MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7002, 26 April 1884, Page 6

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

The Waitara Jockey Club intend to hold a steeplechase meeting on the Qaosn's Birthday. 1 ' - ■ -~"■'■■, The owner of Mineral Water, this, years winDer of the Waterloo Cup, won'£Booo by the dag's victory. "••■-, The reason of Off Colour's withdrawal from his A. J .C. engagements was on account of his having split a hoof. Mischief broke down while running in the Great Autumn Handicap, ■ but Martin expects to be able to patch her up again. ' Fitz-Hercules pulled up lame after the race for. the Papakura Cup, but his trainer informs me that it is nothing very serious. Mr. P. Butler has parted with the disappointing: Emir Bey to Mr. Roddick, of West Clive, Hawke's Bay, for ISO guineas. -King's Own, the , promising colt who ran second to lolanthe for the last Maribyrnong Plate, has been taken out of work, and will be reserved for the J)erby. .■'..,. The Hon. James' White "laid the heavy odds of 5000 to 1000 an his colt Salvo for the Maiden Plate run at Randwiok recently, which the colt won with ridiculous ease. Mr.. Stead has disposed of Trenton to Mr. Dan O'Brien, the price paid for the son of Musket being, it is stated, 950 guineas. Sir Thomas Elder's colt Guesswork, who ran such a great race with Commotion for the Champion Stakes in 1883, got cast in his box recently, and was a good deal hurt. Sir Modred (Btt lOlbs) is reckoned to have a big say in the rich Adelaide Uup. The ton of Traduoer, however, is under suspicion of lameness, and grave doubts are expressed as to whether he can stand another severe winding-up. . It is said that Count Tasselo Festetics was anxious to buy all Lord Falmouth's horses in training by private treaty; but, having advertised a public sale, Bis .Lordship was reluctant, .to withdraw them from open competition. The Viotorian jockey Power was riding Martini-Henry when he fell in the Sydney Cup, and besides being a good deal shaken, had his shoulder-blade broken, while strange to say, Hal's who was riding Morpeth, escaped almost without a scratch, and was able to take part in the very next race. What may happen to a man in Viotoria has received a true illustration (remarks a Melbourne weekly) in the faot that Tom Henderson, once the prince of Australian horsemen, may be seen almost any evening selling newspapers in Boarke-atreet. It does seem a thousand pities that so accomplished an artist should have to thank himself for his misfortune.

_ Does it pay to keep and run racehorses ? is a question often asked. The most frequent answer is, that it is always a losing game. English sporting writers draw attention to the fact that Mr. Merry, notwithstanding his great sucoesess, was a heavy loser. Lord Falmouth, the biggest winner of public money for years, who never betted, has retired from the turf, and is said to have found the amusement very costly. The Globs says :—" It is reported that the French authorities, aroused by the complaints of persons who hava been swindled by betting agents in Paris, have decided to suppress the agenoies, which have again commenced business in the capital, principally in the Rue du Qaatre Septembre, and whioh are daily beooming more numerous. A raid upon them is anticipated, and several bookmakers have decamped, daring the present week.". The largest racing establishment in England ia the Duke of Hamilton's, in charge of Riohard Marsh, consisting of 50 head, of which 22 are two year-olds. The next largest is that of Cord Rosebery, in charge of Joseph Cannon, and consisting of 33 head.. In France the Duke] de Castries has 49 head, in charge of Tom Carter. Mr. H. Jennings has 38; Mr. H. Delamarre,'S4 ; Baron G. de Rothschild. 38 ; Count de Jeune and d'Arenberg,- 47.