SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12362, 29 August 1903, Page 6

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. September Waikato Hunt Club. September 2, 3—South Canterbury Jockey Club. „ , „'„.,. „ . September s—Pakuxanga Hunt Club Sports. September 9. 10—Mai-ton Jockey Club. September 10, ■;■ 11—Ashburtou County i Racing Club. - ' September 19, 23, 26—Avondale Jockey Club. September 23, Rangitikei Racing Club. September 21, 25—Geraldine Racing Club. October Wanganui Jockey Club. October 7, Hnwke'a Bay Jockey ■> Club. October 13. 14-.Napier Park Racing Club. October 14,' 17—Dnnedin Jockey Club. October 21, 23—Wellington Racing Club. \ November 7, 9, Auckland Racing Club. November 7, 9, 11,14—Canterbury Jockey Club. December 26, 29, Jan. 1, Auckland Racing "■ Club. '••'"'■"■■•• '■" ' '■ ' ■■'■, DATES OP COMING EVENTS. NEW ZEALAND. " September Avondale Stakes. September Avondale Cup. ! September 23—Avondale Guineas. I November 7—New Zealand Cup. November C.J.C. Derby. November 11—Canterbury Cup. • AUSTRALIA. September 12—A.J.0. Derby. '; " i September 12—Great Metropolitan Stakes. I October Oaulfleld Guineas. v : • .'-'... October Caulfleld Cup. October, 31—V.R.C. Derby. l ■ November Melbourne Cup. ENGLAND. September 9— Leger Stakes. i October I—Jockey Club Stakes. October Champagne Stakes. ANSWERS TO"CORRESPONDENTS. J.C., Waikino.—The dividends paid' on Lottie when she won the Auckland Cup were £3 10s (inside) and £4 (outside). : NEW CHUM.—Torchou is a six-year-old mare by Albermarle— Lace. At Moorfield Par kin March last she wo ntho Moorfield,. Handicap of £124 under 7st 21b. , : j SCRIBE, Waikino.—The placed horses in the* ] Great Northern Derby of 1900 were: Miss Do- 1 lavel, Seahorse, and Santllario,,wh,9 finished in- that order. Miss Delaval won by a neck in 2m. <32 2-5s F.T., Waitara.—The rule reads as I follows:— " No transfer of a horse's engagements shall be permitted if, bofore the transfer is lodged < with the secretary either of the parties thereto has rendered himself liable to a charge which may entail his disqualification but no charge afterwards made or sustained .-' against the transferor shall prevent the committee 'of the Jockey Club approving, if they think fit, a transfer lodged before the circumstances occurred out of which the charge arose." ; WAGER—The Racing Calendar, which is the official record, gives the betting on the Derby of 1880 as follows:—2 to lagainst Bend Or, 100 to 15 Von der Tann, 7 to 1 Robert the Devil. Bend Or won by a head from Robert the Devil. In the St. Leger Stakes the betting was 11 8 oh Bend Or, 4 to 1 against Robert the Devil. Robert the Devil won by throe lengths from Cipolatta. who was followed home by The Abbott. /It was in the Epsom Gold Cup of 1881 that Bend Or and Robert the Devil had their last meeting. The betting was 6to 4 on Robert the Devil. Bend Or won by a neck. Doncaster begat Bend Or, Bend Or begat Ormonde, Oimonde begat Ornie, and Or me begat Flying Fox. ■ ■■i.—.i.. — mil mi. liii-H«n—■ ' NOTES BY PHAETON. , The newly-constituted A.R.C. Committee held their first meeting on Monday/ last.\; As was anticipated, the meeting was a protracted one, but nothing /sensational had to be; recorded, v Prior to , the committee meeting the man in the street was busy talking gossip, and amongst other, things predicting that there would be a change of handicapper. However, when the business transacted was handed to tho press representatives it was found that the whole of the stipendiary officers had been re-elected, and the gossipers- ] who predicted changes were thus a long way | out in their reckoning. In seeking to es- | tnblish a case in support of a change of hanI dicapper,/ those in favour of such/: a course ; contend that some of; the adjustments that have of late been issued by Mr. Evett have been carelessly constructed. Now and again the weight-adjuster has no doubt furnished us with a stiff problem to grasp the exact line of reasoning which he adopted in compiling his work, but, all things con- | siclered, few would seek to question his I i ability in discharging the duties attachingto the important post which his has filled* 1 with so much distinction for so many years under the A.R.C., and that being so the agitation.that lias sprung up in certain quarters for a change fails to gather strength. , I hold brief for Mr. ; Evett, but I am prepared to say that he has ever given us that; security in the discharge of his office that we should be able to count upon in a man . who aspires to the post of handicapper, and recognising as I do that he has many ; years of usefulness yet bofore him I feel • that I am expressing what is a very general sentiment in v saying that I; hope /we are a ■" long way from the time when other than Ids name figures opposite the post of handi- ■ capper to the A.R.C. Arid now, having touched upon / the question of the handicapper, I am tempted to go a step further and introduce that thorny little point,'.' Should the "weight-adjuster be called upon to furnish reasons '. for the coni elusions ho comes to in framing his. work?" . I suppose I, shall he voted by some a little [ out of date in saying that he should not. I have always contended, and I am as firm * as ever on the point, that to place ,. the handicapper on his trial (which to ask'him •■' for reasons practically docs) is to weaken I his independence, and we know, or we should ■ all know, it is of the first importance that J the weight-adjuster should not only be left untrammelled,' but have the unwavering sup-' > port of his club if ho is 'to be a success in his office. If there is reason to believe * that a ha-ndieapper is actuated by vindictive I motives in weighting a horse; (or, lis'. same . ' would put it, '•' the owner), ;if ho show:' in* 1 . competence, or if, in his walk of life, he ' , does not live 'up to the dignity of his office, I then there is a very plain course to take; F but .when a man enjoys, the-, confidence ; ; of 1 his committee, then I say ; that'the ruling I body are perfectly justified in returning the } samo answer to all communications from t, dissatisfied horseowners, and that simple litJ tie answer is: "The committee vhave full I confidence in : their handicapper." • ' > ' . ', ■■.. :■■.■' ■ '■'•■ "'■ -x- - ;: : '.-i '■■ : x,'-.-At their meeting on Monday night, the ' A.R.C. Committee elected stewards for the . ensuing year. Thoso who contended for .-■ a reduction of the number acting in past > years from 12 to six were met half-way, ' nine being the number resolved upon for this season's racing. There arc some names . missing from tho list. that one . could wish - had been retained; but tho immortal Mrs. ' Malaprop has told us " comparisons are j odorous," and I am therefore prepared to t accept matters as they have been cast, ■"with- . out saying that this name should bo '>■ on i the list and that name off. lam told that ' a motion was submitted to the effect that j the stewards should be selected solely from 1 the members of the committee, and I don't I know that a good deal cannot be said in 1 favour of such a coursethat is, so long as 3 the control of racing is in the hands of the - " volunteers." In discussing this latest pro- - posal re stewards with one of the shrewd heads, who, I have reason to believe, has given the subject much thought,: he ment tioned three as the number to act. Though - quite in accord with those who believe that * more satisfactory results can be obtained a from six men controlling the racing than twelve (for under the larger number we have - had instances of what is " everybody's business is nobody's business"), .to out the number down to three seemed to me » at the first blush to be a little startling. '* However, ray friend was, I found, well ' i armed with material to fight for his 'point , I. and he drew my attention to the fact that * ; three stewards are found equal to the task " '■;! of coping with the racing on Newmarket a j Heath. On constdting the English Racing i. I Calendar I find that is so. , However;; a i system that might act perfectly well at Newmarket might not be a success at Bllerslie; e I but still I should be inclined to give the * proposal a trial, for I am quite satisfied 3 that a large number of stewards is a mjs- !. take.':;""-' --' : ',:■'■' '\

Tho latest candidate to be introduced j,.,t0 th*> New Zealand Cup betting is Mr. D, O'Brien's gelding., Heroism, who on a. commission was supported! locally- to win £2000 at 100's to '4. As there, is reason to believe that the .support accorded Heroism came from the proper quarter, we can, I suppose, at least assume (that the bay geldinff is ; progressing satisfactorily: m his Uip f Preparation. , Got by Grafton (a son of the ; mifflity■:■'Galopin) from ; a mare/by stouthearted Carbine -', is ■• a great J- credential •= for Heroism ' to hold on the score of breeding, hut on ; performances there is very little rea,sonU: to sound v, the . praises ; of 4; veteran " Dam's" representative for the New Zealand Cup." In; the ; Wanganui Cup, won: by the veteran Mars . (7st, 71b), he could only get third under i. the minimum weight, and, though he 'managed : to • win % tho Wanganui.. Stakes (one milo and a-quarter) 'on the second day, he was only carrying tost 111b. He subsequently had three tries to get on the winning list at Ellerslie, but each time lie was amongst .the "also ran" brigade, his last performance being an unplaced one \ in the Autumn Handicap under 7st. ,-;;lf Heroism were to follow in the footsteps of gallant old«Tasma.ii by,; crediting Mr. O'Brien with the New Zealand; Cup, ;tbero is no one that, would hail the success t of the "rose and black stripes" with more pleasure than myself but . I must admit that I am a wee bit sceptical as to Heroism having the bottom in' him - to' battle the big Southern race out successfully, -t : • Of >■ course, that opinion ' is based upon what I saw of Heroism at three years old. It may be a very different Heroism at four years old that we will have before us. V However, I will want to know a bit more before I take sides with those ho hold i. the. opinion that Heroism can win the New Zealand Cup. . The English mail which arrived this week brought full ; details of the race for the Eclipse ; Stakes, which took place at Sandown Park on the 16th ult. ; ; The fact of three classic race winners in Ard Patrick, Sceptre, ted Rock Sand being billed to measure strides in the " ten thousand pounder" had the effect of drawing together a tremendous assemblage, amongst which was His Majesty King Edward VII. ~;; Those present had the privilege of witnessing what is termed " the "race of the century." A writer in the Daily Express related the history of the race in the following interesting style:— "When it comb to a firm opinion or an investment hare was the puzzle. 1 Had not Rock Sand won the Derby and Two Thousand Guineas? Had he not gone through all last seasoD with ouily one defeat, which' was explainable? ■ Then, 1 again, Blackwcll, his trainer, was confident, and one's ayes could see that the colt was in better condition than on Derby Day. Sceptre 'What a glorious mare! How she has improved!' There she was, the perfect; type of the thoroughbred. ,=•:--. From the tip of; her ears, which she constantly pricked inquiringly, • * to her grand -' forehand ; and powerful quarters, i she was what all lovers of the racehorse look perfect to the eye. Old-time trainers gazed on her,' and walked! away. ''■ They would not bet; but they 'had ; seen the winner.' ,;' Amid ;the/ spontaneous enthusiasm over these two, Ard Patrick came in only for secondary consideration. There were those experts who could not fail to see the '<■ improvement he had made since his great victory;, at the First July Meeting at Newmarket. ",.?;, A beautiful horse, but Sceptre and Rock' Sand were the billed stars of • the; show. Lord Rosebery's Oriole was voted full of class, and Duke; of j Westminster had ; come along in condition. Only the seekers after the semi-impossible, however, gave the pair any serious thought. . There > was a. hush, and men and women paled with suppressed excitement as the 1 horses lined up at the] startling gate. Little delay with the five, / and—' Off There was a reaction in the tense * feeling,, and -; ; hands ceased to tremble as t they; held glasses and /Watched! 'the- five . gallop along the back stretch, : headed by Oriole; platings at this stage were of little importance. As they rounded to the long, awkward turn at the bottom of the course, it was seen that this bit of the road did not suit Ard Patrick, while Sceptre swept up to' : the side of ' Rook Sand, who was just ■ j headed "by • Oriole. Once fairly in the straight run, up hill for homo and honours, i Ard ; Patrick \ got i into his long stride; ?; arid swung along ' with them,': but not too prominent. On they came, 'and when about SOOyds : from the winning-post a mighty roar ; went top as Sceptre came away, her jockey, Hardy,' sitting easily on her. 'Sceptre wins!' ' 'The ■ mare; wins: for ; a hundred!' ' Sceptre 'Come on, you beauty!' There was no doubt which one of the five was the popular idol. But why the sudden hush? What had happened? :, Ard Patrick was creeping up on the rails. Galloping along, ; the great Irish horse, { with ; his long raking - stride, was catching the mare. He drew .level! Then what a race! Riding for their " 'lives, the jockeys, Madden and Hardy,, tho ■'former showing : to ;more, advantage, raced "neck and neck for a few strides. Only 40 yards to go, ; and tho great, all-cohquerinig stride of Ard Patrick is not to be denied. He forges ahead! The.post is passed! A neck victory! ; < So ; ended one of the V most 'extraordinary and exciting 'races .within, the memory; of the present racegoer!" ; As. Ard Patrick,- Sceptre, and Bock Sand are engaged in the Jockey Club Stakes, sot down for decision at Newmarket on October 1, it may be taken as quite certain that the prospective meeting of the three cracks in the last of -the ten thousand pound stakes will be the means of ; calling up o, great vein of excitement. The Jockey Club Stakes is run over the last mile and three-quarters ; of (the Cosarewitch course, under'/a scale oi special weights, with penalties and allow- ■' •ances attached. ';: Ard Patrick V- having incurred the ;'■;' maximum penalty (141b), ; the ;' Irish' horso will have'" to carry the steadier . of lOst : ' 51b.. ■ -\ -Sceptre : is entitled to,'■ a ' 3lb sexual allowance,"which■'; practically reduces | a 121b penalty, in which she has been mulot, to 91b, and her. impost will therefore be lOst. The fortunate one in the allowances is Rock | Sand. -' According, to ; tho conditions :of;-; the ! race, it is provided that horses got by stal- '.. lions covering at a less fee .than 40sovs, are . allowed '91b, and as Sainfoin was on the low fee list when -Rock Sand was entered the Derby winner (with a 121b penalty counted ; in) has only to carry Bst Mb, or 41b; less than Derby and St.. Legor weight. Prior ■ to [; Bock Sand, being called upon to tackle Arc! . Patrick and Sceptre in tho Jockey Club !- Stakes ho will in all probability be seen out ' ia the St. Loger Stakes, and the figure he • cuts in the time-honoured race on the Town ; Moor at Doncastei may be expected to show ; what sort of a chance he possesses of revers--1 ing positions with his two four-year-old rivals 1 in the Newmarket event. A race of the value of 10,000sovs bears a 1 very attractive appearance on a programme, ' but it is a popular error to suppose that the money for big races of that character run : for. in England is principally provided by the ' 'club or company which give such ' events a i place. According to the Sporting Times. i they cost the club or company promoting . them nothing. .The. Jockey Club (says this . authority) • has very little money itVoan call 1 its own, and owners can only have their : $10,000 Princess of, Wales Stakes on con- ' dition that they make up the stake among . .themselves. ■". In France a very different state ' of affairs exist, and the Spurting Times ini stances the seven richest stakes in England, . 'and points out, that, apajt from the contri- ; butions of owners themselves, their value ' "fe--£0 0s Od. . In France, apart from thein . .own contributions, the owners receive £43,70( • in added money .< from the clubs which run 5 the seven best races. To the Grand Prix d< Paris £12,200 is added. ' A great deal of the money in France comes from the totalisator ' but the Grand Prize was a very rich stake ) before the totalisator was discovered.; Fron; > its early days the race was : well -subsidisec by the city of Paris and :> by the big rp.ilwas companies. Paris and the railways reeog 1 nised the value ; of the race- to them, one t took their share of the cost of making it the i important event it has always been. : The turfites of the Old Country are com 1 mencing to wake up to the fact that even ir '' racing affairs they have something to lean ' from their near neighbour, France. •■ Mr ' Oorlett, of the Sporting Times, has somethinj to say on the subject, Mid ho gets in some ! very hard facts in the following strain — . " In France the tost for speed is made whei the horses are two years old, and; not before ' '-August even then. ; In this country we be gin with them in March and carry them on U I November, and many of the richest prizes ar> i for horses of that age. In France, on tin , other hand, there are no rich prizes for two '■ year-olds beyond . two, stakes, worth abou 3 £1500 each. At a later period, if a mat t desires to win any money, lie must run hi > horso; over distances varying from; a mill and a-quarter to three miles ' and a-quarter j Even mile'raws are low and far bctweei and for three-year-olds and upwards there ar< ' as few run on the T.Y.C. a swe have over i t cup course." ,; Mr. Corlett " detests" . sprin : racing, but does not see any remedy for i l' in England. " Vested interests have sprunj up which, cannot be interfered with, arid 5 moreover, the State does not give the Jocke; 1 Club £300,000 to deal- with, as is the case; ii - France." The difference between the owne ■ in England and the owner in France is tha ' in England the average owner must lose, be ! cause he is always. racing for his own money 1 i whereas in France the p'ublio provide hand - some stakes. Up to the end of June M Blanc had won £34,000 of public money.- ■':.' r ; v': '"■.; : . ';':■ , ■"■ :'";.'' ' . ;; ,-•;■" ;.- ;';;.' ■ •

There is every prospect of a meeting between the two champion mares of the antiWakeful and ; Cruciform at least' two of the weight-for-age events to be decided at the Australian Jockey. Club's Spring ■Meeting, which opens - at '<■ Raiidwick on the 12th prox. Both v appear as r entrants ■ in the Spring Stakes, to be decided on the opening 'day, over a mile and a-half course, and; their names also figure amongst the;entrants! for, the; Craven 'Plate, which' event is;to; be run over a;mile- and a-quarter on : the third day of the; gathering. As both mares have given evidence in their training work of,being; in rare buckle to attack another racing season, the result of their , meeting; will be awaited with keen interest wherever racing forms a subject;of discussion in : Australasia. • From' Canterbury comes news of the death. of Skirmisher, the , son of, Vanguard and the Tubal (Jain niare Ouida, who won'the C.J.C. ; : Derby; and Canterbury Cup ; of* 1893 in the colours of Mr. J. B. Reid. , As Skirmisher was- timed to run hi» two 1 .miles' and a ; quarter in the last-named event in , 4m. 4is., that seemed to point to his. being further heard" of: in connection with big, events run over a : long distance, but the son of Vanguard completely lost his form, and I do not think he ever won a decent race after the spring of : his three-year-old career. r 1 Skirmisher, I may remark, contested' the, Auckland Cup of 1893, for which event he started favourite, but a place amongst the also .ran was his performance. ~ ! ' j '■'., As Sir George Clifford will be without ; the services of his crack filly To-morrow .in the early spring,. owing to the nasal ailment that has come against her, Treadmill will now probably have to travel North, that is, of course, if the Canterbury sportsman \ elects to bo represented in the Wahgahui. and Hawke's Bay Guineas. Experience shows that the Bill of Portlands do not stand cutting into a great deal, and we have had instances of several* losing their form in quite a; pronounced manner; in a stiff campaign. It is to be ' hoped that Treadmill will stand up to the collar all right, so that Sir George's popular colours . may have ; a really good season. Val Rosa is looking nice and bright in his coat, and it may not: be very long ere he earns • Mr. Hugo ; Friedlander 'the - 175gs. which the Southern sportsman expended' in his purchase a couple of months back. There is not perhaps a great amount of reason to extol Val Rosa's prospects in : : the; Avondale Clip, for with Bst the bay horse has received right up to his desserts. However, should he be found in. the humour for a strong race on the day that event is run he may have to bo reckoned with, ; for; he can ; get 10 furlongs all right. : .; John . Thorpe's ; method of training Val Rosa may enable the son of Seaton ; Dolaval to lose the character.for unreliability that . lias been down ; L against his name during the past couple of seasons. b , ! Gatelock, who was transferred to J. Rao's establishment ' some little time •,•■'■ back, v is; a regular ; attendant on the '; track at Ellerslie, and he shows some improvement. There was plenty of room for this, for up to the present he has been a perfect failure. An erratic tcaraway of a somewhat, pronounced order, Gatelock has;proved:; a most difficult horse to handle', and the bit and bridoon is, I notice, still necessary to control him. That i appendage has been termed " an implement of torture," but it is really only such when an incompetent, slovenly ; horseman; is given j hold of the reins. When engaged in raceriding, Rae mastered the true secret of using the bit and bridoon, and those engaged in his establishment, to whom he imparts instruction in the matter of, that great aeoomplishment— touch, are generally credited with ' knowing how to got a. horse to run ononis bit with comfort. If Gatelock is any good, it may be said that he is favourably positioned now to loose his maidenhood. The fact of Achilles being nominated for the Canterbury Cup would appear to establish the fact that J. H. Pressor entertains no doubts as to the son of Medallion being a stayer, for ; the distance. of the; weight-for-age ent is over the-"trying course of two miles and a-quartor. The fact of Achilles having been nominated for the -Canterbury 4 Cup may,- I should think, ; be accepted as further evidence that there is a good prospect of the chestnut ', figuring amongst the horses that will lino up at the post for the New Zealand Cup on November 7. Acting on ' the • suggestion of Mr. J.. E. Henrys, >. handicapper, % and following tout the system adopted ; by the Feilding Jockey , Club, the Masterton Racing Club has adopted -the following penalties:—" winner of ; "any flat race after declaration of weights to carr;} a penalty of 101b, and of every additions'! race a further penalty of 61b. Horses handicapped at Bst 101b or over-to carry only half the above penalties." "The winner of any hurdle race: after, the declaration of weights to carry a penalty of in the hurdle race, and for every additional race 71b extra." The acceptances, received for the Waikato Hunt Club's races must be considered highly satisfactory, giving as- they do ah average entrance of eleven horses to each race, and there:; should ; ; be - a pleasant - tale to tell , in connection with- next Wednesday's meeting. Pakuranga hunting ~'■ sports have come, oui strong, I and it ! would be pleasing to chronicle a win, J especially, j-for, tone of the top-weight division. Taken all over, they hold a strong hand, and well deserve some luck for their sportsmanlike conduct in deciding to journey up.and try conclusions with their brother sports on ; the Cambridge convincing ground. It is, I should say, hardly necessary for me to ': state that the announcement of the : success of Mr. W. Lyons : in Sydney TattersaU's billiard tournament was received i With feelings very much akin to delight at Auckland's sporting . rendezvous, for the : veteran* penciller , enjoys a wide : popularity. /> In.the final 'match of ithe-tournament, which was played on Monday night, Mr. Lyons had to try conclusions with Mr. F. Hill, who was handicapped to receive 130 points, and, as Mr. Lyons • figured ■ 75 .behind; scratch j 1 and the game wa3 only 250 up, it will; be seen that he had a stiff task before'him to win. The cablegramreceived did not state/how the players were positioned when Mr. Lyons ran out. but it told us that the Aucklandei received an enthusiastic " ovation . as he put up his cue at the ; finishing stroke. When it is said . that ; Mr. Lyons could justifiably be counted as one in his prime two decades back, he can well;be'/singled out as 'a" bit of a .wonder; to come out on : top :: at this stage in a tournament such as that which eventuated this week under tho auspices ol Sydney Tattersall's, and in which ho was called upon to concede such a large numbei of points to opponents. If may be ' remarked that Mr. Lyons has contested - the Sydney; billiard tournament every year but one ; since it was instituted, and;,two. years back he ; was beaten in the final by a good chum in Mr. P. Burke. -; If for no ;; otlioi reason than for his pluck in journeying' 120 C miles in search Of a ton': tho:' green cloth, Mr. Lyons deserves tho victory that has fallen to him , with the cue. Chatting with Mr.* Dan. Twohili re Sydnej Tattersall's tournament, he informed me thai it is really a . great Strain tori tone 'i, to 'face the musio in a match there. . There is,al ways a. big attendance of keen players, /and. though -the referee at all times- demands silence while- a player is ' on his stroke, there is a great babble of the odds in the interval, and the heart of the nervous playei verjf often sinks into his boots even whet the odds. are. quoted in his favour, v? Mr. Twohill explains that he has been an nnsuccessful contestant in the tournament, >'- and, lejt me add, ho can always set up a ripple oi laughter when he relates in; his; inimitable style how he felt when ho took .his -place ,at the table for the first time. The wager ing ton the; final ? is,-Mr. Twohill tells me, always pretty heavy,, and one can. therefore well imagine how cool a man has to be undei such ""■ circumstances as ; ! that in which ' Mr Lyons was cast when' he came to tackle , sue! a lightly-handicapped opponent as Mr. Hil on Monday night. A meeting of'bookmakers (says the Re feree) was held in Ohristchiuch recently foi the purpose of raising a ■ fund; of £600 ;oi more* with the ultimate object of fighting i club owning • a private course, '..' on the • ques tionVof the:bookmakers' rights, as citizens to bo on the,course. Over £300 wast sub scribed at the meeting, and it is certaii . that the remainder will be collected in • short time. The bookmakers make .110clain to be allowed to bet on-private courses, bu wish to assert their right to attend mooting: as private citizens. ' If necessary, 'they.-,'wil i take ; the question to the Privy Council. ': 'Many, of the giants of the English: tinhave been obliged to back their judijinoafc I; betting heavily on their own horses in orcle to meet: the expenses of the stud. The grea statesman, the 14th Earl of Derby, was s< brilliant in his horsemanship tha-j lie maws;; . ed out of 243 horses to produce ; 5" winner and' gain £94,000 in prizes, -which . cleared al training expenses for 21 years.. On the othe - hand, the : Fifth Earl; of Jersey, the owne , of Bay Middleton, scored countless triumphs but at a, loss in ; stable";. expenses alone o £400,000. ' When Lord Falmouth sold hi , stud in 1884 tho horses fetohed 110,Q00gs added to which he had won £000,000 ii ; stakes; but: his ■ largest bet throughout hi racing career was the sum of sixpence, los to Mrs. ' Scott, the wife ofihis trainer.. ;H paid up his less in a sixpenny piece, ne\ from the mint, and set in diamonds. : Dui ing a turf career of 50 years Lord Palraei stoh Was ' seldom known to bet, .taking hi pleasure with horses as a relief from politic;

It was stated that one of OrloffV lew had filled shortly- after- his - arrival lit Randwick, \ and that Mr. Stead might probably not have the services,of the Stepmak griding at the AT 0- meeting. ' A Sydney cablegram received' on Thursday states that; OrJoff put in a strand gallop on the previous day, and from tins if is reasonable to suppose that the , alarmingsymptom that- threatened to, com? alainst the gelding has disappeared. The mini' who keeps a racehorse unnamed runs a risk of becomingunpopular with those who have to keep the run of matters, and '& several have quadrupeds engaged, m the Avondale/Stakes; (which .even it may be remarked - comes up for decision at; an early.: date) without titles, they .shouldsend in names to tIV secretary,; Mr. Harry Hayr, by gene-, ral entry '-night.//J may, remark that : , .he rales of racing lay it down peremptorily that the. runner of an unnamed horse shall;be .fined. • •; ■_ • ; Royal Fusilier, the Uirco-year-old son of' Hdtcnkuh and Edith ■'Cureton/-.-» stated to: be shaping most satisfactorily m his we-, araS for the New- Zealand Cup and £ one • Of) the' youthful division is destined/to triumph in the Southern race, Napientes predict that ho will be the one to accomplish the feat. During Iris stay in Auckland Sir Rupert ■Clarke journeyed to Devonport in/order to have a look at ; Trenton's , brother Cuirassier. [ The ' majestic son of Musket and Frailty was found looking' :• his -best, ./ and when I say that it may-be ; inferred that Australian : visitor had a horse to gaze upon that is not ; seen every day. : i The sub-committee to whom were delegated, the /'task/ of : drawing up the. programmes for meetings ;•- to be held ■ under, the-' auspices of the A.R.C. during .; the coming season, have drawn up /their- # recommendations. They are to-be submitted to ', a special meeting of • the committee on Monday next. < ; * '■■':.' The sports meeting to be held on Saturday next at Alexandra; Park under the auspices of the Pakuranga Hunt; Club should j '.'prove-; one of the most interesting gatherings of this sort that lifts been brought off by the old club. ' I am told that T there ,is a : prospect :ofl' an Interesting sight * during : the afternoon. Tli6 trainers with two-year- ; olds in their bands -wishing to give their.i youngsters a sight of the crowd, applied for permission to parade them, whioh has been | granted. The parade of the babies should j be not the least interesting event of the ; afternoon. Tim American jockey, I). Maher, who won '' the ''English' Derby on \ Rock Sand, had /his skull' fractured through ;a; fall from an auto- : mobile while going to London • from -Lingfield Park on July 10. Although there-was . a qhtiffeur on the t car, Maher was driving,; and, being inexperienced, lost his head when he \ saw another automobile approaching from; ; an opposite direction and .ran into it. Maher's car turned, right over, -, and' was smashed to - bits. Strangely,enough; though both Maher' and the chaffeur who accompanied him were badly hurt; the occupants of the other car escaped injury. . Maher was reported to be in a:critical state when* the last mail left, but as the cable has been i silent [on his case ■ we may, 1- think, infer that he': has recovered;- '■'■:-■/ :■■ //.i-.'/■■:':;':':;3/iK;' ,: ';/V'/" ! ""'"" : V > ~>/'i;P^;}^'i The 36th volume of the Australasian Turf ] Register made its -welcome.- appearance just prior'; to the; inauguration of ■; another racing; season, I in'■! itsuniform and pleasing garb: of] blue '-', and ' gold - binding. -As usual ;the Australasian Turf I Register contains a complete record of racing for the past season in- Australia, while all the chief meetings held in New Zealand duly recorded. -There 5 is also included a list of entries for the; classic ■ events of r the future,.'; list i- of { winning sires and winning owners, V.R.G. and A.J.0.! rales of racing* winners of the (principal, col*-; uial races; sales of blood stock, and other \ information of interest to those engaged in , following the racing affairs of Australasia. A high standard of completeness in: detail and typography has always marked 1 the Australasian Turf Register, and the staff ; of; the Australasian are entitled to the wannest .'"; praise for the excellence of their work.: The. English l Racing : Calender is voted on all hands a high-class work of its kind, and when' the ; : Australasian Turf Register i-isV; placed alongside/ of the latter, it certainly does not ? suffer in the comparison. , -.-■:.-. .■.:..-.':.;-.■- .-.: - ; . ■-::;.. >-.;-.: ■ -■■-..:■ ,(...-. -.-.,...-.--.--v-;V-.-- .... .';..- -j . _. , , BREVITIES. Paul Scaton is . carrying himself well. Sprite, Sangai and Rondoletia, visit Cyrenian this season. '- , * Wairiki holds his position firmly as favourite for the New Zealand Cup. , I Romeo and Ropii, are considered to be. the pair, likely to fight out the '.: "issue in the, Avondale Gup., ■'■■■■ : ' * ~ The next p'ayrrient in connection with, :'■ the New Zealand Cup is not due until the 23rd of October. - "'. -'The .i. unnamed ;-.inare*i--by.?Sfc-Leger.;. from j Hilda racing-- in A the Old Country won an- ; ; other race there recently. . ;'.! Acceptances -and general entries in connection with" the Avondale. Jockey Club's Spring' Meeting close ; on Friday next. ■ ;■'■■ -Jvilinarnockiiis-; still the .popular fancy at Ellershe ass the one likely to, win ; the • first two-year-old race of the season. ■ ■ ; The ; annual : meeting of members of the Otahiihu Trotting Club is -convened to be held on September 3 at eight o'clock. < 1 Battleaxe's two-year-old, full 'brother in. ■ training at Ellerslie is going on nicely, and ' looks like one that will turn out well. • :; The colonial-bred sires are very poorly re-, presented, in the . A.J.C. Derby, 12 out of 1 the 14- horses loft in that race being got by imported aires. -■-' i;; - ■••'?.■'-• . : ' : ., : On July 6 the earnings of Carbine's descendants; in the . Old Country amounted ■ to ■ £2950, ■ for-'- the winning -of which -.sum .10 of his gets were concerned. .Norietto is * a regular - attendant at Ellerslio, and what is moro is coming on splen-' didly., • -■■■■ .' . -; The Victoria Racing Club have this season registered 82 men to bet in the paddock aqd 94- to bet on the hill at Plcmington. The South Canterbury Jockey Club's meeting takes place on Wednesday next.. Several New Zealand Cup horses'figure as ac-" ; copters in the principal event. . " , The Irish sportsman, Mr. John Gubbins,- ; wai? at the head of the list amongst winning owners when the last mail;left London with a total of £16,385. Sir James. Miller was in; second place ; with « £15,562. . The two-year-old colt >by Castor |; from ■ Bangle, continues : to i progress ; satisfactorily ' under J. B. 'Williamson's s care, and should unforeseen i occur;; he i can safely be 1 booked to fulfil an early engagement., ; ' ' The appellation of "Tom" has been closely associated with the First : Hurdles at' the O.J.C. 5 Grand National Meeting, 1 for '< during the past three years 'thai event has 1 fallen to Long. Tom, Slow Tom, and Plain ■ Tom. ■;• ' : . , : ' It 'may be doubted if Nonette will be.seen out before, Auckland Cup day,* but, "jutlging , from the ■ way 'he is ' coming on; I ■ should say .'■ that it would be quite possible to get a good ' race out of him in the spring were such de- \ sired. 1 ' ',' • • ■"'. ; Cavaliero, is still located at his owner's J place' at ' Huntly. : The old: son of Cuirassier was blistered some time back, and I am told , that; there is every reason* to expect ; that . ho '.will carry silk before the present season / ends. The prospectus of the "Wellington Park Stud Company i.lias' been issued. '/. The capi-, tal has been fixed at- £30,000; that is, 30,000 :■ shares of £1 each. 'The sum to be'paid to >': Mr. Motrin is £22,500, viz., £13,500 in cash r and 9000 fully paid up shares. : '; The dv * Derby winner, Abundance, does not figure c as; an entrant for the .'Spring 1 Stakes, to be run on the ; opening day of the " A.J.C. meeting, but he! is an .entrant for the • Craven Plate, which event is run over a ' mile arid a-quarter at weight-for-age on the l third day of the Randwick gathering. Good reports continue to come •to r hand from ; Canterbury I regarding /Hohoio's / two': • year-old half-brother, Silkworm.: This i colt • was purchased at the/last Sylvia: Park , sale • . by Mr. G. G. • Stead for 180 guineas, and i he struck me en ■as a; colt that , would be - heard of .in the event of his legs staiading/ H". ' / \ Idas ran indifferently .as a three-year-old, ' but I fanny condition had something to' do 1 with hoi' failure last season. The little 1 (laughter of.Seat-on Delaval is now looking J much better, and I will not be surprised to J- find her giving her new owner an early re- '• turn for the outlay made in purchasing her. ■ Awahuri, it seems, nearly lost his rider during the, Grand National Steeplechase con- , test. • The Referee states. that the big horse went right into the fence ,at /'Cutts','', and ' Cameron was thrown - right on - the horse's 1 neck,: but he managed to get back to: the saddle again.: Cameron's feat is referred to } as " a wonderful recovery." - , A two-year-old colt by Soult fromPrinj cess Alice that "was picked, up'; cheaply; for r 32: guineas at the sale; of the Glenora Park , yearlings m December last, and who is now under the : charge of; W. Smith at Elleri slie, bears th© appearance of one that will s . be useful. The youngster in question is a .; full brother to the pony'mare Avalanche, i Ibex, who iii regarded as a Hsh-class horse up 3 to a mile, is being freely supported for the t Caulfield Cup, in which race he is weighted 3 at Bst 91b. Ibex is engaged in the' Epsom f Handicap, to be run at Randwick on the 12th . prox., but with 9st opposite his name •.' in the Sydney race it is considered probable s that his; owner will reserve the 'i son of Gos- ,. I soou' for. the Caulfield Cup. „ '.'; ■';.'. : :-;;i-./> --' -t^K;t/S^'-.-i';^ ; ;^.?&M ;^ (>■'•-. - - :'*-, "■ \ ■ ;'■'■: .•■ - :--,•'; •'■ . ■'.■.■■ .>

STUD NEWS. • ' ; » Vivaudierey the gray daughterl.of } Siuiket " M and G*orgi, who ranks as i.«.-» oil the oMh* ' iB matrons in the Wellington Park stud, pre. ; : '.|! ! ducod her 16th foal on Sunday last at th« 'M Paumure estate, in the shape of av ' i'K; : j fine colt by the St. Simon sire PKcebua IS 1 Apollo. Vivandiere'was foaled in 1882 I 1 ami she has thus attained: her 2lst- ye-* '•f '■> this spring Vivandiere was never -race? '' * 1 ; and she went to the stud in 1885. ' 1 1 ! ; contribution to the. Stud -Book -was I 1 ': f a-Guh (by Anteros), and then folio '■'>-' 1 1 tress (by Ingomar), The : Dancer (by '* 1 I ! Dance), Vivat (by Captivator), GalLt ?S : I 1 I St. Leger), Star (by Castor),Se2t ' 1 I ; .Twin (by Castor), Tauhei (by Castor) Sf ;> ' 1 1 ; tree (by Castor), Bacchus (by,,Castbr ' r ; -" 1 :ta : (by Castor), Canteen (by Castor) fw ' I . : Beaton (by Seaton, Delaval), VivSol ; '$k I Seaton Delayal) filly by PhabuTScli? M I ; and a colt by Phoebus Apollo. -ThS >~' I : mare's last , brace .of ■ foals are: fine, K>l£j'|fJ j youngsters and there ,s every reason <o ', I conclude that ' the alliance of tho St 8-In ' ■ $ and j Musket families will have a hanry »i* - ' >? ! ■suit- i ■.... , *' e * ' ~ : .j The first descendant of the St. Leeerhm.e ' * ! Nestor is now located at Ellerslie.in Vu : . v: f > shape of a three-year-old colt from Tormi«S ' , ; . The • feature of this colt's ■ ■ ' •' breeding to . iVfus-ket, .at ' a ..short 'r \\ ■M\ Tamora, the dam of Nestor, was got bt th» ' Toxopholite horse, while Torment has a lib. distinction. - _ - .*:- ,,ie ' | The following foalings are announcW at * Auckland studs:— -7 Mr. T. " Morrin's Vivandiere, bv Mlisbeli- i Geovgic. colt to Phrebus Apollo. ' ,Ki " f Mr. T. ; Morrin's St. Evelyn, by St. r*.„ , H# Lady Evelyn,, filly to Hotchlriss. 4 f ßer /Mr. T. Morrin's, Edith Cureton, by Cantor ' ! Frailty, colt to Hotchkisa. , * »*•«»*« ~ ! Cambria Park Stud Company Sprite "bV ' ' ■' , Dreadnought—Elflock, filly to /The Officer -H' * <> Cambria Park Stud: Company's '> Senga- "'ln» V * i Hotchkißs—Agnes, filly to Cyrenian. f '.._,■ 1 ir i Cambria Park Stud Company's Eondaletia i by Eonda-Matakan*; filly to Oynaim, Messrs.'■L'.-.-D.-'-.and N. A. Nathan'g Liauida, * tion, by King' Cole—Kealisa Hon, colt ft b* ' ' plosion. , ..■ .. . s Messrs. It. D. and N. A Katlian'g Orchestra ' '" V by Goldsbrongh—Songstress, filly to Explosini! AR.C. STEWARDS? / . ' ' ' f [TO THE SPORTING EDITOB.} \ Sir,—Very? great p interest having »'be« ' taken by members at the last annual 'inerting, as evidenced by the large attendinot the infusion of some "new blood'' into : ■ the A.R.C. Committee led the members and the public /generally to expect that some j changes and improvements would be - made The result of the new committee's first fa liberation has been to cause very great; &%, "II appointment and dissatisfaction , ajrpwst ! members at the selection of fltewarA foe tv k ! this season. ■ That men of more raciS experience, and with more thorough kno^Fedjj e •of the rules of racing, are still to be foui!« ■ among the members oft. the'club is : reelj • tidmitted,- and it is -time steps were lekeij. ; to ensure the selection, of men who .kjui,* ; have the entire confidence both of thetoens , bers and the general public.l am, etdk- ~ •-'/"" -.: /!• An Old Member, but not ! ahAswb*t-; ? ~,'' J ' //Auckland, Augustus, 1903. , ' 1". ' ■ ' ' «. E - * i . I ss 'r \}<? Kf, 1