TALK OF THE DAY. BY MAZEPPA.

*„.* In winning the treble of New Zoalai.il i Cupi Derby, ami ( 'aiitorbui y Cup, Manton made \ a record of his own. The ft at has never bum | performoii uutil this yenr. Rather remarkable, surely, that with all the good horses we have had— such elinkeis as Manuka, Knolfingley, Peeves?, Lurlit.e, Tainburini, Guy Fawkes, Ten.pleton, Welcome Jactr, Sir Wodrccl, Oti'ep, Mnxim, anc 3 . others little if anything inferior to ;h«-se.— it shouU! have been left for the year of grace ISBB to produce a colt smart enough and lucky enough to perform this threefold exploit A^ a matter of f.icr, however, tb^> handicap h^s been won by a 'hree-year-nM on only seven occasions out of the 19 times it has beeu run. By " the handitap" I of course mean the New Zealand Oup and its antetype the U.J.O. Handicap. These si-yen three-yrar-old winners of ihp handicap were:- Magenta in 1867, Flying Jib iv 1868, Kakapo i - 1873, Mata in 1877, Welcome Ja« kin 1882, Fusillado in 1885. ami Wanton in 1888. Of these seven the only horses that al-o won the Derby were Flying .lib and Mantnn. Four of t.hi-RU\<>n— M«g"Tita, Kukapo, M».ta,and Welcome Jack — i'id not start, in thfl Derby ; Fusillade went (ml; first favmiriie, but sustained a defeat by Stony hurst, who, by the way, did notsUit iv thn hmdirap; and the other two, Flying Jib a?«d Manton, won 1 reti-med winners of the blue ribbon. Flying J.b had a walk-over for the Der'ov, hut tl o Canterbury Cup in that year wan tak^n by Ki.ottinjjley ; and, as remarked abov, Man ton is thn solitary winner of the treble. Th- re was another fcn-ble in the oldfashioned pr-gramme- Ihe CJ.(\ Handicap, Canterbury Cnp,»'id Ohrstcburch Plate— which l.llto Knot tii«(/l«-y n\ 1870, Lo Loup in 1880, and Grip in 1831; but these horses wi-ro in the smior oiviMon when they cleared the board, Kru.ttineley and Le Lonp being Mx-year-olils andGripafive-vear-cli. *..* Manton'6 performance, then, is unmatched, and there cm be no question that he is an txceptionably good colt— on« who has wen on bis merits. There rannofc be the suggestion of a fluke n : oub it. The colt was highly tried, and Mr Builer mnde no secret of his opinion that Manton would win the Cup, whatever he did in the Derby ard ihe weigh*- for-age race. Tkft litilo lmys in the ftrpet, indeed, knew, or professed to know, what Manfan'f* trial wa." ; and ths vWtor 1 - from Dunedin were not lot g in finding out that, bar accident, there was very little chance of tho big money being taken away from Cbri-tchurch, tor the best of the local horses wrre doi-jg bei.hr galloping th.\n had been seen ou the. ext rcise ground for many a long year ; and rbfi gloomy prospect before the eys of the Dunfii'in owrcrs was that if Mr Butler's colt failed in cUJ-er of the big races the Hon W. Robinson's rf(ir?penta'sve would swoop down on it before the vihitors tould gnt a sh(?w. That wr" the outlook two or three days before the meeting commf-r.crd, and history tells us how truf* Ib^propheeiefi vere. Thpre was o»)e good thing about, the early disclosure of the state of ' attain*: the Punedin «pep being fotewataed had

enough savey to be also forearmed, aud by getting a bit of Manton as a "saver," the majority managed to "escape anything like ruinous losses. Indeed, so far as I can learn, I moat of the visitors from these parts made a little money over the meeting. %* It will, I suppose, be a subject of debate for some time to come as to what would have been the result had Carbine remained in New Zealand and measured strides with Mantou. My own opinion is that the honours would have been divided. Manton would have dished Carbine at the difference of weight iutbo handicap, and Carbine would have won tha Derby. As to the Canterbury Cup, there is no telling how that wonld have gone. Carbine was Manton's master as a two-year-old, and given eqaal condition the presumption is that the tabled would not have been turned at evsn weights over any reasonable distance ; but the Canterbury Cup is the longest race in the colony, and Manton has proved himself such a wonderful "sticker "that I can hardly bring myself to believe that Carbine himself could be his superior in that line. The general opinion among those who were at the meeting is that i Manton would have put Carbine down every time they met; indeed I have heard it suggested that O'Brien was the more incliued to take Carbine away by finding out what a clipper Matiton was. This is, of course, a joke. The truth is thab Carbine and Mauton are both quite first class, aud probably so nearly a match that if they met at equal weights tho issue would depend on the horsemanship of the riders. If we could peep into the hearts of tht; owners of these colts we should very likely discover, inter alia—&s the presbyteries say— a big lump of regret in both places. I can quite understand that now the V.R.C. Derby i.s lost Mr O'Brien is sorry he undertook the trip ; aid it is but reasonable to suppose that now Mr Butler knows what a good one he has gob hold of he is biting his fiugers that he did not go over the other side. Mauton won a good btiike here, but Mr Butler might have raked in enough sovereigns to buy up half Christchurch if he ha 1 scooped the pool in Melbourne. * + * Perhaps we shall not have to wait long to find out which of these two colt* i« the "boss." I have reason to believe that Mr Butler contemplates taking Manton to Australia after the Auckland meeting, early in January; and as Carbiue remains in Australia, there may be a battle royal between the New Zealanders on foreign soil. The meeting cannot take place in the Champion, seeing that Manton is not enleved for that race; but there are plenty of other stakes to go for, and hitfuls of money in the ring to subsidise the clubs' money. *** But Manton was not the only flyer at the C.J.C meeting. There was Son-of-a-Gun, who showed a rare turn «f speed under his light weight, and who, moreover, was running at a disadvantage, having sustained a slight injury to a fetlock which caused him to limp perceptibly when brought on to the course. Exchange, also, though he rather disappointed his admirers, made the running in the Cup at a terrific pace for nearly a mile and a-half, and there is reason to believe that with time this colt will yet prove a stayer. Chain Shot is described by those who saw him as a particularly stylish blood-like colt in appearance, and a big one too, his only fault to the eye being that he is a trifle leggy. He is undoubtedly a game fellow, as was proved by the responses he made to the calls of his rider in both Derby and Canterbury Cup. I am told that Chain Shot was rather fine in point of condition, and seemed just the least bit sore. If this is so, we must look out- for him later on in the season, when he may have a little allowance in the matter of weight on account of his double defeat, and perhaps strip a trifle fresher. Wolverine, again, ran very honestly in both Derby and Canterbury Cup. He was at some disadvantage in the three-year-old event in that he was forced to run barefooted. Mr Tumbull wished to have his plates put on in consequence of the slippery nature of the course after tho rain, but this could not be done in time. Sharp brought the colt along with a great rush after a mile had beeu covered, and for a moment it * euaed as if the Dunedin representative was fioing to win, but Manton and Chain Shot carried too many guns for him, and he had to accept third money. But though decisively beaten by hu masters, Wolverine ran very well indeed ; (?oorl enough, in fact, to make one think that he could have won from an average lot of competitors. On the third day, bj the way, Mr Turnhull was the victim of a bit of bad luck. Wolverine could have been thirclin the Canterbury Cup, but it is supposed that both Sharp and Clifford (who was on Lochiel) forgot that there was 50sovs for third horse, and when these riders -aw that they were licked for second place they I)oi h eased up in the last few strides, not cariug j svhich was third. As it happened, Lochiel was placed third by the judge, and Wolverine's owner was deprived of a half-century which could have been got without any trouble. %* Cuirassier is also highly spoken of despite his defeat in the Derby, which is attributed to want of condition. Some good judges expect him to shape well at the back end of thQ season, and conclude that up to the present he has not beeu conclusively tried on his real merits. Some of the two-year-olda also | shaped well at the meetiug. Cynieca is doubtless » brilliant, filly, and in Coruana, Merrie England, and Dunkeld we have three exceptionally good colts who should furnish into serviceable three-year-olds. Speaking genetplly, the young stock 'hat appeared afc the meeting were very much superior to the elder division — a civcuio.st&nce well illustrated by the comparatively lipht weights served out by the uandicappere. Bar the welter races, there was not en impost of 9at cirried in any handicap at the meeting. *„,* Manton's time in the New Zealand Cup is not only the best on record in that race, but it was the fastest two miles ever run in the colony, beating Spade Guinea's performance in the Tup two years ago by half a second. In the Dt-rby. also, Manton got level with Maxim's time, and from one point of view beat it, seeing that this year's Derby was run on a slippery course. Some of my readers may be interested in the following figures, showing in comparative form how Spade Guinea's and Manton's Cups were run :— Spade Guinea. Manton. m. a. m. a. Half-mile ... ... O 49£ 0 52i Mile „. ... 1 43* 1 43} Mile and halt ... 241 2 40 Two miles ... ... 332 3 31J %* The Dunedin horses had to accept defeat in all the big event?, but still a little of the priz^ m ney came this way. Stuart Waddell placed his horses wdl for Messrs Stephenson and Haalett, and managed to win a couple of events with ( aptain Cook and one with La Rose. Chic ran well for a mile and a-quarter in the Oaks, aud could perhaps have won at thafc distance, but went all to pieces in the last half mile, the weight telling. Mr Goodman secured a substantial solatium in the Steward*' Stakes, for which Silvermark was favourably haudicapped. Apropos did nob ruu at thexneeting, having been weighted out of the events for which she was nominated. *„* A tromondons crowd went out to the Taieri races last Friday, and the meeting was a distinguished success, the weather being fine

and the management by the orflcials all that could be desired. Mr Dowses handicaps had giveu satisfaction, and hence there were large fields iv all the events, aud the starting was particularly good. Mr John Grindley undertook this important duty for the first time at the Taieri, but he has had experience at the Kaik and other places, and made such good use of what is evidently an easy task to him thab the flag was in each race dropped to a good stnrt wish the least possible delay. Geod starters are rare, and I may be excused for bestowing a special word of praise when one ia unearthed. Tho racing was interesting, if not exciting. Deerfoot, winner of the Maiden, is, I am told, one of Duntroon's sons. He was a bit fancied, but Fireball and Dodger were both rather better backed in the machine. Fireball ran into second place, but Dodger, who was scarcely himself, and pulled up lame later in the day, was decisively thrashed. The staiters For this event,hy the way, included Gitaua's son Ishmael. The Trot was contested by a fluid of 20— at least that number started, for I don't tbiuk they were all trying. *There were only two in it at the end of two miles-— viz , Bella and Folly. They kept together for no less than mx, furlongs, but Folly broke 'Alien about 20yds from home, and thus allowed her opponent to pass the post an easy winner. Had Kolly managed to pull it off there would havw been a dividend of £104 17s Occident, winner ol the Taieri Handicap, is the three-yrar-old s-on of Lapidisl and The West. He won rather easily from Evening Star, and sbaptd like a racehorse ; but thu followers of Evening Star, who fiuiahed second, set m to thiuk that if the mare had had the services of as good a jockey as she had at Timaru she wonld have made Occident travel at the finish. As it was, Mr Poole had to put up one of his exercise lads, who did very well, but of course lacks experience in race riding. Unknown, the wiuuur of the N <vel Race, i«, I hear, a daughter of King Philip. Young George, who roduher, must, I think, have been reading in the papers how Ensign stole a march on Carbiue in the Derby. He was, at any rate, determined ' that no one should catch him dozing, for he rode wilh the greatest determination, and kept the mare at it until the post was passed. Never mind— he won the race. The winner was sold to Mr A. Hastie for £13 10s Fireball put up a lump of overweight in the Ladies' Purte, and this doubtless contributed to his defeat by Sham- | lock, though^the old son of Pertobe was looking Tiry well, and when at his bestj.is a regular war- ' rior at welter weights, vo 1 am not quite sure that Fireball would have won even had he earned only his original handicap. The Two-mile Trot was a onc-borso race, the po y Lady Maude stepping along so smartly thai she was enabled to slow down at the. finish and wiu in a walk. Mon Loup showed a bit of form in the. Flying Handicap, and will, I think, be heard of iv better company before the season is out. Tai.iwha. winner of the Hack Race, is oue of Le Loup's get. The .starters in this race included Dan o'Bi'ier.i's cast-off, Annie Lamie. Messrs Mas n and Roberts went to some trouble mid expense. in providing a large totalisator so as to be able to overtake the business without inconvenience to the crowd, and passed through the sum of £2351. *„,* At the settling over the above meeting the sum of £228 was paid away. The Advocate says that prohsts lodged by Mr D. Kirby against Shamrock and Deerfoot wore laid on thu table, but being informal they were not considered by the club. Subsequently Mr Kirby explaincdthat h<;hart been misinformed as regards certain particular?, otherwise he would not have lodged the protests. A protest had been lodged by Mr Gore against the second and third horses in the Ladies' Purse, but Mr Gore explained that he had re-s-olved upon withdrawing the protest. A vacancy having occurred in the list of .stewards, Mr Ttiomas George was unanimously elected to fill the place. Notice of motion was given for next meeting to the effect that the stewards draw up a draft programme for a race meetiug to be held iv April. Particulars regarding the disputed ownership of a totalisator ticket were laid befote the meeting. Having taken the evidence of some, of the parties concerned, it was decided to hold a committee meeting en Friday, in order to give the present holder of the ticket an opportunity of disproving the assertions of the party who claimed to be the real owner. %* There is one suggestion I should like to make to thu Taieri committee, ami that is that at mxt year's races the vehicl< s should be . stationed in pome position wheio they will not \ interrupt the view of the course. It is not satisfactory to the public to have to dodge about tc> get a full sight of the races. This is a matter that will be easily remedied, and I have no doubt the public will have no cause for complaint on future occasions. *** Duchess' trotting performances in Sydney nre viewed by tbs local folk with a certain amount of suspicion. Speaking of the Sydney Driving Park Club's meeting on the 25th ulfc., the Sydney Referee says:— "The Time. Trot was an easy thing for the lumberbome Blueher, who surprised not a Few by al-o waltzing in for the Handicap Trot from the lOsec behind scratch mark, though it is doubtful whether he was justly entitled to it on his merits, as Hall was asked for an explanation of Duchess' behaviour. By the way, this old man, wbo from apyiei- ranees has climbed up to the allotted span of three score and ten, has shown to great disadvantage lately, and has bet n before the bar twice within about a month, which, to say the lt-ast of it, appears as though the committee •were not satisfied with his driving. For my part I Ihink they were right in calling on him, awl though nothing cmie of it. they might just as well keep their eyes open in the future.." %* Bad weather prevailed at Naseby for the two days preceding the. race meeting and almost up to the hour of starting, and it was therefore, not sut priVng to find thu attendance smaller than r>« previous occasions. The. racing, a report of which, condensed from the local paper, appears in this i^sut , seems to have been fairly interesting, but not such as to call for coramt-nt, the competing horses being all looil celebrities with the exception of Chester, M- r- | jory Mocre, and Princess Alice, who had gone up I from the Palmerston district. One of these — Pertobe's pon Chester— annexed the doub'e, giving weight to all his opponents. About £4(0 was passed through the totaliaator during the afternoon. */• Harry Williams, a groom, who was employed leading Me Dooley's thoroughbred intireFirst Lord, whs found lying unconscious on the Hook road ou Wednesday morning of last week, the hack he had been riding standing beside him. He was conveyed to the Waimate Hov,.ital, where he regained consciousness the folio ving day. It is not (says the Waimato paper) known how the accident occurred, but it; h supposed that he was pulled off tho hack by the onMre and rhen kicked The entire was found near MGoveriu and Harriie'o, a considerable distance away. Word has since been received that Williams succumbed to the injuries h* sustained. * # * A heavy shower of rain that fell just as the Lake County races were commencing was regarded by visitors to the course as rather a godsend than otherwise, as it improved the condition of the course and laid the dust. Messrs Mason and Rcberts ran the totalizator and put £713 through. The Lake Couuty Press says

[ that there were in the principal handicaps some flue contests, while as regards three events at least the less said the better. Id the case of the Hurdle Race, a spring cart mare came iv first by reason of two horses being pulled off at the third hurdle ; in the Hack Race the second could have displaced the first horse any time his rider liked ; while in the Trot Fossicker was fit to walk in at the finish. In this case the " biter " was deservedly "bit." Bessie was evidently considered good enough to beat Waxy, and so she was but for the bad riding of her jockey. It is of course difficult, we admit, to prove a case of roping against a jockey, but the riding in one or two races was more than suspicious. We cannot go through the farce of attempting to describe a so-called race when we see the head pulled off a could-bu winner. The owners are not always to blame, and in one case at least at the meeting we understand that the jockeys ucted without the knowledge or consent of owner or trainer. * # * A yarn hasbeen iv circulation during the past couple of weeks to the effect that in Tattersall's Sydney consultation on the Melbourne Cup Mentor was drawn by a Dunedin syndicate of four, and when it became known that Mentor had won the race the gentlemen referred to were congratulated on all sides on their supposed good fortune in having dropped in for thu htuidsouie beams of £25,000. I regret to have to announce that there is not an atom of truth in the story. *„,* Lure, the younger sister of Lurline and Le Loup, who has died iv foaling, was never a grtat racer, there having been some difficulty about training her ; but she had in private proved herself the possessor of an extraordinary turn of speed— one old racing man swears that she was the fastest sprinter he ever saw. She will, however, be best remembered iv days to come as the dam of Whakawai, who certainly did not win the Melbourne Cup, but did enough good gallops beforehand to warrant his party in supposing that he would win. Pf rhnps Lure's bad luck is inherited by her black son. Let us hope not, for he is in the hands of people who deserve success. *** After writing out a cablegram accepting 1000 to 5 about Chicago ami Mentor he received word that something else had been backed ou his account. " Shall I, or shall I not?" was the mental proposition pondered over for a moment. " No ; hang it all — I won't !" was his decision. It was a jolly fihanie, for ho ia a real spore, to have picked it in vain. %* The money given at Winton on the 9th was pretty evenly divided, the only nag that scored a double win being Aaonyma, a three year old by Slanderer out of Nameless. Ationyma was of cour&e bred in Australia. Robin, who pulled off the Hurdle liace, is dosoribtd as being by Vrmicelli out of Campanula. He won very comfortably by 10 lengths. Forg«t-me»Not, a daughter of Sterlingwoith, won the Cup very easily, doing the two miles in 4ruin 7sec, which of coui se was very slow indeed, as were all the records during the day. There wero seven starters for the Derby. Goldsaver (by Cloth of Gold — AD was installed first favourite, but had to accept a defeat from Mr Stewart's Seaward, whose pedigree runs as follows :—: —

This cnlt was bred by his owner, and is said to bo rather a good specimen of a thoroughbred. Third place in the Derby was taken by Dayspring (by Wee Lad— Daybreak), and the other slarttrs were Blue Jacket (by Alluvium— Cas« tille), Black Pine (by Camden), Beeswing (by Alluvium — Firefly i, and May Morn (by Atlantic — May Day). All the starters were together for a mile, when Seawards coneition enabled him to oblaiu a lead, which he maintained to the finish. It must be exceedingly satisfactory to the club to have had such a good field for a race the utility of which cannot be questioned, but the uis'tom of maintaining which i« poohpoohed by thofe who see nothing in racing but a means of gambling. Mr Howell is generally praised for his handicapping at the meeting. Messrs Mason and Roberts passed £1140 through the totalisator.

*£* The nominations for the D.J.C. Spring meeting are good enough lo give promise of excellent racing. The very tiptoppers have not incurred liabilities, but there are many excellent second-raters in the list/ There are only two new names among the flat racers. Miss Ann ia a daughter of Le Loup and Empress, entered by MrW Turnbull; AcsasMii is a son of King Philip, dam unknown, nominated by Mr J. Cotton. The handicaps appear in thii issue. I shall notice them next week.

* # * The most reliable information I can procure about Lorraine is to the effect that he is not by any means lame or likely to go lame. It is fully expected that he will stand a prepara* tion for whatever he may bo required. Tho reason of his withdrawal from the Cup was tbafc after his celebrated gallop he became unmis* takeably sore in the muscles, and could barely raise a gallop the next day. *** As to another member that was sup* posed to he more or less " off" by reason of infirmity—l refer to St. Clair,— it appears that he moves soundly enough on the leg the hoof of which was F.plit, but it doubtless troubled him in galloping, and he made a most inglorious exhibition of bimself in the Cnp, the only race for which ha a'arted at the meeting. Probably both he and Lorraine will make themselves conspicuous in some of the autumn events. Mr Cults will, we may be sure, give them every show of doing something ; he doesn't want any clronts in the hive. 'V A certain Captain Hares has started n sporting papf-r in India, and ona of the first nu'iibf rs contained an article on "New Zealand Hor-es in Indi:>," in which the writer says some oniY pliuu-ntury thines about our Maoriland nags. Tiie article is referred to at length in the columns of Uio Indian Planters' Gazette. I have not spnee to give the. argument iv full, but may eppend an extract which shows that the I.P.G. hf>s is vulgarly termed a " derry " on out New Zealand horses ;— Although we are tola that Lnrlire and Calumny were the first to nwaV« the Australians to the fact that New Zealand an'm.-dH c- n hold their own against the s;)e,. duf-t and stoutest of Victoria and New Honth W.ale« f I *t»te it is an undeniable fact that neither of tbeso two mares could get among.- 1 the first half dozen in any of the m r >:-es of the present day, either in Sydney or Mi ll>oi.rne. Nor did they in those days set <- her ILicdwick or Fletnington on fire ww th.it performances, or hold their own eitner. Lmline was a direct descendant from Tradacer and Mermaid, both imported from England, so that the country could n?-t have much influence on her. The Hon. W. Robinson has, time after time, brought over strings of homes w««

Buch. reputations from New Zealand that ifc was thought that Derbies and Cups were all over bar the shouting, but in no instance has be been able to win enough to pay expenses. How is this accounted for ? Mr Robinson paid the highest prices for his horses, and spared no expense or pain in training them ; therefore, the conclusion to be arrived a t is that the country has had a deal to do with it. Mr Drake's horses could not even get placed. Then again we have the facfc of Trenton coming over to win the Melbourne Cup, in which he could only get third. He gave a deal of trouble with his feet, and could never afterwards be brought to the post well. Martini-Henry, Nordenfeldt, Trenton, and several other New Zealand horses I could mention that have not stood for long, show plainly enough that the country has a deal to do with it, and that racing in a moist climate like New Zealand is a different thing to running in Australia, where the hardness of the tracks is bound to find out the weak spot*. Now let us look at the other side of the question. The best horse in New Zealand to-day is Nelson, bred in Victoria. Tasman, another good one, hails from that land, while we have instances of Mr Gardiner sending to New Zealand two-year-olds that failed to find purchasers in Melbourne, but many of which .succeeded in showing the Maori how to gallop. Aud until New Zealand can produce something that can boast of a pedigree whose progenitors have been in the country for several generations, come to Australia, aud win even second-class races, together with standing a fair number of preparations, there is nothing to boast of ; neither are they entitled to the eulogia bestowed upon them by our friend Captain Hayes. *** The annual sale of racehorses at Chriatchurch last week was a dismal failure— it cannot truthfully be called anything else. The Russley yearlings went at an average of a little over 43gs each, at which price they must have been raised at a loss. This is very poor encouragement to " Mr Horsford." Top price, HOgs, was paid by Mr Stead for the filiyby Albany out of No Name ; Mr Davia paid 70g8 for the filly by Cadogan out of Nonsense ; and Mr Starkey bought the Albany— Athole filly for 60gs. The rest were thrown away at little more than hack prices. At the miscellaneous sale Dudu was bought by Mr Profiit for 160gs ; Escapade was taken by Mr Panetti at lOOgs ; and Parvula was gold to Mr Mortimer, of Invercargill, for 31gs.

*,„* Chancellor is dead ; he dropped down and expired in Christchurch on Tuesday of this week. As one of the boat -known horses in the South Island I should have liked to write him a decent obituary notice ; but the editor warns me that space is valuable, and I roust bo content with shortly stating a few facts. He whs bred by Mr Shand ; purchased as a youngster by Mr W. C. Reeves ; did nothing to speak of as a two-year-old ; became the property of Mr O'Brien, and for that owner won the President's and Grand Stand Handicaps — that was as a three-year-old; was then bought by Mr Goodman ; as a four-year-old ran a terrific race with Maritana in the C.J.O. Handicap, the mare winning by a head; next season met Maritara in the same event and avenged himself by defeating her by about a head. This was only first-class event that Chancellor ever captured, but he won many smaller races, and was undoubtedly a fast though unreliable horse ; one, too, that seemed to have a special aversion to the Forbury, as he generally ran better when taken away to other places. Chancellor has been for the last four or five years at the stud, but has not had much of a show, aud consequently his stock have not so far proved themselves as good as the sire was. *.#* New Zealand horses have played an important part at the V.R.C. meeting, especially on the third and fourth days, during which Carbine annexed the Flying Stakes and Foal Stakes, and Pearl Shell won the Oaks, having Volley for runner-up. Carbine has thus paid his way after all ; and it is satisfactory to note that he was ridden in each of his later races by Derrett, thus showing that Mr O'Brien has not quarrelled with the jockey over that terribly unfortunate occurrence in the Derby. The truth is, I expect, that Dan, being an old jockey himself, realises more than a novice the difficulties a rider has to encounter, and very possibly the owner in this case i 3 more ready than outsiders to excuse what appears to be an error of judgment. It will be 6een by a late telegram in this issue that Carbine has been sold, persnmably to Mr D. {5. Wallace, for the sum of £3000, so we shall see no more of the Mersey colt in New Zealand. Mr Wallace doubtless has his eye on the Champion Stake?, for which Carbine has on paper a second-to-nonc show. Tradition has also changed hands, his purchaser beiug a syndicate including Hales the jockey. The price paid for the runner-up in both Cups was 3050g5. Of the two, I should reckon Carbine the better bargain at the price. While speaking of the V.R.C. meeting it is only right that I should refer in complimentary terms to the excellence of the report telegraphed by the special Press Association. The agent has this time given us all necessary facts and cut out a lot of padding ; and the reports are perfection as compared with those of previous years. %* " Pendragon " lays down the law in this fashion : Ido not believe that prosecution for ready-money betting in a racecourse ring is legal. Why do I go against all the bigwigs who ought to know ? I am not doing so ; it has been '< decided more than once before now that a betting ring on a racecourse is not of itself (without stool, stand, or other betting fixture) a place within the meaning of the Act of Parliament. Certain legal luminaries, such as Sir Charles Russell, the late Serjeant Parry, the present Sir Henry Hawkins, and others, have spoken to the contrary, and base their ruling on the notorious Betting Houses Act and its additions, and yet I make bold to go against them. These were, so I am informed, framed with the purpose of suppressing an acknowledged evil, which did not include wagering in a ring or on a racecourse. But you ask, What is the good of your giving us little bits of stray secondhand information? And that all wrong. Are' not notices everywhere posted declaring betting in ready money illegal even in the silver hell at Newmarket, for which no one pays admisssion unless he intends betting in ready money. True for you ; but, see hero— what do you think of a decision by the judges in Court of Appeal? That ought to be nearly good enough, eh ? Well, my .legal pal, who is racing and racy as well as legal, tells me that a prosecuting counsel caunot show the law against an honest ready-money bettor in a racecourse ring. His occupation is strictly legal, and the act so frequently quoted to prove the contrary will show the strength of the ready merchant's position. Despite all manner of patdfor opinions, and opinions not worth paying for, delivered from the magistrates' bench, there is, I believe, no doubt, that it is as lawful for the odds merchant to hawk his wares and sell them, or their equivalents, in vouchers for wagers, as for, the butcher to stand at his shop door and buy b'iy, buy his potential customers into the actuality condition. Mind, lam not speaking at random, but am informed that chapter and Verse of cognate cases tried, but not generally reported for the benefit of the public, are at my service. *** Tne Lancashire Plate was run for on September 22 in the presence of a great concourse, and brought out no fewer than 24 com-

petitors. Seabreeze started favourite at sto 2,. the great odds of 200 to 1 being offered against certain of the " ragged lot." One of this band, Sawdust to wit, ran unexpectedly well, showing good speed. As was anticipated by most judges, Ayrshire made a much better fight than in the St. Loger, and only after a sharp struggle did Seabreeze shake him off and win by threeqiarters of a length, the finish causing intense excitement. The distance was seven furlongs. " Pendragon" thus describes the finish:— At five and a half, at six furlongs, and at six and a bit, but not at six and a-half furlong 6, it looked odds on the Derby winner. But in the last quarter of a mile Seabreeze had been drawing up, and at the distance Robinson forced her to race hard after the colt. Even then he appeared to have the foot of the Oaks and Legec heroine, but in the last 150 yds, and directly he was collared, he began to stop. The mare was bard pressed, but has stamina. Ayrshire struggled honestly, but has not the bottom in him, and it was through distress that he gave the swerve towards the filly which first allowed her to get level. After that her task was easier, and she ran home a gallant— is that quite the correct adjective for a lady ?— winner by threequarters of a length, with Le Sancy, who stayed as wftll »s anything in the race, third. Friar's Balsam made a good show at three-quarters of a mile, but failed after one short strong effort. Seabreeze looked much about ns she did at Doncaster, but Ayrshire had benefited by his hard gallop on that occasion and the subsequent work his trainer was not afraid to give him at the short distance at which he was to run.

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