NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By Sir Bedivere.) Pawky, clam of Aboyeur, never raced, nor did the dams of Spearmint, St. Amant, Volodyovski. Isinglass, and other good horses. In an article in the Bloodstock Breeders' Review, however, Mr. J. B. Robertson submits strong evidence of such mares being exceptions to t.h» general rule. He shows, in other words, i that first-class race mares ate considerably more likely to produce classic winners th*h those which have either nob raced at all or have raced and fchovrn no form. Such conclusions were only arrived at after an immense amount of research. Mr. Robertson is nothing if not thorough, and in preparing data for the purposes of his investigations, he looked up th© past history and performances of the first 300 mares mentioned in volume XXI. of the General Stud Book, of the whole of the daughters of St. Simon, and of the dams of the winners of the five classic event* during the past thirty years, All these were classified into slfc groups, in accordance with their Turf performances, or want of performance. Each group was duly credit«tt with the humber of classic winners its members produced, and proportionate comparisons were then, of course, easily made. In ratio to their numbers, the "great" and "good" race mares were found to have produced quite a remarkably large percentage of classic winners than the mares which gained no distinction on the Turf. Now this in itself is significant enough, but the bare figures scarcely do the mares that have raced well justice. It may be taken for granted that many of the mares that " never ran " did not fail to do so from any inherited weaknesses but rather because they met with some unexpected mishap. Probably some of these would in ordinary circumstances have proved high>class performers, in which event they would have gone to swell the winning percentage in favour of others of their class. Mi*. Robertson concludes by drawing the inference that racing is not detrimental to a mare's prospects of gaining distinction «t the stud, but ih this he merely arrives at the same conclusion as the great German authority, Herr B. yon Oettingen, author of a standard work, " Racehorse Breeding m Theory and Practice," which was translated into English about two years ago. Daisy Paul, Consul, and Yankee •Doodle ea*ned'tKe distinction at Wanganui on Saturday of winning the first hurdle race, steeplechase, and flat race respectively, decided in the North Island this season. The Hawkes Bay trainer H. Hiokey may, u> is now reported, not go to Sydney after all. One of his team in Chief Marshal has gone amiss, and another in The Rover has been turned out for a spell^ Beacon and Whakaweira are remaining possibilities, and their movements will probably be decided upon today. Emerson continues to ride winner* in Australia, and on the 13th of this month he sooted on the Sir Laddo horse Fugue in the Shorts Handicap at Newcastle. Fugue is a member of J. Whitworth's team. At the annual meeting of the Hawkee Bay Jockey Club, a recommendation wft« made to the incoming committee that no hurdle race of a less distance than a mile and three-quartere be included in future programmes. A New Zealander, who was present at Caulfleld on 3rd August, gives it as hie opinion that Wimmera would have won the Australian Hurdle Race but for making a faulty jump at the last obstacle but one. Price, it is said, did not support Wimmera's Btable-mate, Ballista, who scored, to the extent of a single pound, as ho had run so disappointingly at Mooney Valley the week previously that his chances seemed to be hopeless. The following fbaliflgß have already taken place at the Waikanae Stud :— -30th July, Angeles (Mtiltiform-^Happy Valley) b.f. lo Bezoniah ; 10th August, Satisfaire (Birkenhead^Content) , b.f. to Achilles ! 11th August, I>ady Principal' (The Officer— The Shrew) br f. to Beao-. nian; 11th August, Sueees* (The' Officer' — Content) c to Achilles; 14th Auguet, Peace (The Officer— -Content) br f to 'Achilles; 22nd Augtwt, Snowstell (Clan-, rftnald— Safeguard) b f to BeJionlan; 24th August, Prelude (Merrie England— Prologue) br cto Bezonian. Other maTes that are due to foal early are : Rumour, who should have produced to Achilles on 9th August, but i» us usual carrying her foal overtime; Paphia, who is due to Achilles on the 28th ; Nerve to Bezonian on Ist September, and Stepina to Achilles on 3rd September. The brown colt foal by Bezonian from Prelude i« <said to be a particularly fine one. Owners and trainers are finally reminded that nomination for the Wanganui and Dannevirke Spring Meet- , ings are due this evening. Acceptances for the Marton Spring Meeting are due to-morrow.