TURF TOPICS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1747, 30 August 1905, Page 45

TURF TOPICS

By "Advance.”

THE TURF REGISTER. From the compilers we have received a copy of the New Zealand Turf Register for the season 1904-5. The present is the fifteenth volume of this useful publication that has been issued by the Christchurch Press Company. It contains a full report of the past season’s racing and trotting in this colony, the new rules of racing, dates of race meetings, tables showing the results of principal races in New Zealand and Victoria, entries for coming events, registered colours, racing statistics, scale of weight-for-age, index to running and trotting horses, and other information of interest to turf followers. The useful work of reference is published at the reasonable figure of half a guinea. ASHHU RST-POH ANGINA RACING CLUB. The annual general meeting of the above was held on the 19th inst. There was an attendance of 29 members, and the President (Mr P. Hanlon) occupied the chair. The following report was presented to members: —Your Stewards have the pleasui-e of submitting to you the annual report and statement of accounts. The annual race meeting, held on December 28th, adds another to the already long list of successes, and despite the inclement weather experienced returned an approximate profit of £4OO. The sum of £11,927 passed through the totalisator, against £11,863 the previous year. Actual receipts, compared with last year's figures, show an increase of £ll. Privileges increased fcy £l4; but in entries there was a shrinkage of £lB. Stakes, £IOOO, formed the principal item in revenue expenditure, exceeding the amount given last year by £155. During the last year your Stewards’ energies have been specially directed towards giving the public greater facilities and

comfort. The erection of buildings and carrying out of minor improvements involved an expenditure of £1333. Your Stewards have pleasure in stating that fifty nominations were received for the Ashhurst Guineas, 1906. This response from owners is most gratifying and constitutes a record. Twenty-four second payments were made for the 1905 Guineas, to be run on December 28th. Membership shows a further increase this year, there being 127 financial members out of a total of 144. It has been decided to write off, as irrecoverable, outstanding entries and members’ subscriptions amounting to £3l 10s. On reference to the balance-sheet it will be noticed that the excess of assets over liabilities is estimated at £2185 15s 3d. In accordance with a resolution passed, six of your Stewards, acting as guarantors, remain in office. You will therefore be asked, at the annual meeting, to elect only six Stewards for the ensuing year. In conclusion, your Stewards congratulate members on the sound financial position of the club. The adoption of the report and bal-ance-sheet was carried on the proposition of J. Craven, seconded by F. Roberts.

The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows:—President, Mr P. Hanlon (re-elected); Vice-Pre-sidents, Messrs T. Gardiner and F. Roberts ; Hon. Treasurer, Mr J. H. Paton.; Stewards, Messrs P. Hanlon, T. Gardiner, T. Grammer, P. Kerrigan, J. H. Patron, T. Nicol, F. Roberta,W. Dellow, H. Cornford, W. McKitric, H. Fraser, G. Bo water.

Pursuant to notice, Mr C. Selby moved—“ That all members hereafter elected shall pay an entrance fee of three guineas.” In speaking to the motion, Mr Selby said that, considering the club had been worked into a good position and held large assets, future members should pay an entrance-fee, however small it might be. On being put to the vote this was negatived. Proposed by Mr J. Hi. Vincent, seconded by Mr T. Grammer, and carried unanimously, that the stewards, in future pay out sixpences of dividends to investors and donate fractional parts of sixpences of dividends to the District Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. The Secretary was voted a bonus of £lO, and the clerk of the course one guinea. A vote of thanks to the outgoing Stewards terminated the meeting. At a subsequent meeting of the newly elected Stewards, Messrs L. Wallis and F. Selby were elected members of the club, and accounts amounting to £4 12s were passed for payment. LOWER VALLEY JOCKEY CLUB. The following notices of motion by Mr Thomas Card will be considered at the annual meeting of the Lower Valley Jockey Club to be held on the 31st instant. Repeal Rule 20 and Substitute— “2o. Candidates for any office shall be nominated by two members of the Club and the nomination paper signed by such two members and by the Candidate shall be delivered to the Secretary at least 14 days before the day appointed for the annual meeting. If the number of Candidate exceeds the number of offices to be filled, the Secretary shall cause voting papers containing the names of such Candidates to be printed and posted to each member of the Club not later than seven days before the annual meeting. Every member voting shall strike out the name of the Candidate or Candidates fox - whom he desires not to vote,- enclose the voting paper in an envelope marked ‘Voting Paper,’ sign his name inside the envelope but not on the voting paper and then seal up and enclose the voting paper in that envelope and return it to the Secretary not later than 12 noon of the day appointed for the annual meeting. Should any member leave uncancelled a greater or lesser number of names than there are vacancies to be filled, the voting paper shall be invalid. In the event of there being a lesser number of candidates than there are offices to be filled-, the Stewards in office may fill the vacancies.” Repeal Rule 21 and Substitute—“2l. Thiee scrutineers shall be appointed at the meeting, who shall open the envelopes and first cause a list of the names of the voting members to be made out from the envelopes ; shall then cause all the envelopes to be destroyed in their presence, and shall then open the voting papers and report the result of each election to the meeting. In the event of more than the required number of office-bearers receiving an equal number of votes, the question of which of them is to. hold office shall be decided by lot, to be drawn by the Chairman of the meeting.” Rule 15 —Strike out IQ and substite 14 in line 2. Rule 10—Add: Not less than 21 days public notice in a district newspaper shall be given of such meeting. MASTER TON TROTTIING CLUB. The annual meeting of the Masterton Trotting Club was held on the 23rd inst. Mr F. Hill presiding over about twenty members. Three new memners were elected. The following were nominated for seats on the New Zealand Trotting:

Aissociation:—Messrs C. F. Mark and J. H. Pollock (North Island), EL Clark* son, W. G. Garrard, Hon. H. Gourley t W. Hayward, C. S. . Howell, A. L* Myers, P. Selig (South Island). The annual balance-sheet, which was adopted, showed that the receipts had amounted to £267 18s 2d, and the expenditure to £3ll 19s lid. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr W. D. Watson; Vice-Presidents, Messrs E. M. D. Whatman, F. Hill, J. O’Meara; Timekeeper, Mr F. Hill; Judge, Mr C. H. Smith; Clerk of Course, Mr H. Welch; of Scales, Mr A. Snodgrass; Auditor, Mr A. Hathaway; Stewards, Messrs D. McNair, F. Buick F. Dorset, T. W. Miller, W. Gragg, J. O’Neill, W. lorns, H. Welch, C. A. Pownall, J. Dixon, L. H. Rayner, A. Snodgrass, W. Cooper, W. Whittaker, G. H. Yates, R. J. Hodgins, J. Cress, W. H. Buick; Programme Committee, Messrs W. D. Watson, J. Dress, R. J. Hodgins, F. Hill, A. Snodgrass, O. A. Pownall, W. Cooper; Ground Committee, Messrs F. Buick, T. W. Miller, J. Cress, A. Snodgrass, W. Gragg, W. Whittaker, J. O’Neill, R. J. Hodgins, W. Cooper, G. H. Yates, J. Dixon. J. O’Meara, D. McNair. Mr A. Snodgrass moved that the annual trotting meeting be held on Boxing Day.—lMr J. O’Meara moved as an amendment that the meeting be held on November 16.—After some discussion the amendment was carried. The Ground Committee were appointed a deputation to wait on the Ground Committee of the A. and P. Association with a view to obtaining the use of the showgrounds for two months. DANNEVIRKE JOCKEY CLUB. The annual meeting of the Danne* virk© Jockey Club was held cn August 21st, when there were present Messrs Gordon Lloyd (vice-president) in the chair, W. H. Hartgill, R. N. B-lakiston, W. G. Hunter, O. Baddeley, J. Neagle, J. Halligan, T. McDermott, J. Devonshire, O. Cross, J. Blair, G. James, W. J. lngley, R. Roake. The report a.nd balance-sheet were read as follows and adopted on the proposition of Mr Blaii*, seconded by, Mr G. James:—< Gentlemen—ln submitting the annual report and balance-sheet, your stewards have again the pleasure of congratulating you upon another year’s successful work. Your stewards decided, owing to the cramped nature of the appointments and the increasing attendance of the public each succeeding year, to enlarge the lawn, stewards’ and saddling paddocks, also' erect new totalisator shed, secretary’s, Weighing and cloak rooms, ticket office, 12 new stalls, urinal, etc., inside and out.; enlarge jockeys’ room and erect new steps along the whole front of the grand stand. These improvements were effected at a cost of about £3OO. The annual races were held on the Bth and 9th March, and again proved a great success, the amount put through the totalisator totalling £14,661 as against £10,954 the previoxis year, .or an inci*eaise of £3707, which places the club eighth on the list of the 80 clubs in New Zealand holding totalisator permits. This is based on the average investments per day. The following figures will show the receipts of past year from the chief sources to be again largely in excess of those of the previous year, viz:— ,

It is a recommendation from your stewards that Mr M. who has acted as a vice-president- of the club for many years, should .be elected a life member. The question of fending the course is another important matter for your consideration, and on© which should i - eceuve your immediate l attention, as if done at once the course would greatly benefit thei - eby before the annual races are held. In accordance with our rules Messrs Bowen, McLennan, Crosse, and Manahi Paewai retire from the stewards, the two latter - gentlemen being eligible for re-election, the two former gentlemen having left the district. You will also hav© to elect an auditor. Proposed l by Mr Hartgill, seconded by Mr Btaddeley, That Mr M. Henderson be elected a life member of the Club. Carried. Mr Hartgill proposed, and Mr Crosse seconded, That Messrs Neagle, Paul, Lloyd, Devonshire, McDermott* and tha mover be a committee to inquire into the possibility of acquiring a freehold racecourse, and report to a meeting of stewards, to be. held within one month fi*om date. Carried unanimously The following officers were then duly elected: President, Mr Geo. Hunter ? vice-presidents, Messrs Gordon Lloyd, and R. N. Blakiston ; treasurer, Mr C. Baddeley ; stewards. Messrs W. G. Hunter. J. Neagle, J. Devonshire. W. Mai*-

' ray, O. Crosse, W. J. Wylie, R. Roake, 'W. J. Ingley, Hoera, Karaitiana, am l Manahi PaewaJi. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the proceedings. WAIPAWA RACING CLUB. At the annual meeting of the Waipawa Racing Club, Mr W. H. Rathbone presided and there was a good attendance. The balance-sheet, wh’ioh showed that the year’s working had resulted in a considerable profit, was adopted. The following officers were elected: — President, Mr T. Butler; vice-president, Mr John Harker; honorary treasurer, Mr A. E. Jull; committee, Messrs J. Pettit, W. H. Rathbone, C. Tricklebank, S. McGreevy junr., J. Ctaig, 0. H Nash, B. P. Beyers, T. W. Wills and O. M. Whittington; honorary auditor, Mr M- Murray. Messrs A. W. Sikerman, A. YuilJ., and H, Carlyon were elected members of the club. The tender of Messrs Cohen and Co. was accepted for working the totalisator. The following officials were appointed: —Handicapper, Mr J. E. Henrys; hon. judge, Mr S. McGreevy junr.; hon. starter, Mr Paul Hunter; clerk of the course, Mr R. McGreevy; hon. clerk of the scales, Mr W. H. Rathbone; hon. clerk of the totalizator, Mr M. Murray; hon. timekeeper, Mr H. M. Rathbone; programme committee, Messrs Rathbone, McGreevy and * Whittington ; ground committee, Messrs Butler, MoGreevy, Trioklebank, Craig and Whittington. , It was decided to effect further improvements to the course. Votes of thanks were accorded the hon. officials for their services. TARANAKI JOCKEY CLUB. A meeting of the Taranaki Jockey Club Committee was held on the 26th August. Present: Messrs J. Paul (chairman), Newton King, Ellis. Fitzberbert, Gibbons, G. Gray, Lepper, Bempton, Watson, and W. O. Weston. On application of A. J. Ryan, the disqualification incurred by the horse Dick for running at unregistered meetings in the Mokau district was removed. In accordance with the request of the Bgmont and Stratford Clubs a certain horse was removed from the forfeit list. v The following additional licenses were granted:—Jookeys: Ernest Hendry, Edward Murtagh, Geo. Read, Harry J. Stevens, John Telford. Trainers: Harry Eva. William Elliot, Ernest Hendry. Apprentices: W. L. Graham, C. Williams. Gentleman rider’s certificate: Clive Matthews, Waiitara. W. Bird was refused a jockey’s license, and the application of Norman Campbell. who was previously refused, for restitution to the list, was not entertained. Several applications for* stable permits were received. The committee decided to inform the applicants that under the new rules the granting of permits is done away with. The new procedure is for a trainer desiring to employ a stable servant to write to his last employers, if any, as to character, and on receiving a satisfactory reply to submit the name to the Metropolitan Committee. It was decided to call applications for the position of one handicapper to frame the weights for the Christmas and au- j tumn meetings. I Mr Henry Linn was appointed clerk of the course and Mr Fred Stohr timekeeper. ! STRATFORD RACING CLUB. The annual general meeting of the Stratford Racing Club was held 1 on Aug. 24th. The president, Dr Paget, occupied the chair, and about twenty-five members were present. In moving their adoption, the chairman said the reduction in profits from £B2B 15s 4d to £340 17s lid was a considerable decrease, but against that must be placed the facts that the stakes Avere increased, and that they paid full freight on visiting horses

Mr S. Pitt seconded the motion. Although they would rather have had a profit than a loss, they had. the console

hi on of knowing that other neighbouring clubs had done worse. Mr O. D. Sole asked if it was intended to continue the payment of £ls 15s to the stipendiary steward.

The chairman said that matter would be considered by the committee. At an isolated country meeting the presence of a stipendiary steward acted merely as a deterrent, but be would be a very useful official if forced on all clubs. There were other officials they might dispense Avith, hut if they did anything to lower the prestige of the meeting they might lose more than they would gain. \

j Mr F. Tyrer congratulated the committee on its satisfactory report. He j thought with the Chairman that by cutting doAvn small expenses they would lose in prestige. The chairman moved as an addition to tiie report “That it bo a recommendation to the committee to have a dinner at the next annual meeting.” They did not often meet as a club, and when they did they should have something more than a business meeting. He thought such a departure would lie popular. Mr Pitt seconded the addition, which was carried unanimously. Tlie report and balance-sheet was adopted. ! The president stated that there were | only sufficient nominations, to fill the j vacant offices. The following gentlemen were therefore declared duly elected:—President, Dr Paget; vice-president, Mr A. W. Budge; committeemen, Messrs S. Pitt, A. Bayly and W. Young; auditors, Messrs F. G. Kimbeli and L. Riera. Votes of thanks were passed to Messrs Malone, MoVeagh and Anderson, for donation, Taranaki Jockey Club, for donation of gentlemen riders’ fees towards trophy, and Mr Mcßae, f6r representing country clubs at the Racing Conference. Mr W. J. Morrison proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the President for his valuable services to the club. M:r Pitt seconded the motion. Only those who worked for the club knew how much it owed to the nresident. The motion was carried. Dtr Paget, in returning thanks, exuressed appreciation of the support accorded him by the other officials. The criticism passed upon the committee and himself had always been kindly, and much of it had been most helpful. A t the next annual meeting he hoped to see Mr A. W. Budge, a valued member who was now in England on a holiday, present. (Applause.) On the motion of Mr Sole, seconded by Mr B. B. Stohr, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the committee. Mr Pitt proposed a special vote of thanks to Mr Morrison, who bad put in a large amount of time and work in the interests of the club. The motion was carried by acclamation. The meeting then terminated. The following is the full committee for the ensuing year:—Messrs T. L. Paget, A. W. Budge, W. Morrison, W. Young, A. Bayly, A. Stewart, W. Pollack, S. Pitt, and C. H. Arndt. CHATTER. Mr OES. R. White, of Merton., has purchased the English horse Flavus from Messrs W. and F. Moses, who imported this handsome son of Hampton last year, and subsequently leased him for stud work to Mr White for two years. Tantrum, a good-looking English-bred filly, by Trenton from Spanish 'Match, imported last year by Messrs W. and F. Moses, of Ooinbadello, is to be tried on the turf, and with that end in view her owners have arranged to send her in a few days to Bamshaw’s establishment at Randwiok to be trained. A number of Queensland-bred stallions, blood and draught, were shipped from Brisbane last week for Japan by the steamer Everton Grange. Among the thoroughbreds were Archives, King Cole, Master Darley, Milltown, Oroagh Patrick, Silver King, Uralia, Congress, and Battle Dream, all well-known performers, of more or less merit. The shipment also included a couple of Cleveland bays and a dozen Clydesdale stallions. These stallions, nearly 100 head, were selected and purchased on behalf of eastern by Mr A. J. Morton, who during the past six |

months has covered some thousands of miles in search of horsestock in Queensland.

Pierus, who won the Trial Handicap and Epsom Purse at the Epsom meeting recently, was bred un Australia, being by Haut Brion (imp.) from Urana, by Lochiel from Uralia, by Chester from Moonstone (imp.), by Blair Athol. Pierus, who is a fou rjwo ur-old gelding, has 6.9 in the Melbourne Cup. The Hon. George Lee, of Kelso, has selected the Hobartviile stallion Simmer, by St. Simon to match with bxs famous Trenton mare EtraAveenie this season. To a St. Simon horse, Bill of Portland, EtraAveenie threw a Derby and Melbourne Cup Avinner, and as Simmer has sired a first-class stayer, Dividend, from a Trenton mare, his choice promises to be a happy one. Hegemony, a three-year-old filly, by Sir Hugo from the Martini-Henry mare Acmena (winner of the A.J.O. Champagne Stakes), was successful in the Worcestershire Handicap, of 150 sovs., one mile and a quarter, in England, on 6th July. Hegemony, who is OAvned by Lord Carnarvon, won by threequarters of a length. The Px-ineess of Wales Stakes, of 10,000 sovs., one mile and a half, Avhich AA r as run at Newmarket last month, was won by four lengths by Mr S. B. Joel’s St. Simon colt St. Denis, Exchequer finishing, second, and Lancashire third. Henry the First, who started at even money in a field of nine, ran fifth. St. Denis was second favourite, at 11 to 4. The vallue of the race to the winner Avas £7435.

Aline, who a few days ago at Victoria Park, Adelaide, Avon the Fulham Park Plate, the first two-year-old race of the season, is a smart filly by Carlyon, Avho is a noted sire of precocious stock, from Alveary, by Eiridspord from Queen Bee, by Snowden from Beeswing, by Ladykirk, so that on the dam side she claims relationship with the dual Caulfield Cup winner Hymettus, the crack hurdle racer Hive. Viking, Cordite and otner smart performers. The Auckland Racing Club pays its secretary £SOO a year and the aocountant, the man avlio does the work, £l5O. Mr George Morse, of Wanganui, has been appointed handicapper to the Baioio, Kiwi tea. and Marlborough Racing clubs. Mr Morse did good work tast season, especially at Wanganui which club, I am nleased te hear, has recognised his services in a suitable oianner.

Mr Geo. G. Stead leaves on Saturday next for Randwick to see his horses race a.t the A.J.O. meeting which opens on Sept. Bth. The Auckland Racing Club has voted its handicapper, Mr J. O. Evith, a bonus of 25 guineas, making £275 for thirteen days racing. The Nori hern Metropolitan Club, which pays £650 for clerical assistance, gets its handicapping done cheap. By the last Sydney mail I had a letter from Mr R. C. Rutherford, secretary of the New South Wales Trotting Club. Dick is an old West Coast boy, son of the owner of British Lion, Whakatea and Co. Before leaving New Zealand he Avas secretary and bandioapper for the Greymouth Trotting Club, vihich body he represented at the conferences held in Wellington.

Sir Geo. Clifford has been elected a life member of the Auckland Racing Club. In addition to Oaiman and Mrs Pegotty, the Victorian studmaster, Mr William McCulloch, has purchased in England three brood mares winch, like Caiman and Mrs Pegotty, are on their Avay to Melbourne. They consist of Queen of the Vale (1897), by Raeburn —Queen of the Isles, covered by Orvieto; Helas (1896), by Amphion— Blavatsky, in foal bo Ugly; and Kenning (1897), by Kendal from Peace, in foal to Mackintosh.

Avioe, a yearling filly, by Bill of Portland from Lady Disdain, was sold by auction at Newmarket, in JEngland, on Gth July, for 1150 guineas, the purchaser being Mr G. 11. Freeman. Aquamarian, a three-year-old colt by by the Australian-bred Merman, won the Grandstand Plate, a mile welter handicap, at Carlisle (England) races last month. He was not quoted in the betting, but led throughout, and beat five opponents. It is expected that the crack English mare Pretty Polly will be able to race again in England this season. Some time ago she strained the muscles of her near quarters, and it was feared that she had been permanently injured, but last month she was walking freely, and appeared to have thoroughly recovered. When the last mail arrived from England Mi' S. Joel was next to Mr W. H. Walker in the list of winning owners this season. He had won £14,228 10s to Mr Walker’s £18,874 Word comes from Morpeth (New South Wales) of the death of the once famous Kingsborough mare Muriel. Muriel was the property of the Bandwick trainer, Joe Burton, for whom she won many good stakes, including Tattersall’s Oup, but an accident ruined her career at the stud.. This was a serious loss to her owner, as Muriel ranked as one of the finest-looking brood mares in Australia. She had two foals, Saltillo, by Niagara, and the Trenton mare Alga, who has made some amends to Burton by breeding Hautesse and Warreoi two undoubtedly good

ones. Muriel AA r as bred by Mr John Lee, at Bathurst, and was by Kingsborough from Washed Ashore (imp.), therefore was a full sister to Kathleen, the dam of those two splendid Pilot Boy and Cabin Boy. W. Thomas, who was for a long time associated with W. Davis’s stable, has gone South to a billet, St. Winifred has recently joined Davis’s team of track workers.

S. Lindsay will probably journey to Auckland for the Avondale meeting this month. , -

Jeanne d’Aro did not stay long at the Hutt, having been sent back to the Wairarapa last Aveek. It is stated that there are facilities for training at the Taratahi track.

J. W. Lowe has decided to set up as a public trainer at the Lower Hutt, having leased the stables formerly tenanted by Mr Paterson’s horses.

W. H. Keith, Avho went to Australia this time last year with Union Jack, returned from Sydney last week. D. J. Price, in whose name Machine Gun is racing in Australia, left for Sydney on Saturday last. Tho writer understands it is the intention of A. McConnon to apply to the Nelson Jockey Club for a remission of six months of the disqualification imposed in March last. The writer was not present at the Nelson meeting and therefore has no knowledge of what took place there. McConnon’s behaviour both on and off the course at several meetings the writer attended last year was very satisfactory. There appears to be every probability that October 21st (Trafalgar Day) will be declared a general holiday throughout the colony. The spring meeting of tho Wellington Racing Club and the last to be held on the eld course, has been fixed for October 18th and 21st. It has been suggested that the titles of some of the races should be appropriate to tho hundredth anniversary of the victory of Lord Nelson over French and Spanish fleets.

Acceptances for the New Zealand Cup will appear on Saturday next. Melwood showed signs of lameness one day last Aveek and Avas off the track a couple of days in consequence.

Victorian-bred horses have done well in West rail a this season. At the Boulder meeting the City Handicap, of 250 sovs, six furlongs, Avas won by War Chief (Wallace —Flash). War Chief is rather mb red, his dam being a daughter of Enfidale. The Coolgardie Cup, of 450 sovs, was won by Circuius ; by Malvolio —Circle, by Carbine. Fabric and Ciroulus were both bred by Mr J. Wilson, junior.

The Boulder Cup, of 800 sovs, two miles and 48 yards, was won by Fabric, by Bill of Portland—Chintz, full-brother to Cretonne and half-brother to Avalon (by Strathmore). On the way home from the National meeting Alick Hall purchased Shrapnel and took him to Hastings, where Numa has been trained since the Wellington meeting. Later on Shrapnel and Kremlin may join the ranks of the jumping brigade. Hugh Telford will be a spectator at the early spring meetings, having fractured a collarbone when The Dauber fell with him in the Enfield Steeplechase.

A Wairarapa owner, who signs himself “A Battler,” writes suggesting that the first race on the new course at Trentham should be a Free Handicap, for which no nomination and acceptance fee would be paid. Besides being about a record nomination and field) it would probably attract to the meeting a number o*f horses who would not otherwise be induced to come. With reference to the above suggestion the writer is of opinion that the Club, in going to an outlay £30,000 to provide up-to-date grounds should receive the support of horsfe. owners Avithout any special inducement such as has been suggested. It woul® also give the secretary and handicapped unnecessary Avork and draw too large & field. For many years in the old day a the Fx*ee Handicap was the opening o\'ent at Riccarton in the spring and autumn. Both races Avere run over eight furlongs. They Avere not “free” to OAA r ners. The race in November Avas worth 100 sovs and an owner had to pay 5 sovs to start. The autumn race was worth 50, owners having to pay 3 sovs. In those days the payments made by owners ,vvas considered a sweepstake and generally went to the second horse. About the same time the Auckland Racing Club included a Free Handicap, run over a mile, in the programme of its summer meeting. The conditions were somewhat similar to the other events, oAvners paying 3 sovs, which "went in a say eepstake to the second horse, to Avin 100 sovs in stake money. The Bgmont-—Wanganui Hunt Club meeting Avas held on Thursday of last week. The Kaiwaka gelding Rapanui wo'.i a double, the Licensed Victuallers? Steeplechase, two miles and a distance, in which Senordta fell, and Jackaroo and Cairo took the Avrong course. In the Hunt Club Steeplechase, two miles and a half, Rapanui beat Jonquil (halfbrother to Handsome Rose) a nock, Old Gun being third. Cairo, who was the only other starter, fell. C. Jenkins won the half-mile hack race on Sedgemoor (Sedgebrook—Rosie) from Land-o’-Cakes and Olairmont. The latter, by St Cyr—Spray, won the six furlongs hack race from the stable mates Clifton and Kuroki. Senorita (Strenuous —Don Juan mare) won the Ladies Bracelet

Steeplechase, two miles. Jonquil came to grief in this race and Mr B. Gordon ■ustained a fractured, collarbone. Showjnan (by The Workman—-Victress) halfbrother to- Sedgebrook, won the Hunters’ Flat Race, one mile and a distance. G. Pritchard returned from Christchurch without Matuku, who was disposed of there for. £SO. She is fast but not too sound. Defoe, Levant, Wind and The Dauber have had a. spell since they returned from Christchurch. The latter may be sent to Rang'tikei for the Steeplechase events. Black Squall and Te Kanui may be raced at Mart-on. Scotty was asked to meet Gladstone and Paritutu on 291 b and 121 b better terms respectively than when he finished behind the horses named in the Auckland Autumn Handicap, one mile and a half. Mrs 80. Watson recently purchased four quarter-acres sections at Tnentham at £45 a-piec©—£lßo for an acre. Shrapnel Shell and Hydrant came back from Christchurch in charge of H. Oarmont, and have been having a short spell from hard work since. Shrapnel Shell will make his next appjearanoe at Wanganui, on which course he has run some of his best races. Frank Higgottspent a holiday in the South and returned home on Sunday last. Miss Peggy (late Ovrinet) by Cydnus— Irma won a race at 80-ulder last month. C. Pritchard had an addition to his team last week in a four-year-old chestnut gelding by St. Hippo—Rip oripo (by Puriri) dam of Tutua. The two-year-old colt, by Phoebus Apollo—Chrysolite, in training at Porirua has been named Delos. Scotty, whose New Zealand Cup chance ia highly assessed in some quarters, was not engaged in the Avondale Cup, but is in the Plump ton Handicap, one mile, run on the second day of the meeting. As tins race is worths 130 sovs to the winner it will carry SVS penalty in the New Zealand Oup. After competing, once in Mr Hogan’s name Whataroa was repurchased by Mr Miortensen for 90 guineas, and came back to Devin with Valima and Flying Cloud.

1904. 1905. £ 6. d. £ s. d. Nominations • ••> 100 0 0 175 10 0 Acceptances • •• 123 10 0 173 15 0 Entries ... 20 0 0 34 10 0 Members' subscriptions ... 67 4 0 78 14 0 Privileges ... 236 1 4 301 0 0 Totalizator Revenue ... 1C35 9 3 1381 15 0 Stakes paid ... 705 0 0 1095 0 0 Government tax of 1£ per cent 164 6 1 219 18 0