SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13355, 8 December 1906, Page 9

SPORTING.

-— «. - RACING FIXTURES. '. , P December 8, 10...Te Aroha Jockey Club. V. December 26 and 29, and January 1 am] 9— *; Auckland Racine Club. '"*:' U Z 1 December 26 and 27—Thames Jockey Club. m December 26 and 27-Nortb.ern Wairoa Eacin? Club. - : ,> v , December £B—Drury Racing Club. PSSfe-ohih aDd Jann " y Auckland January 3,4-Westktnd Racing Club. : April - 1, 2, 6— Auckland Racing Club', Joce 1. 3, 8-Anckland Racing Club. DATES OP COMING EVENTS. December 2&—Great Northern Foal Stakes. December 26—Auckland Cup. December 26—Manawatu Cup. « December Palmeraton North Stakes. : December 27—Auckland Trotting Cup. I December 29—A.R.C. Summer Cup. ; January Great Northern Derby. "January 22—Wellington Cup. January 26—Wellington"Stake*. * February 20—Dunedin Cup. March Wanganui Cup. '

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. J.F.M.. Kaukapakapa.-L. H. Hewitt rode Noctuiform when he won the New Zealand Can. 8.M., Picton.-Tui Cakobau. Akarana. and Black and Gold, respectively, carried the colours of Messrs. Dfcder lit, the recent A.E.C Spring Meeting. Tui Cakobau scored a victory in the Gordon Handicap

i M.T.. Newmarket.--Explosion never ran a race after his battle with Seahorse in the Auckland s Plate of 1900. The totalisator figures in connection with that event, were: £960. Seahorse; £672, Explosion; £253. Sant llario. Seahorse won a Maiden Hurdle Race in England.

SARAWAK. Hamilton.— lose. The distance of the Canterbury Cup (1901), won bv MenschikofT, was only a mite and threequarters. In the succeeding year, when Cruciform proved successful, the journey was two miles and a-qnarter. at which (with the exception of Menschikoff's year), it was run since 1871- ,

SroBT, Mastcrton—Cambrian has only «tarfed on two occasions this season. In the Avondale Guineas lie defeated Sweet Alice, Conductor. Inglis. and Pyladcs: and in the Great Northern Guineas lie beat Loftus. Volume. Conductor, and .Sweet Alice. In the Great Northern Foal Stakes, run last December. Huascar finished in front of Cambrian. Cambrian is engaged, in the Summer Cup. -which event is set down for decision on the second day of the A.B.C. Meeting.

NOTES BY PHAETON.

THE A.R.C. SUMMER MELTING,

The acceptances and general entries re- ' ceived last night by Mr. Hartland in connection with the Auckland Racing Club's " Summer Meeting, taken collectively can be ■voted highly • satisfactory. The two big "■"-•- events of the opening day—the Auckland Cup and Railway Handicap— :. claim an. acceptance of 16 . and 18, ".' and that represents material for a " high-class contest in each instance. The . announcement that Armistice had con-;-'','.;;acted strangles did not cause the daughter ;■'.::' of Mahaki to be ticked off as a probable ac- ; , ceptor, bub she has apparently made a good ; recovery. However, she. is bound to have .:. lost condition by her enforced idleness, and .x until she reaches the scene of action some ■ ■'■■' anxiety will be felt regarding her case. ; Advices received from Napier in the early part of the week regarding Boomerang's condition pointed to his acceptance for the . Auckland Cup, but tho son of Mcrriwee is numbered amongst the absentees. This , is a distinct disappointment, for though H the black'.horse, had failed in every one of ,; his engagements this season, he was looked ;i;' upon as a ■ dangerous Gup candidate at m Eilerslie. Though still carrying the ap- §| pearance of a well-preserved, veteran, Parim tutu has not been equal to the task of winM, ning- * '.this season but, from what. I ■'■: can learn it would be highly dangerous to .conclude that he is a spent light. The Cas- .;' -tor gelding is one of the proved stayers en-' gaged in the race, and we may see, him ;•:•• strung up- to concert pitch when he finishes his preparation for the Auckland Cup. I Scotty continues to carry himself attrac- .; " tively, . and if condition can assist him to i a victory on Boxing Day he will be well served. Ghoorka has been accepted for, despite K a (lb penalty which he incurred by a win in the St. Andrew's Handicap. The f: son of ■ Lochiel is' given credit for a goad performance at Feilding, but there will be V plenty to keep him running in the AuckvX land Cup. Douche, with the addition of ''the 51b penalty, which she incurred by: reaV son of her victory in tire Manchester Handi- ■■■: cap at Feilding, follows Ghoorka with 7st '":' 131b opposite, her name. The Jet d'Eau mare has. shown herself to l>e a good plodder up to a mile and a-quarter, but at two miles she has to be taken on trust. The more that Apologue's prospects are studied :v. the more dow one become convinced' that 'the son- of Phoebus Apollo is destined to p ■ take'a prominent hand in the settlement of j| the question on Boxing Day. There is !;' solid evidence that the strong gallop ex- •-;.- ■: tracted from Apologue at Takapuna last A- week has had a - roost beneficial effect on -,•: him, and so long as he keeps well there is M good reason to formulate the view that he ■;/ will continue to hold his position in popu- ■ lar esteem. The appearance of Cambrian's .name iu the list of horses left in the Cup V ■ can be termed - a pleasing incident of the • -. acceptance list, for at least it leaves the door open for him to strive for Cup honours. Cambrian's name, however, also figures in the Railway Handicap (which event, it may be remarked, is run on. trie 1 *ame day as the Cup), and that circum- ., stance will require to be committed to moI mory by those who are inclined to conifer support upon him for the two-mile race. H 'Despite his disappointing display in the v-Canterbury Cup, and that he was twice ■beaten at the Feilding meeting, the Hon, V Mr. Ormond has paid up for Zimmerman, I In. the face of his form, it may be doubted 111 if the Hawke's Bay sportsman has received anything savouring of a strong inducement - to pay up for the Birkenhead colt, of whose staying capacity a doubt is popularly enter/■;,tained. Master Dclaval has had his en- : gagement continued, and I take it justifiably so. The son of Seaton Dclaval is a 111 good fighter at the business end of a trip, t and with only 7st 61b to carry he can be ■-.■J!depended upon to beat more than beat him. sp In the Railway Handicap King Billy heads ' the list. By all accounts the son of Merri- :■•; wee is in-capital nick to make a second H assault on the six-furlong race at Eilerslie, and some shrewd judges 'are found expoundj: ing the view that the locally-owned division ; ".will require to be at their best to prevent m Mr. Watt's horse from claiming chief at- > tention at the hands of the judge. In be- : ing placed within 51b of King Billy Cambrian has received his full deserts. A big .; crowd of Aucklanders will, however, only Require to find the Cyrenian colt saddled up II for the six-furlong race to stand him to beat [ King Billy. Sir Tristram is another of the I Hwrke's Bay contingent for whom a good Word is put in. . ~

IMPROVEMENTS AT ELLERSLIE. A big staff of workmen is engaged at El : lerslie on the various works which the committee of the Auckland Racing Club recently put in hand, and an inspection show* that good progress is being made. The re-cently-erected booth adjacent to the free stand, which it-was-'decided to shift further eastward in order to give the necessary space for the transference of the Derby stand to the point selected so as to give the public the necessary room to move about with some degree of ■ comfort, . has been moved, and the contractor has now got the stand on tho blocks. The filling Jri point named .would soon be completed : necessary material: could be obtained nuickly, bit it can only progress in like tlfcrby stand earth and stone The filling gf the point named would soon be completed if the. necessary material could be obtained quickly, but it can only progress in like as the earth and stone are available from the excavations on the railway line, the filling in is completed there-can ..." ."■ .'-.

be little doubt that matters will be much improved at this point for those who prefer to take their racing outside the enclosure. The carpenters' hammers are now busy in the main stand, and a sweeping alteration has been made in that portion of the building which for. so many years did duty as the main bar. This apartment, which is of spacious dimensions, has been completely dismantled of its counters, shelves, etc., and is to be used in future as a luncheon and tea room. The bar has been shifted to th& hack of the stand facing the totalisator. This is a very narrow apartment,, ami will certainly not provide sufficient space for the attendance at a summer meeting. The- Works Committee, I understand, quite recognise this aspect of the question; but after a full review of the situation it was considered best not to underfake the extension of the building until a later date. With a largo number of visitors arriving by way of Grecnlane and the closing up of the gate which formerly allowed of an entranco to the enclosure on the west side. the laying down of another path so a?, to relievo the journey, at, that particular point of danger and discomfort was an absolute necessity. The workmen are now engaged in the laying down of a 6ft path, extending from the casualty room to the entrance gate on the north side, or a distance of ten chains, and as this is being built up and properly kerbed it can be said that yvery necessary work is being well done. With a reasonable amount of fine weather between now and Boxing Day the racecourse staff will in all probability be able ; to administer the finishing touch to the vari- . ous works in progress. j

POSEIDON V. CARBINE.

In referring to the big burst of eulogy conferred upon Poseidon for his dual Derby and Cup victories, "Javelin,", of the Melbourne Loader, says:—"Racing men still continue to argue concerning the respective merits of Carbine and Poseidon, but is it not a little premature to arrive at any conclusion at present? Carbine raced for four seasons, whilst Poseidon has not yet got to the end of the fourth month of his second season. Furthermore, horses not contemporary can never be compared with much certainty. The time test cannot for a moment be considered, so much depending on the. conditions under Which races are run, and while one horse may quite eclipse another in the number of his victories at a certain age, the fewer in number may certainly be the greater in merit. Perhaps the best line to go on, where the two great horses under comparison have flourished at different times, is consideration of the quality of their opponents. In this respect I think it will be conceded that Carbine lookon harder work than Poseidon has so far done. One would certainly look in vain amongst this season's opponents of Poseidon for a dozen horses to equal Abercorn, Melos, Malua, Loehiel, Carlyon, Cranbrook, Volley, The Australian Peer, Mentor, Bravo, Russley, and Tradition, all of whom wont down at one time or another before the great son of Musket. Setting aside the question of which met the stronger opposition, it cannot be denied'that Poseidon's spring three-year-old form quite eclipses that of Carbine, but the former has yet to show how ho will hold his own against the latter in.the all important matter of 'running on.' The hero of to-day has a tough job awaiting him to equal the autumn three-year-old record of Carbine, comprised : Third in the Newmarket Handicap (Bst 121b), second •in the Australian Cup (Bst 61b), won the Champion Stakes, All-aged Stakes and Loch Plate; second (to Abercorn) in A.J.C. Autumn Stakes, . and, at the same meeting, won the Sydney Cup (9st) beating Molos,' Abercorn, Lochiel, Honeydew, -Pearl Shell;? and others), All-aged Stakes, and (on the same day) Cumberland Stakes and the A.J.C. Plate. Then, as a four-year-old, Carbine won nine races (the last seven consecutively), repeating all his A.J.C. autumn victories and adding the Autumn Stakes to them, and wound up his career in a blaze of glory by winning, as a five-year-old, ten races in 11 starts, including ; his memorable Melbourne Cup, carrying lOst 51b, and his second Champion Stakes! Poseidon may do all this," but ft - reads liko a'- pretty tough contract to tako on! At any irate, in the face of the above record, I,think it will be time enough a year or'so hence to compare Poseidon with the hero s of heroes.''

A RACECOURSE RIOT IN PRANCE. Recent files contain particulars of the riot which took place at the Longchamps racecourse, France, on October- 14, when the crowd became infuriated, owing to the third race being won by an outsider, the favourite having been left at the post. Tiie mob invaded the course and the paddock, destroying almost everything within reach, fighting the police and striking the horse? with chairs. The betting rings and pari-mutuels were then attacked, the officials being rendered powerless, and after the cash desks and parimutuels had been sacked the central office •was fired, but the fire brigade arrived in time to save the pavilion. In order to make sure of a quick tiro some of tiie most desperate men actually stole the petrol from motor cars on the course and threw it over the buildings. The municipal', guards charged the rioters again and again, and in the paddock hundreds were trampled under foot. The fire was got tinder in time to prevent entire , destruction of the grandstands. M. Ruau, the.Minister for Agriculture, decided that the remaining days ot the meeting should be cancelled, and a committee was appointed to consider the question of the- modification of the rules of racing, for the purpose of defending the interests of the public and. of horscowners, rendering impossible a recurrence of similar incidents. Though scenes of turbulence have at times occurred on British racecourses no : thing has ever happened to rival that at Longchamps. At Doncaster in the fifties" the contradictory running of Lord Derby's colt. Acrobat, in the St. Leger and Doncaster Stakes, caused a riot after ho won the latter race; while the famJus Blink Bonny, after her successes in the .Derby and Oaks, started an odds-on favourite for the St. Leger, but; did not get a. place, the classic race falling to Jmnerieuse. Blink Bonny made her next appearance in the Park Hill Stakes, a, couple of days later, and won with the greatest case. Then * riot, commenced, and the trainer and rider had to seek police protection from the violence of the mob.

THE TURF AS A LEVELLER. Truly the turf is a great leveller (remarks "Milroy"). A too ardent devotion to it has brought many down from high eminence to the lowest rungs of life's ladder, white it has enabled others to rise from prominent positions in the gutter to the top of the tree and rub shoulders with the greatest in the land, except, perhaps, ornaments of the Church. The careers of John Gully and his partner, Ridsdale, and the Marquis of Hastings' provide historical iiroof of what may happen to a man on the turf. The pair first named began life with nothing in particular beyond stout constitutions and plenty of natural cheek, and they became rich beyond the dreams of avarice. Gully, who was a butcher by trade, came into the sporting world as a pugilist, and by his courage and capacity for taking punishment won many friends and a footing on the turf. He became a member of Parliament, and died immensely rich in the odour of sanctity, but his ex-partner severed his connection with this world in a stable loft without the price of a penny supper. The Marquis of Hastings, who lived in their time, was an ex*tremely wealthy nobleman " who went through his patrimony in a few years, and died in disgrace and heavily in debt; while, as before mentioned, the hard-headed pugilist had money to throw to the ducks at the finish, though he had nothing when he startAil The Lord Hastings ami Gully dramas have been played over and over again since their time, and comparatively youthful Australia could supply material enough to fill several large volumes of the tips and downs of turf men during the past 50 years. Some-body-—I think Lord Beaconsfield— aptlv observed that "all men were equal on the turf and underneath it," and though it is a great leveller few people are prepared to withdraw from His Majesty King Edward Ids titular rights because of his enthusiastic adherence to horse racing, which one great writer described as "the sport of kings," while another equally great but cynical chronicler dubbed Derby. Day "a carnival of blackguardism." It is customary in the. race reports of English newspapers to abbreviate King Edward's full .title to " II.M. the King's Mi So and So,", but recently the Daily Graphic went one better in its report of a race won by His Majesty's horse Cheverel, by putting it "H.M king'.-, eh g Cheverel, by Persimmon— (H. Jones), 1." > ;

LEAVES FROM MY NOTEBOOK:. From Melbourne comes, news of the death of Mr. Samuel Garforth Cook, one of the best known, as he, was one of the most popular, owner-trainers that has been identified with the Australian turf. Some years back Mr. Cook raced horses on a somewhat extensive scale, but considering the number that passed through his hands comparatively few of the big events fell to his colours. In 1837 The Yeoman won th» V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race, and in 1890 and'lßß4 he furnishei. the winners of the V.R.C. Derby respectively with The Admiral and The Harvester, the last named being one of his own breeding. Prior to settling down in Victoria Mr. Coot was identified. with the sea. He quickly mastered what may be termed the tine points of both breeding and racing the thoroughbred, and all round he was regarded as a sound, level-headed man. Mr. Cook will especially be remembered with affection by pressmen, for when called upon to name his horses most appropriate titles invariably followed. The feature of Mr. Cook's effort's in nomenclature were that he usually prefixed " The," and such took a wide range— The Admiral, The Harbour Light, The Charmer, The Enchanter, The Harvester, The Paris-tonne, and The Wild Oat being some of the happy names for which he was responsible.

The fact of Cambrian, one of the most fancied candidates for the Railway Handicap, having been supported for the Auckland Cup within the last few days has naturally given rise to a deal of curiosity as to the quarter from which the movement in favour of the Cyrcnian colt emanated. The first operator who sounded the .market about Cambrian for the Cup is regarded as a shrewd, calculating man, and when he obtained a quotation of 100 to 8 he' sought to make it 500 to 40; but the pcnciller declined. A few stray hundreds were, I understand, subsequently secured about Cambrian, but the pencillers moved cautiously, and the operator had to be content with 100's to 8 and 10, as, the best price obtainable. Cambrian subsequently shortened to I to 1.

The authorities of tho metropolitan clubs will have to awaken or they may yet find a country club being the first in the field with a New Zealand Champion Stakes. That progressive and highly-prosperous body, the Manawatu Racing Club, this week decided to institute, a Sires' Produce Stakes of lOOOsovs, which it is proposed to run first in 1908. The first contest will be limited to two-year-olds; but after that three-year-olds will be eligible to compete. In the. telegram to hand no mention is made of the distance or the season in which the race will be run. The committee have deemed it advisable to tack on a condition fixing the minimum number of sires nominated at 15. This is only a reasonable safeguard, and as tho way is made easy for a man owning two sires by the reduction of the fee of 20 guineas to half for a second entry, that should ensure the necessary number of nominations. ' It may Ik- argued that there are quite enough classic races now on the various programmes, but a Sires' Produce Stakes is an event that can be welcomed, and the wonder is that it should have been left for tho Manawatu Racing Club to institute such an event.

The objectionable clause with regard to the publication in a newspaper of betting before a race was still in the Victorian Betting Bill when it left the Legislative Assembly for the Legislative Council. The Australasian refers to the matter, thus:—More than that, a newspaper is forbidden to publish an opinion as to the probable result of a race. Tho Melbourne Cup is the race which will be most.prejudiced. It must lose caste if people at a distance are not kept in touch with what is going on in regard to it. Let the public lose interest in the Melbourne? Cup and good-bye to the chance of tho V.R.C. being able to hold its place as the leading racing club of Australasia. Apart from this the Melbourne Cup means much to Melbourne. Several absurd things will happen if this provision is not struck out of the Bill. It has been usual for years past to publish the cabled betting on the English Derby and the University boat race. There are scores of Englishmen in Australia every year, and many Australians, who tako an interest' in the Derby and the boat race. They do not bet on the results; but they like to know the latest news, and the bctting tells them -how things stand. If. this Bill passes in its present form there will bo no more cables about the Derby and tho boat-race betting. The Bill providos that betting shall bo carried on; but debars the newspapers from publishing it. ' Bookmakers, - however, : can;. send their price-lists all over tho continent by post. ■'•' -■'' ■■' ' " "'

Mr. W. Walters has brought out the catalogue for the 24th sale of Glenora Park-bred yearlings, which is this year fixed to be held at the Papakura estate on January 3. The yearlings to be offered number 20, 1* claiming the St. Simon horse Sdult as parent, the other sires represented in the catalogue being Salvadan (by Salvator), Eton (by Castor), Menschikoff (by Step::iak), Explosion (by Cuirassier). The various lots will be found fully described in an advertisement appearing in another column.

For several years past, since the retirement, of Wakeful, the- same old material has done duty in the weight-for-ag£ class: and there is no health in us (remarks "Ribbleden." of the Australasian). Victoria cannot claim IPoseidon ; and it is the fact that the principal races, handicaps or otherwise, have been won by horses bred in other States. I don't like to be pessimistic: but what with the lack of enterprise in the breeding industry, and bungling legislative interference with men's liberties, and V.R.C. control the turf in Victoria has come to a pretty pass! It seems to. me- that in the. course of a few years, if there is no improvement, the stalkes offered for competition by the V.R.C. and the V.A.T.C. will be cut, up almost wholly among horses bred without the borders of Victoria, mainly from the New South Wales side.

Details of the race for the Cambridgeshire Stakes, show that the winner, Polymelus, started at the short price of 11 to 1 in a field of 20. It is doubtful if in the whole history of the race, which extends back to 1839, there has ever been a hotter favourite than Polymelus. The restricted odds offered against Polymelus may- be ascribed to tin; fact that the owner (Mr. S. Joel) is a South African magnate, who does not bet lor shillings, and, in addition, there would be unusually heavy sums pouring in from Mr. Joel's city and South African friends. It is mentioned as a fact, that the money cabled up from Johannesburg and' Kimbcrlcy on some important English races has occasionally exceeded that from all the London clubs put together.

The Australasian, which has always been a strong advocate, for the legalisation of the to. talisator, was found putting in a very strong word for the machine when the Betting Bill was before the Victorian State Parliament, recently. The Australasian said:—"Without the totalisator the bookmaker is necessary to racing,- but the totalisator can do all that the bookmaker does in a better and cheaper way. England. Victoria, and New South Wales still refuse to countenance the totalisator, but it is used in almost every other country where racing flourishes. It. has its detractors, of course, but so has the starting machine. When the percentage was raised from seven per cent, in France it was prophesied that the public would ; cease to patronise the machine. These prognostications were not fulfilled. Advocating the totalisator for Victoria is like crying in the wilderness, we suppose, but there is no gainsaying that it is the fairest way to betting yet discovered. But Mr. Bent says we" are not to have the totalisator on any terms."

The whole of Carbine's colonial-born descendants disappeared from the turf some time back. There is, however, a good prospect of the famous son of Musket being still represented in Australia.. By a. recent steamer a yearling colt by Carbine from the Childwick mare Prickly Heat was brought out to Australia, and all going well with him he will be raced.

When the Betting Bill was before the Victorian Legislative Assembly a clause empowering the managing body of any racing club to permit approved persons to carry on any business or vocation on its course, on payment of fees, and to exclude persons nob granted such permission, was carried. Clubs can please themselves as to who they will allow to bet if the Gambling Bill passes. ;

English papers to hand show that the defeat of Captain Greer's colt Slieve Gallion in the Middle Park Plate at Newmarket' recently took shape as a sensation. The race was considered to be so 1 completely at his 'flsircy that odds of 4 to 1 were laid on him. lift an exciting finish Major Loder's colt Galvani got the best of his rival and won by half a length. Galvani started at 10 to 1.

English jockeys are kept busy throughout the flat racing season, but, taking all the. year round for it, they have a comparatively easy time compared with leading American horsemen. For instance,' up to the first week in September no fewer than 16 American jockeys had ridden 400 time? or. over, the lad with the greatest number. of mounts to his credit being. \V. Miller, with 962. out of which lie had scored 256 firsts, 212 seconds and 131 thirds.

.. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. Nominations for Orakei Maori races close on Friday next.

Parttutu was beaten in both of his engagements at- the Wcodville meeting. The Svhia Park colt Volume managed to win the'Waitara Cup on Thursday last.

The three-year-old gelding Duart (by Soult—Drudge) is for sale or for lease. According to the Australasian there are too many Joans racing in Victoria just lion - .

The Melbourne Cup winner Retenuo a working; with Mr. Macdonald's horses agaiu. Revenue is ten years old. The Auckland Trotting Club invite tenders for certain privileges, particulars of which will bo found in another column.

It is stated that a French breeder made an offer of IO.OOOgns. for Polymelia (by Cylenne}, the winner of the Cambridgeshire Stakes.

Zimmerman is stated to have run a most disappointing race in the St. Andrew's Handicap at Fcilding, being one of the first horses beaten.

A full-brother to the dual Derby and Cup winner Poseidon is one of the choice lots to go up for sale at the New South Wales yearling sales in April next. .

The absence of Boomerang's name from the. acceptances for the Auckland Cup is, I understand, due to the fact that the son of Merriwee has gone amiss.

The Auckland Trotting Club have received a capital list of nominations for the events to be run at the approaching summer meeting. They number' well on to 400.

Mr. Morse will on Tuesday next declare the weights for the Trial, Nursery, Robinson, and Christmas Handicaps, to be run on the opening day of the A.K.C. Summer Meeting.

Prom New South Wales conies news of the death of Mr. Charles Baldwin, the owner of the Durham Court Stud. .Mr. Baldwin was 74 years of age at the time of his death.

The New Zealand-bred Highland Fling, by Multiform— who was scut over to Melbourne recently, was offered at auction there, and was passed in at 250 guineas, the reserve on him being 500 guineas.

Mr. Stead has only two horses engaged at the A.It.C. Summer Meeting, Seal Rock and Huascar. As the Hornier figures amongst the entrants for the Auckland Plate, there is every reason to expect him at Ellerslic.

The following trotting horses were sold at the Durham Yards yesterday by the NewZealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company:—Black gelding Timothy, 51 guineas; black gelding Prince Tuxie, £20; chestnut mare Flora Mac, £39 15s; brown gelding Avenal, £10.

Sea Moon (by Nelson—Moon gal, who is a 'full-sister to Seahorse, appears to be a perfect failure as a racer. When contesting a small race in New South Wales recently she is stated to have shaped most indifferently, finishing half a furlong behind the other contestants.

According to the Australasian except that old-established and genuine clubs, like the Victorian and Bowes' Tattorsail's, seem likely to be done away with as far as betting is concerned, the bookmakers cannot grumble at anything the Legislative Assembly has done with the Betting Bill.

In referring to the defeat of the motion to legalise the totalisator in .Victoria the Australasian says:—The legalised totalisator has no charms for Victorian legislators. The bookmakers do not like it, and the religious party do not like it. _ The combination is too much for the totalisator. It cannot even get a hearing.

The New Zealand sportsman Mr. Spencer Gollan has a few horses in training in England; but none have earned success for some time. One of the number, a three-year-old bay filly by Bill of Portland out of Freda (by Maxim — Nell), ran third in theMontefiore Plate at Gatwick on October 17.