SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10365, 13 February 1897, Page 6

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. NEW ZEALAND. February 13—Takapuna Jockey Club. February 18.19—Bay of Plenty Jockey Club. February 20, 27-Otahuhu Trotting Club, February 24, 25,27-Dunedin Jockey Club, March 6-South Auckland Racing Club. March 13—Te Aroha Jockey Club. March 17-Rotorua Jockey Club. March Whakatane Racing Club. March 17—Tologa Bay Racing Club. March 17,18—Hawke's Bay Jockey Club March 17, 20-Amndale Jockey Club. March 27-Dnnedin Jockey Club. April 19, 20, Auckland Racing Club. April 19, 20-Canterbury Jockey Club.

DATES OF COMING EVENTS. February 17-Taranaki Jockey Club Handicap, February 24-DuneJin Cup. February 27—Newmarket Handicap, February 29-V.R.C. St. Leger. Maich 2—Australian Cup. Match 4—V.R.C. Champion Stakes. March Wanganui Cup. March 17—Hawke's Bay Cup. March 23-Napier Park Cup. April 10-A.J.C, St. Leger. April 19—Sydney Cup. April Northern Champagne Stakes (Auckland). April 19-Easter Handicap (Auckland). April 19-Great Easter Handicap (Christchurch). April 20-Autumn Steeplechase (Auckland). April Great Autumn Handicap (Christchurch). April 20—C. J.C. Challenge Stake.'. June s—Graud National Hurdle Race (Auckland), June 7—Great Northern Steeplechise. June 25—Hawke's Bay Steeplechase.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. New.minSTEß.-1. Newhaven was sold as a yearling for 120 guineas. It was at two years old that 2000 guineas were paid for bim. 2. Realisation died at Silvia Park in ISM, after Riling birth to The Possible. 3, Tamora (dam of Nestor) was got by Musket. T., Te Aroha.- Navigator and Trident were full brothers.' Each won the A,J C. Derby, V.H.C. Derby, Australian Cup, A.J.C. St. Leger, and V.R.C. St. Leger. Wiseacre.—St. Hippo had suffered two defeats as a two-year-old prior to being defeated by Lottie in the Quia Handicap. He was subsequently defeated by North Atlantic in the Nursery Handicap, run at the A.R.C. Autumn Meeting. Waihi.— Locket was foaled in England in 1872, and was imported to New Zealand by M. R. H..D. Fergusson. She was got by Thunderbolt, from Keepsake, by Daniel O'ltorke. Her first foal was a filly by P c Gomez, which died. Locket died foaling at Sylvia Park in ISSS. 2. We presume the reason that Newhaven's name has been denied admission to the English .stud Book is due to some of the back lines in his pedigree being obscure. The black spot in Newharen'a pedigree occurs with his maternal ancestress Dinah, a mate brought from New South Wales to Melbourne, and bought out of a mob by Mr. James Wilson, of whose stud she subsequently formed one of the corner stones. She was said to be by Gratis, out of an Emigrant mare, and herein lies the trouble. Even her sire is not authenticatea, and as for her dam, she is a " myth unknown." That Dinah was purely bred there can scarcely be any doubt, but the bar sinister rests in the failure to establish her identity.

TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB'S SUM-

MER MEETING. [BY phaeton.] [Though, of course, the success of the Takapuna Jockey Club's Meeting was to some extent marred by the unpropitious weather that prevailed on Anniversary Day, and therefore necessitated a postponement: the gathering has, under the altered conditions, up to the present, more than fulfilled the anticipations of the most sanguine. A prediction made in connection with the Takapuna Jockey Club's Summer Meeting was that the totalisator investments is connection therewith would reach to £'20,000. Some were inclined to pooh-pooh this estimate, but as £14,290 was invested on the first two days of the gathering, it seems pretty well a certainty that the £20,000 will be reached should the weather be fine on the concluding day of the Summer gathering.

To-day's programme opens with the Maiden Hurdle Race, in which twelve horses are engaged. If Hukatere runs up to his best form, he will, I think, prove hardest to beat; and Hairy Legs and Jeanette read to me the best of the others. The half-mile flutter in the Borough Handicap affords room for plenty of consideration, for the handicapper has succeeded in well concealing the winner. Porangi Potae and Nightingale each read well, and if the former is quite herself she may score. Miss Nelson and Hukatere read to me the most dangerous for the Hurdle Race; aud if the latter is on his best behaviour he will, I think, prove hard to beat. If I knew St. Kegel to be quite himself, I should fancy him. as much as anything for the Summer Handicap; but Markinch and Antares read a safer pair to trust, and Antares may be the one to win. Glenlora won her race over the steeplechase course in such really good style last week that she is bound to take a lot of beating in the crosscountry event in to-day's programme. The fact of a half-mile being off the journey may, however, assist Miss Nelson, and it will not surprise me to find the latter in a prominent place at the finish. Previous running may be expected to throw some light on the Anniversary Handicap, but whatever beats Antares will, I think, supply the winner. The following are the acceptances in connection with the third day's racing. Maiden Hurdles. One mile and a-half, st lb stlb Hairylegs „ _ 11 2 Magnolia » .90 Hnkatere .. ..10 10 Play Boy .. ..6 0 Glenlora .. .. 10 6 Maid of Honour .. 9 0 Forella ... ..9 10 Dentist ~ ~ 9 (1 Jeanette .. ..9 7 Warrigal .. ~9 0 Awatuna .. — 9 0 Seabreeze .. ..9 0 Borough Handicap, of 40sovs. Four furlongs. stlb stlb St. Hegel .. . 9 1 Norina „ . 6 7 Lady Cuisine ..8 2 Decoration _ .. 6 7 Purvoke .. „ 7 ! Porangi Potae „ 6 J Nightingale ..7 4 Korowai .. ..0 7 Napoleon ~ .. 6 10 Snip .67 Polite .. ..6 7 Carmen „ ..6 7 Cleopatra .. ..0 7 Third Handicap Hurdles of SGsovsj One mile and three-quarters. st lb stlb Bombardier „ 1112 Hukatere ~ ». 10 4 Levanter .. « II ID Kiligswood „ 9 10 Miss Kelson .... 10 12 Summer Handicap of lOOsovs. One milei st lb st lb St. Hegel „ „ 8 8 Panoply .. . 7 I Markinch.. „ 8 0 Admiral Hawk ..7 3 Antares .. .. 7 12 Shaiper .. .. 6 12 Retaliation .. 7 10 Cleopatra .. „ 6 7 Lady Marion ..7 8 Norina .. ..6 7 Third Pony Handicap of 35sovs. Six furlongs. st 1» nt b Porirua .. . 9 0 Reil .. « .. 7 6 Fidget .. ..9 0 St. Owen .. ..7 6 Mavoumeen „ 812 Mangakawa —76 Purroke ■„ -87 Repeat „ . 7.6 Napoleon .. „ 8 0 Parian Jennie _ 610 Sweet lavender .. 7 9 Handicap steeplechase of 80so?s. Three miles. stlb stlb Bombardier „ 12 4 Mozel _ .. ■ 9 10 Glenora .. .. 10 9 Awatuna .. ..9 7 Miss Nelson .. 10 4 St. Leonards -97 TeUku .. .. 9 12 Devonpori Handicap of 60sovs. Six furlongs. stlb stlb Markinch « _ 8 2 Porangi Potae _ 6 10 Xillio .. „ 712 Lady Anna.. ..6 7 Antares .. _ 7 12 Cleopatra „ ~6 7 lady Marion .. 10 Norina „ « 0 7 NOTES RY PHAETON. THE EGMONT CUP. The above race was run on Wednesday last and resulted in a surprise victory on the part of The Brook, who scored for the popular Napier sportsman, Mr. W. Douglas. The Brook, who is a four-year-old daughter of Torpedo and Rivulet, is a full sister to Brooklet, who last year won the Wellington Cup. The Brook had notpreviouslyscored any noteworthy victory, and her inability to win the Woodville Cup (in which race she only had 6st 111b to carry), run the week previous, caused her engagement in the Egmont Cup to bear anything but a favourable aspect. The soft-hearted Blarney acted as runner-up to The Brook, and Lorelei was the other place-getter. The following is a list of winners of the Egmont Cup Yr. Owner. Winner. St Wgt. linn. " I st Iblm. s, 1882 Mr. M. O'Brien ..Larry 3 613,4 2 1883 Mr. A. Standish.. Noimanby 7 6 7(351$ 1884 Mr. A. Standish.. Witiora 5 7 12;3 53} 1835 Mr. J. George .. Buzzard* 3 7 0,4 13 1886 Mr. J. George ..Armourer 4 8 2:3492-5 1887Mr.J.Kean ..Victory 7 7 (j.3452-5 1888 Mr. W. H. Keith Dudu 5 6 7 3 42} 1889 .Mr. J. Kennedy.. Recluse 8 7 12:3484.5 3890 Mr. W. Bobbett.. Patchwork 4 7 1-2 3411-5 1891 Mr. K. Cutts .. Dudu 7 8 103 40} 1892 Mr. G. Hunter ..Whisper _ 13 8 0.339 • 1893 Captain Russell.. St. Katherine 6 7 6 3 44J--1891 Mr. W.Douglas ~ Bosefeldt 9 8 93413-5 1895 Mr. E.Calchrop.. Monte Carlo 7 7 713 471-5 1896 Sir. J. Kean .. Yattenfeldt 5 6 12(3 7 25 1897 Mr. W. Douglas.. The Brook 4 6 10| VICTORIA AMATEUR TURF CLOB's MEETING. ' The above club open their autumn meeting to-day at Caulfield when the Oakleigh Plate will be brought up for decision. Twenty-five horses were engaged in the race at last.ad- • vices, and as there are a number of- noteworthy Newmarket Handicap candidates engaged in the list a good deal of interest will be centred in the result. The following is a list of the horses engaged Oakleigh Plate.-Five furlongs and vlialf. stlb stlb Lieutenant.. _ 9 7 Patriot ~ —74 Mainstay „ .. 9'6 Dora.. . -74 Ayrshire .. .. 9 u Pilatus „ .. 7,4 Wbakawatea .. 8 0 So and So „ ..7 3 Beverley .. .. 713'Metford .. '~78 Keera .. .. 710 Aurura „ ~ 7 S ' Strathspey.. ..7 9 Sunbury . „ .. 7 2 'San Marco.. ..7 7 Veloce .. .. 7 2 ' Spray ' .. .. 7 0 Akarini .. .. .7.1 i J,och Fad .. .. 7 6 Don . . 6 13 . Acton ... .. 7 5 Saddle Up.. » 811 Wait-a-Bit... .. 7 5 Alust ...19 ; Creoe.U'Or .. : ~.j.. 7.,*.-. 0 V .V : :. ; i '• '■' '' v '■ > • : .'- '/J.-- ,v

THE TABANAKI JOCKEV CLUB'S MEETING. The above club hold their Autumn Meeting on Wednesday and Thursday next, and judging from the acceptances received for the principal events of the first day, the gathering promises to be well up to its predecessors, The bis event of the programme is the T.J.C. Handicap, for which event 16 horses | remain in. There has been a good weeding [ out amongst the top weight division, and Lorelei is left in the leading position. By her victory in the Atkinson Memorial Stakes at Egmont, Lorelei incurs a 31b penalty for the race under review; but even with that addition her impost is still the lenient one of Bst 51b, and she will, I think, prove to be the hardest to beat. In the Flying Handicap Doris (Bst 101b) appears to have a good chance, as the daughter of St. Leger is very well just now. If Aughadowey runs up to his Auckland form, he should be equal to getting 'well forward in the Hurdle Race, in which race he is nicely in with 10st. The following is a list of the horses left in the leading events T.J.C. Handicap. One mile and a half. St. lb. St. lb. Lorelei ~ ..§8 5 Merry Maid _7 3 The Miser.. . 7 9 Kanaka .. -72 Sylvia Park ..7 8 Angler ~ ..7 0 Webley « ..7 7 The Brook.. «. 17 0 Pegasus .. .. 7 6 Sea Serpent ; _ 611 Trentalto .. „ J 6 Donovan .. _ ( 9 Monte Carlo . 7 i I.ieht .. ..0 8 Crimson Streak ..7 3 Uhlan .. ..6 7 {Including 31b penalty. tlnclu<ling3lb penalty. Flying Handicap. Three-quarters of a mile. st lb st lb Waiuku _ . I 3 Pyroxylin ... -72 Doris „ ~ 810 Quickfire _. „7 ! The Miser.. . 1 ! Coronet ... „ 7 0 Sylvia Park ..8 0 Waterstone „ 611 Titoki .. .. 711 Donovan _ „ 611 Sedgebrook ~ 7 3 Taiget _ _ 6 7 Kanaka .. ..7 2 First Hurdles Handicap. One mile and a-half. stlb stlb Tiritea _ _11 12 Slorm King _ 9 7 Dummy .. .. 11 11 Aquafortis., M 9 i Rangapai „ .. 10 6 Secrecy .. »i 1 Hukitere .. .. 10 0 Troubadour .90 Aughadowey ..10 0 THE NEWMARKET HANDICAP AND AUSTRALIAN COP. Matters in connection with these races remain pretty well in the same condition that they were last week. Ayrshire (9st 51b), who is beinjj trained by j. Redfearn, was at last advices at the bead of the list in the betting on the six-furlong race, but no very large amount of money, it is said, has yet been invested on him, and as the stable has another (Malliardia) engaged, it may be that the former has not the undivided confidence of the stable. Ayrshire's chance is, however, held iu high esteem all round, and if the son of Dunlop is supported from the proper quarter it is predicted that he will go to the post favourite. The South Australian horse Staffa(Sst) has made his appearance at Flemington, and is said to possess a very fair chance of annexing the big handicap. The top weight, Hova (lGst 4lb), continues to howl along in fine style, and though one of his forelegs bears a somewhat enlarged appearance, he shows no symptoms of unsoundness. The St. Albans stable has still three engaged, viz., Cyduus(Bst 51b), Pilatus (7st 131b), Strathspey (7st 12lb), but so far none of them have been supported. It is thought, however, that Pilatus will prove to be the one the stable will support. A Sydney-owned pair that is expected to play a prominent part in the settlement of the question is Survivor (Sat 121b) and Creme d'Or (7st 121b), and the former is favourite iu the New South Wales capital.

The issue in the Australian Cup is held to be one of the most open that has ever been connected with the two mile and a-quarter race. The top weight, Bloodshot (9st 91b), who is doing good work at Flemington, is at the head of the quotations; but it cannot be said that he has any the best of the weights with 91b3 over weight for age. The son of Maxim certainly beat everything save Newhaven in the Melbourne Cup and he subsequently scored in the Fisher Plate; but there is a tendency to overrate those performances, and it may be doubted if he is really the high-class stayer that some are inclined to give him credit for. If Resolute is really a good colt (and from the manner in which he was backed by the St. Albans' party in the spring their is some grounds to favour that view) he will be a severe thorn in the side of the best of them with only 8.2 to carry. In a recent issue of the Melbourne Sportsmau " Reginald" says " There would seem to be a suspicion that Resolute is rather better off for pace than stamina. Analysed, there is really nothing particular in Resolute's public form to stamp him as having a special liking for a journey. In September at Flemington, his final effort at the end of that ten-furlongs bout with Bloodshot was not over reassuring, and later, under a favourable weight iu the Canlfield Cup, he failed to retain bis forward place when the true test came. He made a creditable essay in the Derby, but, his showing afterwards in the Cup was no better than it ought to have been, seeing that he had butfist 121b to carry. Summed up, then, it is fair to argue that Resolute's doings under silk in some measure confirm the non-staying idea. Against this, however, we have the assurance that he was at home in the spring tried master of a distance, and this has also to be heeded. For myself, I am not satisfied altogether that such a fine colt lacks ' st-iy,' and before leaning one way or the other, I would rather be afforded further opportunities of j him." It is a known fact that Resolute was seriously troubled with shelly feet in the spring; ana to this cause may, it is thought, be ascribed the reason for his disappointing his party so much. O'Trigger, who is regarded as a good stayer, is doing nicely at Flemington; and from Randwick good accounts are to hand as to the manner in which Coil has progressed during the past three months. Altogether the Australian Cup contest this year promises to be an extremely interesting race for the turfites to engage their thoughts upon.

In Sydney the best favourites for the New market Handicap are Precaution and Survivor, aud it is only with difficulty that anyadvance on 100 to 7 is obtainable. The next best candidate, as the money speaks, is True Blue, 100 to 6. For the Australian Cup, Bloodshot, Resolute, and Fadladeen are equally fancied at 9 to 1, but so far there has not been much betting on that race. NEWHAVEN. In referring toNewhaven, "Reginald" iu the Melbourne Sportsman says" Though not, in the true sense, coming from a successful family (that is, in close coutiguity) on the dam's side, Newhaven is one of the best and most stoutly bred colts in the land, and it is the vagaries of breeding that Idalia and Oceana have not been distinguished before Newhaven lived to make their stud-book a name. With the Stockwell unsurpassed strain infused in the direct male line through The Marquis, and crossed upon by a daughter of America's greatest sire, Leamington, and an offshoot of famous Newininster, we get sensational and successful colonial Mewminster, who, two decades ago, caused a stir in turf affairs that will long be remembered. These straius, nicked with those of Oceana, provided a double cross of Stockwell in the male line, and no better strain than that of Blair Atbol's son, St. Albans, could have been got to complete the double infusion. It is noteworthy, too, that both The Marquis and St. Albans were produced by the orthodox cross of Stockwell upon Touchstone, aud with the outcross strains of Pantaloon, Van Galen, and The Premier, a pedigree was constituted of unimpeachable worth. That Newhaven is the greatest colt Australia has ever known for the qualities of speed and stamina combined, will hardly be challenged, and breeding students will draw their own conclusions of how much the influence the abundance of Birdcatcher and Touchstone blood in Newhaven's pedigree has had towards making the bonny colt the great racer he is." MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. One of the best finishes that has ever been fought on the Takapuna course was undoubtedly that which took place on Saturday last in connection with the T.J.C. Handicap. Merry Maid, Markinch, and Retaliation came home so close together that it was difficult to say which had won, and indeed 1 never remember finding those who are keen of sight being so mixed up in anticipating the verdict of the judge as they were over the race in question. From where I stood Merry Maid seemed to me to have asligh advantage, while those a little further up the course were inclined to give the verdict to Markinch, and others were strongly of opinion that Retaliation got home first. Mr. Lawry declared a dead heat between Merry Maid and Markinch, with Retaliation a head away third; and, though the correctness of that decision was assailed in many quarters, the situation favours the assumption that the judge is the only one that could gauge matters accurately. Anyway it was a rattling race, aud the handicapper, Mr. Knight, is entitled to a warm compliment on the success which attended his work.

That the defeat) of Gipsy Prince in the Hurdle Race run at Takapuna on the opening day was a surprise to his party is what is regarded as a fact. However, with a quarter of a mile off the journey in the jumping race on the second day the son of Gipsy King was again strongly supported, and the presumed "good thing" was brought off all right. Gipsy Prince is undoubtedly one of the best-looking jumpers that has raced in' Auckland for some time past, and it is, I think, (safe to predict that he will be again seen to advantage, either over the small sticks or country at the back.end of the season. . >'.e : Gipsy Prince was taken down to Hawera to fulfil his engagement at the Egmont Meeting. He ran unplaced, in the Hurdle Race on the opening day, but on the following day he scored an easy victory. The reversal of form on the part of Gipsy Prince is not: accounted for, but not a few find a very simple reason in accounting for it. -

Though Miss Nelson did not score s win in the Takapuna Steeplechase on Saturday, the chestnut mare ran sufficiently well and acquitted herself in negotiating the fences as to have earned for herself a certificate of a satisfactory nature, As they raced up the hill the last time the daughter of Nelson appeared to be going so strongly that seemed to me ! only a question of her standing up to win. However, she was in distress when the last five furlongs of the journey were entered upon, and third to Glenlora and Bombardier was the best situation she could obtain. Though fairly in trouble all the way up the back stretch, Miss Nelson negotiated the last two fences inmost proficient style, and whatever she may be on the flat, she is evidently quite reliable over fences. Adam Byers has experienced a good deal of trouble with Miss Nelson in keeping condition on her. and if he should be able to overcome the difficulties attaching thereto, and eat her to carry a bit more flesh, there can be little doubt she would be heard of to advantage in a cross-country event.

Kegel, the full brother to Hippomenes, who has been performing stud duty at Messrs. Alison Brothers' island for several seasons .past, has..been, located.at Adam Byers' place, and as. tile son of St. Leger has been putting- in slow work it would seem that an effort is to-be made' to get a race out of him. While previously in training Regel proved himself a good horse, and his owners had great hopes of landing a big race with him. His legs look sound enough, but his long absence from active training work will entail a large amount of exercise, aud the weak spot may speedily be revealed. Hairy Legs, who brought off a couple of surprises at the Takapuna Meeting by winning the Maiden Hurdle Race and Hack Handicap, is a six-year-old san of Billingsgate. At the Te Aroha Meeting held last March he was responsible for the bringing off of a big surprise in the Hack Race, the dividend attaching thereto being £61 4s, Prior to Takapuna he had done nothing for some time, and it is only a few weeks back that lie was sold to a local publican for £20. Hairy Legs is a thick set coarse-looking horse, and it is to his extremely moderate appearance (together with of course the unaristocratic title which he bears) that has caused him to be so much underrated.

So fat' Miss Anna has proved the only stake earner for the North Shore stable at the Takapuna Meeting. It was thought that at a difference of only 41b Miss Rose would trouble the daughter of St. Hippo in the Hol'son Handicap run on Saturday last; the former was at the tail end of the field during the whole journey. Glenlora, who brought off a mild surprise in the Takapuna Steeplechase, is the same Glenlora that boiled the pot over for the Maiden Steeplechase run at Ellei'slie last June, on which occasion dividends of £23 S3 and £31 19s attached to her victory. Throughout the Takapuna raco Glenlora was always in a prominent position amougst the leaders, aud the manner in which she stayed it out in the face of a strong pace was a subject for general surprise. The daughter of Lsolinus fenced throughout in capital style, and Frank Burns handled his mount to the best advantage.

In my notes recently I made reference to the arrival in Christchurch of Mr. P. Campbell's English-bred colt Sandhurst, a two-year-old son of Bendigo and Martini-Henry's sister Engagement. "Spectator," of the Weekly Press, interviewed this blue-blooded aristocrat, and in speaking of him he says "The son of Bendigo is a well-developed, brown colt, standing, I should say, well up to 15.3 in height, on hard-looking lew of average bone, with good feet. He has plenty of lung room; he is a fine topped colt with a grand loin and well-sprung deep back rib, long arms, muscles thereon perhaps a tritte light through the inaction, big strong quarters aud lower thighs above nicely-placed hocks; indeed, he is all over a very useful typo of a colt, if a shade on the plain side and somewhat short. He is in remarkably robust condition, a sign of a good constitution, and he is wearing his winter coat just now. He is a kindly and, I should say, indolent colt, from the expression of his eye and his head ; but, take him all iu all, a decided acquisition to our bloodstock ?o far as can bo judged from the outward visible signs which present themselves—one that should make a weight carrier, and be good oifer fences, if, indeed, he should not prove a first-class handle horse. I may say that, though Mr. Campbell has imported a number of horses—lngomar, Perkin Warbeck, and Corcyra to wit—he has not hitherto insured stock, but the gentleman under notice was covered to the extent of £500, and came nearly being lost, too. On the 28th December, at eight o'clock in the morning, a few minutes after Mr. Franks had been in attendance on the colt, a heavy sea was met, which, breaking tight over the vessel, stove in one corner of mid completely doubled in the side of the box, flooding it with water, which washed clean over and drenched the colt. Mr. Franks—who had entered the ollicers' apartments a moment before, and had seen through the window the chief officer near the door of the coil's box—after this unexpected contretemps, again looked out and was iu great suspense until that officer was seen clinging to the derrick, to which position he had climbed with all the agility possible just in time to escape either being smashed up or washed overboard. Though Sandhurst escaped serious accident, he received a deep scratch on one of his upper and lower pasterns, and is still showing the mark, and one of his forelegs filled for some days as the result of the concussion. The wonder is that he was landed safe aud sound, as another such encounter with the sea would have completely made matchwood of the horsebox, and washed Sandhurst overboard.

"Hotspur," of the Canterbury Press, recently paid 11 visit to Yaldlmrst, and lie thus refers to tile Castor—Cissy colt:"TJie brother to Day Star, considered by most people to be the pick of the Wellington Park yearlings, and for which Mr. Stead gave the best price obtained at the sale, is an exceedingly nice colt, one that cauuot fail to create a good impression. He is a rare-backed, strong-quartered youngster, without a weak spot about him; lie is, iu fact, a solid little horse already, and, to my mind, is much more shapely than Day Star. Altair, such is his name, is a rare good doer, and lias quite settled down to his new home.

Au Australian writer says Wading through a mass of statistics, 1 find that last season there were held iu Australia (excluding New Zealand) no fewer than 1400 race meetings, or an average of more than four per day. Something like 7000 horses competed at these gatherings, and setting down the value of these animals at, say, £40 or £50 per head—surely a light estimate this— may set down the total value of our racehorses in training at £300,000, probably much more.

A few weeks „back Mr. S. G Cook's horse The Merry Boy, who was being taken over to Sydney in order to contest in the Summer Tattersall Cuds, met with severe injuries on the railway line, and his owner has notified the Victoria Railway Commissioners that he claims compensation for the same. The accident to The Merry Boy is thus stated by Mr. Cook:—"When the train reaches Albany from Melbourne it runs into a 'dead end.' The usual course is to shunt the horse boxes, and then tranship the horses to the Syduey train. On this occasion the railway people suggested that as the platform was clear he should take The Merry Boy out of his box where it stood, and lead him across to the other train. Mr. Cook said,' All right, if you will keep the engine quiet, I will do so,' Accordingly, The Merry ijoy was led out, but just as lie got opposite the engine the whistle blew, and the colt, taking fright, made a bolt; and ■ fell - off the platform on to the rails."

There is no greater living authority on breeding than Mr. W. Allison (the " Special Commissioner" iu the London Sportsman), who makes the following comparison between St. Simon and two of the most noted sires who preceded him:—"The past racing season was St. Simon's best, and it will be found on reference to the statistics that he is responsible for 22 winners of 37 races. Now, let anyone take the calendars and look up Blair Athol's record. Well, what do we discover? Why, that the great son of Stockwell and Blink Bonny had in 1873 34 winners of 84 races; in 1874, 31 -winners of 87 races; and in 1875, 31 winners of 67 races. As to Stockwell, the annals of Wcatherby reveal a really marvellous tale, for in 1865 lie had 38 winners for 88 races; iu 18GG 40 winners for 144 races: and in 1867 41 winners of 114 races ! Nor was this ex traordinary result due to his being an unusually prolific sire, for iu 1863 and 1854the produce of which years would be running at the time his wonderful record was madehe is returned as the sire of 32 living foals and 27 respectively. The most remarkaole fact of all is that in 18SG Stookwell's progeny even topped St. Simon's in the value of stakes won, though none but the classic races i represented big money in those days, and St. Simon's total is this year brought up by no fewer than three ten thousand ' pounders. This, notwithstanding the Stockwells ol 1866 won some £66,000 in stakes, while the St. Simons of 1893 have landed £59,728. Ido not for a moment underrate St. Simon, but people who are prone to go into ecstaeies over the fashion of the hour may do well', to give themselves a little mental ballast by thinking over such facts as those which I have set out above.". „ , The famous mare Signoriim, by.St,.Simon out of : Star of Portici, has proved such a complete failure at the stud that, having sent her in. vain during the last five years to some of the moat . expensive sires, her owner, Chevalier Gineatrelli, ! is stated to have decided to put her in training again.'■ In this event '1 it will be interesting to ; eeo rif the mare has lost her tine speed.

So far this season Panoply has shown no form of any account in public but some of those who have not yet quite lost heart in the gay deceiver seem prepared to favour his chance in the Summer Handicap at Takapuna to-day. If the son of Splendor would only run up to track form he would undoubtedly prove a very, troublesome customer to beat in that event. 1 ." , An English cablegram of Thursday's date states that in the betting on the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase the New Zealand horse Norton is quoted at 12 to 1.

It is vastly more easy (says the London Sportsman) for a rich man to become a peer than a member of the Jockey Club. No device such as subsidising a party, running political paper, or contesting a few Parliamentary elections, can give a man any claim on the Jockey Club. He is elected on his own individual merit; and thus it is that the Jockey Club—though far from infalliblecommands respect, and elevates the character of racing in England.

Except in the case of St. Simon, stallion fees in England have gone down during the last year or two, and this is a fact that has been but little noticed. There are ;no 250 guinea fees now, and very few of 200 guineas. Similarly, we do not see so many second-rate animals figuring at 100 guineas, and there is a whole host of really good horses at fees of 50 guineas and under, so that tho cost of breeding is by no means what it was, and the depression in the bloodstock market is in this way compensated. I clip the following from the Melbourne Leader Mr. W. T. Jones having sold out his interest in Newhaven to Mr. W, Cooper, the projected invasion of English territory by the champion three-year-old will not retain that strong element of Australian nationality which would have been represented had Mr. Jones not relinquished his part ownership. Mr. Cooper has for years past been essentially an English sportsman, and whatever measure of success may attend Newhaven, it will be discounted as far as Australia is concerned by the fact that English methods and respect to training and riding will form the potent factors thereof. Referring to Hova, a writer in the Australasian says " Although at the stud during the whole of last season, he was constantly hacked about, so has put on no superfluous flesh, and when I saw him was as hard as nails. The old ' leg' (off fore) looks as big as a bolster, but seems quite callous, and there is not a semblance of heat in it. The danger to be feared is the good one going wrong, as I have always noticed that the ' best' is invariably sacrificed in favour of the ' wrong' oue."

The trotting horse is a valuable and useful animal (writes "Javelin " in the Melbourne Leader), but unfortunately animals of higher intelligence who have manipulated him in this country have kept him in such a shady atmosphere that the poor brute has become tainted by association with their unsavoury selves, Trotting in Victoria, in fact, may be likened unto footracing of the past, boxing ot the present, and bicycle racing of the near future. A few good men who recognise what a desirable branch of sport it should and might have been, have striven bravely, but in vain, to lift it out of the mire. The disreputable element numerically and otherwise have always been "too strong." The good old supporters of trotting, however, take a lot of knocking out, and after fruitless endeavours to make the game popular at Croxton Park, Elstermvick Park, Epsom, Moonee Valley, Ascot and Richmond in turn, they recently decided over a convivial glass-which perhaps explains the joke— try Flemington ! It was resolved to approach the V.R.C. committee mi the subject, but I should advise them not to get too near, especially if Frank Madden happens to have a full head of steam on. Without wishing to discourage the trotting enthusiasts, I should be disposed to opine that they would be more likely to induce .1 first-class pork sausage merchant to adopt the sign of a dead dog for his trade mark than to persuade the V.R.C. people to recognise trotting. The twenty-eighth volume of the Badminton Library is now published. It deals with the poetry of sport. One of the best pieces in the hook, and worthy also of being read by New Zealanders because of its praise of Lochiel's sire, is George _ Tyrrell's spirited ode to Prince Charlie, which begins thus

Let hoary veterans, past their prime, Dilate on the .steeds of a bygone ime Ami their geno:» logical tree ; On " Charlie's" form can they name a patch ? What flyer of old would they bring to scratch? What "modern Eclipse" could they d*re to match Willi the Prince of the T.Y.C. ? Oh! sweet is t'-e transient shout that rings

In the tars of Derby and I.cger kings, Who have humbly bent the knee To the Prince, who leil them in lengthy file O'er his «\vn little course on the Rowley mils From start to finish in meteor tiyle— The Prince of the T. V.C. Coil is goiug on nicely in his training at Rand wick, and all going well with him between now and the end of the present month, he will, it is said, have a tilt at Newhaven in the V.R.C. St. Lcger.

Word received from England states that the Martini-Henry mare Aemena, recently sent to the old country, is being trained by F. W. Day, who at one timo acted as trainer to the Sydney sportsman, Mr. S. Hordern. Fort, by Gibraltar—Formosa, who has been a great disappointment for a long time past, has been presented by Mr. H. 0. White to his Sydney trainer, T. Pay ten. It will be interesting to note whether the change in ownership will bring about a change in form on the part of this good-looking horse. Wallace is credited with training on satisfactorily at St. Albans, and should ho continue to go on all right, he will, it is expected, have a cut at Neivhaven in the Champion Stakes.

The thoroughbred mare, Voltarina, dam of Recluse and others, has had to be destroyed through getting out of the sliugs (where she had been placed for a broken log), and knocking herself about considerably.

Though Alozel was favoured in having the services of John Rae to steer him in the Takapuna Steeplechase, the son of Turquoise cut up rather badly in that race.

Peg«sus was strongly backed in Auckland for the Egmont Cup and may be said to have been quite the local favourite for that event. He did not run up to the form anticipated of him.

Mauulicher, who lias not earned a single shilling for Mr. Stead since he was two years old, is reported to be coming oil nicely, and hopes are eutertaiued of the son of Maxim being seen at his best in the autumn. Doris is to be shipped to New Plymouth by Monday's steamer from the Manukau, with a view to fulfilling her engagement at the Taranaki Jockey Club's meeting.

Fabulist was not sent to Taranaki to fulfil hi 3 engagements at the Egmont meeting; but as lie is engaged at the Manawatu meeting, he may be taken to the West Coait later on.

Bloodshot, who is favourite for the Australian Cup, is credited with performing a great gallop at Flemington on Thursday last.

Havoc split one of his feet, which is the reason given for his scratching for V.R.C. engagements. Nightingale was yesterday offered by auction by Messrs. Buckland and Sons, but failed to find a purchaser.

A noteworthy fact in connection with the career of the late jockey Bert Castleton is that he rode his first and last race iu the, colours of Mr. Donald McKiunon.

Conscript, Booties, and Ulysses . were shipped to Sydney by the s.s. Tasmania. An English cablegram states that Carbine's first foal ill England is from tho Hon. Mr. Chaplin's Gallopin—Dee mare, The Challenge Stakes winner Bluefire is next season to be mated with St. Leger. Whakawatea is said to hare lost his pace.

OTAHUHU TROTTING CLUB'S MEETING. The following are the acceptances for the various events to be run on the first day of the Otahuhu Trotting Club's Meeting OTAU' iiu Trotting Cur Handicap. Two mile",—Schoolgirl scratch, Nellie 125., Hurricanel6s., La Hue 161., Fibre 10s., Otara 285.. Bess 315., Mi»s Graham 325„ Oakwood AbdaUah 335., Doone 405., Miss Hlion 40s. Electric Trot Handicap. One mile.-School-girl scratch, Nellie 45., le Corbeau 45., Hurricane 65., Otara 75., Ladybird, Commodore Bs., Miss Graham, Wasp 125., Hazelwood 135,, Doone 165., Slim Jim 18s. Maiden Pony Race Handicap. Five furlongs.Lena 0.4, Lulu 8.10, Siwash 8.4, Quail 3,0, Tommy At'<ins 7.7, Lady Howitzer 7.7, Target 7,0, Scrip 7.0, Stenson 7.0. Pony Handicap Hurdle Race. One mile and a-half—Fauntleroy 12.0, Platch 12.0, Pembroke 11.12, Pica 11.3, The Dove 10.12, Little Haven 10,3, Helena 10.0, Discord 10.0, Frisco 0,8, Quail 9,0. Suburban Pony Handicap. Six and a-half furlongs.—ltomeo 11.4, Pembroke Kt.O, Sneak 9.9, Bit o" Fashion 9.5, Silkworm 9.0, Gillie 8.0, Gerniina 7.12, Rangiuru 7.9, Kaipata 0.9, Lady Howitzer 6.9. Flying Stakes Handicap, Five furlongs.— Sneak 0.10, Cupid 9.7, Bit o' Fashion 9.6, Lena 9.2, Kit 0 0, Gillie 8.2, Germina 8.0, Rangiuru 7.12, Kaipara 6,12. Maiden Trot Handicap. One mile and a-half. Lusiiania; scratch, l,e Corbeau 35., Bendigo 125., The Wasp 153., Darlington 155.. Rntene 155., Doctor ISs., Sarsaparilla 18s., Cor.ilie 135., Crusty 18s., Dooms; 215., Lord Harold 215., Tamaki 215., Miss Huon -255. :, Harness Trot handicap, Two miles and a-half. —Rosebud 225., Alice 355., Duke C. 353., Lusitania 355., Sandfly 625,, Waihitiepai 585., The Wasp 635,, Sarsaparilla 635., Eutene 705., Woodbine 775., Slim Jim 775. -' V

The privileges in connection with the Otahuhu Trotting Club's Summer Meeting were sold yesterday at the Brunswick Mart by Mr. T. Beale. . The . publican's . booth realised £63,'- the' race cards £30, ' the gates £83, and the refreshment booth £2, the total amount being £178.'.- This'is £36 ill advance of the figures realised last year. - ' •