j : Jfyewi, Is,i 71bs ; r Goltlln Crown, 7st; Welcome ,J)|vy,\6st. 71 bs^ - —The Melbourne 'Sidtfljnl kas. iive \ pictures a^pi!?seriting ttie 'differek#ty^ .houses, and as they, are all; by M'ed Woodhdusb, they . a.hpttld beffke'nesseg :' 'one $$*>£» 'they are.'all

with Ms proppy fore-legs and tifcright shoulders, badly let down hooks, long canon. bones, and long I back, I do not wonder at the. -old 'adage, A' They gallop in all forms."' 2ulu is" ''another queer shaped one, but Commotion and Calma, though. » totally different iiv formation, are' beautiful specimens, and well worth, the .study of a lover of a good shaped 'un. In Martini's ' picture, ilae first thing that strikes me is. old Sylvia's head and eye, and the long forehand of Musket, croup of the mare, barrel and quarters of tne horse, particularly the gaskhis and fore-ribs ; while .the Cup^. . winner's legs and tail are set on like his' dam's.' : That this is a likeness, l feel sure, with one except tion, viz., the heavy point of the shoulder and:-: chest. Although up to the time of leaving. ;* Auckland he was familiar to most sporting men,- • of course his form has altei'ed very much sinee -he • ■ has grown and furnished into the lengthy and'hand'sorne colt he has now become. — The following are the weights for. Cup> ; ,ani Steeples at the Auckland R.C, Summer Meeting:— Auckland Cup, of SOOsovs. ; 2£ miles : Welcome v. Jack, 9st lOlbs ; .Cheviot, Bst 12lbs ;' Mischief; Bsfc 12lbs; Vanguard, Bst lOlbs ; Salvage, Bst 8Ibs; Lady Emma, Bst Gibs ; Turquoise, Bsf 3lbs ;- Tiife ' : Whiffler, 7st 121bs ; Leonora, 7st lOlbs; Leonata, : 7st 81bs; Maori, 7st 71bs; Libeller,. 7st 7lbs ;. Pishwoman, 7st 2l\}B ; Normandy, 7st 2ibs ; Hippodamia, 7st 21bs ; Adamant, 7st ; Envious, 7st 5 ■ Poet, Gst 121bs ; The Jilt, 6st I2lbs ; Kenilwortb, 6st lOlbs ; Wapiti, GstlOlbs; Nelson, 6st lOlbs ; Sir Bedevere, Gst Olbs ; Musketeer, Gst 8lbs ; Master Agnes, Gst 81bs ; Escopeta, Gst 71bs ; Epicuz-e,6Bt Gibs; Buzzard,. Gst 41b s ; Hippona, Gst 41bs; Soukar, Gst ; Linda, Gst ; Report, Gst ; Vortex, Gst; Gilderoy, Gst; Swordsman, Gst. Auckland' Steeplechase, 200sovs. ; about 3£rnilos: ' Clarence, 12s$ 121bn ; Hercules, 12st ; Reform, list; Bate-. man, list; Chandler, lOst 121bs^k Woodpecker, . lOst lOlbs; Harkaway, lOst 71bs^ r ildboy, lOst 71bs ; Barbary, lOst 71bs ; Christmas, 105t..41b8 ; , Ngata, lOst 41bs ; Grey Monius, llOst; Chevalier, •. lOst ; Home Rule, lOst ; Ravenswood, 9st lOlbs ; ■ 1 Strathoarn, flst 71bs. ... — The Bulletin says : — " Sensation follows ; « sensation amongst the American trotters, and the iatest is the performance of Mr William Rockefeller's team, the grey stallion Independence and * the bay mare Cleora. This pair had been in training at Charter Oak Park, Hartford, Conn., for some time, and one day they trotted a trial in 2-l7f. Appreciating the value of a technical record, Mr Rockefeller made a small wager. with Mayor Buckeley, of Hertford, that the team coukl beat (hat figure, and the 25th of August . was set for the trial. At 11 a.m., after a warm- ' ! ing-lip h€nt, in 2-38 i, the cross-matched team came clown for the word. Tt was not a winning gait the first half, the cool-headed driver preferring to reserve his speed, When the timers noted 35^ sec. to the quarter, and l-09| to the half, no person thought that the beat double-team record would be superseded, but the second half-^| mile told another story. The third quarter : of the distance was trotted at a 2-16 gait, the three--quarter pole being passed in 1-43^, and the speed ■ down the home stretch was even greatei, being accelerated to a 2-12 clip. Wearing the wire the stallion kept his traces taut, while the mare received a little persuasion, but neither made a mistake, and as they flew over the score, the watches of the timers were stopped at the aston- [ ishing figure of 2 16£, beating by one second and a quarter the best previous double-team record of i Edward and Dick Swiveller. They have not yet 1 equalled the performance of Maud S. and Aldine,. . driven by Vanderbilt himself, in 2-151, drawing 4111bs, but as Vanderbilt's trot is not looked upon as a record, Independence and Cleora 1 are now entitled to be called the Champion DoubleTeam." — Invited by a friend to go over and look at his horses, I did so, and en the way we called at. . Kohimarama. The weather was perfect, the ; blue sky and soft breeze along the beach near Jack Laing's cottage was simply lovely. On the flat were two mares— one by ltntan, with a smart buy Anteros foal, showing plenty of length, big hocks, but not particulai'ly good fore legs, although he will in all probability grow out of this youthful deformity. Strange to say, the other mare, supposed to be in foal, takes a greater interest in this young aristorrat than his own mother. We had barely finished interviewing these matrons ere Jimmy Laing cmne along on a very pretty filly by Musket, from Locket, by Thunderbolt, out of Keepsake ; the ehesnut mare Locket was at the last. Agricultural Show. This filly is named Neck- >. hice, and nominated, I believe, for the Mares* Produce at the Autumn Meeting, and is a bay brown, ticked with grey hairs, a small grey patch, on her side, and three white stockings. She has only been handled a short while, and is very fat at present, so that her racing points are pretty well covered up ; but her Hat bone, kind eye, and . - s-----length of ground over which she stands, cannot fail to catch the eye ; the way she tucks her hind r legs under her body, even when she walks, causes the forecarriage some trouble to keep out of the way of her powerful hind propellers. Whether "' this filly wins races or not, she, 1-feel sure, will be a pretty mover. While Jimmy was doing this young lady's toilet, there was a great knocking in . the box behind us, and, when the door was slid bitek, I found myself in front of a lively young . srentlemun in the shape of a three-year-old colt by Feve, from Lyra, nominated for the Derby at > our Summer Meeting. This is a comical-looking customer, as he got away with the tackle on whe'ni is being broken in, and ran into a fence, getting a crooked neck and his near hip knocked down. These peculiarities, however, do not seem to affect his action at all, and he is about the liveliest fellow in his box imaginable. On begging for a look at St. Leger— the colt that not a- few laaghed • at on account of his discreditable debut ufc oiii* • Spring Meeting — Jimmy puslio<i back the tloorp, . and there stood the larrikin, with his rloUies in the, corner of the box, his roller rouud his loins, right back to his stifle. Ht> wn? thea redressed, which operation he submitted io quite as/well as. many far oUler horaes, notwithstanding the name he has got of being so to manage. /T" ■ quite expect to see a 'few 'of tfiis colt's detractors' '" laftgji' the other way on a inturo occasion, .but not, -„ just yet awfHj}^ .'Wh'e.^Aic 'started' kist '-^unQ.-hd '. galloped\"^j^jfi.!.ilie' J "cjiiipvj:-, wondering wh^t they; ir were. ; >fife} '. he'll probably, "gallojjf; s'<* ' [ that he wiUssiSbt see them tttj all, ;Qn,ouV way;],

,' stable time, we bad a look at the lot. Old Soukar's ' iail proclaimed his ailment. All the others seemed hearty and well, and as most of my readers have seen them but lately, it is not worth while rewriting what they know already.