THE TURF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13886, 25 April 1907, Page 5

THE TURF.

By SwtnNr.r,.

In lodging an appeal against the six months' disqualification 'imposed upon them by the Auckland Racing Club for lioing parlies to the pulling o! the horse Ilierarcli in tho Nursery Handicap deeided on December 26 of last year, Mr Lewis llarris and the well-known trainer .John Thorpe evidently jumped Irom the frying pan. into tho fire. Tho jockey Speaknian, who rc<le tho colt, although he was not an appellant against his disqualification, ifl likely to find himself in the same position as Slesars. Harris and ' Thorpe when bis term expires, as the judges have directed tho attention of Iho Auckland and other metropolitan clubs lo Ibe question whether a license should again be iusuod to I'ini. Tho nature of the evidence and information which caused the judges to mcreaso the punishment meted out by the A.K.C. must have been very convincing for theni lo take such an action, but it is understood that Spcakmau, at the in6tigalion of one of the owners of the colt, inado a confession lo the authorities, with the result mentioned above. The case has excited a gcod deal of comment, and will naturally create a flutter in Auckland, ivhero the parties are well- known and prominent jieoplo in racing circlca. The severity of Ihe punishment meted out should have a deterring effect on those who are inclined to stray or have strayed irom Ihe straight path, as, apart from Ihe dig. graoc cf being disqualified for 'fraudulent racing, the* pecuniary part of the sentence is by no means a small item, becausc many riders and trainers who make gcod livings on Ihe lurf would have to lie content with very humble fare if forced to cam their bread outside a racecourse. TUB TAII L'N'A PARK MEETING. Tho Tahuna Park Trotting Club have received such excellent nominations for their winter meeting that it is almost safo to predict another successful gathering at our trolling headquarters. ( The majority of tho events on Ihe programme have filled very well, and Ihe full list shows an increaso of no less than 75 above last, year's figures. Clasa is also well represented, as Ills principal events have attracted nominations from Ihe owners of several smart-gailed animals. ' The liljerality with _which owners have subscribed lo the meeting make it. clcar that the club have only lo keep a progressive policy steadily in view in order to send along our trotting meetings with leans and bounds. Breeders have been, and are now, devoting a lot of attention lo the raising o! trotting stock, and naturally an outlet anil market must bo found for them. There i« no lest of merit equal to tho raco track. Good-lookers are no good unless tliey have speed and stamina, and what is really worth money ca.ii only bo disco,vcred by Ihe, test of training. Hence it it! tho duty of race clubs to keep going ahead as lar as their fmanccs permit. The Tahuna Park 'meetings have been steadily growing in popularity, and the wrilor predicts that under Iho improved conditions which will probably be in existence next season they wiil bccomo moro popular than ever. In connection with Ihe coming meeting, however, tho club appears lo have made a backward ftep, as at the atilunm meeting (here was lCOso'vti for a 5.10 'olaa, but next month lliere is only BDjove for a smin class. The winter meeting has generally lieen regarded as a sort of "off" fixture, but in catering for high-class horses the staked should, as far as possible, be brought ill line with tho class. Still, owners have responded freely, and it is lo bo hoped largo fields will remain after the ncoeptancc, tvhich is due on Wednesday, May 1.

— A. yearling brother to Roso JToblo sold at 40gs at the Sydney sales. — Tho yearling brother to Poseidon is to race under the name of Orcus.

— Cuirosscttia, L-icy, arid Heirloom woro given a lesson over hurdles last week. — Proceed won GOOsovs in plnco money during too four days' racing at'Kandwick.

— Tho Stopniak marc Beresina is to bo retired to the stud, and will visit Maltster.

— The Allendale stock farm will hold a largo salo of trotting stock on Thursday, July 11. — Ivoniinations for the North Otugo Jockey Club's ■.winter meeting aro duo on Thursday, May 2.

— lii Sydney every yearling that comes info tho ring carries its number, and is easily identified. ' « —'fto New Healandors Mahutonga and Swimmer re-appeared oil tho track at P.andwick this mouth.

— Acceptances for tho first day of tho Tahuna Park Trotting Club's meeting aro duo on Wednesday, May 1. —Kurnwaka, who won tho Hntt Handicap on the sccond day of tho W.15.C. meeting, is a half sister to Mahutonga.

— Lany Wallace, a winner of the A.J.C. St. Leger, V.U.C. Derby, V.li.C. St. Loger, and other races, is to go to the stud.

— From a Sydney exchaaigo it is learnt that Wildivccd, the siro of Itibbonwoed, died in IS'ew South Wnlos recently.

— Of'the 17,59C50vs given by tho A.J.C. Vic-torian-owned horses won 761<Jsova and New South Wales-owned horses 99S0sovs.

—At its autumn mooting 'the Wellington Racing ClubMiidicated.on a-blackboard the result of the draw for position at the post. — The Wallace liorf?0 Kmir is to take up stud duties next season at 30gs. Emir won on £7(KW in slakes without winning a handicap.

— Dividend, the crack performer at tho K-indwick meeting, is a short-podigrccd horse, and his breeding cannot'be traced beyond his third dam.

— The Kobe Herald says that tho Japanese Being Association liavo made arrangements for tho importation of about JO racehorses from Australia.

— Tlio appeal lodged against the disqualification imposed by the South Canterßury Jockey Club at its recent meeting is to be heard this week.

— Kvenlode, who is ono of the best hurdlers seen out during tho season, lias boon purchased by "Mr- ,T. Alonlalt," the owner oi Narcissus.

— Owners are reminded that nominations for the Ashburton County ltacing Club's meeting, •which is to take place on May 15 and IG, eloso o:i Saturday, April 27. .

— A coll..by Maltster from Crossfire, the dam of Long Tom, sold at Uo3gs at tho llandwick sains. Another Maltster, from Gavotte, the daiu of Elibank. sold at. 42flgs.

— Achillea was left about four lengths at the start for tho North Island Challenge Stakes, and that must have materially helped to bring about his defeat. — The South Canterbury Jockey Club made f, profit, of £375 over their recent meeting. The' (takes were £170 higher than the amount given away av last year's meeting. —At the Sydney bloodstock satles tho yearlings. brood marc?, stallions, etc., put under tho hammer totalled .131 head, and they returned £,i 1 . (,130 lo tlicit; vendors.

—It is rumoured that a northom syndicate is iiegotintiiig for the purchase ot the. Forbury Park 'Hacecoufse', and if the place i* acquired it will be converted into u "Wonderland."

— It. is reported that Munjeet and Seal Kcok have returned from Wellington, and that Count Wil.te will be seen out at the Manavatu meeting. Munjc?t is said to be a trifle off colour.

— At !ho Son 111 Australian Tatfcrsall's meeting licitl cn April G (ho St. Swithin gelding Florin carried 13.!) and best fivo others in a tro'-imlo hurdlo mcc, which ho cut out in 3nnn .Msec.

. — A Press Association telegram from Auckland plates that the hurdle horse JCe-dator WW «oM hy auction; and realised 530 guineas, being purchased by a local owner, Mr V. Davis.

—An exchange lias it that at Bairimk'.o (Victoria) rcceiilly a four-year-old half-brother to Koalm, the Sydney Cup winner (hy Eminem™), was sold for is 10s. and a fuli sister to Uoa'.ni (about 14.2hds) for XIS.

— The backers of Helen Portland in the Thompson Handicap, in which sho defeated Muhulu by iv abort, head, should bo very pleased lo hear that the rider of tlio latter ennie lo the scale? 4Mb overweight.

—J. Stewart, who was disqualified for suspicious riding of the New Zealand-bred jumper Hydrant ct F-'erniugton. applied to the V.lv.C. Comuiitteo recently for a respite of his sentence, but Ill's application was not approved. — The imported horse Murilio, who was one of the smartest two-year-olds seen out in Australia n oounle of season's back, was sold in Svdenv at 3005?. Mnrillo is a winner of the lilaribynioiig Plate, and was got by Velasquex. — XJurinq the progross of the C.J.C, autumn meeting the 'chafer Slow Tom was sold, but the purchaser subsequently declined to complete the purchase, and the mutter will probably pvovo tho basis of a caso in the law fotirt'.

— Mr J. \Vrcii announces a £510 Pony Handicap (o be ran at Ascot on Monday, July S. This, it is claimed, is the largest stoko over given for a pony rsce in tiny part of the world. It will bo foi lJlids and H.lhds ponies.

— The Jtnhjiki coll Maliutu, who has showing good form this season and from all accounts will do tatter with time, is out of (ho Quilt mare Spriiij,', a diuwlittr of The l!rook the sister to Brooklet, Mnteron, and The Shannon.

— The Trenton mare Madowla is proving herself a great fountain of speed, as since joining Sir fieorge Clifford's stud she has lirodnccd Quarryman. (ilenowlet,- Kind's Guest. Kirriemuir, and Glc.ncullcch in five successive years.

— At the yearling sales this Kaster in Svdroy yearlings changed hand" for a total of 39,420 guineas, an average of 133 1-3 guineas, as comnarcd with 217 yearlings for a total of' 33,J1G guineas and »u avcrngo of 101} guineas last Easter. '

— Entries close on Friday, April 2G, for the Great Northern Hurdles of 500sovs, Great Northern Stecpleehaso of 7oosovs, and lie Winter Steeplechase of 250sovs. The distance of tlio Hurdle lfacc has been increased to two and a-half miles.

— Volume, who unexpectedly downed Seal Rock m the New Zealand St. Leger, is a son of Sylvia Pari; (St. Legor—Atlanta) and Tottic .1 daughter oi Dishonour and tho lung Cole mere Miss Cole. Sylvia l'ark in a brother to Hippomcncs and Kegel.

— Sweet William, the most unlucky horse of his time, died rccenlJy. He was badly kicked by a mare. Sweet William was favourite for the Australian Cup, Svdnc-y Cup, and Melbourne Cup in quick succession, but could never do more than get a plsca-. ' — The South Canterbury Hunt, held their first meeting of the season last week with a/ thrca-mila run and the jump 3 were principally wiro fences. Amongst tho followers were lio'.vlcck, final, and Swagger, a trio of well-known performers b'-'twern the flags. — Tho aptly-named .Swimming Bell, who got amongst tho winners at Wellington last week, is by Captain Webb (Xatalor—Fame), out of Chatelaine, n. dsuehter of Albanv, and tl e 'Inducer m 're Trinket, so that he carries q double strain of the famous Traducer bleed.

_ —Grand Slam, who got amongst the winners at Wellington, ran a gcod liars© in Zimmerman's C.J.C. Derby, end only faded out in tlio last quarter. The son "of The Possible when at liiccarton was slightly amies, and his performance was verv creditable.

— Prophecy, a, holf-fistcr liv Phalius Apollo to Solution and Count WiHe, was amongst the winners at a recent West Australian meeting, and Whedara, another Sew Zeiilandcr, got by Phoebus Apollo out of Chrysolite, earned a winning bracket at the saino gathering.

—Mr J. Ellis has had. tho misfortune to lose Oslachkoff, who died a few days ago. On a. post-mortem being held it was discovered that the horses lungs had almost vanished, which is somewhat remarkable, as Ostachkoft was a winnor at the Taieri meeting held on Easier Holiday.

— Mr <T. O'Bricii, of Oamaru, reports that he ha 3 fdUI the thoroughbred stallion Itose-m-oro to Mr C. Coombes, cf Drumnior.d; The handsomo lbscmerc should prove a decided acquisition lo (he district. Tlio trotling stallion Frank Dobbins is still in the market, and anyone looking for a horse should communicate with Mr O'Brien.

—At tho liandwick sales a yearling halfbrother by Sir Tristram (imp.) to Acliillcs sold at 305g.5. Considering that Achilles is one of the best horses ever seen in Ihe colonies, this fignro reads cheap, but the crack son of Medallion has several relatives who have accomplished little or nothing lo justify their relationship to the Porirua champion. — Black Reynard accomplished a smart performance a.t Wellington by winning over sticks and carving out a mile and tlirsequnrlerr in 3min 14 l-ssec with 9,10 oil his back, but it docs r.ot equal Evcnlode's 3min 8 2-Sscc, which was put up at the last \ew Zealand Cup meeting. The latter, however, carried 10lb less than Black lteynard.

— Tho dam of Helen Portland was purchased by her present owner for JOgs. At the lime of the salo the ma.ro had been served by Dorchester, and the Tccent winner of the Thompson Handicap and Great Northern Oaks is the result. Dorchester, the siro of Ilolen Portland, is a son of Bill of Portland, out of the Musket—Sylvia marc Woodnymph. — 'Che defeat of Seal liock in the St. Leger catno as a surprise after (ho colt's form at Hiccartou. The first lialf-iuilo occupied 65sec, and the muddling pace set was apparently tho reason of his downfall. Treadmill ran the course in 3min sscc, which is tho record for Ihe race, and forms a wide margin on the 3niin 22 2-ssec put up bv Saturday's winner. — Timara exchanges report that the mafch which took place between the Trotters ltinloro and Nollie S., for uOsovs a-side, was won by tho latter. It is reported that the belling was "G to 4 against both contestants,"; and if that was really the case there was a golden opportunity going, to make money wiili absolutely 110 risk, but it reiuls too good lo ha true. *

— Tho Curassow fillv Buapehu, v/lio performed promisingly a't the last Waiinaie nuceting, landed a double at the INorth Canterbury meeting last we'ek. She was followed homo on each ocasion by two of Sant Ilario's stock. On the first occasion Giovanni was runner-up, and on the second Gwendoline, a daughter of Female Franchise, filled a similar position.

— San Francisco's stock wore in demand at the lfandwick sales, and Mr J. ii'Douaid evidently rscured a- bargain when he paid ]500gs for tho brother to St. Frusnuin. Amongst tho San Francisco stock was a'colt from the Russify mare Picture, which realised OOOgs. Another colt, from the i*ockers»at raaro Lady Mostyn, sold at •11/Ogs; ouefrcm tile llnut Brion maro 'iaau'esso sold at -KiOgs; a. couple madij over 203gs each, and several topped a century.

— Only nine different horses rail in the two steeplechases at ltandwiek, and of that number Hougoa, Karair.ba, and Auricuhmi wc-c killed, Arawatta so" badly injured that he will never race again, even if lie recovers, and After Dark lamed. ltongon and Auriculum (says an exchange), who wore killed in llio Second Steeplechase, both carried the colours of Mr "A. Douglas,' and it is a, remarkable instanco of lad iirek for an owner to lose two horses in ono race.

— AVlie.il ilaKstcr, tlio son of Bill o' Portland and tlfe B»rca.!dino inaro Hurley, was put under the hammer at tho termination of his racing career one of these who lied a commissioner bidding lor the colt was Mr J. F. Itoxl. of Elderslic stud. Air Reid, however, failed to bccuto Ma-Hater, and it was evidently a pieco of bad luck for our country that tho horso did not,come this way. lie has since sired some speedy sort?, and at tho Randwick sales his stock wero in demand and realised go-xl prices.

— Sir Tristram, who won the' AV.Ii.C. Autumn Handicap (one mile and a-quarter) comfortably in 2.1Q, is bred lo stay, a3 his dam, ill addition to being out of a "sister to tho mighty Carbine, proved her own merit by running second to British Lion in tlio }few Zealand Cup when a tiireo-yoar-old. Sir Lancelot, tho sire of Sir Tristram, was a fair performer under silk, and is a half brother to that great horse Sir Modrcd, one of the best siros ever seen in America. More's the pity he ever leff .this country. — Pawa, who won tho Hurdle .Rare dceided on tho second day of the Wellington meeting, ran a. gocd horse in tho race won by Black Heynard, but was unfortunately put out of court awing to his saddto slipping, Pawa • claims an attractive pedigree, as ho was got by the Ingomsr horse Mahiki (half-brother to Stepniak) out of Basilisk, a daughter of Torpedo and the Cudogan mare Bonny Blink. The last-named is a daughter of tho imported mare Titanin, and consequently Pawa comes or tlio same family as those speedy customers Hchoro and Silkworm.

—An American bookmaker rcccntly interviewed' ill Sail Francisco gave the fol|pwing freo advice:—" Xii; on this information ga.j. Just stick to form. That's my style, first, last, and all tho time. I never knew one of these 'wise' men that lasted. AVlien you pu;. Up your coin make it a big wad. Did you ever seo a piker that was a success? You've got to havo lots of capital to make it stick. When von go to the races to get your money, just stuff seme cotton in your ears. Not a hundredth of ono per cent, that you hear is ihe right dope." " ' -Messrs \\\ H. Tumbull and Co., of Wellington, submitted last week at auction somo thoroughbred stock, the property of Mr AW J. Jcrgenscn. The following changcd hands: Straihliilan (Stratbbraau-Valka), 105gs, Mr J). M'Leod; The Voucher (St. Cvr-Vivat), no bid: yearling colt (Dnuni-Pal'ka). 23?.«, Mr willoiignby; three-year-old Ally (Ripsv"Grand —1 media), 25gs, Mr ]). Sqlomoa; Falka, stinted t/j Morrio ]mi<jliuhl (St. Mclusiua), 15gs, Mr Buiek; Wave Queen (^atator— Fairy' Queen), and vc-arling colt at foot, 17gs, Mr Eglinton.

— "Btjoiidi," who attends to the column'in tho Sydney Referee, has evidently heen dustinjr the family Bible, or doing penance for his sins (we all .have a few), a's lie strayed into theology lately by saving "it. •is not generally known, but il is a "fact, all tho same, Unit the origin of 'dividing the .stakes' is Scriptural awl cm ba found in Exodus xxi, ;J5. 'If one man's ox hurt another's, that he die«, thou they shall pell the live ox and divide the money of it, and "the dead ox also they shall divide'—and that's where dividing the stakes comes in. Whnl!" — A conference of delegates from the leading racing clubs of Western Australia was held at Perth recently to coiifidor a- proposal lor tho appointment of stipendiary stewards to control racing generally. There were present representatives of the W.A.T.0.. Kalgcorlie. Coolgardie, and Boulder racing clubs, aud the Metropolitan Racing Association. Tlio meeting unanimously agreed that- stipendiary stewards bo appointed, but details of the scheme will not be available for publication until tho vnriciß clubs concerned luive confirmed. the action of their delegates. It is understood that each of the men appointed will Toccivc £700 p year.

— The Timaru horse-owners who were prosecuted for the alleged accept ance of t-otalisator odds at tlio Plumpton meeting which took 1-laco in December hs-t wero before tho Christchurch magistrate. Mr 11. W. Bishop, last we?k f and tho cases were dismissed because the principal witness for the police declined to give evidence. It savours of a coincidence that the law was not sM in motion until it recently became known that tb* detective had lost his position with the South Car-terbnry Jockey Ciub through tho instrumentality of tlio owners who hud bffrn nibjectod to the indignity of being removed from tin PlunipUui racccouv?*.

— New Jersey is just across Hie Hudson from Xew York, and is one of America's "peculiar" States, so that "N'ew Jersey justice" is a by-word. Racing is frowned upon, but all other kinds of bir-tness graitcrs welcomed with open arms—il thev pay faxos. Therefore it is amusing io notice that Now Jersey mlos that a feed bi!l for a thoroughbred horse, Elboron, cannot be collected at law becauso the horse is a gambling tool, and that- the agreement between the" owner and llio man training and feeding the horse was ii gambling transaction. Judge Parker ruled this interpretation of the kvs was eeriest.

Truly "tlio lttw is a liassl" there, as well as in the historic Shakespearian days.

— Racing has never been more nourishing than at the present lime. It has reached a, piir.h high above anything known in previous decades. Tlio King is one of its keenest follower?, the flower of the nobility do not believe they !ivo,without keeping up the good old tradition that it is well to follow the sport ot kings; millionaires of the new pattern find thi! game the most open rood to social distinction; breeders of thoroughbreds have more money in their business, and (says an English paper) England supplies tlio world; the club race meetings make the snort as much of a, high-toned society 'unction as a gambling venture and the organisation of the business side of racing can be compared to any of the best, tilings known in any branch of life.

— The .Southland-bred hurdler, Andy Began, h?s been shipped to Melbourne. Ho has hejii a winner, but also a most disappointing customer. When owned by Mr T. Kc-tt he shewed some excellent work on the track, "but. never reproduced it in public. Mr Kctt sold him to an Auckland buyer, who thought ho had found a new J?ecord Reign after the Lorraine gelding had shown him a gallop or two, but Andy goes off in a meat unaccountable and uncxp&stcd manner; and leaves his party lamenting .their bad liielt. It i 3 believed that tlio reason the horse goes to pieces is because he v;ao reared on bad country and is not robust enough to stand regular training, lie is a splendid fencer and is an ideal hunter, who is sure to keep with the first flight. — Regarding the yearling sale in New South Wales, ".\lilroy" publishes the following iiible, which will show at a glance the reni'.irkablo alteration that has come o'er the scene during the past 10' years: — Number Aggregate. Avorsge. Year. sold S £ IS9S .. 117 .. 11,470 .. 72 ]£!W .. us ... em .. jci 3000 .. Jst .. 11,251 7-ti loot .. 171 .. 10X2 .. 117J 1902 .. ]J9 .. 12,383 .. 85J 180!! no .. 12,383 144 1901 .. ICS .. 19,187 .. 114 1995 .. 155 ~ 23,802 1531 1908 .. 217 .. 3:io!G ... 154.1 1907 .. 201 .. 42,103 .. 14 i" — Tho horse tamer of an earlier age received littlo encouragement from an' ignorant public, steeped in Huprslilicn, and satisfied to attribute everything incomprehensible to witchcraft Piotro, who was a Neapolitan of tho ear'y seventeenth century, had a small horse, probably an Arab or Barb, which lie taught to perform numerous tricks in obedience to a, sign. lie would walk on his hind legs, jump over a stick or through hoops, and carry a glove to any person indicated by his master. Picrro travelled Southern Europe with his norse as a show with groat succcss, but in ail evil hour he went to Aries ajyl exhibited his horse there. The people wero so much mystified by the horse's docility that Piotro was arraigned as a wizard, r.nd lie and his horse wero publicly burned in the market placc.

— The most noticeable result of tho city betting-shop suppression is tho big increaso in t.w attendances at nil metropolhan race meetings. This is a good thing, of courso (says a Melbourne writer), fro™ the,race club standpoint, but it can hardly bo what was expected by the "goody-goodies, whose inccsMint clamour literally drove the Legislature to framo the new laws. As I pointed out once before in this column, tbey liuve tried to minimise betting by driving the shilling puntc to tlio racecourse, whoro ho will certainly 'bvt in half-crowns and crowns, and, perhaps, more occasionally. Furthermore, he has now to pay his train fore and gate money to get there. Which hardly reads like leaving more for "the starving wives and children,"- who, probably, exist only in tho fuddled brainpictures that the "wowser" loves to paint. — If a local bookmaker had followed instructions Napier, would have paid a remarkable dividend for winning the Great East-em Steeplechase at Onkaparinga (says an Adelaide paper). As it was ho returned t'no absurd price (considering'the strength of the field, the journey lie had to travel, and the 21 jumps lie hod to cross) of 10 to 9 on. Just before the ra-:o tho metallicia.il received a. telegram from a Victorian ringman who dees biiFincs3 in a bis way to baek'Xupier to win X7OO to protect Ins double book. An inspection of the machine was made, and finding that the Tradition golding would not pay even money, a reply wire was sent to that effect, and also that nothing had been done. The bookmaker lia.s sinco worked out -that to win £700 on JTaoier be would have had to speculate upwards of fitSO, and Rapier's dividend would then hnvo been about £1 6s, or about 7 to 2 on.

— The Australasian of a recent date linn the following concc-rnmg it, very old identity of the Australian turf:—"After having resided in Melbonri.e for about ID years, Mr Charles Brown Fisher lias ■ returned to South Australia. He owns a nice property near Adclaido called "Die Levels, 1 and there he in-' lends to live in future. Mr Fisher reaohed South Australia with. Ins parents in IF3O. He rede at the first races held in that State in 183 S. and had a mount in a stceplcchasc—a point-le-point affair—in ISIIS. Ip. 1656 he was a member of tho S.A.J.C. Committee. Early in "tlie seventies Mr Fisher sold all iiis valuable South Australia pioporlics, and lias only been an occasional visitor to the State since. 'The Levels' was left him bv his South Australinn iransy;w, Mr E. W. Pitts. Mr Fisher was Victoria's most prominent owner for years, and lie succeeded Captain Standish as chairman of the V.K.C. Sinco resisiiin? ho has seen very little of Flemington. "Mr Fislior is in his ninetieth year, but still enjovs good health.

—Is there a racing man in Australia who would like to say what weight il would take to prevent a Sussex, or a Blue Mountain, or a Red-leap, or a Domino winning a steeplechase against tho jumpers of to-day. If any further evidence of the decadence of Australian steeplcclmsers had baen required, it was amply furnished at Ramlwick. The First Steoplochase produced a series of disaster.-, and Second Steeplochosc attracted five sturtcrs. _ on® of which oroke his leg, another broke his shoulder, and another broke his neck—the first two wore destroyed, and the other, of course, was killed on the spot. These fatal blunders clca-rctl the way for n moderate, who bad previously I>3en outpaced, but who (says !iil exchange), having only prostrate opponents to catch, won by about a' furlong from au c>:-\ ictorian hunter! This is what :-\ccn!eohasine at. tho principal meetings in Australia lias come to, and' still we go on killing cur steeplechasers in midsummer or prenaring them at that season to 1>: killed, as tho approaching winter finds them hardly able to nuso a gallop, to say nothing of a jump, ~" the Sydney sales last week Poseidon's brother realised the Australian record price for ii yearling—3oso guineas-being knocked • down to Poseidon's trainer for the owner of tho duaj Derby ar,d Cup winner. Undeterred by tho unsatisfactory result of hi? purchase of Canteen for 3000 guineas, Sir Hupcrt Clarke was not silenced until he had bid exactly that sum for the Positano— Jacinth yearling. Mr P. T. Heywood and tho late Mick O'Brien never won a shilling in stakes with Tradition after they gave 3050 guineas lor him.' It was undeniably plucky on the part of "Mr V. It. Robert Fon" to pay that same price for a yearling, even though he has already won over £11.000 in state with that yearling's brother. Putting sentiment out of the question, says "JaveUn," it midlt have proved belter business to have picked out, at about .100 guineas apiece, ten of the ninny wo!!-brcd yearlings offered :md sold at the s=nie. sale. As ;m encouragement to liberality and enterprise, let us hope that for once the high-priced yearling may prove to be tho best investment, though it has seldom happened in Australia. — Lord Durham is iieid to bo one oi the highest aulhorites m England on turf affairs, and. better still, lie holds sound notions respecting horsemanship and' otter- important matters, his latest evidence of uncommon shrewdness being a speech, in which he said: During the course of many years' racing experience I haw never yet heard ail owner complain of losing a rsoe owing to his horse not being sufficiently punished by either whip or spurs. Owing to tho new method or starting, ano (lie modern seat and style of riding, the use of_il:o whip has bcccme far too prevalent. and is detrimejnal to good Tiding. And, furthermore. I maintain that this continual flourishing of whips is stupid, uglv, aiul offeaisivo to spectators. I very much doubt if w-; shall have any brilliant jockeys in the future unless boys aro taught that a. windmill performance with u whip is not tho true horsemanship. I should •he glad if whips wore not allowed in apprentice races at all and I think tho Jockey Club should decide upon a 'regulation v.-liip' that would woke a sluggish horse up. and yet inflict i.lie minimum of pain, and then allow no othc-r kind of whip to be used on their courses." ' — Italm, having been sold to go to India, it may bo assumed that tlie last has been seen Oil tho Australian turf of the *foutlwarted son of Majestic. Having won two Giand X.ii.ionals and also fwo important owns oil tlio Hut within {he space of nine month's Kea'.m claims a record that may be expected to stand for many years lo come. Mr JPLscd has good cause to reiucinbsr ilealm with affection, as the son of Majestic won him no less than £50M since lie bousM him l ns t J UIle for £030. In referriug to Kea.lm "liibblcden " of the Australasian, says:—"Tlio hero of the Sydney Cup has a strange, eventful hi=torv Bred by Mr E. Iwcgli, at Bushv Park veir Maffru, ill Gippsland, licaim is'by Majestic, from Lynette, by Buz?, (sou of Yattendoi;) from Light, by Kosciusko (son of Yattcndon). Originally so:d for the price of an old soli"' Realm was not put into training until three years old. and, after winning a hack rac- lie was purchased for IG3 by Mr F. Bronuan of Sale, for whom lie won, among oilier events the Grand National Hurdle Kace at Fleming ton. Uealm would never pass for a professional beauty, even among his own order, nor is lie _ aristocratically bred; but lie possesses ! the gift, of galloping in a remarkable decree' and no gamer horse ever looked ihroudi a bridle. . b