SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14097, 26 June 1909, Page 9

SPORTING.

J RACING OFIXTURES. §fP(ftlr 8- »-6isbon» Racing dob. • - . pWjfßSy:!?. it. 2*—Weßiugton Racing Club, ' DATES OF COMING EVENTS. irrtr ittaun Jttiy I"?— Winter Huniile Race (Wellington). jtaly Sl—Wellington Steeplechase||||fe-:'*.' ATTSTSU.IA. $ JalT S-VJtG. Grand National Hurdle Race. '(£?:. StiS W-V.B.C Grand National Steeplechase. BMUXft : September sDoncaster St. Leger. - L~- ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. IS* HAWK. Hamilton— weights for tee K*w Zealand Cup are due to appear on or I;-" ; '. about August 20. fcV IXKJLLNPEK. Ngarnawahia.—For the English Sr-L"' Derby of ISS2. Daniel O'Rourke. Barbarian £?~'"and Chief Baron Nicholson, finished in that fiord**. iv : -' MArSES--Carbine «M foaled in I*Bs. u■■-.'prior to throwing Carbine.. Mersey produced fllfftwo fillies to Musket, vis... Lady Walusley OSK". and Lady Mersey USS4). "■'■: SKIFPEB. Awafcno-- Cain was sot by *~ : >. Ttegeagie from Zillan, br Stockowuer from "': Oaten, by Melbourne. Enchanter was got by '?'> Bandoora. a son of The Peer and the Freetrader- mare Argosy. W' W. 0.. Waits, Barnrn —Ben Godfrey was 'cot by St. Leger (son or Doucaster). from 1 Welcome Katie, a daughter of Musket and I■/ Dundee's Katie, the latter by Dundee son ;■ " of Lord of the Isles'. WAGES. N'ortheote.-The St. Paul gelding r ' who won the Wanganui Cup under the name ■' : V of Kilmarnock, was subsequently renamed ' , Sir Pr*.«. and at the ARC. Autumn Meeting he figured as a contestant in the St. I&C George's Handicap and Autumn Handicap. MAJOR.—i.I> Bombardier was got by Brigadier; Drum Major by Cuirassier. Tho latter contested the Grand National Hurdle Race 9 at Eliersiie in 1599. running third under 9st •^. 9b to Sbylock C9st *lb) and Nor-west (list *. ■ Jib). 81 When ~yrs old Spalpeen won a ?•> maiden Hurdle Race at Elierslie. beating a field of eight- Spalpeen was cot by Gossoon , \. from the Goldabrough mare Windmill. ■ NOTES BY PHAETON. l"' •£ ' 'T~ ■:. :.\ '-- THE HANDICAPPER. &*&>rJ"'■ r -- ~■ .-■ «..' ' . . * . ■. 55* TnorcH many people could, no doubt, be found questioning whether' the Hon. - J. D. ||PjOrmond seised the most appropriate occasion on which to sound the note- regarding ""' the largo amount of handicapping placed in V one man's hands which he delivered with V no uncertain sound in a recent letter to the } : Referee, it is a subject that has frequently '.'■ been discussed by those engaged in- racing horses, and in that quarter at least the -views jjb&'of the Hawke's Bay sportsman would cer- "'■'. tainly count many warm supporters. There I •• are. no doubt, disadvantages connected with ?,.*.. the system at present ruling: but it can also, I think, be validly contended that there > ' are corresponding advantages. In stating a '~. case under the first-named heading, Mr.

';■■■' Onnond places the matter .thus: , "The - V position at -. present .is that with■; the ||l|iKHH)poljn held by 3lr.' Henrys when ho **, ' forms • * wrong estimate of a horse's capabilities 'r there is practically no redress, and the owner-may go jon for a year or more without a possible chance {I hare had seveg^iral: experiences)/whereas;-, if the handi- ;<■"';'" capping" was .better "distributed, owners might. be >:harshly. treated ". would have the opportunityof • getting anr] ; other opinion,^and*so-would thus be " The position at present is that with the monopoly held by Mr. Henrys when ho forms a wrong; estimate of a horse's capabilities there is practically no redress, and the owner may go on for a year or more without a possible chance (I hare had several sach experiences), whereas, if the handicapping was better distributed, owners whose horses might be harshly treated would hare the opportunity of getting another opinion, and so would not be liable, y "■. as at present,, to having a horse which is llljf handicapped out of all ; chance, and kept in i thai position r. for 'an - indefinite period." >On - the other hand, • the advantage of a man performing "a • large amount' of • handicapping :,- lie* in the fact that in most cases be I jourwys to' witness the form displayed, instead of taking it: as read, and the veriest |lf|; tyro in v racing must*- speedily ; ? come .-. to ''.■ a gag^-conclusion as to which class; of work should \ stand the severest test.' Ocular demonstration $:*■■ is the great thine to be courted when handif '"■ capping - has to /.be i. performed. A*' handi- } capper may bo in a position to secure the I best of information regarding public form; i ■ but there is nothing so good as the evidence I of his 'own eyes ;in i guiding-a'man to right !;; and proper conclusions. It, no doubt, tends Ito become irritating to a horseownerto find an animal engaged in carrying his colours meeting after meeting handicapped "in a manner which he believes to be harsh; but still ■ weight-adjuster is not always proved to be in the wrong. ';*•.. :i "^.^^-A ;-' IfffejS THE DERBY 0F'1909.' *It wouia really "seem as, though the Amen-. cans * were deprived; of a , high-class - chance of winning the English Derby when their representative, Sir Martin (who started favourite for the Epsom race), At New- -„. market Sir Martin' won the Welter Handi- ' ;ap, deeded over the Rowley Mile, in'lm! 5323, awl one writer. says he gave an " un- •.. impeachable/ display." According,, to the watch-hol3ers,* v '.Sir.'Martin occupied - foar- ■ 'fifths of a second longer in winning the Wel- >■?"";.■< ter Handicap than did Minora 'on the occa-i sion of hi), victory in th? "Two Thousand," which was accomplished in record time. - ' Both races were run over exactly the same course, and the ground hard, but in other respects the conditions differed in so far ! chat, whereas His Majesty's colt was assist\s »d by ; half a gale of wind at his back, there J' - was no such help for the American horse, who, moreover, carried a weight 10lb heavier

■ by comparison. There, v/as apparently«Tery good reason for the Americans to pile the 'ilfgoid f 6n7Sif * ilartih for *tho: Derby. ;. The fates were, however, against.him. . It is I mentioned that There j > time prior '!; to very good reason for the Americans to pile the gold on Sir Martin for the Derby. The fates were, however, against him. It is mentioned that some time prior to the Dcrb. coming up -for decision, Sir Martin iiPpns bought by Mr. Louis : Winans, together §§§fwith' another colt named ' Edward, at £15,000.

l\ DEATH OF A BRILLIANT HORSEMAN. tf '■'■■' The sad announcement.comes from Aus- <-'; tralia that James Barbour, a leading horseWt man, has lost his life,in following his proW$ fession. While engaged in schooling a horse -S • named Tracker at Flemington, 'the';- animal blu.r-»ered, with the result that Barbour was go seriously injured by a fall that he died from til© effects. The deceased, who could r' • be termed a veteran of tho saddle,? was in £;'■■ the first flight, of horsemen.' The first im- >■' portant winner that, he steered was in the winter of ; 189*, when he steered Apley to victory in tho V.R.C., Grand National BHurdle8 Hurdle Race, which \ feat he capped in the following year when he , capturedS both the . V.R.C. unci "Caulfield Grand "National Steeplechases . with that groat horse Dairnio. Barbour was a rider of the dashing school, £«d ho was recently quoted by a Melbourne writer as one of the men who had been responsible for the < change £ which has taken t place - in recent .' years in ' connection ■ with cross-country racing, and -for the hustling , tactics- and ,break-neck speed at which I > steeplechases ■■" aro now run in 1 Victoria. When Barbour first employed the tearaway |i. "tactics on Wild Dog, > says fthis critic, he ;s| son by such distances that, though his con'A- fren>u affirmed that he would soon change I ;hese breakneck practices and' revert to the | ; aid style, it was they and : not ho that had * j§ to change. And now, after escaping for so 'mk long while riding in races, Barbour has met |P bis end in a schooling gallop. *; Such is Fate. I STEEPLECHASING-IN IRELAND. , Although most of the best jumpers are bred in Ireland, stecplechasing does , not' •earn to be flourishing there. The Irish correspondent- of the Sportsman wrote last a*mth:— poor quality of the field that r contested' the Prince of Wales' Plate, the most valuable handicap steeplechase run for in Ireland, went to emphasise ; the naked- &«»-. of ! the land so far as concerns jumpers, »»d, wiih tho exception of Paddy Maher—a Triton among ~ Minnows—the others could r . *icarcely be deemed worthy of figuring at the T; top of the second class a few years since. ' W» may Jjave some promising four-year-olds j coming 01% but unfortunately tiio majority |": lv w '.°'jr owners are not in a position to dis- j the Saxon gold, which is always j * 5 ** 1 * for a horse once he shows he uossestes |

abilities out of the common, and the- result is that while the good ones cross the Channel and stop there, the bad and indifferent remain, like the "poor, always with us. Even of these we have a too small number in training compared with, say, a decade ago, proof of which is forthcoming _in the difficulty experienced by the executives of. jumping meetings in getting sufficient support to justify their continuing to cater for this branch of the sport. Leopardstown. for. instance, have been compelled to drop the cross-country events, which formerly was a feature of "their spring fixture, while the fine steeplechase course laid out by the Pfwentx Park Club was levelled after the first few years for similar reasons. All of which is "to be deplored, and it is to be hope*! that ere long we shall see a revival in the so-called illegitimate branch of, the game."* LEAVES FROM MY NOTEBOOK. , The King's colt, Minora, continues to distinguish himself, and we can, I think, safely conclude that the son of Cyllene still retains an unbeaten certificate at three years old. At the Royal Ascot meeting last week Minora added another win to his record, in the shape of the St. James' Palace Stakes. Minora'* latest winning exploit may not have been invested with a large amount of merit; but it is all the same very pleasing to find him retaining his form, as this serves to encourage strong hopes that His Majesty will have the satisfaction of again claiming a triple crown hero when the St. Leger is through in September. The death of Sir Daniel Cooper, reported from England last week, removes a prominent man from the turf. Sir Daniel was an Australian, born in Sydney, and was an enthusiastic sportsman. He was a member of the Australian Jockey Club, and his colours were prominent on the Australian turf in the "eighties." On taking up his residence in England, Sir Daniel Cooper resumed turf pursuits, and since 1531 his name has figured on tho winning list with tho exception of four seasons—lß96-7-8-9, his. winnings totalling upwards of £57,000. He was a staunch supporter of the classic races, and captured the One Thousand Guineas, 1906, with Flair, a filly of bis own breeding: while Flotsam carried his livery into third place in the Derby, 1905, won by Rock Sand. He also bred Perola, who recently won The Oaks for his brother William, who succeeds to the title. The members of the Auckland Metropolitan Committee and the secretary, Mr. Hartland, will* have good cause to remember their' term of office in the season of 19081909. by reason of the number of sittings held. The cases arising out of the disqualifications imposed by the stewards of the Avondale Jockey Club must have proved a great tax upon the time of the busy men who hold office on the Metropolitan Committee. The final note in connection there with had not been struck ere another big case loomed up from another quarter in the shape of an affair in which Messrs. J. Grant and S. Darragh and the chestnut mare Tauriki are involved. After sitting for some timo on Wednesday night the committee adjourned the further hearing of the case until Monday night x

Some little time back it was mentioned by the '• Wanganui correspondent of the Herald that Lingerer could be accepted as a promising candidate for cross-country honours. At Napier Park this week tho Apremont gelding very amply endorsed the opinion expressed as to his prowess over the big fences, as he won the two steeplechase events at the meeting in question. There are not a great many horses claiming descent from Apremont that have earned distinction over country;- but prior to Lingerer the French-bred sire claimed a high-class performer in Mikado IL. and it is worthy of remark that the latter is the sire of Kuala Lumpur, a horse of high repute, who has recorded many fine feats over country in Australia. /*"■•;

The race in which Wairiki's full-brother Seddon -heated for first place atWilliamstown, on the 12th inst. was only of - minor importance, but his performance is held to hare • conclusively proved the fact that he holds the Soult quality for gameness. "Tcrlinga," of the Australasian, writes as follows regarding Scddon and the Port Cook Handicap:-— "Cooper toot Seddon to the 'front, and the son of Soult had everything hard at it coming _ round the turn, but ; entering the straight be floundered into some soft going, and ■■ after that J all . was not plain sailing. Cooper seemed to take it rather easily, and he certainly ; came away S from the rails, and let up Kanowna, . but, anyway, four horses were almost abreast as they flashed past the box. and "■ no ;one knew the result '-■ until Mr. Inglis declared '4 a dead-heat between ;Kanowna ,' and £ Scddon.g, I. was standing t near the , box;*. and I must give Seddon one little bit of credit. "■> From the-'time Cooper put the whip on to him he held his own.' :

The accident that befell the ex-Australian rider, F. Wootton, at Ascot last week would appear to be of a very serious character, as the -cablegrams received . state that the injured jockey has ' occasional - lapses into unconsciousness. At the time of his accident the brilliant young horseman had established a, big lead in the list of winning jockeys, and he appeared to have an excellent chance of scoring-the highest honours. ; '•'■■'•■. :: ;'.■':■: •■'■ ■'- -■' , .

i In the course of > some i interesting reminiscences ; of . the ..'• Derby, -. an . English - writer says:— a hundred veteran sportsmen were gathered together at a symposium to discuss which ;is the best Derby winner, the various opinions would be interesting and ' con* flicting. ' ;; When ■* Plenipotentiary,' the , favourite, beat \ twenty-two opponents in; a i canter by two lengths in the blue riband of 1834, it was thought by the cognisoenti that such a ; horse had ; liever been seen on a racecourse before, and never; would *be again. The value of :: horses in those days was nothing like so great as "it-: is at the present time, but ;an 1 offer of £5000 down - was made for Plenipotentiary, and- a further £1000 ; a year so long as ihe lived, but this was refused. The opinion of such an eminent authority as John "■ Porter, ; the famous trainer of so many Derby winners, in this connection' is I extremely interesting and ): valuable. The ex-master *■;. of :; Kingscfcr©- says:—" I think Ormonde was absolutely the best horse that ever won the Derby. /I do not think we hare ever seen his' equal." .Mr.- Henry Chaplin struck; what can bo termed a highly auriferous'mine when he bought Hermit as a yearling for lOOOgns., for that speculation panned out \ into * something like £250,000..

; The once , greatly-advertised American horseman.," Tod "i\ Sloan, •is»i in England looking for '■ a" : ' license. s • Judging by this Sporting Tiroes paragraph, the Jockey Club stewards will H have none of him:—"The illadvised 'advocacy of Sloan's claims to reinstatement, undertaken by some of his preiss sympathisers, has attracted the notice of the Jockey Club, V'ln the last weekly official communication-;to clerks of courses • there was embodied a . separate and distinct reminder to all license-holders to the effect that the. jockey was debarred from all enclosures, offices, weighing-rooms, etc., comin?, under tho auspices of the Jockey Club. Sloan's cause would be better served by his friends observing silence.'' -.. .

Colonel Hall Walker, who has the distinction; of breeding and leasing to the King the Two Thousand Guineas and Derby winner, Minora, was recently appealed to to furnish some ; light on the meaning of the title which the bay son of Cyllene bears. Colon*! Hall Walker states that "Minora— pronounced Min-or-00—is the Japanese for ' Success.' It is also used as a Christian name; ,in fact, the celebrated colt was called after the second son of tho Japanese gar? dener at Tullv." V • '• >

Racing plates in Franco arc now manufactured from I paper, and are, it is said, used for Mr. W. K. J Vanderbilfc's horses. It is claimed for them, apart from their lightness, that horses so plated are not liable to slip up, and also that the bad results of over-reaching aro done away with. Tho inventor, says the Allgcmeino Sport Zeitung (Vienna), is M. Curot, a wellknown veterinary surgeon,' who is interested in racing and breeding matters. ,

From day to day gratifying news is re-, ceived from the Auckland" Hospital as to &atisJactory progress in tho condition of W. McKinnon, who was seriously injured when his mount, Irish, fell in the Winter Steeplochaso contest. The operation performed by Dr. Savage 'has proved most successful, and strong hopes are now entertained of McKinnon's complete.; recovery. .

■'•; The Canterbury Jockey Club have received a capital list of nominations for the leading events of their Grand , National Meeting. Tho Winter Cup ha* 46 entrants, 30 horses being engaged in trie Grand National Steeplechase, and *1 in the Grand National Hurdlo Race. >..'

■: It is reported that".'the last has been seen of the imported ■ horse \ Sir Ay'mer"'on' the race track, owing to his having broken down, and ho will probably bo put to the stud I next season. .• Sir Aymer ran some phenomenal '; gallops before tho last Melbourne Cup, but failed to repeat them with tho colours up. .

At Eliersiie on Thursday morning Scotty was given a schooling lesson over. the big hurdles, when be acquitted himself proficiently. ,t1 From the list of entrant* for tho New Zealand Grand National Hurdle Race, appearing in another column, it will be seen that Scotty is included in the list. Pikapo (by San Fran), who won a double on the fiat at the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club's meeting last week, is stated to be a particularly fine-looking horse, and one that will probably develop into a high-class fencer. Mr. Francis Foy, the New South Wales racing man. is quite. original in the naming of his horse*. His latest effort is Something Irish, which is the name he has given his imported two-year-old colt by Diamond JubiSnood. After recording a number of disappointments, Iranui came out of her shell at the Napier Park meeting this week, the Stewards", Stakes and Winter Oaks Handicap going down to the credit of Soult's daughter. * ' ; "■ The Waikato Hunt Club intend holding their annual race meeting on the first Wednesday in September. .The stake money attaching to the programme will, I understand, amount to the good sum of £230. It was stated that Parirutu was badly amiss. The veteran son of Castor, however, figures amongst the entrants for the New Zealand Grand National Hurdle Race, the nominations for which closed last night. The committee of the Pakuranga Hunt Club have decided to charge 5s per day to anyone following the hounds who is not a member or wfio is not entitled to the privileges of the club. Tho Birkenhead gelding North Head has not only been accorded a nomination in the New Zealand Grand National Hurdle Race, but he has also been nominated for the Winter Cup. The Auckland-bred gelding Waipuna started a warm favourite for the Paddington Handicap at the Port Adelaide meeting, which event be won in good style. Cymri and Stroller were given a schooling lesson over the big fence* at Elierslie on Thursday, and they acquitted themselves satisfactorily. Ngapuka figures among the entrants for the Winter Cup. to be run at the Christchurch Jockey Club's Grand National Meeting. The Explosion gelding Explosive has been schooled over hurdles at Elierslie, and lie shapes promisingly. Auckland stables are well represented at tho New Zealand Grand National Meeting. The yearling full-brother to Achilles is to be known by the name of Sea God. STUD NOTES. * PT PHAKTOJJ. In glancing over the list of fees fixed for the service of stallions in Australia, one cannot but be struck with the great contrast between matters ruling there and in England in that respect. In a long list of Australian stallions before mo Positanq figures as the only horse whose fee extends to three figures, and the sum fixed in his case only reaches lOOgns. There is then a drop of 50gns,, which is the amount opposite Multiform's name; Haut Brion and Fortunatus, at 30gna each, being the'other horses most prominent on tho list. In England the following are the fees charged for the services of the leading stallions:— Frusquin, 300gns.; Spearmint, 250gns.; Radium. 200gns.; Melton. 200gns.; Gallinule, 200gns.; Ayrshire, 200gns.; Desmond, 200gns.: Isinglass, 200gns.; Zinfandel, 200gns.; William the Third, 200gns. ' A. French breeder, it may be remarked, holds what has. I suppose, a ris&t to be regarded as the greatest gold mine in tho stallion sense, via.. Flying Fox, the fee attaching to the English horse's name being no less a sum than 600gns„. which, it is interesting to note, is £532 more than the gum charged for the services of his sire, Orme. ?

Touching on the poor support accorded by the ; British Government to the horsebreeding industry, the London Sportsman savs:-" Other Governments have years and years made horse-breeding an affair ot State, so that in all circumstances their armies will have horses in plenty, whereas under present conditions pur army would within 20 years have practically none; and it must be borne in mind that in time ot need other countries would have no surplus stock which we could buy, "in the Jo"" war. All this is so manifest that it is difficult to understand how even a fad-ridden Government like the present can «main in office and let the question of horse-breed-ing just drift. Each year .brings us nearer to an irremediable catastrophe.

Thera wat (says an English writer) a great deal of luck in Stockwell being the head or the great Birdctcher clan. His paUrnal great-granddam was bred in Ireland, and used to carry her owner in hunt raece and across country, and at tha stud »ho threw several indifferent horses until her owner died and she fell? cheaply into the hands of Sir. "Watt, for whom she bred Echidna, the ugliest foal in Ireland. Echidna was never broken, and to Birdcatcher she threw<Stockwell's aire, The Baron, who won the English St. Lcger and remained in England, where he met Pocahontas, the dam of Stockwell. It was fortunate for the world's racehorse* that the hard-riding Irish soldier who owned Miss Pratt conveniently died in time foe Mr. Watt to get his mare and breed Echidna, who in,all, probability was only retained because nobody would take her at * gift.

In his remarks under the heading of "High Prices," Mr. W. Allison (the special .commissioner of the London Sportsman) is in- ' terestingly • reminiscent about big ■ sales, several cf which ho had a hand in:—"ln considering the price of this or that horse we'should always bear in mind the period at which a sale occurred. Of late years the Argentine breeders, in their efforts to eclipse one another by their sensational purchase's, have no doubt greatly inflated the value of high-class stallions, and spoiled the market for those not -quite in the first class. Time was when 20,000 guineas each for Galtee More and Ard Patrick was.-.a* price which created some, stir; ; but later on, when the Argentines had been at work, giving as much as 30,000 guineas for f Diamond Jubilee and other horses, the executors of - Sir James Miller refused 20,000 guineas for Rock Sand, and stood :> out for 30,000 guineas, because, as* they argued, he was worth as much as Diamond Jubilee. It was pointed out to them that the son of Sainfoin was certainly not so good as Ard Patrick, who had been fold for 20,000 guineas; but the Diamond Jubilee price was what they felt they 'ought to have. • Ultimately there came along Air. Belmont's offer of 25,000 guineas for. Rock Sand, and this, after vainly trying to get it increased, • the executors accepted with somo hesitation. Now, here was a case in which a price' undreamed of not so many years ago was absolutely refused by gentlemen acting to the best of their judgment for ■ the benefit of an estate. The offer of 20,000 guineas for Rock-Sand was made by M. Halbronn, on behalf of French clients, and at the time when it was refused there was no thought of Mr. Belmont being a likely buyer of the horse. Buyers at.such prices are, of course, very limited in number, and practically all of them appeared at that time to have secured the horses they wanted, but the executors would have kept Rock Sand rather than accept 20,000 guineas for him. Mr. Belmont, however, on this occasion acted as a'Dcus ex maehina, and by giving an extra 5000 guineas actually justified the executors in their refusal of ho French offer. Thus it is that on© price forces up another, and a false standard of value is established."

The Irish breeder, Colonel Hall Walker, has had the misfortune to lose a half-brother to Minoru. Mother Siegel, dam of the latter, foaled a fine. colt to Count Schomberg on the «amo day that the King's colt triumphed in the Two Thousand Guineas, but tho youngster only survived a few days.

Last season the sensational Sceptre (by Persimmon) was mated with Carbine (by Musket), and tho result is a filly. Needless to say, much j interest is centred in the youngster. If Sceptre's filly cornea up to the old theory of like begetting like, then she will be & flying machine indeed.

The first mating of Wakeful and Positano.was barren of result In the hope of a different result, Wakeful's name has been entered on the St. Simon horse's list for next k season. i-

; Mother Siegel, dam of the Two .Thousand and Derby winner Minoru, foaled a colt to Count .Schomberg, just about the time Minoru was winning the Guineas race.

Taihoa, the dam of the Napier Steeplechase winner Lingerer, is an Australianbred mare by the St. Albans horse Malua. ■ ■ ' }: y ■ '■' .-

TRAINING A RACEHORSE. » | [by TELEGRAPH. —owy cowtEsroxi>ia«T.] " ■■■';' Thames, Friday. Judgment was given by Mr. F. J. Burgess. S.M., to-day in a case ; which has caused considerable interest in sporting circles, to., that of D. Hughes v. Dann iad Lvnch. for the recovery of £6* 5s as damages for breach of contract, relating to the training of the, racehorse Jena. The statement of claim set forth that the eontract was broken by the defendants, and the horse removed by them from the plaintiff's stables without his consent and during his absence. A connter-claim was made by defendant* for £89 lis, Icr damages sustained by the horse while under the care of plaintiff* The case was beard two months ago, Mr. MacCormick. of Auckland, appearing for the plaintiff, and Mr. Ckndon for the defendants. His Worship held that both parties were to blame to'some extent. The plaintiff had not exeicised the skill and care be should have done m training a young horse, and the evidence had shown that the horse was subjected to a much more exacting and vigorous course of training than was fit for an animal of her age and strength, and that in consequence of this the mare had suffered to such an extent as to necessitate her being put out of training for a time. ■At the same time, he was of the opinion that the evidence given with regard to the permanent injury sustained was greatly exaggerated. In regard to the action of defendants in entering on plaintiff's premises, and forcibly taking possession of the horse. His Worship held that this was an act of trespass, and for this he would award plaintiff £5. He also awarded plaintiff £5 for the two weeks' training due up to the time of the removal of the horse, making a total of £3, with costs £12 19s. In regard to the counter-claim for damages by defendants. His Worship allowed £5 7s 6d for special treatment to the horse after being removed from plaintiff's custody, and which was necessitated by the condition in which the horse was at that time, owing to the plaintiff's faulty training, and £20 damages of depreciation in value from the same cause,- with costs amounting to £17 ♦*. CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB. NOMINATIONS FOR LEADING EVENTS OF GRAND NATIONAL MEETING. [BT TEUB'JRArH.—PRESS* ASSOCIATION.] i CHRISTCHCRCH, Friday The following nomination! have been received by the Canterbury Jockey Club in connection With their Grand "National meeting :— WINTER CUP of bOOsovs, on* mile.—First Mate, North Head, King Post, Croeraboy, Grenadier. Simplex. North-east, Mundie, Muskerry. Wimmera. Irish Rifle. Sir Frisco. Gvcendohna. Tikitere. Merrie Zealand. Aboriginal, Tyrant. Stratagem, Whiatleeraft. Zimmerman. Oxton, Dawn. Longner, Chief Lochiel. White Cockade, rikapo. Spate. Continuance, Iranui, St. Aidan. Tukewai. Penates. Hilarian, Federal, Ngapuka. Maiors. Rock terry. Sea King. Guiding Step, Lady Disdain, All Guns. Seaman, Sweet Angelua, Wirral. Lone Star, Watkarats. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE of lOCOsevs. three milea and a-half — Capitol. Exmoor. Pawa Waitarere. Eurus, Northern Star, Ren Jonaon, Wanganui, Mooahen. Moccasin. Asaayer. Aorangi, Nogi, Eldorado. Haurangi, Specio«a. Diplomatic. Stonnont, Cymri. Jack Pot, Te Arai. Sianev, Nidador, Xavier. Le Beau, Lull. Irish. Maidf, Leonardo. Lingerer. GRAND NATIONAL HURDLE RACE of lOOOsovs. two mile*.—North Head. Te Lira. Exmeor. Rinßman, Bullv. Pukenui, Belario. Stronghold. Virtus, Ben Jonson. Stayboy. Claremont. Showman, Lyrist. Whatakura, Rendrock. Kairoma, Gold Dust. Polvanthus. Pikapo, Kangihaeta. Gold Shower. Aurattis. Stormont, Paritutu. Waihuka, Snotty, Contender. Southern Cross, Corazon. Kremlin, Xavier. Abilitv. Wirral. Silken Rein, Nero, Irish. Compass, Snip, Lapland, Lionheart. AUCKLAND TATTERSALL'S CLUB. Tattersall's Club has been re-established in Auckland and an excellent suite of rooms secured in Durham-street West. In the largest room a billiard-table has been installed, while the room* throughout have been furnished appropriately and with a view to the comfort of members. Altogether £250 has been expended fitting up the club, while a number of additional improvements are contemplated by the committee of management. The new ctubrooms were opened last evening, and in reiponsejto the invitations sent out over 250 representative sportsmen attended the social arranged to celebrate the occasion. Mr. A E. Glover, M.P." lor Auckland Central, occupied ihe chair, being supported by Mr. Frank Lawrv, M.P. for Parnell, in the vice-chair. Amongst those present were Messrs. Robert \Tynvard (secretary of the Takapuna Jockey Club), H. It Hayr (recretary of the Avondale Jockey Club), Fred D. Yor.ge. (secretary of tho Otahulm Trot ting Club). 1. Hill,.""*. E." Hackett, Halstead, Endean. and all the leading bookmakers. The chairman expressed his pleasure at the establishment of the club, and said it could not fail to do good for the bookmakers and sportsmen in general. Mr. W. E. Hackett proposed the toast of " Tattersall'a Club,", wishing the club a lengthy, prosperous, and useful career. Messrs. W. Tidyman and F. Leslie responded on behalf of the club Mr. Frank Lawry, MP., proposed " The Racing* Clubs," which was responded to by Messrs. Hayr, Wynyard. and Tonge. All three welcomed the reinstatement of -the, bookmakers' on the racecourse, and considered that the layers of odds and the Jotalisator could work side by side. Mr. Wvuyard considered that no bookmaker should "be allowed to follow his calling unless: licensed by a metropolitan club. Several interesting soeechea : were delivered during the evening, while a pleasing programme waa rendered bv the following gentlemen -.—Messrs. F. Lawrv, M.P.. Allan Mcßlwain, H. Beresford, It. Notori, Wvnn-Gray, Blakely. J. W. Ryan. W. A«pinall. D." Bannatyne, the Lyric Quartette Party, and Cato's orchestra. The arrangements were excellently made -by the acting-secretary, Mr. W. Tidymati, while Mr. Albert Glover, M.P.. made am "ideal chairman. [\ ] TROTTING. The Melbourne Trotting Club's £500 Handicap, fixed for September 3 next, is the biggest thing of the sort we have yet had in Australia. First-rate entries havo been received, and:as the race is for horses that can do 2m. 325. and better, the handieapper will have good material upon which to frame his handicap. The distance will bo one mile and a half. Horses have been entered from New Zealand, Tasmania, New South Wales, and Victoria. New South Wales will be represented by C.W., by Huon Junior; ■ Ribbonite, by Ribbonwood; Huon Hue, bv Huon Prince President, and Van

One'thing that strike* every horseman Upon his. first visit to Moscow, Russia, is the total absence- of whips, a law preventing their use. , The Russian favourite breed of trotting horses, the Orloffs, are great stayers, and Russian breeders are getting alarmed that the admixture of American trotting blood may spoil their staying powers. With the object of preserving the Orloffs, the oldest Moscow trotting society places on its programme 50 per cent, of races for purebred Orloffs, and 50 per cent, for the halfbreeds. , '/■ , v.- ~,.

In : Russia tho Government has stations for horses at the intersection of every 10th mile, and they go tho distance between those post stations at full-speed. - The Russians claim, that their Orloffs can at three-years-old trot a mile in 2m. 505., keep it up, and draw heavy weisrhts. What the Russians fear is that the American trotters, bred for speed alone, are too fine for utility purposes, and they argue that the trend of events in America is not calculated to improve the stamina of the trotters. v

McKinnoy, the groat American trotting sire, lives in a palatial residence. The cost of the building, which is 333 ft long, 67ft wide, and 65ft. high, was £30,000. It is fireproof, being built of cement blocks, braced by steel. It is heated by hot water radiators, and has a plant for the manufacture of electric light. There is a covered track, 1110 ft long, 25ft wide, well lighted by windows on each side. McKinViey is sire of 100 in tho 2.30 list, among them the trotters Sweet Marie. 2m. 2s. : Sterling MeKinney, 2m. 6"5.; Kinney Lou, 2m. 7^s.; Charley Mae, 2m. 7Js.; Alack Mack, 2m. Bs.; Berta Mae, 2ra. Bs.; Car'okin, 2m. Sis. Kinney Lou is sire of the colt imported last year by Mr. Edward Gabriel.