NOTES BY PHAETON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8020, 6 August 1887, Page 6

NOTES BY PHAETON.

Like almost every other institution in New Zealand the Auckland Easing Club has felt the depression that now weighs so heavily on the colony, and at the annual meeting of the Ctub on Monday last the statement of accounts showed diminished profits to the ex* tent of £1950 compared with the year previous. That there will be any improvement in this respect during the coming season seems very doubtful—in fact, events are not wanting to show that, unlnes a very great reaction set* in, a etill further decline may be looked for. It therefore behoves the members of committee to well consider the work-before them in the framing of the programmes, and anything approaching tuo ornamental should have the pruning knife applied. Though I ehould not for a moment urge a lopping off of any of the added money given to the Cup, I certainly think that the Derby ehould be reduced to 500 sovs, while several of the other events om

also stand alteration. I»m well aware that several of the members of the committee are against touching the Derby ; but just let them consider what position the Club would be in if the new Legislature should eay "the totalisator must die," or even that the percentageshould be lowered to 5 per cent. I venture to think in thatcase the ootnmittee would find a hard nut to crack in discharging tho liabilities hanging over the club. It is all very well to cite the ease of the Canterbury Jockey Club figuring with » £750 Derby on their programme, but it should at the same time be borne in mind that tho Southern club has a racecourse unincumbered with debt, and a most wealthy membership to back them up, which Auckland has not. I hope therefore that tho committee will carefully consider the position, and though that body ie at all times most conservative in accepting hintH, the exigencies of the period must, I think, suggest to their minds a retrench; ent policy—that in if they have any desire to evor see Elleralie a free racecourse. In referring to the New Zoaland Stnd Company's recent purchase, " Senex," in the Chrietchurch Press, made the following remarks: —" Bnt what about the Importation of Animals Act? Does not that prohibit the importation to Now Zealand of all classes of stock, including horses, from Europe? If 1 remember right, Mr. P. Cainpbell landed lugomar and Coroyre juat before the prohibitory Act came into force; but Mr. DarnpierCrossley was put to a lot of trouble and expense when ho imported his stallion pony Prince Charming, having to keep him on a hulk for some weeks in Lyttelton, and then ship him to Melbourne, and landing him there on the quiet, obtained a clean certificate, and shipped him back to New Zealand as an importation from Australia, and not from Europe, thereby evading tho Act. Tiie same law as in New Zealand is now in force in Australia, eo that no horse can be imported there either from Europe. I remember that a report from a special committee baoltud up by the New Zealand Agricultural and Pastoral Association was presonted to Parliament last session in favour of removing tho restrictions so far as horses were concerned, but the session closed before action was taken in the matter. That tho Act will bo repealed next session so far as to allow the importation of horses there can be little doubt, but I fear it will be too late for the horse to be of any service to the Northern company during the coming eeason, " Our Canterbury friend has evidently been "napping," for if he turns up the New Zealand Gazette, of August 5, ISB6, he will see that the regulations laid down under the Diseased Cattle Act, 1883-4 (that ia so far as relates to the importation of horses), was revoked. In tho Gazette of the same date appears tho regulations to be observed in the importation of horses, and if Major Walmiley has complied with the following rule there need be no fear of Sword Dance being prohibited from landing. The clause reads : — " No inspector shall authorise any horsa being brought by sea from any place beyond the Australasian colonies to bo introduced into New Zealand unless such horse has been examined immediately before shipment by a duly qualified veterinary surgeon, and certified by him to be free from disease; such certificate to bo produced to tho inepector." A letter, signed "A Member of the A.R.C.," has beensentto me for publication, in which the writer in scathing terms deals with the management of the club. It is not hard to discover, however, from the extremely personal tone of his remarks, that the writer is actuated by a feeling of vindic* tivenesa towards the secretary, and therefore I have consigned hie communication to tho waste banket. If ho is a member of the club, as he professes to be, his proper duty was to have put ia an appearance at the annual mooting on Monday last, and there have aired his grievances face to face with those whom ho so roundly abuses. That would have done moro good than columns of " ink slinging" and ho would have found plenty ready to stand by him in letting the light of day in upon the abuses he speaks of. Wagering still continues very dull in Auckland, and backers evince little desire to speculate on either the New Zealand or Australian events. For tho New Zealand Cup, Silence is still quoted at S to 1, and since more satisfactory reports regarding Nelson came to hand, he has shortened to 9 to 1, while 10 to 1 can be had about either Artillery, Maxim, ot Loohiel. A local backer this week accepted 50 to 20 about the winner coming from Mr. Stead's etablo (Loohiel, Maxim, Marion, Count d'Orsay, or Bereaford). Stonyhurst'e half-brother Torrent has been introduced into the betting on the New Zealand Cup, and he has been claimiug a good deal of support iu Cnristchuroh. This colt, who ia by Apremnnt, will be remem bered as starting a hot favourite for the Maiden Plate at the A.R.C. summer meeting last season, when he suffered defeat at the hands of Lady Norah. He is said to have x'rown into a real nice horse, and has lost that flightinese of temper which chameteriaed hia two and three-year-old career. He has 7et 71b allotted to him in the Cup. Nelson'h condition still causes a good deal of anxioty to those who have supported him for tho Now Zealand Cup. The Canterbury Times of lasc week states that he was going a little better in his work, but the correspondent of tho Otago Witness throws a different complexion on matters, for writing to that journal on July 25, he says:—".Nelson moves wofully short in his canters. I hope the old hero is not used up, but he certainly would not find a backer for a hack race on the form he showed in hie work this morning." A friend writing me from Christchurch gays that at present it senme about 10 to 1 about the son of King Cole being sent into hospital when the real hard work has to be undertaken. My readers should therefore for the present leave Major George's horse severely alone, for he is a horse that no light preparation can ever make fit. The fine weather experienced during the present week has enabled the work connected with the tan gallop at Elleralio to be pushed forward rapidly, and by the commencement of next week the track will be ready for the coating of tan. When finished it will be a great boon to trainers, for they have had by no means a rosy time of it of late with their charges. A prominent patron of E. Kelly's stable has, I understand, leased a piece of ground from Mr. Buckland, situate on the main road to Onehunga, and during the present week the team, consisting of Foul Shot, Cinderella, Lady Norah, British Lion, Man Friday, Patchwork, and Huntsman have accomplished their daily tasks there. Mr. Drako's team have all been accomplishing satisfactory tasks at Randwick, and are all reported very well, Pasha being espeoially well forward with his preparation. " Warrior," speaking of the lattor, says :— " Mr. Drake has in Pasha a real jewel, who, if sent on his journey for anything worth potting, will certainly win." My readers must not place too much reliance on our Sydney friend's remarks, for on all occasions he adopts a most positive style in his writings. Though giving him plenty of oredit for his industry, I think that anyone who accepts his line of reasoning has only to play at the gamo long enough to "certainly" go broke. Turf writers, as a rule, are chary of uaing the word " certain," but " Warrior" ia certainly an exception in that respect. The Hon. J. White's champion Trident is reported to bo wonderfully well, and daily puts in rattling work at Uandwiok. This will be good news to the great majority of backers, for ever since he downed Nelson in the Australian Cup ho has been the popular dream for the Melbourne On p. Abercorn was generally regarded as the mofct likely Derby selection of the Sydney Sportsman's numerous string,, but Carlyon (a son of Chester and Moonstone) haa improved in uuoh a wonder-, ful degree during the past oouple of months as to lead many to the conclusion that he will be the hope ot the stable in tho V.R.C. bluo riband, " Warrior," the Sydney correspondent of the Otago Witness, writes of Mr. W. Lyon's pair :—" I was very muoh pleased with the easy manner in whioh Too Soon and Queenio acquitted themselves in a mile and a quarter gallop, in company with the New South Wales bred Figtree. From a casual observation, I certainly prefer Too Moon to Queenie. The firet-named galloped well; no donbt about it. Queenie is not the kind of racehorse to bring to Australia, for I am sorry to say we have too many of the same stamp over here. I consider Too Soon an overgrown colt, but nevertheless the makings of a racehorse." Horse owners and others are notified that nominations for the Canterbury Cup and acceptance) for the Now Zealand Cup are due to-night. Further payments arc also due at the same time on the Derby, Welcome Stakes, and Oaks Stakes. For.the St. Luger Merry Hampton is firet favourite at 1000 to 300, whilo Florentine and Eiridepord are backed at 9 to 1 each,

The Pakuranga hounds having been taken ( to the Waikato, the uaual weekly meet will ■ not take place to-day. By a careless individual leaving a gate open at H. Harrison's place, at Green Lane, Jaat weok, Wapiti got out on to the road, and before he wae again secured had received a good kicking from various horses he met with duriog his rambles. The nnfortunate accident whioh hefel the Two Thousand Guineas winner, Enterprise, just prior to the Derby, has evidently turned out more serious than wae anticipated, as he was struck out of the St. Leger on June 14. It is generally admitted that had Enterprise startod the reault of the blue riband would havo proved him to be a better colt that the winner, Merry Hampton. That was a most amusing bit of repartee which passed between the Duchess of Montrosn and Alec Taylor in the small paddock adjoining the Royal luclosura after Gay Hurmit had won the Royal Hunt Cnp. Shaking his hand with great cordiality, " Mr. Manton" joyfully remarked, " You are a good trainer, Taylor !" To which the latter replied, in his dry John Ball tone, "Yes, when I win !" How different from the little scene which succeeded the defeat of several Btablo favourites at Newmarket on a former occasion, which was equally enjoyed by the bystanders, when Mr. Taylor sank the rank or' his distinguished patroness into plain " Ma'am." The fame of the celebrated Blankaey stallion Hermit is being well maintained by his progeny this eeason, both in England and France, and in the two countries horsec sired by him have already won upwards of £15,000 in stakes. The nnnual sale of the Blankm-y yearling was to be hold at Newmarket in the July week. It was not Mr. Benzon, says " Atlas," the new " Juhiloo plunger," who betted ten "monkeys" twice on Ormonde for the Roue Memorial Stakes, but two yonnesters, who each laid that amount —in o'her words, £5000 to £500—on the winner. Mr. Benzon's luck fluctuated considorahly during the meeting, and though he laid £10,000 to £6000 on Ormonde for the Hardwicke Staken, it did not go far to wipe out his loss of £18,01)0 on tho (lup day. The London Times paid a very high compliment to the Australian ladies and to the Flemington racecourse in its introductory notice of the last Ascot Cap day on June 9. Aftar remarking that tho number of visitors who saw the gold cup won by Bird of Freedom this year was estimated to be tho largest which ever assembled upon the heath, it declares " thero can be no question that, as regards the beauty of the women, the lawns at Aacot present such a spectacle as can be eeen at no othor race meetings in the world, unless it be at Flemington when the Melbourne Cup ie about to ho run for." Watts received a douceur of £1000 for his Derby victory on Merry Hampton,