SPORTING NOTES.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7285, 15 April 1889, Page 2

SPORTING NOTES.

By Skkex. The conference of the metropolitan clubs held in Napier last month resulted in nothing being done beyond recommendations being carried which are supposed, if they become racing laws, to have some remote effect in suppressing the present objectionable use of the totalisator, but there was no straightforward legislation in that direction, and nothing definite enough to engage public interest. At least that was all the information concerning the conference that was vouchsafed to the Press after the C-J.C. committee had received their delegate's report, but it appears by a telegram from our Auckland correspondent that another matter, and one of really considerable interest to all racing men, was mooted. Ourcorresponden t says that Mr Percival, the Auckland representative, suggested arrangements should be made toprintaßacingCalendarin Christehurch immediately on the termination of each racing season, in which all meetings both large and email should be folly reported, and Mr Clifford was appointed if the suggestion could be carried oat. This is. I am sure, a matter of infinitely greater interest to the sporting public than suggestions of roundabout means for limiting the number of totalisator race meetings. We have suffered long and suffered quietly over this matter, and some racing clubs have subsidised the publication of the "New Zealand Turf Record," but their interest in it has ceased with that, and no control has been exercised over the time when it is published, and on this depends its chief utility. In England, besides " Ruff's Guide, " published twice in the year, and the Racing Calendar, the official organ of the English Jockey Club, there are monthly records published in abridged form of the racing to date, so that people can always keep themselves posted with the past form of horses engaged in forthcoming events. Something of the same sort is also done in Australia, out here in New Zealand

we not only have no intermediate records, bat the anuaal register, the New Zealand Ruffs Guide, is not published until so late in the season that its principal usefulness is lost. Ido not advocate that we should

have a spring and winter edition of our turf record or that we should have any of those intermediate "form at a glance" publications to which I referred, for the simple reason that New Zealand cannot aftord it, but I consider it is absolutely necessary to a true and intelligent interest in the sport that a racing calendar or turf record or by whatever name it may be known should be published so nearly after theend of the racing seaeonas to beavailable before the spring handicaps are run. As the season's racing advances the value of the past year's record becomes less and less, and while racing is in full swing as it is from early in October till the end of May. it is not so very difficult with occasional reference to sporting weekly papers to keep some sort of tally of a large number of the horses of the season, but-when after May we get into other classes of sport, steeplechasing and coursing, there is an intervenlngblank and we gradually lose all grip of relativeform of ourflat racers, andan un-xndexed paper is a tedious mode of reference. It is then in the early spring that we require the Turf Record to refresh our memories, and if taken earnestly in hand by our metropolitan clubs it could certainly be very easily managed. But why Mr Percival should have pitched upon Christchurch for its publication I do not know. For the last three or four years the " New Zealand Turf Record" has been published by Mr Whetham, of Dunedin, and except in the date of its publication has given every satisfaction, for it is most complete in every detail. Writing under correction for what I have not heard in so many words, I am under the impression from conversation with Mr Whetham that there is mighty little profit attached to it and it is on economic considerations that the publication of the "Record" has not been pushed on with the necessary despatch for its early issue. This seems all the more likely as Mr Whetham must be well aware that early publication greatly enhances the value and sale of his Book. The most reasonable course that suggests itself is for the Metropolitan clues to put themselves in communication with Mr Whetham and learn what the true bearing of the case is, and under what circumstances he could guarantee an early publication, and this line is all the more desirable as he no doubt has the necessary information in hand for the next volume, the which, probably, no one else in New Zealand has. With the guarantee which Mr Whetham's name affords for efficient compilation all that the Metropolitan clubs have fco see to is early publication at a reasonable price. Like many things that have been taken in hand in New Zealand the "Turf Record" in its present form is more elaborate and costly than the occasion requires, and I consider that fully a third of the cost of publication could be saved, aud much time too, and the book be quite as useful, if it) was compiled in a different fashion. In Mr Whetham's publication, in most cases, each horse with its description, age, weight, and owners and riders name in full, occupies a whole line, or at any rate so much of the line as to make a double column impossible. But if only the horse's name, his weight and his rider's name was given the whole of the racing could be printed in double column and instead of occupying 310 pages as it does now, would be condensed into but little more than half that space. The setting up of type would also cost but little over half of what it does in the present form, and the leaving out of the thousands of "Mr" prefixed to each owner's name would greatly relieve the type. As a per contra, the cost of the Index would be considerably more, for the age, description, and pedigree of the horse, and the owner's name, would have to be given there, bat that would certainly not occupy double the thirty-two pages it does now, and I am probably well within the mark in saying that one third of the cost would be saved. It may be objected that it is inconvenient to have to tarn to the index to find the age, or description, or the name of the owner of a horse when it is wanted, to which I can only reply that "Buffs Guide," the Englishman's text book, is compiled on just the same lines I have named, and what they are satisfied with we may possibly put up with until we can better afford the more expensive article. It time and expense, but especially time, can be saved on the lines suggested, they surely must be worth consideration. When out at Middle Park last week I missed seeing some of the lobs to be sold by auction in Easter week, owing to their being away grazing in a paddock some distance from home, but since the late rains there is plenty of grass at the homestead, and hearing that they had returned I went to visit them on Wednesday. The first lot Mr Nosworthy showed mc was a brown yearling filly by Apremont—Watersprite, somewhat shortish I thought her, but of fair substance and good-shaped legs, and likely to grow into a highstanding mare, but a very differentshaped one to her full sister, Waterbaby," who is not only upstanding but lengthy. The yearling by Apremont —Hammock is a very taking filly indeed. She is a rich bay with black points, well grown all over, of good length, standing over a lot of ground but with a short back owing to the slope of her well shaped shoulders. Her lower limbs are well shaped, with plenty of bone, and thighs ana head, too, are nicely set on. a point always worth remarking when speaking of the Apremont stock. She looks all over a galloper, and I am much mistaken if she does not excite some strong bidding on sale day. For the chestnut yearling filly by St. George — Jfleurange, I have no good word to say, liking neither her shape, bone, or quality, and moreover she seems infirm on

her pins; but there was a useful looking* dark brown filly, particularly well lee down in her hocks, by Apremont—Gilda belonging to Mr Hatching, which, though not in the catalogue, will be submitted to the hammer at the same time. Mr Noswortby then took mc to a paddock on the other side of the Biccarton road, where I saw the two-year-old filly Flatter by St. George—Flattery, a whole chestnut with plenty of substance and well developed inside thighs, short legs and a nice topped

one -withal. The chestnut two-year-ole filly Charming, by St. George—Charm, is ,i. more lengthy oat common looking and nol * bo well grown as Platter, somewhat plair and not the best legged one in the world, but 1* with the quality looking head fcb&t St !r George nearly always pats on his got. Here, il too, was another of Mr Kitchtng's lot, alec j*L to be sold, a chestnut two-year-old gelding, " full brother to the brown filly I meutionea 5 before. Hβ is a very well grown one in--1? deed, a fine npstandingnag with good /. bone and big barrel, a real nseful looking ,» all round sort, and likely enough to p gallop. In the same paddock was Pair Nell, looking well and in foal to St. George, vr Also Sierra, also looking well, but not yet relegated to the stud, although no doubt * she will be next spring. Before leaving I " went to renew my acquaintance with the [r f yearling Flattery colt, with whom I was ,_ much smitten last week, and I was pleased fc to notice that the bony enlargements „ on the inside of the near fore leg were not so prominent as when I saw him before, _ and I shall pick him and the Hammock — filly and the St. George—Charm colt to be the most admired of the yearlings in the sale rine. But, however much opinions may differ as to the relative merits of the different lots there can be no two opinions >s as to the excellent condition in which Mr n Nosworthy has brought them out. }- Taking them as a whole the entries and if acceptances for the a J.C. Autumn meeting -- received on Saturday last are satisfactory, it numbering 104 horses in the different it events as against 90 last year, a genera a increase of 14. The acceptance of only two ; e horses for the Hurdle race is a bad heading -t for the list, but in the three most impori- tant events of the meeting, the Champagne 0 Stakes, Challenge Stakes and Great d Autumn Handicap, there is room it for a little congratulation, the Chamd pagne having five candidates, the d same numbers as last year, the 11 Challenge Stakes an increase of six it horses, and the Autumn Handicap d one more acceptor than last season. is In the less important races there is an 1 increase of four horses ia the Templeton *■- Stakes, seven in the Epsom "Welter and six 11 in the Selling race, while the Rnssley c Stakes and second day Hurdles shows a s failing off of one horse each and the c Autumn Nursery of three. Bar the first r day's hurdle race there is every pro- ■- epect at present of good sport on Baiter ■- Monday and Tuesday, and a good f horse as Irish King is, he will have to c travel fast and make no mistakes to beat r Sockburn at a difference of thirty-eight c pounds, for when last I saw the grey he f was a good deal better horse than ever he ' was in MrPilbrow'e hands. The favourite 'I for the Great Autumn is under a cloud, t and whether Cutts will bring his f mare to the post is a matter of great uncertainty. There are three other Great Autumn candidates in c his stable, British Lion, Ravenswing, 5 and St. Clair, so that the Chokebore Stable r will be hard to beat even with Dudu out of c the road and the only one I think able to a do ib ia Vandal. Cynisca is sure to start t a very hot favourite for the Champagne ? Stakes, but she will find the Dunkeld she 3 has to meet here a very different sort of colt 1 to what he was in Dunedin. He , was sore then and had th<3 needle 1 badly but is doing right good work a now. Merrie England is another that 3 has to be reckoned with and he, 1 too, is going on well in Lunn's p hands, and although I think the filly will f win, she will have to be very fit to uphold her unbroken record, and will have to i stretch herself at the finish as she has t never been forced to in her previous vieT tories. The result of the Champagne will t of course throw a lot of light on the Chalf lenge Stakes, for all five of the Champagne 3 horses are engaged in that event, and r some smart sprinters besides in the shape of Sultan, Apropos, and Ravenswing. The J handicaps for the Templeton Stakes, * Epsom vVelter, and Russley will be publ lished to-morrow (Saturday). t The handicaps are published for the • North Canterbury Meeting, and I think 1 Mr Gresson has succeeded in fairly > puzzling the public. Of the four top ' weights in the Hurdle Race, I like Torrent f beet, but then I know very little about > Satan, Iroquois, or Aaron. Ruby heads the i list in the North Canterbury Handicap I with Bst 91b, a weight which will trouble i him to carry in a mile and a half race, and s I like Vandal better, although Bat is as J much as he can carry comfortably. The t distance is too far for Rewi and probably i for Escapade also, but I fancy him most of l this pair. Lavender is a little out of j her company, and Wakatipu is not L forward enough in his work, and I fancy > neither Snapshot nor Secnrus, but I have a ■ sneaking regard for Alpine Rose, and my > choice for the Handicap lies between him ! and Vandal. The Winter Oats Handicap • may fall to Vaultress, and Young Guy . should run well forward in the County ■ Handicap. For the Fernside Handicap 1 • like the top weight, Eriu-go-bragh, as well 'as any other. W"hen the acceptances are ' declared I shall discuss the handicaps at > further length. ' By Spectator. I Mr Tom Watson's starting at N.S. Wales race meetings of late has not been up to the mark. Backers of trotters would do well to , look up the results of the events of the , past four weeks. C. Coates, the English jockey, has en- ; gaged to ride for Mr Leopold Rothschild during this season. Manton was an acceptor for the Rowley Mile and the Hawkeebary Handicap, run April 11th and 13th. The English racing season opened on the last Monday in March with the Spring Meeting at Lincoln. This meeting would have an interest to Australians, inasmuch as the speedy son of First King and Yardley, Ringmaster, was a competitor in the final Stakes, a plate of 150 soys, and run for at about a mile. The speedy Australian finished nowhere. Ringmaster has now been located in England about nine months and should have got acclimatised. Perhaps he is not yet at his best, and will score a win later on. Hurrah 1 won't the Australians feel glad. Since writing the above paragraph the cables have informed us that Mr J. Eden Saville's game little horse—always a great favourite of mine—has broken the ice, and landed the Billesdon Handicap Plate at the Leicester Meeting. Certainly it is not a big stake, but it is the wish, I am sure, of every sport in the colonies that this win may be the forerunner of many more. The French and the Americans have made a name for their cattle in the land of the Britisher .Australia has made a start. The time is not far distant, let us hope, that New Zealand may be able to put a Carbine into the field, and certainly a Carbine would give the greatest guns they have at Home just now a merry time. The sports recently held at Lancaster Park by the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club were really most interesting. A loyely afternoon contributed largely to the success of the gathering and the ladies were numerously represented. This was ' " Spectator's " firet visit to the Park, and he desires to compliment the management ' on the.way in which they carried out the '< excellent bill of fare. I opine that there ' is no pleasure resort like Lancaster Park j in the North Island, and as for the cinder track there' are few if any better in the i colonies. The polo pony matches afforded , genuine amusement, and there is no doubt but that this sport will become very popular. Some of the riders were very 1 badly mounted, however. Surely Canter- , bury can provide a better class of animals. ! I heard one or two remarks as to the j danger the riders were running. Thereie, , I might add, an element of danger in most \ of our pastimes, but with Adam Lindsay { Gordon let mc say:— J No game was ever worth a rap < For a rational mas to play, j from which no accident, no mishap, » Could possibly find its way, J It is this element of danger that lends ( additional interest to steeplechasing. 1 Take away the jumping and you would < most assuredly kill the sport of hunting, s I but yet there is less danger in the game of c ; polo than in either steeplechasing or < hunting. lam pleased to note that lovers c of the game of "hockey on horseback" t in Auckland are making efforts to bring i the sport into favour. It is only a matter c of time for New Zealanders to become t educated to it, and lam suie the contests a on Saturday were not amongst the least a attractive features of the Canterbury I Amateur Athletic Club's show. <j Mr H. M. Reeves is a "ped" of no mean c ability. It was a treat to see him run bis t 120 yards in even time last Saturday, and d lam certain he would have beaten 52 sees £ in the quarter, had he not been obliged to a come on the outside of his men, albeit g he appeared to be over anxious, and came b a little too soon, and he did not finish as a well as he might otherwise have done t though he won oy seven clear yards. c A friend in Wangano has written mc t on the subject of the breeding of Recluse s as follows:—1 have made enquiries, and fi through our mutual friend of Aramoho tl John Walker, I learn that the soiTof t Daniel O Rorke has Traducer blood in his n veins, his dam Voltairina being by that n great sire from a Golden Grape v mare that was sent over from y Nelson, while Traducer was stand- v ing in Wanganui. From another t! correspondent I learn that Pat. McCoy n trained the mare Voltairina, and that she p ran in Wellington after running In U Wanganui. Further enquiries tshow that a

Id the mare will be seventeen years old next is foaling. A correspondent of a contemot porary returned Voltaixi»e as being from in a mare called Voltaire, bat Voltaire was -t really Voltairi—a's brpfc_«r, *-d a year t. older than the dam of Bednse. Both ran c, unsuccessfully in the year 1875, in W__lng- » ton but in Mr Owen's name. On the third S, day Voltaire ran In Mr D. O'Brien's name; >v whether this was a reporter's mistake I n- cannot say. ' »d Mr William Day, the vetersn English ig trainer ,in his recently-published book, x> " The Horse; How to Breed and Rear ir Him," gave the following advice : " Don't c. breed from bad-tempered animals of either ;t sex, or from those afflicted with hereditary )t diseases, roaring In particular. No mare I should, in any circumstances, be put to an te inferior sire, and little mares are the best is to breed from, provided they have d substance, stand well on their legs, and a have good hocks and knees. Li ttle stallions >t with mares suited to them, get good stock 3, and much better than most large horses, k Relationship to good performers is even of »c greater importance than extraordinary c excellence in the mare herself; and both is sire and dam should stand well on their c legs. Consider carefully the external form s of the _i—re, the relation of her ditferent J parts to each other, her capabilities, as far as known, and, above all, her breed—ig and d shat of her ancestors. Then select a g tallion on the same careful system; and r, you may expect, and most likely would it have, a loaf possessing in many ways the a desirable qualities of its parents, and 0 perhaps surpassing them in speed and g endurance.'' r- Says an English paper: Whatever c interests may have been depressed, there it is no check in matters connected with the n great national sporte of racing and hunti- mit There never was a time when the c Turf offered such big prteeS to the owners c of good racehorses: and such a large numx ber of smaller prizes to those who are p astute enough to know how to compete i. for them. Good blood hunters of full size n are always in strong demand, but ordinary n small, or underbred stock, are more and x more at a discount. The game of polo has y evidently improved the breed of ponies, a and small animals of high quality are pere haps dearer than ever. The export trade t in breeding stock, both heavy and light, is *- sure to increase, but that increase will be r accompanied by exactions in respect of 1 quality and son_dness, and s__—bility to 0 the especial purpose" t Races at different distances in Great t Britain in 1888 were: At five furlongs and c under six, 759; six furlongs and under one a mile, 262 ; one mile 333; over a mile and s under two, 184; two miles and under , three, 40; three miles and under four, 7, s and four miles, 4—-total, 1589. f The report that Cosson, the well-known c Auckland running man, had died of i typhoid fever in Melbourne, took mc by ;, surprise. I immediately saw a personal a friend of Cosson's, who told mc that by the f last mail he had received a letter, and that 3 Cosson was tn good health and In training t for a mile event, in which he has l—oyds 2 start. i Harry Thomson has had an addition to t his team last week In the two-year-old filly i Alsace, bnt I learn that she is to be sold s after the Autumn Meeting. Thomson has c some nice boxes out at Riccarton and has t room for a few horses, and being a steady, , experienced and trustworthy fellow must i get a turn directly. 1 I understand that Mr Harrison Davis L has decided upon selling his three fillies > Dreamland, Chicanery,and Burlesque, and J they will be offered after the Middle Park - sale by Messrs Pyne and Co. I The question of forming a New Zealand - Jockey Club is one that came before the * delegates of the Napier Conference. We I are getting the particulars of this wonderC ful meeting piecemeal, but this question i seems to have been of great magnitude, , for the delegates to tackle in the tew hours - they had in Napier, and its further consideration has been postponed, and will 5 probably come up for discussion at the : proposed meeting when Parliament meets ' in Wellington. I thought we had far too i many Jockey, Racing, and Turf clubs . already in New Zealand, but if the title of ; New Zealand Jockey Club is meant to > apply to a higher tribunal than our i Metropolitan clubs and we can get one > formed from the leading members of the i Metropolitan clubs, there may be some i sense in the movement, but I really cannot s see how the object is to be attained. Mr J. O. Evett, the North Island handi- ! capper, has issued the weights for the ! Auckland Racing Club's Easter Handicap ; and Steeplechase, and I give my opinions ' thereon. In placing -wonderful old Nelson i at the top of the list for the mile and three- * quarter event, he haa done what ninety- ; nine out of a hundred handicappers wonld . » have done. Major George's fine old chestnut, though getting bigger and bigger ■ about his joints, is not one bit impazrea iv ' constitution, and, though always a horse that liked to bear his hoofs rattle on hard l ground, .will, perhaps, be better suited > now if sufficient rain falls to take the jar : off the going, and with S_t lllb he will run ] a good race, if land-d at the post as well as he was at the last Summer Meeting. However, I should certainly prefer Cuirassier ! and Hilda to the old fellow, if satisfied of J their having done a sound preparation, \ but it is quite on tbe cards that : Cuirassier may not be so forward as ■ Hilda, who has been reserved especially for * this meeting, while it must also be borne . in mind that he has a more important * engagement in the Leger, for which he ! may be kept. It does not fall to the lot of *f one man to breed two such animals as I Cuirassier andHildain one season. In a life- I time, and I write under the belief that { they are the two best animals of their , respective sexes and ages, in the colonies, c It isonlya matter oftlme for Cuirassier, and 5 TTild— (—a, I thin—, h—ld her-own at weight *- for age with any ot her sex over a | distance. She, too, may be reaerve- tor the ; St. Leger, an— if her trainer thinlra there r is any question about Caii-aaier's fitness depend upon it she will have a go for that event, in which case Nelson would have B , most to fear from Lady Norah, unless f Mantilla has been placed in the hands of a Xl good trainer in which case I would * consider the light weight dangerous. The Auckland correspondent of this 9. Eaper seems to think that Mangahone \ as been too leniently treated in the £ steeplechase and on thejform he showed on ° I level country two years ago I should say Ji he had a show, but he has not performed |* well over the Auckland course yet, and " moreover has shown no galloping qualifica- a tions this season, and I don't think Auck- T landers need fear him in the least, not i while they have a horse like Don In at 9st. ? This, in my opinion. Is the mistake of the P handicap, and I shall be quite prepared to P see Jimmy Kean's cheap nag do with the t ' field what Allegro and Recruit did" with "* their fields when similarly treated. He .

met -with an accident, however, two months ago, from which he may not have recovered yet, but if he is well and meets with no mishap the Napier folks will want something better thanaMangahone. I don't know about Le CLair's staying, nor do I know Waterloo and Traducer, bub Don, Artist, and Recruit look best to mc.

Acceptances for the Easter Handicap and Steeplechase of the A.R.C. close to-night, April 12th, at 8 p.m., when nominations for other events are due. First forfeits are due for the Champagne and Great Northern St. Leger at the same time and place. , The Hawke's Bay Trotting Club was quite overlooked by the Press Association last week, and we did not Ret a single line I about it, from a quarter which usually forwards us most complete reports of what is doing in the racing line down Napier way. It was the inaugural meeting, and from local papers I gather that it was a I success, and the Club will hold periodical meetings in future, and as we may some day be visited by trotting horses from the north, It is just as well to know what the nags up that way are capable of, so I mike the fallowing extracts:—The recently constituted Hawke's Bay Trotting Club held their inaugural meeting on the Saturday afternoon, and it is not too much to say that the most pronounced supporters of trotting did not expect the large amount of patronage that was accorded to the club in their first efforts at introducing this das* of sport to the Hawke's Bay public. When the club first came into existence it was thought by many that the fields would be so small as to offer little if any . indncement to assemble people on the Park racecourse, bat all doubts on that head were quickly dispelled on the appearance of the entries, which totalled sixty-seven for the fire events on the programme, The day's sport started with the Open Trot, for which fourteen out of the fifteen put in appearance at the poet. Fleablte. a Wanganui horae, was a pronounced favourite, out he never once gave his backers a hope after the starting bell rang; in fact he had to be pulled up before the journey was completed, and did not start again during the day. Makomako soon assumed a strong lead, and maintained it to the finish. Eleven of the thirteen entered for

the Pony Trot saddled up, Native Cat this time carrying the bulk of the public money, bat although he maintained a good position throughout he was unable to keep up with Darkle, who won by about twenty yards, Tommy and Native Cat making a very close finish for second honours. In the Open Time Trot seven horaea competed, Tommy ttodd having this time most public support, bat Jumbo, who was In receipt of an allowance of- 60 sees., won comfortably, and paid bia

**«*«»« » good dhrtdeadL The ft"? Time Trot IErWX GsP*9 tram a field of tweb* WttL tnJ iJT** *t the* Open UJJ &*faasy ou the post IwjS FuS? n* n * Jkooicap Time broai?¥?> day's proceedings to a dose wiffi he hlteh of any kind, and many expressions of approval It I th * certainty that now the Hawke's iv» J , » ting Club has estabuXd Itoelf y > t " more meetings of a similar take place, and as the club scored well financially, the etataJ** future gathering will be augmented, .Mr Danvers had enviable position to Jill as a handicaJ? , but the utmost satisfaction was exnrSr*! at his adjustments. Mr R Smit* 8 * starter, Mr G. H. Swan as jndire. atS £ G. Ellis as clerk of the» eeffi%SsJ& utmost satisfaction. The following the results with names of the etartJL* , * Open Time Trot in Saddle, 15»ovs? £ miles, g ra Makomako L bg b t? Jumbo 3. Dido, Dandy, TommynS? Irishman, Doctor, Jealousy, NuhnW , Tempting, Fleabite, Nun, aud Nelly Iγ , started. Doctor had to conceed&2 to the others, who w»re jjj malS? Time, 6mm 20sec. Pony Trotf" saddle, lOsovs—blk g Darkie 1 Tm* ™ 2, Native Cat 3. Rosebud, Coll*? ,, Dolly, Jack the Ripper, GlS?' Pansy, Daisy, and Flirt also start*! 1 Time, 4ruin 40sec. Open HandicaDW of 20 Boys, three miles— J. R. DTfs , Jumbo, OOsec, 1; W. Profitt's b rT^T , Dodd, 60 sec, 2; F. Doctor, 6Qsec, 3. Dido 73secs, Whatnot 30sec; Makomako, scratch; WlneoS? 30s6c, also started., Time, Drain losetfvp lector won the Handicap Pony Trot *tu.' 60secs start, Flirt COaec 2, Tommy 2Ws beating several others, Time, 7miai«i the Final Handicap Trot was vtwZ Makomako from scratch, beating DocbZ lOsec, Jealousy 35sec, Tommy Dodd 20** Irishman 30sec, Nuhuka 30sec, Snip4o2? Wineglass 40sec, and Tempting *W Jealousy was winning, but hundred yards from home. Time Bmfn lOsec. .^S , The keenest interest is felt In spojtinu circles in England in the announcemeotor the matrimonial engagement of the DnkA ofPortlandVthe Master of the Horse. b£ grace, who is only thirty-oae years ot '$£' is one of the best known and moat domS noblemen of the turf. Last headed the list of whining owners lHth over £26,000. His domains in both &£ land and Scotland are broad and valuable He is one of the great ground landlord* d London; he has six county scats, Lg t member of seven clubs, a patron of thiiteta livings, has been Master of the Horse faj three years, and is trustee of the BiiM Museum. He is the owner of that gfed colt Donovan who achieved so mv» victories last season, and who hasjui landed the rich Prince of Wales' Stun, From English Ales to hand I notice tot Duke has written to the Sportsman tolling early backers that he might not sttß Donovan for the Two Thousand. Hb starting in that event depended on the way in which he would run in the Priiu* of Wales Stakes. He was still grit favourite. March Ist. for the Derbr it 100 to 80. The two Traditions have already btea supported for Caul field and Melbourne Cups, and the two Singapores and Dretd* noughts for Derby and Melbourne Cap.