SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8306, 12 July 1890, Page 6

SPORTING.

TO RACING CLUBS. The ArcKLvtD Weekly News has been appointthe Oficixl CAleirfar for the pnblksUifin of all proin the ProrincKl Ihslrict of Aocklajid, In knss of the new rules of racing. In order to secure a<hterti*«Ti>ente being inserted in the page allotted to " The Spc>rtMrun," it is necessary that they be* wnt in by Wednesday afternoon. Extract.] Rl-lk IT.— prc*:niiiiiDe of e*ch meeting in which the added money is £KO or up<rards. must he adTt-rtL'K-il in full once at J?---»-t in the Official Calendar. Tt«f adr«tt*«?inent .shall show thai the pn«ruiinie h-v< tvM-n approved by the Jockey Club, .-hall state ih* dare on which she meeting is to be-cin »n.l end, an.l the named of the stewards, iuUge, «art«, derk of the scales, an*] haidic»j^)er. RACING FIXTUKK.-n Sew Zealand. July 12—Wellington }U*-irii; Club. July H— Canter bury Jockey Club. DAI OF COMING EVENTS. July 12—Victor!» (;nu:<i National Hurdle Race, July —Victoria GranU Naviooal Sieeplcchase. July 24—New //fieJ*»d Grand Nation*] Steeplechase t>ept«mbet 10— Doncz.<f:T St. Leper. ANSWERS TO CORRBSPOXDEXTS. Tit. Mount Wen.—Welcome J...-V carried IMb v,; ; . n he U-.it Carbineer l<*t *lb) in the A.R.C. Hai>ii«p, at Kllentlte, on New Year a I>;iy. l>^. S.ll. Waiuku.—Sijtievi contested serend race* for eallonay*. in Sydney. We have never heard of him \x\na lii.xjuaiiCf i fer Kins tiverhficht. Tllixis.-1. Nr!*jii tiJni>t»t«t (■■r the Auckland Cup when three yean oM. i Lil«eller i>t-v-r won that r.i'-e. He ri'n thinl to Salvage and Tim WhifSerin Ins'.. J 1)., Tlia:i:tfs.—The 'u'e reUtinz to declarations to win » ,- abjii.«he»l several ye.\rs aqo in the color:i..-<. If :iu owner starts two hi-t>t.- he Ls supposed '.<■ rice them !->!h out. Novici. — "Chance r.n i Luck," by the U:e R. A. Proctor, will pi'e y..u 4 Miluli.n oi oueries 1 and i X Miiler'.< Uiiiiie, j.n!>!i>hed in Mcllwurne, coMt.tiru the reCiT'l.*you r.-o:;i:r. W.i.;.5.. iM-rnville — In I---. C*imroot:on ran weond in the Oumpi"n It».:e; in IS>3 he »in in ;>>» he ran thir l ; in !>v> lie won it. In I>M he nn third in 'he Melbourne Cup, cArrjinjlOist lib; and in Is-5 h-* ran —rr-nl. carrying ■-»! 1-H>. The time* for hi* two Ch.Mnpiv>n vicu>ries were, rvspi-c. th'ely, rniin iti.-i.-c and Main •_'••.>•--:. He won t77i.«.i in ?:.ike^. AQUATICS. OiTKIWER, Thames. — The trw>:- of the St-irie-Stan bur* rice iii the PanamlU River »•.*< 1 Sin in : 'j—v. Th. : is the recun! for Australian scullUig. -•x-.irJL- only won by a few lengths. NOTES BY PHAETON. THE NEW ZEALAND CVP. So very Htrle early watering now takes place over New Zealand races that the handicaps for the principal races are not so keenly criticised as they use*! to be before the totalisator became such a power in the land : but the general opinion in connection with the New Zealand Cup handicap is on the hole complimentary to the C J.C. Committee. In commencing their work at the reasonable weight of I»st b"!b, which they awarded to Tirailleur, the committee have shown .rood judgment, for they have iriven Mr. < io] Lin's colt a fair show, and not &s in too many cases safely anchoring the top weicht in order to benefit the ii.-at weighted division. I have a ;jre.»i resj-ect for the son of Musket chance, and once it is known for certain that he is to fulfil his I fancy that he will bt; found occupying a ptorninent pi. ice in the quotations. Merrie Kni:larid tl'st 21 bi _--»li'.>;i»i-d his mile and a-half in the fireat Autumn Handicap with only lib less in the saddle like a perfect tradesman, and he cannot therefore be left out of calculations. Occident (Sst 131b) has been a very consistent four-year-old, and he must be" accounted favourably treate<l. Scots Grey ("vst 1-ib), I don't fancy ; but if Dudu '>«t 91b') could be laiide-1 at the post in her bi-st form she should have a show. Mares are, however, very uncertain in the spring of the year, and I shall not recommend Dudu to my readers. Recluse and Radian, who are both on the Sst mark, would, I think, have a show, but they are both in bad health, and according t-> present appearance can I*.* safely left out of calculations. Medallion and St. Andrew have each been awarded 7st lUlb a weight that should not trouble them. Of the pair I prtfei Medallion, for fw a two-year-old he showed himself capable of getting to the end of a mile ami a-<juarter at Fk'iuin,'t'jn in the clinking time of '2m. !• -. .Should the son of Nordenfeldt and Locket develope into the promising three-year-old that so many predict, he should have a deal to say in the settlement of the question. Jet <I"Ehu (Tst Tib:- is thought by some to be well in, but I am not one of the admirers of the .-on of Cadou'an. for I hold the opinion, after seeing him at Ellerslie last December, that he is a much over-estimated animal. I am bound to admit, however, that more than one good cautioned me never to allow the '_-.iy chestnut to slip through my lingers, for when thoroughly well he is held to be a very smart customer. Wolverine ('>.>: 111b) has travelled down the li.st very rapidly, and it is just a question whether the committee have acted rightly in turning the son of Le Louji loose with sucii an impost. I remember discussing the contest for the C..J.C. Derby of 1888 with a well-known southerner who is on all hands held to be one of the soundest judges of racing in New Zealand, and when I sav that he could not make up his mind as to which would be the best four-year-old—Manion, Chainshot, Wolveriiif,, or Cuirassier — it i 8 very plain that Wolverine must have been a colt of some merit. Strephon is nicely treated with Gst yib, but the son of Inborn \.r is generally held to be a non-stayer. Amongst those "lower down the list, Reprisal (fet 41b) meets the eye as one likely to be dangerous. Since being under Harrison's care the little son of First has improved wonderfully, and as he has on two occasions shown himself to be endowed with pace lie may repay watching. Ot the others I have no fancy, and to pick two out my choice falls on Tirailleur and Medallion. THE V.R.C. WINTER MEETIMJ. The above gathering.', which opens to-day at Flemington, does not as a rule excite much interest in New Zealand, but the fact of several representatives from Maoriland bein/ engaged on the present occasion in the ; various events has had the effect of cauein;; an alteration in matters. The bi^ , event of to-day is of course the Grand National Hurdle Race, for which there seems every prospect of a splendid field u'oin;' to the liost. ! The locally-owned Donald was decidedly well treated with 9st .'Jibs, but a cold that he i contracted while on the voyage across lip..s ; interfered somewhat with his preparation, and the stable are not at all hopeful of his chance. At last advices Tradition ilJ.st 01b) and Hedleap (list lOlbs) were (inn favourites, while the erst New Zealander Lochiel (liist ■Jibs) was also in a prominent place. The lightly weighted General (Joidon (0-it) meet* the eye .T.s likely to play a prominent part in the contest, and I am advised from a reliable Victorian quarter to name him to win. On the Saturday following the Grand National Steeplechase will be brought up for decision, for which event the Ballarat representative Husaco (list 'Jlii) is favourite. From a private letter received during tin; present week from a friend at present in Victoria, 1 gather that Rae'.s representative, Titokowaru, is in great nick, and that he may be relied upon to run a great race for first honours. in hi« schooling work at Caulrield I am told that the son of f)ilke has acquitted himself most satisfactorily, and the weight (list 91b) allotted to him being a reasonable impost I must rank myself with those who consider that he possesses a chance second to none. THE MELBOURNE CCP. Commenting on the weights for the Melbourne Cup, " Asmodeus" in the Leader says : — To sum up probabilities, I am unable to discover anything 'sticking out'as Bravo did last year. As a rule, on the appearance of the Cup weights I have selected about a dozen of those I have considered most favourably handicapped as being likely to provide the winner. Last year,-as 1 said before, the ta*k of selection was simplified by the favourable treatment of Bravo, but on the present occasion it would be a sanguine man who endeavoured to pick the winner in a single or even a double .shot. I am, however, strongly inclined to believe that selecting ths winning stable is a task that may be undertaken with reasonable prospect of success, and the lucky winner of the biggest added money stake ever run for in the world will, I think, very probably be Mr. James Wilson. |.ionsuale, though owned by .J. Wilson, jun., is one of the same team as Chintz, .Suing, The Serf, and Magic Circle, and from this quintett the veteran trainer of Don Juan and Briseis is, I think, likely to select one capable of making a bold bid for the big prize. It is no secret that the stable had great confidence in Lonsdale doing the trick last year until he went wrong; and Chintz has performed ho well as to justify the belief that she will improve upon her more recent displays. Swing, I am quite sure, i.-> capable of winning a big handicap in the very best company. Magic Circle, though a little one, is a "rare galloper ; and The Serf is a splendid-looking colt, and bred well enough to win any race in the world. With such a string it must be confessed that Mr. Wilson holds a remarkably strong hand, and in the expectation of seeing a strong development of form in one or more of his five representatives, I shall conclude this cursory review of the cup candidates by expressing my belief that the veteran breeder, owner, and trainer will for the third time supply the Melbourne Cup winner. An endeavour to anticipate the stable- by naming any particular one of the five as the most likely to be the chosen, would at the present

time be ridiculous, though I have no hesitation in declaring my liking for The Serf. He is, however, no better treated than the others, and although eventually I shall have a single shot at the target my tip for the present will be " ' Wilsons best.'" " Augur," in the Australasian, concludes his remarks thus :— " While admitting that Carbine is a great racehorse, and may carry his lOst 51b into a place, I doubt if he can quite get home with such an imiKwt, and expect to see the winner come from the following :—Magnus, Melos, Prince Consort, Pakeha. The Serf, Chaldean, Matador, Camdeu,, Tartar, The Spot. THE KARL OF HOI'ETOCK. Although His Excellency the Governor, the Karl of Hopetoun, has not as yet (says the Melbourne Leader of June "2S) patronised any of the regular meets of the Melbourne Hunt Club, he has on more than one occasion participated in a private run with the Messrs. Millers hounds, and also those of the Melbourne Hunt Club, the last-named of which afforded His Excellency a fine day's sjfort on Tuesday. Tiie meet was at Laverton, where the master, Mr. George Watson, and a select narty of about a dozen were in attendance by special invitation. When casting about for an outlying stag, a fox unexpectedly broke covert, to which the hounds gave tongue, and a splendid run ensued, in the direction of the Werribee mansion, Master Reynard eventually seeking refuge in a friendly rabbit hole. His Excellency, who was mounted on his English hunter, occupied a leading position throughout the run, being evidently as much at home over stone wall and post-and-rail as over the obstacles usually encountered in the hunting fields of the old "country. On returning homewards across countrv the party were confronted by a post-and-rail fence topped with wire. The foremost horsemen, on seeing this formidable ol»stacle, gave the alarm ot '• wire,'' and pulled up, but His Excellency, declining to imitate the example of some of the so-called " first"-flight men, went straight for the dangerous-looking combination of wood and wire, his horse clearing it like a bird, greatly to the discomfiture of the Nimrods, who, under the circumstances, deemed discretion the better part of valour. HERMIT. In the course of a most interesting article on Hermit, " Pendragon," of the Referee, says : —"Since that remarkable Derby day, when the clerk of the weather was as much abroad as any of the speculators, and turned on the Christmas tap in mistake for that due about midsummer, I have often wondered what Mould have been the issue of the race had the mount on Hermit been entrusted, as was originally intended, to the then great crack among jockeys, 11. distance. On the score of public reputation, Custance was miles ahead of J. Daley, who had the mount rk> the rider of Thormanby and Lord Lyon. who either declared he would ride The Rake or was let off by Hermit's owner, who thought it was a pity to put the most vigorous, if not absolutely the l>est. jockey of the day on what both regarded as literally a dead 'un. There is no doubt that Hermit was in a dreadfully-delicate state that day, and the more we consider his subsequent form when well and strong the more we have reason to wonder how it was he finished up winner of ]-■<"'.-> Derby. He wanted the most delicate handling, and he got it from D.tley, who, it seems to me. never received sufficient credit for a performance unique in the annals of horseracing. If Hermit had never been under suspicion, and had been driven along by a rider whose best form wm in forcing out every ounce a horse had got in him, the name of Hermit would not now figure on the bend-roll of English Derby winners His subsequent career upon the turf was worse than inglorious—a* a four-year-old }]*■ finished up about the quality of a sellingplater, an in the tiles belonging to this otii are still to be found the contumely and the ridicule heaped upon him and hia prospects at the stud r>y those who were at the time supposed to be the pick of English sorting writers. Some there were who considered i: a shocking thin.; that one so fallen from the hLh estate of Derby winner should be allowed the opportunity or still further de-grading the strain of British racehorses. We were just then in cue of our usual epidemics of humbug and agony, and it was customary for men to write to the p.ipers — men who, perhaps, had never seen a racehorse except in a .-hop window—and prove that the most absolutely worthless animal there was in existence was the thoroughbred as reared in these islands. The sending of Hermit to the stud was eagerly seized upon as a text for hippie jereminus; and now, '21 years after, we have t>> lament his decease as th* stallion whose services have been more brilliantly successful than those of any rival, and who must have brought in an almost fabulous amount during the last 10 or 17 years to his fortunate owner." MIsCELLAN'EOCS ITEMS. At the Leicester meeting on Wednesday list, Surcfoot, the erstwhile favourite for the Derby, made some amends to his owner, Mr A. W. Merry, for his disappointing display in the contest for tlie blue riband, by carrying off the Prince of Wales' Stakes of SjUO sovs. The Duke of Portland furnished the runner-up with the consistent Memoir, while the third place was tilled by Mr. llouldsworth's Alloway. In looking over the entries for the various three-year-old contests, I find that it is not until the St. Leger comes round on the 10th September, that an opportunity will be afforded to Surefoot to again measure strides with the Derby winner, Sainfoin. Mr. E. D. Halstead journeyed to Waikato last week, for the purpose of tiring Ernest and The Clown, which operation he duly carried out. During Mr. Halst-cad's visit Mr. Booth requested him to look at his vearling h'lly, by Muskapeer Polish—that had been badly staked while running in a paddock a few days previously. The tilly by last advices was going on satisfactorily. Recruit has at last rewarded his arty with a victory on Australian territory. At sehill on the 3rd instant the little son oi l>.ty Dawn won the Steeplechase in easy .style, beating Jive others. Now that Recruit has shown his ability to negotiate country safely, I have little doubt that Mr. Williams will soon find a purchaser for him. For the purpose it is said of encouraging the agitation for keeping up the distances in races, "a patron of the turf" who does not wish his name known, Iris announced his intention (.says the English Calendar) of giving £3000 in prizes during the present season. £1000 is to be devoted to .'1 handicap at Newmarket, one mile and threequarters, at the first October meeting ; £1000 at the Houghton meeting, a plate of two miles ; and a third handicap of £1000 in the second Juiv meeting; of course, all at New market. We do not often find anyone giving a shilling to promote racing. So this .OJJJ must rank a.s a colossal piece of liberality. Baron Hirsch, who is said to be one of the richest men in the world, is supposed to be the donor. Mr. T. D. Halstead, the weii-Knotvn " vet.," journeyed to Waverley recently at the request of the Messrs. Ileum and Kennedy, in order to treat Recluse, who was in ;i bud way, suffering from obstruction of the larynx and severe iufhieii/.t. Mr. Hal.stead has shown mu a letter which he has received from the. owners of the sou of Daniel O'Rorke, .stating that the treatment prescribed for the horse has had a most satistactory effect, and thei'i seems every prospect of his making a good recovery, and being able to go into traini.r,' early in September. From Victorian paiiers to hand I learn that Peter O.sbcck died suddenly shortly after performing a. very strong gallop at Caulfield, the cause of death being the rupture of an artery. The old New Zealander was favourite fo? the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase, and that he stood out as one likely to give some trouble in the Fleiningto'i contest may be gathered from the following, which I clip from "Augur's" notes in the Australasian :— " No horse could be doing or looking better than Peter O.sbeck, who, at the time of my visit was as fresh and gay as a two-year-old, lashing out when his custodian removed his rug, and almost jumping out of his skin when lie commenced to dress him. This good-looking New Zcalander never stripped so well .sine? he has bean in Australia, Jindjf all goes well with him Corrigan may land another Grand National Steeplechase." During the hearing of the Miss Nettie— Crowhurst Spot case, in th' . Supreme Court, at Dtinedin recently, in which case it will Ik; remembered the Dunedin Jockey Club crept out of giving a decision in the dispute by paying the stakes into Court, the following disciissi in took place: — His Honor: What its the Jockey Club for if it is not to decide on the rules of racing? I do not understand why this has com , : here. Mr. Clripm in : Ik-Cruise a dispute has arisen. His Honor : Here i» a provision that the decision of the .stewards is to be final; this is a question really coining from a tribunal that knows all about it u> a tribunal tint knows nothing about it; it is an appeal from knowledge to ignorance. Mr. McDonald remarked that there was no doubt that the stewards should have decided the matter. He believed tinreal reason they had riot done 80 was that there wen: friends on both Hides. Therewere cases to .show that the. stewards invariably decided, and the Court upheld what the stewards decided. In reviewing Mr. Stead's aristocratic team, "Spectator" yayx :—" Medallion looks ex tremely well, and is filling out into a nice horoe, and those splints on his fore legs are flattening down—a sure sign that they are likely to disappear altogether. They are not likely to interfere with him now, I should nay, though I rather suspect that they stopped him from being an forward in the Bpriug as he (should have been." 1

• The Spring Two-year-old Stakes, of 3000 I sovs run at Kempton Park, is now one of ' the most important race* for youngsters run , on the English turf. This event was run on i May 9, and from papers to hand I Rather : that the rich stake was won by Mr.. H. Miliners filly Lady Heron (by Galliard-Dame i Marion.! who defeated the Duke of PortI land's Charm by a short head after a desper- ! ate finish. The winner was bred at Levj bourne Grange, and was bought by Mr. H. Milner for 750 guineas as a yearling. she is most fashionably bred as her dam Dame Marion, is by Blair Athol, whilst Galliird's breeding, by Galopin out of Mavis by Macaroni, is above suspicion. * \ccordin ' to Melbourne papers to hand Prince Consort is a firm favourite lor the Melbourne Cup at 100 to 5, at which figure He has been well supported. Tautallon, who is also an inmate of Walter Hickenbothams establishment, is nominal favourite tor the Caulfield Cup, at 100 to 4. The disappointing Singapore is said to have picked mi wonderfully since going into Mr. '• K. Clifford's " establishment, and a hopeful word is also spoken by the Australasian for his equally disappointing stable companion, Whakawai, who is said to be striding along in capital style. 1 clip the following from the Australasian :—"' Amongst the candidates in training at Flemington for events further afield, who are in magnificent condition to undergo a thorough preparation, nothing tills the eye better or more pleasingly than the undoubted champion of champions, the mighty Carbine, who lopes along the tan track as if he were paying the strictest attention to business. His stable companions— Prince Consort, Tormentor, TanUllon, and Titan—are each and all as well as could be desired, and are putting in serviceable preparatory exercise. The great weight of lOst 51b awarded to Carbine in the Melbourne Cup this year has no doubt had the effect of making many punters consult the records of previous winners. Since it-s inception, I find that only in two instances since ISoM has the horse occupying the " post of honour " got home first. Those occasions were in the following year when Archer won with lOst 'Jib and Warrior, who had Sat 101b, in 1569. Malua (9st 91b) lias been the only horse to carry over9st and win during the past -0 years. Nevertheless, in the event of Carbine remaining sound, the public will keep him in a very prominent place in the quotations. I). Brazil, an English cross-country rider, who came out to the colonies recently, secured a win at the V.A.T.C. Meeting, steering Mr. Prendewille'a Melville to victory in the Steeplechase. Of course (says "Olympus") the hypercritical complained about the way he .sticks his toes out. and laughed to scorn his " legs and wings action." as they dubbed it. But the baldheaded fact remains that he won the race, and won it whore 4 99 men out of every 500 would not even have not second. News comes from Sydney that Mr. Daniel Melh.vdo, the well-known stockbroker, met with a terrible accident there which caused his death. It appears that the unfortunate gentleman was staying at the Reform Club. and on attempting to open a window he toil to the pavement below, and was so badly injured that he died almost immediately. Mr. Melhado was an old racing man. Many years aj;o he was a shorthand reporter on the Sydney Morning Herald, and for some time afterwards he was one of the most popular members of the " ring.' , A writer in one of the Wellington papers, alluding to some recent departures for Australia, says:—" Besides being a fair trainer, Stratford is perhaps the strongest horseman in New Zealand for his weight ; but his strength is his weakness." The Canterbury Times says: — "Everyone will understand what this moans, but we firmly believe Stratford has returned to Australia with a full determination to exercise his strength in a direction." A sporting libel case was tried in Sydney recently. It appears that it arose out of the disqualification of a racing man named Clarence A. L. Browne. Last January the pLiutitF ran a horse in the flying Handicap at the Wilcanni-i Jockev Club races, and said horse finishing last, he abused the committee, charging them with crookedness and swindling in trie fremiti:; of the handicap. The result wa.s disqualification for a year as a member of the club, and the sentence was posted in the hotel used as the club headquarters. This was held to constitute a libel, and the plaintiff sued the defendants for £2>X"O damages. The case was tried by a jury, who :Mve the plaintiff a verdict, but with the nominal damages of a farthing only. Few equine families are better known on the turf (says an English writer) than that descended from Queen Mary. Mr. I'Anson went to Scotland to trace and buy her. He found her working on a small farm at the plough, and acquired her, after haggling, as tie was afraid to show his hand to tne. canny Scottish agriculturist, for a matter of three or four-ami twenty pounds. She may be said to have laid the foundation of the family fortunes, having product 1 him Haricot, Braxlev, Balrownie, Bonnie Scotland, Blooming Heather, Blink Bonny, Bab at the Bowstcr, Bonnie Breastknot, Bonny Bell, Broomielaw, Blinkhoolie, and others. The union of Blink Bonny and Sr<xkweil. again, produced the -reat brothers Blair Athol and Breadalbane, but she unfortunately died the same year the latter was foaled, InJ-. Bab at the Boweter, Bonny Breastknot, Haricot, and Braxey are tillies, ami Broornielaw and the dainty, high-class Blinkhoolie have also served to keep old Queen Mary's name green on the British turf. Tunbridge Wells is justly famous for the piety and propriety of its inhabitants, who, remarks a writer in London Truth, I believe, comprise more than the average number of maiden ladies. The most respectable virtues, however, may be overdone. The owner of the well-known stud horse (Evolution) in the neighbourhood of'Funbridge Wells, has been accustomed to send the hurse weekly to the market in charge of a groom. The other day, however, the groom was stopped and sent back by the police, on the ground that an '.tniinal of that character could not be allowed to show itself in tin: town. Commenting on this an English writer says : —" I presume that an edict will shortly be issued requiring all horses in Tunbridge Wells to be put into peticoats." A Kentucky exchange contains the following account of remarkable precocity in a filly :— " E. A. Robinson, of Lagr.mge, Ind , sends us a statement in regard to a very remarkable mare in that country. Mr. Robinson says she is not five-year-old and has four foals. Her name is Moll Latta, and she is by Haw Patch 1140. She was foaled on the J*t of October. ISS.">. Her first foal (a tilly) was dropped the 17th of May, ISS7 : her second (a colt). May S, IsSS; her third (a iilly). April 11, 18SU ; her fourth (a colt), March 10, IS'JJ. She was less than twenty months old when she dropped her first foul, and was tour years live months and eighteen days when she was delivered of her fourth. She was but nine months when she first got with foal. She is the property of A. »i. Hostetter, La-grange, India. Mr. Robinson challenges the world to produce n parallel cvse." Steeplechasing in France is very popular, so popular indeed that at Auteuil is run the richest steeplechase in the world. The coinpetitors an- nearly all ridden by Britishers, and many of the horses that run hail from the little islands across the Channel. At Auteuil last month there was decided the (J rand International Steeplechase de Paris of h*).O00 francs, or £4800, and a trophy value 10,001) francs (£400), added ton sweepstakes of 1000 francs (40sovs) ; weight's—four years old, '..hit I21b; five years, list lib; six and aged, list Ulb. The breeder of the winner, if bred in France, to receive 'JijOsovh from the totalizator. How would New ZeaLuider.s relish the conditions with regard to giving "200sovs out of the totalisator instruments to the breeders of the winners? .Mcthinks they would face the matter rather unkindly. Mr. W. G. Craven, the well-known English sportsman, writing to one of the London liaperd, says : —" There are not enough racehorses nowadays, for, while the money run for has so enormously increased, the return of foals in the Stud Boole remains pretty much as it has been for it great number of years. In addition to this, the export to foreign countries is increasing every year, .so that unless more youngsters are forthcoming we shall, in the natural course of events, see a decline in the spore ail lomul." ,i .-,,, ~ ung writer referring to these statements reminds breeders that the value of good-looking yearlings has not only increased very much of late years, but is likely to goon increasing. Advices to hand from San Francisco show that another Australian brc-d-'un has distinguished himself there. This was Purramatta, a bay horse, 4yrs, bred by the late Mr. Andrew Town, by Cheviot (imp.) from Scrap*, who won tin- Maiden Ripe, six and \ it half furlongs, at the Linden nwtiiii; (I;' S.), on M v .'l. matta Carrie , Sat Mb, 1 started third favourite nt •"> to I, and won easily by four lengths irotii eight others in ' lin. iiSjs." Wi.-dii.'ii was (says an English writer) one of the cheapest horse-; eve:- sx<ld. He was picked up for £-7) after be had don i racing. I As the Sice of Florence, Veracity, Right : Away, and Surcfoot, Wisdom has proved ■ j himself .1 grout success at the stud, and h<: \ i should Ciirii something like £10,(XXi α-year . i for .some seasons to conic. | It is very doubtful whether Chicago, who ] was recently taken to England, will ever ! figure on the turf again, the suspensory : ligament of his near fore leg having given : way. Mr. Saville, in whose hands Chicago ! has been placed, intends to try theeliicacy of ■ firing. Jem Goater, the veteran English jockey, i completed his 52nd birthday last month. ' Thirty-eight years ago he won the. Chester j Cup on Joe Miller, carrying -Ist I Oil), and in ! a field of 43, the largest on record. Two of \ (Jrwter's daughters are married to Fred j i Barrett and J&in?u Woodburn, the jockeys, j

Matador is reported to be again amiss. The Wellington Racing Club's St-eeple-chase Meeting takes place to-day. . The recently-expatriated Coral won the Steeplechase 'at Baimsdale (Victoria) recently. J. Rae has Orangeman engaged in the Oi>on Steeplechase to be run at Flemington to-dsy. The Melbourne Leader considers Carbine the best horse that ever raced in the colonies. In the wagering on the V.K.C. Grand National Hurdle Race 700 to 70 was readily taken about Lochiel. Mr. Sydney James, the popular secretary of the Dunedin Jockey Club, has held that position for thirty years. It is reported that Shorrard, the Chetwynd House trainer, is likely to have his training license restored to him. Mr. James Munn, the well-known Hawke's Bay trainer, has been compelled to seek the protection of the Bankruptcy Court. Mr. D. O'Brien's pair, Helmsman and Town Moor, are engaged at the V.R.C. Meeting, which opens today at Flemington^ Very little wagering is Being transacted over tiie New Zealand Cuj>. but what little there is, Medallion aad Tirailleur have the call of it. Mr Arthur CoventryV. appointment as starter is very popular in England. It is whispered that it will be worth something like £■?* .<"„> a year. Lord Hastings has sold Melton (by Master Kildare—Violet Melrose) to the Italian Government. Melton won the Derby and St. Leger in 1 SS-"i. (iuy Fawkes having gone slightly amiss, he did not take part in the Caulfield Steeplechase. Rae lias decided on treating the son of Bedouin to a spell. The two-year-old colt Greygown (by Vespasian—Grey Esperance) was sold recently in Queensland "for 600 guineas, a Melbourne sportsman being the purchaser. The erst Aucklander, J. Rae, who has taken up his quarters permanently in Victoria, has selected the title of " Maoriland" for his establishment at Caulfield. The late Lord Falmouth's paddocks, consisting of about :M acres, at Newmarket, and used as a stud farm, have been sold for £10.700, or an average of nearly £446 per aei e. Hilda's half-sister Hazel, who has not sported silk, is said to be doing good work at Riccarton. All going well with her, sheshould be seen out early in tiie coming season. Mr. I). O'Brien, and several other Canterbury sportsmen, left for Melbourne last week for the purpose of attending the Grand National Meeting, which opens at Flemington to-day. The thoroughbred mares Antelope (bv Apremont—Miss Kate), and Miss Stead (by Lenlinus—Miss Laura), arc to be offered by auction at the Haymarket on Friday next, instant. With 9st 31b in the saddle, Escutcheon finished third to Oroya (9st 31b) and Hero (Set tUb) in the Australian Handicap (onemile and a furlong), run last week a: Ro=-;-hill (Sydney). The Napier correspondent of the Canterbury Times states that it is improbable Tirailleur will _'o to Australia this year, but Jet d'Eau and Renata are likely to make the journey across. M. Carmody, the Tasmanian trainer, has a-rivc-d at Flemington during the we<-k with Claude, Silvermere, Hesperus, and the two-year-old Forbiilden Fruit, by the Assyrian from First Fruit. Mr. W. Lyons scored another win with his pony Secret at Moorefield Park (.Sydney) lost week, at which Withering the snn of Vampire won the Galloway Handicap oi 4'>-(ivs in easy style Firelock <i• v Musket—Yatterina) carried the Htm. W. Pearson's colours to victory in the Winter Handicap, run ; t t the Baimsdale Meeting (Victoria) on the Ist instant. He «-as weighted at Sst OTO. At the R'.sf-iiiil meeting, held on the 3rd inst., the New Zealand-bred mare Repose 'by Apremont—Hammock) won the Orient Handicap of 7-">sovs. beating a field of eighteen in very easy style. A Irilf-brother to tiie ill-fated gelding Ensign, named Sardinia, when beinu r schooled at Kaudwick last week, bolted, and jumping the boundary fence, fell a;i i broke his neck. Kis rider , escaped serious injury. The New Zealand brood mares, Maritana and Helena, are now inmates cf Mr. F. Darley's Ivur:_-'xin stud. Queensland. While on the passage from Sydnev to Brisbane, Helena slif.jied her foal to Albany. Mr. A. W. Merry, who this year furnished the M-iunei of the I'wu Thousand Guineas with Surefoot, is a son of the late Mr. James Merry, who in years L-oae by was one of the leading sportsmen of the old country. An English writer, commenting on the falling off that has taken place in connection with the Chester meeting, states that twentyJive years nothing was easier than to back a Chester Cup candidate to win £IUO.OJO. The death is announced of the Sydney trainer J. Baines, who some years back was ■issoeinted with that very unfortunate sportsman Mr. A. F. Smart, the owner of Archie, Warwick and other disappointing animals. Uatijn- and the Admiral (says ,i Victorian writer) are. being spoken of for the V.R.C. Derby, and opinions are frequently expressed that Titan does not hold such a. mortgage over the blue ribbon of ISOO, <is the price paid for him would lead manv to suppose The Sydney sportsman, Mr. D. Cooper, whose colours figure on tiie English turf this season, has strengthened his team by purchasing the three-year-old colt Inmshc-en (by Baliol from Humility) from Captain Machell. The four-year-old mare I'recedence (by Musket—Maid of Honour) won the Corinthian Flat Race at the Victoria Amateur I'urf Club".-, Meeting on tiie 2Sth ultimo. carrying lOst llii home in front of the favourite, Aglaos (list 01b). It is no wonder that the owner of the two-year-old colt. Megaphone, recently refused an olier of £1-3>J for the son o f Newbold and ■vHind, for at the Rockhampton races held hist week the youngster won no less than three events, two of them in one day. worthy of note that the V.R.'C. Grand National Steeplechase has only once been won by a horse carrying less than lOst 121b. At present, in this year's contest, there are no less than •_*:•! of tiie .S'7 engaged to whom a lighter weight than lOst " 121b has been awarded. The injury which Jenny sustained while contesting in the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase was a strain of the fetlock joint of the off fore leg. It is thought that a rest will bring the daughter of Puriri round, and no permanent results are apprehended from the accident. Sir John Willoughby had over 70 wagers in his vearlinir book oii the Derby at UOIXK) to i'lOUeach. It is not stated whether Sir John was ".-truck " over Sainfoin's victory, but as the son of Springfield was not oiie of the early fancies, it will probably be found that the trainer got out of his liabilities scatheless. The Ladies' Bracelet, to be run for at the approaching Grand National Meeting at Christchurch, and which is the gift of Mr A. E G. Rhodes. M.H.R., is said to be a very beautiful specimen of the jeweller's handiwork. In the centre of the bracelet ia a sapphire, surrounded by euht diamonds, and on each side of this cluster wire five diamonds. The bracelet is of knife-wire gold.