NEWS AND NOTES.

Racing still held up by the "flu." The English-bred Telemon is at present running m the paddock. Desert Gold, Finmark, arfd Killowen are expected back from Australia. The spring meeting of the Woodville Jockey Club has been postponed indefinitely. Long Range is at present turned out, but he will be taken up again m a day or two. At the time of writing the Southern horseman, J. Olsen, is ill m the Trentham Hospital. Royal Park is reported to be doing well at Hawera, and C. Jackson should pick up a decent stake. At Riccarton R. J. Mason is handling a colt by Comedy King, a very solid youngster, though not very tall. Onslaught looks a better horse now than when he won twice at the Cup meeting. He is furnishing into a fine horse. The Dunedin Guineas winner, Long Range, is at present running m the paddock. He did not race at the Cup Meeting. One Sydney writer describes Desert Gold thus: The best mare that ever looked through a bridle on Australia's landscape. The Takapuna Jockey Club meeting ihas been postponed to Saturday of this week, but there is no certainty that It will be held then. The uncertainty existing as to when or whether approaching meetings will be held will interfere considerably witli the success of the fixtures. So far as the present season has progressed, The Welkin is leading the winning sires m Australia, This is mainly due to Gloaming's three victories. G. Murray-Aynsley has cancelled his proposed trip to Auckland at Christmas. This is because of the sale of Scornful and Rebuff to Mr. W. Kemball. Finmark's defeat m the V.R.C. Derby is first put down to the scratching of Killowen and then to the muddling pace set m the early stages of the race. Wrestler is at present running m a paddock, and will not be taken m hand for tho summer meetings, so that he can be left out of calculation m the A.R.C. Railway Handicap. Owing to the extension, of the period during which racecourses will remain closed, the spring meeting of the Feildlng Jockey Club has been postponed till Wednesday, December 8. Died at Featherston last week, Mr. Jack Fenwick, a very popular owner m the Wairarapa. Deceased owned many horses m his time and recently his colors were carried by Sardinia. Karo must 'have a chance m the Woodville Cup with 7st. 91b. She was only just beaten by Punka m the Oaks at Riccarton. and Punka is looked upon as a particularly useful filly, Mr. S. ("Banjo") Patterson, who died of influenza In Christchurch, was president of the Westport Jockey Club. Tho deceased contracted the epidemic while m Christchurch for the Cup meeting. The All Black mare. Devotion, wiho died after the Cup meeting at Riccarton, won half-a-dozen races during her career, her best victories being the New Zealand Oaks and the C.J.C. Metropolitan Handicap. All those trainers who had teams at the New Zealand Cup meeting are now back home, but owing to the uncertainty existing as to the dates of future meetings no definite trips with horses ihave been decided upon. It Is said that when Eusebius won the Victoria Derby his owner, a Wagga (New South Wales) hotelkeeper, turned on the taps free, and on the Sunday there was a splendid assortment of headaches m Wagga. New Zealanders who look upon Desert Gold as a guinea to a "quid" bet m a race could hardly imagine the daughter of All Black at 20 to 1. Yet that was her price m the Melbourne Cup, and she ran accordingly, finishing eighth. Mr. H. I-lassall, a member of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club Committee is one of the many laid up with influenza. During Cup week m Christchurch Mrs. Hassall contracted the complaint, from which she died on Saturday morning. After his failures at Riccarton Client should get m the Auckland Cup at a handy weight. The Ellerslie course is not as hard to win on as Riccarton, and the con of Elevation may see out two miles there. Despite Ills failures at Christchurch, Client is as well now as ever . he was.

Venerable, who ran second m the Queensland Cup, is a five-year-old son of Achilles. Besides Flight Commander, another of M. Hobbs' two- year-olds, m San Souci has been added to the list. Recently Heathercote met with a slight injury while m his box. but he is alright again, and doing 'steady work. All going well, I-leathercote will be one of the best three-year-olds before the season is through. He is not quite tuned up yet. Form Up is engaged m the Woodville Cup, but so far the bay gelding has not shown that he can run a good mile and a- quarter. Several buyers have been after Indus, but so far they have not persuaded Mr. G. D. Greenwood to dispose of the son of Danube. Eleus left R. J. Mason's stable last week, he having been purchased by an Invercargill sportsman. As Eleus Is a maiden the future is before ihim. The Wingatui trainer, D. Henderson, who won a. couple of races at Riccarton with Kilooyne, was one of the earliest to succumb to influenza In Christchurch. • Miss Ellico is looked upon as a go6d proposition when the Auckland country fixtures are m full swing. \ As a two-year-old the chestnut filly could go fast, but did not go far. Cynic did not return North after tihe Cup meeting at Riccarton, but remained with F. D. Jones, who will' endeavor to pick up a stake with the bay horse during the summer months. The New Zealander, Killowen, could not have improved with the racing he had m Australia. In (his final flutter, the Tan Yean Stakes, he was sent | out a strong favorite, and finished m J the last three. Most writers contend that Kennaquhair was the unlucky horse of the Melbourne Cup field, and but for nearly coming down as the result of galloping on the iieels of Desert Gold he would have won. The Flemington trainer, W. Hicken- i botham, celebrated his seventieth birthday on the 7th inst. The veteran has had many good horses m his time, three of the best being Carbine, Megaphone, and Newhaven. Philomelia was a very unlucky two-year-old last season, but as she is a maiden, H. Telford should have little difficulty m picking up a stake or two with the chestnut when the meetings are set m swing 1 again. Royal Prince, who went all to pieces after winning a Trial Plate at Trentham m the winter, is now m steady work at Trentham. The son of Royal Soult has furnished out nicely and looks like being a useful four- year- old. Fortune Hunter, who won. the Ascot Thousand at Melbourne this month was one of the rank outsiders; m fact, his victory is described as an absolute skinner 'tor the bookmakers. Previously Fortune Hunter was known as Kurreah. The death of the well-known Hawera trainer, T. Pine, took place last week. Deceased was well known as the trainer of that good horse Volo, also Inah and others. Tommy Pine was a member of a large family, all of whom were identified with racing. The defeats of Finmark, Desert Gold and Kennaquhair at the Melbourne Cup meeting were particularly severe on big punters. It is said that one Sydney punter put £6000 on Finmark m the "Derby, and a well-known New Zealand backer also had nearly £2000 on Lowry's colt. Died at Christchurch last Sunday,. Mr. A. R. Durrant, who owned Sinapis when that little mare won the New Zealand Cup, the Wanganui Cup and other races. Deceased contracted influenza while on a visit -to the New Zealand Cup meeting and he was unable to return home. The fine-looking two - year - old, F^ght Commander, by Martian — Nerve, did not race as well aa expected m his engagements so far this season, and it has been decided to geld him. He may be taken up again later on m the season, but m all probability Ihe .will not be asked to race again till three years old. Providing ' the Auckland Cup Meeting takes place at. Christmas, M. Hbbbs is one Riccarton trainer who intends taking a team north. Included m the team will be Punka and Killard. The latter was not thoroughly wound up for Carnival Week, but there should be nothing wanting when the big summer meetings are being decided. Those who were not present at Flemington could hardly realise the slow pace at which the early stages of the Derby was run. The mile and a- half occupied 2min 47 3-ssec, and as the last six furlongs took lmin 13sec, the first three-quarters of a mile took lmin 34 3-ssec, which ia slower than the pace Author Dillon went at Addlngton when he trotted a mile m 2min 6seo. Most sportsmen on the West Coast of the North Island know Mr. James McKeon, mine host of the Criterion Hotel, New Plymouth, and the owner of Madam Ristori and other horsos. General regret will be expressed when it is known that he has fallen a victim to complications following influenza. His many friends will miss his smiling countenance at future gatherings. The sport of kings sustained a distinct loss last week by the death of Mr. Andrew W. Rutherford, the wellknown North Canterbury sportsman. Deceased had only just buried his aged father and was negotiating with his trainer, A. McAulay, to race his horses under lease when the dread epidemic carried him off. The late Mr. Rutherford was a keen supporter of racing, and his genial personality will be much missed at future meetings. Sincere sympathy will be felt for Mr. and Mrs. M. C. O'Conriell m the loss of their son, Jack, who died at Wellington last Saturday. "Johnny" O'Connell was well-known throughout the length and breadth of the country, and he was popular with all classes. He was of a cheerful disposition, and was generally at the head of any movement to assist any cases of distress, which trait endeared him to all. He was without an enemy and will be much missed In sporting circles. , It is the intention of the Auckland Racing Club to make application to the Minister of Internal Affairs to hold the one-day November meeting, which had to be postponed, on January 4. If the request is granted it means' that the summer meeting will extend over four 'days, as was the case a few years ago. With four days' racing at Ellerslie and three days' trotting at Alexandra Park, Aucklanders will have a whole week of their favorite sport. Of course, it Is no certainty yet that the summer meetings will be held, but all hope for the best.-