SPORTING NEWS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 298, 14 May 1889, Page 3

SPORTING NEWS.

Owners of racehorses, trainers, and others interested, are reminded that acceptances for the Flying Handicap, Handicap Hurdles, and Birthday Handicap, for the Waerenga-a-hika Jockey Club’s Queen’s Birthday Race Meeting, are due with the Secretary—Mr M. G. Nasmith —to morrow (Wednesday) evening, the 15th inst. “ Vigilant ’ ’ in the Melbourne Sportsman says That little head victory of Carbine's in the Sydney Gold Cup, spelt ruin to at least one gentleman I know of. A Wanganui backer made inquiries last week as to what price he could get 1000 about Recluse for the New Zealand Cup, but he conld not get a quotation. The Musket—Maid of Athol colt, Scots Grey, the property of Mr G G. Stead, is at present receiving some attention in the South for the New Zealand Cup and C.J.C. Derbv, at hundreds to four. The Hon. J White's Abercorn is credited with having covered the last six furlongs of the Cumberland Stakes in Imin 14}sec. This is pretty slippery, and taking into consideration that the first two furlongs was run at a funeral pace, viz., 55 secs., there must have been a screw loose somewhere. It is anticipated that the added money for the whole season of 1839-90 of the Victorian Racing Club, commencing with the next Melbourne Cup meeting, will amount to no less than £36,600. It may also be mentioned that a trophy, value £l5O, will be given for the Melbourne Cup. 8 It is very doubtful whether we have yet received the correct version of the result of the Two Thousand Guineas. The winner of the race is invariably made first favorite for the Derby, and yet in the quotations on the latter race sent through lately we have Enthusiast, the reported winner of the Newmarket race, quoted at 10 to 1, whereas Djmovan, who was placed second in the jmKgrapbed result is quoted at 2 to 1 for the w rfeat Epsom event. It is, of course, possible that Enthusiast may be under suspicion of unaoundness, or regarded as_ a nonstayer, in which case the apparent inconsistency would be explained, but the probability is that a mistake has been made either in the result of the Two Thousand or in the Derby quotations.—Post. . In connection with the sensational dividend paid on Merlin in the Maiden Race at the late Wellington Race Meeting held the other day, it is somewhat singular that the boy James, who rode the winner, is the same Jockey who rode Jack in a hack race at the Carterton-Taratahi Meeting last year when there was not a single investment on the Winner. On that occasion James was given £1 by his father with instructions to do as he liked about putting it <m his mount. Thinking the horse had no show he kept the £1 in his pocket, and had the mortification to see nearly £BQO slip from his grasp This time he took good carg to have a £1 on his mount, and the result was a return of £9l 16s. Mr James, the owner of the horse, to a blacksmith at the Hutt, andon the receipt of the dividend he took the good advice of Mr Lyon, the Secretary of the club, and rode off at once to the Hutt and banked the money. The other ticket on Merlin *as shared by a Maori named Pitama and a Mr twain. . . In the course of an interview with a reporter of the Sydney Referee, on the subject of the introduction of the totalisator, the Hon. James White made it very plainly understood that he is no believer in the instrument. In arguing the question, the Sydney sportsman saidl generally bet £5OO on a race, or say £3OOO a day. Take a low computation of sixty days’ racing in the year, and you will see that my transactions would be £lBO,OOO per annum. Ten per cent, on that business would bring me £lB,OOO a year, Without any risk whatever. I’d be glad to bet to three per cent. The machine plays to a dead certainty, whereas a bookmaker s takes heavy risks. He may win to-day and Jose to-morrow. Very few indeed of the Australian ring make more than a living; as a proof of which I need only ask you .to tell me how many of them are rich men ? The fortunes made by bookmaking in these colonies are few and far between. Why should not bookmakers have as much consideration as sharebrokers ■ They are on a par, the two professions, as mediums of public speculation.