THE TURF

FIXTURES. September 23 and 24— Geraldine B.C. Sprin(. September 23 and 25— Wanganui J.C. Spring. September 27 and 28— Ofcaki Maori K.C. Spring. September 30 — Kurow J.C. Spring. September 30— Horowhenua K.C. Spring. October 2— Napier Park R.C. Spring. , October 2, 4, C, and o— Australian J.C. Spring. October B—Hawkes8 — Hawkes Bay Hunt. October 8 and B— Dunedin J.C. Spring. October 9— Hawkes Bay J.C. Spring. October 14— Masterton K.C. Spring. October 21 and 23 — South Canterbury J.C. Spring October 25— Waipawa K.C. Annual. October 26 and 27 — Greymoutb J.C. Spring. November 3 and 6— Auckland R.C. Sprißg. ' « NOTES AND COMMENTS (By "Sir Lancelot.") The Wanganui Jockey Club's Spring Meeting opens to-morrow. The club's Wellington patrons will require to leave by the Auckland mail to-night to reach Palmerston. From there special and ordinary trains leave in the morning, and reach the course in time for the first race, set down for noon. It looks as if the clashing of the Otalri and Wanganui Meetings has had some effect on. the fields at the last-named place. The field of twelve engaged in the Flying Handicap, six furlongs, is headed by Tree Lucerne, who was successful on the same course at the Cup Meeting in March, also Bimeter, winner of the Borough Handicap at the May Meeting. Denise Orme won £ye times out of nine starts last season. Glenroy has been doing a lot of travelling and racing, and failed at Avondale. Miacara. (» winner at Marton) and Centre (one of the Karamu team) represent prominent stables. Taringamutu is reported to have been going well at Trentham, and, under a light weight, will set a solid pace. Bimeter (with Deeley in the saddle) may be sent out I jfavourite. The imported horse Marcoris is down to appear in the Maiden Race, six furlongs. Harlequin (twice placed at the Wellington Cup Meeting) and Moutoa Queen (second at Marton) have some form to recommend them. Strabo (Hymettus — Starga) is one of the Karamu team. The Guineas field has dwindled down to cix, and does not compare favourably with, that of last year, when the competitors included the three place-getters in the Derby. With the exception of Messrs. E. G. Watt, W. Duncan, and Highden, the same owners will again be represented. Balboa was backward last year, and at Dannevirke Marco Bello looked as if he had not been hurried for the Wanganui race. The race may prove a. good contest between the two Riccarton representatives Nones and Battle Eve. The Hon J. D. Ormond's candidate Hydrus, created a favourable impression at Marton. Royal Arms has good credentials of those engaged in the Okehu Hurdles, one mile and fliree quarters. Ruatangata raced consistently at Riccarton and Marton. St. Gate (10.0) does not appear over burdened in the Gonville Hack Hurdles, one mile and five furlongs. Last year he ran second in the same race to Kew, and now meets Parewanui, one of the unplaced division, on 181b better terms. Three recent winners in Spain, Rewarewa, and Flying Camp are engaged in the Putiki Hack Handicap, six lurlongs. It does not appear to ■be a strong field. Battle Eve has also been left in. the? Spring Handicap, eight furlongs and ahalf. The competitors include four "New Zealand Cup candidates in Sunbird, Banksia, Maniaroa, and Prince Laddo, and a victory for one of these would entail slb extra at Riccarton. Lady Louisa won the principal event on both days of the Wanganui Winter Meeting. Fortify has raced successfully at eeveral meetings recently, and will be one of the most fancied candidates. Snapdragon, who is engaged in the Durle Hack Handicap, eight furlongs and a-half, won the Hornby Welter, one mile, carrying 9.3, last season. She also ran third in the Ashburton Autumn Handicap, one mile,- to Scotch Melody and Fender. ' Take Down, a winner at the Otago | Hunt Club's Meeting on Saturday, is a three-year-old filly by Downshircj — Cute, dam of Varna and Cute, dam of Trickery (by Charlemagne II.), a member of J. W. Lowe's team. Margarita failed to get placed in the Ascot Thousand, for ponies 14.2 and under, run on Monday. The Blenheimowned mare was conceding the winner three stone. Carwelkin was bred by Mr. E. E. D. Clarke, who imported her sire (The Welkin) and dam,, Carissima, a daughter of Carbine. She is one of the first of The Welkin's stock, and after competing once in registered ranks' went over to the ponies. In the Ascot Five Hundred, five furlongs and a-half, run on Monday next, Margarita is conceding Carwelkin 441b. After winning the Hurdle Race at Avondale on Saturday, Black Northern was saddled up again for the Steeplechase later in the afternoon. He negotiated a double, but refused at the first fence, and was pulled up. Several horses engaged at Wanganui on Thursday have also been accepted for on the opening day at Otaki. The list includes Taringamutu, Parewanui, Depredation, Square Deal, and Prince Laddo. Winners at Wanganui will be rehandicapped at Otaki. The Geraldine Racing Club's annual meeting is set down for decision tomorrow and Friday. Formerly the Geraldine Cup form was a reliable guide to the more important handicap at Riccarton, but this year the only New Zealand Cup candidate engaged at the South Canterbury meeting is Ardenvhor. Nominations for the Masterton Racing Club's Spring Meeting close on Friday evening. A cable in Saturday's issue announced the death of Orme at bis owner's (the Duke of Westminster's) stud at Chester. Orme was bred by his owner in 1889 by Ormonde, eon of Bend Or, by Doncaster, son of Stockwell, and represented a great sire family. As a two and three-year-old, after recovering from an illness through being poisoned Orme won £32,528 in stakes. He took up stud duty in 1894, and sired, among many winners, Flying Fox, who won over £40,000 in stakes. Both were great stallions. Ormonde was unbeaten. Bend Or won the Derby. In Australia the progeny of The Welkin (son of Flying Fox) have won £18,000 in stakes in two seasons. Orme has also had a successful representative in Birkenhead, whose progeny, have won over £80,000 in the Dominion in the last eight years. Ormonde (Bend Or — Lily Agnes) was sold at nine years for £31,250. At four years Hying Fox- (Orme — Vampire) was sold at auction for £39,375. Jardy (Flying Fox— Airs and GMf«;O W3£ said a» A fwr-jrew&td £«■ JJ30,000; Val dOr (Flyinc Fox—-Wam-

dora) fetched £28,000 at four years; Duke of Westminster (Orme — Gantlet), two years, £22,050; Gouvernant (Flying Fox — Gouvernante) changed owners for £20,000 as a five-year-old; and Adam (Flying Fox — Amie) brought £16,000 as a four-year-old. Other high-priced members of the record-breaking family to which Orme belonged were Kenda.l (Bend Or — Wmdermero), ten years, £18,000; Bona Vista (Bend Or— Vista), eight yeazs, £16,450; Galtee More (Kendal— Morganette), four years, £21,000. Doncaster, as a yearling (then known as All Heart and No Peel) was purchased for 960gns by Mr. James Merry, who sold him to Mr. R. Peck for £10,000, and he ■was afterwards disposed of by the Duke of Westminster for £14,000. Orme sired two Derby winners in Flying Fox and Orby. Ormonde, Bend Or, and Doncaster all won the Derby, while Stockwell (sire of Doncaster) and his sire, The Baron, won the St. Leger. The Avondale Stakes winner Glissando is not in the Hawkes Bay Guineas, but I the runner-up, air. F. Hall's Colonnade (Marble Arch— Tauhei), is in the Hastings event. Rewanga (the full sister to Colonnade) won twice and ran third once in her only other start as a three-year-old. Glissando started nine time as a two-year-old, and scored once in a Nursery Handicap on the second day of the Avondale Autumn Meeting (her last appearance as a two-year-old). Glissando is by imported Obligado, who has sired a number of good sprinters, from Miss Dix, by Phoebus Apollo— Abydos, by Nelson — Memphis, a mare imported from South Australia by the late Major George. Miss Dix is best known as the dam of Bedford (by Bunyan). She also produced Master Dix (by Seaton Delaval), who won races in Australia. Glissando failed in hack company at Marton and Rangitikei Meetings a fortnight previously, when well backed. The two races there evidently sharpened her up. Mr. F. Hall, the Gisborne sportsman, won the Avondale Guineas with Bleriot and Merry Roe, and the last two years was represented by Castalia and Colonnade, both of whom filled second place. After Glissando's performance at Avondale, it would not be surprising to rind Snub, Wishful, Redshire, Hydrus, Hy- J gia, and Eligible, three-year-olds who nave already won races this season, running prominently in some of the mile classic races yet to be decided. The thoroughbred stallion Solferino (by Soliman— Little Bed Spinner), purchased in England by Mr. J. B. R«id, arrived by the Rimutaka on Saturday, and is to take up stud duty 'at the Burnside Stud. Three yearling fillies, purchased by Mr. Wanklyn, of Christchurch, came out by the same boat. They are by Minoru — Florette, by Santry—Amorosa, and by Henry Till. — Minnie Orme.