CAP AND JACKET

MY NOTE BOOK By "Old Turfite."

A good deal of surprise lias "been expressed by many persons tliat the Auckland Racing Club has not passed a rule similar to the one in force in New South Wales, with regard to horses sired north of the line. Sir Hercules Robinson when he determined to keep a stud in New Zealand cavised a letter to be written and forwarded to the different clubs, calling their attention to the matter, and advocating that the rule made "by the A. J. C, and a similar scale of allowances should be adopted by the clubs in New Zealand, as there were many horses at the present time in the colony that were sired north of the line, besides brood mares that had lately been imported in foal. Hawke's Bay has, however, been the only club that has taken any steps in the matter. The A. R. C. have hung back, no doubt waiting as they usually do, until the Christclmrch Club sets the example. Why that club should be always looked upon as the premier club, and to take the lead, 1 am at a loss to understand. Surely there are gentlemen connected with the A. R. C. that know quite as much about racing as those in the southern club, still, as I have before said, they always want them to give a lead in racing aiiairs before they move in it. This is surely wrong ! Now is the time for the A.R.C. to adopt the A. J. C. rule, or one similar to it. At the forthcoming meeting there are two or

three horses that would come under it, and the Stud Company are importing some mares from England, which will in all probability be in foal. Now it would be much better for the club to pass the rule before they arrive, or else the public, who in fact support racing, will make unpleasant remarks. One man, who has gone to considerable expense with regard to racehorses, and has unfortunately been very unlucky in his speculations, has publicly stated his determination never to run a horse in Auckland again, if passing a rule giving allowances to horses sired north of the line is delayed either till the Christclmreh Club takes the lirst step, or until the Stud Co.'s mares arrive. The Auckland turf can ill afford to lose any of its supporters It is, therefore, to be hoped that one of the committee who is independent will take the matter in hand.

Very little interest has been taken in the Champion Race this year though Mr. Abbott has a good sweep on it. Perhaps it is owing to the certainty that it is looked upon for Grand Flaneur, still, there is many a slip made in racing, and after all it may not be the great certainty that it now appears for the favourite. There is every probability of the iield being small, as it seems an unlikely thing that any of the older horses can clip the wings of Grand Flaneur and Progress. First King has had a few mares this season, still it is the intention of his owner to start him for the race if he is fit ; he has always been a difficult horse to train owing to his feet being bad. There are also some well bred three-year olds that have not appeared this year in public that are well spoken of, so a surprise is very likely to occur, and seldom have layers a better chance of a coup than for this race. At this distance away, and being without reliable information, it would be folly on my part to attempt to pick the winner outside the favourite, still I am inclined to think the certainty will be upset ; so there is a good chance for investment in the sweeps.

The acceptances for the Dunedin Cup have to he declared on the ISth. The handicap has been made by three of the committee, Messrs. Jobberns, Donse, and Taggart. It is a much better one than those that have been compiled lately by Mr. Griffiths. Foul Play, Betrayer, Natator, and Lure have already been scratched. The southern sporting writers say there is nothing in it but Le Loup, Sir Modred, and Virginia Water. I am, however, of a different opinion. When the acceptances appear, and the betting market is fairly settled down, it will assume a different appearance, giving the talent plenty of work to pick the winner.

Betting on the Auckland races, notwithstanding the long list of quotations that appear in the paper, is very limited. When all the southern horses arrive it may become more spirited, but at the time of writing Foul Play and Betrayer are deemed certainties. _ In fact, southern people say that the handicap was made for them. They have, however, notwithstanding a rough passage, arrived safe, and in a few days' will be hi work, when the public who go out to the course can judge for themselves. Ariel is improving daily, and if the course is heavy, may run well. King Quail, though reported to be going short, is very well, and his owner is confident. Maid of Honour is giving great satisfaction in her gallops, and will be piloted by Tommy Hodson. Many think that she will upset the pot. Kenilworth is doinggood work, but is a doubtful starter for the Cup, though he Avill have a good look in for the Derby and Maiden Plate. Yatapa has been backed by the Panmure party to win a good stake, but he does not please the knowing ones. Lara is said to be coming up via the West Coast and will arrive on .Sunday, quite late enough, if intended for the Cup. There are various reports regarding Mr. Walters stable, but none reliable. Sinking Fund has broken down badly, and in all probability, will never run again.

To the Editor : Sir,— Will you please answer the following questions to decide abet? I sent it to the Sporting Editor of the New Zealand Herald (not knowing that "Old Turfite" was with you) and he could not answer it. 1. Did any lady ride and win a race in public in England ? 2. Was the ' ' Huntsman, " winner of the

Grand National at Liverpool, a thoroughbred horse, and what was his pedigree? 3. How many Irish horses have won the Liverpool Grand National? — I am, &c, leishman. Cambridge, Waikato, 11th. Dec. 1880. [1. Yes ; Mrs. Thornton rode and won several races at York and Doncaster. The most notorious match was when she rode against Mr. Flint at York. 2. Yes; he was by Tupsley, dam by Young Augustus, out of Malaga, by Glencoe. 3. Eight; Abdel-Kader and The Lamb winning it twice.—" Old Tukfite."]

The Oamaru Kace privileges fetched £291. Barmaids beware! The " terror" is coming. First King will meet Grand Flaneur in the Champion stakes. For the Wellington Cup "Sinbad" fancies Piscatorius, Virginia Water, Foul Play, and Lara. Many good Judges are going for Lara for the Auckland Cup. The Prince of Wales won £12,000 on the Cambridgeshire. Te Whitumaramu is the favourite for the Opotiki Cup. It is whispered about as a dead secret that that marvellous suit will be visible on the Cup day. Ariel is looking well. He will, in all probability, be ridden by Billy Kraft in the Cup. { Derritt will, in all probability, ride Foul Play, and Watty, Betrayer, in the Cup. Harry Prince, the bes,t backer in New Zealand, has put £100 on Lara tor the Auckland Cup at 5 to 1. Badsworth, Libeller, The Agent, Piscatorius and Lara, will be here by the next boat from the South. Mr. Keene, the famous American "sport," has purchased the famous Blue Gown for his stud in .Kentucky. Lord Bradford's Chippendale, on whom odds of 7 to 4 were laid, won the Jockey Club Cup easily from Out of Bounds and Mistake. After the Cesarewitch, .Robert the Devil was put up for sale, the reserve price being £12,000. There were no bids. Moonstone is going splendidly, in fact, there are niore unlikely things than that he will bowl over Kenilworth in the Derby. The Duke of Westminster, disgusted with the fall of his favorite, Bend Or, is going to sell his stud, and give up racing. Many anticipate that the two best races at the forthcoming meeting will be the Maiden Plate and the Derby. I learn that a match for £20 is arranged to come otl on the Ellesmere course, on Dec. 24, between Mr. Gordon's Miss Biddy and Mr. E. Bryan's Lady Ellen ; distance 1 mile, lOst up. The time-honoured Criterion Stakes at Newmarket Houghton meeting, was won by Mr. Crawfard's smart filly Thebais, by Hermit, out of Devotion, Savoyard, second, and Sir Marmaduke, third. Mr. W. Hateley has declined to accept the post of handicapper to the Hawke's Bay Eacing Club. The handicaps have therefore been entrusted to 'the committee. The Hawke's Bay Courier has been requested to contradict the statement that Mr. Griffiths has been appointed handicapper to the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club, no such appointment having been made. Count Jaracewski took and won a double event bet of £10,000 to 30 about Robert the Devil for the Cesarewitch and Lucetta for the Cambridgeshire. The Prince of Wales had half of it. "Sinbad" thinks the Dunedin Cup one of the worst ever made. " There is,'" he says, "nothing in it even at this early date but Le Loup, Sir Modred, and Virginia Water." T. Hales' commission for winning the three races on Grand Flaneur amounted to £330, in addition to which he received £170 extra from Mr. Long, and won a bet of £100 on Grand Flaneur for the Derby. Mr. F. Grctton's Prestonpans by Prince Charlie out of Beatrice won the Liverpool Autumn Cup, the Irish horse Phillammon second, and Musket's son Petronel third. The betting was 10 to 1 against Prestoupans, 11 to 1 Phillamiiion, and 7 to 1 Petronel. li. Vallance will be present at the forthcoming Summer Meeting. The King say they suppose ho is coming in order to receive their felicitations and congratulations on Mata's victory in the V.E.C. Handicap. Mr. Saml. Yates, of Pariengarienga, North Cape, has purchasad the entire horse, Beanstalk, from the Stud Company for 150 guineas. The animal, which was shipped on Tuesday by the " Glenelg," will doubtless be well patronised by the northern settlers. The enemies of the favoixrites, who hoped they would get a knocking about on the way up, have been grievously disappointed. The passage was a splendid one, and both animals stepped out of their boxes as jauntily as possible. Bal Gal, carrying Bst. 131b5., won the Dewhurst Plate (£1920) from Brag (by Struan, out of Bounce), Lucy Glitters, and a fair field, including the Middle Park Plate winner, St. Louis (9st. 51bs.) and Lord Boseberry's Town Moor. The entries for the principal events at the Wanganui Annual Meeting are very good, and include most of the best horses, Le Loup boing the most noticeable of the absentees. The Wanganui Cup has 34, The Wanganui Stakes 32, and the Flying Stakes 31 nominations. Some fine young blood stock were exhibited at the Dunedin Cattle Show, by Mr. Geo. Dodson. The stock got by Cassivellanus should soon be heard of on the turf. Two fine colts by King Philip, which showed good quality and substance were entered by Mr, Kirby, and took first and second prizes. These horses are entered for the races to be held at Forbury Park, in February next. The Cambridgeshire Stakes, which is the last really great handicap of the English racing year, was brought to an issue at Newmarket on October 27th. There were thirty-one starters, the favourite being Mr. Gretton's Fernandez, 3yrs. (Bst. lib.) who was backed for an immense stake down to 9 to 2. Lord Bradford's Eetreat and Count Lagranges Castillon were also much fancied, but the race fell to Prince Solbtkoif's Lucetta, (7st. lib) a 100 to 6 chance who just snatched the prize from Fernandez by half a length, Cipolata, 3yrs. (Bst.) being third. The bookmakers literally roared with delight, as Fernandez's victory would have well-nigh broken the ring. " Save vis from our friends !" A much respected sporting friend recently commissioned one who had been on the most intimate terms with him to back the " Two Flaneurs "in Melbourne for a thousand. So far so good, but judge of the astonishment of the New South Welshman, whom we shall call Jones, when on settling night he was handed £950, the remaining £50 having been held by his friend as a fair commission on the transaction. Jones has hardly yet realised the situation, but gambling is such a dangerous game now-a-days, that I think him a lucky fellow that his friend did not change the dose, and give him £50, and retain the £950 on the score of commission. There would have been something in that.

Old Kildare, the well-known hurdle racer, was killed on Saturday last. He was jumping at the Dunedin Cattle Show, when, owing to the slippery nature of the ground, he fell and dislocated his neck. Old Kildare made "standing jumps" — had he jumped " like a frog," as most of the other horses did, instead of jumping in good sporting style, the probability is he would have made the jump with safety. Darriwell, who won the Melbourne Cup last year, in the fastest time that race has ever been run in, will, it is said, now retire into private life. In the lato I Cup race, at starting he was kicked soverely, and pulled fup very lame at the conclusion of the race. The Age says of him :— " Unfortunately we shall perhaps never know of what he was capable, as he received a terrible kick at the post, which not only lamed him but injured him severely. Thus the work of months was of no avail, and the hundreds risked on his chance were lost without a run ; for although he" started with the others he was prevented from running the race on his true merits. Lothair was also kicked." "Beacon," the sporting correspondent of the Melbourne Leader, informs his readers that Mr. Vallance has sold out his share of Mata and Camballo to Mr. H. Prince. The two horses have gone into Mr. Haines* stable to contiuue their training. The same writer has the following :— " That fine brown colt in Mr. F. F. Dakin's stable known as Darebin, by The Peer from Lurline, has been sold by one Tasmanian gentleman to another inhabitant of the island for a fair sum. He is a powerful colt, with an excellent turn of speed, though at present he has not shown any ability to stay. We are bound to get something good some day from I/urline, and it cannot be said of her that she does not throw them big enough." "It is," says "Martindale" of the Times, "with the deepest regret that I notice the death of one of New Zealand's oldest and most thorough sportsmen, Mi 1 . Hugh Stafford, who died at his residence, Stoke, Nelson, on Nov. 29th. Mr. Stafford had been ailing for some six or seven months ; and about four months ago it became known that he was suffering from cancer in the throat. The deceased gentleman was for manyyears intimately connected with the turf, both iv Nelson and Canterbury ; but of late years merely kept a few brood mares, among whom are old Miss Nightingale by Sir Hercules, out of Strop's dam Jessica ; and Corona by Towton, from Princess. The most successful racehorses he ever bred were Potentate, Laeenfeed, and Old Tarn. The latter, I believe, he sold as a foal. He has owned many good horses, though in his time, among others, old Ultima, winner of the Canterbury Cup in 1862, and the first Dunedin Jockey Club Handicap in 1863. He was by no means a successful trainer ; and after a long run of ill-luck retired altogether from, the Turf. His death will be deeply regretted throughout the length and breadth of New Zealand. A general favourite, an aifable and kindly gentleman, and a more genuine sportsman it would be hard to meet with." "It must," says the Canterbury Times, "he extremely gratifying to Messrs Eraser, Carter, Middle Park Stud Company, and others, to find near blood relatives of horses they had imported distinguishing themselves on the turf at home. This was particularly the case in the late meeting at Newmarket, for no less than, three winners are credited to sisters or half sisters of mares the gentleman named above have imported to Canterbury. A two-years-old filly named Orange Lily, by Blair Athol.out of Crenon — dam of Crinoline — carried off a five furlong Maiden Plate from a field of four. Sportsman, winner of the St. Leger Stakes (full particulars of which appeared in last Saturday's Times) is own brother to Miss Kate, imported by Mr. Carter. Elf King, winner of the October Handicap (particulars of which will be seen in an another column), is by Joskin out of Titania's dam, and is therefore half-sister to Mr. Stead's mare. Joskin is by West Australian, out of Pleasant Girl by The Majorfson of Sheet Anchor)— Glance by Waxy Pope. At the same meeting Lord Ilchester's colt Kuhleborn, who ran third to Thebais and Lennoxlove for the first year of the Thirty-third Triennial Produce Stakes (full particulars of which were published last week) is halfbrother in blood to the late Mr. Mallock's imported horse Anteros ; Kuhleborn' s dam being own sister to Adrastn,, the dam of Anteros. As King of the Forest, the sire of Kuhleborn, is by Orlando. It will be seen that the colt is inbred to that sire.