Sporting.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 998, 17 April 1891, Page 15

Sporting.

RACING CALENDAR. April IS —'Wellington Racing Club’s Autumn Meeting. April 22 and 23—Ashburton Racing Club’s Autumn Meeting. May 23 and 25—Dunedin Jockey Club’s May Meeting. June 3—Auckland Racing Club’s Winter Meeting. June 25—Hawkes Bay Jockey Club’s Winter Meet ing. July 11—Wellington Steeplechase Meeting. May 13—Egmont R.C. Winter Meeting. TOPICS OP THE DAY. (By Vigilant.) The two-year old racing at the A.J.C. Autumn Meeting waa very contradictory as compared with the V.R.C. Autumn form, and leaves a lot of doubt as to Penance being entitled to be considered the best youngster of the season. The A. J.C. Sires’ Produce Stakes certainly looked a moral for Mr W. T. Jones’ new purchase after his victory in the Ascot Vale Stakes with a 141bs. penalty, especially as the best of the public performers now opposed to him was Stromboli, who waa among the beaten lot before, and was now meeting him ou 14lbs. worse terms over a furlong more ground. Odds of sto 2 were laid on the son of Grand Flaneur and Penitent, but there were a select few who remembered how green Stromboli ran in the Ascot Vile Stakes, and what improvement he afterwards showed in the V.R.C. Sires’ Produce Stakes (in which he beat Lord Hopetonn and Piecrust). These were content to take 9 to 2 that he won. The other oandidates were the Hon W. A. Long’s chestnut colt Sanctuary, by Grand Flaneur—Terrsra, a non-performer,, who came with a great private reputation, Mr Hall’s Sulphide, by Grand Flaneur—Peggy, another debutante, and Mr J. B. Clark’s well-bred filly Corvette, by Martini-Henry—Lady Vivian (dam of Volley), who showed good form in the spring. The backers of Stromboli were right in their judgment, for after Penance had once looked dangerons at the half-mile post, he died away to nothing, and Stromboli, finishing like a lion, won easily from Sanctuary by 3 lengths, in the good time of lmin 29Jsecs. Penance was a neck behind Sanctnary. Writing of Stromboli after the V. R.C. Autumn Meeting, ‘Asmodeus,’ in The Leader, said : —* Stromboli is a colt of great size, and as be is not so well furnished as Penance, it is not improbable that he may succeed in avenging himself on the lastnamed next season.’ The turning of the tables was destined to come about sooner than * Asmodeus * anticipated. The beat quality two-year-old field of the meeting, and perhaps of the seasoD, came out for the Champagne Stakes on the Cup Day. There were eight starters, including Stromboli and Penance, each ot whom carried a lOlbs penalty. The other well-known publio performers were Birigambil, Sanctuary, and Piecrust, and the dark lot included Mr W. B. Hall’s br c Oxide, by Sardonyx—Geraldine, a brown colt named Sunshine, by Segenboe—Twilight, running in Mr J. Cook’s nomination, and Mr T. Sampson’s b c | Theodore, by Splendor—Qneen of the Forest. Birigambil, who was nominated by Mr James Swan, and is by Marvellous, sire of Marvel, from Myrtle, dam of Little Bernie, was made a hot favourite at 7 to 4, not only because be had made a one horse show of tbe Nursery Stakes at Rosehill on the 28th March, but because, a few days before the meeting, be had accomplished, on the training ground, one of the fastest 6 furlong gallops ever seen at Randwick. He got away with the lead, but collapsed soon after turning the home corner, and Penance and Stromboli, having cat down Piecrust, looked like having the finish to themselves. Penance ran mncb more gamely than in the Sires' Produce, and a desperate finish was being fought out between the pair, when suddenly the despised Oxide dashed np on the outside and joined th 9 leaders 50 yards from home. Hammer and tongs it was then between the three. Penance faltered six lengths from the post, and Oxidfe, making a splendid final effort, just beat Stromboli on the post by a •short half neck’ (which 1 suppose means a head), Penance being a neck away from the second, Piecrust was fourth, Sanctuary fifth, and the favourite seventh. The time, lmin 16Jseoa, is tbe fastest on record for the race, the next fastest, lmin having been accomplished by Navigator in 1882. Of coarse, the lOibs peaalty leaves the real laurels of the contest with Stromboli, who is in every way a great colt, aud one in all probability destined to play a prominent part in the great 3 year-old contests of next season. He was not long before he had his revenge on Oxide. On the third day of the meeting they met again in the First Foal Stakes, in which both had to put up a penalty, I have not seen the full description of the race, but the result was that Stromboli won by a length and a half from Oxide with Sanctuary third. On the fourth day the only two-year-old race waß the Second Nursery Handicap, and as the winner, Playmate, carried only 6st 61bs, it is long odds against his being anything like first class. The two-year-olds engaged in the classic races of next spring are not likely to called on to do much more work this season, and as things stand at present there is no one horse which stands out head and shoulders over all his compeers as Volley, Abercorn and Titan did in their respective years. The latest form shows it to be a close thing between Stromboli and Penance, and as the former, according to all acconnts, is susceptible of more improvement than the other, the son of Chester will probably be the winter favourite for the V.R.C. Derby. It would not be a bad investment to take these two with Strathmore and Zalinski against the field.

The Taranaki correspondent of the Referee makes the following sensible remarks in a letter dated April 4:— 1 There is one thing I would like to point out in connection with these haok races, and that is that the term is a misnomer. I notice that in Napier they call them Trial Stakes and so forth. The horses who compete on this coast are not haolcs, but trained racehorses, almost fit enough to ran for any prize. A glauoe at their pedigrees will show this. Then look at Vendor, Cheque, Jenny, Torpedo, Donald, Titokowara, and a legion of other raoers, who graduated from hack company in this Coast. The times some of the so-called hack races are run in will convince any one that the horses are good goods. I think it would be a great improvement to discard the name of “hack.” ’ I quite agree with the opinion expressed by my fellow scribe, and think it is quite time the term ‘ hack ’ was done away with in reference to trained horses. Here is a knock for our New Zealand bookmakers. It is taken from the Melbourne Sportsman of the Ist inat. :—‘lf the betting quotations, as published in tbe New Zealand sporting pape/s. be correct, and I have no reason to impugn the veraoibj of the scribes who pen them, Maoriland must be a perfect Eldorado for fielders. Backers, according to the published prices, are already—a fortnight back—in fact, taking thousands to tens about the doubles, Melbourne and New Zealand Cups. Megaphone appears to be the Maori fancy for the big race to be run for next November at Flemington, and although the entries for neither race are due for a couple of months, one bookmaker is reported to have already laid seven wagers at thousands to tenß. Backers are thus, acoording to our contemporaries, taking about sixteen to one that they pick the winners of two of the most open races of the year two or three months before even the nominations have been made. If the proprietor of this thousand pound book will communicate with this office, I can find a gentleman who will be pleased to pay a high premium for a sleeping partnership in such a profitable volume.’ A ‘double’ book of this description may be very profitable, but the New Zealand bookmaker is not in it with the Australian metallician, especially in those colonies where the ring of the ‘accursed ’ totalisator is not heard. If bookmaking in New Zealand were such a very good game how is it that one after another they have nearly all turned it up ? * Bookies’ are not the sort of men to throw over a good thing. The stable commissions, which are pretty well all that is left to them, are not by any means profitable to layers. The main source of profit used to be derived from the numerous poundß and fivers invested by the punters on their fancy. These now nearly all go into the machine, and if poor * bookie 1 didn’t get a good doable line occasionally the few that are left wonld have to go under. It is a matter of notoriety that at present there are only two or three metallioiana in the Colony who could pay £IOOO if they lost it.

At the moment of writing we are on the eve of the Wellington Raoing Club’s Autumn Meeting, and I am glad to say that there is every indication of the gathering being in every way a success. By the t s me these notes appear in publio the first day’s racing will be over, so that it it no use my giving any tips or notes on the various events. Almost all the horses engaged have arrived, and the issues, in nearly all cases, appear very open. There are capital acceptances in all except the Hurdle Race, and if anything like the fourteen accepted come out for the Railway Handicap, we will have a race worth looking at. Mr Henry, who handicaps for the hack races, has special reason to feel flattered at the way his adjustments have been received. Only one out of nine in tbe Hurdle race, and five out of twenty-seven in the Flat Race, have been withdrawn. The latter race certainly includes the finest lot of backs ever brought together in New Zealand, and I should not be at all surprised if the time recorded were fully as good as that made by the racehorses

The following pregnant paragraph appeared a fortnight ago in ‘ Mazeppa’s’ notes in the Otago Witness :—lt comes to me ou evidence which I am bound to respect that some half dozen persona have been miking it their business to absolutely control hack and selling races in particular and other minor events too, whenever the chance presented itself, the method of procedure being simply to rope the best horses and back an inferior one, which is allowed to win. I should not mention this thing if I had not the strongest evidence as to the truth of the story I am telling. One guileless owner, whose horse was thus allowed to win, exclaimed as his c'ook cantered homo, * By George, chaps, that old fellow ot mine would have won the big race if I had put him in for It’—being entirely innocent of the fact that everything else was ‘ dead’ for his horse. That is the way of these gentry. They don’t let the owners into the seoret.— I have kept this by me meaning to try to ascertain whether I could find out any indications of a similar confederacy existing in this district, and I am glad to say that 'although it is morally certain * pulling ’ and * ringing in ’ are practised in haok races to an alarming extent, here as elsewhere, I have not found reason to believe there is anything in the shape of a swindling syndicate in existence. But the fact that such a combination exists in one part of the Colony, makes it probable that before long the rasoals may extend their operations in our direction. So that it behoves stewards and secretaries of clubs to be on the alert, aud when anything of the kind is discovered there should be no mercy for the offenders. Such villany as this strikes at the very root of popular and healthy sport, and once it becomes established, it will be difficult to eradicate it. .‘Mazeppa’ suggests as one means of checking the evil, that all selling hack races should include a claiming condition. This might do some good, but I do not think it would be effectual, for the simple reason, that owing to the existence of a bastard freemasonry among owners, the claimingclauße is scarcely ever taken advantageof. Even straight-going owners will hesitate to incur the odium of running up a home for sale, although they know perfectly well that it ia

worth twice the amount it is being knocked down for. If this false delicacy could be got rid of, we should have more honest selling raoes. The subject opened up by my fellow scribe, is one that is of great importance as affecting the vitality of racing. The stewards of the English Jockey Club by their recent action in refusing to renew the lioenses of several leading jookeys, Bhow that they are in earnest in putting down anything like organised roguery on the turf, and the stewards of the Metropolitan Clubs in New Zealand should bo on the alert to promptly suppress anything of the kind whioh may be attempted here. Isonomy in his prime was a long way the the best horse in England. In fact, some years ago, when a disoussion was started as to which had proved himself the best horse of the present century, Isonomy had a large number of votes. Mr Gretton, who owned him, once refused £20,000 for him, but on the death of that gentleman the horse was sold for less than half that amount. Ho was j by that grand horse, Stirling (who, when carrying Bsb 101 b as a three-year-old, was only beaten by a head for the Cambridgeshire by Sabinus) out of Isola Bella. At the stud Isonomy was a great success, and in 1889 he was high on the list of successful sires with £20,841 to the credit of his progeny. Last year there was a mighty falling off, as he had only eight winners, and their winnings only amounted to £963. The fact of Harris riding Marvel in his races with Carbine in the All-Aged Stakes and the Cumberland Plate, shows that there is no foundation for the rumour that the jockey sold the owner in the V.R.C. Autumn Handicap. The retention of Harris further complicates the sensational exposure of the horses’ form when the party were not ‘ on.’ If the jockey had broken faith with them once they would hardly trust him a second time. I notice that Carbine’s defeat is ascribed to his having been run without shoes in the wet. This is a very feasible explanation of what seems very mysterious in view of Carbine’s easy victory in tbe Cumberland Stakes, in which the two horses really raced only over the last mile. In this race he had his shoes on. That there is no getting away from the wonderful performance recorded by Marvel in the Doncaster Handicap, in which he was only beaten by two heads in the phenomenal time of lmin 40secs with the great weight of 9st 121 b np. I do not know of any performance of Carbine’s over this distance which beats this, although his mile and a quarter in 2min 7secs is quite equal to it. Among the nominations for the Wanganui Steeplechase Meeting will be found the names of several horses which have hitherto figured only in hack races. It is evident that their owners now intend to fly at higher game. These remarks apply to Waltonia and Oaklands iu the flat races, and to Jupiter, Worth, Whalebone, Waterbury, Manine, and Kimberley in the steeplechase. * Phaeton ’ of the Auckland Herald gives the following interesting account of a chat he had with George Cutts on his return from Australia after taking over Mr W. R. Wilson’s Sylvia Park purchases Mr Cutts is loud in hU praises of Musket’s sou Trenton, who, he tells me, has grown and furnished into one of tbe most beautiful stallions to be found in Australasia ; aud he also has a high opinion of the imported Eiridspord, who is also stationed at St Albans. But the finest looking horse, taken either as a racehorse or as a sire, is, in Mr Cutts’ opinion, Melos, the five-year-old son of Goldsbrough and Melody. A beautiful dark brown in colour, staudiug about 15‘3, he looks (Mr Cutts says) a perfect king amongst racehorses, when he rears a beautiful intelligent head. At the time of Mr Cutts’ visit Melos was an invalid, and as the ailment which has caused his retirement from the turf is situate in the suspensory ligament of the off fore leg round the sesamoid bone, Mr Cutts expresses grave doubts as to the son of Goldsbrough ever being got sufficiently sound to again stand a severe preparation ; though this opinion, he adds, may turn out incorrect, as the limb was in a very swollen state owing to its haviDg undergone a severe blistering. The mighty Carbine, of course, claimed a portion of the conversation ; and though three years have not passed over the great horse’s head since he left New Zealand without working great changes in him, Mr Cutts says anyone who saw him as a two-year old would not have any difficulty in picking him out now as the same Carbine, carrying his head low down like the veriest commoner. ‘ A great horse to follow,’ quoth Mr Cutts, and it was unquestionably this great power behind him that enabled him to record thst phenomenal performance in the last Melbourne Cup. Mr Cutts did not see Marvel, but he describes Bungebah as a big rakir.g obrstnut, that looks as if he could gallop six furlougs as fast as the wind. While in Sydney Mr Cutts called on Mr Samuel Hordern, on whose behalf, it will be remembered, Nordenfeldt was purchased for 5609 guineas at the reoeut Sylvia Park sale. Mr Hordern stated that he was more than pleased with the son of Musket and Oynx ; and in the course of conversation the Sydney breeder informed Mr Cutts that he had determined on spending £25,000 in establishing the Retford Park Stud, and that he was in great hope 3 of being able to show that thoroughbred breeding can be made to pay. Who would have thought it ? The wonderful performances ot Carbine have revived in England one of the most celebrated turf controversies of the last quarter of a ceatuiy. Many of my readers will remember the protest entered against Bend Or receiving the Derby Stakes of 1880 on the ground of wrong nomination. The following from the London Sporting Times of the 14th February shows a very interesting connection between that protest and the great champion of Australia: —“A somewhat important sale of thorough, breds has taken place in New Zealand. The stallion Nordenfeldt. who is the son of Musket, sold for 5600 guineas, and for Mersey, the dam of Carbine, who is the crack of the Southern Cross, 2300 guineas was paid. There is something in the breeding of this mare that gives food for reflection. She is the daughter of Clemence, who was by Newminster, and was bred by the Duke of Westminster. Clemence, according to two Btud grooms at Eaton who testified on oath, was the real dam of Bend Or, and her produce

and that of Rouge Rose got mixed. That such a thing is possible we bad ample proof last year in Lord Calthorpe’s stable when d’Orsay and Montaigne were transposed. Bend Or, it will be recollected, was formally objeoted to, and Sir Geo. Chetwynd speaks of the matter in his book. He was a steward of the Jockey Club at the time, but as he had some bets on the Derby, Lord Calthorpe, in conjunction with Mr Craven and Mr Lowther, disposed of the objection. Sir George states that the stud groom, who gave the information, died two or three years afterwards, and on his death-bed solemnly averred that all ho had said was true. Commenting still further on this subject, Sir George says :— ‘ Rouge Rose, the supposed dam of Bend Or, has foaled since—iu 1880, Rose of York, by Speculum, a little scratchy bay mare, in 1881, Garb Or, a horrid looking brute, called “ brother to Bend Or,” and in 1882, a worthless sister to him, called Martlet. Clemence, the reputed dam of Tadcaster (a great leggy, ungainly looking hoise), foaled in 1.881, a chestnut filly, Sandiway, rather on the small side, but very shapely, and like Bend Or, with peculiar dark marks her. In 1883 her progeny was Lenity, by Bend Or, which might be in breeding with a vengeance, and she was worthless; in 1885, Mara, a chestnut filly, by Doncaßter, no use for racing, but according to many own sister to the Derby winner, and in 1886 a chestnut filly Mercy by Barcaldine, that ran third for the Czarewitoh. It is very clear from this that Sir George believes that there were grounds for the objection, and certainly irrespective of the testimony of the grooms there is some corroboration of their statements. The admitted stook of Rouge Rose and her descendants havo all been rubbish both in merit and appearance. With Clemence on the other hand, who is claimed to be the dam of Bend Or, we have indisputable proof that her daughter Mersey is the dam of Carbine, who is the best horse that has ever been known in ?he Antipodes. If, therefore, the blood of Clemence could produce such a horse, is not this strong evidence that the positive testimony of the grooms was correct when they said that it was from this blood that Bend Or sprang. This, too, would account for the fact that he shows such a splendid amount of'quality, and has none of the coarseness of the Stockwell descent. Clemence was a daughter of Newminster, all of whose stock were famous for their quality, and Clemence herself was the same bright golden chestnut that Bend Or is.” TURF GOSSIP FROM THE SOUTH. (By Musket). We are now experiencing some very changeable weather down this way. Wellington is not by any means the only * blow hole ’ in New Zealand, I can assure you, nor does it blow hot and cold in the Empire City at such short intervals as it does in Christchurch and some of the smaller townships in Canterbury. Yesterday (Sunday) we had a scorching nor’wester, which, in a district crying for rain, was nob welcome. I don’t think we have had such a season for wind for a long time, and perhaps no district in New Zealand has had less wet weather in two years, and want of rain usually means hard, fast, and dry courses, and a large proportion of lame horses. The Ellesmere races on Thursday were well patronised by visitors. The fields were small and not very select, but the racing proved interesting, and were it not that the wind chopped about so much, and that the accompanying dust was at times almost blinding, a very pleasant time might have been experienced. Messrs Hobbs and Goodwin ran the totalisator as usual, and they handled £1407 of public money, which beat last year’s investments by something over £7OO. I do not propose reviewing the racing at length, but I may mention that a three-year-old gelding called the Idler, by Bundoora, from a mare once owned by T. Sheenen, called Lady Dagworth, came out and won two maiden events—a mile and a half hurdle race, aud a mile and a quarter flat race for district horses. There was nothing of much account in either of the races won by The Idler, but he could havo beaten more formidable company, and he will no doubt run at the coming meetings in the winter, or perhaps be reserved for the Grand National Meeting next August, where ho and his own brother Preston are likely to rneeet. The former is owned by 4 Mr Russell,’ the latter by Mr Clarkson, and I fancy the younger one of the pair most, though I am told that Preston would probably have won the Hurdle Race at our last meeting had he not gone sore after his last gallop. Another good sort for hurdle racing at the meeting under notice was Rangiora, a son of Bundoora and the Papapa mare, Rebecca, i but he got a bad start in the big handicap, and he was only able to get third. He made I amends by winning the Consolation afterwards.

Harkaway, by Chancellor, got away with the big race, after beating Red Cross with a little to spare. He conceded the grey mare 41b over tbe mile and a half, but when asked to give her the same weight over six furlongs he failed. Indeed, she did not show her best form over tbe longer distance, and he was not made so much use of the second time of asking, and did not gain a place. The winner turned up in Adieu, by Chancellor, from Farewell, Marlbrough s dam, and this filly is a fairly good sort in plating company. She oarried 7st 21b, Red Cross, who waa second, Bst 121 b, Nellie Gray, who was close up third, 6st. The dividend was the best of the meeting, Mr Buschs’ filly paying £7 16s, and the race was perhaps the most interesting of the day. What a hold trotting has taken in the whole of the Canterbury district may be judged from the large entries and the large fields which are constantly seen at country meetings as those of the town and suburban clubs. No less than 25 were coloured on the card for the trot at Ellesmere, and all went to the post. The race, which was for three miles, being won by the favourite—Wakanui—who was in better condition than most of her opponents, who were tryers. It is certain that more than one started did not try a yard, and I suppose the handicappers who were present had their eyes open. However, there were no cases of pullirig outside two races that I could detect, and most of those who pulled out of the trot did not do so until they saw that they had no chance of beating Wakanui.

The Middle Park sale will be one of the attractions for sportsmen next week, and, as» I wired you on Monday, the foals, eighteen irs number, will be sold with their dams or afc the same time as their dams. The number of lots will now be altered, but I cannot tell you how they will be arranged. It will, no doubt, be to the advantage of the vendors to sell some of the mares singly, and others it will bo best, perhaps, to sell with their progeny, and the auctioneers will do well to consult the wishes of the buyers in this particular. As I told you before, the mares and foals, yearlings and stallions are all looking well, better than they have done for some seasons, and I understand that purchasers will be able to make arrangements for keeping stock they may secure at the Park for a time after the sale on reasonable terms, and in Harry Thomson’s hands they will 'take no harm.

Apremont is quite a young horse yet and he looks a perfect picture, and if he does not realise a big price it will not be because he has not all the appearance of a good horse, nor will it be because his slock do not show wonderfully good legs, size, and all-round qualily, and perhaps it is hardly fair to judge him through some of his flighty but goodlooking sons and daughters, when one comes to remember that their dams “have born characters like themselves. In such cases they must come in for a share of the blame, and the lion's share too. It ig quite on the cards that Apremont will yet make as great a name at the stud as any sire we now have if mated right. More brilliant two-year-olds than his have never been seen in this part of the Colony. Better-looking foals and yearlings than his are hard to find, and though he may go beyond the reach of stud masters up North, I should like to see him given opportunities with half-bred and hacking mares, for it is certain he would impart plenty of life, size, bone,-and quality to bis stock, and do much good in any district where horse breeding for all purposes is followed. To keep a sire like him, year after year, to serve only a few selected mares has been a mistake. St. George, Chester’s full-brother, has sired many useful horses, and his foals and yearlings this season do him a lot of credit, and I would not wonder to see some of them turn out tip-toppers. Indeed, Fair Nell’s yearling and her foal, and those of Escalade, Rupee, and other mares are most promising. I do not expect the sires will realise anything like the value some people put on them in the present craze for Musket’s sons, but both the horses under notice have put forward claims to the consideration of breeders which cannot be ignored, and they are not likely to be thrown away. The sale is absolutely without reserve, however, and no doubt bargains will be secured. And as this is the largest stud at present in existence in the Colony, and as racing men will have few chances of goinointo the market to secure what they want for some time, they may make the most of the opportunity that will be afforded them next week in Christchurch. There are three very nice fillies (yearlings) to be offered, and these respectively are the St. George—Hammock, Apremont—Watersprite, and Artillery—Escalade, and heads should be nodding when each one is led into the ring. My fancy is for the last-named of the trio. The St. George—Fair Nell anti Apremont—Flattery colts are both full of promise, and they should sell well. The mares comprise so many animals of high lineage, and so much might be written about them that it would take no end of time and space. I shall content myself with calling attention to the fact that each one of the eighteen has a foal at foot, and each one appears likely to prove as fruitful next season. All are in good condition, and the odds are that from amongst the number of foals now running with them and to make their appearance later on, we shall find second editions of Sir Modred, Vanguard, Somnus, Welcome Jack, Stonyhurst, Merrie England, &c., in the colts, and the equals, if not the superiors, of the best of the fillies that ever left the Park, in some of these that now grace the fields. Wairua, tbe North Island hack, while doing a schooling gallop with Tornado on Saturday last, came down at the last hurdle, and George Lang, who was riding, had one of his hands injured, and he was stunned for a time. He is getting on all right again, but will not have the free use of his left for some time. The gelding will have to be spelled for a few days, but it is expected that he will be able to run at Ashburton next week. He is not iu the bost of form, and the horses he has been running against lately must either be a bad j lot, or he a bit of a wonder. Tornado was j going too fast for him when he came to grief, j but they had not gone far together when the I accident happened, and staying may be Wairua’s game. He jumped well but he fell, and his fall was over a sloping hurdle at which he never rose. Wanganui people declare him to be a Grand National horse. The Dunedin Jockey Glub have received a capital entry for their May Meeting, every event having filled well. The Hurdle race has 14, the Tradesmans’ 29, the St. Clair Welter 33, and the trots 47 and 50 respectively. The Dunedin Club manages to secure good entries as a general rule, and no doubt one of the inducements to owners to run there is that more money can be won through the totalisators than on any other of the Southern courses. (By Telegraph.) Christchurch, April 15. The Hon. W. P. Reeves has registered the colours of his late father with the C.J.C. Mr Stead is selling off a draft of his horses after the Middlepark sale, including Clanranald, Ranee, Nuna, Sword Belt, and Aqualate. The others are out of the paddock. [By Electric Telegraph —Copyright.] EPSON SPRING MEETING. (per press association.) _ _ London, April 8. The City and Suburban Handicap, of 20 sovs each, with 1000 sovs added, about one mile and a quarter, was run at the Epson Spring Meeting to-day, with the following result

Colonel North's b h Nunthorpe, by Speculum or Gamballo —Matilda, syra... Mr ’s b h Bullion, by The Miser— Stella, 6yrs „,*••■ . Mr J. Lowther’s ch h Workington, by Charibut —Hematite, syrs...

NORTH OTAGO JOCKEY . CLUB RACES. Oamaku, April 9. The first meeting of the North Otago Jockey Club was held to-day. There was a good attendance, and the racing was also good, ine following are the results : Hurdle Handicap, of 35 sovs ; two miles. Little Arthur, list 71b. 1; Trimolite, lOst 71b, 2; Torrent, lOst 101 b, 3. A good race till the straight was reached, when Jjittie Arthur came along and won rather easily. Time, 4min Dividend, L2 11s. Maiden Pl ite. —Dunmore, 1; Miss Mack, 2 ; Lyra, 3. Eight started. A good race between the first and second. Time, 1 nnn 18sec. Dividend, L 5. . - North Otago Cup Handicap, of 100 sovs. One mile and a half. Mr Goodman’s ch g Blizzard, by Gorton— Legerdemain, 4yrs, Sat 91b... ••• ••• Mr Brett’s b c Wayland, 3yrs, 6sfc lib ... Mr ’s Secrecy, 65t..•• ••• 6 These were the only starters. . Blizzard won oasily. Time. 2min ISseo.- Dividend, LI ss. Trot, of three miles. —Roany (60secs), 1, Bond Ville (40sec), 2; Silver Prince (Saec), 3. Thirteen started. Won eas ly by 20 lengths. Time, 9min 17sec. Dividend, L 3 17s. Novel Race. —Emperor, 1; Patch, ; Miss Eva, 3. Won very easily. Dividend, Lb ss. Plying Handicap, of 50 sovs ; six furlongs. —Miss George, Sst2lb, 1; Lady Bell, 7st 121 b, 2; Enfield, 6st 91b, 3. Seven started. -A capital race between the placed horses. Won by a neck. Time, lmin B,Jsec. Dividend, District Handicap.—lrene, Bst 121 b, 1 ; Miss Mack", 7st 41b, 2 ; Millstone, 6st 101 b, 3. Eight started. A good race. Time, 49£sec, Dividend, LI 17s. . nn OAMARU. April 10. The racing to-day was" very successful, the following being the results : Hurdles. —Trimolite, lOst 31b, 1; Little Arthur, list 121 b, 2. Stanley also but was distanced. A good race. Time, omin lisec. Dividend. LI 16s. “President’s Handicap, one mile anc * a quarter.—Wayland, 6st 71b, 1 ; Irene, 7st 21b, 2; Lady Zetland, 6st 101 b, 3. Miss George, Sst lib, also ran. A good race all the way. Won by a neck. Time, 2min 17Asec. Divi dend, L 4 3s. District Welter Handicap. Rothamstead, Sst 121 b, 1; Miss Mak, 9st, 2 ; Lyra, 9st 2lb, 3. A good race. Won by a neck, lime, lmin 2sec. Dividend, L 3 19s. Handicap Trot, two miles. Bondville, 18sec, 1; Dinah, 30sec, 2 ; Ada 11., 2Ssec. 3. A capital race and a close finish. Time, smm SOsac. Dividend, L 5 Us. Waitaki Plats Handicap ; 6 furlongs. Enfield, 6st 121 b, t; Lady Bell. Sst 31b, 2; Donneur, Sst 71b, 3. A good race. lime, lmin. ISsecs. Dividend, L 8 3s. The Hack Selling Race was won by Vaultress, with Patch second, and Harry third. Dividend, L2 11s. Consolation Handicap ; one mile; Miss Mak, 7st 121 b, 1; Patch. 7st lib, 2 1 Tired, Sst 121 b (carried lOst 51b), 3. Won easily. Time, lmin. 54 secs. Dividend, LI 18s.

SOUTH CANTERBURY ACCEPTANCES. Timabu, April 10. The following acceptances for the S.C. J.C. Autumn Meeting were received to-night Timabu Hurdles ; one mile and three quarters.—Little Arthur, list ,71b ; Trimolite, lOst 71b ; Conspirator, 9st 71b. . District Plate ; one mile and a quarter.— Inch Keith, 6st 71b; Martha, Bst 31b; Liberator, Sst; Ben, 7st 71b; Irene, 6st 121 b ; College Girl, 6st ; Conspirator, 7st 51b ; Quibble, 9st; Miss George, Sst 51b ; Lady AetTimaeu Cup ; one mile and a half.—Blizzard, Bsfc 71b ; Cruchfield, Bst lib ; Martha, 7st. Washdyke Welter, one mile.—Emma, 9st; Ben, lOst 21b ; Mail Boy, 93t 31b ; Adventuress, Bst 21b ; King of Ulster, lOst 51b ; Morton, Sst 81b ; Conspirator, 9st 121 b ; Lady Zetland, 9st 51b ; Tiger Lily, S3t. ' Plying Handicap, three-quarters of a mile. —Cruchfield, Sst 91b ; Red Cross, Bst 51b ; Loo, 7st 31b ; Lady Bell, 7st 101 b ; Miss George, 7st Race, six furlongs. Yaultress, Windsor. Malita, Cactus, Tiger Lily, Mail Boy, Lady Darling and. Doubtful. Derby.—Patch and Emperor. Novel Race, six furloDgs.—Mail Boy, Lady Darling, Warrior, Patch, Kelpie, Montymes and Emperor. AUCKLAND TATTERSALL’S CUP. AUCKLAND, April 11. At Tattersall’s Club annual race meeting held to-day on the Takapuna course the Oup, 14 miles, resulted thus : , Air Robertson’s ch m Leorina, by Leolinus —Yatterina, aged. 9st 41b ... ... ••• ” Try Fluke, 7st 101 b . ... \ The Dreamer, 3yrs, 7st 61b ... 6 Five started. Dividend, L2 16s. DUNEDIN BIRTHDAY NOMINATIONS. Dunedin, April 12. The following nominations were received for the D.J.C. May Meeting : Hurdles, of 100 sova; two miles. Black Bov Trimolite, Inchkeitb, Tired, Regina, Little Arthur, Conspirator, Tornado, Trapper, Smuggler, Ahua, Upper Cut, Wairna. , Tradesmen’s Handicap, of 150 sovs; one mile. —Blizzard, Lady Bell. Retina, Bay King, Lord Aston, Von Tempsky, Cruchfield, La Rose, Inez, Pique, Harkaway, Erm-go-Brasrh. Loo. Miss George, Thackeray, Garronade, Kulnine, Stonehenge, Ruby, Manner, Tempest, Galtee, Forest King. Leinster,. Wavland, Apres Moi, Lady Mab, Donneur. St. Clair Welter, of 150 sovs, seven furlongs. —Retina. Blizzard, Bay King, Lady Bell, Tired, Von Tempsky, Regina, La y Rose, Harkaway, Erin- go - Bragh, De Trop, Old Judge, Galtee, Gipsy Prince, Leinster, Apres Moi. Donneur, Inchkeith, Loo, Miss George, Thackeray, Moraine, Carronade, Kulnine. Stonehenge, fanner, Tempest, Langley, Blacklock, Forest King, Way. land, Lady Mab, Pique. . There are 47 nominations for the May irot, and 50 for the Winter Trot. DEATH OF A CELEBRATED MARE. Auckland, April 13. The brood mare My Idea, dam of Nelson, died yesterday. NELSON J.C. AUTUMN MEETING. Richmond, April 14.* There was grand weather for the first day of the Nelson Joekey Club’s Autumn Meet*

ing. There was not a very largeattendance on the course. Maiden Plate, of 25 sovs. ; one mile.— Mr R. E. Mcßae’s Torpedo, 1; Mr R. Mcßae’s Black Diamond, 2 ; Mr T. H. Harley’s Christmas Rose, 3. Selling Hack Race, 10 sovs ; one mile and a distance.— Toby, 1 ; Once Again, 2 ; Marky, 3. Nelson Cup Handicap, of /5 sovs ; second to receive 10 sovs from the stakes. One mile and a half. Mr J. K. Hamilton’s b g Angler, by Isaac Walton—Forest Queen, 6yrs, 93t 1 Dollar, Sst 21b 2

Victory, aged, S3t 31b ... ... ••• J Seven started. Good race, won by two lengths. Time, 2min 46 3-sth sec. Dividend, £2 10s. Time Trotting Handicap, of 15 sovs. One mile and a half.—School Girl, lOsec, 1 ; Clvdo, scratch, 2; 1.0.» 33sec. 3. iflo, Siec ; Partner, 22sec ; Maritana, 22sec ; Calliope, 22sec ; Haore, 25sec; Purity, 25seo; Miss Corbett, 25sec ; Floabite, 25sec; The Rover, 33sec; Family Bov, 33sec ; and Nancy, 33sec, also started. Won easily. Time, 4min 26sec. Dividend, £5 2s. Grand Stand Handicap, of 30 sovs ; one mile and a distance. —Angler, 9st 4lb, 1 ; Viotory, Sst 71b, 2 ; Victress, 7st 10lb, 3. Four other run.

Flying Stakes, of 25 sovs ; w.f.a. ; six furlongs.—Torpedo, 1 ; Marechal Neil, 2 ; Eoho, 3. Hurdle Handicap, of 40 sovs ; two miles.—Jack, 9st 7lb, 1 j Oceola, list 21b, 2 ; Orient, list 21b, 3. Over £ISOO was put through the machine. [The correspondent has omitted to send the dividends in the fast three races.] Nelson, April 15. At the second day of this race meeting the sport was exceptionally . interesting, nearly every finish being exciting. £3OOO passed through the machine in the two days. The results were— Hurdle Handicap, 30 sovs; one mile and a half.—Mr H. Satherley’s Oceola, 1 ; Mr J. Robinson’s Orient, 2 ; Mr J. E. Pilbrow’s Jack, 3. Time. 3min sseo. Divi. dend, £7 10a. Clyde came in first, but was disqualified for running round a hurdle. Waimea Plate, 25 sovs ; one mile and a quarter.—Mr R. E. Mcßae’s Torpedo, 1 ; Mr T. O’NeiU’s Dollar, 2 ; MrT.H. Harley’s Christmas Rose, 3. Time, 2min 16 2.5 th seo. Dividend, £1 12s. Selling Hack.—Steam, 1 ; Toby, 2. Dividend. £2. Richmond Park Handicap, of 50 sova ; one mile and a quarter. —Torpedo, 1 ; Victory, 2 ; Marechal Neil, 3. Time, 2min 1 of sec. Dividend, £2. , , Handicap Trot.—Clyde, 1 ; School Girl, 2; Flo, 3. Welter Handicap, of 25 sovs ; one mile and a quarter, —Christmas Rose, 1 ; Peacock, 2 ; Redwood, 3. Consolation Handicap, of 20 sovs ; one mile and a distance.—Riverlands, 1 ; Dollar, 2 ; Redwood, 3. WANGANUI NOMINATIONS. Wanganui, April 14. The following nominations were received to night for the Wanganui Steeplechase Meeting : Flying Handicap, of 45 sovs ; six furlongs Weka, Montrose 11.. Oaklands, Pyramus, St. Malo, Waltonia, Torpedo, She, Fleta, Rufus, Petroleum. Winter Oats Handicap, of 85 sovs ; one mile and a half.—Same horses as Flying, with the exception that Foxton replaces Fleta. Wanganui Steeplechase, of 225 sovs ; about three miles.—Cruiser, Takapau, gerous, Jupiter, Worth, Matchless, Whalebone, Tauraekaitai, Oceola, Jacob, Caitiff, Waterbary, Darnley, Ival, Manine, Otaieri, Kimberley, Rere, Ingorangi, Sir Maurice. NOTES AND CLIPPINGS. New Zealand. The piivileges in connection with the Wellington Raoing Club’s Autumn Meeting were sold by auction by Messrs Noble Campbell, and Co. on Friday afternoon, and realized the following prices: Grand stand bar and luncheon room, R Freeman, £l6; No. 1 booth (outside), J. Bell, £2B ; No. 2 booth, J. Bell, £2O ; refreshment booth, J. Robinson, £7 10s • cards, W. Carpenter, £25. The United Hunt Club are making arrangements for holding a Hunt Club Steeplechase Meeting, which, is likely to come off early in the week following the Wellington Steeplechase Meeting. It is Btated on good authority that Mr Gollan is determined to have a cut in at the ensuing Australian spring race meetings, and that Percy Martin is under orders to proceed to Melbourne with Tirailleur, Namoa, and Tiraillerie. . Dan O’Brien is said to have sold Whimbrel to an Australian owner for 800 sovs. At the Middle Park sale, which will be held on Tuesday, April 21, there will be gold, in additions, to the stallions, brood mares, and yearlings already advertised, all this season’s foals, 21 in number. These include some splendidly bred youngsters, and the fact of their being put up will greatly increase the importance of the sale. Mr P. F. Tancred has named his yearling chestnut colt, by Administrator —Fair Agnes, Senator, and his roan filly yearling, by Pisoatorious Princess Royal, Princess of Whales. The Referee quotes the following betting aB having been done on the New Zealand Cup, for which I may say the weights are not due until the Ist July : —IOO to 7 against Palliser and Tirailleur ; 10 to 6 against Lebel, The Workman, and Cracbshot ; 100 to 5 against Clanranald. Jet d’Eau, and Rosefeldt; 100 to 4 against Habimana. Mr Frank Hill’s horse Lethe, by Cadogan —Siesta, was offeied for sale at Messrs Freeman Jackson & Co.’s yards at V7anganui on Saturday, the 4th insfc., and passed in at £6O. The following sales are reported from Wanganui:—Epsom, by Ascot —Waterbary's dam, to Mr E. McElwain for £2O ; Moonraker, by Little John —Traducer mare to Mr Ellingham of Napier ; Satyr, full brother to Jenny, to the same buyer for £3O; Ruahine,

by Cast Off—Peeress, to Mr T. Scott for £3O ; The Banker, by Somnus, to S. Powell for £3O; Torpedo, by Australian, to Mr Mcßae, of Maoaia, for £l9O. The last mentioned horse won four races at Nelson this week, so that he has soon returned a large portion of his purchase money. Mr ‘Brett’ ran Wayland at the Taieri Amateur T.C. Meeting. The horse was well backed for one race, but he ran last, and the stewards were nearly having the owner and rider called upon £o make on explanation. Mr Brett was so disgusted at what was said that ho at onoe declared the horse for sale, and ho has gone into Hawkiu’s stable. It will be seen that Wayland has since this run second to Blizzard for the North Otago Cup and won the President's Handicap at the same meeting. Some phenomenal times were recorded in the Hurdle Race at Napier Park, and some doubt is I believe thrown on their correctness. Tauraekaitai is said to have won the 2 miles Hurdles, on the first day, in 3mm 55sec. and Caitiff the mile and threequarters, Hurdle Raee, of the second day, m 3min 19secs. The Referee’s correspondent, says : —‘There is no doubt that up to a mile and' three-quarters, over the small sticks, the son of Bothwell and Ruby is a daisy. Roscius, who was made a hot favourite for Trial Hurdles on the first day of the Napier Park Meeting, is a gigantic son of Gladiator, from Swindle. He it a capital fencer, but rather slow. Over big country he may be heard of to advantage some day, but the distance at Napier was far too short for him, and he went down. Cruchfield’s time in the Easter Handicap, lmin 42sec, is the record for a mile in New Zealand. The £13,408 put through the totalisators ot the Canterbury Autumn Meeting is £4229 more than last year. At the Auckland Meeting the amount put through was £10,380, or £2003 more than last year. Mr iS. H. Gollan is said to have sold his two-year-old filly Verdure, by Forerunner—Forest Queen, to Mr W. Robson, of Wairoa. “ Mr Bobbett has fallen out with Hope, his trainer, and has sent all his horses to Jack Rae. The team comprises Quadrant, Patchwork, and the two-year-old Marian, by MadcaD. Hope ia not oat of harness, for ho still has Mr Hayr’s horses, to which the steeplechaser Takapau is the latest addition, and he also trains for Mr Bradley, of Onehunga, owner of Impulse. Jenny, according to ‘ Trident,’ of the Hawera Star, has been blistered and turned out. Antelope is said to have run her last race. She is in foal to Nordenfeldt. An offer of £SOO has been refused for Impulse, winner of the double at Auckland the other day. The owner wants £IOOO for his •peedy gelding. The Anokland Racing Club made about £2OO profit over their Autumn Meeting. Mr George Cutta considers Impulse the best quartered St Leger he has seen. The Auckland horse Patchwork has been treated to a mild blistering. He seems to have altogether gone off colour this season. That good old slave Leorina had a hard day’s work at the South Auckland Racing Club’s Meeting last Saturday week. In the big event the daughter of Leolinus got home first under the heavy burden of 9at 71b ; and with a 51b penalty, which brought her weight up to 9at 10ib, she also scored a like victory in the Claudelands Handicap. Later on Bbe was pulled out for the Flying Stakes, in which she had lOst lib, and she finished unplaced, as might have been expected. ‘ Mazeppa,’ of the Otago Witness, has the following : —Mariner is not turned out, but, on the contrary, is recovering from the injury he received at Christchurch, and will race again, all being well, next season, at any rate. —I am not speaking at random in prophesyittg that before next session is over there will be a move made in the house in the direction of limiting by statute the peroentage chargeable to the public for the use of the totalisator. We understand, says the Wanganui Herald, that the thoroughbred stallion Armourer, lately owned by Mr Jervis George of New Plymouth, has been purchased by Mr G. Mclntosh of Porangahau, for £250. Armourer was bred in Victoria, and is by Tubal Cain—Sea Shell. Mr Mclntosh is well-known in Hawke’s Bay, where he has introduced some really good blood, foremost amongst which stands Randwick, winner of the Wellington and Hawko’a Bay Cup. Armourer’s stock has lately corne to the front, Kimberley winning the Publicans Handicap at Foxton, where he also ran second for the Autumn Handicap; Darus also won two races at Taranaki. [Randwick never won the Wellington Cup, Vig*3 Speaking of Revenge’s running at Napier Park, the Referee’s correspondent says : «Legaoy came out of her shell a bit and won the Redclyffe Stakes on the first day, and m a similar event on the second day the party connected with Revenge evidently thought they had a “ dead bird,” as the gelding was backed very heavily in the machines. The confidence reposed in him was certainly not justified by the very indifferent display he made In the Redclyffe Stakes on the preceding day, though it may be that he was not •quite well when he ran in that event. However, “the best laid schemes of mice and men gang oft aglee,” and so it proved in this instauce, as, though Revenge was winning easily in the straight, his jockey allowed himself to be caught napping by Lopez, who got up in the last stride and lauded an exoitmg race by half a bead. Very few of the public were winners over the race, but the majority of them bore their loss with equanimity, feeling that if they erred in their selection they had certainly “fallen’ in good company.’ , Mr George Cutts is likely to be an applicant for the position of handicapper to the Canterbury Joobey Club. . . Clifford, the jockey, contemplates a visit to Australia during the winter months. A West Coast exchange says :—Messrs M. and C. Hobbs, the owners of Quibble, have lodged a protest against Captain Cook, the winner of the Kumara Handicap, on t* lo ground that the horse carried 31b overweight without declaring. Captain Cook was to carry 71b penalty, but by some oversight he carried

101 b. This is contrary to Metropolitan rules, as any horse carrying more than 21b overweight must declare to that effect, and hence it is generally supposed that there is every clianco of Messrs Hobb’s protest being entertained. The hack Tattler’s pedigree, which has hitherto been given as Python—Butterfly, has recently been corrected to Python—La Veudotta. At the committee meeting of the Feilding Jockey Club held a few days back, it was reported that as the owner of Wairua had not replied to the letter re refund of stakes, the secretary be instructed to make a second application, and it was understood that if Mr Scott did not make prompt reply extreme measures would bo adopted. Mr H. Ross informs * Pakeba,’ of the Wanganui Herald, that his son, who was so badly hurt through Bay King falling at Napier, is now recovering, and will return home to Wanganui with his mother as soon as possible, when lie will have a couple of months’ spell before resuming his occupation again Australian. Power is to have the mount on Penance for all his engagements. Ten years ago this jockey won the V.R.C. Derby on Darebin. Besides raising the added money in the Australian Cup to l,sooaovs, of which 300 arc to go to the second, and 150 to the third, the V.R.C. Committee in their newly drawn up programme for 1891-2, have made the following alterations at the Autumn Meeting:— The distance of the Essendon Stakes is increased to a mile and a half, and the Brunswick Stakes is to be one mile and a quarter, instead of one mile two and a half furlongs. The Free Handicap, which was also one mile two and a half furlongs, lias been reduced to one mile and a quarter. The only other alterations decided upon were in connection with the classic races of the futuso. The Foal Stakes, to be run in the spring of 1893, will be called the Yearling Stakes, and for this event, as well as for the Sires’ Produce Stakes of 1895, stock will be nominated as yearlings, instead of as foals of heretofore. The V.R.C. added £44,100 to their programme for the season of 1890-91, which is now closing, and for the next season the added money will total £44,800. '* The latest accounts of Gibraltar’s condition are not at all favourable. A fortnight ago he could not put his injured foot to the ground.

This is how * Freelance’ in the Melbourne Sportsman sums up the race for the Sydney Gold Cup:—Of the fourteen in the Sydney Cup, Highborne, Helene,andLittleßernie were the only ones hacked with spirit, until Greygown came with a rush at the last minute. The race is easily described. Yowi made all the running till once in the straight, when she was hotly pursued by Highborn and Little Bernie. At the distance the three were neck and neck, and the excitement was intense, when, just as Gough got the black horse home, Greygown came with a great rush, and, according to the judge, gained second place, with the unfortunate Yowi third. The finish was a close one, and, as usual, there were plenty to dispute the decision, some averring that both Yowi and Greygown won. At any rate, there was not more than a head between them, Highborn and his rider were heartily cheered, tho win being very popular. One thing is certain. Had the winning post been a few strides further on Greygown would have won, and had Carbine remained in, with the race run in the same way, ihe could not have lost. Highborn’s victory simply advertises Carbine’s brilliancy. Compared with Musket’s marvellous son, who is a champion amongst champions, Highborn is merely a king of handieap hacks, and yet with Mr Wallace’s horse out of the way, the black son of Grandmaster would be justly regarded as one of the best handicap horses of the season. [My opinion on this comparision was given in a recent issue. —Vigilant.] The following interesting particulars of Highborn’s early history are clipped from the Melbourne Sportsman : —On the 24th of January, 1887, Mr T. S. Clibbom sold on account of Mi* W. J. Dangar, a black colt by Grandmaster from Her Ladyship to Mr S ; R. Kennedy for 45 guineas. The colt was gelded, and was afterwards known as Highborn, and became famous by finishing second to Carbine in the last Melbourne Cup. Since then the black gelding’s deeds are so fresh in the memory of every racegoer that there is no need to recapitulate them now. But to tell how Mr Kennedy parted with Mr W. T. Jones’ recent 1000 guineas purchase, and Highborn became Mr E. A. A. Oatley s property, may prove interesting. Well, it appears that Messrs Kennedy and Oatley were one evening playing a game of dominoes, when the sale was effected, and the price paid by the latter was £l5O- Seeing that Highborn won the Anniversary Handieap in Sydney and carried off the V.R.C. Brunswick Stakes and Place Handicap, besides three events at Warwick Farm, the Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury, as well as getting £2OOO for his second in the Melbourne Cup, Mr Oatley made no mistake when he purchased the son of Her Ladyship. Paris, winner of the Doncaster Handicap, was bred by Mr H. C. White, a brother of the late Mr James White. Mr H. G. White has thus the honour of having bred the winners of the great short distance handicaps at both the V.R.C. and the A. J.C. meetings. Bungebah also having been bred by him. The time in the Doncaster Handicap, (lmin 40sec) shows that Paris is a wonderfully fast horse. He confirmed his excellence by winning the Rous Handicap with Sst 71b in the Baddle on the third day of the meeting. In the Adelaide Cup, to be run at the South Australian meeting this week, King William is engaged with Sat 21b, Mikado 11. with Sst 21b, and Pygmalion with S3t. This is tho race in which Sultan ran second to Shootover last year. R. Batty, the Australian jockey, owns a gelding that has had its name changed four times within a year, and * Birdie, la«eiTake Down, late Hard Times, late Gipsy’s Warning, late Billy’ was the description required when the animal won a race at Elsternwick Park the other day. . *"*' The Australasian says A. J. Kemh is one of the best men ever seen on the back of a trotting horse in Anstralia. Secretary, probably the well-known New Zealander, won the Handicap Steeplechase

at the Western Australian Meeting on March IS.

Carbine’s winnings now amount to £29,320. He has competed in 43 races, winning 33, second six times, three times third, and only once unplaced. During the season just completed he haß run eleven races, having been beaten once by Marvel in the A.J.C. All-Aged Stakes. Speaking of Carbine the * Bulletin ’ says : —‘ Everything smells pure and wholesome in any race that Carbine starts for, and tho very punters who have invested a trifle on one of his opponents just on the off chance are ready with a magnanimous cheer when Mr D. Wallace’s wonder comes in as usiiSl, The raoing world wears a bright and happy, almost honest, aspect as good old Carbine returns to scale. You don’t hear anyone cursing his luck be.cause be had wasted a pound on something else. The * books ’ accept the victories of ‘ old pay-over ’ in a pleasant sort of a way, for they have left off gambling against him in weight-for-age races. A halo of sanctity shines around Carbine’s not very handsome head. He has never been ‘milked’ in the betting market. If not intended to run for a race he is scratched at the first opportunity. He hai never been the hero of * mysterious movements ’ ; he runs to win and does so as many as sixteen times in suco. esslon. It is supposed that a jockey who attempted to ‘pull’ Carbine would ediately fall dead from the saddle, and. than the horse would pick up the corpse with his teeth and get there all the same. He represents all that his excellent, honest,’ and plucky iu horseflesh and turf politias.’ After an analysis of the Two Year Old form at Randwick ‘ Freelance ’ adds ; —But after all, we really don’t know that Stromboli is the best of the sydicate’s batch. Tom Payten generally contrives to keep a bit up his sleeve, and why shouldn’t the gelding, Syracuse —a sou of Martini Henry—Solent —or Aldershot, or Abercorn’s brother Meuangle, be the proper pea for the Derby next spring ? At present, of course, Penance, at 2500 guineas, doesn’t look a very promising purchase, more particularly if the romourß be correct to the effect that Mr Jones lost some thousands over his colt’s downfall in the A.J.C. Sires’ Produce Stakes, for which reason the pessimists are beginning to shriek * Another Titan.’ All going well through the winter, however, Penance will, I fancy ‘tarn the tables on Stromboli Sanctuary, and Oxide, and confirm his Flemington Autumn form by winning the V.R.C. Derby. The public selected Marvel, Paris and Helene as the three favourites for the Doncaster Handicap for which 29 started. The race resulted, Paris 1, Helene 2, Marvel 3 ; so that the public were not far wrong in their estimate. English and foreign. From recent English files we extract the following :— ‘ Lord Herschell has introduced a hiil to render penal the inciting of youths or boys to betting. He proposes to make it a misdemeanour if anyone, for the purpose of earning commission, reward, or other profit, sends to a person whom he knows to be an ‘infant ’ any circular, notice, letter, telegram or other document which invites, or may reasonably be implied to invite, the persen receiving it to make a bet or to enter into or take any share or interest in a wagering transaction, or to apply to any person or at any place with a view to obtaining information or advice for the purpose of any bet, or for information as to any race, fight, game, sport, or other contingency upon which betting is generally carried on. For such a misdemeanour the penalty is to be imprisonment, with or without hard laboar, for a term not exceeding three months, or a fine not exceeding £IOO, or both imprisonment and fine. If the document is sent to anyone at a university, college, school, or ether plaoe of education, the person sending it is to be deemed to have known that the recipient was an »infant,’ unlesß he proves that he had reasonable grounds for believing him to be of full Eg Sir George Chßtwynd in his book on « Racing Reminiscences and Experiences on the Turf.’ makes the following remarh :—' Unless there is something done soon to revive long races we shall soon bo without long distance rnnners altogether.’ The Sandown Grand Prize, one of the chief hurdle races in England, being a handicap of 435sava over a two-mile course, was won this year by Maypole, a five-year-old son of Charibert, carrying lOst 6ib, ridden by Captain E. R. Owen, who last year had the winning mount on Franciscan. The winner started at 4 to I in a field of 7, and beat tho favourite, Dormooh, by a couple of lengths. Five-year-olds have won this race four years in succession. Colonel North’s two-year-old filly Josyan which cost 3500ge has recently shown signs of lameness in front, and it is doubtful if she will stand training. ' It is a curious -fact (says an linglish journal) that, although the supposed best throe-year-old colt and filly of the coming season, M. Blanc’s Gouverneur and Baron da Rothschild’s Haute Saone, are both of French breeding, and would ba favourites for the Two Thousand Guineas, the Derby, the Oaks, &o , were there any betting upon those races, the number of foreign horse 3 engaged in the great three-year-old prizes is smaller than it has been for many years. There are only two, both French, in the Two Thousand and One Thousand Guineas, two French (including Gouverneur), and one Australian colt in the Derby, five French fillies in the Oaks, and five French colts iu the Doncaster St. Leger. Frisky, the smart pony by The Chief, who commenced her racing career in a hack race at Ashburton, and subsequently found her way to Australia and then to India, won the principal race at the Lucknow Spring Meeting in February. The American breeder and sportsman. Senator Hearst, who leased the New Zealand horse Cheviot for stud purposes, has got several two-year-olds by the son of Traducer, which promise remarkably well. The totalisator Is (says the London correspondent of the Australasian) certain to be shortly the only means of backing horses in France. List betting is to be made illegal and to be a criminal offence, and as our neighbours across the Channel do not play at these things when they start at them, it is pretty aertain they wiil firmly carry out

their purpose. So much is this felt to be the esse, that all the leading English * bookies,’ who have so long betted with lists on French courses, are busily engaged selling up their establishment's, preparatory to starting again for the land of their birth. Ido not think the French Government contemplate in any way' putting a stop to booked bets on the course. The bookmaker may still walk about the ring, and make credit bets with his clients, but he must not shout the odds, nor most he expose a lißt telling what odds he is prepared to ley. The legalised parimutuel (or as you call it, tofcalisator) is in future to have that privilege unopposed. The Sporting Life, of February 21st, contains the following chat about one of the Duke of Westminster’s Derby candidates Orion is the exceptional colt of the season for breeding, to be by a Derby winner out of a Derby winner, and that the Duke of minster wishes to win by a result of this combination is shown by the fact that he has put Shatover to thre® different Derby winners in three successive years, namely, to Bend Or, Ormonde, and Melton. I thought, when I had the opportunity of seeing Shotover at Hampton Court last year, when she waß on a visit to Melton, that she was one of the grandest mares I had ever set eyes on. In training there was just a tendency about her to be leggy, but that has all disappeared, and she looks long and low, with magnificent shoulders, back, loins, and quarters, and her hocks near the ground. Eleanor, the first of the trio of Derby winning mares, has been accounted a stud failure, but she was never consorted to a Derby winner. Her produce to the St. Leger winner, Orville, wa3 her best, namely, Muiey, and when taking-into account the extraordinary good mare she was, the way she was bred from reads oddly enough. Mr I’Anson took quite another view of Blink Bonny, as although he did not send her to a Derby winner, he selected the greatest sires of the day for her, namely, Stock well and Newminster, and she produced the great Blair Athol to the first of these. It remains for Shotover to produce a Derby winner by a Derby winner, and if Orion is not the hero of such a combination, we may see such a one later on.