NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10066, 18 June 1898, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(By •• Hotspur.")

In reference to Mr Stead's letter which appeared in the last issue of the " Referee " on the breeding of Airs and Graces, tlie Oaks heroine, I may say I took the pedigree of that filly from the London "" Sportsman," wherein it appeared after she won the Hardwicke Stakes as a two-year-old. I simply applied the numbers under Bruce Lowe's system, without verifying the pedigree. This, however, was incorrectly given, and Mr Stead, who has had to do with horses descended from some of the same branches, quickly noticed the mistake. Malcolm, of 1843, the son of The Doctor and Myrrha, should have been given instead of Malcolm, of 1831, who was by Dunsinane from the Heel ley mare. It is admittedly at times difficult to trace pedigrees back to the earlier volumes of the Stud Book, owing to there having been so many mares and horses with similar names. Malcolm, by The Doctor, would be six years old when mated with the Actason mare who was foaled in 1834, and consequently ttihe years his senior, whereas Malcolm, by Dunsinane, was foaled in 1834. There can be no question that the "Sportsman " was wrong, as Mary Aislabie, the produce of the union, raced, and figures under the name of Malcolm, by The Doctor, as one of that sire's winners. There can be no doubt as to the purity of origin of Airs and Graces, though she does not, as pointed out by Mr Stead, trace back to Bruce Lowe's figure mares. A logical conclusion, however, would be that the fact of Airs and Graces.

Apropos of this subject, I might mention that a great deal of interest still continues to be taken in the work of Bruce Lowe in England, America, and the colonies, and the sporting papers are constantly referring thereto. In America, Where they have ho classic races of long standing, that is to say by comparison with the old established English races, the system cannot well be applied, but a writer in the "Breeder and Sportsman" has busied himself upon the champion racehorses of America since 1800, and has come to the conclusion that, by that means, the worth of families can be better arrived at than by other methods, as even Derby, Oaks and Leger winners are not always tbe champions of their time. His calculations are interesting and reliable, but he has over-looked the fact that Bruce Lowe not only based his figures Upon the winners of the classics, but pointed to the additional evidence in support of hi. theories provided by winners of the One and Two Thousand Guineas races, as to the relative strength of his running families. After giving the names of ninety-one champions, he shows that thirteen of them are of the No. 12 line Montague mare, ten of the No. 4 Layton Barb mare, five from the No. 9 Old Vintner mare, and so on. LoWe claimed that the 12 line is "the stoutest and most masculine line in the Stud Book, all the way up from Eclipse," though the family only claimed one Derby, six Oaks, and two Leger winners. The result of applying the figures to the champions of America bears out the contention as to the stoutness of the No. 12 line. It is somewhat singular that the Tregonwell Barb mare, No. 1, does not figure in the list of the ninety-one champions in the list referred to. It does not follow because particular families in America do not hold relatively the same positions as those in England, that the figures are not reliable as a guide to breeders. Some families are much more in evidence in one part of the world than in another : for instance, the 18 family is stronger in the colonies than m the mother country, where it appears to be on the decline. " Templar," a correspondent whose articles in the "Referee" on some of the racing cracks of New Zealand were read with much interest, in a letter last week raised the question as to whether Cinizelli, dam Of The Marquis (imp.), The Peer, Towton, and Marchioness—four thoroughbreds that have played a prominent part at the stud and in the turf records of the colony through their descendants—belongs to the No. 2 Burton Barb family or to the No. 1 Natural Barb. " Templar " quotes the descent of Cinizelli from the New Zealand Stud Book, Vol. IX., p. 196, as far as it is there given (that is, to Isabella, by Eclipse), and that of Hammock to its material source, the Natural Barb mare from the same vol., page 63. Many students of pedigree lore have been turning, up their books of reference to try and solve the problem for themselves. Those who have Stonehenge h-ivc come to the same conclusion as "Templar," and there is no doubt the compiler of the Stud Book relied on the same authority for the back lines of the pedigree therein contained. The General Stud Book, Vol. 1, however, gives a different version, and Mr Stead, in a letter ih another column, shows the point of divergence, making it clear that the mistake was due to accepting Nancy (the Duke of Ancaster's) for Ancaster Nancy, a mare foaled a year earlier, and bred by another owner. Mr Stead's letter may be left to speak for itself. The letter from the same gentleman, which appeared in the issue of the "Referee" of June Bth upon the breeding of the Oaks heroine, Airs and Graces, has led to a further discovery, that this filly is, after all, a figure mare, a No. 5. To Sir George Clifford, who writes from Stoneyhurst under date June 12th, I am indebted for the following infor-

mat-ion:—"There is a difficulty in tracing the pedigree of Airs and Graces without the aid of the fifth edition of Vol. 1 of the Stud Book, which takes her back to Massey's Black Barb mare, the tap-root of the No. 5 family. In this edition the clue otherwise wanting is given by a footnote to the entry of Miss Bell, which reads—'A sister to Miss Bell produced a filly by Highflyer, dam in 1800 of Lady Mary by Beningbrough.' I append the full female descent: — 1 Lady Alwyne by Camballo 2 Florence Aislabie by V. Melbourne 3 Mary Aislabie by Malcolm 4 Mare by Actseon * 5 Beatrice by Blaeklocl*: 6 Royal Oak's dam by Smolensko 7 Ijaay Mary by Beninfbrough 8 Mare by Highflyer 9 Sister to Miss Bell by Marske 10 Mare by Bajazeb 11 Mafe by V. Oartouch 12 Kbony by Childers 13 Old Ebony by Basto 14 Massey's Black Barb mare." Mr Stead makes reference to the subject in a letter elsewhere in this issue. The "Turf, Field and Farm," critically examines the saturation theory which has been propounded by Bruce Lowe in hi_ interesting work ort breeding, and from the fourth volume of the American Stud Book, gives numerous instances of thoroughbred mares bred to trotting sires leaving stud racehorses when bred back to thoroughbreds. In like manner the plan that has been adopted by many breeders, of putting their mares to jack donkeys and breeding mules, has not been found to have had any ill effect upon the after progeny got by either thoroughbreds or trotting sires. The taint of the ass has not been discovered. After devoting two columns to citing cases, the writer concludes with these words :— The influence of previous mating did not trouble Gov. Leland Stanford. The choice thoroughbred mares at Palo Alto were bred in and out as fancy dictated to trotting and thoroughbred stallions. Fannie Lewis, for instance, was sent to the court of Electioneer, Gen. Benton, Nephew, Flood, Monday and Shannon ; and Lizzie Whips received the embrace of Electioneer, Norfolk, Shannon, Flood, Clay and Piedmont. Whips, the son of Electioneer and Lizzie Whips, trotted to a record of 2.27£, and is the sire of Azote, 2.04|. Dame Winnie by Planet out of Liz Mardis by imp. Glencoe, was pretty well saturated with the blood of the trotting stallions Smuggler, Gen. Benton and Electioneer when she was bred to Shannon and produced the racehorse Diavolo. Then she was returned to Electioneer and added to her list of trotters Paola, 2.18, and Altivo, 2.18£. This mare, strictly running bred, haß five trotters in the list, including Palo Alto, 2.08|, to high wheel sulky. If a mare transmitted the taint of an outcross to all succeeding offspring, the cases that we have cited would not exist.' Facts developed in eminently successful and practical schools like Woodburn and Palo Alto do not sustain the theory that all subsequent progeny is influenced by absorption on the part of the dam of alien blood from the stallion. Mr P. Campbell advertises the imported thoroughbred horse Meliboeus for sale, and informs mc that it is his intention to have the horse, who is voted one of the finest specimens of his race in the colony, on view near Christchurch before the end of the present month. Applications have been received for the services of Melibceus from several country districts, and from one a guarantee of forty mares, chiefly halfbreds, would be lodged on behalf of the settlers, if Mr Campbell would decide upon having the horse travelled. That gentleman has, however, concluded to sell, and thus an opportunity presents itself to stud masters in search of a meritorious performer, a prize taker of no mean order in the Old Country, and a promising sire. Meliboeus only reached the colony towards the close of last season, but then covered a few late mares, and has given ample evidence of his foal-getting qualities, one of the best bred of his consorts being a mare by tbe Musket horse, Artillery, from the old mare Madcap, by Malton. I have frequently advocated that the various Clubs throughout the colony, or at least the leading ones, J&puld, before each season commences, meet and decide upon the dates of meetings, and avoid as far as possible the clashing that so often takes place. It should be the aim of every- well-managed Club to so dovetail their meetings as to give •the greatest satisfaction "to tha greatest number "of their patrons, after the interests of the horse-owning portion have been fully considered. It is not always an easy task to accomplish, and sometimes it is found quite impracticable to avoid the overlip*.'**g of dates. The Canterbury Jockey Club's Programme Committee had the subject of dates to engage their attention during the -past week, and while they found no diffiI culfcy about fixing those for the Spring and I Autunin Meetings, the Summer Meeting was the one that gave them most thought. Ultimately it was decided to hold that meeting I nearer the end of February than previously, I thus, while giving the farming community I a better opportunity of getting through with their ha**ve_tir±g and shearing operations, it would fit in well with the Dunedin Autumn Meeting now held well on in Mar—-, ! which it is presumed will be **_ -"-ermaneitt I date, and so leave a fair 'rota a meeting whid— it is thought y m be set down for Christmas time.

What is the""*iongcst time any mare has ever been known to carry a foal? The ''Special Coi_i__issioner"' of the "Sportsman"' in——aces a recent case of a mare called Dcaraat IL, by Pavo, who was bred to The , Owl, going twelve months." three weeks and 1 one day, or 387 days, and adds 'this must c_r__inly- be a recora." The term of gestation is between eleven and twelve months. I have known mares to go less -ban eleven months, and during the past season or two have heard of instances of their going longer than twelve months. There have been recorded cases of mares going longer than the one that has just come under the notice of the writer in the ''Sport-man.'' In one of \*ny books of reference on this subject, in Blame's Cyclopaedia, p. 282, it is recorded that of 582 mares, covered but once, and observed and registered, the __-o**test_pe**iod from copulation to parturition was 287 days, "78 days short of twelve months, the longest 419, or 54 dai*_ beyond the year,thus making _he ext-ao*-diT*__-v difference of 132 days, or four months and 12 days, between the extreme periods of gestation. Whether these cases occiuTed with, thoroughbred stock has not been nude clear. For years past it has been the practice to note all such cases, and ' the American papers have contained frequent refer-—obi on the subject. In one of the __fl__y volumes of the General Stud Book it

is recorded that the Orville mare tfent .12 months and 9 days with one of her ton ' • but whether that Was deemed a revtn-a the time is not stated. It- certainly was in another respect, the foal had no feet. Various reasons areassifi.ned for the small entry for the New Zealand Cup. lam more than ever convinced that the chief reason is the one I gave last week—viz., the scarcity of decent tWo-year-olds ; indeed, the entry is the smallest one of two-year-olds the club have reoeived for years, and perhaps a Worseperformed lot, taken all round, the handicapper never had to deal With. It, however, does not follow that some of them will nob turn out Well as three-year-olds. If the back lists are perused, it will be found that in 1893, When the total entry Was 71, there were no less than 32 three-year-olds entered; in 1894, when 70 was the total, the number was 29; in 1895, when the total fell to 54, there was a corresponding falling off in the entry of the same division, only sixteen being entered ; in 1896 there Were nineteen, when the grand total was sixty-four. For last year's race there Were seventeen, with a total of fifty-nine. This year the total is fifty, and there are but ten colts and fillies of the minimum age admitted to such long contests. A two mile race early in the spring is ad-ibtedly a hard race for any but a first-class three-year-old to win, indeed it is becoming a recognised thing\ amongst owners that it is better to reserve them for shorter distance races. The early short distance classic events, which are increasing, have also come in for more support from owners of younger horses, who haviDg a wider choice of races, naturally find the shorter distances more within their I capabilities. _ t j Owners who are in the habit of nominating horses by wire should take particular notice of the memo in the Canterbury Jockey Club's programme relating to payments and how they must be made. Only entries of those owners and trainers who make speoial; arrangements will be received-unless accom- j panied by the fees. More than one owner nominated for the New Zealand Cup without forwarding the fees, and reminders Were, at once Bent out by the secretary, calling the attention of such owners to the fact that, failing the receipt of the nomination, money, their horses would be liable not to ! be handicapped. The chief object of this rigid adherence to rule, is to save the unpleasantness of using the Forfeit List, j the machinery of which it is desired only to set in motion to make defaulters in connection with the forfeit races pay up. The chairman of the Racing Conference has expressed himself as to what clubs should do in the matter, and the club of which he is an official will continue to set an example. Giving credit tor racing fees has been found a source of very great trouble to many clubs, and though frequently a convenience to nominators, the new rules had to be adopted to protect clubs from being imposed upon, as they frequently have been. An enquiry as to Plain Bill's price, from a would-be purchaser in Christchurch. was met with the reply, £800. This would appear a big sum for the ex-hack, who up to date bas started twenty-eight times, this season winning no less than thirteen races of the total value of over £700. After all £800 is not such a very great deal more than his half-brother, Titokowaru, realised at auction in Melbourne after the Grand National Meeting of 1890, and Plain Bill is well in front of what that gelding was. £800 is much more than any hurdle or crosscountry gelding has ever realised in this colony.

A photograph of Musket Maid, dam of Waiuku and Okoari, taken with a bit of native bush in the background, and in the district after which her son is named, has been sent mc through Mr John Marshall, of Auckland. The photo makes her look much smaller than she really is, but she is in robust health, and one would not take her for a mare going on to her eighteenth year. Mr Marshall says that she has a very fine brown foal by St. Leger running with her, but has unfortunately missed to the same ■'-""•-Von, The foal does not form part oi tue picture, but'l'rom the concerned look of the mare, one can imagine that the young equine is taking a spin round the enclosure on his own account.