SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11986, 7 June 1902, Page 6

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. June 7—Auckland Racing Club. June 26, 27—Hawke's Bay Jockey Club. Jnlv 2, 4—Napier Park Racing Club. July 10, 11—Gisborne Pacing Club. DATES OF COMING EVENTS. NEW ZEALAND June 27—Hawke's Bay Steeplechase. July 2—Napier Park Steeplechase. July 2. 4—Napier Park Racing Club. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. p B Sultana ran his first race over country' at Eilersiie on Tuesday last. SPOBT, Stratford.— A is entitled to receive the £10. ~.'«, .„ Wager.— was Don that defeated Shillelagh in the Great Northern Steeplechase of 1389. Three years subsequently Shillelagh defeated Coaranto. NOTES BY PHAETON. The 116 th Derby duly came up for decision on Wednesday last at Bosom, and by cable we learn that the time-honoured race fell to the Irish-bred colt Ard Patrick, who carried the colours of his breeder Mr. John Gubbins. At two years old Ard Patrick proved himself a good colt, and his Derby prospects were considered to be of so promising a character that an offer of 20,000 guineas was made to Mr. Gubbins for him, which tempting bait the Irish sportsman was found plucky enough to -withstand. Ard Patrick opened his three-year-old career with a win in the Newmarket Stakes last month, but he was deprived of the honour of annexing that race on the grounds of interfering with the runner-up, Fowlingpiece. As Ard Patrick figured favourite in the betting at 9 to 2 for some time, it may be accepted as quite certain that his connections entertained some good hopes of his following in the footsteps of his halfbrother, Galtee More, who, it will be remembered, captured the Derby of 1897 for Mr. Gubbins. A victory on the part of Ard Patrick in the Derby would not perhaps be so much of a surprise as the pronounced downfall of the favourito Sceptre, on whose ability to win even money was laid, but who failed to gain a situation. With a dual victory in the Two Thousand Guineas and One , Thousand Guineas, a victory for Sceptre in the blue riband certainly appeared to bo a ' very probable event, and with what a rosy tint the owner of the daughter of Persimmon viewed matters for his filly at Epsom we 1 have abundant evidence in that he was found ' plucky enough to refuse an offer of 35,000 guineas for her, and, in addition, boldly i offered to race any throe-year-old on the face of the earth over pny distance, from a mile and a-quarter to a mile and three-quarters, for a big stake. Tho downfall of Sceptre will take rank with the sensational defeat of McGregor, who captured the Two Thousand Guineas in such style that the Derby was thought to be all over, and odds of 9 to 4 were laid on him. Weight of money did not, however, help McGregor, and by his inability to gain a situation the public lost a great lump of gold. A cablegram received states that Sceptre was backed for the Derby to win half-a-million of money, and we can well imagine what a roar j4&uld go up at Epsom when she got into difficulties last Wednesday. * . The list of Derby winners can always be depended upon to interest the student of racing, and, indeed, when one peruses the illustrious roll many a stirring incident is called up. Starting with 1865, the Frenchbred Gladiateur is the first to be dealt with. Gladiateur was owned by a good sportsman in the person of Count Lagrange, but all the some John Bull and his family did not relish tho blue riband going across the Channel. Sixteen years after Gladiateur annexed the Derby another " foreigner" in the shape of Iroquois, who hailed from America, was first home, but though Mr. W. C. vVhitney, an American sportsman, claimed the winner last year, the distinction was gained by the aid of an English-bred colt. The following is a list of the -uerby winners from 1865: — ( ; ; i

Ard Patrick can boast of a blue-blooded pedigree. His sire, St. Florian, is a son of the celebrated St. Simon and Palm/flower, while his dam (Morganette) was got by Springfield (son of St. Albans) from Lady Morgan, a daughter of Thormanby. An interesting fact in connection with the breeding! of the first and second horses in the Derby is that their respective sires, St.- Florian and Isinglass, were out in the same season at three years old, and contested the Derby of 1894, in which Isinglass proved successful. An important matter in the framing of programmes is' unquestionably the conditions attaching to races ; and I think this is a question that might well be accorded a greater amount of thought at the hands of the authorities of the Auckland Racing Club than that which it has been accorded in the past. The programme in connection with the North New Zealand Grand National Meeting is the chief item that I have in my mind at the present time as furnishing room for criticism. I hold that it is a most dangerous course for the club to adopt to .attach "at date of nomination" to their maiden races, instead of " at time of starting." For instance, take tho case of Tresham. Here we had a horse engaged in a Maiden Hurdle Race who had previously shown his ability to win in open company, and the race a - Ellerslie proved to be completely at his'mercy. Then, again, in the Great Northern Steeplechase, an amount of 150-ovs was fixed for a horse .to win before ho could earn a 51b penalty; but in the Grand National Hurdle Race no amount was stated, and the winner of any hurdle race (it might be at a hack meeting) was cast in c penalty. Singular to remark, (here was a complete absence of penalties in the flat races which figured on the first day's programme. This was not _ a serious matter on this occasion, but it may not be always thus, and it would, I think, be well if the committee included a clause penalising winners after the declaration of the weights for these events in future. Though the contretemps which occurred in the Grand National Hurdle Race at Eilersiie on Wednesday last caused many with financial considerations to hang their heads, it must be deemed an extremely fortunate circumstance that we were spared a fatality as the result of the mishap at the seventh hurdle. It was little short of a miracle that all the riders who suffered a fall should have escaped. It is a popular impression that Tresham, who was the first horse to fall, hit the hurdle when jumping, but that was not so. T. Julian, the rider of Tresham, tells me that he steered his horse for the second panel, but that his mount swerved into the right, with the result that in landing he hit the rail enclosing the course -mashing it and coming down. Julian was fortunately thrown to a quarter where he was safe when Frost and ufus toppled over as the result of colliding with Tresham. W. McGregor, the rider of Rufus, remembers, seeing Tresham rise to the hurdle, and he estimates that Rufus and Frost were within three lengths of the leader at that time, but after that matters are a complete blank to him. F. Cochrane, the rider of Frost, hod a terribly narrow escape from a very serious injury. One of the horses in rising grazed him with its foot, and another inch would most probably have entailed serious consequences to Cochrane. It was about an hour and a-half after the a dent occurred that I found little Julian and McGregor standing at the entrance to the jockeys' room. The two little chaps plucked up much courage in replying to my queries, hut there was a quiver in their respective voices that showed plainly they realised what they had come through.

No doubt the accident which occurred during the running of the Grand National Hurdle Race went much towards making that event take the shape of a present to Royal Conqueror ; none the less does the fact come out strongly that it pays to let a horse take his chance, even though a penalty be in the way. On the day previous to the decision of the Grand National, Royal Conqueror claimed an engagement in the Remuera ' Hurdle Race, and as a victory in that event would entail a 71b penalty in the leading event, good grounds could have been advanced for the use of the scratching pen in connection with his name for the first-named race. However, Frank Macmanemin advised a start in the Remuera Hurdle Itace with Royal Conqueror, which the Flintlock gelding duly followed up with a win, and when the Grand National also fell to him on the following day the tactics pursued on the opening day came out in bold relief. Royal Conqueror was steered in both his races by T. Wilson, a young horseman, whose conduct is such that it is at all times pleasing to place his name on the winning list. When Cannongate contested the steeplechase at Takapuna on the 28th ult. he tailed off very badly throughout, and the performance was of such an indifferent character thai it seemed as though one could justifiably take the risk of writing him out for all winter engagements. In the short space of a week, however, the Cannon gelding made what'can be termed a wonderful return to form. In the Great Northern Steeplechase he was assisting to make the pace for most of the way, and finished well up fourth as they dashed past the post. On the following day Cannongate was on the scene to contest the Tally-ho Steeplechase, and under 12st 21b he made an exhibition of his field. Oannongate's contradictory display at North Shore and Eilersiie is a stiff little problem for followers of form to engage their thoughts upon. It teaches one thing to those who are never above learning, and that is to refrain from hurriedly writing horses out. Tirea was very strongly boomed as a very probable winner of the Grand National Hurdle Race, but how wide of the mark those expounding such a view were the son of Kaiwaka very strongly demonstrated when lie contested the Remuera Hurdle Race, run on the day preceding the Grand National. He was never in it when it came to business, and in the face of such a poor display everyone was quite prepared to hear that the pen had been nut through his name for the big event in which he was entered, '.there are few finer-looking horses than Tirea at the jumping business, and I am inclined to think his big condition was to a large extent responsible for his poor display at Eilersiie on Tuesday last. Mr. John Lynch, the owner of Golden Rose, can be spoken of as one of the " good old sort" that everyone rejoices to see claiming a winner, for he races largely for love of the sport, and when his mare Golden Rose got home first under the green and gold hoops" at Ellerslie on Wednesday last, there were few that could have wished it different. At the sale of yearlings held at Wellington Park in January hist Mr. Lynch purchased the yearling filly by Castor from Vivandiere, and she will, I understand, be brought up from Coromandel during the coming week in order to receive her education at the hands of Koss Keaton. The appropriate name of Vivandelle has been claimed for Vivandiere's daughter. 111-luck attended Rufus in the Great Northern Steeplechase and Grand National Hurdle Race. In the first-named race the little son of Muskapeer misjudged his distance in negotiating the hurdle by the six-furlong post the second time round, and his chance was thus early ruined. While going well in the Grand National Hurdle Race, Rufus was brought to grief by the faulty jump which Tresham made in negotiating the seventh hurdle. Weal had Rufus in great nick, and he is to be sympathised with in the ill-luck which attended his game little horse. .'* Though Moifaa failed to see out the Great Northern Steeplechase, the Natator gelding gave pointed illustration that ho is far from a spent light. Though weighted with 12st 10!b, he was always well up towards the front, and he rattled down the hill the last time in pursuit of The Guard in great style. Maybe his fall at the stone wall was due to his wearying of the contest, but, considering that he was clearly below himself in the matter of condition, a valid excuse might be advanced for his. mishap. If Moifaa is destined for a trip to the Old Country, it will most probably be found advantageous to allow him to drop out of all his winter engagements. It is a defeat under such circumstances as that which surrounds the downfall of Tresham in the Grand National Hurdle Race, decided at Eilersiie on Wednesday last, that ma;/ be said, to fairly try a man. Mr. J: B. Williamson, at whose hands Tresham received his preparation, was fairly confident that his horse would prevail, and to suffer a reverse when victory appeared to 'be within roach was really hard luck. "J. 8.," however, is not one to indulge in a cry over spilt-milk, and downfall of Tresham did not find him carrying other than the sunny bearing under which his friends at all times thaw. For some days prior to the running of the Grand National Hurdle Race Evening Wonder was whispered about as, a horse to be kept in mind. I could never myself grasp the idea that the Wonderland gelding had a chance in the Ellerslie race, and the result showed what a poor summing up had been made by those whispering Evening Wonder. Four horses fell, and Evening Wonder finished fifth. Had no accident occurred, Evening Wonder's position would have been ninth. Mars succeeded in ornamenting his offstifle while contesting the Remuera Hurdle Race, but in the Grand National Hurdle Race he got through .his task without any like result. Of course. Mars owed his position as second in the Grand National entirely to the fact that an accident placed several horses hors do combat. Still, matters may ... be said to be fairly promising for the Ingoinar gelding in the jumping line. Nominations for the New Zealand Cup fell due on Wednesday last, and with an entry of 66 the C.J.C. have very good reason to bo satisfied with the result. If we except Royal Artillery, every eligible horse of note at present on the turf in New Zealand is included in the list. Of course, as is usual with most Cup entries, there is a good percentage of what might justifiably bo termed rubbish engaged, but, taken all round, the New Zealand Cup entry must be voted decidedly satisfactory. A horse that took my fancy a good deal at the North New Zealand Grand National Meeting was Frost. The Foulshot gelding jumped the big fences in the Great Northern Steeplechase in proficient style, and that he is : p. solid little fellow he came out on the following clay as fresh as paint to have a "go" in the Grand National Hurdles. Frost was going in fine style when he came to grief through foiling over Tresham, and, though I am not quite prepared to say that he would have won had no accident occurred, I think he would have been very handy to the winner. The Irish sportsman, Mr. John Gubbins, owes much to the noble thoroughbred. Gal tee Move, who carried his colours in the seasons of 1896 and 1897, captured stakes to the value of £27,079, and was then sold to the Russian Government for 20,000 guineas. In Ard Patrick Mr. Gubbins possesses a colt for whom he will bo able to command a big price, as it is a known fact that he refused an offer of 20,000 guineas for that colt several months back. The descendants of St. Hippo were in evidence at Eilersiie on Tuesday last. His son Hylas scored a victory in the initial event— the Maiden Steeplechase — which was followed up by Maroon and Gold annexing the Maiden Welter Handicap and the Ladies' Bracelet. On the second day Up-to-date, who was also sired by St. Hippo, annexed the Second Maiden Welter Handicap. Record Reign won his first race in the winter, and it was a welter handicap at Eilersiie that fell to the son of Castor. Up-to-date, who claims half-brothership to Record Reign', lost his maidenhood on Wednesday la.st under somewhat similar conditions. Up-to-date has furnished splendidly since he was last seen at Eilersiie, and Mr. Roulston may find in the son of St. Hippo a good stake-earner. The yearling full sister to Nonette, secured at auction yesterday for 200 guineas by Mr. J. T. Ryan, must be considered cheap, for she carries a decidedly promising appearance. The daughter of Seaton Delaval and Charente went into Frank Maemanemin's hands some months back, and she will continue to occupy a box in the establishment that houses her doughty full brother. Twenty different horses by Carbine have won races in England, and, strange to say, the Duke of Portland, whoso mares seem just the sort to suit Carbine, only bred one of them, viz., Mannlicher. Eight of the winners are out of St. Simon mares. Lord Londonderry bred Carabine, Bistonian, and Pistol, while Mr. Wallace Johnstone bred Fowling-piece, Mr. J. E. Piatt Dundonald, and Sir James Duke Wargrave,

The Indian Government last year stopped the Maharajah of Jodhpore from racing, and at the same time would not arrange for his horses to be sold or leased Since then insufficient care has been bestowed on Up Guards, Forest, Baron 11.. the pony Yankee Bov arid the* Maharajah's; valuable arabs, and 'touching on this unsatisfactory state of affairs the Indian Planters Gazette says :- " We do not know who is His Highness the Maharajah of Jodhpore's -Master of the Horse or whether he has one at all, but it seems' a crying shame that valuable cattle such as these should be allowed to go neglected Surely, if the Government are an xious 'to put a curb upon the expenditure or the State, it is not necessary to do it in a manner which will cause some of the most valuable assets to deteriorate. If these horses are to be allowed to run to seed in tne way that they are now, they will not bo worth the proverbial penny piece m the market." Mr. John Corlett, writing in his paper, the Sporting Times, says:—"We have become altogether a convert to the French system with regard to two-year-old racing, but as" there is not the slightest chance of that system being adopted it would, looking at the exnerienco we have gained, be well to reduce"the distance early in the year to half-a-mile. and this is what we hear Lord Durham will take in hand. Running a two-year-old early in the season for speed, perhaps, docs not hurt him, but it is an incongruous thing to see a two-year-old run five furlongs in March with Bst 121b on his back, and in the very next race to see a four or five-year-old over the same distance carry 6st or less. It is the last furlong that does all the mischief with the two-year-old." BREVITIES. •Mr. Stead has nominated Cruciform for the New Zealand Cup. Some of the West Coast horses carry a rather fine-trained appearance. The price stated to have been paid by Mr. Gollan for Moifaa is 500 guineas. Clarion is a mere pony in stature, but she can leap big) fences in really taking style. Moifaa walked in slightly lame behind after his efforts in the Great "Northern Steeplechase. Tirea is a lugger horse than Cavaliero, but the'latter has a long way the best of it for quality. ' St. Florian, sire of Ard Patrick, was got by St. Simon. He died a few years back in Ireland. J. Gallagher threaded his way home on Beddington in the Cornwall Handicap in artistic style. Tho followers of Cavaliero were betting even money on his winning the Great Northern Steeplechase. Sly Miss acted as runner-up in the Maiden Welter Handicaps decided at Ellerslie on Tuesday and Wednesday last. Royal Artillery is, engaged v: the Melbourne Cup, but his name is missing from the New Zealand Cup entry. Old Dingo got round in safety in the Great Northern Steeplechase, but in the Tally-ho Steeplechase he came to grief. Lord Durham recently submitted a motion to the English Jockey Club with the object of abolishing assumed names, but it failed to pass. An acceptance of half a dozen for the Winter Steeplechase to be run to-day at Ellersiie- must be accounted to be distinctly disappointing. Ard Patrick, the winner of _ the English Derby, claims half-brothership _ to Galtee More, who achieved like distinction in the Epsom event three years back. What weight will Mr. Henrys select as the standard for the New Zealand Cup adjustment is an interesting little point that, as usual, claims much discussion in local turf circles. . Messrs. L. D. and N. A. Nathan claim an entry of five for the New Zealand Cup, their representatives being Beddington, Laval otte, Northumberland, Grey Seaton, and La Valiere. The ease with which Cannongate (12st 21b) defeated Sultana (9st 101b) in the Tally-ho Steeplechase with 2st 61b the worst ot the weights shows that the latter is at present a very moderate customer. Mr. James Poulston's grand old mare, Winnie, claimed another winner when her four-year-old son, Up-to-date, scored a win in the Maiden Welter Handicap at Ellerslie on Wednesday last. A Wellington Press Association telegram received last night says: —The stewards of the Wellington Racing Club have decided that the suspension of the jockey McClusky shall terminate on July 31. Koss Heaton was very disappointed with Golden Rose's running in the Cornwall Handicap, but it did not cause him to quite lose heart with reference to the mare's chance in the York Handicap, and Mr. Lynch enjoyed a fair win over his mare's victory. New Zealand claims a brace of doughty performers this year in the Melbourne Cup in the shape of Royal Artillery and Nonette. It will be interesting to note how Mr. F. F. Dakin estimates the brown and chestnut, as the V.R.C. handieapper has never seen cither colt. Advance's disappointing half-brother, Laureate, chased the whole field home in the Second Maiden Welter Handicap at Eilersiie on Wednesday. Surely it was a great piece of flattery to accord the son of Rangipuhi the distinction of an entry for the Now Zealand Cup. W. Howard suffered two falls at Eilersiie on Wednesday last. While riding Cavaliero in the Grand National Hurdle Race he was knocked out of the saddle as the result of the mishap at the seventh hurdle, while in Hie running of the Tally-ho Steeplechase Dingo came to grief with him. The Auckland-bred mare Circe (by Cas--Cissy) ran third for tho Brisbane Cup on the 24th ult. Tho distance of the race was two miles. Circe carried Bst 61b and was only a length away from the winner, Palmer, who had Bst 111b in the saddle. As the 16 furlongs were run in 3m. 325. it was a fair go. It was certainly up to Maroon and Gold to take a place at the head of the field, for until this week the son of St. Hippo finished out of a place in every one of the races which he has contested since the spring of 1900. Maroon and Gold allows plenty of size, and possibly age will enable him to achieve something in the jumping line. Frost and Rufus figure amongst the acceptors for the Winter Steeplechase and Hurdle Race respectively to be run at Ellerslie this afternoon. In anv case it is extremely doubtful if either would be set to tackle the double, but as the two races in question follow each other, it may be accepted as quite certain that one event will be selected for them to contest. In referring to the death of Captain Ootavius Macheli. a well-known writer says: — , " Beginning life with little or nothing he died a rich man, and it can be said the breath of dishonour has never dimmed the escutcheon which some 20 generations of Machells have borne since the days of the Crusades. Macheli in his day made bets j of startling boldness, and cancelled them with equanimity and generosity when the ruin of his opponent seemed imminent. During his early career on the turf Macheli was known by the sobriquet of ' the Lucky Captain,' but when it was recognised that his triumphs were due less to luck than to his own practical sagacity, the newspapers dubbed him ' the astute Captain Macheli.' " The vicissitudes of the turf are assuredly amongst the most singular romances of life remarks " Javelin." Mr. Robert Standish Sievier, owner of Sceptre, winner of the Two Thousand Guineas and One Thousand Guineas Stakes, was known in Australia as " Bob Sutton the cash bookmaker." He has since been presented at Coirrt, had his presentation cancelled, married tho sister of a marquis, and at the yearling sales a couple of years ago outbid the present King of England's representatives for the filly referred to above, for which he has just refused an offer of £35.000. It was whispered to " Sutton" while the bidding was going on and had reached 6000 ' guineas that "His Royal Highness the Princa of Wales wanted the filly." "So do I," was the laconic reply —and he got her for 10,000 guineas, the record price for a yearling. SALES OF BLOODSTOCK. A number of racehorses were submitted to auction yesterday, and were disposed cf as follows : — By Messrs. Alfred Buckland and Son?, at the Hay market: Gs. Bay. filly Crecy, by Hotchkiss— 3yrs, Mr. McLean 33 Bay filly by Seaton Delaval, dam Charente. lyr, Mr. J. T. Evan 200 Chestnut filly by Musketry—Sunning-dale. lyr, Mr. F. Macmanemin 80 Brown colt by Soult— Mysterious, lyr, Mr. Brown .. 30 Bay mare Lady Desborough. by Re. trenebment—Prestoria, Mr. Conway ... 20 Bay gelding Frenchman, by Crawford Priory, aged. Mr. J. Wallace 21 Chestnut horse Cowrie, by Blairgowrie Lady Emmeline, Hill Bros 16 By the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., at Durham Yards: Bay mare Sly Miss, by Flintlock— Miss Sly, Mr. J. Hawkins ... 55 Bay mare Miss Flora, by Lochness—Miss Sly, Mr. L. Nelson 26 Bay gelding Ambition, bv St. HippoNellie, 4yrs, Mi. M. Deeble 27 Bay gelding Yarra, by Cap-a-pie— Little Nell, aged. Mr. s. D&rragfa 22 Bay gelding C'yde, by Richmond—Tim's dam, Mr. H. Shuydell 11 Gray gelding Kauai, by Woolbroker, Mr. * W. Donlop , 15

NORTH NEW ZEALAND GRAND NATIONAL MEETING. NOTES ON THE RACING. s {Br fhaetox.] Whatever may be in store for us on the third day, it can safely be said that the first and second days of the Grand National Meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday last were brought off at Ellerslie under weather conditions sueh as have never before been experienced in connection with the winter gathering. King Sol shone out at times in all his brilliancy, and the picturesque surroundings of Ellerslie were set off to such advantage as to make one proud to claim dear old Maoriland as his home. The number of visitors present this year at the " Grand National" was much larger than on any previous occasion, and the crowded appearance which the main stand presented during- the running of the Great Northern Steeplechase furnished a picture the like of which could not be equalled on any other racecourse in the colony. This may sound a little boastful, but it has to be borne in mind that the A.R.C. possess stand accommodation which, as the saying goes, places them out by themselves. Well, the result of another Great Northern Steeplechase has gone into the records, and though " defeat of the favourite" has to be entered, it is pleasing to be able to chronicle the fact that a. victory in the big crosscountry event went down to the credit of a really good horse in The Guard. The Vanguard gelding, it may truthfully be said, left no room for a cavil regarding his performance. Always well up towards the front under his heavy burden of 12st 31b, The Guard was found in the lead when the hill had to be tackled the third time, and how did he climb it? Clearing the two post-and-rail fences in magnificent style, he sailed along with a free ' stride, and, keeping his opponents at bay all the way up the straight, the little fellow cantered in four lengths in front of Frost. So far as I could see, The Guard did not from first to last make a faulty jump, and the performance can justifiably be termed one of the ...most convincing displays known in connection with a Great Northern Steeplechase. Frost, who filled the role of runner-up, acquitted himself well, and Princess of Thule finished third in really good style, while Cannongate was well up fourth. Cavaliero's display was the big disappointment of the race. The Cuirassier gelding jumped most carefully throughout, but there was an absence of dash about his performance, which seemed to point to it being an off day with him. Maybe, as some contend, the long trip was not to Cavaliero's likmg, but at no part of the journey did the old fellow roll himself into his task as one would have expected, and, as ho was practically going at the samo gait throughout, I am inclined to take the. view that we did not see the true Cavalicro last Tuesday. The time of the race (Bm. 345.) was 13£s. slower than when Moifaa scored last year, when, it may be said, the ground was less holding than this year. Tresharn's display in the Maiden Hurdle Race was of so satisfactory a character that it had the effect of disarming pretty well all hostility to him for the Grand National Hurdle Race, and on the day the Catesby gelding was found occupying pride of place in the betting. Tresham was quick to commence Ids task when the battle commenced, and he and Bellman wore cracking on the pace in such style when the last mile came to he undertaken that they were out in front with a, five lengths' advantage. Tresham sailed over the sixth hurdle faultlessly, and was going so well when the seventh hurdle (three furlongs from home) came to be negotiated that it seemed pretty safe his admirers would handle a dividend. In an instant, however, there was a perfect transformation. Tresham - jumped in towards the rails. struck the obstacle, and fell, and Frost and Rufus, who were running in his wake, tripped and fell over him, while in the scrummage Howard, the rider of Cavaliero, got unseated. This unfortunate contretemps practically sapped the race of all interest, as Royal Conqueror (who was running fifth when the accident to the other horses occurred) was left with a commanding lead, and the issue was never afterwards in doubt. Various opinions are held as to how the race would have ended had no accident occurred, bub I do not think Royal Conqueror could have won had Tresham, Frost, Rufus, and Ca.valiero stood up. Certainly, Royal Conqueror is a bit of a sticker, but a good gap separated him from the leading division, and Wilson was most certainly very busy on the Flint gelding before Tresham went down. Had no accident occurred, the onlookers would, there can be little doubt, have witnessed one of the most interesting contests that has ever taken place at Ellerslie in a jumping race. The " Grand National" contest of 1902, however, leaves behind recollections that may be termed the reverse of pleasant. Having disposed of the two leading jumping events, I direct my remarks to the principal flat races which figured on, the programme. The Cornwall Handicap (run over a mile) found the consistent Highlander in the post of honour, with Formula a good second favourite. The sister to Multiform was found acting the role of pacemaker, and, as she was still in the van when the head of the straight was reached, she looked like seeing out the journey. However, iust inside the distance Beddington appeared on the scene, and, having saved a deal of' ground by getting! a clear run next the rails, he had his race won some distance from the post, while Highlander wore down Formula in the last few strides and scored second honours by a neck. As Beddington had list in the saddle the performance of the Seaton Delaval gelding was a'really good one. Beddington could not be picked as a horse that would act well under weight, and the lathy, mean appearance which lie carries seemed to place the task set him somewhat in the light of a forlorn hope. Beddington, however, not only got home first, but he scored in really good sty'e. J In the York Handicap, run on the second day, the distance of which was seven furlongs Scotty (lOst ;91b) was made favourite, I tie »t. Leger gelding never succeeded in getting up with the leaders. Under the heavv burden of list lOlfe Ostiak was out making the pace for most of the way, and when they got made ho distance it seemed as though he would , have no difficult" m settling the apportion, for he appeared to be still gomg freely without , any persuading Golden Rose, however, made her appearance on the scene in the closing stage with a capital run, and when the whip was token out to Ostiak the Stejmiak gelding eould to no faster, and Golden hSTiIS £Ti a leDgth - As Golden Rose race failed ° show up "J** the front in her race on the preceding day, she occupied o P ace amongst the improbable* in the decision of the York Handicap, and as a result" a dividend of £22 9s attached to her victory si Tnoi Se i lh T, a f ? ur daughter of St. Leaver and Bangle, and from the manner chjtet ? e fffi ha J UP %* ta * «Ve'cW advantage **" She ™ U bo seen to With a record attendance on the first two days and large fields of contestants a p™ diction offered that this year's Grand Nare"h l W ° l,ld , be sensible for i fresh totahsator record seems in every way the sum of £21,611 was handled at the macne sum of ±,£1,611 was handled at the ma, chines which is £2476 in excess of the snm Put through on the corresponding days of ast year's gathering, and is within £6832 of meeting!* * total (£2B ' M3) for «** whole THE THIRD DAY'S RACING. ' NOTES AND-ANTICIPATIONS. The meeting will be brought to a conclusion to-day. and should the weather prove mo pitious a good crowd of visitors may be ex pected to journey to Ellerslie in order to as selVoU'th Tr7 ° f 'Kc-tain fo? the rrn first AKG °°nvineing-ground ■ started he should win I l [r,9 avahero g Hylas will ous opponents. 5l csiugerThe issue in the Winter Wpltn, w„ j« -Mas ffzfe Sas'srir* a Hutri, rrost and Rufus c ij. * *>* *f ??*• *"» %&&**?%£"*• snd * *>*• the and" Leo DdJSI : HilUowe, places. elava] "*> finish in the leading ragon. HUnterS ' Steepledm, may go to Tar?T Wdl Han J diraD T P r « f <* the cnanoes ot lakapuna and Field Battery. THE ACCEPTANCES. I he following is a list of the acceptances:MAID Abo,ft T f EPL^° HAE of 200SOVS. About two miles and a-half. Cavaliero ... St. lb. Hinemoa ... fw Oavaliero ... 13 10 Hinemoa . . 910 Hyias ... ... 10 7 Parahaki ... 9 7 £ «i «. ... 10 5 Major 97 Matarawa ... 10 q PulLiok '* 9 7 Clarion ... 910 " •

INTERPROVINCIAL GOSSIP. > ;FKOM OUR OWN COKKESPONDKNTS.] NAPIER. - - ■ The price that Mr. Ellingham received for', Moifaa was 500 guineas, and 100 guineas out of the horse's first win. ... ■ , • \ Naylor, who used to ride some of J. H. . ! 7 Prosser's team over the obstacles, is schooling Kahuwai. In her exercises at the jumping business Mr, Donnelly's mare is showing ' good form in her work. Abergeldie, the younger full brother to Moifaa, had a turn over the country obstacle! on the Hastings track on Thursday morning. • Though ha had no company on his trip hi« ;'•! performance was full of merit. '■■■'-. ;i Hinetaura, Robin Gray Ballistite, and Culcita left hero on Saturday morning for \i Otaki, where they are engaged this week Alf. Woods, who trains the former pair, will ; rido both of them in their races for the firs* day. Kirk, the stable jockey attached to Mr! Richardson's establishment, got a nasty kick on tho leg while riding Hinetaura one morn. ing this week on tho Park track through Robin Gray lashing out. He has been an inmate of the hospital since the ; accident, but expects to leave the institution to-day. It is probable that Mr. S. H. Gollan will ■ be present at the Hawko's Bay Jockey Clab'3 I meeting, as he is now on his way out to .the' • colonies. ■ \ Seraphine, 1 the half-brother (by Jet d'Eoa) 1 to the Auckland-owned Geologist, is : being i used as a hack by J. Rollo, the trainer of ' Hawini and Missfire. The latter's owner, Mr. L. Cottle, is in a very bad state of T health at present. ■ Mr. Gollan's representative in New Zealand, Mr. L. Do Polichet, has the first refusal of Abergeldie. The gelding's price is 300 guineas. Starshcot (by Hotchkiss—Crescent) - and . Meledeon (by Medallion—Meiodia), a couple \ of Mr. Watt's coming two-year-olds, are con- ; sidered the pick of "the youngsters in this ! district. " . | Mr. A. L. D. Fraser has had a number of | tempting offers to lease Kiwa for his rueing' I career. Though the - consideration has beta I of a specially attractive nature cur member 1, of the House of Representatives intends that = Captain Webb's handsome son will sport his I own racing uniform. In his display in th« '. arena Kiwi, who has been nominated for th« New Zealand Cup, will make a start in his | studies again at the end of this month, M. Doolan, who has had charge of him since be j had the breaking-in tackle put upon him, will j prepare Kiwa as of yore. I Harold Connop is handling a couple of yearlings by New Forest. They are both geldings out of Fadaleen and French Maid. The latter mare is a half-sister (by Jet d'Eau) to Ontario. ;: The local racing man who nominates under tho nom de course of Mr. F. Winifred, hai decided to retire from turf pursuits as far M figuring as an owner goes. Ho has sold Ontario (by Captain Webb— to Mr. W. Robinson, of To Aute, and has transferred I the lease that he held of Liquefy to W. Stone. That trainei took charge of Seatoa Dolaval's daughter to-day. In day 3 gone by Mr. Winifred had The Shrew, Little Billee, Torpina, and others carrying his popular bird's-eye blue jacket and scarlet cap."... His i; : secession from the pastime is to be regretted, di for he was good supporter of the game. ',- . n ! The committee of the Waipawa Placing Club have resolved to ask the metropolitan club to approve of the folio? ing dates for the club's meetings:—The King's Birthday and ' Easter Monday, 1905. One of our leading gentleman horsemen, Mr. Percy Neagle, got damaged to the extent of a broken rib and a severe -' shaking white out with the Hawke's Bay hounds last Wed- | nesday at Flaxmere. As he has youth and good health on his side I presume it will not take him long to get quite strong and well again. " . Mr. R. ("Bob") Harley 13 at present a visitor to this district. This talented rider intends to assist at the approaching whiter ventures of the Hawke's Bay and Napier Park Clubs. It is any odds that his servioei will be eagerly sought after. -

Yr.[ Owner. Winner. Sire. 1865 Count Lagrange Gladiateurt .. Monarque Mr. R. Sutton .. Lord Lyon .. Stock well 1867|Mr. H. Chaplin .. Hermit .. Newminster 1868 Sir J. Hawley .. Blue Gown .. Beadsman Mr. J.Johnstone Pretender .. Adventurer lS70jT,ord Falmouth .. Kingcraft .. King Tom 1871 iBn. Rothschild .. Favonius .. Parmesan 1872; Mr. H. Saville .. Cremorne .. Ptrmesan 1873,Mr. Merry .. Doncaster .. Stockwell 1874|Mr. ('artwright .. Geo. Frederick Marsvas 18751 Pr. Batthyany .. Galopin .. Vedette 1876j5Ir. *. Baltazzi .. Kisber.. .. Buccaneer lS77lLord Falmouth .Silvio .. .. Blair Athol 1878!Mr. Crawford .. Sefton .. .. Speculum 1879|Mr. Acton .. Sir Beyys .. Favonius 1880 Dk Westminster.. Bend'Or .. Doncaster 1881 jMr. P. I.orillard,. Iroquois; .. Leamington 1882 Dk Westminster. Sliofcover .. Hermit 18S3 Sir F. Jolinstone.. St. Blaise .. Humit J {SirJW'lIoughby Harvester* .. Ster'inc mi \ I Mr. J.Hammond St. G alien" { or 1886 I.orfl Hastings .. Melton .. Alstr Kildare 1-580 Dk Westminster.. Ormonde Rend Or 1887Mr. Abingdon .. M'rryHamptoni Uainp'on 1888!Ok. of Portland.. Ayrshire .. Hampton !889;Ok. of ''ortland.. Donovan .. Galopin 891)' Sir J. Miller ..Sainfoin .. [Springfield 1391 (Lord Aliriffton .. Common ..Isonomy (892 Lord Bradford .. Sir Hugo .. Wisd in !803jMr. McCalmont.. Isinglass ..Isonomy 189 1 ord Roseberv .. Ladas.. .. Hampton 18fl5 l.oid Itosebery .. Sir Visto .. Barcaldine IxOfi Prince of Wales.. Persimmon .. St. Simon i897 Mr. -I. Gubbins .. Galtee More .. Kendal lSrtsUiv. L"n->ch .iM'Idah ..[Janissary i 899 Dk- Westminster Flying Fox ..'Ornie l!) 'O Prince of Wales Oi'm'd Jubilee St. Simon ' <•>01 Mr.W. C. \\ bitne. V.ilodyovski Florizel II. 1.902 Mr. J. Gubbins . Ard Patrick .. St. JFlorian Bred in F ance. J Bred in America. Dead heat. Owners divided stakes.

winter welter handicap m 250sovs. One mh. P ** 8i. lb. iff S Highlander ... 11 g St 01 -•«■» i Eattleaxe ... U 7 wimomo *" 9 3 Beddington ... 11 7 Vole 0me " 9 0 \al Rosa ... 10 7 Ki n t j WSr ••• 9 8 Crusoe ... 10 0 Di,'« Tu™— 9 « [I Commodore ... 9 7 Field Ka+p 10 '" 8 (} * V Military ... 9 7 Soli ***** ' » 0 Hypatia ... 9 7 Wh^i 7 — 9 0 Ragabraxh ... 9 3 nerekj no ... 9 0 WINTER STEEPLECHASE 0 f s-a. About- three miles. 250so *s. I st. lb. 1 Caunongate ... 12 0 Jlufu*' ,5^ Princess of Hylas • rm >* 1 Thule ... 10 10 Kowhai" n 8 7 Frost ...• ... 10 5 ... 9 7 ; HANDICAP HURDLE RACE of 9*1 Oil© mile and three-quarters ° vs ' Ft. lb. Royal Oon- Paria queror ... 12 0 Bellman - J ft V» hi era ... 11 10 Frances W 9 10 Mars 11 0 4 0v W „ J ire * ] l n 2 Hippowai 0 9 * ro f -0 I Sultana ' 9 ? 7 ™ ua 10 7 Clarion ' J „ rr ll, \ 1° J Mokomoko 9 n ° I Tresham ... 10 6 J 0 .MAIDEN HANDICAP WELTER « f lOOsovs. Six furlongs. * : st. lb. . ., Up-to-date ... 10 11 Despatch q T Sly Miss ... 10 0 Mazona " q ft 5 Numa 10 0 St. Rowan . q n : i Drudge ... 9 12 Hillflower q „° Mechanic ... 9 10 Leo Delaval" q a Sandy ... 9 7 Romeo V. : King Edward 9 7 Mr. Zeehan 9 n ' Valedictory ... 9 7 Recoil ' 0 „ " Star 9 7 Durable "9 ° Anchorite ... 9 7 Rosiphele ... 9 q HUNTERS' HANDICAP STEEPIP CHASE of 50sovs. About miles. st lk Miss Drury ... 13 7 Pungarehu ... 11 7' Tarragon ... 12 7 Perseverance " 11 7 The Swimmer 12 5 Murawai 11 ft Kiatere ... 11 12 Peter Simple" 11 11 Rangipanehu 11 12 0 FAREWELL HANDICAP of lOOsovs. R» | furlongs. ' ' st. lb. , _j.lL Formula ... 10 10 Sultan a 5 Jewellery ... 10 0 St. Olga 9 5 Takapuna ... 9 9 La Polish 9 0 Field Battery 9 9 Winsome ..." 9 q Numa 9 7 Despatch ... 9 0 Hillflowor ... 9 7 Hesper... ' 9 a Lady Bell ... 9 6 Minnie 9 q I