CAPAND JACKET

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 228, 24 January 1885, Page 4

CAPAND JACKET

By Dainty Aiitel

NOTICE

Secretaries of Clubs, owners of horses, and turfites are requested to forward, announcements and items o l ' new for tlvis column. Questions affooting the Turf, ftc, will b gladly answered, and lets decided. ALL communications to be addressed tc the 'Editor

RACING- FIXTURES

NEW ZEALAND

Jan. 29 — Talcapun.i. J.C. Summer. Feb. 6 and 7— Wellington U.G. Summer. Feb. 26, 27, and 28— Bunerlin J.C. Autumn. March 5 find 6 — Wn.nganui J.C. Autumn. March 17 and 19— Hawke's Bay J.C. Aul.umn. March 17— Henderson's Mill J.C. AuLuinn. March 25 — 'Ksimont; R.C. Autumn. AN3WBRS TO COERESPOXDinsTS. Kkli'l73 (Cambridge). — liny the Australian Stud books — it is not a question for a sporting editor to answer.

Maccaroni won the Hurdles at (lisliomo on Tuesday last. The New Zealand horses shipped by Te Auau from liorc arrived all safe in Sydney on the 10th. Ilelensville Race Meeting conies oft' on the 29th January, and a very good afternoon's sport is expected. It is a pity, however, they should clash with the nearer Takapuna Meeting. Messrs Enko and (Jallaghcr, the Avellknown bookmakers, intend visiting all the principal race meets in the South. They leave next week for Wellington an ■\Vhang!inui. Mr May will pay and receive for the former during his absence.

The Otahuhu Eaeing Club is now properly formed. A programme was drawn up as follows for Saturday, 21st February: Maiden Plate, Pony Eace, Hurdles (2), Steeplechase, of GOsovs; 3 miles, O.E.C. Handicap, of £<30, and Publicans' Purse. Seven events in all, which should give a good afternoon's sport.

Great sympathy is felt for Fred Archer, the well-known and popular jockey, on account of the death of his young wife. Mr Archer was at Liverpool Avhen he got the news of the birth of his little girl, and congratulations poured in upon him on all sides, two days later his wife died. She was a daughter of Mr John Dawson, and that she was a great favourite in Newmarket was proved two years ago when she was married. The child survives, and is doing well.

The following acceptances wore received last night for the Wellington Cup, run at the Hutt race-course, on (jth February : — Tnsman, 9st Gib ; (Salvage, Bsfc 71b ; Sou'wester, Kst 51b ; Black Rose, Bst 31b ; Tigrcdia, 7st 101 b ; Fusilier, 7st 8lb ; The Poet, 7sfc 81b ; Xormanby, 7st 81b ; Lady Evelyn, 7st 2lbs ; Minerva, 7st 21b ; Talebearer, 7st ; Armourer, (isb 121 b ; Mocha, Gst 71b.

The Onehunga Race Meeting comes off tomorrow, (Saturday) and promises a pleasant day's sport. The programme is a good one, and, though fields are in some instances small, good racing may be anticipated. In the Onehunga Cup Fishgirl reads the best by a long way, and, fit and well, should about win. The Hurdles should be won by Alaric with the greatest ease, with Minuet and Aziui about. Mitrailleuse should win the Publicans Purse' and Totalisator Handicaps without much trouble. Special trains for convenience of visitors at suitable hours.

There is one feature of the A.8..C. programme at £h,e late Summer Meeting which I hope to s<sff altered before next year. I allude to tho'fact that no shorter course for two - year - olds than six furlongs was arranged. It is a bit too much to expect of a thoroughly- wound-up two-year-old that he can go on galloping from % mile to one mile and a distance for three days in a week. An owner wants either a long string of young ones or else must cither lose the chance of paying his oat-bill, or risk a good

colt getting over-worked. It would be a decided improvement to my mind to have a i -J-milo-and-y-furlong" event between these j longer ones at next " Summer." I have received from Robin Hood's Croat Xovelty Company, Christchurch, the names | and addresses of the winners in their last consultation on the Canterbury J.C. Summer Meeting, which closed with 40J.-S subscribers, being ] 048 over the original issue. The first j prize of £86-.1, on the Midsummer Handicap, went to a man engaged in the brewery business at Fcudalstown ; the '2nd, of £1~21, to a farmer at Ohaka ; and the third to a man in Christchurch. In the Middle Park Stakes, J the Ist prize, of £JB2, went to a hairdresser i in Ashburton ; the 2nd. of £91., to a gentleman in the Clarendon Hotel, Christchurch ; j and the :->rd, of £(>(). to W.B. A cash prize ' of £2L os s)d went to a man in the Press office, another to Lyttelton, and a third to a : man (name unknown) in Christchurch. The i other prizes are distributed throughout the ■ Colony. Tho following nominations have been received for the Hawke's Bay Autumn Meet- , ing : --Xaj-ikh Handicap, of GOOsovs : The , Laird, Foul Play, Mangahore, Billy, Ugly Buck, Tigredia, Loouata, Sir Bedovore, ' Clogs. The Poet. Ascot, Deceiver, Foro- ! j'iinnei , Kmir Bey, Barb, Vanguard, Loon or; i., I'asliM, Black liose, Mocker, I^usilier, Pearl, Salvage, j jivuivrach, -Tuly, Sou-w ester, ■ Oudci.s. Ijibijller, Specuhition (late Hippod;i.miii.,lvLiiicrva,Charmer. lUjlwayStakks, ; of l.;o.sovs: Deceiver, Forerun nor, Wacwao- ; liika, July, Son'-wostor, Oudeis. Lorelei, Slavi 1 , Hpee, Miss Puritan, Minerva, Tale- ! bearer. SuniA-j-ai-.h. Pcvu-l, Mangahoro, Billy, ! Ugly Buck. Tigriidiu., Aimeo, (J-laieke.s, Spocul.'i,tor, Clogs, Fusilie] 1 , iSalvnge, Miss ' Dargon. Christina, Kmii 1 Boy, Barb, Van- ' guard, Leonora,, Lord Mandevillo. Pasha., ' Sir Bed(>vfre, Tlie Paint<'r, (Jharmer. Ascot. ; Hruin.K Haxuicat, of I ">Usovs : Assegai, 1 Mcisscngor. Waeritaka, Agues, Denbigh, : }\ r ild Dayroll, Alaiic. l^a'ugh-a-balltmgh, ; Macearoui, fngoni'ir, Pastime. Hurricane. Masher, [Royalty. Berrington.

I aviis attacked in anything; but a gentlemanly last week by Mr W. Percival for having, in my note of the departure of the N\Z. Stud Gourpany\s yearlings, said that the Musket — Onyx Intel been, though inquired for by an Auckland sport, reserved for, let us hope, better things. ''As if," said the secretary of that august body, the A.R.C., "his going to Sydney was better than staying in Auckland." Well, first and foremost, why in nature are the youngsters sent over at all, if not in hope of a more extended market giving " better things " as lo price ? Secondly — Any observant man, be he a writer or not, cannot but see that nearly every animal which is trained here is apt to crack up and get sick and sorry in most unaccountable ways, just when they are wanted. The Southern owners can bring their Welcome Jack, their Clai-once, their Salvage, Tigrodin. Pinfiro, Agent. &c. , (id It '/>., and spite of sea-voyage and change of climate, they run as fit as machines, and scoop the pools. Whereas, whether owing to incompetence or not, 1 won't say, avc hardly ever have a promising two-year-old, that is not a i)erfect wreck at three years. Who will venture to say that Martini- Henri would have been worth a cent if he had been kept in Auckland, and trained by some of the overgrown jockeys who make so many of the cripples which limp off our racecourse after each event, and on to it very often before ? Li we want a proof, look at his full sister Woodnymph, and the way she has been messed about. That's a " better thing." Thirdly, I don't think any but a born fool or a paid servant of an Auckland club would dare to say that winning a V.E.C. Derby and Melbourne Cup were not ' ' better tilings " than the best a horse might, by the grace of God and the help of cast-iron legs and a wonderful constitution, be able to do in Auckland ; not only ' ' better things : ' for his own or his sire's name, but better for the (Stud Company and the whole country. There, I think I have answered Mr Percival, and no doubt have at the same time ostracised myself from all privileges at meetings held tinder the gentleman's sway ; but that I can't help, and I guess 111 struggle through and live somehow, even if I have to pay my way at meetings, as some other writers have who dared to attack this would-be autocrat.

The North. Shore race meeting promises a lovely little holiday for lovers of sport on anniversary day. First part of the day they can see a good portion of the regatta, and then take ship and attend the races, and from there probably see the finish of the schooner race, if there is a favourable wind. The principle events of the meeting- are the Ferry Plate, 1 mile, Hurdles, Steeple, and T.J.C. Handicap, 1£ miles. In tho former seven cried content, and are as follows : — Fishgirl, Sst 81bs ; Carbineer, Bst ; Revolver, Tst lOlbs; Pipi, Tst Tibs; Mystery, Tstolbs; Victoria, Tst 4lbs ; A.8., 6st. Of those there is nothing I like so well as Revolver, who, if ho is as well as at New Year, must win. Given that he has got over the lameness exhibited after the A.R.C. Handicap, Carbineer should be the next best, and then Fishgirl. In the Hurdles there are still I eight left, and this should give a good field and keen contest, the following bein^ Lhe weights :— Azim, list; Linwoocl, lOst'ulbs ; Minuet, l()st 21bs ; Pipi, 9st 71bs ; Nigger, {Ist; Southern Chief, 9st; Pearl, <)st ; Julia Ann, Ost. Of these nothing- reads so well as ]\ linnet, and next to him I prefer the chances of Azim and Julia Ann. The Steeplechase has also eight acceptors, as follows :—Linwood, list; New Year, l()st 12 ; Julia Ann, lOst 21bs; Whalebone, i>st Tibs ; Deerfoot, <)st Tibs ; Tourist, 9st Tibs ; Banana, 9st 71bs .; Itikorangi, f)st Tibs. Of these Linwood, the ''curt horse" son of Cassivellaunus, ought, ou this trying course, to have a good show, as he fences well and keeps jogging, and what a heart he has we saw in the Auckland steeplechase. If New Year was the Now Year of old, there would be no other in it as to weights, but I shall expect to see Linwood or Julia Ann furnish the winner. For tho T.J.C. Handicap we find the good number of ton acceptors, Aveigh'ted as follows: — Libeller, Bst 121bs; Fish woman, .Sst Nibs ; Kalo, TstlOlbs; Larry, Tst lOlbs ; Fishgirl, 7st (ilbs ; Pipi, Tst 21bs; Carbineer, Tst 21bs ; lievolver, Tst ; Mystery, Ost 121bs; Victoria, (sst 121bs. Larry is, to my thinking, the best thing in this race, as the distance suits him very well, and he is thoroughly master of the weight. Fishgirl and the two young Muskets ought also to have a big say in it, but I can scarcely see Libeller or Irishwoman humping their weights into first position at tho end of a mile and three quarters. Kalo is not overAveighted, but is such a rogue I cau't stand him. Little Carbineer, if as well as he Avas when lie made "Welcome Jack move a bit in the A.R.C. Handicap over the same distance, Avhen he cai-ried (Sst -libs, shoitld, in spite of the extra 121bs, about be able to "do" the ' lot. But he pulled up very lame that day and can hardly haA r o got quite right again, so 1 shall place them Larry Carbineer Fishgirl