SPORTING NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1189, 14 December 1894, Page 23

SPORTING NOTES.

Bx/ Gipsy King

A. Christchurch friend of mine who generally witnesses all the important cup races in New Zealand, and who has just returned from a three months’ tour through the principal towns in Australia, where he visited any race meetings that were worth seeing, says that he would sooner see the Melbourne Cup race run on the Wanganui racecourse than on any other l'aee track in the colonies. Like the Riccarton course, he agrees with me that Flemington and Randwick are too big, and that one requires a powerful telescope to view the racing properly.. He "says he wouldn’t' give sixpence to see the Newmarket Handicap run for at Flemington, as it is only in the last furlong that one has any idea what is going on, or what horses have a chance. A sixfurlong race, as a race, at Flemington is devoid of interest or excitement until the horses are nearing the grand stands. He is quite right, and the man that thinks he can enjoy a high-class race, such as the Melbourne Cup, will have liis ideas rudely shaken, if he will make the journey. Several visitors who were at Riccarton for the first time hut month, with whom I was speaking on their return, are now “off ” the New Zealand Cup meeting. They all agreed the course was too far round for their liking, but admitted it was undoubtedly an advantage to the horses.

Mr Donald Fraser’s mare Flora McDonald, dam of the hurdle-racer Donald and the steeplechaser Titokowaru, died last week at Lower Rangitikei, from the effects of injuries received from a bullock, which had rushed the old mare, inflicting an ugly wound. The mare has a colt foal by Exchange (St. George—Rupee), which will be" brought up by hand.

The Newmarket stable in Wanganui has added an Armament- —Equation gelding to its string. With Irish Twist now amongst the racehorses, Ascot Vale and the gelding mentioned will battle amongst the hacks. Equation is the dam of She, a mare that raced in the name of Mr Bristol, and won several small stakes during the season of 1891-92.

The officers of the Johonsonville Trotting Club very strongly resent the statements made by the Wbllington correspondent of the Christchurch Press to the effect that the handicaps issued by the stewards were altered after'they were published. I can bear the officers out in this, as after comparing the list as published in the New Zealand Times with the handicapper’s list, the secretary found one or two inaccuracies,which were due to transcribing from , the handicapper’s list to the copy for the New Zealand Times, and the errors were rectified by telephone as soon as noticed, and confirmed by letter. These particulars could have been ascertained by the correspondent referred to had he made inquiry. The alterations in the last race of the day were posted on the blackboard on the course early in the afternoon, as, owing to a typographical error, the handicaps for another race had been placed against some of the horses in . the last race, and had not been detected by the proof reader. - The owners engaged in the race, and everyone else, were quite satisfied that there was no hanky-panky business about the alterations, as the printing, etc., was done in Wellington (by a private firm) and the secretary trusted that the proof sheets of the “ race card,’’ would be fixed up correctly. All rehandicapping of winners was posted up on the blackboard provided for “ notices. _ Ih© correspondent referred to bus made a “ mountain out of a mole-liill.”

Rangipuhi is to have a change of trainers again shortly. The natives appeal’ to be like a clucking hen.' They frequently say, “ pakeha too much humbug, but if Rangi-

puhi could speak, and was asked his opinion about the native race, I think he would sum them up in one word, “ Messers !’ But I don’t think the natives are altogether to blame, because immediately a trainer is appointed to take charge of 'the horse, there are certain other trainers who become jealous, and never cease maligning the trainer appointed until the natives get suspicious, then a change takes place. Trainers who are mean enough to do this sort of thing should have their conduct represented to the district Metropolitan Club, and the club should withdraw, or decline to renew, a license to men of this calibre. Even a Maori with a cork-eye ought to see what is going on. God help them if they « fall in.”

The Wellington Metropolitan Racing Club will, I hear, at their Clip Meeting offer a substantial reward to anyone who will give such evidence as will lead to the conviction of anyone laying, or taking, totalisator odds on the Hutt Park racecourse.

The Taranaki Jockey-Club are going to erect three of * f Gray’s " starting machines on their racecourse. 1

The Waitara Jockey Club held its last race meeting last week.,

The Canterbury Jockey Club are going to erect a large grandstand for the accommodation of the stewards, etc. The lower portion of the building will be iised for the secretary’s, stewards’, and weighing rooms, etc. = .. ,1..;

The nominations for the Palmerston North Cup number eleven, as against fifteen last year.

Prime Warden’s weight for the Inangahua Cup is now lOst 31b.

The dun gelding Kimberley (Armourer —Milksop) who was bred by Mr Davidson, of Poxton, and has been raced by Mr Gollan in Victoria, is, it is stated in a Melbourne exchange, to be sent back to New Zealand, and will be used as a hunter. I know how much hunting he will do. I had the pleasure of paying the dun’s oat bill for some time before he went to Australia, and he probably would never have seen the other side had he not strenuously objected to jump big fences. I only know of one man that ever got him to jump big country kindly, and that is Mr G. H. Gibson, mine host of the Empire Hotel, Hawera. p

Another of the Hippomenes and Sylvia Park Jamily scored & win last week. This was the three-year-old black filly Hesitation, by Gipsy King, from Vascillation, by Knottingly—Atalanta (dam of Hippomenes, &c.).v Hesitation won the Maiden Plate at Waitara, and is owned by the gentleman who races under the name of Mr “ Keswick,” and who formerly owned Mutiny. I tried to get several coastal trainers to take this handsome filly in hand, but without success, although I was just too late in securing her fob Mr “ Johnny ” Green, of Marton.

Mr H. Williams, a local sport, has issued a challenge to trot his grey pony Lazel against Mr Kennerley’s Daybreak. Distance, two' to five miles; owners up; for <£lo a side;

Warrington and Errington, who competed at the recent Hutt Park Meeting, are in the sale list.

Leona, the winner of the Novel Race at Dunedin, paying dividends of <£Bo 9s and .£52 4s, is a chestnut filly by Le Loup—lona. -

A lot of bad <£l notes were passed on the “books" on Melbourne Cup Day, and it was only'just before the Cup was run that one “ bookie " tumbled to the fact that the last three notes he had bet to were “wrong ’uns” Luckily he (the “ book") knew who had passed 'em, and he immediately hunted up over 100 of the same notes from fellow “ books,” and, when the backer turned up for <£loo (100 to 3 Patron), the “book" handed over, .without comment, the £IOO all in the wrong-’un’s own particular brand of note. The exchange of winks between “ bookie" and backer 'said more than a three - volume novel was significant enough, indeed, to remind the backer, of a pressing engagement up north, which precluded his taking further part in the carnival. — Bulletin.

It is reported that Norton will, be brought over- from Melbourne for the Auckland Steeplechase, and will be accompanied by the hurdle horse Ebor (by Robert the Devil—dam by Panic)— who won the Hurdle Race, one mile and a half, at the Victorian Racing Club’s races on 17th November, carrying 13st 91b; time; 2min 514sec —whom it is stated Mr Gbllan recently purchased. J/V' The Wellington Trotting Club have placed the names of F. Calgher (nominations <£s for the trotters Tinker and Petei) and C. Tate (nominations ,<£3‘los for Conway and Claret) in the unpaid forfeit list.

Skirmisher has been scratched for . all engagements at the Auckland, Meeting. Casket has been scratched for the Auckland Cup, and Euroclydon for the Great Northern Foal Stakes.

Prime "Warden is favourite for the Auckland Cup, and Roscius for the steeplechase.

Carnage, one may imagine, will go to the stud shortly. That’s where he wouldvlike to go, and when a beautiful head full of romantic notionsrace any better than a love-sick mndd-servaht can scrub the kitchen floor. Carnage has lost all disposition, if not the power, to gallop as of yore YVhen tho indolent

rascal puts his nose in the bucket he winks his other eye and drinks to “ the Ladies I” — Bulletin.

Beauharnais (by Gang Forward —■ Josephine), recently purchased in Sydney by Mr Pettit; of Kaikora North (Hawke’s Bay), has been nominated for the Two-year-old Handicap at the Hawke’s Bay Boxing Day Meeting.

The Woodville racecourse is now fenced in all round.

I have to acknowledge with thanks, the receipt of a complimentary ticket for the Rangitikei Racing Club’s New Year Meeting.

“ Flying Shot ” is the name bestowed on the Foxton trained grey gelding by Foulshot —Flirt. Flying Shot is a big strapping gelding, but his dam a few years ago competed in pony races on the Wanganui Coast.

There are one or two race meetings taking place shortly the programmes for which have not yet been published in the official calendar. . \

The Australasian thus describes Messrs Johnstone and Gleeson’s starting machine : “It consists of a screen or barrier of eight light ropes, stretched parallel to each other at intervals of two or three inches. These ropes are attached to strong bands of india-rubber, fitted with pully attachments that run on a -wire rope, and the strain o* the whole screen is borne by strong'. £osts sunk into the ground at each side- of the course. The distance spanned is 132 ft. When the horses have all reached the starting-point, the screen is lowered, so that the top of it is about on a level with the horses’ heads, and the starter, watching his opportunity, touches the button as soon as he lias got his field on even terms. The screen flies up to the top of the wire rope with the velocity of a shot from a catapault, which, in principle, it is, and the horses spring away from the mark with a clear path. No danger can arise from u horse getting his head in a barrier, as the screen is so finely; adjusted that it will only lift 101 b, apart from its own weight, and if the ropes are held with one hand it is easily stopped in its upward flight, even when the button is touched. . . . If the screen is permanently introduced, as patrons of racing ferVently hope it will be, the experienced starter will still be-necessary to select the right moment at which to send the horses off, and if the working of the machine were entrusted to a person unversed in the’ art of starting, races, disappointments would, of course, have to be expected.”

Mornington Cannon and T. Loates have been having a great race as to who shall head the list of winning jockeys in England during the season. For several weeks they have been running neck-and-neck, often tielng. Cannon had ridden 142 winners to Loates’l4o when the mail left.

Rangiatea, by Somnus Wairuareka, has been a long time without a winning bracket, but he dressed down a good field in the Grandstand Handicap, of 100 sovs, seven furlongs, at the Dunedin Meeting, galloping the distance in lmin 32sec. Dividends £6 15s and <£7 2s.

Mr Henry, handicapper to the Canterbury Jockey Club, has received the pleasing intelligence from the secretary of the Club that his salary has been increased, dating from Ist August last.

Mr Smart, of Wellington, well-known as owner the of the trotter Dakota, has purchased a three-year-old bay trotting colt, by Era, a son of Childe Harold from a Sydney breeder. The colt is a trifle deficient inheight and substance, but shows plenty of quality.

The Railway Commissioners have declined to accede to the request of horseowners and trainers for a reduction in rail charges on racehorses returning from a race meeting.

«Sterling,” writing to the Melbourne Sportsman, commenting upon the inefficiency of the majority of the jockeys nowriding in Victoria, makes the . following sensible suggestion: —“Would it not be well that a riding school should be established at Flemington in which the lads should be taught the alphabet of their business ? ■ A capable and competent instructor* would be worthy of a fair salary, and such men who, by reason of increased weight, have lost all chance of earning laurels or cash in the saddle, are yet among us, and are quite competent to act the part £ would assign them, and would, doubtless, be pleased to supplement a perhaps scanty income.” He further remarks, “ Surely it is time that active steps should be taken to teach our jockeys at least the rudiments of the art of race riding. At the present time our licensed jockeys pass no examination as to their ability or their knowledge ere they receive the club’s license to imperil their own necks —and, worse still, those of the men they ride with. It is almost Certain that five out of every ten licensed jockeys, if asked to show how the reins should be held when riding a race or a gallop, would not be able to answer the question correctly. It is even more, certain that eight out of ten do not knowhow to pick up their whip when the time Comes for using it, or how to put it down when they have done with it. And it is equally true that not one in ten can mount a horse without either a leg-up or the assistance of the stirrup-iron.”

The Wellington Racing Club is having the ground adjacent to the 14 mile starting-post levelled close in to the gorse fence on the outer side of the track, wluch Will give additional room to the horses starting in the Wellington Cup.

Of late years the Rangitikei Racing Club has been steadily improving their racecourse and supply ing their numerous patrons with all up-to-date conveniences. Those who have not journeyed to the old coaching township of Bulls during the last two years would be agreeably surprised were they now to stroll through the enclosures, where they will find a telegraph office, jockeys’ room, a furnished ladies sitting-room (under the grand stand), a commodius stewards’ room, secretary’s office, weighingroom, and press room, all under one roof, the top of which is used as a stewards’ and members’ stand. But the Club, which has been ably piloted by Mr C. W. McLean for several years, supported by Stewards, Committeemen and-members, who are jealous of the reputation of the Club, have just recently made additional improvements to the racecourse grounds by planting a double row of various kinds of ornamental shrubs in the saddling paddock, which will soon form a “ leafy bower,” while along the back of the paddock, on the. Greatford side, a hedge of macrocarpa shrubs have been planted. For Che last four years the Club has been very unfortunate in experiencing wet weather for. their New Year’s Day Meeting, and, so as to provide every comfort in case they should be unlucky again in this respect, they have had the approaches to the offices, grand stand and totalisator cemented, which will be much appreciated by those who have a dread of damp feet through walking about on the wet- grass. • ' V __ • • Mr Smart lias ’ named his recentlyimported trotting colt, by Era—Countess, “ King Harold.” With reference to my remarks last week about one flight of hurdles being left up on the Feilding course, which were only noticed after a false start, a friend reminds me that a few years, ago two flights of hurdles were forgotten to be taken down on the Egmont racecourse, and the horses in the Flying Handicap were started before the omission was noticed; but, luckily, the course was not then fenced, and the horses competing ran round the hurdles, Witiora being the winner. •* . • I have to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of a complimentary ticket for the Ashurst Meeting. .

A man named John Shearer has been arrested at Waverley, close to Momohaki, on suspicion of having caused the fire by which Messrs Hearn and Kennedy’s training stables at Momohaki were destroyed.

It having been reported in a contemporary that the owner of The Miser had a good win over - that horse’s victory in the Second Hack Race at the Hutt, I am desired to say that Mr. Prosser had the same amount of money on each of his horses (Kaahu and The Miser) in the First and ---Second Hack Races, and this I am in a position to prove. . The Johonsonville and Hutt. County --Trotting Club, having received information that the trotting horses Violetta and Sailor, which . trotted first and second respectively in the Maiden Handicap at their November 21st Meeting, were “rung in” they held a meeting on Wednesday, sth inst., to hear evidence, etc., which was adjourned until Saturday, Bth inst. After inspecting both horses the Committee decided that as no evidence had been produced to prove that Violetta and Sailor were identical with any other trotting horses, that the stakes be paid over to the owner of Violetta. It was stated that both animals bad certain brands on them, but the Committee failed to detect any brands whatever on either horse.

The Hawera owned filly by Foul Shot, dam Okaro, has been named “ Quick Shot.”;, The Fordell bred mare Seabird (by Sou’wester —Kara Avis) collided with a cow, recently, on the Reefton racecourse and received injuries which it is thought will end her racing career. Snapcap (Foul Shot—Bombshell) is nominated by A. Cameron, of Bulls, for the Ashurst Meeting, so I presume he has purchased the Taranaki gelding from, Mr. Goodwin, who was trying to dispose of Snapcap at the Feilding races. The Empress nominated for the Ashurst meeting is not the Daniel O’Rorke mare of the same name, but is one nominated by Mr Devonshire, of Pahiatua. Mr C. Siddles, of Napier, has named his two-year-old chestnut filly by Forester— Ata, “ Maid Marion.” Ata is full sister to Wairua, Somnus—Wairuareka. Carbine is to be submitted for sale by auction in Melbourne next. March. The Johnsonville Trotting Club have received 107 nominations for seven events at their Boxing Day Meeting. How will the southern croakers squirm now ? JR. Smith, of Hawera, has purchased the Hawora mare Campashe, the full sister to Aldershot. . Harry Woods informs me he has purchased the local trotting horse Old Judge. Mr J. McDonald, of Horowhenua, has three nags in work for the Otaki meeting, under the care of “ Jimmy ” Thompson, brother to Harry Thompson, of Riccarton. The team comprises Revenue, a bay horse by Uncas 11. (by Ingomarr—Aida, dam of Impulse), dam Flora McDonald, , dajn -of Titokowaru. Revenue, is a trifle small, has been doing stud;, duty for a couple of seasons. The ' three-yearrold gelding by Puriri—Browleaf " has been appropriately named “ Titoki,” but has not faced the music yet. The third member of

the team is a big unnamed Remington gelding bred by Mr Amon, of Carnarvon. He will probably be a starter in the Maiden Hurdle Race. •. t « • If the owners of the Wellington Cup horses cared to back their nomination, they could mate the Wellington Cup race worth close on £IOOO. From what I can hear there are quite a number of local books open on this event. / A bazaar was recently held in aid of the funds of the Murrumbidgee Turf Club. The Normanby Trotting Club bold another trotting meeting on January 25th. Mr S. H. Gollau has decided not to race Kimberley again. He will be sent back to New Zealand and used as a hunter. Norton will probably compete in the Steeplechase at the Auckland Summer Meeting at Christmas time, providing he is favourably handicapped. The report that Sterncbaser is to be taken to England is incorrect.— Australasian . A return of winning sires in 1894, published by the Spirit of the Times on October 6th, shows several Australasian sires well up in the list, while Sir Modred actually tops the tree with L 18,126, collected by thirty-two winners. Next to the New Zealand bred sire comes the Hermit horse Mr. Pickwick, with £16,898. Darebin is fifth on the list with £11,212, .and Cheviot sixth with £10,727. None of the Australians seem to have any special star performing, but they get winners, especially Sir Modred. »»,• . • • Nominations for the Pahiatua Jockey Club's Meeting close on Friday, 14th inst, (to-day). The other day in Wellington a horse attached to a baker's cart was suddenly taken ill with colic, and the man in charge of the horse quickly obtained some gin in a bottle and proceeded, by thrusting the bottle into the horse's mouth, to pour the stuff down its throat. The horse closed his teeth on the neck of the bottle and broke it, and swallowed several small pieces of the glass, which caused the animal so m ugh-pain that it had to be destroyed. .This should be a lesson to horse-trainers, many of whom I know give the horses entrusted to their care liquid medicine by the aid of a bottle. The catalogues for Messrs Nathan’s third annual sale of thoroughbred yearlings, to be held in Auckland on the 31st inst., and also for Mr T. Morrin’s ninth annual sale of Wellington Park yearlings, to be held in. Auckland on Thursday, 3rd January next, are to hand.

I had a chat with Professor Lichtwark, the well and favourably , known “ Horse Educator,” the other day, and after what I - had heard about his *• patent, safety reins," Jwas only too pleased to''’inspect them. The professor, claims that no horse should be mouthed with any other , style of gear, as it gives the animal a sensitive mouth, and teaches it to carry itself properly. The “ patent safety reins ’’are very simple, and they are easily understood, and their action on the horse is most humane and gentle, and they should be invaluable to horse trainers who have hard pullers in their stables, as the gear is so simplj arranged, and the power so great, that a horse can be controlled in all its actions by the smallest boy. While in Wellington recently., I induced Mr C. Hume-of Taunui station, Featherston, to invest in a set of the patent reins, and he wrote me a few days afterwards, saying that ho had tried them on a “ tearaway ” horse, and with the assistance of the reins he was able to pull the horse up. whenever he wanted to, and without the slightest exertion. Another Wairarapa sportsman, Mr P. F. Tancred, was so satisfied of the usefulness'of the reins, that when on a recent visit to Wellington he also speculated in a set. As Professor L’chtwark is now travelling through the Wairarapa district in the interest of his patent, I should advise any of my readers who want to regulate the pace of their race-horses on the training track to see the professor. Mr Evans, 6addler, Lambton quay, Wellington, has been appointed agent for the “ patent safety reins ” as per advertisement in the New Zealand Times.

Professor Lichtwark’s book on ‘‘Educating the Horse,” which is being published under the auspices of the New Zealand Government on the recommendation of the Live Stock Committee of the House of Representatives, will be out of the printer’s hands before Christmas. I have seen the proof sheets, which describes in plain, homely language Professor Lichtwark’s method of educating the horse, which, I may say, is the most approved and humane system yet exhibited to Maorilanders, and it has stood the test of many trials with rival “ horse-tanrers.” There are over forty splendid plates, illustrating tho professor’s system of teaching, besides many others giving simple hints how to hobble a horse, how to affix a tether rope to the neck of a horse, &c., &c., which should be most useful to everyone who has any regard for the horse. When the book is published I shall be pleased to give a few more particulars from this valuable work.

When Mr R. Stevens, of Palmerston North, purchased First King at the Newmarket sales in Melbourne in November, 1892, he. purchased a mare named Ethel (by the Marquis), for Mr Cotter, of Ashurst, near Palmerston North, the vendor being Mr D. S. Wallace, the owner of Carbine. Mr Cotter has just returned from a trip to Melbourne after seeing Patron’s Cup race, and was surprised to learn, during a conversation with Mr Wallace’s manager, that Ethel was still in Australia. After numerous enquiries it was ascertained that Mr Cotter had got delivery of the wrong mare, through a mistake on the part of the auctioneer. The mare Mr Cotter is now supposed to own is Young. Dinah, by King of the Ring*, dam Sea Spray, by The Peer—r Musidora. The purchaser of Ethel is quite

satisfied, so the story goes, with the result of the mistake, and so is Mr Cotter, so that everything so far has ended very happily.

I was present with Mr Stevens when Ethel was submitted and knocked down to his bid, and as far as my recollection serves me there was no mare named Young Dinah submitted, so how could the alleged “ mix-up ” be the. fault of the auctioneer? If any. accidental exchange has taken place—which I very much doubt—it would be the fault of those who supp’ied the particulars to the auctioneer, and also the groom who brought the mare to the sale, as each loose-box which contained a horse had the paitieulars of breeding on the door of the box, besides (he groom was, I think, present, aud surely would have enough sense to draw attention to the fact that the auctioneer was making a misstatement. Looking through the Australian Turf Register I find the following record, on account of Mr D. S. Wallace : —“ On May 25, 1893, Young Dinah, 1881, by King of the Ring—Seaspray, served by Carbine, was sold (or knocked down) to Mr W. Hickenbotham for 115 guineas." The latter was some time engaged as Mr Wallace’s trainer, and would have a pretty good idea of what he was buying, and 1 hardly think he would give 115 guineas for a mare without making some enquiries from the grooms, especially as to whether the mare had been served by Carbine. I notice an exchange says that Young Dinah has been entered for the Victorian Champion Stakes. Amongst the nominations for this race I notice a Mr D. Condon enters a bay colt, Wellshot, two years, by Trenton—Young Dinah, but this cannot be the same mare that Mr Cotter is supposed to have got hold of, as neither Ethel nor Young Dinah were served by Trenton.

Comment has been made about the poor nominations obtained by the Otaki and the Lower Valley Racing Clubs. The clubs mentioned have only themselves to blame, as the former only advertised in the paper that reaches the owners that would nominate with them a few days before the meeting. The Lower Valley Club advertised after the nominations closed. I know of three more nominations the Otaki Club could have obtained, and six more that the Lower Valley Club would have had if any publicity had been given to their programme. lam sorry for both clubs, as they may have done better, and received even more nominations than I have mentioned they missed.

A lad named Stockman had an unpleasant experience at Waitara races on Thursday. He was exercising a mare on the course, when the animal bolted and carried him into a plantation, where the lad was thrown against a tree, but, fortunately, escaped uninjured.

Last week, when referring to the fact that Mr. Shannon (handicapper to the Wairarapa Trotting Club) had reported Mr Jorgenson to the Wellington Metropolitan Trotting Association, for alleged “ bribery” (in offering Mr Shannon money, if he gave his pony, Bobby Burns, a good start at the Wairarapa Meeting), I did not treat the matter seriously, thinking that a bit of fun was going on. But it transpires that the case is now a very serious one. It appears that before Mr Jorgenson was officially notified that he had been reported to the Association, he heard rumours round the town that he had been reported, and he,immediately got his solicitor to write to the Association, demanding an enquiry, failing which he would have to take proceedings against the handicapper mentioned, so as to vindicate his character. The Association is to meet on Thursday night, 13th inst., when the case will be fully gone into.

Mr Oxenham has sold his mare Utter (by Martini-Henri) to Mr R. de Lopez for 400 guineas. It will be recollected that Mr J. O. Hayward, of Featherston, obtained a prize of, .£25 for selecting the most suitable sire (Lochiel) to mate with this mare. Mr de Lopez also purchased, while in Australia, a filly by Splendor—Colima, and some time ago he accepted the filly Ivy (by Castor^—Veneration) as part payment for one of the trotting stallions he recently imported from America.

The dam of Ivy (Veneration, who is by Patriarch —Fides) was bred by the late •Maj'*r Morse, o£ Fordell, near Wanganui, and was for many years owned by Mr W. Elliott of Waifara, who sold the mare to Mr Morrin, who mated her with Castor, the progeny being Ivy. The latter won the Nursery Handicap at Wanganui last March, beating Tartan and Huatai ; also the Onslow Stakes for two-year-olds, at the Auckland Autumn Meeting, boating Forme and others. Mr Fabian, of Greytown North, has named his colt by Puritan—Achievement, Centaur. Now that Mr R. Roake (so familiarly known as “ Dick" in tho hunting field) has a businoss to attend to at Carterton, he is retiring from active participation in sporting matters, and in consequence has resigned his position as starter to the Taratahi-Carterton Racing Club, secretary to the Wairarapa Trotting Club, and clerk of the course for the Wellington Racing Club. Each of these positions Mr Roake has held with credit to himself and to the clubs for whom he has performed his multifarious duties. “ Dick v will to much missed from tte Ilutt Park gatherings, where he always rendered valuable assistance to the starter. Always being well mounted, and being a first-class horseman, and the club providing him with a handsome outfit, he looked the beau ideal of what sporting folk think a clerk of tho course should be.

A Southern sporting writer infers, from misleading information which has been supplied him, that trotting meetings around Wellington are carried on “anyhow,” that the sport i 3 uninteresting, and that the management of the meetings is unsatisfactory. Not any of the clubs in this district have been established half as long as

the oldest Canterbury Club, yet they are that far ahead that they don’t stick the totalisator in a four-wheeled conveyance, and allow the public to climb up on both sides of the vehicle and clamour for tickets, such as was done lately at one of the important (?) Trotting Meetings in Canterbury. Bloomsbury (Sou’-wester —Glenary),who won the Second Hack Plat Race on the second day of the Feilding meeting, beating Gunboat and paying £2l 12s dividend, has been a disappointing horse. During the season 1891-92 he had one win, and ran second twice; for the season 1892-93 he ran second three times and third four times; and during the 1893-94 season he was second once and placed third three times; and so far this season, I think, he has been placed second on two occasions. The members of the Wairarapa Hunt Club have presented their lion, secretary, Mr W. McKenzie, with a purse containing 20 sovereigns,, and a complimentary address, in recognition of the interest he has taken in the affairs of the club. The Master of the Hunt Club, Mr G. Tully, made the presentation. Mr John Cotter’s mare Young Dinah, alias Ethel (?) has visited Strephon, by Ingomar. The Wairarapa Trotting Club have a profit of <£B over their recent meeting, after paying-off a few out-standing amounts. The full programme of the Wellington Racing Club’s Summer Meeting on January 22nd and 24th, 1895, is published in this issue, and is worthy of inspection by owners who have any idea of “placing” their horses, as there are one or two nice races that may fall to horses not up to Clip form. The Hack Races, too, are worth £75 and , After his gallop in the St. Andrew’s Handicap at Feilding, Monte Carlo was a bit off colour and did not start the second day. Spreydon, who ran better in the Hack Hurdle Race the second day at Feilding than I have seen him race for some time, had his leg badly cut in the race. In the Final Handicap Hack Flying Race at Feilding, Gunboat (by Torpedo—Don Juan mare) was first, Allington (by Torpedo—Revoke) second, and Roll Call (by Torpedo—Miss Puritan) third.

The Taratahi-Carterton Club had a profit of £2OO on their Prince of Wales’ Birthday Meeting. A portion of this profit should be expended in enlarging the totalisator pay-out office, and the approach to same. There should be an entrace to and exit from the pay-out window. The following horses are worked on the Tauherc-nikau Racecourse at Featherston : Revolution, Revolt, Centaur, Boseminster, Delusion- (who has a leg), Remington Lee, Voltaire, Porepo, Sedition, Primero, Vi% lence, Brooklyn, Viola 11., Kalulu 11., Springtime, Miss Minnie, Primrose, Royal Tar. Iroquois, Half Caste, Awaterc, and' Sladiu. Johnny Faa’s brother, the Wairarapaowiied Waitere, is now nominated for Hack Hurdle events. He stands fully 16-2, and being strongly built, should be useful at the illegitimate game, but he has not as much pace as Johnny Faa. . v . .'f*For some time the Johnsonville Trotting Club have contemplated making additional improvements to their trotting track, and I am informed that after the Boxing Day meeting the top corner past the stand is to be levelled and the track top dressed with cinders, and when this is completed it will make the track equal to the much vaunted southern tracks. I noticed a “ sheep-track ” right along the straight on the Feilding racecourse. I think it will pay the club in the long rnn to purchase a mowing machine, rather than putting sheep on the track for the purpose of eating off the grass. After the club has succeeded in making such a splendid racing track .it seems a pity to let the sheep knock it about. i Gunboat, who won three hack.races, and ran second in another at Feiiding, is a decent horse, and just the cut to make a hurdle horse, but I prefer Allington, a four year old brown colt by Torpedo from Revoke. The latter a few years ago raced successfully in hack hurdle company, and she won tlrn Hack Hurdle Race decided at the first Momahaki Meeting that was held on Messrs Hearn and Kennedy’s track. At a meeting of the Wairarapa Trotting Club, held on December 6th, Messrs Wiley and Christie made application for the removal of the disqualification passed on them, but the matter was deferred until next meeting'. Mr Lowry, of Hawke’s Bay, has named his Castor —Vivandiere filly Athene. This name has already been appropriated by a Taranaki sportsman for a filly by Flintlock.

The steeplechaser Morag is nominated for the Settlers’ Handicap at the Napier Pai*k Meeting, so must be all right again.

Mr I). S. Wallace has resigned his position as committeeman on the V.R.C.

In deference to the wish of several nominators the Johnsonville Trotting Cliib will probably alter the order of the races on their Boxing Day programme, so as to place a race between the Electric Handicap and the Johnsonville and Hutt County Handicap.

Mr Freoth’s Revolt is one of the best jumpers seen out this season. But he is

none too reliable as a “ racer.” At Fielding the first day he came right back from the starting-post, with leaps and bounds, until he reached the gorse fence running parallel with the grandstand; he didn’t stop then until he placed his" fore-legs on top of the fence. He is an “ angel ”at the startingpost, in fact, very near a second Thackeray.

“ Johnny ” Green, of Crofton, Marton, has leased the three-year-old colt Mutual, by The Mute—-Constance (dam of Pihanga), and a two-year-old filly by Wapiti from Waltonia’s dam.

I mentioned some time ago that a resident of Awahuri (Fielding) had nominated a filly named Auroa for the Marton November 9th Meeting, and commented on the fact that another horse named Auroa was entered for the Maiden and Hurdle races at. the same meeting. The name Auroa was plain enough on the nomination paper, but the owner of what appeared as the secoud Auroa informs me that he nominated bis filly (Flintlock— Armadillo) by wire as Oroua, and that he is not to blame for the name appearing as Auroa. lam pleased' to give this publicity, and am glad the owner of Oroua mentioned the matter to me at Feiluing, as he was generally (and as it now turns out wrongfully) biamed for duplicating the name of Auroa.

In the special Christmas Number of the New Zealand Ma.il will be found a gooiS story entitled “ A Bush Race Meeting," by “ Hotspur,’ and some capital sporting verses entitled “ The Only Way,’’ by Mr j. S. Allan.

At a special general meeting of the Taratahi-Carterton Racing Club on Saturday, writes our Carterton correspondent, a proposal was discussed to hold a second meeting on or aboixt the 31st January, 1895. The chairman, Mr N. Grace, pointed out it would be the last season they would have the chance of holding two meetings. He formally moved, “ That a second meeting be held on or about 31st January, 1895.” The motion was seconded by Mr J. Hodder. Mr G. Tully moved, as an amendment (which was lost) that the Club do not hold a second meeting this season. The motion was then put and carried, only two holding up their hands against it The stewards were authorised to draw up a programme of £4OO stakes, and submit the same for the approval of the Metropolitan Club. The secretary, Mr W. McKenzie, said he had guarantors to the extent of 100 guineas in the event of the meeting not proving a financial success. _He could as easily have got double that amongst' the members if necessary, had he applied to them. Mr Roake having tendered, his resignation as starter, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded him for his past services. A similar compliment was paid Mr Augerstein for donating to the Club, a handsome banner. - v ;

The secretary of the Johnsonville Trotting Club advises that Dodger’s name was * omitted from the list supplied to us for the Maiden Handicap and Selling Handicap, ;, also that of Nita from the Pony Saddle Handicap.