TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1285, 15 October 1896, Page 24

TURF TOPICS.

[By Silverspcjr.]

The advisability of altering 1 tile- present 1 -, totalisator system and paying out second)’[jprs.e as well as on thefitst was . much discussed by sporting authorities at the Hawke’s Bay,Jockey Club’s late meeting. 'The question, is receiving, more con--sideratifui of * late, and there seems to be ■ something more than a remote possibility of it being carried into effect. The small dividends paid at Hastings in some instances gave rise to the discussion ; there were • a few “ morals ” and the contention that’ more Jinterest would be centred in foregone conclusion events.if;the public were* invited to pick thp second horse was tacitly/ admitted.

The tofcalisator receipts, at the meetingwere ' a shade heavier than, those of the corresponding gathering last year* but it is; pretty safe to assume that they would have; ,been much larger had the proposed new. system been the vogu,e. This is apparent!, on the face of it because there would have; :been more speculation.. In the races worn 'by Day Douglas* Primula, &c., more' money would in all probability have beem put through had two horses been paid out upon. ‘VVhen such hot certainties as-Day/ -Star saddle up a great many people keep' ! oli‘ the machine altogether on the oldt ; familiar ground that he is “paying nothing.” They may place a short invest---menfc on the best likely outsider, but: ;iif there is no visible clmnce of anythingdowning the favourite, they “look on” in.i characteristic sporting fashion. The pay-on-two scheme would, without doubt, infuse more interest into allegedly unequal* contests, and .the increased speculation would beneficially affect clubs. Outsiders, would be much better, backed than at present on the off-chance of their splitting the , first and third ; and if they would it would* be so much the better for the investor. Also, the sanguine punter who reckoned he could pick it in two would probably back both, and iun the risk of getting two dividends, and there would not be any manifestation of that vexation of spirit which afflicts the vast crowd of racing people who just get beaten by a nose, or some other portion of the winner’s auatomy.

The only logical objection originally advanced against the adoption of the proposal was that big liorseowners, who put fifty or a hundred pounds on their horses would not see the force of, say, a third of the total investments being paid over to. backers of the second animal. Iloweverit cuts both ways, for, under the present system, if their animal runs second, theyget nothing beyond a small fraction of the stake. And it would perchance often happen that the runner-up would pay more than the winner. No definite understanding has been arrived at as to what proportion of the investments would go to the second; that is a matter for subsequent consideration, but it is generally supposed that if the scheme is adopted a third would be fixed as the figure. The Pacing Conference will no doubt give attention to the subject when it next meets, and it is quite possible that delegates will view the subject in a favourable light. It isn’t likely, however, that the proposal will embrace the third horse, as advocated by some gentleman in the Taranaki district a few years ago. Paying out on three would be taking too much from the winner. In Sydney tote - shop men pay out on two or three; it all depends upon the number of starters, And this seaneetion it might

be sirg-geSted; that vision would have to be made regulating the payments. Personally I don't think it would be advisable to pay out on the first two unless the field numbered at least four. Paying on two in a three horse race would be ridiculous ; ..such a notion is not likely to be entertained; In cases of dead heat, too, when the owners divide, only two horses need be dividended, -•as at present. The only trouble that the can see would be in cases where • fields were large, and horses had to be : bracketed together. Under existing conditions if one bracketed animal runs first and Vhio machine companions canters in last, a •dividend is given on both. This is a very "bad system and, if adhered to, three dividends would have to be paid unless the itwo bracketed horses ran first and second, \>v!hich would be a pretty complication. ISmciksting is a most unsatisfactory busijaee* for all concerned, not only for winners bait for backers. Clubs should see to it that bigger machines are obtained. The present Registers would never do in Australia Where large fields are the rule and not the exception, The bragketing business will have to bo sat upon heavily, more especially if the proposal now being discussed cornea into operation,

The Masterton Club has practically taken the initiative by calling for alters nate tenders for the working of the machine at their next meeting. Whether they will pay out on one and two, or one, two and three, or on one only had not been determined at time of writing, but I must vote against paying out on all three. Two is plenty. There is nothing in the rules, so far as I am aware, against Clubs manipulating the totalisator as they please, and if the Wairarapa people inaugurate the new idea ? the experiment >yill be 3 great interest-. 4 Cluh. that tQ sliovf thp‘ way in this particular respect is the Otaki institution. It invariably has very big norqinations for its gatherings, and, is. more, large dn these oiyppu|stances appqrtipnipg* the mopey op the first two %ou}d give public a veiy good idea the'system wprked out. ' IMaawonaqr the £>taki people haven’t decided on testing the utility of the proposal. They have everything to gain and nothing to lose by giving the system a trial at their next gathering.

It now transpires that Day Star put up a bulldog run in the Hastings Spring ‘jign‘dieap s , which 'py half "a length. Ih the Guineas ’ the day Gallagher dicj not know what the opposing three-year-olds were like and kept with them. "’Vhen he shook Day Star up the §oit oame away and won anyhow. On the seoond day he made the mistake of lying too far bank, In fact he was absolutely last for over a mile. His jookey thought he had nothing to beat, and the one great’ run he put in was about as good as could be expected from any youngster. He wore .Lotion down in the home drive, but gave the impression that he wasn’t the champion he was represented to be because he lidn’t win by $, street- • This is ah altohtHe'r 'qriron'eous L conclusion, qucf f am lformed ' by’an^authority who ‘saw the race that had 1 the 'contest been another hiili-inile I}ay §tar would haye been any jJi§tsgV tg the tfji's js so. the pq]t«s Ife w Zealand GgP phagce ingst be of fhe fcjpigrh.fcest- Ife cap stay and finish straight'under punishment.' The be§t of horses are often ridden in such a way as to be just beaten, and that is what almost happened in Hastings Handicap. All the same, Lotion is no muff, and, though he may have many admirers for the New Zealand Cup, I must say that I am not i’ery paptiqi to Jifs glance. |Sven with his added ' weight pay St#r wllf take a power of beating, He' has tame tq get into the pink of condition, whereas a great many of his opponents are not nearly so forward in their preparation, and a twomiie race in November takes a lot of winning- It looks, very much lite the Aucki'hpd pcffc repeating: the triumphal march Ir it. If §{r qtoad' anything better it is very apparent tijat it isn’t Uniform. My Chriatohuroh oorrespondent states elsewhere that Epaulet is being fancied for the Cup, and this, too, since Daystar won his doable at Hastings. So fhat Jl.icca.rton coqnoiseurs must have Iqipf; thing tangibip Ph pash aV opinion tipofi; !

The running of The Possible at Hastings foreshadows a win in the near future. And that win will in all probability be recorded at Riccarton next month. He has bpe& Tyell backed for the car>, and that [3 foie rape for wpich'he will tfe stripped. He is a ‘ racehorse, e'vei’y in'ch of him, and is bred on galloping fm'es. When ho strips fit backers should put a mark opposite his name. One of the shrewdest riders in New Zealand last week expressed the opinion that he vyoipd sooner ride The possible than anything else in tjip Cup,‘because lie beliwed' jib 1 Wuld' rn&ke'a great race of it. &n 4 "he : |s fight. "ft afo goes well with l£asim*S three-quarter brother, J believe he wijl get a pla«e in the tworinile event.

Recently an American clergyman delivered a sermon in which he took the ground that he could see no greater sin in racing horses than in racing men on fjipygjes. He drew a parallel between tk'e sdgtft witnessed when four oc fjye galfant horses were struggling down fne stretch, each one more anxious for the than hi§ driver, and the ridiculous gpeptncle presented by as many bicyclists gvep ajmopt to the ground and pumping a w ay for dear life. He wanted fp knovy wherein the mighty difference lay, jf it was so wrong to rac9 horses and so right to rasp Uieu °n hikes, <f And/’ he added, ?f Jt does not poem that there is always honesty to commend the riders of bieyolea, for do we not hear of men being ruled off the bicycle track for fraud, just as men are ruled off the turf P A@ a matter of .fact,’* he continued, fi more men have been punished in one season for con-

travention of the bicycle rules of racing than have been punished'on the American turf in ten times as long.” And when the matter is looked at in that light, how is horse racing worse or more degrading than tennis, croquet, bowls, cricket or football ? Because betting enters largely into its conduct, may be answered. But, it can be replied, wagei’ing is not encouraged directly by racing clubs, and wagering can and is also indulged in over some of the innocent pastimes referred to above.

That race for the Final Handicap at Hastings was a very close thing, and, as is usual in nip and tuck finishes, a great many people thought the second horse won. So did the interested jockeys. Derrett came with a magnificent rush on The Shrew, whom he had been carefully nursing'll! the way. He lost by a nose, according to the judge, Solitaire just getting the verdict. White, on the winner, thought Derrett had won. The Southern jockey was of the same opinion, " I’ll save a pound with you,” said White, as they turned round to go to the scale. ff Right,” said JJerrett. But the clerk of the course went over to Solitaire’s side and the mare got the pool. This incident goes to show that when riders themselves aren’t sure, the public shouldn’t make a fuss because the judge doesn’t give the verdict to the animal they backed. There was a lot of Wellington money on The Shrew, who was telegraphed down as a good thing, but her finishing run was just too late, and sepond was her position. All the same an onlooker informs me that Derett exhibited one of firs old-time finishes—a finish o,f which h, O uIoAO is capable of effecting-

Qfte can imagine the knock the public sustained at Caulfield on Saturday when Newhaven went upd©.? ta The Officer in the Classic Guineas mire. Seven, to four on Newhaven sounds like a great moral, and ao it was on Sydney running where he romped home in all his races in fast. time. Ho was regarded after those Randwick performances, as the greatest youngster of his age ever seen in the colonies. And he appeared to be winning the Guineas easily on Saturday until The Officer, who had been lying last, smothered him inside the distance. It will be remembered that in my notes last week I inserted a hyffif letter from a Melt}, friend whffih Mated that they knew pretty well what all the Classic candidates were capable of barring The Officer, Now, we have that younster’s measure to a pretty fair extent. Sam Cook’s, youngster started at 8 to 1, an cl the Squire of Sandringham must have had a little on Robinson Crusoe’s son, despitothe fact that Newhaven was thought to be another Carbine, or a better. The time, Imin 44isea, was very good for a Classic race. My late exchanges from Melb. state that Newhaven looked fight after his return from Sydney, and opinions were expressed in print that he was not a horse capable of standing too much severe work. Whether he was at his best Qr hot in fhe race is,'of course, not known. 1 ail titn© J of writing - , bpi he ran like a racehorse.' The'officer has been at 10 to 1 for the V.R.C. D,erby, but fours is his best price to-day (Monday}. How the bqojcs must hayq - yeffed whim Th? Offi cer dropped from cloqds 5 uncertainty of th'e great gorse sport i§ invariably deniongtrated when a champion ha§ a mural om

The excellence of The Officer’s performance is all the more pointed when one remembers that on the same day Hopscotch won a double, the Caulfield Stakes and Toorak Handicap. In the first-nanv d lie oyer 1 |ikfi '■* s}kip|>ei, \Yallace, and qthpp gfiod ’up's}, it 'i§ Gue Wallace Ims been the subject of ugly rumours, but I cauuot think they were correct because W. R. Wilson would not have started him if all was not Y'pll. Hopbcofclj, • ■ with hst-Hb; \yon : tji : b Tqbrak Handicap, giving swa£ any ’amogpt qf weight fo ‘a]H§S4'ts 4n4 including a gpeat many capable milers. Tie time, I.4was just a quarter of a second over The Officer’s Guiueas record. And, as Nevvhaven walked over Hopscotch —an admitted}, champion —in Sydney, The Officer’s romp over ‘Ne .v'haven makes hini. out 11 to' Be ’a 1 ' Votings ter of the first water, ’ 'the''chances' are flpit \yhen they meet in tlye V.k.Q. flerby the performance will be repeated. The Officer is a stayer from all private accounts, and now that he has shown form he will likely see a much shorter .price than 4to 1. St. Alban’s stable relied on Cydnug }q the Caulfield Guineas, bipb lib was apparently unequal to ! the’task,''anc} Cofl, who hasn’t been' hs well as lie might be for some time past, was a fair third. This Abercorn Colt will race much better later on, if he is well looked after,

The Officer’s time for the mile is the second best on record, Cobbitty’s lrnin 44seo, 'when he beat Marusa JDireamland, being the smartest'. S. G\ Cook seems to have had his eye on the 3-uineas every year lately. Last Spring The Parisienne got beaten by Wallace, and Sailor Prince ran second to Patron in 1893. As a two-year-old The Officer won the V.A.T.C Two-year-old Handicap from Norroy and Lightning ; the Debutant Stakes from Thunder Queen and Hopyoy, and ran third In the V.]s.o. Sires Produce Stakes to Coil and Pucije. He was a few times unplaced, including Newhaven’s Maribrynong Plate, So that, looking at his record and comparing it with Newhaven’s, his chance of beating the oraok on Saturday was not vox-y rosy. The only time The Qffloer evor beat liitn was in the V.A.T.C, Two-year-old Plate last season.

Alleged that there were a few palpable non-triers at Hastings in more than one race. The stewards did not deem the performances of any of the animals sufficiently out of the wav to warrant proceedings, but the names of several horses have been

i - futtitb biigjtgeiiients. ; Aiid it i, . ' mv aeciitiite the. inrorinatioi v r °* , ‘-> be iti this ipdir.ticula' wonderful m d piedsan always proves to must hafb soli< respect. “ Carpeting mlisitig Cold operation, and stewards . <- man; ground to stand on before pei.. * petitors. Consequently a grea„ escape, but the public has its cwn u.. on the subject, and expresses its opinion in vigorous terms in a semi-private sort of way. Very often they are absolutely wrong in their surmises, but the unanimity with which they keep off horses on occasion often tells a tale.

Since the first notes in these columns were penned the Masterton Racing Club stewards have further considered the totalisator question. Mr J. Ames’ tender, 14 per cent, and half the fractions, for running the totalisator was accented, Mr Ames, who was present, thought the proposal to pay out on one and two was worth a trial on the pound machine at any rate. Mr 'Mackara said the Committee would have to well consider the matter before they made the experiment. After discussion Mr Pownall said that to give members time to think over the matter he would give notico to move at next meeting tfiat the proposal be carried into effectThis was agreed to. In the event of a tbii shilling machine being used some alterations will have to be made to the pay-house, and a sub-committee has been appointed to deal with the matter.

The Masterton Racing-Club has endorsed the Wairarapa Club’s proposal, “ That it be a recommendation to the delegates of this Metropolitan district attending the next conference to endeavour to get Metropolitan Comittees appointed with a fair representation of the county clubs, and that the secretary write to the other clubs in this district for approval and endorsement.”

On the subject of the largest field that has ever- competed in a race in England, a contemporai'y says:—One of the largest was for the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood in. IS6I, when 45 horses started, and the race was won by Mr Murphy’s Croagh Patrick, H. Taylor being- the rider. Por the Chester Cup, in 1852, won by Mr Farranee’s Joe Miller., there were 43 starters. Forty - thvee horses also ran for the Cambridgeshire in 18G2, when Bathilde won ; while there were 42 : starters for the Qambridgeshire in 1870, won, by Adonis, and in 1874 when won. For the Cambridgeshire in 1863 > won by Catch-’em-Alive, 4Q horses started. The largest number of runners for the Derby has hitherto been 34, in 1862 j there the smallest, foui,-, in l, r 94. For fheQaks the greatest number of runners has been 26, and the smallest four, in 1799. For the Two Thousand the greatest number has been 19, and the smallest two, in 1829, and 1830. The largest nu,mber for the One Thousand has been 19 3 in 1877, the smallest in 1826, when the Duke of Grafton’s Tontine walked over. For the St. Legey. there were 30 in 1825, and the smallest, four, in 1783, and 1785,

Although there are only twenty-six left ifi thp Caulfield Cup the ultimate winner does not seem so very easy of location. The final list tolk a tale, the usual history of all big races, The public had 13S horses or thereabouts to pick from originally, and the majority of the best backed have dropped out owing to a variety of causes, including Marusa, who was thought at opa time to be a hot article if he. only trained on, So that the rjng'hayp had all the best of if gpTfav., and pow append uponono of the least fancied coming to their rescuo on Saturday, If Hopscotch carries a penalty, aa I assume he does, I do not think he has any the best of the deal, brilliant though he be. He can certa inly carry wemht, and, being Tfing-pin of. the wifi finely 9fcarthfit¥t‘choice. Ife faslati with gst'lOlbhast year, Übt. ViO ridden in a win all ttm way style, and Waterfall’s time \v-a« exceptionally fast. He la now in fine condition and a year older. If the race is slow, weight won’t trouble him a smart'' run home. But, locking at 1 the list, there Will bo no lack' of pacemakers. I do not shppoke Merman, Nada, and Besolutp. will all carry the St. AJhan’P colours-. Qf the trio I Resolute if l[\e starts. Ho is ft good edit and must he hotter than Cydnus, who, however, didn’t shape too well in Caulfield Guineas. Merman lias been running better than Nada lately, but he iq, I believe, by no means ag arCtouraf, Preston, by poginsem ’ Crusoe— Blue Byes, represents IS. Miller. He lias been seen to some advantage on various occasions. He beat Maron and The Harvester in the V.R.C. St. Leger as a three yea;, mu, but the latter wasn’t at lvis best that day. In the Champion Stakes later The Harvester turned the tables, Carnage being third. In the Y,R.C, Spring Yeteran S-lakes next year he d e gd heated with that good mare Quiver for second place, and afterwards dead heated with Pilo.t Boy, Then he ran. third in the Essendon, and third to Quiver and Wallace in the Champion. He had Bst 71b in the Caulfield Cup last year, but wasn’t fit. He hasn’t won a race since April of last year, but if he is well this Saturday he will take a lot of beating. Disfigured, the cgt about Alalna mare„didn’t race up til a five year old, but last season shewed fine form under heavy weights. Cremorne isn’t the Cremorne of old so far as I judged when I saw him last. Unlucky Devon may not be conditioned enough to scoop, but Destiny has a show with Sst lib. He hgs raced unsuccessfully, however, since his Adelaide Birthday Cup win. He then carried 91bles3.

Taking The Qffioer’s form as a guide, The Parisienue won’t go out without friends. Trenton’s daughter is the elect of S. G. Cook, and|although she only won two or three races last season sh 9 is a galloper, and has a dangerous aspect. Homespun has failed on a number of occasions when the stable thought he had a chance, and

i Cravat and Alpihe, both New Zealand bred' s have not any certificates of character for a i race of this nature worth speaking about, r Canoona is a country mare with a good t record, but should be held safe by Pivot, d The latter has an outside, chance- It will is be his first attempt in really good handicap y doinpan£. Damien did not strike rile -as s being anything great when I last saw hint. He was mooted for Wallace’s Sydney Cup, * failed. Nor do I fancy Right HonourM 'hunder Queen is alleged to be the bu. capable of staying; On a ' D le. * has a much better first Thunu Straightfire is now performances bu "un in a great many show than Duhallo». n P some very seven year old, and has - 'mances. I

races in liis time, putting . aptain fair and some very bad perfoi. istl hardly think he will win. The c. hasn’t a very enviable record, and m., have improved greatly to have a chance. He is related to The Parisienne and The v Officer, and was for a long time a frost. a The remaining five are Excel, Le Yar, j, Tellus, Reka and Rosella, and the best backed is the sensational Reka. Portsea’s t bi'other has a pull in the weights, but I c can’t say I am enamoured of his chance. Taking three likely ones for a place their J names are : The Parisienne or Resolute, a Destint. *

Writes my Christchurch correspondent : “ Tho work this week at headquarters has, op. the whole, been of rather an uninteresting 1 character, owing to the bad weather which has prevailed.—On Monday a new starting machine, with semaphore arms, was erected about half way between the top turn and the winning post between the course proper and the plough gallop. It is very different in its construction from those now in use here.—A few of the trainers have already taken advantage of it to get their two-year-olds used to the barrier, notably R. Mason and Cutts. —Free Holmes, the well-known cross-country horseman, was married on Wednesday last to Miss Mary Webb, second daughter of Mr W. C. Webb, of the Bush Inn, the old-time trainer. The young couple left for Timaru by the express the same morning on a short honeymoon. Frank Reade has charge of Holmes’ string in the meantime. Murray Hobbs has named the two-year-old sister to Prime Warden, Bloomer.—H. Franks has the two-year-old colt by St. George—Nellie in hand. Ho is a really nioe mover.—Retina was to have been put to Son-of-a-Gun, but, he being away at Rangiora, she has been mated with St. George again, to whom she has got the nicest yearling tilly I have seen about here. —J. Harris’ Tired has foaled a beautiful filly to Lakesbell, and will visit St. George. Her two-year-old filly by St. George has been pained Weary.

*' Yellow Bose (Kin? Cole —Rosalind, therefore foil sister to Royal Hose) has been thrown oul of work, and is to be mated with Vanjpiaipd. R. Mason has had his team down front Yaldljurst twice during 1 tho week. He was practising his two-year-olds at tho starting machine on Wednesday. On Friday Bellicent and Epaulet, with Culverin and Arquebus as companions, were sent a nice working gallop of about two miles on the sand, Tnoy all moved freely, and Epaulet is thought down here to have a good chance in the New Zealand Cup. The Christchurchowned horses were out of luck on the first day of the Hawke’s Bay Club’s meeting, as they managed to obtain second place on the three occasions which they started.

“ Magazine, with his old pilot, T. Sheenan, in the saddle, was sent twice round the big hurdles on Tuesday last, and jumped beautirully, and is looked upon as likely to score a win over hurdles at the Spring mooting. Wardance and Taipari weye sent twice round over the little hurdles on Wednesday.—Stonyhurst baa sjone t.a stand the season in the Waikari distinct. —Several of the two-year-olds have been spurted over half-a-milo during the week. On Wednesday Seashell and Goldleaf were put together over five furlongs in thoiy. owner's presence. Both shore was little to choose thorn at jthe finish. —Bloomo.r and St. Melon (St. Leger— Yulentla)i \v,ei’e' sent half a-mile on the grass > qu Thursday, and, although|the filly ran off onto the plough, aho held the eolt safo. —On Saturday morning (10th) the course was covered with a hard, white frost, which things quite a wintry appearance Operations started about 5 o’clock with Cutts sending the two-yoar-ydda Seasliell, Blandyke and up" the back of the oourse proper at a sound pace. Thy remainder of the team did usef\\\ work. Lady Zetland and Syrapon were sent a mile and a qu the. grass?, at £V sound pace, both So.mg weVl.—’Biaavro and The Lumper galloped ve furlongs on the grass, the mare liaving the best of the spin. Marquis of Zetland skipped over six furlongs on the s,s-u,d in 1.20. Quiltiri and Bisley galloped a fast six furlongs on thp. gl-asa," finishing together. s, Salvo Shot and Mainstay covered, 1 six furlongs at a sound pace. —Fabulist, r»u a good mile and a quarter Qp 4 . the grass, Artilleryman fetching l;;m homo over the last six furlongs, but*was of no use to the Cup hpvgo, who finished well. —A number of Other horses did half-pace work. After ! breakfast Weary and Bloomer wpre sent a fast half-mile, thy former having the host of the go., —/Uniform returned from, the North on Friday.— Gillie and Clareno.o arc, both being pushed along iu vjpw of the Curraph Steeplechase. —The Ohoka meeting takes place on October 15th, when the following horses may run well in their respootiye engagements : Hunters’ Flat, Hinepu; Ohoka Handjoap, Saracen; Mandeville Welter, Starshot; Flying, Bizzare.”

SHOE LETS.

Metford, winner of Caulfield Debutant Stakes, is the latest Carbine to show form. Bon Mot, second, is by the erst New Zealander, Escutcheon. The Officer won this race last year. What about Metford for the Maribrynong Plate« Wallace may yet prove to be Wilson’s elect for Melbourne Cup. Retaliation’s JUG 9s div. at Avondale shows what the public thought of her chance. Waterfall, the Caulfield Cup winner, has retired to the stud. The Hon J. D. Ormoni’s two-year-olds appear to bo the most forward in Hawka’s Bay. , • Broken Hill is in great buckle and will oarry a lot of Adelaide money in Melbourne Meet Admiral ran third in the Debutant Stakes at Caulfield. The Richmond—Footetep niok i 3 a good one —The Admiral, Port

Admiral, feoy£l Admiral, Fleet Admiral— an admirable fleet. , • Thunder Queen is galloping finely at Flemington. . . If the stable didn’t back the fine-looking Marusa, who got all the money ? He has been at the top of the quotations since betting opened, and was heavily backed m Sydney a fortnight ago.. . Pdny Pickles is said td liave gone wrong. Metford is trained by T. Payten at Randwick. He has a fme looking stable companion in Sweet Marie (Trenton —Marie Louise). Cup horse O’Trigger is said to be not yet near fit. , . .. Newhaven lmd to carry a penalty m the Caulfield Guineas of 71b. Happy Land, dam of Hova, has thrown s foal to Bill of Portland. . ~ , , The Masterton Racing Club has decided tc advertise its programme in the N.Z. llMfei and N.Z. Mail. . The Masterton R.C. has not yet decidec bether it will admit or exclude bookmaker

next meeting'. . , , . G, Pardy has been appointed kac " * . -*0 the Taranaki Jockey Club. at its <;-* v -Ookangina R.C. Hack Meetin Mr R. * - QQtJi. Nomination handicapp. The As hur& _ - > takes place on n close November 28tu. • . _ Dan O’Brien hopes R „ e MaribrynonpPlato ■with Patriot. Alec Taylor, of Burren.'*b e et, expects to annex a good race with Alp/oe this Sprint. Alpine is by St. George—Escalade. A friend who saw Cour de Lioir at Hastings says he is a fine looking horse and ought to * win many a good handicap.

The Napier Park acceptances for the first day -w.erep’t as good as was anticipated. Mr T. S’. Clihborn Ijas been secretary of the Australian jockey Giuty twenty-three, years. The Canterbury Trotting Club has decided to admit entries from Australia for its Sires Produce Stakes. This is as it should be. Miss Button, the well-known lady trotting enthusiast, has been granted a trainer’s license. Mr Evett has now a big opinion of St. Paul. Eighteen weighted for Auckland Spring Hurdles, including the evergreen Beggarman. Hopgarden ought to be master of his list 61b. The Miser has a neat weight in 7st 101 b in Wanganui Spring Handicap. Before the Kingston -on - Thames County Bench an application was made on behalf of the {Anti-Gamblmg League in regard to the summons recently heard against Mr Richard Dunn, of East Molesey, a well-known bookmaker, and member of the Hurst Park Club, for using TattersaU’s Ring at Hurst Park for purposes of betting. The magistrates decided not to state a case.

How many pretty little doubles went awry after Caulfield Cup acceptances? Otaki weights due on 26th inst. A novelty added to the Ivansas City Horse Show prize-list is a special premium for ladies who can ride cross saddle —a class in recognition of the constantly-growing number of women who ride astride. Awards will be based on the following five considerations, each of which counts twenty points :—Hirst, the best-appointed and neatest habit; second, the most graceful and easy rider ; third, the best reinswoman ; fourth, the riders to change horses, mount and dismount ; fifth, the best seat and position m the saddle. Horses not to be considered ; the gaits to be shown are tho walk, trot and canter.

There are six mares left in Caulfield Cup T and four three-year-olds. Eesolute carries the exact weight in C. Cup that Waterfall won with last year. Other winners that won with 7st 31b wore Blue Ribbon and Blink Bonny. Flying Shot appears to have a show with Ssfc in Wanganui Flying-. Cook preferred the Parisienne to The Officer and The Merry Boy. Sainfoin and Gnaroo both won with her weight previously. Off Chance, entered for the Wanganui Trial Hack, is well named. The top weight of Daimio in Sefton Park Steeple was duo to the profuse buttering of Butterfly’s son by the papers before and after he left A\\st"alia. Officers of the North Island Trotting Association : President, Mr Edwards; Secretxry and Treasurer, Mr Miles; Vice-Presi-dents, Me.-srs W. T. Donnett and Adams. The next Molb, Cup winner may very likely not be seen out at Caulfiold at all.

N.S,W, has six reps, in Caulfield Cup, including the top and bottom weights—a champion and a champion that is to be. His Excellency tho Governor has been in.vited the Wanganui Jockey Club to attend tneir meeting on the 22nd and 23rd insfc.

A letter fron* the Auckland Trotting Club wg,s discussed at the last meeting of the' South Island Trotting Association, in reference to its affiliation and its disqualification. It was decided to remove the disqualification cut receipt of a proper application. The Akaroa County Racing Club presented a case for decision. Dalium’s owner claimed first and second money in the District Trot, on the ground that his animal had distanced tiio field. There, was no distance post, but a second hor3e had been placed. It was decided that the claim should not be allowed, but the club should be more careful in future, and eieot distance posts. The Manawatu Racing Club have appointed Mr J. Hankins delegate to the County Club’s Conference, fixed for Feilding. The Hokowhitu track will in future be at the disposal of trainers. Messrs W. A. Chitham and E. J. Chitham have been granted a trainer’s and a jockey’s license respectively. The South Island Trotting Association has licensed 180 riders and drivers, and 151 trainers.. Mr J. McWhirter, a well-known Sydney and Melbourne pressman, till lately on Sydnoy .Evening News, assumes the editor&\ control of the Auckland Sporting Review. Cl eland and McLeod fancy their colt Sabretache lias a good show in the Melbourne Cu.p, and have backed him for a considerable amount. Had he stayed in. New Zealand, ho and Day Star would have been an interesting pair of Aucklanders. It is said that St. Paul could have won the Avondale Cup with another stone on bis back. Weight doesn’t stop a good one if he has nothing to beat. Volcano, winner of the juvenile race at Ayondale, was bred by Mr Douglas, oi Hawke’s Bay. There are 243 subscriptions for the Englitf Oaks of 1898, which is the largest entry this race has ever obtained. The value of tb( Oaks is only J 24500, and not a farthing vvii have to be added from the fund, as the owners subscription is certain considerably to excecc the stipulated amount of the stake. The pro fits derived from the race meetings at Epson

are said to be so enormous that the manageri could very well afford to double the value, a the Derby and the Oaks, and to establisl some rich two-year-old stakes. The presed programme is miserably meagre, and it woul

be will if the stewards of the Jockey Club were to take steps to stimulate the managers to decent liberality in the matter of added money. Moscow is improving every day at Caulfield. This horse lost a Caulfield Cup a few seasons back through his jockey turning round in. the straight and laughing at the field.

Pivot, hurdler and flat racer, has been very sore lately. He is fast, and the Mainfolds thought he had a Cup chance. The last Melbourne papers state that the much-fancied Melbourne Cup candidate, Miraculum, hadn’t been on the course for some days. Fusilade, winner of the New Zealand Cup in 1835, is now standing at Wairoa, Hawke’s ."Bay. The programme of the Masterton-Opaki Jockey Club’s Summer Meeting on Thursday and Friday, 10th and 11th December, appears in another column. Nominations close on Saturday, 14th November, at 9 p.m.