MISCELLANEOUS.

From whab Mr Morrin tells me, I don'b think we are likely to see his " black and amber" livery sported so frequently on our race-courses. At present he only ha 3 the two-year-old filly Brown Alice in training, and tho other day he was asked on behalf of a Melbourne client bo pub a price on her. Hilda and Cissy are now browsing among the aristocratic dames ab Wellington Park

Yesterday afternoon bhe Commibtee of the Takapuna Jockey Club met, and took further evidence relative to the running of the horse Van Diemen ab the recent Summer Meeting. Ab tho conclusion the following resolution was drawn up :— "Thab having heard and carefully considered the evidonce of Geo. Wright (tho owner) and J. Gallagher (the rider of the horse Van Diemen), also thab of Messrs A. Davis, J. M. Sharp, D. McLeod, A. Glover and C. Philpott, the stewards are of opinion that the evidence given proves that the horee was well backed by his owner in the Stewards' Handicap, and consider the explanation as bo bhe change of form of Van Diemon ab tho third day's racing to bo satisfactory."

Major Georgo has entered Reprisal and The Workman for a number of events at the Victoria Racing Club Autumn Meeting.

The annual race meeting ab Whibford Park is fixed bo bake place on Wednesday, 2nd March. Nominations close next Friday night with Mr W. L. Lockharb, the secobarv.

On the opening day of bhe Victorian Racing Club Meebing, bheEssendon Sbakes, lJtmile, weight for-age, usually creates a deal of interest Tho entries for this year's contest are as under :—Freodom, Annesley, Swordbcarer, Singapore, Tirailleur, Stromboli, Bengal. Megaphone, Pygmalion, Strathmore, Albemarle, Highborn, Steadfast, Zalinski, Malvolio, Ponarice, Marvel, Sadim, Portsea, G'Naroo, Wandsworth, and Oxide.

Impulse figures among the entries for the Rosehill Cup, I mi!o and 3 furlongs. There are 84 other entries, including Marvel and Bungebah. Satyr is to be taken from Sydney to Melbourne for the V.R.C. Autumn Meeting. The son of Leolinus has been entered for the hurdle races.

The V.A.T.C. Meeting takes place at Caulfield next Saturday. In the Oakleigh Handicap, 5J furlongs, Pygmalion is awarded 9—3, and Tiraillerie B—6. The progress of racing in France can bo estimated from tho fact that tho total value of races run lasb year was £228,138, of which £174,700 was bona fide added money.

In the birdcage at Warwick Farm (writes "Martindale") I saw Highborn and Penance. Both looked well, especially Penance, who does nob appear to grow up very much, bub is a beautiful colt to follow, having no end of propelling power. Still I can't say thab I think he is a likely Leger candidabe, believing bhab paco and nob staying power is more in his way. Tho Committee of the Victoria Amateur Turf Club have decided in bringing out bhe weights for bhe Caulh'old Cup upon the same day a3 those declared for the Melbourne Cup. This was decided upon at a meeting held recently, at which they reduced bhe distance of the Toorak Handicap to a mile, and knocked the Great Foal Stakes out of tho programme, substituting a race called the Debutante Stakes of l,ooosovs for 2 year-okh, 4 furlongs, with special weights. An additional 150sovs was also added to the Caulfield Guineas, which now makes it worth 650sovs.

Wagering on the English Derby opened in December last, and "Porter's lob" at Kingsclere were taken against the field ab even 5 money, while odds of 2 to 1 were freely accepted about Orme, a son of Ormonde and Angelica, and 10 to 1 bar 1 was on offer.

Mr Morrin tells me the Ingomar—Steppe colt will be kept ab Wellingbon Park for some time before being gent to Gisborne.

Nominations for the Papakura Racing Club Meeting close on the 26th February. Next Thursday, the final payment for the Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup falls due. Advices by cable state that Bunjjebah still keeps bis place at the head of the quotations, bub before the day I shall expect, to hear of either Zalinski or Pygmalion being heavily backed. Speaking of Bungebah's Newmarket Handicap chance, a Sydney scribe writes : — "Fib and well on the day, he will carry thab lOat 41b desperately near bhe front ab Flemington ; and if all goes well he should be reaily well by thab birae." There is no chango in Senbinel's condibion. He is in a bad state, but may pull through. It would appear thab Mr Gollan's horses will be spun out in earnest ab the V.R.C. Autumn Meeting. A recenb morning's work of the team ab Caulfield is thus recorded in the "Sportsman":—"Tirailleur and Tiraillerie started off tor a good working gallop. After covering nine furlongs ab an even bime gait, the latter dropped oub, and Kimberley, with a light weight up, took her place, and accompanied Tirailleur for another mile and a quarter, which was run in 2min 23sec, the Musket horse in all going bwo miles and bhree furlongs—Ausbralian Cup work." W. Clifford sold Egyptua in Melbourne bho other week for £350. Tho crack jockey has made a good deal of Major George's cast-off, for he purchased him in Auckland for 50gs. Occidenb and Merrie England aro the favourites for tho Dunedin Cup. Rosefeldt and Free Lance have been taken down from Nanier to the Otago capital. The Onslow Trotting Club has issued tho programme for their Summer Meeting, tho leading items being tho Onslow Trot Handicap of lOOsovs, three miles, and Maiden Trot of 35sovs. A novelty will be introduced ab bhe meeting in the shape of a wheel race (in harness). Nominations dYe on Monday next wibh Mr Wm. Wallace, Secretary pro tern.