SPORTING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2490, 4 December 1901, Page 49

SPORTING.

RACING CALENDAR. Dec. 5 and 6 — North Otago meeting Dec. 14, 36— Christchuich E C. meeting. Dec. 20 — Alexandia. Dec. 26— Palmerston South R.C. Annual. Dec. 26, 28, and Jan. 1 and 2— Auckland R C. Sumniei. NOMINATIONS. Dec. 7— Wyndham R.C. Annual meet vg. Dec. 12— Southland K.C. Summer. Dec. 14— Vincent J.C. Annual meeting. Dec. 19— "Wair*© J.C. Annual meeting.

WEIGHTS. Dec. s—Alexandra5 — Alexandra J.C. Annual Dec. 13— Wyndham R.C. Annual. Dec 17— Southland R.C. Summer. Dec. 28— Lake County J.C. Annual. ACCEPTANCES. Dec. 7 — ChTistchurch R.C. Summer, uec. 19 — Alexandra J.C. Annual. Dec. 19— Palmerston South B.C. Dec. 21— Wyndham R.C. Annual. Dec. 27— Southland R.C. Summer. Dec. 31— Vincent J.C. Annual.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. J. D. 8., Alexandra. — Note came to hand too late for use in last week's issue. Would have only been too happy to make use of it prior to the nominations going in. F. D., Orepnki. — Clean Sweep (A. Richardsop),

Maltster (R. Lewis), Lancaster. J. G., Glenavy Station.— l should say Legerity, for this reason. He has the best strain to be found in Canuonball's pedigree allied to th» best running, and also one of the stoutest strains jn the world, which he obtains through St. Leger. Thiough Hazel Legerity gets the Yattendon and Musket strains, and through Onyx, the darn of Nordenfeldt, he gets some of the best strains in Australia, as Angler, her sire, was by Fisherman out of Chrysolite, and this latter was by Stockwell. St. Leger himself was by Doncastei-, and any student of breeding knows how highly this strain is valued, and riglftiy so, in England. Cannonball also runs back through Chainshot to Steckwell, but what appeals to one most, I think, is the Traducor and Musket combination found in his pedigree. There is more successlul blood to be found in Legerity than either of the others. Belle of the Isle, the dam of Miranda, out of many foals only threw one good one, and that was Templeton. Miranda, Cannonball's dam, only threw, also out of many foals, Crown Jewel, and perhaps Vaultress, who were any good. Chainshot cannot be considered a successful sire, and on the other hand St. Leger has proved his worth, as he has been the most successful sire that ever stood in New Zealand tip to the present. The best strain (Musket) found in Cannonball's breeding is also in Legerity?, but it conies out more successfully, and the Traducer strain in Cannonball is outweighed by the remarkably successful blood found in the St. Leger horse. Epicure is sired by a great horse in Yattendon, but there is ecvidently a dcaibt about the breeding of Velocity, the sire of Ghiva, as he is only "said to be by Vortex." There is not the shadow of a doubt about the breeding of either of the other two horses, and I place them in the following order: — Legerity, Cannonball, Epicure. There is this to be said, however, no matter how well bred a horse may be, unless he possesses a good individuality he is often proved useless as a sire.