TURF.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1424, 15 June 1899, Page 36

TURF.

RACING CALENDAR. FIXTURES. June 21 and 22—Hawke’s Bay J.C. Winter June 28 and.29—Napier Park R.C. Winter July 19 and 21—Wellington R.C. Winter WEIGHTS DUE. June B—Hawke’s Bay J.C. Winter ACCEPTANCES. December 30—Taranaki Hack Guineas, 1900 FIRST FORFEITS. August 4—C.J.C. Welcome, Derby and a Oaks, 1899, and Eighth Challenge Stakes, 1900 T3RF TOPICS. Skirmisher is being given a short rest. ***** Malatua and Peerage are being treated to a brief spell. ***** A full sister to Culverin got one of her hind legs badly spiked through getting into the narrows at Riccarton, but she is getting right again.

The annual conference /of the N.Z. Trotting Club delegates will be held at Wellington on July 13.

The question of reciproacy between racing and trotting clubs in connection with disqualifications etc. ,will be considered at the next Racing Conference. * * * * *

The Dunedin horse Fulmen, who has been nominated for the Melbourne Cup, is to be taken to Australia atr an early date.

The disappointing Nihilist was purchased by Mr McKewen at Dunedin the other'day for £50.. A very cheap horse.

F. Davies, who has been connected with the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s Karamu stable for some time has left and gone to live at Auckland.

In France delays at* the starting post are not appreciated, and at the Vincentnes Meeting last month, when there was some trouble, owing to one horse refusing to face the flag, the public became annoyed,' and began shouting at the •'* starter, while one individual had a shot at him with half a broken bottle.

The English scribe, “Vigilant,” takes exception to Newhaven’s head, and says a lack of character in the head is noticeable in a good many of the Australian horses. He adds : —“The great Carbine himself, one of the grandest horses behind the saddle that I ever saw in my life, is weak in this respect, and really has the head of a mare rather than that of a stallion.

The Wanganui mare Famous is being schooled over the small sticks.

Surprise was expressed at the withdrawal of Bellman from the Great Northern Hurdle race. He was well supported in doubles. It now transpires that he had sprung a tendon and his trainer was obliged to scratch him.

Some newspapers published a statement that the field in Wanganui steeple-

chase went the wrong course. This is now denied by the club officials. How such a rumour gained ground is a mystery. *-***#*

There are fourteen three year olds in the next New Zealand Cup, eleven four year olds, twelve five year olds, sixteen six year olds, and seven aged horses. * * * * *

At Brighton (Tas.) a field of 22 went out for the Bracelet and three deadheat d. Melody paid £Bl 18s on the tote. Lena, £9 2s and Lidelis 13s. In the run off Fidelis did not take part and Lena heat Melody by a length.

The Totalisator Bill is to be re-intro-duced into the Victorian Assembly at the earliest possible moment.

The Melbourne horses Chesney, Gorge Frederick and Chillagoe, belonging to the Victorian sportsman, Mr George Gray, are to be auctioned at the end of the present month.

It is stated that J. B. Williamson, who trained Shylock for the Great Northern Hurdles, didn’t back him for a penny. It is not so long ago since the horse was offered as a gift to a friend of the owner, but the intended recipient woukl’t have him. Shylock cost £6O.

Battleaxe is favourite for the New Zealand Cup. On the appearance of the nominations he was backed for £2OOO in Auckland.

Mr Blake, owner of Tally-ho and Daphne, has purchased the hurdler Schnapps.

The Hastings horse Lotion has been taken up again.

Mr Fitzmanrice’s horses are in future to be trained at FoUding. The Bugler, a hack, has been added to the team.

Torpina is reported to be doing good work over hurdles at Hastings.

It is intended by the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club delegates to the Racing Conference to bring up the question of revising the rules relating to the endorsement and publication of disqualifications.

* * * * * The owner of Hickory intends putting the horse to the jumping game.

News by the last English mail states that there were five starters for the March stakes at Newmarket, won bv Newhaven, who won easily by three lengths from the American horse Berzak.

A horse named Sir Geoffrey won the Great Surrey (Eng.) Handicap last month, cutting out the five furlongs in the fast time of 68 2-6ths. The best Amei’ican time for the distance is 56 3-4ths, put up by Maid Marion over a straight course at Morris Park, New York.

Malvolios’ brother Chesney is again in work at Caulfield. He was treated to a spell after the A.J.C. meeting.

The protest against Dummy, winner of the Great Northern Steeplechase, was for crossing Kanaka at the last fence. The stewards dismissed it, and also the objection to the Bracelet winner Sultan who, _it was alleged, was not qualified to, start.

The owner of Castashore denies the truth of the statement circulated that the intends taking that horse to Australia. The son of Castor appears in the New Zealand Cup list.

Dummy, the Great Northern Steeple winner, has never ben ridden by anyone but Johnson in his jumping races. Mute’s son has started in four races across country, winning the Grand National and Great Northern. He ran fourth in his first National and fell in the Summer Steeple at Auckland. Dummy originally cost £3O.

Twenty-nine entries have been received for the Taranaki Hack Guineas of 11)00. Haera’s progeny have been nominated freely, and other stallions repersented are Recluse, Reynard, Waiului, Lochnagar, Soninus, Trickster, Bowshot, Hotchkiss, Lionel, Gold Reef, Gipsy King, and St. Leger.

Here is a true story of the late Sir John Astley:—“ln the neighbourhood of Elsham during Sir John Astley’s lifetime there lived a curate who was poor. One Christmas time Sir John sent to this clergyman a cheque as a Christinas box. It- was promptly returned by the curate, with a few lines to state that a gift from one who gambled on the Turf was not acceptable. Sir John was too keen a sportsman or too large-hearted an Englishman to be baffled by a first rebuff. A few weks or months passed. The curate received an offer from the Bishop of the diocese of a benefice of some £250 per annum and house. He accepted it. On his institution to the living the Bishop said: ‘ You must thank our friend Sir John Astley for your preferment. There were many applications for the living.; but Sir John pressed your claim so earn-

estl.y I felt it to be niv duty to accede to bis request. Long may such generous men adorn the ranks of English Church laity.’ Sir John won the match in a canter. Is it not so P ”

The Chairman of the Ashburton County Racing Club stated at the annual meeting that he hoped that next season the club would do better than it did during the year just closed and would raise the standard of racing in the district. The club, ho said, would have to consider the question of the number of meetings to be held during the year, and also the class of racing which should be provided at those meetings. He moved to the effect that it was inadvisabe to hold more than two race meetings this year, but that an attempt should be made to raise the standard of racing at one of the meetings by eliminating the trotting and pony races, and by the substitution in their places of races with stakes sufficiently large to induce the entry of first-class horses from a distance. During the discussion the opinion was expressed that the present state of the club’s finances would not allow of the chairman’s ideas being carried out. Some members thought it would be a mistake to leave out such popular races as pony and trotting events. The Chairman’s proposition was lost. * -X- * * *

Opou. winner of the Selling Steeple at Auckland, had never been over a steeplechase course previously. He was only schooled over big timber the Saturday before the- race.

Mr Peter Chaafe has purchased Blue Jacket for 205 gs. Mr J. Suff (Gisborne) is the new owner of Canopus at 29gs. Kaitoa has been scured by Mr Frank Rhodes for 35gs, and Mr B. Armitage has bought the brood mare Antelope for 75gs.

Referring to Cup nominations a Melbourne writer says he was present at Punch and Deebles’ hotel, Sydney, some 14 or 15 years ago when a telegraphic nomination was written out, and blotted, and left beneath the folds of the blotting pad. It never reached the V.R.C. secretary anyway. The name of the candidate who was never officially entered was Welcome Jack, which certain bookmakers recollect to their cost. One of these was a penciller whose book showed that he had laid the double, Nordenfeldt and Welcome Jack, to lose a thousand. The backer contended that the wager he accepted was in connection with the winning double, Nordenfeldt and Sheet Anchor. At the time there was a lot of bother, mainly on the score of the two names—Welcome Jack and Sheet Anchor —being dissyllabic. The backer might have made a mistake, -o might the bookmaker. But as Welcome Jack was never officially nominated, the dispute was settled m favour of the NordenfeldtSheet Anchor punter.

The well-known jockey Percy White, who has been in indifferent health for some time past, has gone to Sydney where he intends spending a few months. During that time he will place himself in the hands or a doctor.

***** Beggarman was sold at Christchurch last week for £B.

A yearling Ally by Stepniag—Fauna (by Maxim) has joined Hobbs’ team.

The history of Solennis, a really good tliree-year-old, who was seen out at last Craven (Eng.) meeting, is the history of one,of those bargains we continually hear of other people making. His dam, Sister to Peace, was purchased for £3, and was sent to Lourdes because the horse was cheap. Lourdes was then at the Benham stud and the groom used him as a hack. Sister to Peace was the only mare covered by him in 1895, and the produce was Solennis, who won tiie Craven Stakes the other day. No yearling by Lourdes came up for sale that year, nor does the stud book reveal that there were any foals by him in 1898. Yet when his breeding is considered there need be no suspicion that Solennis can gallop, for Lourdes is by Sefton out of that grand mare Pilgrimage, whose son Jeddah won the Derby last year, and whose daughter Canterbury Pilgrim triumphed in tiie Oakes in 1896. Pilgrimage. a small mare, was brought as a yearling by Lord Lonsdale in 1876 for 200 gs, and shares with Formosa and Crucifix Hie honour of having won both the Two Thousand and One Thousand Guineas. Formosa also won the Oaks and St. Leger, and Crucifix the Oaks, but Pilgrimage is entitled to rank wi.., them among the great mares of the century. Both in the Two Thousand and the One Thousand Pdg rimage was ridden by Tom ■Minon, and in the first-named race she was followed home by Sefton and the French Insulaire. There is a curious point in this for she subsequently mated with Sefton and the produce was Lourdes. After the Two Thousand Pilgrimage was reported lame, but no liberties were taken with her by the layers, and just before the race for the One Thousand Captain Machcll came into the ring and offered to take £IO,OOO to £BOOO in a bet from Charles Ilibbcrt. Thev bad been up with the mare all niglit bathing a filled leg. and she won right enough from Janette. owned by Lord Falmouth, and ridded by Fred Archer.

In America some of the important uni versifies have established veterinary schools in connection with their other de-

partments. Among them are Harvard, Cornell, and the University of Pennsylvania, and in each instance the results have been most satisfactory. Competent instructors are employed, every advantage is offered students for gaining a practical knowledge and theoretical know ledge of veterinary science.

Before the invention of handicapping in England, the races were chiefly “matches,” “plates,” “sweepstakes,” “give-and-take plates,” “catch-weight,” and one singular race, which is now obsolete, called a “whim plate,” the principle of which was not only weight for age, out weightfor inches. One inch was calculated as equal to 711>. It generally began at 13 hands 7st, and finished at 15 hands list. * *• * * *

Tom Sloan does not approve of spurs, and has not worn them in a race for the last three years. He will not ride a horse in blinkers, and, although he carries a whip, he has seldom won a race by its aid, his position in riding precluding him from using it with proper effect.

In the course of some random reminiscences, a Melbourne writer asks “Which is the best horse Australia ever produced.” He says that Isaac Foulsham standi staunchly on Malua. “Why,” lie says, “after a season at the stud we gave him a trial for speed with Carbine, and he held his own. He won his Newmarket Handicap, Adelaide Cup. Melbourne Cup, Australian Cup, and Grand National Hurdle Race; and I want to know what horse has ever done better than that “Yes, he certainly was beaten by Nowstead m the Flying Stakes at Flemington in 1884, but I didn’t want to start him in that race, which was about as near a dead heat as anything you ever saw.” Foulsham ridicules the idea that MJna’s Melbourne Cup defeat of Commotion was a fluke. He remarks, “How could t possibly have been a fluke ? Didn’t- he don-key-lick old Commotion in the Melbourne Stakes on the previous Saturday, and then repeat the dose in the Melbourne Cup? No, we never really knew hoygood Malua was. He certainly drill t like too much racing, but I only wish I could get hold of another Malua, or one within seven pounds of him. He would be champion to-day. ’ Newstead, it must be remembered, won tne Maribyrnong Plate, the Flying Stakes, the Fulham Park Plate, and the Morphettvihe Plate that year. Didn’t lose a race, in fact, asc a" two-year-old. Niagara, sc some people say, was a better colt- than DVrcorn. The brown son of Frailty certainly did dead-beat with the chestnut Cinnamon colt in the Second Foal Stakes at Randwick in ’B7, the year that Curly-:.n, and Abercorn, and Trident and Cranbvook, and Lava won their five races ;u the famous blue and white jack*t of the late Hon James White. Tor. U;\i< s wen five ov six races at that mem -» -,o trmef-

But the writer of the mnuiiseciu es above-mentioned asserts that neither Niagara nor Carbine (as five-yea:-oh Is) did what Abercorn accomplished—v in every race he started for. He won the Spring Stakes, Metropolitan Handicap, Graven Stakes and Randwick Plate at Hie A. J.C. Spring meeting—a race each day. 'hen in November at Flemington he defeated Carbine in the Melbourne Stakes after a ding-dong battle between the pair and Melos. In the Canterbury Plate Abercorn again finished in front of Carbine, cn whom odds at 6to 4 were laid. Carbine ran last on this occasion, but I have an idea that he was slightly sore that spring. Anyhow he came o-ut in the following autumn and won the Esseudon Stakes, the All-aged Stakes and the Loch Plate Then he put together a big break on the green table at Randwick, putting the Autumn Stakes, the Sydney Cup, tlie Allaged Stakes, the Cumberland Stakes and the A.J.C. Plate into Mr McDonald Wallace’s pocket. Concluding, the writer says that some good judges—jotkevs principally—will disagree with him, and say it’s a case of “Carbine first, the rest nowhere.’’ He confesses lie does not see where the big gap comes in. He is prepared to coincide with them as to Carbine’s ability, if not his absolute supremacy, and lie feels certain he is in no Way detracting from the phenomenal prowess and doughty deeds of the old horse now at Wei beck Abbey when he couples Carbine and Abercorn as to of the most consistent performers, both at w.f.a. and under welter weights - at he has seen either in Europe or Australia.

A well-known iockey relates with- relish the following little story, though the laugh is decidedly against him. A few years ago lie was engaged to ride tlic favourite in an important race. On the way to the post he found himself cantering alongside a rank outsider, the mount oi'~an apprentice, who had only just commenced riding. You’ll have to be careful with that brute B .” he remarked. “I’ve ridden him before, and you’ll never ho able to hold the B— — thanked the crack for the hint, and said ‘hat he would “do his best.” Half-way through the race the outsider and another were in the front, with the favourite close behind. Fancying that the others were in difficulties, the rider of the favourite shouted—-“ Pull out B , and let me through! I’ve got the race in hand.” The crack was mistaken however. Looking back, the apprentice replied with a grin—“l would but I can’t bold the beggar!’’ With which the novice let- his horse have his head and shot away, the easiest of winners, to the chagrin of the crack, who finished second.

The bookmaker qpestion in France is coming before the courts there, A num-

, bre of. sportsmen have been giving ,the mtituel offices a trial 1 / but not liking the result started betting amongst themselves at Longchamps recently (says the “L.V. Gazette”) and the police arrested one of them—and there comes in the irony of fate. The gentleman arrested turns out to be one who started the crusade against the bookmakers, and as he intends to fight the case, he may be the unintentional means of settling the question. * * .* * *

One of the most intelligent and reflect tive of Melbourne trainers remarked recently that there must be merit in Sloan 7 s method of lifting himself from the saddle to rest his weight upon a horse’s shoulders and on a sporting journalist stating that he had seen good horses losing races solely through saddles too far back, the .trainer declared that he always endeavoured to locate his as close to the shoulder blade as possible. In this connection the writer makes the following observations : You may see horses with saddles placed near the middle of the back almost any day on a racecourse. They cannot be expected ..to gallop to advantage wit.i a couple of hundredweight upon then loins, and I studiously avoid backing any so equipped. Now, Sloane, not content with getting as close to the shoulders as, possible, sits over the withers, and by gripping the shoulder blades firmly with his knees relieves the stirrups of pressure, so that there is really no weight upon the back at all. Thus, as the well-known American veterinary surgeon, Dr Leavy, has pointed out, “the hind quarters aye freed, and the abdominal and hip muscles have perfect play” for propelling work. Imitators of Sloane in this country merely crouch. That is a distinct advantage against the' wind, but their weight remains either on the stirrups or in che saddle. I noticed 6ne exponent of the famous method at Moonee Valley distinctly throw a race away through adopting it. He had no command overhis mount and was on the withers one moment and down on the saddle with a bumpthe next..; Sloan’s, I take it. is an art that can only be acquired by diligent practice, grafted to natural aptitude. That it is a desirable acquisition may be concluded from the undoubted fact that he wins on horses that' fail with others. Following the phenomenal success of last season, the other day at Newmarket he won four times in succession. *** * . *

At the settling over the South Australian J.C. meeting, Mr J. B. Pearson said that he had at last accomplished what he and his father had often tried to do before —win the Adelaide Cup. Next year lie hoped to he able to bring something better than Contrast over and he trusted that he would see thet ringmen working alongside the machine. * * * *

The last steamer that left Melbourne for Calcutta took no fewer than 460 horses, including Merloolas, Strathroy and Tubal Cain 11. * * * * * :r

The Melbourne jockey, James Hayes, who has just returned from England, is going to start training at Caulfield, and will probably apply to the V.R.C. for a rider’s license.

***• * . * One of the greatest horses of the century was nearly prevented from starting in the Epsom Derby owing to a difficulty concerning the forfeit list. On the Monday before the race of 1850 Lord Zetland learned that there was some £SOO worth of forfeits due from the nominator of V oltigeur, Mr Stephenson, and so disgusted was he that he determined to put the penthrough the colt’s name. Fortunately}' this came to the knowledge of Sir William Milner, who had amongst other bets, taken £IO,OOO to £l5O about Voltigeur during the Goodwood week the year before, and he promptly paid off the forfeit himself to secure that the colt should go to the post. How he won is a matter of history. A real good horse was Voltigeur. *'* * * *

At a meeting in Paris recently a rare turn up was witnessed for the Forty-first Biennial Stakes, a race for four-year-olds. Mr J. de Bremond ran both Riverain and Gardefeu, and 3 to 1 was betted on the last-named in a field of four. Riverain was simply started to make a pace for his stable companion, and he did it to such purpose that he slipped his field, and while the rider of the favourite was waiting on Loftus, who was supposed to be the most dangerous of the opposition, Riverain was allowed to stride along, and won by ‘twenty lengths from Gardefu, who could not make up the lost ground. The winner’s starting price was 200 to 1.

Seldom nowadays (remarks an English writer) do we see such extraordinary consistency of form as that shown by Waxy and Gohanna in their contest towards tho close of the last century. They first met in the Derby of 1793, and Waxy won by half a length; at the Newmarket Second Spring Meeting Waxy beat Gohanna by a neck over three miles and a half, but Gohana turned the tables in a match over four miles and a quarter; then Waxy beat Gohana over a four-mile course at Lewes, and the redoubtable pair met for the last time in the King’s Plate (four-mile heats) at Guildford. Waxy won, the first heat by half a head, and the pair ran a ciaetl heat for the second. The third heat resulted in a win for Waxy by half afength. Waxy was by Pot-8-O’s, a son of Eclipse out of a Herod mare ; and Gohana was by Mercury, son of Eclipse, out of a Herod mare. Waxy stood 15.1 in height and Gohana an inch less. * -* * =* *

A two-year-old started in no less a race than the V.R.C. Champion Stakes (of three miles) in 1876. The name of the

youngster was Sir Knight, and he finished where one would naturally have expected him -to have finished—last. In the graphic language of the racing biographer of the day “Sir Knight walked in lasisi among a crowd of spectators.’ His rider weighed 4st 7|lb. .wodatS ■ft # -ft -ft -ft W

What is called the “Match Book,” kept by Messrs Weatherby, is still in existence, and you can always manage to make a. match between any two horses if you wise to do so, but tho custom has fallen into disuse. Sir Blundell Maple doesn’t sec that it is necessary to revive it-; fori,' after all, races are matches in a way, only there are three or four or more competitors instead of two. Then he thinks people would think twice before they would make matches in these days. In years gone by there were few races of greater value than £IOO, and few owners, whereas now there are races up to £IO,OOO. The disadvantage of making a match with a friend is that you must have forfeits in case either horse should die or fall ill; consequently the forfeits are declared directly either owner thinks the other’s horse can beat his. *****

It appears that Aurum did not altogether break down in England, but Die damage done to one of his suspensory ligaments is such that the idea of winding him up for his engagements had to be abandoned. He now goes to the stud. That Aurum takes rank with Carbine in the very top Class of Australasian horses no one with any knowledge of the subject will dispute, and lus performance in running third us a, young three-year-old for the Melbourne Cup was. more glorious; than any of his victories, for he carried 71b more than any three-year-old had ever been weighted with before, and he actually conceded 131 b to The Grafter at a time .when the weight for age difference between an old horse and a three-year-old over two miles is 301 b. On the Australian turf Aurum was.as great a favourite as Carbine was in his day, and there was much regret when it was known that he bad to leave for England. . “Mr Jersey’’had, in fact bought him prior to his'rcrrt ning for the Victorian Derby, and all- hit' later engagements' he ran for on partnership account between her and his previous owner, Mr IV. R.•Vilson. No distance was too long for him, nor was any too short, and he was widely .know as being one of the kindest, most sensible and honest horses that ever looked through a bridle. He split a hoof in his last race, the Australian Cup (handicap), of two miles and a quarter, or he would have won that, too. despite his .weight of 9st vMb'.’ Individually, Aurum is a model of power and bone, muscle and substance. No more truly shaped one can he found, and in his every movement he shows the perfection of balance. His own sister, the almost equally famous Auraria, won the Victorian Oaks and Melbourne Cup. and the blood is of the very best, the No. 2 family, topped by Musket (31, with two close crosses of Fisherman (ID. It is a thousand pities that Aurum will never run in England, but it is the fortune of war, and as it is an ill wind that blows nobody any good, breeders who secure the ten subscriptions to him for this season have reason to congratulate themselves. *****

“What was the matter with Marina?” is a question that has frequently been asked since the day of the decision of the Grand National Hurdle Race at Ellerslie. “Hippona” has reason to know that no one was more surprised at her inglorious display than the owner, and Mr E. D. Halstead, the local veterinary surgeon, on his behalf, was asked to examine the mare. Mr Halstead has been out of town, this week at the gohl.fields, and the writer has therefore not had an opportunity of getting the result of his examination., . ..However,. the veteran trainer, John Chaafe, who ha,d had a lifelong experience, and an admitted good man in the art, of knowing the ills of horse-flesh, told lirnf that he looked over Marina in her box, and he is satisfied she had no morphia, injected into her shoulder, as rumoured. Chaafe tells “Hippona” that he found a punctured hole on the point of the mare’s arm, in which the point of a pen might be inserted, and around this was a slight swelling. The mare was very stiff, and she was also lame. J. C. «Bootli, at whose stables Marina, was quartered, is also confident that the mare was not ‘got at’ in any way or tampered with, and he says that the lock and bolt of her box had not been interfered with. It appears from a statement of Arnott, the rider of the mare, that she was really beaten after the first furlong hart neeii covered. Many are the theories nut forth for Marina’s feeble display, one being that she knocked herself in the first stage of the race, and another is liia: after her gallop with Muscatel on the morning before the race that she went ‘off.’ There is every reason to think that the mare was made such a tremendous favourite for the race by pencillers, who put sums of money on her to save their double event books; in fact, Mr H. H, Hayr, manager of the totalisators at Ellerslie, is prepared to give documentary and official evidence on that score.”

Writing about the race for the Great Northern Steeplechase, “Hippona” says that perhaps the best fieid which has started for the race w r as in the year ,896 when Levanter, Liberator, Mutiny, Tiritea, and Donald McKinnon were among the starters, but Monday’s runners for the cross - country Blue Riband were nearly equal in point of merit. Gallant little Dummy stripped well, but neverthelesss he could have been made fitter. The active and wiry Nor’-west was looking nice and heavy, and Crusado was hard

and muscular, and looked just the sort with his light weight to get thiough tho heavy going. The race gave rise to a stirring fight for supremacy. Dhigo made a lot of running, but he-was done with after going- through the plantation for the last time. —Dummy led Kanaka a, length into the straight, and thus the pair crossed the last hurdle well wearied out, but they gamely stuck their task to the sad, Mr Fred. WatsonV gelding winning with but little to spare. Nor’-west. who in the last strides d: j adHeated with Kanaka, was the unlucky cbmpetitbr oFthe race, and some i f the tinieisls make lie was five, seconds ilLtime behind. Dummy and Kanaka whim they, raced down the liiil for. home. He came up the straight in great style, and he- was overhauling the two leaders at every stride as the judge’s box was passed. The hi iiiiunt fencing of Dummy was a feature of the contest, for he got over every fence alike. Percy Johnson handled his mount in capital style, and he cot every ounce out of him at the last critical moment. This latest feat on the part of Dummy is the best of his career, for lie covered the journey in Bmin 34sec, the best time for the event being put up last year, when Muscatel triumphed in Bmin 22see. Muscatel and Crusado were the disappointments of the race,, the firstnamed coming to grief early in the contest, while later on Crusado shot his rider S. Fergus out of the saddle. Magpie and Mangere shaped as if they had lost all of their old dash. On the other hand Kanaka ran a great horse, and he stayed out the journey to the end, contesting every inch of the ground to the finish. Steeplechasing is no doubt Kanaka’s forte. * * * *

It is said that you can tell a constant racegoer by looking into his eyes. If a man lias looked through his race-glasses constantly for a. number of years, his eyes are drawn up, and he is more or less wrinkled round his eyebrows. Mr Judge Robinson is a case in point. Lord Lurgan, too, screws his eyes up when lie is not looking through his glasses. On tiie other hand, Mr R r H. Fry, who never uses race-glasses, lias not a single wrinkle round his eyes, and he keeps them wide open even when facing the strongest sunlight,

Several good stories are told abo„ “Billy” Lang, who died suddenly near Melbourne recently. Here is one: On one occasion a horse running in his name was made a great pot for the Australian Cup. The night before the all-import-ant event Lang took the favourite out to Kensington, and stabled him -at a widow’s place. Something after 4 o’clock the next afternoon the widow hailed a horseman, who was galloping up from the course, and called out, “Did Mr Lang’s horse win the cup?” “ No: he was beaten badly,” Was the reply. The widow said, “Oh, lam sorry. Mr Lang was so kind to the horse last night. VY by, lie gave him a whole bucket ot bran and oatmeal last night, and ■ ore bran and oatmeal last night, and more bran this morning.” .*~ * * »

“Augur,” of the “Sporting Life,” in writing of the Derby winner, Flying Fox, owned by the Duke of Westminster, says : “His Grace commenced his breed of horses, it may be said, when he liberal’y purchased Doncaster for 14,000 so vs. The last-named got him Bend Or, the Derby winner of 1880, aiid in direct succession came Ormonde, reckoned, rightly, I think, tire horse of the century. In a spirit of duty towards His country the Duke of Wesminster sacrificed this famous animal, and lost certainly more than £IO,OOO on his sale by freely admiting that he “made a noise” towards file dose of his racing career. Whether the hereditary view is a correct one is another question. I have alwavs been opposed to it, as both Lord Falmouth and Mathtew Dawson were, and when of late we have seen a dual Grand National winner in Manifesto produced from one of the rankest roarers seen, there is corroboration of the opinion. At the same time it was a noble action on the part of the Duke to get rid of his favorite for what lie thought the public good, and equally fortunate was it that he bred from Ormonde for a season, and so got Orme, the sire of Flying Fox, as now the line is saved, and his noble owner has the satisfaction of knowing that he has the greatest family from father to son that has yet been heard of on the English turf. The pedigree of Flying Fox will be a study for breeders, as no great, winner can be found that is more in-bred to Galopin and Vedette. I was told that it involved uncles and nieces; but let breeders work tins out.” * * * * ft

Jaquemart, beaten by Newhaven in the Epsom Cup, is a good handicap performer. In the Chester Cup the other day he was given top weight, viz., Dst. Last season he won three good races—the Queen’s Prize, at Kempton Park, the Newmarket Handicap at Newmarket (in which he gave Maluma 241 b and a half-length’s beating), and the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot. He carried Ssi Gib in the last-named event, and beat a splendid field of horses, including Dinna Forget, Knight of the Thistle, Chaleureux, Berzak, Georgie, and Clipstone.

* * * * * When the cable was received announcing that Uncle Mac had won tlie’Chcster Cup those whose duty it is to interpret the press cables (not an easy task) were nonplussed, as the files showed that no such horse had been entered. The “Racing Calendar” to hand by the last mail, however, discloses the fact hat Mr

Teddy’s Northallerton, who was weighted" at 7st 71b, had his name changed to Undo? Mae. fie is a 5-year-old gelding, by? Hagioscope from Nunthorpe’s dam, and: was only once successful last year—the. Kempton Park May Handicap being taken by him. *** . * •

The stewards of the Wellington Racing Club met' on Tuesday, when the following resolutions were carried :—That the dates of the Winter Meeting be altered from July 12th and 14th to Jvly 19th and 21st. That the date of declaration of weights be altered' from June 26th to June 30th. That the date of acceptances for the first day’s handicaps, and the Wellington Steeplechase Handicap, and entries tor the Maiden Steeplechase, Maiden Hack Race and Ladies’ Bracelet, be altered from July 7th to July llt.h. That the weights for the second day’s handicaps be declared on Thursday, July 20th, and acceptances close the same night at J o’clock. Nominations for the meeting dose on Friday, the 16th inst.

* * ♦ u. .v. The New Zealand hurdler Hinau, by Nat at or—Linda, started second favourite for the hurdles at the Sydney Turf Club's Meeting, and led till near the finish, when he was easily beaten by both Kiora (Blue Mountain—May) and The Tester. The Royal Stakes saw the three-year-old gelding Caledonia in front of Dozon,Coal Quoeil and a big field. The first and second- are by Gozo, and the third by Lochiel. Mr W. Forester’s Watch Deg, who had been tried very highly, and was reckoned the best of good things by the stable, started at 9 to 2, but was never in it. The Niagara mure Water Colour won the Turf Club Handicap by a head from the imported Vovou, by Bendigo— Barley, Burleigh, by Lochiel, occupying third position. ' b * * * * * j A prosecution under the Children's Protection Act was instituted at Maclean (N.S.W.) the other day, a youth being proceeded against for allowing a lad under 14 years to ride in a race. If was the first case of the kind in the colony, and a small fine was inflicted. , HAWKE’S BAY JOCKEY CLUB. The following are the weights for the winter meeting: Hawke’s Bay Hurdles, of 200 so vs ; two miles.—Social Pest 12st 91b, Nor’-west list 91b, Splinter lOst 131 b, Rhino lOst 111 b, Marina, Tim and Whangaroa 10st91b, Kanaka and Torpina lOst Sib, Shylock lOst 31b, Tally-ho lOst 21b, Hussar 9st 131 b, Dram-Major 9st 121 b, Ned Kelly 9st 91b, Straybird 9st 81b, Hangfire 9st 71b, Troubadour 9st 31b, Tataramoa, Coin, Whitirea, Daphne and En Avant 9st. Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase, of 300 sovs; three miles and a half.—Rhino 12st 21b, Nor’-west list 111 b, Whangaroa and Kanaka lOst 121 b, Tally-ho and Morag lOrt 91b, Violence lOst 51b, Splinter lOst 41b, Mangere 9st 121 b, Blackberry 9st 111 b, Highlander and Barbarossa 9st 101 b, Ned Kelly, Hang-fire and Hilda 11. 9st 91b, Tataramoa 9st 81b, Coin, Venture, Ruby, Nay born, En Avant and Watershot Get

Winter Handicap, once round.—Castashore list 111 b, Bush Rose list 81b, Pistol Grip list 21b, Dauntless lOst 131 b Sift Blood lOst 121 b, Coolgardie lOst in cm 31 S J® 3 *' Female Franchise lOst 81b, Daphne and Whitirea lOst 51b Return lOst 41b, Ideal 9st 131 b, Lady Lome 9st 121 b, Rata 9st 91b, Waterstone 81b, Uija 9st 21b, Pensioner and H.M.S. Pinafore 9st.

Trial Steeplechase, two miles.—Black'Sf"y llst slb - Highlander list 41b, Ned Kelly and Tataramoa list 31b, Nipapa lOst 131 b, Ruby lOst 91b, Kauri Gum lOst Bfb, Somnambulist lOst 71b, Gorse lOst 21b, Waterstone and Jumbo lOst, St. Lemon and Whakata 9st 71b. Hunt Club Steeplechase, two miles and a half.—Stilts 12st 131 b, ’Frisco 12st 83b, Puketoi 12st 61b, Beaufort list 111 b, St. Lemon list 91b, Napper Tandy and Ruaku list 71b, K Jam, Whakawa and Jerry list 31b, Doris, Carnival and Pyrarnus list. Trial Hurdles, one mile and threequarters.—Tataramoa list 131 b, Nipapu list 81b, Ruoy lOst 131 b, En Avant lOst 111 b, Rodara lOst 91b, Whitirea and Defiance lOst 81b, Taplow and Surrey ICst 21b, Watershot and Jumbo 9st 91b, Thrush 9st 81b, Schnapps, Silver Ray, Eucharist and Moonstone Sst. - J. E. Hcnrys, Handicapper. RACING CONFERENCE DELEGATES. CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. The following have been elected as the country clubs’ delegates to the New Zealand Racing Conference:—Auckland, Messrs E. W. Alison and W. H. Herries ; Canterbury North, Mr W. L. Clifford; Canterbury South, Messrs H. Friedlander and E. R. Guinness; Hawke’s Bay, Messrs J. McVay and D. White; Otago, Messrs H. Craig and W. F. Ward; Taranaki, Mr R. H. Nolan ; Wanganui, Messrs J. li. Hankins and T. King; Wellington, Messrs A. Pownall and W. P. Williams; Westland and Nelson, Mr C. Hood-Wil-liams. NORTH NEW ZEALAND GRAND NATIONAL MEETING. AUCKLAND, Thursday The following is a list of payments mado m connection with the Grand National Meeting:—Mr F. Watson, £498 15s; Mr J. Taylor, £418; Mr J. Chaafe, £l80’l0s ; Mr L. Hams, £l6l 10s; Mr F. McManemm £I6U° S ; Mr R. Cock, £l2B ss; Mr ; Mr F. Ross, £lO4. 10s; Mr £BS 10s; Mr A. Phillips’

£95; Mr "W. Rae, <£Bs 10s; Mr P. Chaafe, <£B3 2s 6d; Mr A. Bayly, <£3s 12s Gd; Messrs R. and R. Duder, £3B; Mr T. A. Williams, <£B 103; Mr W. Patterson, <£l4 ss; Mr J. Rae, £9 10s; Mr A. V. Phillips, £4 15s: total, £2232 10s. GRAND PRIX DE PARIS. PARIS, Monday. The Grand Prix de Paris, of 200,000 fr (8000 so vs), 150,000 fr (6000 so vs) given by the City of Paris, and 50,000 fr (2000 sovs) by the five great railway companies, added to a sweepstake of IOOOfr (40 sovs); for three-year-olds—colts Bst 111 b, fillies Bst 81b. About one mile and seven furlongs.—46o subs. M. M. Caillault’s c Perth, by War Dance—Primrose Dame 1 M. Maurice de Gheest’s c Velasquez, by Fricandeau —Valencia 2 Comte de Fels’s o Alhambra 111., by Little Duck —Handkerchief' 3 . Perth won the French Derby, and was favourite for the Grand Prix. AN AUSTRALIAN HORSE WINS THE LEWES HANDICAP. LONDON, Monday. The Lewes Spring Handicap, of 300 sovs, one mile, resulted as follows: Mr H. C. White’s ch g Form, by Cranbrook—La Mode, aged 1 Mr Merry’s Deuce of Clubs—Sweet Mart colt, 3yrs 2 M. de Paravinee’s ch h Rookwood, by Wmkfield’s Pride—Operetta 3 The Australian mare Maluma won this race last year. AUCKLAND, Wednesday. It is stated that Marina, the favourite for the Northern Grand National Hurdle Race, and who was less than a 2 to 1 on chance at the start, was tampered with, and that morphia was injected into her shoulder. She is being examined by local veterinarians. The protests against Sultan, the winner of the Ladies’ Bracelet at .Eliersiie on Monday, and Dummy, the winner of the Great Northern Steeplechase, have been •dismissed by the stewards of the Auckland Racing Club. AUCKLAND, Tuesday. The racehorses Kanaka, Tim, Nor’~ West and Straybird were shipped to Napier by the Westralia to fulfil engagements at the Hawke’s Bay Winter Meeting.