BITS OP TURF.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 184, 6 August 1890, Page 3

BITS OP TURF.

Nominations for the Maiden Handicap, Pony Cup, Handicap Trot, Pony Trot unci Pony Hurdles, to be run at tho Auckland Trotting Club Meeting, close ou Friday next. f . Mr J. C. Davis, the local sportsman, has named his chestnut two-year-old filly by Atalantis, Sybil ; and ; X'eger—Hippona filly, Roie. ;„;. : j_'. Mr W.- R. Wilson, the Victoriar. sportsman, hasquite,a;_»(ew__e_iand colony at St. Albans, amongst his staff being W. Wade, for so many years head lad at tho Christchurch Middle Park stud ; A. Quinn, who used to be with Edward CutfcSj and was previously in Mr Henry Redwood's employ ; '* Chum " Pearßon, the well-known Auckland jockey ; and Wisby, the light weight, who was also with Cutts for some time.

J. Rae had the misfortune to run another " second " at the Caulfield Meeting on the 26th July. This was in the Steeplechase, in which Orangeman (12sb 41b) suffered a four lengths defeab ab the hands of Mr I Filgate _ Doutta Galla (9st 121b). A Christchurch sport offered £500 for Darnley, but it was refused. Ib has been a popular fallacy that the late Hon. James White never betted to any extent on his horses. A writer in a Sydney paper recalls one occasion when Carlyon started an untried horse at Randwiek, thab the deceased gentleman, whilst quietly leaning against a poeb.accepted all the five to two hundreds the books cared about laying. And then the very public style in which Mr J. Thompson elected to pay over the £10,000 he lost over Chester's double victory ought to have established Mr White as a not only big bub fortunate speculator in turf wagers. The jumper Warwick, sent over from Auckland, won fche Maiden Hurile Race ab tho last li osehill (Sydney) races, Tho ex-New Zealand jumper, Secretary, won the Steeplechase at the Elsterwick Park Meeting on the 30th July. Betsy has been scratched for the Caulfield Cup. The annual balance-sheet of the Victoria Racing Club shows that the total receipts for the year ended June 30th were £32,243. The last Cup meeting resulted in tbe Club receiving £41,755, which after deducting the ttbakes and expenses left a profit of £17,851. There was a small loss on tho autumn meeting. Referring to the bolting of Leonardo in tho Ladies'.Bracelet at the Grand National Meeting, the " Canterbury Times " says :— " Wo fancy MrO'Rorke was just as surprised as any of the spectators when bis mount whipped inside the rails, but he would have received a very stormy reception from the public had he nob been protected by the title of ' amateur.'" - Tho appearance of the weights .for- the principal handicaps of tho Australian Jockey Club Spring Meeting gave rise to some speculation in Sydney. Straight-out betting on the Epsom Handicap was transacted afc 1,000 to 20, and that prico was accepted aboub Alexander, May Queen, Daniel, Emmie, Paris, Amina, Bernado, Ernest, Trideutine, Marvel, Federation and Doncaster. Double books were opened on the Hawkesbury Grand Handicap and Australian Jockey Club Metropolitan at 500 to 10. . ■« ';,■ Advices from Melbourne record the arrival in that city of tbe Tasmanian colt Highlander, by Napoleon from Siiverhair, on Friday last. Highlander, who is full brother to the lata Silvermine, is encaged in the V.A.T.C. Caulfield Guineas, V.R.C. Derby and St. Leger, and his final preparation has been entrusted to J. Foulsham. : During his visib to tbe Grand National Meeting (says the "Canterbury Times ), Mr Laing, of Napier, purchased the brood mare Maria Theresa from the Middle Park Stud Company. Maria Theresa is by Rataplan from Maria Louise by Gunboat, and, was imported to, Canterbury by tho late Mr E. G. Griffith in 1875. Since her first foal, Marie Antoinette (the dam of Silence), she has produced The Dauphin, a C. J.C. Derby winner, Quibble, a Great Autumn Handicap winner, Archduke, Lorraine, and Alsace. Three years ago tbe ware bad a very bad foaling, and has since remained barren, The stud manager thinks it very improbable that she will breed again, bn} Mr Laing determined to take this risk, and should he obtain a .ingle foal, will be very W-U wpaM for W- PttMy.

The Wellington Racing Club contemplate extensive improvements on their course which will include the formation of training track, ploughing and re-laying of the running track, enlargement of the saddling paddock, and alterations to the totalisator.

The Dunedin Jockey Club Committee have prepared the programme lor the coming season. They propose to give £10,500 in stakes at five meetings to be held during the year. The programme ior the Spring Meeting is much the same as that for the Exhibition Meeting, except for th. Exhibibion Cup the Otago Cup ia substituted, to which 50050v3 is added.