SPORTING NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3082, 16 April 1892, Page 1 (Supplement)

SPORTING NOTES.

(By JjK Noei>). Mr J. O. Booth, the papular Waikato sportsman, still contiuues to have hick on the other side, his latest victory being with Brown Bess in the Moorlieid Handicap of lOOsovs, run at Canterbury Park on March 29th. At tho Rosehill races on March 24th, Brown Bess ran second to Whitefoot in the City and Suburban Handicap.

A few people at the Forbtiry races ran away with the idea that Whakawatea's 1.2.1 in the City Stakes was the tive-fur-long record for the colony. That is not the case. Forester won the C. J.C. Flying in ISB6 in lmin. lsec. I learn from the Sydney Field that Mrs White has had certain of Chester's remains preserved and converted into ornamental mementoes of the famous racehorse and sire. The ears, with the tuft of hair over the forehead, have been mounted on a gilt shield, bound round about in blue and white ; and the fine bushy tail has been mounted on blue and white satin. The shoes have been mounted in silver, and the hoofs, which have been polished, are to be sent to London to be made into inkstands of a unique pattern. A crack two-year-old from the United States will run in England next year. This is Mr Gideon's Bis Highness, who won the rich Futurity Stakes at Sheepshead Bay, New York, la3t August. A tumour 401b in weight was taken from the abdomen of the American horse Eurus, winner of the Suburban, who died last December. This, it is thought, accounts for his erratic behaviour on the track.

A korse-jockey in Aroosktook county, Maine (America), repented of his sharp practices, joined the churcli, and announced that if he had taken unfair advantage of anyone in a horse-trade he would bo glad to square things T*y paying the difference in cash. It was scarcely daylight tho next morning when a neighbour who considered that he had been " roasted " in a swap with tho newlyeonrerted jockey, made his appearance at the hitter's door, remarking that ha had " come early to avoid the rnsli." The jockey promptly settled the eaße. At a recent sale of the Palo Alio Stud Farm youngsters in American some very high figures were paid for fashion-ably-bred stcck. Baby M'Kee, a brother to the two-yoar-old record holder Arion ("2min lOJsec) fetched £5000, whilst Worth, a two-year-old brother to the great Sunol, realised £2900.

lt is reported that Joe Thompson was the bookmaker who laid Colonel North the fancy wauer of £30,000 to £300 about the treble—Waterloo Cup, City and Suburban, and Jubilee Handicap. Fullerten scored the first " leg " for Colonel North. Isaac Murphy, the American coloured jockey,is more in harmony with his horse than any man I ever saw in the saddle, says an observing writer. Jockeys are notoriously ungraceful riders, but he is grace itself. Stoval, another colored rider, utterly no account as a man, is also a natural horseman. It was just born in him to ride, and he is as light as thistledown on a liorsa's back, There is all the differences between the riding of one who has it born in him and one who has acquired it that there is between the mtisio of the natural musician and the one whom " practice made perfect." There lately died in South Australia a notable horse, no other than old Sheet Anchor, once one of the best known of Australian leppers, but who lately has been enjoying that leisure which his good deeds of the past warranted. Nearly a score of years ago—for Sheet Anchor was pretty well a quarter of a century old before he gave up the ghost — the old grey was the property of Mr Johu Brown, a farmer and miller of Ballarat. and it was Sheet Anchor's duty to draw flour around the district and to drag the agile plough. One day after he had had several hours at the game, and was being taken home, he got away from the ploughman, and when followed popped overall the fences before him, encumbered as he was with his tackle, and when chased by horsemen he simply left them as he liked, and it was not till hunger forced him that he onoe again returned to captivity. From that day Sheet Anchor was looked upon as a steeplechaser, and indeed there have been few better in the colonies, though he bad not an aristocratic pedigree, so far as I know.

London Truth says People who are interested in Orme must quake with apprehension when they read flighty rhapsodies about his being the most valuable horse that ever existed, because he now appears to have a very fair chauce of winning many of the rich stakes in which he is engaged. This sort of expensive nonsense is printed almost every year about some beast or other; and, as a rule, the animal thus fervently eulogised comes to dire grief, and wins hardly anything. It will be full time to fall into paroxysms of enthusiasm about Orme in four months from the present period. Even if he does turn roarer, there is nothing in the Two Thousand entry that is likely to beat him ; but his chance for the Derby has been destroyed. Consideri*g how tragically the winter favourites of this year and last year disappointed expectations, I am not surprised that offers to beat 2 to 1 against Orme for the Derby meet with no response. It is worth while for people who fancy him for the Derby so ardently that they must needs back him now, to reflect upon the

fact that if he is fit and welt he is certain to run twice at Newmarket before Epsom, and it would surely be better to wait and bet odds on him after he has won his earlier engagements than to accept such a ridiculous price as 2 to 1, with all the manifold risks of the winter and spring to be got through, puttjng aside the chance of his either being beaten in the Two Thousand or Newmarket Stakes, or of La FKche defeating him in a trial.

The incident occurred recently at a race meeting down the CoastA sactorial artist who knows a thing or two was Approached by a sport who shall be nameless, and in a most impressive manner the latter said he could lay the little man on to a good thing at the trotting meeting. "A real good thing?" queried the Sartorum. "Yes," replied the sport; " but if I tell you you must not let anyone else know, or they may spoil the dividend. One thing you may depend on, you'll get your money back," The required promise was made, the name of the horse confided, and the money was sent out by another party, and the next few seams put together were well done, the prospect of the coming geod fortune working like a charm. Twelve o'clock struck, and our friend of th 9 needle went to dinner. On his return he was met by a friend, who asked if he had speculated on any of the trots. "Yes," came the reply, and as it could not then matter whether he mad* known the name or not, he added, "and it's a real good thing. I've got a pound on Murphy." The other looked and exclaimed. Murphy?" "Yes, and he must pay a big divi, they say. The other smiled a little and said, " But Murphy's dead." " What ! dead Oh that be hanged for a yarn." "It's a fact—died Monday." i>artorum looked dazed for a bit, and then murmured, "He said I'd get my money back, and so I will; but by thunder, I've been sold !