SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9286, 23 August 1893, Page 5

SPORTING.

THE CAULFIELD CUP.

Press Association.— Telegraph.—Copyright.

MKr.Boop.XE, August 22. Thk following horses have been struck out of the CaullieldCupAire, Gingham, Captain Webb, Despised, Pauline, Bel Giorno, Repudiation, Elswick, Jack Robinson, Corinth, Killaloe, Ilium. The Possible, Pilatus, Lentnos, Dufiot, Freedom, Blazes, Dickens, Rola, Fortunatus, Bungebah, Hopetown, Swordbearer, Culloden, Lindburn, Azim, St. Albans II„ Splendide, Penance, Marco, Ronda, Andrews, l)ucro\v, Rebel, Ulric, Reilleap, Cooya, Retreat, Tranby. Hurrah,

The question of ra-hantticapping horses engaged in the Melbourne Cup that may win races of the value of £100 or over is still (says the Argus) apparently in an unsettled condition, in answer to a question at yesterday's V.R.C. meeting, Mr. l'rank Madden stated that the matter of when penalties should be'declared was left to the discretion of the handicapper. and Mr. John Whittingham. another member of the committee, announced that Mr. Dakin had fixed some time iu October for declaring them. Mr. Dakin is in the difficult position that he can only re-handicap a horse once. Mr. James Paterson has Carriugton engaged iu the Melbourne Cup, and the son of Gang Forward has since the issue of the weights rendered himself liable to be re-handicapped, and Mr. Paterson thinks it a great hardship that he was yesterday compelled to make the second payment on account of his horse without knowing what his weight is; but if the handicapper were to declare it now Carrington might come out and win the Caulfieid Cup, and penalties, unless specified, Hot being cumulative, he would be entitled to no extra weight in the Melbourne Cup for the win. Mr. J. C. Bowden pressed the members of the committee recently to say whether the handicapper was in favour of the rehandicapping principle, as he had been informed that lie was not, but none of the members of the committee took upon himself to answer the question.

i Turf reporters in America may not have a ! reputation for turning out reliable copy, but they certainly take a trick when it comes to talking straight. A case in point is given in the Spirit of the Times, which deals with a once noted authority on the turf, Colonel Clark. " The Colonel," it says, " years ago, was in sound health, bodily and mentally, and did good work on behalt of honest racing. Remembrance of his past services and pity for his present condition have led horsemen to overlook his despotic conduce, and to accept quietly rulings and decisions which, if made by any other man, would have been answered by immediate deposition from office, if not by personal violence. But patience has now ceased to be a virtue, and further forbearance would be criminal. His continuance in the judge's chair is an injustice to owners, trainers, and jockeys, an injury to the best interests of the turf, and a menace to the future of racing." If the Colonel wanted anything straighter than that summing-up, he might search in vain j for it.

There is some talk ot the Canterbury Jockey Club considering the desirability of assuming control over trotting in its own district. A requisition to that effect was recently presented to the club, but the force of the petition is since somewhat weakened by the fact that the Canterbury Trotting Club disclaims any sympathy with the movement.