SPORT AND PASTIME. The Turf.

[By Locuiel.] RACING FIXTURES. February 15 and 16. — Egmont Summer Meeting. February 16 and 17.— Poverty Bay Annual Meeting. February 22, 24, and 25.— Dunedin Autumn Meeting v March 2 and 3. — Wanganui Autumn Meeting. March 8 and 9.— -Dannevirke Annual Meeting. Jfavch 15 and 16.— Napier Park Au. tumn Meeting. March 16 and 17.— Stratford Annual Meeting. March 22 and 23.— Nelson Annual Mooting. April 22, 24, and 25.— Auckland Autumn Meeting. April 24 and 25.— Canterbury Autumn Meeting. Tho two big handicap events at the 0.J.0. autumn meeting have not proved quite as attractive as usiuil this year, the entries showing, a (flight falling -off. Thirty-throe nominations have been received for tho Grand Easter Handicap, as against forty-one lait year, while twantyfi?o havo been entered for the longer dsstanco event, the Great Autumn Handicap, »i compared with twonty-threo. The Ncrth Island Jh not strongly' represented nrmorically. Tho class represented in both races is" somewhat mixed, but with Achillen, Machino Gun, Nightfall, Vladimir, Pelrovna; Rod Gauntlet, and Master Alix in tho Kaater Handicap, and Achilles, Nightfall, Convoy, Quarryinan, and Mclodeon, in the Great Autumn, quality may be said to havo fair representation. The handicaps for the Newmarket Handicap and tho Australian Cup came to hand by Mm week's Australian mail. In the Newmarket Handicap Gladsome heads the list with 9.15, Canteen being allotted G.lO. Emir, 9,7, has pride of place in tho Australian Cup, tho ox-Now Zealand maro Gladsome' being allotted" 9.2, whilo Canteen is asked to Carry 8.9. Following is the full list of handicaps in tho two •venU:— Nowmarkofc Handicap 1 of 1000 soys ; threequarters of a mile (run 4th March). — Gladsome 9.13, Ibex, Air Motor, and Pendant 9.11, Emir 9.9, F.J.A. and Sinnang 9.7, Sylvanit© 9.3, Manlock 9.2, Haloya 9.0, Ma-irp 8.13, Bonnie Chiol 8.11. Canteen 8.10, Demos and Sylvan King 8.9, Purser 8.8, Independence, Koc-po.n, Hatteron 8.7, Corrohorec and Bullion 8.6, Dan* gai 8.5, Red Streak 8.4, Handsome 8.2, Playaway 8.1, Abington and Sabina 7.13, Bobadil and Stop Out 7.10, Poico and' Sea Kale 7.9, Sarto, 7.7, Murna and Position 7.6, Medallist, Mack, and Gunstock 7.5, Mark and L.U.s Daughter 7.4, The Golden Wont and Vaftcosca 7.3, Rustaff, Napoleon, "Moana., and Impres« 7.2, Attitudo, Rondo, English Roso, and Lachlan 7.0, Kilmarnock, Blorir, und Storma-way 6.13, Troytown, I«os, GoMleaf, Tisiphono, Ilaut Hove, and Gilda. 6.11, The Hawker, Retrencher, and R«»tHe 6.10, Caorloon, Boaz, and Encounter 6.9, Grey Seaton, Riflobird, and Magnetic 6.8, Sktbo, Climax, Van Tromp, Strathleen, n»d Comic Opera- 6.7. Australian Cup, of 1000 soys ; two miles and a quarter (run 7th March). — Emir 9.7,. Sinnang 9.5, Sweet Nell and Glacbiomo 9.2, F.J.A., Blue Spec, and Ovcrdah>9.o, St. Ambrose and Acacia 8.12, Long Tom. 8.10, Marmont and Canteen 8.9, Patroness and Avalon 8.8, Syhranite 8.7, Lord Fitzroy, Blinker, and Elvo 8.4, Sylvan King and Billingsgate 8.3, Detnas and Rhapsody 8.0, Lieutenant Bill, Australian Gold, and'Koopan 7.12, Playaway ann 1 Bright Beauty 7.11, Ballark and Tatterdemalion 7.10, Rifler and Maltio 7.9, Lamrock and Nuncio 7.8, Munderah 7.7, Sarasati 7.5, L.U.s Daughter 7.4, Gunstock Merrion, Bandolier, and Czarovitch 7.2, Impress and Dividend 7.0, Stonnaway, Newmarket, Romeo, and Green Mountain 6.12, Haufc Novo and The Hawker 6.9, Mario and Grey Seaton 6.8, De la Rey, Vulcano, Short Gown, and Mira 6.7. Donovan, whoso dooth was recorded by cable last week, was bred in 1886 by tho Duke of Portland, nnd was by Qalopin — Mowerina. His winnings in stakes were remarkable, totalling £65,163, being socond only to tlie record of Isinglass, who captured stokes >vorth £57,455. Donovan's total is all tho more remarkable when it is remembered that he only raced as a two and three year old. As a two-year-old he made a. very early start, winning the first juvenile race of the season, the Brockkeby Stakes, run at tho Lincoln Spring Meeting. His next engagement was in the £6000 Portland Stakes at Leicwrter, in which he was also successful. Doing on tc*-A*cot, Donovan won the Now ijtakei, and ho followed up this success by capturing the Bilbary Club's Homebred Foul Stake*, Httwtburne Stakos at Newmarket and Ham Stakes at Goodwood. In the Prince. of Wafeota Stakes- at Goodwood he met b« second' defeat (he J>ad been defeated by Chitabob at a difference of 13lb in weight), finwhintf third t© El Dorado and Gold. Then followed a series of victories. His record as a two-year-old waa eleven wins, one second, and ono third. As a three-year-old he made a good start by capturing the £11,000 Prince of Wnles's Stakes, lor three-year-olds, at Leicester. In the Two Thousand Guineas he started a hot fwronrite nt 86 to 20 on, but was beaten by a head by Enthusiast, a 25 to 1 clmitce. ' That the result was a fluke, however, wan proved by subsequent running that season. In the Newmarket Stakes Donovan was an easy firrt, and he also won all his other engagements that season, including the Derby, Prince of WaWs Stakes at Ascot, St. I>eger, Lancashire Plate and Royal Stakes at Newmarket, the season* record being s«wen wins and ono second. On being retired to the Walbeck stud^ Donovan was given every chnnce to distinguish himself, «nd for a timo he was much sought after by breeders. For a number of years his list was full at 200gs, and some of his early yearlings brought bi« prioes. The first season Donovan yearlings were offered at auction they made an average of 1160rs. They failed, however, to run up to expectations, and Donovan began to recede in public favour, and at the close of his career he was standing at a fee of 25g». Last season ho sired fourteen winners of £5625, more than half the amoupt being captured by ono horse. Donovan has to be set down as one of the animals that, after a brillian turf career, failed to come up- to expectations at the «tud. Judging by the numerous enquiries received by local bookmakers during the week from various parts of the colony, nome of the "carry birds" have not been long in attempting the difficult task of selecting Mr. G. O. Stead's correct pair for the C. J.C. Enater and Autumn Handicaps the weights for which are not due until next month. Savoury, for the East*' er and Nightfall for the Autumn, were the two sought after. The stoblo has entraffed six candidate* in tho former event —Baffpipee, Golden Lily, Lady Lyonora, Machine Gun, Nightfall, Savoury— and in the latter race Golden Lily, Lady Lyonors, Nightfall, and Savoury. Martians name ia missing from both handicaps. Magnificent, by St. Leger-La Daphne, Is the latent addition to Pntchard s string nt the nutt. Tho St. Andrew gelding, Fleka, now owned to Mr. G. P. Donnelly, of Namt, is.beiws spooled over hurdles,,, with

a view to being raced ir. some of tho jamping events (lining the coining winter. Tho disqualification of Mr. Barney Allen and his jockey, Murphy, w«« brought about by tlio unsatisfactory running of tho ex-Sydney gelding Cumim in the Molly Plate nt the Calcutta meeting on 31st. December. L'amim opened favourite for tho race imnied, hut suddenly receded in price, ami ran nowhere, while Kingston, who conic into tho mnrkot uith a latlle at the hust moment and touched 2 to 1, won after a good tussle with Chin Metal. The stewnrds wero ( of opinion tlutt tho caso called for nn enquiry, and after thoroughly going into it, uotiliod that Allen, Murphy, nnd Catniro wero warned oft the Calcutta course nnd other places whery tho Calcutta rules wero in force. The uncertainty of the tuif ! Heirloom, who ha« been scoring freely at country meotings lately, was. regarded as such a certainty for the Flying Handicap nt Lawrence on Thursday tlmt only Met ford could be persuaded to enter tho lists agninst him, nnd the lattor's chances were s.o lightly assessed thnt his backers on the machino received tho handsome dividend of £20 14m in v two-horse race. It is probable that Moccasin and Taluno, owned by Mr. 11. Brown, of Wellington, and at present training nt Opiiki (Masterton), will find their way to Australia in time for tho .cinter meetings there. .Moifaa run unplaced in the Sundown Steeplechase. Tho New Zealand hon«o' is stated to look remarkably well, und it is predicted that by the time tho Liverpool Grand National comes round next month, ho will be in a position to show himself in moro attractive colours. The Pahiatua Racing Club made n profit of over £400 ovor its recent meoting. Stuke money for the Waimrapa Racing Club's Autumn Meeting amounts to £1295 — same as Inst yenr. Mr. U. Knox, of Mntiterton, has nominated his brown (illy, Lucrielua (Merry England-T-Roney), for tho Aehhurst Guineu«, 1906. Grand Rapids has been sold by Mr. Wren to a South African sportsman, and is shortly to be sent to thnt country. At a snlo of rncohontea in tho estate of Mr. A. E. Lament nt Tarnnuki, Full pry was disposed of for £175, and Rotoairo for £75. i Waitarero, in Proaser's stnblo, is'engaged in hack hurdle rnces at the Wangnuui Autumn Meeting. Mnniapoto, by Soult, now racing in hack company, nnd for whom 800 guineas is eaid, to havo been declined, has been lenaod to Mr. Dugald Thomson, of Palmeiwton North, in whoso colours ho is in future to bo raced. Cu'nnio Chiol'a win in the Midsummer Handicap on Thursday was his fourth appearunco in tlmt race. Last year he ran aecond to Do la Roy; the yenr before ho occupied a similar' position to General Symons, nnd tho yea-r prior to thnt he ran third to Dundaa — a first, two seconds, and a third out of four starta. And yet there are people who soy thnt Cannio Chiel is an inconsistent performer. A chequo for £1 has been oent to this office under somewhat pnculinr circumstances, remarks tho Lytteltoii 'limes. An employee on a station in tho bock-blocki sent £l to a firm of bookmakers to be invested on a certain horae in a race. Tho money urrived after tho race 'had been decided, nnd tho bookmakers, with more honesty than is usually attributed to members of their calling, returned it to their cliont. This gentleman, however, refused to accept tho amount, contending that he should not benefit by the delay in the post office. Tho bookmakers replied that they could not rcceivo money they had not won, but thoir client, still persistent, has sent the money buck with a request that it moy be given to "tho Children's Hospital." The n mount hns been forwarded to tho editor of tho Lyttelton Times for distribution. Mr. Walter Armstrong corrects an error of a fortnight ago. It wns stated thnt the racing mare Dromednry, w.ho won famo by losing the big Steeplechase nt Riccnrton through tumbling over a policeman, wna owned by Mr. W. E. Bidwill. Dromedary waa bred by Mr. Skeot, of the Wairarftpa, nnd Mr. Armstrong, who also hails from thnt district, nnd during her racing career was their joint property. Mr. C. Palgmve, of Pulmerston North, has become tho owner of the Merriwee — Dazzle filly Archlight, for £250. Mr. Pnlgrave wna greatly plonsed with the filly s display at tho Into Wellington meoting; nnd does not intend to race her again till she i» threo years' old. Latest files to hand from Australia describe tho ex-Now Zealand horae Canteen mi being one of the fittest members in point of condition among Scobic's large fltring of candidates for the coining V.R.C; Autumn Meeting. The groy lias been allotted 8.10 in the Newmarket, and 8.9 in the two und a quarter mile Cup. A. Ravnor^ of Peilding, has purchased the hurdler Repulse from the Hon. J. D. ' Ormond, on behalf of a patron. Mr. Stead has expressed the opinion (says the sporting contributor of tho Molbourno Leader) that Nightfall is the best filly he hns ever owned. Since tho publication of.the weights for the Newmarket and Australian Cup, Blue Spec and Svlvanite Have been withdrawn from their respective engagements In the Oukleigh Plate of five and a half furlongs, Gladsome i» placed second on the list with 10.7, Ibex heading the soventy-two horeea engaged with 10.9. In the Newmnrkot Handicap, over six furlongs, and in which exactly tho samo number, are hnndicappod, tho positions are reversed, the Auckland-bred muro being placed on top with 9.13, and Ibex next with 9.11. The Johannesburg Summer Handicap, of 2500 floys, run last month, wn« won by Cordon Rouge, from his more fancied ■table companion Chinoia. Tho winner is by G»y Heanit. The renuh was a great surprise. Chhiois stood at 16 to lin the bettaig, but Cordon R«uge was friendless, and the totalisator paid n dividend of £103 10s. The nominal fa»«irite for the Newmarket Handicap i« the imported Carbino mare Playaway (8.1), who figures at 100 to 7. Before tlie weights were declared ft wager of £1000' to £50 was Inid nguinst her. For the Australian Cup Blinker (8.4) is the most fancied, and is quoted nt 10 to