TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Mail, 15 February 1900, Page 39

TURF TOPICS.

Coronet’s easy victory in the Taranaki Cup was generally anticipated. Owing to various reasons he had only three to beat, and he accomplished his task m comfort. St. Jack, who ran second, was almost as equally well backed as rsattieaxe, who is not quite himself just now, and who failed to register ’ at : the meeting. Coronet is by Castor—Necklace, and is trained by J. B. Williamson. It was thought that the reason Lilian diopped out was that he wasn’t in form not having been able to stand a preparation. n.da s son showed on the second day, however, that he was all right, as he got home on the post after an exciting race m the £2OO Autumn Handicap. Coronet had been lifted up to 9st 9ib, whereas Mr Russell’s horse, who haa not run since he went wrong last November, had only 7st 121 b m the saddle. It was a lump- of weight for Coronet to concede, and he very nearly managed it. Uhlan is far from being at his best just now but the distance, a mile and a just- suited him. He paid £4 • llas doile with Gowrie since that horse left the hack ranks. He won two races at Taranaki and ran ond m another. In the Stewards’ Handicap Biangowrie's son put down a really gooc. field in Okoari, Sedgebrook, Daystar and Crusoe, but the margin was a ■very narrow one, a- head separating first and second. In the Huatoki Handicap he had only Crusoe to beat, and he won from end to end, but in another twohorse race, the Henui Handicap. Mr - lajoi s Faugli-a-ballagh, a Vanguard horse possessed of some foot, beat Gowrie at a difference of nine pounds. * * *

The Hutt horse Osborne, by Ru«=ley was tried over the hurdles at Taranaki in. two events, but he railed to make a showing. He should improve with exMr Tucker’s mare Nay born .(by. bou’-wester) astonished the natives on. the first day, when she romped home and paid £ll 3s and £ll 13s. Light was a very strong order, and Muscatel was also highly fancied, but neither were in it at the finish. Voltaire scored for the Wanarapa trainer, McKenzie, on the second day, when he beat, Light, Nayborn and Osoorne, but, being favourite the monetary return to backers was a couple guineas. Kainate, winner or the first hack hurdles, belongs to S. MeGuiuess. He won in a canter from a field of half-a-dozen, but next day he cou-d only get third. “Something Lappened ■ m this event, the winner Tarrigan, paying £3B Bs. This horse didn’t start on opening day, and was altogethei neglected in the betting. Concerning the hack flat races, Mr Goddard’s TV ay lay made the best of a capital start m the first event and won all the way beating a fine field of fifteen, and paydivs. of £9 10s and £8 13s. Lady, Helena, who was conceding the winner nine pounds, made a desperate effort to get up, but just missed the ’bus. The second race next day was won in precisely similar fashion by Mild Vixen, by Sou’wester—Little Vixen; Dartmoor being the runner-up. The latter secured the Transvaal Stakes later on.

Sedgebrook, by Louis d’Or, is just the sort of horse to get one into trouble. His apparent inconsistent running is often commented upon. That it’s the .-•horse’s fault is pretty evident ; no blame can be attached to his connections. At Taranaki Sedgebrook raced as he usually Stakes and thirdcmfwyp shrdlu etaoin does. He ran third in the Stewards’ Stakes and'second to Okoari in the Flying. Then next day he came out and won the Grandstand Handicap. A protest for inconsistent running and interference was The Auckland horse Daystar, by Castor—Cissy, was another horse that came to light on the concluding day, getting home in the Farewell Handicap, paying a shilling under eight pounds. Lady Helena, a good mare, faced “big company” in this event, and finished second in"front of Osborne, who, by the way, was asked to carry plenty of Weight. * * * ■* Derringshot’s new owner appears to be nominating him for big events all round the compass. Derringer’s son is fairly speedy, and is capable of considerable improvement. » * «. * • Scallywag, who secured three hurdle races at Wairoa (Hawke’s Bay) is a son of ; Turc]uoise and Stella, and is credited with being a very proficient jumper. On opening day Mr Morrison’s horse beat K Jam and Treed in the Hack Hurdles, paying £2 os, and later in the day he downed Tenby and En Evaunt in the big hurdles, returning two guineas. On the second day K Jam aud Tenby were his nearest, attendants, and he paid I3s over the pound. Another competitor to score thrice was Mr Weston’s Murmur by Wonderland out of the fine mare Whisper. Murmur won the Hack Flat on the first day, Baccarat being runner up; the Second Hack Flat on the day following, paying £1 Bs, Baccarat being again in second place, and later on scored in the Forced Handicap, Pinepinetekura and Baccarat being second and third. The div. t>n this occasion was £3. ■ * * Twenty-two nominations were received for the Hawke’s Bay Cup, but the death of The Crown at the Taranaki meeting reduces the number by one. Mr Stead has entered Skobeloff, who

is a colt- that should improve and Coronet, winner ■of the Taranaki Cup, also appears in the list. Douglas is once again in evidence, bat whether ho has been kept in steady work is not known, * while Bush Rose has only just appeared on the_ track again after an enforced spell. _Mr Ormond’s pair, Daunt and Temeraire, however, have been in regular ex er else in view of forthcoming engagements, - and both are said to bo well. * =»' . # ' * Twenty entries .have for tlie. Autumn. Handicap, of one . mile, run at the same meeting,,Tolstoi (who ran so well at Takapuna), .Ouirasette, . Red jcancer and Knight, of-Athol, representing the Auckland district. There . are twenty-five in the Railway .Stakes, including a number of outsiders. . The Porirna horses are not. engaged in. either of these events, but .they figure, - in the Burke Memori.ai Stakes,..rnn on ... tne _ second; , day. . Twenty-eight . nominations have been, received for this race, Mr Ormond.and Mr Douglas Gordon contributing three each, -* - « Biaser is.aske.d to carry a big weight in lOst 21b' in the Craven Plate at the C.J.C. , meeting, but, noting the distance ef the race, he : is quite equalto it. Mountain Lily’s son is such a speedy galloper, and is in such great heart just now that he. will have +o he reckoned with if his owner elects to stare nim. Benzoin, anoimer horse . who knows how to gallop,' ia in receipt or seven pounds from the top-weight, and is very well looked after. Ben Farley looks to have good paper chance with Bst oib, and Herraosa may prove, the best of the' rest if she ;is in a -galloping meed.

Formosan * will probably annex the Lyttelton Plate at Biecarton unless Lady killer proves too mu-cH for him. The last-named haa only 7st 91b, or lolbs less than the top weight, and ia' expected, to make a good showing. The hurdlers are indeed a. very poor lot. .Dundee is the best of the' crowd, as his weight ’ indicates, and ho has to bo placed at a pound under 12st in order' that the others may bo given a chance ' It is possible that Pensioner, 9st 71b',' will credit his owner with a win. ’ * * * * There is a of a good field ■ n tne EEoinby Welter, Btrathnairn, who heads the list has only lOst 31b to carry—not a heavy impost, and if he is in better form than when at Wellington he should nearly 7/in. Ben Farley, who has four pounds less, may he started, and there still seems tu be a race or two still left in old Skirmisher. A horse that is likely to pay a dividend is _ Rougemont, one. of the lightly weighted division. ' < * * * * The St. Leger—Lady. Oureton colt, and the .Stepniak—.Ranee Kuna filly, belonging to Mr hi, J, Watt, are being broken in. St. Vincent was not allowed' to start m the hack races at New Plymouth. He had taken jparb in. meetings at Otcrohanga and Ye Ktdti, which meetings were held to be “open” by the committee. * *■.•#■ * The Auckland _ filly St, Etyn is at present on the retired list, 1 having received injuries while exercising on the road at Eilerslie the other day.

* # * . The. body of the late Bake of West- ' minster was cremated at Woking,'. Though it v/as known that the deceased was an ardent advocate of funeral reform the nev/s of the cremation evoked' ■some' surprise at - Chester, The' engine drawing the drain, which carried the re- ;, ' : mains wati by 'h. singular ceineidence nsmcd 'L'lyihg Foxr';' : -'■ - -' w -Blue- Cap 11., the A.J.G., Cliallengo Shakes y/inner, was formerly known a» Svengali, and. as far back. os -June, 1896, he “went-out” for six months at Moonee Valley, rt is stated that Sylvia Park, strained an arm when at the Hutt, and that he was blistered on his return home, Huku is- in Tlooming* health, and is - getting through, some good work at Ri c-carton. •* ■* * - ■» ♦ Sara is the name bestowed on the yeungste-r by Saracen out of Chi am. * »'■ _ "* ; *■ 'c - m Mr Lueena, owner of the disqualified hurdler Pokomoko, declares it to bo his intention of getting at the true' facts regarding;the rvay the. horse was run at the Takapuna meeting when lie was passed out.

Ren Farley rs - galloping well ah Ricearton, and is alleged' to be in fine buckle. .- pr>n ’ M jlHere 'V7a,s a yerj ' exorbmg” race at Woodend (Vic.)' recently- when thehurcile race provided three-unambitious - starters. . The pace was wretehedl-y**• slow, and interest in-the horse likely to come first wee entirely lest in-the speed-’ lation as to which- would succeed . ihcoining last. At the finish there were * lone) and repeated cries of “Rub them- - all out.” An inquiry was held, needless to say, explanation -satisfactory was the verdict. Dead Beat hasn’t been travelling too well in her work lately. She seems inclined to soreness. There- is -nothing serious the matter with her,- however,A- _.

The ancient Apsley, a Grand National winner, is to be put into work again at Camperdown (Vic.) A four-year-old brother to Gowrie has been purchased by Mr Dover, of Waitara. They ran races in a queer way on the Westralian goldfields sometimes. At Bindula (Kalgoorlie) lately there was a Lilliputian Handicaps got off. Three horses—Corn- Beef, Lino, and LatherJ em Shave-’em—started, and, with a-genuinely-run race, the odds on Corn. Beef winning could hardly be named. At one time 5 to 1 on was wanted about- the pony, but when the horses appeared ox l , the track Corn ~ Beef .was knocked about in the betting to such an extent that the stewards paid particular attention to the race. On the fall of the flag Corn Beef was apparently early in' pickle, as he was severaL lengths behind before a furlong had been traversed. " - Lather-’em Shave-’em was. making great headway, with Lino about three lengths behind. Lino closed up on approaching the turn, and the favourite, given his head, was soon up alongside him. All would have been well had not Lino swerved at the turn, thus forcing the other horses to occupy first and l second places respectively. Then a very barefaced act was performed right under the eyes of the stewards in the straight. Corn Beef must have won before the piebald could be straightened, had not the rider of Lino taken his mount across the course immediately in front of Corn Beef, who was almost thrown upon bis haunches. This gave the piebald the desired chance, and he took advantage of it by winning. The stewards met, and having arrived at the conclusion that there was collusion during the race, they declared the race null and void. The decision was received with cheers, mingled with dissent from the bookmakers, but, with one or two exceptions, the latter handed back all money which they were holding. *.* . *

Cabled that Eiridsdale has won the Launceston Oup. He carried 9st- 31th—s, pound more than was allotted him in the same race last year when he ran fourth. « * * * * St. Elmo, who used to be trained by W. Davies at the Hutt, wasn’t backed by his connections when he won on the third day at Takapuna. He is an uncertain customer, aud had disappointed them in his two previous races. * * * * There is scarcely any betting over the C.J.C. double of Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicap. Backers are awaiting the appearance of the weights. Kissmary, who came to light at Takapuna is spoken of as being a filly with a future. She possesses a great dash, ef foot, and has breeding to recommend her, being by Hotchkiss —St. Mary. .:**•» The three Melbourne pony clubs, which have had a protracted struggle for supremacy, now see that there is no wisdom in the fight, and have formed an association. A conference ef those concerned was held recently when matters were discussed at length and a set of rales devised and drafted. A local paper says that these, if brought into operation by an association that” will strictly adhere to them, and fearlessly impose the penalties, instead of .ignoring them, will result in" pony racing and all its legitimate connections being reorganised, and proving a success. Some of the prevailing defects which the proposed rules hope to remedy will be the incorrect measurement of pbnies, the absenee of an. appeal court, the influx of" unlicensed jockeys, theinxpunity with which “tiqktapknig” is carried on, the. presence of special officials on - authority to suppress this 4vil, the punishment of bookmakers and-others who make use of remarks

derogatory to the stewards,- and -many other shortcomings. * * * * * Mr G. Miskin, owner of Artilleur, is giving a £2O stake to be contested by three and four-year-olds, the progeny of his stallion, the race to be called the Artilleur Stakes. The distance will be seven furlongs, w.f.a. - Mr E. Gibson is also offering a. stake to be competed for by the progeny of Lord Walisely. Both events are to be got off at the Kaikoura Hack . Meeting. . . The Melbourne horse Taßilk, whowpn a race anyhow the otherday,has been backed soores of times as. & good thing and failed. A local writer says his private gallops are always, vastly superior to anything else at Caulfield, and yet he only tries when he likes. A colt like Tkibilk might upset the best calculations in the Australian Cap. • ■:* • * * The Manawatu Racing Club contemplates securing a new racecourse. A meeting of the committee was held the other night to take into consideration the purchase of 100 acres of Mr Baker’s property, but after some discussion, the question was held over until another meeting. * * * * * The big event at Wairoa was the County Stakes, whioh resulted in a surprise. Whitirea was asked to carry 9st 71b, but could only get third to Hinepare (Wonderland —Mystery), Uila dividing the pair. The winner paid £7 6s. On the second day Pinepinetekura (what names they give horses!), won the Fraser-

town Handicap, under 7st 81b, returning £4 s, Uila aud vvhiritea being in the places. The winner, who hails from Gsborne, is by Hotchkiss from Sunrise. Whiritea (Armourer —Kitty Totara), secured the Flying Handicap, however, carrying 9st 71b, beating Uila and Hinepare: div. £3 i6s. *** * „ * Mr H. N. v\ eston won no fewer than five races at Wairoa, Norine adding to Murmur’s score by annexing the two scurry events, the divs being £2 18s and ii los respectively. Tiraillement, by Mosquetaire—Florence Macarthy (dam of Tirailleur) was second each time, but managed to get home in the Maiden, beating Bellwether and Paddy, paying £3. Bellwether had also to be content with second to the Foul Play horse Patu in the District Plate, and to Waiowere in another race of a similar character, and to Te Moere in a fourth event. Waiowere, by the way, was quite unfancied and paid £9 18s, and Te Moere -.returned backers £ll odd. _ Captain Russell's well-bred cast-off H.M.S. Pinafore was another who caused a surprise,' winning the Awatere Stakes and paying ten guineas. The winner is by Dreadnought from Fardxngale. -2- X- -> -* -* -.; Mr C. Ctaavannes was. most successful in dispatching his field's evenly at the Taranaki meeting. Uhlan, who downed Coronet the other day. heat him in the Auckland Cup in 1898. But the Aucklander was giving the coaster as much as 251bs at Taranaki.

St. Jack is said to be the makings of a very useful handicap horse. He is raced by Mr W. R. Booth.' ■S -X- -* Weights for the Wanganui and Woodvillq meetings are due on Tuesdav next. *** * * * Mr Stead has left the chestnut horse Obligado in the Canterbury Challenge Stakes, although it was reported that the animal had not- been doing work, and that he was available to any 'one who desired to purchase him for stud duty. Obligado is an imported horse, by Orville out of Flirt-. * * * .. -* * The Hawke’s Bay ’chaser St. Lemon is regarded in Auckland as being an awfully overrated customer. The northerners are just- about right. ***** The Taranaki Cup has been invariably won by light or medium weighted horses. Coronet carried Bst 81b last week, and only twice previously had winners carried over that weight— Opawa in 1877 (the second time he won), and Turquoise in 1885. Sir George Clifford’s fine colt Cannie Chiel met with an accident the other morning. Just as tie was being mounted he reared up and came down on a fence, sustaining a number of cuts and scratches. The hurdle racer Tim was quite off colour at Takapuna, and shaped in such a way as to lead one to think that; a spell would do him good. * * * * * j Bellwether’s owner had certainly very bad luck in running four times second at Wairoa. * * * * -* There is a Mitra and a Mistra running in Hawke’s Bay. The former is a gelding owned by Mr R. J. Platt, and the latter a filly raced by Mr G. Hunter. These two names are apt to lead to confusion. The Malua horse Wait-a-bit> is going on all right in connection, with his Australian Cup engagement. His backers, however, must be heartily sick of him by this-'time.-- He can both gallop and stay, but is not to be albeit Be has had bad lucbrln soihe 4F his ’racek. ' .*. - . *;- • *' *r : --~y . : Mrs Langtry wants £IO,OOO for the Australian-bred horse Aurum. ■ . * * - * *• ' -* Nearly every racing club seems to come out on top nowadays. The Stratford Club made £IOO over its last meeting. * * * * * . The Taranaki gelding Liable is subject to lameness, and could not be started .-at the Lite meeting of the T.J.C. * ♦ X * The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company have purchased the business * of Messrs .Hunter, and. Nolan, the well-known live stock auctioneers, of Auckland. ' . s. -*-• *~r< *~ *" ~ ' _ Off Chance, who formerly raced in Wellington district, is now being trained by George Smith down South, Bracken and Witchcraft occupy the same stable * * • *•' • • /•’ *' Veneu, who won the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield on Saturday is by the New Zealand bred Escutcheon (who formerly belonged to, Mr Mitchelson) a well-per-formed horse, but had not been in evidence lately; hence his starting price of 20 to 1. After the way he had shaped in Sydney., the speedy Stand-off was made a hot favourite at. 2 to 1— a very short price in such a big field. He could do no better than tie with Olaf for second place, however. Stand-off, if the writer remembers correctly, is by St. Blaise,' who made a name for himself on the turf; Olaf is by Malua out of Thelma, and has won some good races. The public pick in the Oakleigh purse, ijadoo, got home all right, and Sydney backers must have made a nice pot.

The Caulfield meeting will be continued this Saturday, when the classic Caulfield Futurity Stakes is set down for decision. Strange to say, notwithstanding the amount of the prize there are no really first-class horses engaged. The conditions of the race killed it as an enticing item on the club’s bill of fare. * * * * “Malua” says that Harry Ellis has once again put Abercombie in training. From the recent spell he received he should be looking a lot better than he is. He understands that this horse was blistered on the neck to try and get the lumps off, which, it is said, stopped him from, getting his wind. .*** * - *

It was alleged that The Crown, who fell with Cairo in the last event at Taranaki and broke his shoulder, had no right to start in hack events, not being eligible. The horse’s owners, however, .persisted that there was no clause in the rules of racing" to prevent the horse from starting, and decided to risk it, with the result that they lost the animal altogether. . * * The Southern rider McCombe adopted the Sloan method at the Gore races and got home on three occasions. * * * * * McGuiness now has eight horses in training, and Ellis Bros. six. * -S * * w The Launceston Cup winner Errivedale is by Erridsford from Aor-ere. He apparently started favourite, as the divided was only £2 7s. Timbell, the runner-up, is by Mozart, and Loch Leigh who ran third, claims Lochiel as sire, and Zola as dam. * * * * *

Ellis Bros, are reported to have purchased the mare Miss Madge. & ■*■ -> * * The report that Master Bernie, the Queensland Derby winner, had been sold some time ago for £IOOO is denied. $ j* H The speedy Blazer has been putting in great work at Riccarton since lie left Wellington, and should prove a particularly hard customer to beat at the Canterbury Jockey Cflub’s meeting. ***** Mr Alf Joseph, the leader qf the Victorian ring, who has been in bad health intends taking a trip to the Old Country. Sf _ An American sportsman, Mr Charles Reed, who is a shrewd observer of racing matters, has a remedy for the starting difficulty. Mr Reed’s idea is to place the barrier behind the horses instead of in front of them, and make them back up to it. As a proof that his theory is the correct one, he points to the starts of the short seven furlongs at Aqueduct, where the horses are backed up against the fence across the end of the chute. Most of the starts on this course are fairly good ones, and Mr Reed says it is due to the fact that none of the.horses can get far enough away for a running start. * * * * # During the Broken Hill silver mining boom a well-known bookmaker in Sydney, finding his business dull, went off to the fi9ds and secured a mine on the extension, bounded by'the Day of Judgment os one side and the Aurora Borealis on the other. Coming back to Sydney, he formed a syndicate, and got on well amongst his- colleagues, until he met a friend who knew something about silver. “Squire,” says he, “have yon got any chlorides in your mine?” “Chlorides ?” said the penciller, who was seldom caught napping, “why, certainly; any quantity of them—in fact, I have got two men stationed at the top of each of the shafts knocking the

beggars down as they crawl up.” *** . * Ailie, the Sydney mare, has recently won a couple of races in_ India. On tie first day’ of the 'December - meetingshe won the PaddockfStakes, “Of;2500 rupees, one mile and 'a quarter, 6arrying 9st 11b, and beating easily North British 9st 111 b, Ninepins 9st 31b, Burleigh Bst 31b, and a dozen others. She' also appropriated the Turf Club Cup, of 4500 rupees, one mile and three-quar-ters and 132 yards, on the last day carrying Bst lib, and having behind her Vedette Bst 131 b, Merloolas Bst 61b Messmate 7st 71b, Leonidas Bst 81b Up Guards 9st. 31b and .-others'" ; '* •• ••••*• *• •« ■ «

The English .sportsman, Sir. William Ingram, has withdrawn all his raoehor&K;from..trainiqg, as. he does nothintenet to race, before -the War is. fihished', and he will devote theUsualcost' of. thetraining establishment to the fund for widows and orphans. : - Sir William’s two sons, who are ip the East Kent xeomanry, volunteered, for _ active service, but their offer was hot accepted. * * * . * - .»■ An English writer eays that the two commonest horses in England are The Grafter and Oban.

* * * * The Australian racer.-Essex * is • nowcompeting in selling races in England - - • _ . ,j - .Tarqupi is_,to be prepared for\ his Newmarket %ndicap. etagagement.. at . ulenelg, Adelaide. He is a very 'slippery customer, with a good record. - An Indian Government* official told the sporting writer of an Australian contemporary that.in his large ,experL., e “ce of Australian horses in the land , of rajahs he had discovered that a- seasoned horse would race as well in India in the first three months after his ar-, rival as he would in his native country.

At the end of that period he ivouto commence to go off, and then it mearf six months, sometimes more, before V would be fit to race again. From thr years to five years, when a horse is still growing, he had noticed that tha “waler’’ w-as not at his best for time after he had landed. ffi6 : * • « * , Among the defenders of MafeW and Enmberley are several trainers arrt -•• not a few jockeys. No one seeam ' to know what has become of a dozen ~ horses who were under preparation at Johannesburg when war was declare! The Natal “Times” stated that the gold! fields trainers' and horses had made' for the Cape, but the train which was conveying some of their number' was* " stopped on the way. , * • * *. * * ’ General Wauchope, who. was killed at Magersfontein, never went in for rae,-; ' ing, but, according to a correspondentof a contemporary, he was ah ardent huntsman.- His cousin, then'?Mr J Wauphope, won fhe Oaks with Catherihe Hayes when; the General, who was Til)- 1 ed at Magersfontein, was seven years' old. Mathew . Dnwaon—himself a i Scot, from Gullane, close to Edinhmgi' : ' where he used to train, before he went South —was much attached to the Wauchopes. He delighted to talk of them ' - and of how he won the Oakes for Sir John Don Wauchope—then Mr 'Wan- .' chope. It was in IS-53—46 years, ago Mr Wauchope’s brown filly, Catherine Hayes (ridden by Marlow),by Lanercost out of Constance, by Partisan out-' of Quadrille, by Selim out of Canary-;. Bird, won the Oakeis, beating Lord * - ; > Exeter’s chestnut filly Dove, by Wood-; pigeon (Rogers up), Lord Glasgow’s , brown filly by Don John out of Miss’., d Sarah (Pettit) third, and a field 'of.' " fourteen others. Catherine Hayes'; started favourite (5 to 4) and won in the commonest of canters, by a length 1 and a half. "Bell’s Life” of that date.'' 5 says:—“The result of the race, which was run in three seconds less than the Derby, was another heavy blow for the ring,* a great many double and treble, events, in which West--Australian waa taken for the Two Thousand and Derby; , arid Catherine Hayes for the Oakes,” , : : r having been landed. Mr Davis was chief sufferer, his gross losses on theljweek amounting to close on £70,000,4 which, we believe, has led to a deter- -i. urination on his part never to bet 01.1 . any race hereafter except at the post.” . ' : ’ " : >l.*) * * * * J} : . The Wrecked is the name of a-Sotf- ■’ wester gelding'who is being put throught is his facings by V. Colello, at Wanganui. ■ ' it . . * _ ■ F. Davis has again joined Mr Ormond’s establishment as leading jockey.

* Black Pool. winner of a double at Tapanui, started in seven races prior to this season without success. He' was bred in Australia. ...‘“.'Tt Carbine is # said to be a failure at tho stud at Home. This is what '‘Tnithxwriter says about- him: —“I hear (hat the Duke of Portland is greatly disappointed and disgusted at the grievous failure of Carbine’s first lot of two-year-olds. .;; Having regard to the.ewrmous sum ~ which' was paid for this horse, and remembering the prodigious trumpeting which heralded his arrival in England from Australia, the jwnters .. who puffed him with such enwgy must now- feel father foolish,-. abS * should think they would be disposed to stick their faces into a holly bush rather than : encounter some, or.jhe breeders whom they gulled mttrtseueing mares to Carbine at an _ exorbitaETr fee. However, some at least of these animals which are failures as two-year-olds may do better next season ;• -bus ■ I do not hear of any that are to distinguish! theriiselvcs in any (Jdgree. It is. foolish abeura io judge a 'by his “fir^' BW«>b,' 4 bat public breeders' cannot patronise -sires which disappoint esp®*" - tations, and everyone who the laudatory clamour about the.* tralian horses in general, and Oaroiu in particular, with which people u nauseated four . years ago, umrt , aware that it was then anticapatw that the horse’s first ~.w would carry all before them. Cdtta ,-!■ few horses .ever .had a better. distinguishing themselves, aa t Garb . r . .was literally, given . thepick hff. choicest mares at the stno.', . .

Final payments for the O.JXb Park piato acceptance and entriOS'for" other are due on; Monday next, the inst. . ...v... ■ ; • ' v A Hobai't writer eays that the, 4-most striking for some - time; past . oik. there was that worn by the Butchers’ R.C. Ladies ■The jacket was of pink, . and front centres were . white cjrra ; in- the middle of -which - were r a . clubs. The colours were brought -the <43tra£ts-< Settlements, h-no? to a Dutcbmah following the sp ■ that part of the globe. The treasury Benefited to of. £13,694 odd' last season m oona , r ,/jbion with totalisator Colonial Secretary granted which covered -250 days gious organisations seenred do . for their little shows during th - -period.

.•' evidence at a recent trial • London? Tod Sloan told the Court m Lonaoi ,secretary and a valet. At h»ve“o.. (*» secretary ?” ii the cross-examining lawyei. «. the W reply- s w A hunger? who,‘under the name of A piung > v » cu t a great dash “ Sa the g Cafifonmu’ racecoruse for some ?“ h -,„d was subsequently arrested w robb ng the National Bank of Mexifor «°* a to nine years’ imprisonment, fenced ttracte d much attention, as w 6 rX fled to the United States afS the y robbery, and was finally captured by American detectives In New gleans he- escaped from the but was re-captured. At the ®P c j' n i his arrest Murphy had just got IKugh ad the money he had embezzl-

Weights for the Vauganui Cup are due on Tuesday next. # * *

The meeting, which eomnienced yesterday, will be concluded -to-day (Thursday.) s * * a London paper says a great deal of iudmnent and intelligence can be emnloved in making good bargains in hor eflesli It acids that the source oi the oreat- Blackiock family was a little cripple mare sold for ‘ three sovereigns at a country market. The h lying Dutchman was out of a mare thao cost 36 govs at York. The dam of The Hero when carrying him cost 10 sovs, and the dam and grand dam of the great horse Sterling, viz., " Silence and Whisper, were the hacks of a, country house not valued at five-and-twenty. apiece, and yet the source of one of the' greatest lines of the day when mention is made oi Isonomy. Then there was See-Saw, out of Margery Daw, who cost 25 sovs; Robert the Devil, out of Cast-off, who won 20 , Althorp, from Pandora, who cost about the same; Carlton, out of Bonny Spec, who was sent to Tattersall’s, mare, and foal together, with a reserve of 30 on the mare and 10 on the youngster; and more remarkable than all, the great horse, Isinglass, winner of Two Thousand’Guineas, Derby, and St, Leger, was out of a mare that once cost 19 guineas.

Said that the jockey volunteers for service in the Transvaal have been rising at daybreak to take pot shots at sparrows in order to improve their shooting. Well, the profession is usually associated with “dead birds.”

Voltigeur has an ugly looking leg, but. it doesn’t seem to trouble him much, and he is being kept in steady work.

•.* & * Sentry is now trained jat Porirua, Mr D. Gordon having purchased him from Mr Coffey for £IOO.

Comparison of the fees commanded by bygone English sires and those now in fashion, supplies by no means an uninteresting study. An English correspondent in dealing with the matter remarks that it is not his intention to trace bacir to.the days of-Waxy, or even to Whalebone, most distinguished of his four Derby winners, and whom probably no living man has seen ran. Enough to take as a standpoint the early sixties, when-the three illustrious sons of Pocahontas— Stoekweli, Rataplan, and King Tom—received at 40gs each. He has in nuncl the season after Kettledrum had won the Derby, when the two most costly *n the whole sire list were Newmin-st-er,. whose daughter, Nemesis, in the previous Spring had' ' taken" 'the one. thousand Guineas, the first important, race,.,if memcry.-serves me, that fell to the..fate. Lord Falmouth, and Voßiguer, their Ices being sugs each. That even ese classic winners fortv or fity years ago-were expected to make their reputaior«s at the stud becomes evident from tw ailC9 , over so;ne advertisements of bJ 1,0 —»•» "*:* * * *

?Pcakiim of Derby winners . -.A 131 , 1 4he aforesaid renowned bearske W°ts. he finds Teddington lfe ! f fee bn 2ogS: Da «iel O’Rourke 2oS. ’ fc T ’PP \ Beadsman (7yrs), fee Sn i"? (oyrs), fee 12gs. jjLd nf’s, Ul ° Guineas. Winners, (Bvfsl Pn l le 11 Ovrs) and Vevette tbe ]' “ - Col '°. and: this despite ered nvl i,° nom ' s tbat been slmwFair JT P i !j le 5011 Touchstone and S S” th r o }' Sh , the Hying Dundee; land Hvl \ e< r Lanrl hWrs) and FitzroW wS: ees 10gs each - 0f st-namc-iv St ei Aih a tw -° „ cau quote,, (om) 'bans, m his first: season lOp-s tApfi S ’ :n - Ic J O arlock (9yrs). fee wA4S 1 "..,y 11 ' «“> vrteW K„fPaddocks !ee at Burghley bemm aisA-v' nu ? r( i’ h ? s sei- vice charge the foilowmj/ ■<3 <ieSt telln 9 r - • Although hi'+■ t r 111 g other Derby Mlbdrfim ° f Tilo1 ’ I »'anby and and Buccaiippr' at 30gs a. mare, °f l;?e. s fop* H ‘?y v , nu }? at the low rate the .sixties ei° a j : I ' r mc -'eased through Jeafl’ But evbn C fli V - takin £ a -strong lions was sin,,, that giant among stalat 200 gs a mare, and, f all billed tL 011 st ? d a terrible tunllhas Lmwb sire this cenVere 0^ 0 ”o v " of G,uM Sto ' k "«ii bo KSATtfhl'

life and piime, it might, not be too much to say breeders would pay oOOgs a mar© for his service. At present there are at the English stud near about thirty sires whose charges raime from 400 gs to about lOOgs.

At the Ohingaiti races Waiwera got home in the cup. Amethvist won both the Scurry and tlfe Ladies Bracelet lota the Transvaal Stakes, Tlresbe the Hurdles, Delhi the Hammond Stakes and Vashfci the Flying. Five bookmakers were licensed to bet during the day.

* Rubin, who has been in a rather bad way since November last, is now turned out.

The New Zealand bred Arquebus 11., an aged l brown gelding, won the big event at Canterbury (N.S.W.) recently. He only bad 6st 81b to carry, and won by a neck from. Sapir, Desert being third. The winner’s starting price was Bto 1. Arquebus is by the Musket horse Flintlock, but his dam is given. as unknown. ***-*»

Doctor, winner of the Takapuna Cup, had his back hurt in his early career, and 1 was turned out, but eventually found his way into the. hands of a doctor at Devor.port. After a time (says the “Referee”) the medical man found he could not ride the gelding owing to his weak back, and he returned him to his owners. Subsequently lie was placed in one of the boxes and trained, the name of Doctor being bestowed on him.

When they were lining up at the post for the Steward’s Mile at Canterbury Park (Sydney) the three-vear-old ge'din.g Essington, by Abercorn, who was invested with the rogue’s badge, gave a display of his customary temper, and, bolting, jumped the inner palisading, and got rid of his jockey McGee. However his off stifle got caught between two of the pickets, and it was badly cut before he freed himself from the fence. He was eventually captured, but took no part in the race, and it is more than probable that he will not be seen again under silk for some time.

The Auckland Racing Club made a nice profit of £3OOO over its last summer meeting.

* •» • * Great regret was expressed m snorting circles on receipt of the news of the death of the popular Auckland auctioneer, Mr J. A. Philson. He was about the best blood stock auctioneer in tho colony; he conducted the first sale held by the New r Zealand Stud Company, and every year since then he disposed of "Mr Morrin’s batch of yearlings-. The cause of death was Bright’s disease.

The ability of small horses to carry heavy weight has often been remarked upon, and another striking instance of it was afforded recently at Kensington (N.S.W.) by the chestnut galloway Indaba, by Inveraray from Little Wonder, who won the Fourteen-two Handicap. Indaba had lOst ll!L on his back in a field of nine and won comfortably. This performance .stamps him as one of the best galloways in the colonv. * * . * * " »

The V.R.C. Derby winner Cocos is to start stud duty shortly. The famous but unlucky son of Abercorn looks.in fine trim, and is beginning to fill out rapidly and let down into stallion cond‘-tibn.

New Zealand Tattersal’s Club Committee, has raised the membership fee to 50 guineas.

Mr Fitzmaiu'iea has out Taplow- into work again. .The horse has recovered from the injuries received recently when being schooled over small sticks.

The Dunedin correspondent of the “Referee?’ says that there is a prooosal afoot to get together a small syndicate of Otago owners .to build a. range of stabling at Wingatui, and buy a few horses. The scheme is in good hands, and if it comes to anything he should not be surprised to see a . very strong stable formed. As j-et. however, nothing is definitely settled, and the chances are against any further news on the subject being obtainable just yet.. ' .

Mr A. J. Jury has disposed of Forty Fires, a good jumper, to an Auckland sportsman. He is by Vanguard out of a Tradueer colt mare.

A peculiar case has been referred to Tattersall’s Club, Sydney. The Trial Stakes run at a little meeting at Culcairn was limited to horses that had never won a race of the value of £5. The day previous at Yerontr Creek- Smokedrift wou a race over this amount, and was not, therefore, according to- the conditions of the race, eligible to start. Smokedrift’s -jockey, however, weighed cut, and while the horse was at the starting post, and or. tli.e point of being despatched, it was discovered that the Invermay filly was debarred from the contest, and wa3 called back to the saddling paddock; but in the meantime Smokedrift had been made favourite at oddb on. The bookmakers refused to return the money given them by backers of Smokedrift. There are two rules of betting that bear on the case, each having an opposite effect. One

says tnat in all cases there must be a chance to win as well as lose, and the others lays it down that once a horse is weighed out ho is a starter. ~ln \ lcroria a horse is not considered a starter until in the hands of the «Aarier, but even this rule would fail to eive any relief to the backers of Smokedrift under the circumstances.

The Waipawa Club' lias decided to abolish the 10s totalisator, and to amalgamate the inside and outside dividends at luture meetincs.

George Hope now has charge or Impregnable, sister to Tigress.

The two-year-old Aleger. by St. Leger, is classed as a moderate by an Auckland writer. *****

h avoaia, who has been showing great form lately, is under suspicion of unsouudness.

A Sydney writer mentions that Merriwee and Seahorse, are likely to be in strong demand for the Australian Cup.

The death is recorded of the St. Alban’s- horse Coronet, who won the Newmarket Handicap in 18S5. He won so easily, and executed such a wonderful two-mile gallop afterwards, that lie was made ar. even-money favourite in the Australian Cup, in which, with “Sam” Cracknell on his back, he broke- down in the race at the abattoirs. He was relagated to the stud at Ballarat, and, finally, after proving a failure as a sire, he found his wy to Mount Gambler, where he died last week. Coronet- was once owned by Mr Thomas Reiby, exPrcmier of Tasmania, and that gentleman told “Pegasus” that Coronet was the best horse that the island colony had produced l —which was saying a. great deal.

The death of ooronet revives a remark made by little “Sam.” Cracknell a. iew months after he defeated the Newmrket Handicap field with the son of et. Albany Someone asked - the “Australian Goater” if it was true that he had built a row of cottages, and dubbed the buildings “Coronet- Cottages.” “Yes; it’s true enough,” said “Sam.” “Then you must have backed him to win. a good stake?” “No. I never back a. horse,” was the mannikin’s reply. But the Ribertson Bros., who must have given the ring a. nasty “slap in the face,” laid Sam a good slice to nothing. It- is quite a fact that the beting jockeys invariably go down, and die poor. It is only jockeys like Cracknell who always stand to- win who come out on the top in the end. The- writer knows many jockeys who have won good stakes more than once, but nine-tenths - of them are “brokers” to-day. # # it w #

.Leathei Medal whose undersetaudings have been affected, is now in the improve.

Race meetings in aid of the Patriotic Fund are general in all the colonies. ft ' & 4lr *

A Westralian writer recently mentioned that the VYLA.T.C. would have to pay more attention than it had done to importations from other colonies, as it was quite on the cards that attempts would be made to ring in horses .at headquarters as well as at suburban meetings.

The chief event at the Martin dale (South Aus.) meeting last month fell to Pythian, a six-year-old son of: Prince Consort, the horse Carbine knocked out in doing his Melbourne Cup preparation. *. ■ * * The Adelaide horse Lord Kitchener has at last won ar ace, scoring in a Trial stakes recently. He is. by Neckersgat from Paiple, and is said to he a really fine colt, but he has cost his lessee a pot of money so far.

It js stated that the lack of interest in the Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup on the other side this year is due to the war in the Transvaal. The war has indeed a. lot to answer for. * 4f * *

X lie re were 25 starters for the Sydney T. -. Challenge makes, won bj - Bluecap 11., wno was unfancietl, 20 to 1 being his price at the post. His owner, Mr. Knight, had £2OOO about him. The horse used to raee among the Galloways, and his perfonuances in that division were cnly fair. “Umpire” says that the pace at which Blue Cap and Proudfoot dashed over the. first half-mile seemed to demoralise the field, and.no doubt manv horses were got off their legs in beiDg bustled to keep up the chase before gettimr fairly going. This often happens in snort sprint races, and is the only explanation of the poor showing made by several horses known to be capable of something better than their Challenge Stake form. ' suggests. Proudfoot had to cry enough after fighting Blue Can a. duel into the straight,, for the galloway then left him and came along alone. Rock of Aages, Zoo, Argo, Cavalier-, and Goldsmith wore making up ground towards the end. but they were all too late to get neat’ the leader, who was ridden by F. Kuhn in the Sloan fashion, and won very easily by four lengths. The time was Imin 15sec two seconds slower than Kirry was credited with when she won the race last season, and made an Australian record. * * # mm Inquirer won the Anniversary Handi-

cap at the same meeting. His time was good, 2min 37sec, and one writer says there could be no- doubt about tli© merit of the- win. He is a brother to Tom, who won mis race in 1897, and is by invader from Marian, by Maribyrnong from Young Zoe, by Yattendon, bred by Mr Thomas Cook at Turanville. Inquirer bad been gallo'-dng remarkably well oil tho training tracks, but his failure on the first day was no encouragement to support him for the more importnfc race. F. Kuhn certainly waited too long at the rear to give, Royal Purple a fair chance. She was second last at the sheds, and then had, to wait for an opening. By the time she got into- the straight there was still a lot of leeway to pull up on Inquirer, and tue task was rather a hopeless one. With a better position five furlongs from heme Royal Purple might have pulled through, and landed tho public, and the owner their money, and it certainly looked as though she was not beaten under reasonable conditions. .

It is likelv that the Cromwell Club will programme two first-class races for its next meeting, a £69 galloping event and a £SO trot-. * * * * » The Yaldhurst representative Skobeloff is doing good work, and must have a, chance in the C.J.C. Midsummer Handicap * ft * •* The Sydney horse The Chief, by Gozo —Maori Queen, is being treated to a good spell. ft # * The following New calami and Australian horses aren ow being trained by F. W. Bay at Newmarket (Eng.): Tirant d’Ea.u, owned by sir E. Cassel; Cranberry, owned by Sir E. Vincent ; Chesney, owned by Mr Abe Bailey; Perm, Old CIo,, and Georgie, owned by Mr 3-J. C. White; and Waiuku, owned by Mr S. H. Gallon. He has also in his charge a couple of 2-yea.r-olds, bred in Eng* land, by the New Zealand sire Mensquetaire, the property of Mr Gollan; and a 3-year-old colt by Ayrshire from Voisine, owned by Mr W. T. Jones. ft ft ft •* £

Coralie, the Sydney sprinter, ran absolutely last in the S.T.C. Anniversary Handicap last month. She is apparently a non-stayer.

The noted broou mare Madcap who is. to be brought over from Melbourne on a visit to St. Leger at. Auckland, has produced racehorses, but was a jade her*self. She cut a sorry figure in the Caulfield Cup over a decade ago when she was very heavily backed'"by herparty. **** * . ,

The Hiko horse Aide-de-camp should pay his way in the Otago district. A Dunedin sport fancied him on his recent running and purchased him "xcia Mr Cress at the Pahiatua meeting. * * * * *

There are about 30 horses in training on the Egmont course in view of the. club’s forthcoming meet tea- * * ii

Eighteen horses are left in tho C.J.O. Challenge Stakes after the final payment.

According to all accounts, a gentleman who did not make his fortune in , this country last year was Mr Tori ! Sloan, and I do not think that this year there will be the same eagerness : to secure his services there lias been in' the past, says “A Breeden” in the” English paper “Man of the World.” I car. plainly see that the jockey wild” will get most riding next year is the"’; elder Reiff, who is considered a much/ more vigorous finisher than Sloan.. Thd '• worst, of'it is that the big professional '' backers have now seized upon him, ! > and consequently his mounts will at a very false price. The profession—'” al backer is the product of the last - '' century. Tho idea of anyone making j. money by backing other people’s horse:-)"' would have been laughed to scorn” thirty or forty years ago, but now they make fortunes at it. What Mr Hannan is worth no one knows, and'"* though Mr Mills lost a fabulous sum:/ back-er.d it did not prevent him/ - building to himself a. palace at Wimble*'■ don. The first professional backer. J- * knew was Mr Rayner; but he made by - no means a fortune. He was followed ' by Air John. Hammond, who has the credit of being a- Very rich man; ?. but he got his money in the main by backing his own horses, more particularly St. Ga.tien and Florence. Mr Fred Swindell could not be called a.professional backer, as. he either own*;.:; ed the material or had the management : of it, as in. The cases of Lioness, Wal- '- lace, Salpinctes, Tomahawk, Dufcibella.- • and Weatherbound. Over this lot he...: won the best part of a quarter of a. mil* ;:i lion sterling. It seems to me that for a. professional backer to get on he must know more than can be gathered from ; tho public form of the horse or wba*:7 the touts tell him.

An Indian paper declares that it nr > unquestionable that Vanitas had lost : his pace. A noteworthy point with • gard to good Australian horses exported to tho East is that although a failproportion of them distinguish themselves,- a large number sooner or later become worthless. »*.#:**:

E. Vine, of Hawera, has three horses in hand, a filly and gelding, both by Haere—Figurehead, and a .Golden Crown, who is by St. Leger—Steel All.

Haria is galloping well at Riccarton, and is said to be in great heart.

Trotting 'matches, generally under saddle, were much in vogue a hundred years ago, and more recently. At one time owners used to put a welter weight up, with the curious of “steadying"’ the trotter, and in deference to this theory the horse often had to carry from 12st to 15st, or even more, and the race track was the high road. Small wonder their legs soon went to pieces. On October 21, 1816, a man named Hall undertook to trot a small pony from Whitechapel Church to the 25 milestone on the Esses road and; back again in five hours. He did iS with eight minutes to spare, but was 60 exhausted that he had to be lifted from his saddle., and carried into the nearest inn. What condition the pony was in is not stated. Another such race against time was run in the same year at Chester. Mr Collier, a Liverpool veterinary surgeon undertook :to ride a pony eighteen miles wit bin _ tli6 hour on the Chester road. He did it easily within one -and a half minute of the time specified, having used neither whip nor spur. One remarkable performance - was -undertaken, if contemporary records are to be credited, to cure a severe headache! Mr J. 11. Scott, having had company to dine with him, was kept up till the small hours by the sacred rights of, hospitality. and all the rest of the night by the results of entertaining. He rose at half-past o, and started for a very long ride to shake off that headache. Mr Scott was evidently a gentleman who did not do tilings by halves, for he determined to ride from London to Cheltenham, 1011 miles, in five hours, if he could, in six if he could not. He had eight horses, four of his own. and four “promiscuous hacks’’; he had several falls by the way; nevertheless he reached the Plough at Cheltenham before 1 o’clock, having performed the distance in under six hours!

One Westralian sweep promoter has offered the drawer of the winner in one of his consultations a trip to the Paris Exhibition.

Strathroy who performed well in New South Wales and Victoria, has apparently lost all form in India through being touched "in the wind. Last month he ran unplaced in a six furlong race at Calcutta with 7st 131 b on back. In Australia such a weight would have been regarded as a luxury for him. * * ~i * * Waterloo, who is by Battailous, sire of Battalion, from Miss Newbold, and who is engaged in the Australian Cup, lately won at Charters Towers and Townsville. He is described as a stayer and a weight currier. ,****« A comical commentary upon the desperate! character of the malpractices which are winked at by pony stewards on the other side is supplied by .the candid confession cf one of the jockeys.who formerly rode with considerable success under their auspices. He has decided to try his fortune on registered courses in another colony, as Melbourne pony racing is “too strong” for him. He -was naturally asked what he had been disqualified for, but he replied instantly, “I’ve never been disqualified. Disqualified at a pony meeting! That would be awful. The reason I’ve given them up is that .there is no satisfaction in riding there. Fancy in the course of.'. three, meetings, I. had 10 mounts, and was. never a. trier once!. Thaf’s why Pm tired of it. , Surely a man ought to have a chance of being ‘on 4t’ once in .10!’. - 'i. \ ■* - - * • ~ ■ *.- . „ J j . Sceats. will. pilot Seahorse i-in : his Australian ; engagements.,. It vis. ~ak Geprge’s horse, isn’fi in = the. Champion .'Race. The Major says that unless, the prospects of; the son of .Net &on- ; are very promising oh the other side, he will return to New Zealand before April, as the horse claims two valuable engagements in the Hawke’s Bay!, Stakes and the A.R.C. Centurv Stakes. v- * * ft . & The Queensland horse Boreas 11. was offered by auction lately, and passed in at 2dogs. . it 'letter" from J. E. Brewer ’states that his hurdler Manazona broke down badly in the race in which he !was beaten jn, December; last when he started a warm favourite,; 1 - -• • /•-> , a ,V... , $ Ladykiller, ' by ; Stepniak—Lady’s Maid, is spoken of as a very promising youngster. He is in work ht Ricearton. - ..... ft #r. . An Auckland writer questions whether the steeplechaser Levanter was as good as Nor-west, who put up such a big performance -at Takapuna the other day. Sou’-wester’s son has come in for a great deal of newspaper laudation, and no doubt he is a good horse, but it must be remembered that he is not being called upon to beat anything good. « * * -ft * The Sydney horse Protos, who has been sold for stud duty, is well-bred, being by Gofdsborough from Bona Vista, who is a sister to Percussion, dam of Projectile. Mauser, who appears in the nomination list of the Canterbury J.C.,. has only just finished a season at the stud.

According to late advice Bobadil has quite got over his “back weakness” and is now in better condition than he has ever been.

Mr M. Barnett, of the firm of Barnett- and Grant, informs “Fritz” that Blazer has taken more money from their coffers than any other horse in the colony. Dune'din backets have every reasn to remember the successes of this horse.-

It is not often that one hears of a family taking the whole of the events at a meeting, but this is what actually occurred at a Wellington (South Australian) gathering last- month. The Messrs McFarlane, sons of Mr Allan McFarlane, a well-known pastoralist, won the Cup. Hurdles, Bracelet, Maiden, River Murray Handicap and Consolation Handicap. 1 A nice record! ■* * *

There are two candidates in the Caulfield Futurity Stakes entitled to only sst 51b. - '

Only one entry was received by the Clutha Club for the Ladies’ Bracelet event, and a Consolation Race has been substituted.

<«. IS- ft -*■ .Word comes from Broken Hill that King William, by Nordenfeldt from Pulchra, by Rosierucian, lias been sold as a pony stallion to go to India. King William realised 310 gs as a yearling in New Zealand, and afterwards Mr W. R. Wilson gave 1200 gs for him, but his career on the turf was short, and he won only one race, a Queen’s Plate,-in Queensland, as a two-year-old. * * * • *

Janissary, sire of the Derby winner Jeddah, was submitted for public auction at Home recently, but the bidding did not reach the reserve, 10,000 gs, and the son of Isonomy retired from the ring unsold.

The reason why Amiable, the Newmarket Handicap winneiy was sold at Home for oOOgs was that the owner was disgusted with the way the mare was being handicapped. He -said she was never given a show.

-Miriam, the dam of Mirella, Magnus, Meribak and Rivula, died at Wilton Park (N.S.W.) recently. Miriam, who was half sister to Semiramis, was by Kelpie (imp.) out of Security (imp.), by Lord Clifden from All’s Well, by The Cure. She was bred in 1880 at Neotsfield 1 , where her ancient dam carries her 27 years with the ease and grace of a four-year-old. * * • « « Mr Stead has bestowed the name of Royal Artillery on Screw Gun’s brother. * * * * *• The Auckland Racing Club has voted sgs to the Father Walter McDonald Gravestone Memorial Fund. Somerledy Sir George Clifford’s two-year-old, will not be seen at the forthcoming C.J.C. meeting. * - * * # Writing of jockey’s rings in Victoria, “Apemantus” says that some few years' ago there was no less than thi’ee rings, one among the top-notchers of the flatracing brigade, and another amongst those who had not reached any eminence. And then the third consisted l of some of the cross-country riders. But they perished owing to having too many members, who were sometimes at cross purposes. There is, however, he is credibly informed, at the present a small ring of only five members in existence, and this notable quintette are making a wonderfully lucrative business when all five are riding in the same race. .They determine whose mount to back, and woe betide any jockey■ who may be riding a horse too good for their special fancy. There are five -©£ them to attend to his: wants in the matter of “dealing it out,” and- others riding in the race become absolutely too scared to utter a word of complaint, for they knew not when the conspirators will have the necessary “set” upon them. And if they were to complain no notice would be taken, as they could be confounded with the evidence of the cabal, who are very nearly at the top rung of the ladder in their profession. He has had the names of the five given him by another jockey who has the reputation of being able to hold his Own, and on one occasion when he was on a strong favourite he threatened them with fearful punishment if they Oven attempted to “deal” with him, when they as good as told him he ought to belong to their ring, and they had no idea of in any way interfering with him, as they had backed his mount. * * « * „ Djin Djin and Gannie Chiel were physicked after the Hutt, meeting. They are reported as looking very well. * * * m The Christchurch, bookmakers and their club have donated £SO to the War Fund. • * « * * - Seventy-two nominations were receiv®d i} 10 ,, Canterbury Jockey Club’s Tenth Challenge Stakes. * * * * At a Melbourne suburban meeting recently the stewards posted themselves at various points of the course, with the result that a notorious “dead un” got home. The jockey “spotted” them and inwardly .communed: “If I ge t caught it’ll mean, a couple of years and the bally crowd I’m riding ‘for won’t keep me a couple of weeks. Here goes

up on ’em,” and to the blank dismay of the owner’s coterie they saw tlieir horse get home a comfortable first. Here was an instance of perspicacity on the part of the stewards. If oil of these honorary gentlemen acted in a like manner it "would be far better for both punters and fielders, and the sport would be kept as clean as possible- (says a local writer). The honorary stewards will have to be replaced, and the sooner the better. * ' < * * *

The chestnut colt Orzil, by Ayrshire from Merry Miser, recently imported from England by Mr Osborne, has been placed under the care of W. Duggan at Randwick, to be prepared for lacing. •* * - ft ft

•Malatua is said to be looking very well just nown

ft ft Mr L. Robertson, of Feilding, is reported to have taken steps m the direction of proceeding against the. Otago -Witness,” claiming £SOO, for " stating that- the trotter Motuiti was a “ringer.” % * * #.* ’ *’

The . Paktiranga Hunt Club lias - decided: to affiliate with the Association, of 'New Zealand Hunt- Club, whose headquarters are at Christchurch.

* *■ * * . * . Although well the trainer of Wairongomai decided not to take her ro Taranaki.

The Wanganui mare Famous has been blistered, and is running out in a paddock.

Quite a- number of New Zealand horse-owners, trainers and jockeys have vohmteered and are going to the Transvaal.

Man-o’-war has been placed in commission again. He is being trained by C‘. Woodley. . » .

It appears that Cutty Sark (imp.) is not entitled to the pedigree given her in the early days, but it is now' tco late in the day to discover her real pedigree, consequently her deseendents, which include Strathmore, Novelette, Artillery, Brown Alice, Hilda, Balista and others, v/ill not be entitled to the benefits of the stud book if they or any of their progeny go to England, where they will be regarded as halfbreds. “Milroy” says that some years ago I. Eamsha-w discovered this' flaw’ in the published pedigree of Cutty Sark and foraged for . months in search of her proper lines, inu could get no clue to her identity. - There is little doubt-, however, but what she was pure bred ; if she were otherwise it is hardly likely that her great-grandson; The Barb, would have been the champion he was—in fact, such authorities as Mr Frank Reynolds and Mr W. A. Loim consider The Barb to be the best rar-m horse tjiey eves saw in Anstralia. The, Barb’s sister was also a good mare, and his brother Barbarian a good horse. The Barb was not a success at the stud, but he did not get a good chance at Toc-al, where all the best mares in his day were of his own blood. Yet lie left some good mares behind him. The °f Melos, who is also a granddame of Wallace, is by him. Barbarian was extensively used by Messrs Thomson Brothers, of Whidden, for his blood, when they were building up their stud with fair Hercules and Kingston blood.. Consequently nearly every good mare now at Oakleigh has a drop of Barbarian in her. For 60 years Cutty bark lias been looked upon as pure (which no doubt she was), and her descendants have well proved their strength, on the turf, notably Strathmore and ine Barb,, and pure she should always be regarded, though" the source from whence she came must now be for ever -shrouded in doubt.