TURF TOPICS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1682, 25 May 1904, Page 52

TURF TOPICS

(By “Advance/’)

MASTERTON TROTTING CLUB-

A! meeting of -Stewards of the Masterton Trotting Club was held on the 19ta inst., when the following were present: —Mr O. A. Pownali (chair) and Alessrs W. Cooper, H. Nee. F. Hill, A. D. Whatman and the Secretary. The Secretary of the New Zealand Trotting Association wrote stating that he had advised Atr McGrath, owner of “Transvaal,” that he could start his horse at Masterton meetings. It was resolved not to take any action in regard to the horse having been started while on the Forfeit List, in the face of the explanation. ' The Secretary of the New Zealand Trotting Conference wrote stating that the Conference of Trotting Clubs’ delegates would be held in Wellington 'n July, and that all notices of motion for alterations to the rules and constitution must be in by June 1. He also wrote stating that this club’s levy of 15s was now .due and asking for same to be remitted- * t The New Zealand Trotting Association notified that “Dolly Vafden III.” had been registered by Mr Allsworth on October 16, 1902. A further letter from the Association stated that they considered that Mr J. Dixon had given every assistance in connection, with the horse Whakarongomai and the Association did not intend to disqualify the horse. The Secretary of the Masterton A. and P. Society wrote stating that tho Society had decided to grant a refund of £5 on the rent charged for the use of the ground. Mr J. Dixon and Mr H. H. Welcn wrote resigning their membership. The resignations were accepted, and Mr Welch was made an honorary member in consideration of his services as clerk of course a*?d it was decided that he be

asked to continue to act in that capacity. „ The Secretary submitted various proposed amendments to the constitution -and rules. These were approved by the meeting, and the delegate was authorised to bring the matter before the Conference. WAIRARAPA RACING CLUB. A special meeting of stewards of the Wairarapa Racing Club was held at Featherston on the 17th. Present — Messrs W. E. Bidwill (chairman), Donald (2), Pearce, Benton, Cundy (2), Hume, Toogood, Nix and Reynolds. The bank account was reported to be in credit £376 16s 3d. and after some minor- business the question of enquiring into the running of the mare "Replete” was discussed. The owner, Mr Hutana, being seriously ill in Wellington, was not able to attend, and the jockeys. H. Carmont and L. Stewart, failed to appear. It was decided to ask the Metropolitan Club to suspend the licenses of Carcnont and Stewart for not having appeared as witnesses when requested. The following notices of motion will • bo again brought forward at the Racing Conference in July, viz.: —“Under the heading of ‘starting/ insert a new rule as follows: ‘At all meetings where the totalisator is used the starting machine shall be used, unless special permission is given otherwise by the Metropolitan Club, provided always that if any accident happen, to the machine on the day of meeting, rendering it unfit for use, such special permission shall be implied’; and to add to rule 159. ‘hurdle races of one mile, and a-half shall be over not less than five (flights of hurdles, of one mile and threequartpr six flights, and two miles seven flights.’ ” It is the club’s intention to apply for a permit for a steeplechase meeting, to be - held early in August. THE WANGANUI STEEPLECHASE. The thirtieth contest for the Wanganui Steeplechase takes place this afternoon. Although the appended record of the race only dates back as far. as 1881, previous contests were held since 1875. The late Mr W. Douglas scored his first-win with Baron, a member of the successful Ravensworth family to which Clarence belonged. The first winner of the race was Butcher Boy (by Rifleman). Then followed Brigham Young (Traducer —Missie) and Victor. Don Juan also claimed a brace of winners of the event in Awa Hou and King Don. Two dead neats have occurred in the race. The owners of Ruahine and Dhudesm agreed to run off, the latter being beaten by a length. Winners of the race since 1881 are as follow: 1881 — W. Douglas’s Venture, by Diomedes. 1882 — R. Higgie’s Alarie. by Day Dawn. 1883 — J. Munn’s Rualiinet Dr Conolly’s Dhudeen, by Opawa 1884 — J. Pilbrow’s Clarence, by Ravensworth. 1885 — F. Harrison’s The Druid, by Don Juan. 1886— J. B. Williamson’s Guy Fawkes, by Bedouin. 1887 — A. Shearsby’s Orient, by Sultan. 1888— J. Leopold’s Kangaroo, by The Mute. 1889— E. McElwain’s Oddfellow, by The Painter. 1890 — P. Lamb’s Sir* Garnet, by Southern Chief. 1891 — J. McAlister’s Ingograugi, by Bothwell. 1892 J. Maher’s Couranto, by Patriarch. 1893 C. Woolley’s Empire, by Natator. 1894 Mrs J. Abbott’s Nanakia, by Natatorf E. Shove’s Booties, by Volunteer!* 1895 A. Nopera’s Tiritea, by Hippocampus. •1896—E. Shove’s Booties, by Volunteer. 1897 Mr J. Goodson’s by Castoff. 1898— F. Watson’s Muscatel, by Foulshot. 1899 Mr P. E. Dover’s Muscatel, by Foulshot. 1900— M. Morrison’s Scallywag, by Turquoise. 1901— A. Ellingliam’s Aloifaa, by Natator. 1902 J. H. Prosser’s The Guard, by Vanguard. ' 1903 Mr G. P. Donnelly’s Awahuri, by Kaawaka. THE STARTING TROUBLE. During the past and present seasons the starting at several meetings has not come up to the standard of. the work, which might be expected from paid officials. Especially has Giis been noticeable at meetings where the official acting liad not the assistance of the machine. After getting their own tempers and that of their horses spoilt, owners have notified officials of clubs that they would not' nominate unless the machine was used. This has had the desired effect in several cases, and in others stewards of clubs have taken the matter up on their ora—after witnessing bad starting at some neighbouring meeting. In this connection we are pleased to seie that tlxe Wellington county clubs’ delegates will bring the matter up before the conference to be held in July. it is proposed to add the following new rule: —At all

meetings where the totalisator is used the starting machine shall be used, uiir less special permission is given otherwise by the Metropolitan Club, provided always that if any iaceident .happen to the inachine on the day of meeting, rendering it unfit for use, such special permission shall be implied.” The conference is composed of stewards of racing clubs who will not have to travel far from their own meetings to give instances of races being completely spoilt through horses getting Hying starts. In such cases it cannot be said that backers get a fair run for their money. As a matter of fact occasionally they do not get a run at all. With the barrier the chances of a horse getting a flying start or being left at the nost are much less than when the official uses the flag. The Otago delegates will no doubt object on the score of expense, but this should not be considered as a reasonable argument as the cost of a barrier is comparatively trifling. If a club is really, not in the position of being able to provide up-to-date arrangements, its permit should go to the club that will cater for horse-owners-—who keep the game going and pay the piper. In connection with the matter we would suggest that it should he a recommendation from the conference to racing clubs to state in the programmes appearing in the official calendar, whether or not the starting machine is used. We have no doubt the gentlemen who will assemble in Wellington to discuss the question of the barrier will consider it from the broad standpoint of the greatest good for the greatest number. ROBERT SUTTON SIEVIER.

As the result of admissions made by him as to his gambling transactions in the action for slander brought against Sir James Duke, Mr R. S. Sievier nas been “warned off” by the Jockey Club. This means that the notorious Bob Sutton will have to quit England and make a fresh start in some other country. Mr Sievier is a man that lias played many parts. It was he who first introduced cash betting into the reserve on the big racecourses of Australia. His system of wagering soon won many imitators, and it quickly numbered the da vs of the old “over round” brigade, who could not stand up against such odds as men of the Sievier type could lay and live at, so they went under one by one, and to this day they lay their misfortunes at Sievier’s door in language more forcible than elegant. In his Australian bookmaking career, Sievier was looked upon as a bit of a daredevil. He left early in the nineties for good, after falling into disgrace with the Victorian Club. The committee of that institution took it upon themselves to punish Sievier for thrashing Lord Desrlmrst in a Bourk-e street hotel. The rule they brought to bear in this case is not- clearly known. Anyhow, they dealt with Sievier, who at once shook Australian dust from his feet and returned to England, and since then his career is thus tersely given in M.A.P.: —“Mr Robert Sievier,” who has created quite a sensation in turf circles by purchasing thoroughbreds at fabulous prices, has had a somewhat adventurous career. As a young man he went to South Africa and served with a. corps of mounted infantry throughout the Zulu war. ' From South Africa he went to Australia, where he remained for some years, and on his return to England married in 1892, under somewhat romantic circumstances,' Lady Mabel Bruce, sister of the Marquis of Ailesbury. After his marriage Mr Sievier set up. as a gentleman turf accountant in Bennett street, St. , James’s, under the pseudonym of ‘Mr Punch,’ with a branch office in Brighton. This venture, however, was not a success, so Mr Sievier abandoned it for another form of bookmaking, and in 1895 published a novel called ‘A Generation.’ which enjoyed a considerable, if ephemeral, popularity. Soon after thig matters improved, and Mr Sievier returned to the turf, with such satisfactory results that he was able to plank down 10,000 guineas in the purchase of a yeai*ling filly (Sceptre), which knocked out all previous records in that respect.” The racing season of 1902 might,,be cited as the period at which Air Sievier was in the zenith of his fame as an owner, for his horses Avon him in stakes the hig sum of £23,686. Notwithstanding this big winning total it was said that Mi* Sievier was not a rich man when his accounts were balanced at the end of the. season, which little fact opened a wide field for conjecture, and would go to show that he had been playing a tremendous game. As the owner of Sceptre (winner of the One Thousand Guineas, Two Thousand Guineas, Oaks and SIJ. Leger) Mr Sievier’s name will always be associated with the English turf records. WAKEFUL AT THE STUD.

Mr C. L. Macdonald lias finally decided that Wakeful’s* first mate shall be the St. Simon horse Positano, and the mare has been sent te Neotsfield, Now South Wales. For some time Mr Macdonald was hovering between three—or, perhaps, four —'different horses, but the events of the A.J.C. meeting seem to have settled the matter in favour of Air Dangar’e horse. Not onlv is Lord Cardigan by Positano out of a Trenton mare, but the yearlings and foals by Positano at the sales were very much liked. Mr Macdonald is not a believer in putting a mare to the same horse year after year, but he wished to start " with the St. Simon on Musket cross, and to make sure of Positano it was necessary to. get the mare to him next season. Positano is for private sale, and it is quite on the cards that he may go out of the coun-

try. An English breeder was content to give 4900 guineas to get Bill of Portland back to* England, and there is no reason why Positano should not be snapped up by some wealthy breeder, or by a foreign Government. Positano descends on tha dam’s side from the famous Sunbeam family, jvliich did so much for Mi* James Merry, and, afterwards, for Air J. H. Houldsworth. His Bruce Low© number is I—the best running family, but not necessarily a successful sire line. Ponza’a pedigree, however, contains some good sire figures (3, 11, 12 and 14) in the tins* few. lines, and St. Simon is beyond criticism. Some great racehorses" hare come from the 9 family, to which Wakeful belongs, and it, of course, follow® that its brood mares do well, but horses of the family have failed as sires. Bendigo. one of the greatest horses of his day, did no good at the stud. From Wakeful’s own branch of the family Australia has obtained Commotion, Alentor, La Tcsca, Dreamland, etc., while from Cocoa nut, and her -daughter Copra, have come Navigator, Trident, Camoola, Oobbity, Coil and Cocos. Wakeful lias two strains of Juliet, one through Robinson Crusoe and one through Goidsborough, and had she been mated with Wallace, he would have brought in one more. It is generally regarded as risky work inbreeding to Juliet, but later on Air Macdonald will probably take the risk with Wakeful. Fisherman (sire of Sylvia) comes in twice, and those hardy stallions Panic and New Warrior each appear, while there is just a clash of Stockwell through Chrysolite. TARANAKI NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The Taranaki tracks have pot been very animated of late. Parkshot’s victory at Hawke’s Bay was anticipated by a few who followed lum up, but he had more supporters on the first day, when he spoiled his chance through a stumble. Tupara has been putting in some fair work on the New Plymouth track, and he is improving. Waiw r era is not going as well as one would like to see. On Monday morning Pharos, his stable mate, pulled up lame, a strained tendon being the trouble. I doubt if he can be relied on for winter engagements. Lurcher has not recovered from his fall at Elgmont, and liis winter prospects are also dimmed to some extent. The flat racers, Full Cry, Black Reynard and Inglewood will be seen out at Wanganui, and the trio just named should give a good account of themselyes. I think Inglewood is hardly forward enough. He, however, has been doing some good work with his stable mate Parkshot.

Jervey George will take a couple north for the Takapuna meeting. The pony Mataura is being spelled. Comfort is mentioned as a likely candidate in connection with the settlement of the Great Northern Steeplechase. The Manaia meeting on June 3 should be well patronised, as tliere_is no fixture to clash with it in the district. WAIRARAPA. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The Merrie England mare, Platypus, is being wintered at her owner’s place in Masterton. She will probably be seen out again in the spring. Wairarapa will bo represented at the Wanganui meeting by Mourner, Plaidie, Noneen, Bounce, Prisoner and Joe Chamberlain. Lady Field is being hacked about in Masterton. The little mare is looking very well at present. The Wairarapa Racing Club has decided to erect at Tauherenikau a custodian’s residence, and also accommodation for jockeys and trainers. The Club is evidently determined to progress with the times, knowing well that the institutions that keep up-to-date are the ones to be best supported by the public and owners generally. Aloetoropuku has been returned to her owners in Alasterton and is being well looked after for the winter. This district is well represented in the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase. Kaimoe and Mourner are Wairarapa ' trained. Great Scott, although trained at Palmerston, is owned by Mr J. Cotter, of G’revtown, while Kohunui, Towhatu, Lissa and Hutana were all bred here. The latest addition to J. McGrath’ < Masterton team is the Taranaki-owned Laertes, owned by Mr Best, of Waverley. - .-*! At a sale of thoroughbred stock to be held at Alasterton shortly, Mr Cotter intends offering for sale a number of bis horses.

Mr AlcManaway’s hurdle horse, Aloeraki, is looking well at present, and his condition should carry him through some of the winter contests with credit. No less than twenty-five Wairarapatrained horses are 'nominated for the Otaki meeting. The meeting is being looked forward to by a large number of sportsmen of this district. The Wairarapa Hunt Club held its seccided to apply for a permit for a steeplechase meeting to be held in Augdst. There is little doubt but that the fixture would be immensely popular and result in more jumping horses being brought into the district. As is wellknown there are no totalisator permits available, but if the Conference ref us as to grant permits to those Clubs which

this season, only put through a paltry few hundreds of pounds, the position will he met and progressive cluhs asTe Wairarapa Hunt Club hel dits second run of the season on Thursday at Opaki, Masterton. Among the horses that acquitted themselves with credit wereTe Kohau, Black Bust, Ned Kelly, Strene, Moeraki and Kiwi. The racing public will be glad to learn that the Taratahi-Carterton Racing Club has decided to apply for permission to hold a second meeting during the year on March 22 and 23. The Club is n a good position, with a splendid property, and should have little difficulty in obtaining the desired permission. PALMERSTON NOTES. • (From Our Own Correspondent.) A couple of cases of some interest to the sporting fraternity were disposed of in the Supreme Court during the present week. In the first. Cohen find Co., totalisator proprietors, of Napier, were proceeded against for £IOOO damages, for alleged slander,-and for the same amount under two other counts, the plaintiff being Malcolm Macintosh, of Palmerston. It appeared the latter was present at the Woodville races, and before the Cup ran invested £5 on Starshoot. In due course he went to collect his dividend, £l4, but on presenting the ticket was, lie alleged, met with the direct accusation that lie had forged the ticket. His protestations were of no avail and he was “invited” to attend the proprietors in the totalisator house, where the various private stamps were kept. The Woodville constable and Jno. Waldon were members of the examining party, they having been summoned by one of the defendant firm when the charge was made against Macintosh. After, numerous accusations, repeated denials, a stamp similar to the one on the ticket held by Macintosh was found. Apologies were at once forthcoming, the dividend was paid, and the defendants desired to be forgiven for their hasty conclusion. At the time plaintiff did not seem averse to accepting the clive branch,. but the day after the races his' opinion changed, and he made a demand for damages for the indignities he had been subjected t'oinjfront of a big crowd. A lot of evidence was heard, and eventually the plaintiff was awarded, £25 as a solatium.

The next case was more interesting. It was a claim proferred by W. Homes, horse trainer, Bulls, for recognition of an aueged partnership in the gelding Rangimoe, owned by Ronald Cameron. In his evidence. Homes alleged that Cameron, who had arranged to> purchase the horse from Mr J. Baldwin, of Turakina, for £IOO, gave him the horse to try. If he was any good they were to be partners in -him. The horse was to be kept in work. If not, lie was to be sent home. The partnership, Homes said, was agreed to verbally at the Wanganui meeting in October. The horse showed good track form, and he was kept in . work, but nothing was done in the direction of registering the partnersnip. Rangimoe was nominated by Homes in Cameron’s name, and the latter paid all fees, etc. The horse started unsuccessfully, at Rangitikei. At Foxton Homes told Cameron he had an excellent chance in a five furlong race, and Cameron invested £25, £5 of which was for Homes. Rangimoe was ridden by. Brown, a coloured rider in Homes’s stable, and was not .placed, in the race. Cameron was dissatisfied, and made an entry in his diary that. he was dissatisfied, would settle up wiui. Homes, and would take Rangimoe home. In pursuance of his determination he went to Bulls, saw Homes, and learnt Rangimoe had gone to Rahiatua. Cameron, allegedly, remonstrated, on the grounds that if the horse could not win at Foxton in ordinary company, it was no good sending him to Pahiatua to meet better. Homes said the horse had bad luck and was knocked about at the post at Foxton. At Pahiatua Rangimoe started twice. The first day he was unplaced, and,the second day he won the Welter easily from Wangaheu and others. Cameron put ' Jenkins up instead of McAlen, whom Homes desired to ride. Cameron explaining to McAlen that he wanted to know if his horse was any good or not. Cameron said no. mention was made of a 1 ■ partnership by Homes till after the Pahiatua win, and then, learning that Cameron was going to sell,, he claimed half-ownership. Homes went to Turakina the day after the races without Cameron’s knowledge, paid Mr Baldwin £IOO for the gelding. While the horse was being taken home, Cameron endeavoured to obtain possession of him at Greatford. and the assistance of the police had to he invoked to settle the matter. The horse was taken to Bulls and subsequently Cameron took him while he was on the Bulls course at work. Homes then obtained an injunction restraining from dealing with the horse pending the result of the present action. The defence was an absolute denial that any partnership was promised or existed, and the Chief Justice adopted that view, though he described the evidence both for and against as very unsatisfactory. He dissolved the injunction granted Homes, refused a decree, and allowed defendant £2O costs, and witnesses* expenses and disbursements. During the course of the case ancient history was revived. Homes and one of his wit-

nesses, Hugh McArtney being cross-ex-amined at length as to their connection with the, as counsel described it, notorious Kalmea case at Feilding some years ago. Both witnesses disclaimed, any knowledge of the affair, and said they had lost money over that particular case. The Otaki R. C. has received excellent nominations for' its forthcoming meeting. ' Pretty well all the district horses are nominated, including A. Messene s string, Te Ngaio, In the Van and Bourrasque. The stable, it is undei stood, did remarkably well out of Te Ngaio- s win at the recent Marlborough meeting. Mrs E. D. O’Rorke, of Auckland, lias purchased a handsome blue roan gelding by Administrator from Servant Girl, bi ed! by Mr H. Gaisford, ef Oringi, and taken to Auckland by Mr B. Armitage, owner of Lady Bobs and Co., who purchased the gelding at the Palmerston sale. With a strain of the Traducer blood from his grand dam, and the Sir Hercules, Ravensworth, Fisherman and Riddlesw orth blood on his sire- and dam’s side, the gelding should be heard of within a season or two. On appearances he should make an ideal cross-country horse. At Foxton A. Laery has got Lass o Gowrie moving along well, also his Gold Reef gelding. The y.oung Torpedo purchased at the Palmerston'sale is doing remarkably well, and putting on condition visibly. , . , At Wanganui J. Belcher has Ins team in active work. Glory is doing well, also Phemie, Torpedo, Parlourmaid, purchased at the Palmerston sale twelve months ago. Opaku is doing well, and both he and Glory should run well in their Wanganui engagements. He is wintering Keepsake, by St. Leger—-Bang.e. m foa, to San Francisco, and with a foal by nlosion. The Musket and St. Leger Sood With the cross of St, Simon, should prove invaluable; but on bleed ing alone either of the foals should be S °Mr E. D. Browne, of Palmerston, lias sold Cavalcade to Mr Rod. McDonald of Horowhenua. The latter will keep the Vanguard gelding m work, and lias nominated him at Otaki. NAPIER NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Mr O. the one-time owner of Berringcotte, Lady Marion and others, has a four-year-old brother to Roseslioot quartering in Ins stables at Port Ahuriri ; lie is so far untried, but his outlook suggests that He will be more than a fair sort when he gets ready to tlie fray. When bought as a yearling lie showed a faulty looking nock that time and rest have done wonders tor, as it now appears quite as sound as could be desired, and as the colt was born with it it is reasonable to suppose tlia: it will not affect him as if it had been the outcome of an accident, Mr C. L. Mackerisey, who for some time has filled the office of honoiary treasurer to the Waipukiirau Jockey Club, ~ left on Tuesday night by- _ the Talune for Auckland, where lie joins the Ventura for the purpose of journeying to America en route to England. His trip to the old land is for the purnose of enjoying a well-earned holiday. He experts to be back ia Hawke’s Bay before the end of the present year. _ D. Wright has sent back Lady Beckwith to her owner at Pat oka. The mare, w ho is ci .younger full sistei to -Ch© Swimmer, is one of tlie delicate, nasty sort, the strain of a preparation seeming to disagree with her to such an extent that it completely paralysed her efforts. Asteroid, Sirius’s half sister, by Apremont, has left George Collelo s establishment and has joined F. Tilley .-, forces at For dell. At the Hawke’s Bay meeting Mr Rathbone informed me that Fleka’s appearance in the Cup would he liis final essay this season, but as he has been accepted for the Connolly Handicap at Wanganui next week it leads to the impression that the good race the chestnut gelding ran has induced the Waipawa sportsman to have another spin with Flatter’s son ere he retires into seclusion for this racing term. Comfort and Oruesot, under the, care of Arthur Goodwin, left by tlie Talune on Tuesday night to carry on the. contracts entered into on their behalf an the A.R.C. steeplechase meeting next month. Though Comfort will he making his dehut as a ’chaser in the Northern capital, he must be given a chance, for he is an expert fencer and has a great turn of toe. For some time past he has been given a lot of hill work on his owner’s, Mr T. H. Lowry’s, station at Okawa, and this course of treatment should help him along the road m Ins efforts in the Great Northern Steeplechase. Goodwin has had a deal of experience with jumpers, and it will in doubt be remembered that one or his charges, Blackberry, scored in "the Grand National at Riccarton m 1899, consequently Comfort, it may therefore be presumed, will want for nothing m the way of experience and ability on the part of his trainer. Oruesot is a real good sort when the going is in his favour, that is to say when he can gallop on the top of the course, and notwithstanding that he is a novice at the oh' stacle business his good showing at Bastings last week induces me to give him good prospects in his Auckland Ca ßohua in charge of M. Maher, left for Gisborne by the same boat, as carried Comfort and Oruesot.

T. Munn has Kahuwai in easy work. Quilt’s handsome daughter has a fine, healthy appearance, and should she cepe with the trying out operations will have to he taken into consideration when hurdle events come up for consideration in the future.

From all appearances, N.Z. Cup nominations will not be numerically strongor of an extra good clasfi from this district. Probable Hawke’s Bay entrants. I should say, will be Madrigal, Royal Fusilier, Melodeon, Starsboot, Float, Provost Marshal and Fleka. The Australian bred sire Carlyon, who is reported to be in a bad way in South Australia, has a daughter, Ilme-nui-te Po by name, running in the brood mare’s paddock on Mangatarata station. She is the dam of Bounce and Possibility. CHATTER. At the Liverpool soring meeting King Duncan (Ayrshire—Amphitheatre) who cost Mr R. S. Siovier 2000 guineas as a yearling, failed to get placect in the Stanley Stakes, for two-year-olds. The t third quarter of the Australian racing season being completed, statistics bearing on the winning sires’ list are now to hand. The descendants of the imported Grafton have raped so well as to place the Galopin norse at the head of the list with £12,177 opposite his name, and unless a Poisitano or a, Wallace can win one of the Nationals Grafton is pretty sure of first place among the winning sires for 1903-4. Not only is Grafton first as regards money won, but. he tops the tree for number of winner®, and also for number of races won.- Since August 1 no less than 37 horses by Grafton have been successful, ana among them they have accounted for 80* race®. Positano comes second to Grafton with £10,939, hut his record does not read, so well. He lias only had six winners, and Lord Cardigan lias won £8909 of the money that, is down against the son of St. Simon’s name. Wallace is third on the list with the respectable total of £9853. At the commencement of the autumn' matters looked rosy for Wallace to head the list, but with the V.R.C. St. Leger winner, Scottish King, going amiss just when at liis top. and Emir losing liis form, Carbine’s son will probably only just manage to reach placed honours.

Mr D. McKinnon’s appeal from the decision of the Auckland Racing Club regarding the stake attached to the Sylvia Handicap, won by Messrs L. D. and N. A. Nathan’s Beddington in 1900 has ended, as most people, would have wished, viz., in being thrown out. by the appeal board. The grounds upon which Mr McKinnon rested his case were that the partnership of the Messrs Nathan was not registered in accordance with the rules of racing. It was clearly established that the partnership of the two brothers had not been registered according to the rules, and a protest lodged within 12 months would have been successful. The time for objecting being limited to that period Mr McKinnon was out of court. The fact was well known as far back a® the season in which Beddington won the Sylvia Handicap that there was an oversight in the matter of registering the partnership of the Messrs Nathan, and why* Mr McKinnon was moved to take action after a lapse’ of nearly four years is a. little conundrum.. The following is a list, of the most successful two-year-olds each season since 1888-9: £ s. 1888- —Cynisea, by Apremont 1262 11 1889- —Pygmalion, by Apre- . lnont ... ... 1539 19 1890- —Florric, by Tasman... 1239 15 1891- —Whakawatea, by Apremont 1220 5 1892- —Strowan, by Locliiel... 1266 7 1893- —-Bluefire, by Maxim 2087 3 1894- —Mannlicher, by Maxim 1124 10 1895- —Bombshell, by Chainshot ...' ... ... 1016 10 1896- —Multiform, by Hotchkiss ... ' 2761 13 1897- —Conqueror, by St. George ... ... 1830 19 1898,-99—Screw Gun, by Hotchkiss ... ' 1782 0 1899- —Rehown, by Dreadnought ... ... 846 5 1900- —Menschikoff, by Stepniak ... 2555 0 1901- —-Porirua, by Seaton Delavel ... ... ••• 1140 0 1902- Treadmill, by Bill of _ Portland ... ... 1695 0 1903- Silkworm, by Seaton Delaval 1790 0

Among aU the crack three-year-olds that liave come and gone during the past thirty years, Lord Cardigan has won a. larger amount in stakes than any colt o-r filly at that age, and is the only tliree-y©&r-old t-foftfc lifts oioz* succeeded in winning the Melbourne and Sydney Cups, the two premier long-distance handicaps of Australia. Lord Cardigan’s earnings during the season amount to £B6IB, and next to him the largest a® a three-year-old in the Australian calendar is Newhaven (by Newininster), who won £7599 instaker; then follow in order Trident by Robinson Crusoe £7236: Amberite, by Carbine, £7066; Grand Flaneur, by Yattendon, £6954; Carbine, by Musket, £6306; Richmond by Maribyrnong, £5845; Merriwee, by Bill of Portland, £5783; Camoola, by Chester, £5724; Wallace, by Carbine, £5529; Dreadnought, by Chester, £5399: MartiniHenry, by Musket, £4861; Bohadil, by Bill of Portland, £4836; Chester, by Yattendon, £4791; Auraria, by Trenton, £4492; Navigator, by Robinson CTutsoe, £4450; Abercorn, by Chester. £4179; Le Grand, by Epigram, £3956; Abxin-

dance, by Pilgrim’s Progress, £3790;, Fireworks, by Kelpie, 3735: Gibraltar, by Grandmaster, £3656; Pride of the Hills, by Talk o’ the Hill, £3653; Strathmore, by Nordenfeldt. £3608 ; Progress, by Angler, £3563; The Barb, by Sir Hercules, £3500: Nordenfeldt. by Musket, £3300; The Australian Peer, by. Darebin, £3279; Briseis, by Tim Whiffler, £3210; First King, by King of the Ring, £3170; Darebin, by The Peer, £3102; and Carlyon, by Chester, £3067. The Taratahi-Carterton Racing Club intends to apply for another fixture during the year so as to enable them to hold a two day’s meeting in the autumn, the dates to be March 22nd and 23rd, 1905. Benefactor fell when being schooled over the Hurdles at the Hutt on Thuriv day last. The horse turned a complete somersault and H. Carmont (the rider), turned two. It was some minutes before Carmont was able to get on his feet. Benefactor also took time to recover from the shock. Neitner received more than a severe shaking. _St. Rowan, winner of the Maiden Hurdles at Takapuna. is Lochiel horse Strowan, who did stud duty in the Gisborne district. The St. Simon horse Soult, who has sired a great many winners in the Auckland district, had two successful representatives at the meeting on Saturday—Bonomiana and Kyra. Hippowai (St. Hippo —Orphan) put up fast time (3min 47 2-ssec) in the Handicap Hurdles, two miles, at Takapuna on Saturday. He has incurred 51b penalty in the Great Northern Hurdles, which makes liis weight 9.9. (51b less than he. carried at the North Shore. He will meet Princess of Thule, who was beaten by three lengths at Takapuna, on almosc similar terms at Ellerslie. The Otaki Maori Racing Club has received splendid nominations for its winte: • meeting. For twelve events 373 entries were received—an average of over thirty per race. The entrance money amounts to J 2376. Handicaps' for the first day are due to appear to-day. Mr Oh as. Cheva-nnes will be starter at the meeting. Mr Hori te \\ aru, who acted for many years in an Honorary capacity, .was recently presented by the club with a valuable- gold watch in appreciation of his services.

It is proposed to alter the name of the Kaikoura-owned horse Greenstone to “Jack.” This change is unlikely to be approved by the Racing Conference. The Turf Register has been full of Jacks since Messrs Mason and Vallance raced a gelding of that name, which was afterwards known in tlie Wairarapa as Pilgrimage. Delight was recently schooled over hurdles, and has been engaged in tfi© jumping events at the Otaki meeting. The new owner of the chestnut is Mr R. Hogg, brother to the owner of Levant. He lias applied to change the name of the St. Cyr mare to Rawenef The Wellington Racing Club ha-s decided bo hold th© steeple©nase meeting on Wednesday (Arbor Day) and Thursday, July 13th and 14th. It is expected that the public generally will appreciate the change. Wednesday will be a semi-holi-day tor all tradespeople, and as Government, law and insurance offices will be closed, the attendance of the public at this popular fixture ought to be very good. It is to be regretted that it ie C eliingvon Club is compelled, through no fault of* its own, to hold, with one exception, aP its meetings on business uays, the only holiday allotted by the Racing Conference to the Wellington Club being Anniversary Day. One hears a lot from time to time about the inconvenience of the railway, but. mere is no doubt about it that if the races were held on public holidays the attendance would rival that of any other club in New Zealand. The Racing Confrence is a very consei vativa institution, and very loth to interfere with the dates already secured by country clubs. The question of population, however, is one which it lias no right to set aside. Considerable dissatisfaction exists among the sporting public in Wellington owing to the consideration extended to country clubs at toe expense of that representing the capital city. Last year the conference was approached with a view to Labour Day being granted the Metropolitan Club, but the request was lightly set aside and refused, because by granting it the Otaki Maori race meeting on the same day would be affected. The privilege wa-s,- however, granted to the Napier Park Club, and this year it i® probable that Otaki will graciously give way to the Metropolitan Club. Mr Whyte states that further opposition is expected from Napier Park. Speaking generally it is to be hoped that the Racing Conference will view this matter in a broader spirit. The Wellington Club represents some 50,000 or 60,000 people, who ougiit to be properly catered for. There is too much cry of vested rights and not enough attention paid to popular rights by tlie members of the conference. There is a hue and cry throughout tne country that too much racing i-s being indulged in. This may be so, but certainly people in Wellington see very little of it. If the Otaki Maori Club intends giving way in favour of the Metropolitan Club, the natives will be showing a degree of consideration which augurs well for th© future success of the Otaki Club, and local sportsmen would do, well to bear this in mind on June 3rd next, the day of the Otaki meeting.

Gouvernant, who. we are informed by cable, is favourite for the English Derby, to be run on June Ist, is a French-bred colt. As a two-year-old he started five times, winning three events and being second in the other two. His principal success was in the Criterion International Stakes, of J 61608, five and a half furlongs, at Paris, in September. He is particularly well bred, being by Flying Fox (winner of the Two Thousand Guineas, Derby and St. Leger in 1899) from. Gouvernante. The colt is owned by the well-known French sportsman, M. Edmond Blanc. This gentleman has won the Grand Prix de Paris on half-a-dozen occasions, and, although he has tried several times, has never yet succeeded in wiuning the English Blue Riband. In 189-1 Gouverneuv (grandsire of Gouvernr.nt) carried M. Blanc’s colours.into second place behind Common. The following season Buceataure ran third to

Sir Hugo. A yea:r ago Viniciu3 acted as runner-up to Rock Sand. A victory for the Frenchman would no doubt be folloAved by a popular demonstration at Epsom on Wednesday week. The grey gelding Pippo made his first appearance in New South Wales in the Steeplechase, about two miles and a half, at the Sydney Turf Club's meeting at Randwick. Two of the six runners fell, and the veteran Graftee Avon. Pippo finished a bad last—thirty lengths behind the third horse. The NeAv South Wales handicapper has great respect for jumpers from this colony, and had placed Pippo at the head of the handicap. Lissa left for Wanganui on Friday morning. The Lethe gelding Avill be •ridden in'the Century Hurdle Pace by Hugh Telford, Avho has done a good deal of riding over fences on the West Coast for Mr J. Colvin and other OAvners. Spalpeen is engaged in the Hurdle Race at the Talcapuna meeting, Avhich opens to-day, and may therefore not make the journey to Wanganui. Matuku changed hands recently, and will in future be raced by the local sportsman who adopts the nom de course of J. McFarlane. F.J.A. started at 20 to 1 on in the St. Leger Stakes at Adelaide and Avon easily in record time for the' race, 3min The Flemington-trained Step-out (Thunderbolt —Footstep) scored an easy victory in the South Australian Stakes, sev'en furlongs, in which she started at 10 to 1 on. Latchkey (Padlock—Jess) was conceeding Phaedra tAvio stone in the Goodwood Handicap, six furlongs, and in tho run-off Avon by a head in lmin 16sec. At a meeting of stewards of the Masterton Trotting Club, Mr Thos. Duncan was appointed to represent the club at tho annual conference of clubs affiliated to the association. A circular was receWed from Mr C. F. Mack, the Auckland delegate, to the NeAv Zealand Trotting Conference, in Avhich he drew attention to certain irregularities in the bal-ance-sheet of the association. It was resoHed, on the motion of Mr C. A. nail, seconded by Mr Hill, “That a delegate be appointed to attend the next conference, Avith instructions to specially inquire into matters contained in Mr Mack’s circular, and that Mr Mack be sent a copy of this resolution Avith the thanks of this club for the energy he has displayed in the matter.'” The Wellington Racing Club has decided to delete the Hack and Hunters Steeulechase events from the programme of the Avinter meeting, and substitute two hack hurdle handicaps, value bO sovs each, the distances being one mile and three-quarters and one mile and a half. Judging by the Otaki entries for this class of event,- the change should he Arell received by horse-owners.