MISCELLANEOUS.

During tho present week the tracks have ; been well patronised at Ellerslie, but owing to the recent heavy rain they are in a very heavy state. Yesterday morning Coalscuttle did a trial on the course proper, evidently with a view to the Takapuna Birthday Handicap. She was assisted by Pegasus and Nile, and soveral of the " clucks " made her time 2min 26sec, but the ground was heavy. Brown Alice, Stanmoor and Lobtie have done good work, and tho two first-named should score ab Takapuna next Wednesday. Ingorina has been doing plenty of schooling over the hurdles, but on Wednesday morning he camo to grief. However, lie and bis pilot, A. Wiliiams, escaped unhurt. St. Valentine, has made his re-appearance at Ellorsiio and altogether there are over 50 horses in work. in connection with the action by Mr McHngh against tho Auckland Racing Ckib, tho A.R.C., on the matter being pro?sed, have reconsidered their decision to fight, tho case, and have offered Mr McHugh's solicitor (Mr Hammond) fifty pounds to settle, which, I understand, has been accepted. There would haye boon several nice questions of law raised had the action goiio into Court, but these aro obviated by the friendly settlement made. The following are the names of the delegates so far appointed for tiie forthcoming Country nnd Suburban Club.' Conference : —South Auckland Racing Club, Mr C. H. Barton; Te Aroha, Mr W. 11. Hemes; Tbamo.o, Mr A. Buttle; Mataraata, Mr J. Clark; Helensville, Mr W. Newman; Gisborne Racing Club, Mr A. Alison ; Gisborne Park, Mr S. C. Caulton ; Turanganui, Mr J. Martin ; Av.ndale, MrH. 11. Hayr. Isinglass gives promise of being the horse of the year on tho English turf this season. The cable this week informs us that he has added to his Two Thousand Guineas laurels by now placing the Newmarket Stakes to bis credit, thus retaining his unbeaten certificate, I see by a cablegram to tho gvdnuv papers that Isinglass won the "Two Thousand" cleverly by threequarters of a length, R_eburn being four leii"t_s away. Tho win was a popular one^ and was acceptabls to the majority of backers, Isinglass having been a strong

favourite in the betting for months, lb may be menbioned thab Isinglass is an inmate of a stable managed by Captain Machell, who is reputed to b6 one of the ! most astute racing men to be found either in England or out of it. It would now seem that Isiuglass will bo very hard to beat in the Epsam Derby. He has a beautiful pedigree to recommend him as a Derby winner, being gob by Isonomy (son of Sterling and Isoia Bella, by Stockwell), from Deadlock, by Wenlock (son of Lord Clifden and Mineral, by Rataplan), out of Malpractice, by Touchstone's grandson Chevalier d'ladustrie, from The Dutchman's Daughter, by Tne Flying Dutchman. Mr E. Mitcbelson will act as judge at both the Winter Meetings of the Auckland Racing Club and Takapuna Jockey Club. Mr P. Mangan'lefb tor Christchurch yesterday afternoon in the s.s. Waihora, taking with him the trotting stallion Imperious and a couple of bwo-yoar-olds sired by Albert W. lb vail be remembered thab this trio was brought down from San Francisco soma six mouths ago. Imperious had a good season ab tho stud, and from bis high-class breeding ho should leave some good trotting stock behind him. The thumping impost of 9sfc 121b that Mr Knight put on St. Clements in tho Victoria Handicap ab bhe Takapuna Meebing I notice frightened hi_ ownor, for the son of St. Leger is missing from the acceptances. Good horse though St. Clements is, he was called on to carry too heavy an j impost, and it was no surprise to me to se3 I him struck out. Had ho received some pounds less no doubt he would have been among tho starters. I hear thab Mr D. McNicol has purchased bhe bwo-year-old colt Yabtenfeldb. "Poor" Johu McNicol bhought a greab deal of this colb, who has yet to prove his worth. Harry Harrison had ■ Major George's juveniles on the Ellerslie.course this week. Tho Nordenieldt—Sister A«ncs filly is the biggest of tho pair, but I fancy the Nelson —Memphis filly will come to hand first. She is a very neat youngster. Pegasus is growing into a very nice horse, and I think that ho will beat all of our Auckland bhree-year-olds in next season's "classic " events. The Workman is being treated to a spell.

" Clem " Cutis had the jumping horse Little Tom ab' Ellerslie on Monday morning, and with R. Collins in the saddle bho ex-West Coast horse was schooled over the hurdles and steeplechase jumps. Little Tom, who is trained ab Onehunga, looks very woll. There cannot bo so much amiss with Shillelagh after all. Yesterday one of the chief supporters of the stable backed tho double of Ingorina and Shillelagh for the Grand National Hurdle Race and Great Northern Steeplechase to win him a few hundreds. I may state thab A. Williams is engaged to rido Ingorina in tho Grand National Hurdles. With regard to Parnell, thi_ candidates for Greab Northern Steeplechase honours does all his work on the hill near his owner's stables. Mr D. A. McLeod, now that ho is a Benedict, has taken up his residenco at Green Lane. * J. B. Williamson has in his stable a gelding by Sou-wester out of Strike's dam, who very much rosembles Orestes. Adam Byers has a two-year-old golding by Brigadier in work at Ellerslie. The gelding hails from Onehunga. The rumour is revived that the speedy Tit is to be taken to Sydney shortly with a viow to pony racing. The Clans, who is nominated for the Takapuna Maiden Plate, is a five-year-old son of Gildoroy out of Scot Free's dam. Ho j is trained by W. McManemin. I The old Auckland 'chaser Orangeman / distinguished himself at the Melbourne Hunt. Club Races, held at Fiomir.gtoii last 1 Saturday, by winning the Steeplechase There were five other starters. At tiio same meeting, Major George's cast-oil' -Egyptus ran second to Spokesman in the Dv.er Park Handicap, one mile. Tamar, the disappointing daughter of Tasman and Waterwitch, is being treated to a spell. It is stated that Mr W. R. Wilson's health is improving since he went to England. Ho expects to roturn to the colonies in July. The Dancer, with lOst in the saddle, started first favourite for tho Stewards' Mile ab Moorefield (Sydney) racos held last Saturday. He was defeated at, the hands of a mare named Luna (list 31b), owned by Mr F, Hill. It is stated thab The Dancer appeared to have the race in hand at the home turn ; bub Ellis brought Luna with a resolute run at tho distance, and she defeated the favourite rather easily at the ond. Havoc (Zalinski's full brother) was among the starters for tho Two-year-old Handicap at tho May Meeting of tho V.A.T.C. at Caulfield, but failed to gain a place. Ab the same meeting Steadfast got third place in tho Glenhuntiy Handicap, Mr S. H. Gollan's Captain Webb annexed tho Welter Handicap, and Wairua, anobher New Zealandor, got homo first) in the Hurdle Race. Typhon, whoa few years ago was a fair performer and won several races on the Victorian metropolitian courses, was recently bought out of the St. Kildn pound byMrH. S. Biddulph, of Brighton, for 295, which is aboub tho lowest prico on record for a thoroughbrod. Typhon is well bred, being by Bolton Green from tho imported mare Tiny Lye. Under tho new rules of the V.R.O. the whole of tho members of the Committee v. ill act as stewards. According to an exchange, Cloister, the winner of this year's Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase, as he walked on to the course from his stables to be got ready for tho big ovent, was preceded by two constabloa and flanked by two custodians, and had been jealously guarded all through his stay at Aintree. For tho first time since 1884 were the colours of Sir Thos. Eldor carried in public on the 3rd instant, at the S.A.J.C. Autumn Meeting, the bearer of the " tartan and yollow " beinpr the English-bred colt Harmonist, by Silver, from Fairy Voico, who competed unsuccessfully in tho Baker Handicap. in connection with tho discretionary powor vested in the V.R.C. handicapper concerning the penalisation of winners in handicap events, and by way of removing grounds for complaint, the Committee have substituted a condition which provides that no penalty in any handicap race shall be entailed unless a handicap of the value of over lOOsovs has been won. A horse may, therefore, reeoive lOOsovs clear without incurring any penalty. The new regulation applies to all handicap races on the Hat or over hurdles or fences Mr D. O'Bri-i. informs "Spectator" that, actii-u on the advice of his solicitors, he intends to sue the Canterbury Jockey Club for the whoie of the money accruing From subscriptions of owners to the Challenge Stakes won by Loyalty, his contention being that ho is entitled thereto.

By the s.s. Alameda which arrived yesterday afternoon from Sydney Mr C. Bruce Lowe, an acknowledged authority with regard to the breeding of thoroughbred stock, was a passenger en route to America. He has with him two stallions representing the Chester family. These aro Clieveden, who has already sired several winners, notably Alliance and Crichton, and is full brother to the mighty Chester. Tho other stallion is Stroinboli, who. is well known to all turfites having won the V.R.C. and A.J.C. Sires' Produce Stakes, A.J.C, First Foal Stakes,. Derby and Sydney Cup, and tho liawkesbury Guineas. Ib is tho intention of Mr Lowe to open up a regular trade between the. 0 colonies and America, and the results of the venture should bu of the greatest interest to breeders of blood stock in both 1

I countries. Australian and New Zealand I bred sires have already produced a number jot winners in the United State?, .Sir I Modred's progeny especially distinguishing themsolvea, while Dai', bin's sfock have n!.--o been very successful, and _ inxim, Idalium, The Hook, Suwarroiv, Plenty, and the other stallions at present located on American soil are greatly favoured by breeders of thoroughbreds. I At a meeting of the committee of tlte I Auckland Trotting Club held yesterday, i the disqualification was removed from "he ! trotting pony Dolly c\ Mokoriki, for hay- ! ing run under an assumed namo.