SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9022, 7 April 1888, Page 6

SPORTING.

■_ «• RACING FIXTURES. April 7—Onehunga Baeteg Club April 7—lsland Bay Jockey Club. April 18,13—Taranaki Jockey Club. April 14—Takapuna, Jockey Club • ' " May 2*—Napier Park Racing Club. May 84, Sβ—Dunedin Jockey Club. June 9—Auckland Rawing Club. June 21—Hawke's Bay Jockey Clttb. DATES OP COMING EVBNTO June B—QrestNorthern Steeplechase ENOU3H. April 11—City and Suburban Handicap Mav 2—Two Thousand Guineas. May 4—One Thousand Guineas. May 80—Epsom Derby. June I—Oaks. June 10—Grand Prix de Paris. September 12.—Doncastef St. Leger. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Penton. —During his career, the late F. Archer won 2,744 races. J.T.—Tβ Whetumarama (ridden by W. Edwards) was first, and Oatch-'em (by Rowlands) second. Manton.—Cinderella tiuished third to Balistaand Fivaoo in the Trial Stakes, run at the A.B.C. Spring Meetieg. Dispute.—ln the first Sydney Cup in which Nelson contested, Cerise and Blue won. Frisco won last year; Nelson fell early in the race. W.—The rule is that the backer must have a start with his first " lee" if the wager is made on the course, otherwise the wager is off. Old Sport.—Cruchfield remained in the Easter Handicap until the time for the acceptances closing (Wednesday, March 28, at eight p.m.). Backer.—lt is certainly cutting matters very fine, but taking into account that we are nearly two hours ahead of Victorian time, St. Odille was in the race at the time the wager was made, and therefore the wager holds good.

THE A.R.C. AUTUMN MEETING.

[BY PHAETON.] The A.R.C. Autumn Meeting turned out, as I anticipated it would, one of the dullest gatherings that has been held at Elleralie for many years past. The attendance on both days was a long way below the average, while the slow business done at the totaiisators showed very plainly that the public pocket is at a low ebb. The two reasons that are popularly assigned for the poor attendance are the great amount of racing that the public have been treated to, and the large charge of 3s 6d charged for train fare and admission to the course. It has been many times urged that the admission to the course should be reduced to one shilling, and that the Railway Department should bring the fare down to a like amount, which would, I feel certain, have the effect of making a large alteration in the attendance. .The stewards are, I understand, fully alive to the importance of this subject, and I have little doubt that if the Government will do their part in lowering the fare, the club will act in a like manner in regard to the admission. There is another question that, I think, should be well weighed in connection with the Autumn gathering, and that is, whether it is wise to persist in fixing the dates for Easter Monday and Tuesday. The Saturday halfholiday is now so widely recognised that I feel sure the club would find ib to their benefit, and also to the convenience of the public, by fixing the opening for that day, and the second day for Easter Monday. It is asking the public too much to make holiday from Friday to Wednesday, and the shopkeepers showed plainly on this occasion that they would not do it; for there was scarcely a place of business closed on Tuesday. And now for a few words as to the racing in the principal events. When the saddling bell rang for the Easter Handicap, Silence appeared to be in a little better favour than Tamora; but I felt satisfied in my own mind that the mare would finish in front of him, though, as I saw Friendship tearing down the straight, with Huxtable in the saddle, tehe question occurred to me whether I had acted wisely in discarding the old mare in preference to her stable mate Tumora. There was no doubt that the latter was the one on which the hopes of the stable rested, and they were very sanguine of the daughter of Musket finishing in front. When the flag went down Tetford commenced to make the pace a docker, and at the halfmile post it looked as if he would never be caught, but Friendship had him in trouble at the turn-in, while Silence, on whom Clifford was hard at work, dropped back beaten. Tamora here came on the scene, and struggling gamely under the whip, got past Silence and Tetford, and was only beaten by a neck, though I am quite satisfied that it could have been a length had it been so desired. The result of the race was another illustration of how deceiving the training work is. Taking that aa a guide, there could be but one opinion, and that was, that Tamora was better than her stable-mate, Friendship ; but with the silk up a very different tale was the result. In the Autumn Handicap, run on the second day, Silence was awarded top weight of 9st 21b, Sextant coming next with 9st, while Tamora had 7st olb opposite her name. In writing my views on the race on the night previous I took the precaution of saying " if Sextant starts I shall look to him to win; but it was quite evident to me as the horses passed the stand the first time that I i should have added another term which has a power of meaning to those engaged in following turf pursuits. As they ran round the back the eon of Robinson Crusoe was lying fully fifteen lengths behind, and not until entering the straight did Huxtable bustle him up, when he made up his ground ' in fine style, and finished alongside Silence (on whom, I may remark, Clifford appeared to be taking it mighty easy), Tamora winning by two lengths. I cannot say whether Sextant was ridden to orders, but if so, the tactics were very unusual when a horse ie supposed to be a trier. After Orangeman's fine display in the Hurdle Race on the previous day, the Steeplechase was considered to be entirely at his mercy, bat the result proved otherwise, and that too without the aid of an accident to help his opponents. As they faced the stone wall bounding the course the last time, it was seen to be all over with the favourite, for Magnesia was coming on full of running, while Rae was riding Orangeman desperately. "Magnesia ! Magnesia wins !" was the cry as they entered the straight, but it was all too soon, for at the last hurdle old Huntsman came on the scene, and catching the fainthearted daughter of Anteros at the last hurdle the latter at once collapsed, and Huntsman, taking his punishment like a real game ,'un, ran home a winner by a length and a half in front of his stable companion, while Orangeman was close up third. The jumping throughout was capital, and the contest may be numbered amongst the most exciting that has ever been fought out over the Ellerslie course. Both Huntsman and Magnesia were in great heart, while Orangeman could not nave been better. It was the hilly country that settled the letter's chance, and this Rae freely acknowledged. Magnesia ran very kindly, but as usual she shirked a close finish. Of course there were some who could see faults in the manner in which Rae handled the favourite, but I certainly failed to detect anything that could have altered the result, and to me Rae appeared to handle his horse with the greatest judgment. Taken altogether, the racing was of a capital character, and had it nob been for the little episode in connection with the Autumn Handicap everything : would have passed off well. The manage- \ ment of the meeting was good throughout, for which Mr. Percival may take much credit. C The total amount paid away in stakes I was £2041 lie against £2248 in the prei vious year, i It is pleasing to find such a good sportsman a 9 Mr. W. Somerville Reading the'list'as a winner, Hilda's and Batistas victories bringing his cheque up to the respectable amount of £514 18s. Friendship s and Tamora'e first and second for the Easter Handicap, and the letter's victory in the Autumn Handicap had the effect of placing Mr. G. Wright second on the list with £363 17s, while Sextant's win in the St. Leger gave Mr- Stead third place with a total of £349 12s. The receipts from the totaiisators were, I understand, some £3000 below those of last year ; so that for the first time for many years the club will have to face a deficit on the meeting. The winning mounts were very evenly distributed during the two days. George Hope was at the top of the list with three wins gained on Cinderella in the Tradesman's Handicap Flying Stakes, and Shorts Handicap: T. Taylor scored two wine in the Champagne Stakes and Ellerslie Handicap on Hilda, and J. Huxtable had I a like number to hie credit, gained by I the aid of Sextant) in th« Sb Leger and

Friendship in the Easter Handicap, while W. Katterns steered Balista to viotory in the Stewards' Handicap, and Tamora in the Autumn Handicap. J. Rae scored a win on Orangeman in the Hurdle Race, and S. Fergus was the pilot of Huntsman in the Steeplechase, while T. O'Meara had the honour of treating us to the "boil over" of tile meeting by steering Contractor to vietory in the Selling Race. George Wright was the most successful trainer, his team, winning £878. Hilda won the Champagne Stakes, Friendship and Tamora finished first and second in the Easter Handicap, Balista won the Stewards' Handicap, Tamora the Autumn Handicap, and Hilda put the finishing touch to the picture by annexing the Nursery Handicap.

A VISIT TO WAPITI.

[BY PHAETON,] A couple of weeks back the pleasant duty devolved upon me of chronicling the addition of two highly bred mares, with their foals, to our list of thoroughbreds, and Saturday last found me at " Wapiti," the estate of their owner, Major George, seeking an interview with the new arrivals. I iound the Major at home, and making known the object of my visit, he accompanied me to the paddocks. My first interview wae with two old acquaintances in Tenambra (by the Marquis—Lady Manners Sutton), and Florence (by Papapa— Marchioness), both of whom were followed by a chestnut filly, the result of a union with King Cole. Both are very handsome foals, showing heaps of quality, and if there is anything in the old saying of " a lot of the ultimate goodness goes in at the mouth," then these two young ladies should certainly distinguish themselves when the time arrives for them to be saddled up, tor the paddock in which they were enclosed was of the richest pasture, and in order that they might have all the benefit to be derived fr,om their dams, Major George decided not to breed from the latter this year. Though Tenambra has been most fruitful, her progeny has been singularly unfortunate, three dying, while her two-year-old son Raglan managed to put one of his hips down recently, and her yearling eon by Ingomar hurt himself so badly that he is not likely to race. I trust that a better fate awaits her filly by King Cole, for she is a youngster of much promise. Crossing to another rich clover paddock I found the main objects of my visit—Memphis and The Maid—with their foals by First King and St. Albans. Both are certainty grand-looking mares, showing heaps of quality all over, while a consideration of their breeding reveals that the families from which they spring are some of the brightest gems of the Stud Book. The Maid is a grand-looking brown mare by King of the Ring from Maid of All Work, By King Alfred from Mischief, by the Premier—Maid of the Mill, by Rory O'More. On both sides this mare is full of most fashionable and winning blood, for her sire, King of the Ring, was got by Ace of Clubs (a son of Stockwell) from Irish Queen, by Harkaway (a son of King Tom); and he has sired some of the best horses that ever graced the Australian turf, notably the Australian Cup and Champion winner, First King ; while wo find that her grand-dam, Mischief, was the dam also of First King and Petrea, who each had a big record as winners. Memphis is a chestnut mare got by Gang Forward (a son of Stockwell) from Palmyra by South Australian— Zenobia, by Kingston—Palma, by Plenipotentiary. Like her companion, she is a great, fine mare, and there can be no question of Major George having secured two real gems. The Maid has a brown filly by St. Albans, while Memphis was followed by a chestnut colt by Firpt King, both of which are very promising youngsters. The Maid was last season mated with Robinson Crusoe, while First King was again selected for Memphis; and, as both appear to be in foal, Major George's speculation has every prospect of bearing good fruit. While we stood admiring Memphis, Major George recounted an interesting little story concerning the mare's withdrawal from the turf, which shows how very careful persons should be regarding a horse's age. The mare, it appears, had won a couple of good handicaps, and was so nicely weighted in two or three others that her owner considered that he had a couple of " dead birds" on hand. He was letting an acquaintance into the little secret, when the latter remarked, " Let me see, Memphis— she's a four-year-old by Gang Forward." "No, three-year-old," said the owner. But the acquaintance was proof positive on the point, tor he had been at Sir Thomas Elder's when the filly was foaled ; and an examination proved that the mare was really four years old, and bad been raced as only three. It was therefore deemed advisable not to again race Memphis, and she was forthwith sent to the stud. Making our way back to the stables I was introduced to a chestnut filly by Ingomar out of Florence, who was just recovering from an attack of strangles, and a little further on we came to the yearling eon of Ingomar and Tenambra, who had also been in trouble, by putting one of his hips down, and ricking his back, while undergoing an operation with the knife. It is a great pity that the colt met with these injuries, for he was apparently a youngster of much promise. Clive, the two-year-old son of Cap-a-pie and Florence, was enjoying his otium cum dig. in front of the atables, and, judging from the gyrations he was performing he appears to be again quite sound. Our next interview was with Raglan, the two-year-old son of Cap-a-Eie and Tenambra, who I was informed ad managed to put one of hie hips down. How the mishap occurred is a mystery, for the box in which he was enclosed was without a projection all round, and the extraordinary part of the matter is that Hodson, hie trainer, had looked at him but an hour previously, when he was quite right. Though, of course, the accident may not compel Raglan's withdrawal from the turf, for we have before seen instances where hipped horses have distinguished themselves, the mishap at the present time is to be regretted, for the work he had been accomplishing on the track made his trainer very hopeful of his chance in the Champagne Stakes, and other two-year-old contests. My last interview was with " the pick of the stable, the show of the shop "— to wit, old Nelson. The grand old fellow came to the door of his box to receive our careeses, with his eyes sparkling with all their old fire, and as I looked at his legs, and failed to detect any unsoundness, I could not help thinking that he may once again be found equal to the task of winning an Auckland Cup when that event next comes up for deoision. The old chestnut is without doubt a perfect wonder to have withstood the great amount of work he has been treated to without cracking, and I may remark that during his career he has, apart from his training work, traversed over 100 miles in the several races which he has contested. Preparatory to receiving a mild blistering, Nelson had been treated to a dose of physic, of which Major George informed me the old fellow has a great horror, and, therefore, his clothing was not removed ; but he appeared to be in the best of health. An adjournment to the Major's cosy smoking-room was then made, where I saw a beautifully executed and faithful likeness of Nelson, i from the atelier of Mr. G. F. Forder, of Dunedin. The old chestnut is depicted in all his war paint, and, apart altogether from its faithfulness, Major George informed me that the picture came in for a good deal of praise as a work of art, from critics at the Indian and Colonial Exhibition. This brought my visit to a close, ! and thanking; Major George for his courtesy, j I made my way back to town well pleased with the afternoon I had spent with the Wapiti stud. ONEHUNGA RACES. The Onehunga Racing Club will hold their first meeting on the new course at Epsom this afternoon, and should the weather prove propitious, the success of the gathering is pretty well assured. The Tramway Company have spared no expense in improving the ground, with the result that the course will be one of the best appointed, in the district. A neat grand-stand, capable of accommodating 1000 persons, is fast approaching completion, and will be available for occupation to-day. The cloee proximity of the course to town will do much to bring this meeting into popularity with turfites, and as the tram fare has been 1 fixed at sixpence, no grumbling can take place on the head of exorbitant charges. The whole strength of the Tramway Company's establishment will be brought into requisition to-day, and trams will leave I town for the course every five minutes beI tween noon and one p.m. .

The following are the acceptances and entries in connection with the various events :— • , Tramway Handicap.—Tamora, Bet 121b } Mies Alice, 6st 131b; Lioness, 6st 121b j Capella, 6st 101b; Eruption, 6st 71b; Maratfcu,6st 71b; Earneßt.Sst 71b; The Cat, 6st 51b; Briseis, 6st. Hurdles.—Peter Osbeck, list 21b; Orangeman, list 21b; Ma Petite Pille, 9st 31b} Recruit, Bst 121b; Wideawake, Bst 121b: Holly, Set 121b; Gaeelle, Bst 101b; Don, Sat 71b. Pont Rack, f mile.—Mayflower, Bst 81b; Elsie, Bet; Firefly, 7et 101b; Little Minnie, 7et; Fanny Fisher, 6st 71b; Flora, 6st 71b; Little Mary, 6et 71b. Flying Stakes, 5 furlongs.—Formo, Bst 51b; Capella, 7st 121b; Catesby, 7st 121b; Green Mount, 7et 71b; Artist, 7st 101b; Lady Alice, 7at; Boomerang, 7et; Earnest, Gat 71b; Brown Rose, 6st 71b. Novel Race. — Madimese, Contractor, Little Jessie, I. O.U. .Boomerang, Deception. Selling Race. — Keproach, 50sovs ; On Guard, nil; Contractor, nil; Capella, SObovb ; Squire, 50sovs. Selling Hurdles.—Wideawake, Fairplay. Peter Osbeck or Orangeman should, I think, furnish the winner of the Hurdle Race; while Tamora or Lioness may win the Tramway Handicap. The Flying Stakes looks very opert, but whatever beats Formo should, 1 think, win. NOTES BY PHAETON. Turfites will hear with regret that the Hon. Mr. Mitoheleon has definitely decided on retiring from the turf. During the time Mr. Mitchelson has been racing he has certainly had to put up with very hard luck, which is to be regretted, for he is one of the few horse-ownera who race, out of pure love for the sporty The Musket—Mersey oolt Carbine has certainly shown himself to be one of the best two-year-olds seen out for many years, for never once has he tasted defeat. Hβ opened his career at Plumptqn Park (Canterbury) in December last, when he won the Two-year-old Flutter; the Middle Park Plate at Riccarton again saw him in the winning vein, and a little later on he won the Champagne Stakes at Forbury, while at J Riccarton on Monday and Tuesday last he won both the Champagne and Challenge Stakes in first-class etyle. Prior to the Dunedin meeting Mr. O'Brien was asked from Victoria to name a price for the colfc, but the figure being a longer one than anticipated, no business resulted. Wβ may, I think, expect to hear of Mr. O'Brien receiving an offer for the son of Musket from the same quarter before long, but though that gentleman is always willing to make a deal (at his own price), he may not now entertain the question, as, having parted with Gipsy King and Sextant to Mr. Stead, Carbine is the only horse of any note which he possesses. . Old Huntsman, who proved equal to the task of winning the Autumn Steeplechase at Ellerslie on Tuesday last, was put up to auction in November last, when J. Rae, the well-known jockey, purchased him for £25, but sold him a day or two after for an advance of a " fiver," to a 'bus proprietor, and it was generally understood that his racing days were over, but it turned out otherwise. The old 'chaser was turned out in a paddock at Kohimarama, where the veteran James Kean espied him, and looking up his owner, inquired what price he wanted for him. £30 was the heure mentioned, and the horse went to Kohimarama, from whence he issued forth in January last and won the Selling Steeplechase at the Plumpton Park Meeting, after which he was beaten a neck by Fair Play for the Selling Steeplechase at Takapuna. The manner in which the old fellow acquitted himself on Tuesday shows that he is a much better horse thnn people were inclined to give him credit for, and Kean may be reckoned to have secured a great bargain when he invested £30 in his purchase. Trenton's brother Cuirassier has not up to the present fulfilled the great opinion formed of him, and his display in the Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie, on Monday, wae poor in the extreme. When it came to real racing, he was soon done with, and he could not even gain a place. That he will improve with age is, of course, the general opinion, but when we look back at what a "fizzer Trenton was at the same age, and he was nearly as big, not a few hold to the belief that Cuirassier is much below his illustrious brother. For the sake of his owners, I trust that the colt may turn out a good one, for they are made of the right sort of stuff to own a tip-topper. Among the visitors to Ellerslie on Tuesday was an old Aucklander, in the person of Mr. George Ellis, who has been located in Napier for the past six or seven years. In conversation with Mr. Ellis on turf matters, he informed me that in Napier the same cry as in Auckland, of too much racing was being raised, and that unless there is a very great diminution in the number of meetings, it will take the metropolitan clubs all their time to save the totalisator from being awept away. From what has since transpired, there seems to be good reason for believing that there was a little laying of heads together over the Autumn Handicap, run at Ellerslie on Tuesday last, and that three of the contestants were running in together. That one of the number was as dead as the proverbial door-nail I feel sure, while there seems only too good reason to believe that one of the others (who is regarded as one of the most notorious dead 'une that periodically figures on the New Zealand turf) was sent out on a shepherding expedition. The victories gained by Mr. W. Somerville'e two fillies, Hilda and Balista, at the A.R.C. meeting on Monday and Tuesday last were certainly well merited, for few men in this colony have done more in fostering the sport and breeding the thoroughbred than the gentleman in question. So long as Ellerslie exists the victory of " amber and black" will, I make bold to say, always be hailed with delight, and I trust that the victories of Hilda and Balista are but the forerunners of many to follow. Messrs. Hunter and Nolan have received instructions to offer the following thoroughbred stallions by auction on Friday next: —Turquoise, by Tubal Cain — Topaz; Derringer, by Musket—Rosalie j Howitzer, by Musket—Titania; and Cannon, by Musket—Maid of Athol. As the whole of the lots are for positive sale, an excellent opportunity will be given of picking up cheap horses. Trenton and Niag&ra'were submitted to auction in Sydney last week, when the former brought 700 guineas, and the latter 435 guineas. We have not been told who the purchasers were; but I should not be surprised to hear that Trenton has gone to adorn Mr. Andrew Town's stud, at Hobartville, for it has been stated that he was most anxious to secure the son of Mueket. 700 guineas was well within ■ Trenton's value, and I fancy that had his breeder, Mr. T. Morrin been present, a longer price would have been placed opposite his name. The two-year-old colt Hotchkiss (by Musket—Petroleuse) who is still located at Sylvia Park, is growing into a strapping, fine horse, and may be expected to be heard of next season. In the early spring this colt was the stable companion of Hilda, who won tho Champagne Stakes and Ellerslie Handicap at the A.R.C. Meeting this week, and he more than once downed the daughter of Musket and Ouida in their early work. As the colt was much overgrown, it was wisely decided not to hurry him, and he was therefore sent back to the park to mature. The Hon. J. White's flying filly, Volley, met her match at Randwick on Saturday last, when she was beaten in the Trial Stakes by Bonnie Spec, a daughter of Goldsborough. Volley, however, was again found equal to the task of winning on the second and third days, when the Champagne Stakes and Foal Stakes both fell an easy prey to her. With such a weak field opposed to them the Sydney Cup was reckoned a real good thing for the Hon. Mr. White's representatives, Carlyon and Acme, but for the sixth year in succession the favourite division were silenced, Mr. Gannon's three-year-oldl, Australian Peer, who had Bst 61b in the saddle, furnishing the winner, Algerian (Bst 21b) being second, with Acme (Bst 8lb) third. The field that went t6 the post was one of the weakest seen out for years, which waa generally attributed to the un fairness of the handicap. Carlyon started favourite, but we are told broke down badlj during the race, and finished last. The son of Chester has always been more or lesi unsound, his ailment being due to th< tender nature of his feet. The progeny of St. Albans are, as a rule, not precocious youngsters, but Mr. Cooper's filly, Lady Betty, who is a two-year-old daughter of the Blair Athol horse, is cer tainly an exception to the rule, for she ha: proved herself to be one of the smartesi youngsters seen out this season. At Rand wick, on Thursday, the daughter of St

Albans was pulled out against the mighty Cranbrook in the All-aged Stakes, which is run over a mile under weight-for-age conditions, when she succeeded in clipping his wings. This was certainly a performance of great excellence, for a consideration of the time showed that the distance had been cut out in lmin 43sec, which is proof positive that there was no loitering on the road. Lady Betty is engaged in all the good things of next season, and as she is bred the right way to stay, she may take some beating in the A.J.C. and V.R.C. Derbies. The present season will long be remembered for the excellence of the three-year-old division, and the contradiction of form that took place in its ranks. In the early spring, Abercorn was the great gun, and the manner in which he downed both Niagara and Australian Peer in the A. J.C. Derby seemed to point to his being able to accomplish a like deed in the V.R.C. blue riband, but here Australian Peer proved his superiority, and a little later on he administered another crushing defeat to the son of Chester in the Canterbury Plate, run under weight for age. In the autumn, however, it was again Abercom's turn, and he furnished the winner of the V.R.C. St. Leger, in which race he easily beat the eon of Darebin. The A. J.C. Leger, run on Saturday last, had a like result, but after Australian Peer had annexed the Sydney Cup with Bst 61b in the saddle, he came out on the following day and downed his oid opponent Abercorn in the Cumberland Stakes, which event is run under weight-for-age conditions over two miles. In the face of these contradictions in form it is really hard to say which of these two colts is entitled to be considered the three-year-old of the season. On the second day of the Australian Jockey Club's Meeting at Randwick, old Mitrailleuse won the Flying Handicap, six furlongs, beating fourteen others in the good time of lmin 16Jsec. Mr. J. Marshall's filly Pearl Shell was given an opportunity of distinguishing herself at the A. J.C. meeting on Monday and Thursday last, when she finished third to Volley and Lady Betty for the Champagne Stakes, and second to Volley in the Foal Stakes. The cause of Escutcheon's withdrawal from the Great Northern St. Leger was owing to his having contracted a severe cold while on the passage from Sydney to Auckland. After going to the expense and trouble of bringing the colt over from Victoria, the Hon. Mr. Mitehelson was robbed of the pleasure of seeing his colt measure strides with Sextant. A Canterbury friend writing me says : — " Gipsy King is undoubtedly a great horse, but alaxim would give him 71b over any distance, and Sextant would, I think, beat the pair at weight for age over a mile, all fit and going. Wouldn't the public turn out to see such a race, and this would probably be the betting : 3 to 1 on Maxim, 3 to 1 against Gipsy King, and 6 to 1 against Sextant."*' At Orange (New South Wales) recently the once much-thought-of Krupp distinguished himself by winning the Opening Handicap and the Town Plate. Krupp, who is by Musket out of Pungawerewere, is therefore a full brother to Tetford and Brigadier, all three being bred by Mr. Thomas Morrin. Silver Prince, by Anteros from Sylvia, has once more been taken in hand. Since coming into Mr. F. F. Dakin's hands the New Zealarider has been singularly unfortunate. When running in the paddock Silver Prince struck his leg, and was as a consequence obliged to take enforced leave from the training track, upon which the chestnut executed such wonderfully fast galops when the property of the Hon. W. Robinson. Mr. J. H. Walsh (" Stonehenge "), editor of the Field, died last month at the ripe old age of 78 years, writes an English exchange. Mr. Walsh, who was a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, practised as a medical man in Worcestershire until 1852, when he quitted the provinces for the metropolis, and subseqxiently spent some time abroad. Hβ ultimately settled in London, and devoted himself to literature as a profession in 1855. Mr. R. H. Fry, one of the prominent members of the English betting ring, has been giving a client some idea of the extent of a big bookmaker's business. The customer asked whether Mr. Fry made any bad debts, and the penciller expressed himself as very well satisfied. Naturally he had some bad debts, some of wbjch he did not expect would ever be made good ; but on the whole, he thought the proportion of these was very reasonable. " I am curious to know, if it's not asking an injudicious question, what amount you have on your books ; but I don't want to be indiscreet in asking," the customer said. " Oh, there's no reason to be secret about it," Fry rejoined ; " and of course I make up my book at the end of the year. My bad debts are just over three hundred thousand pounds." " Three hundred thousand pounds !" the customer exclaimed, " and don't think that much!" " Well, it's a good deal of money looked at one way, no doubt," the bookmaker quietly answered; " but I don't think it is at all a large proportion. You see, some of my cuetomere bet in heavy sums. Ido a big starting-price business as well as what I do on the course, and, taking all the season through, my turn-over is not short of £50,000 a-week. If you compare the bad debts I mentioned with these figures you'll see that the average is small, for I've been betting now for a good many years." It would have been going too far to ask Mr. Fry how much of the weekly £50,000 he was accustomed to bank; but it will be perceived that bookmaking is not a bad game—from which it may also be inferred that as a rule backing horses is. Lady Florin (by Musket—Florin) is in the sale list. Last year this filly was purohased in Auckland by a Napier sport for £500. Mr. T. D. Halstead, the well-known " vet," contemplates leaving for Sydney at an early date. The annual meeting of shareholders in the Plumpton Park Coursing Company, is to be held on the 20th inst., at Kidd's Commercial Hotel. It has been calculated that a backer of first favourites, with a ten pound stake on each race, would, during the last English racing season, have won £96. The three-year-old colt Moorhouse was shipped from Victoria last week for India. It is said that the price paid for the son of Moorthorpe was £1000. According to latest accounts, the six horses purcnased by Lord Hindlip in Australia have reached England safely, after a splendid trip in the Riverina. They are looked upon as a fine upstanding lot, and it will be interesting to see how they shape in the hunting field. The Hon. Mr. Mitchelson's colt Tranter, who was badly injured while running in the last Melbourne Cup, is now able to take walking exercise in the vicinity of his box. His on hind leg shows unmistakeable signs of recent blistering, and it will be some time before this grand-looking son of Musket attempts another preparation. A match came off on the Sydney agricultural grounds recently, horses v. bicycles, 20 miles, £50 a-side, and was won by the horses by two miles. Time, 1 hour 17 minutes 50 seconds. W. B. Warner, of was the equestrian, and G. Wyburd and D. Libeau, the bicyclists. Friar's Balsam almost touched 2 to 1 for the English Derby at the end of February, and evens are betted on him for the Two Thousand Guineas. Ayrshire is second favourite for the Derby at 8 to 1. The well-known Shrewsbury (England) racecourse was submitted to public auction on February 10, and was knocked down to the bid of £12,000. The estate consists of 55 acres of freehold land and about 5 acres of leasehold, used for straight mile. A horee belonging to the Prince of Wales has been backed to win the Derby. Loyalist's achievements, however, up to date do not go beyond trials. Since the Prince of Wales blossomed out as an owner his successes have been few, and his disappoints ments many.