THE TURF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19013, 8 November 1923, Page 5

THE TURF.

By Sentinel. NOTES ON THE CUP MEETING. 'lire North Island trainer has taken charge of Mr Fisher’s team at Wingatui. Romance has joined F, Shaw’s stable, and will build up the strength of his already fairly numerous team. Angelo ran a good race under his weight In the Riccarton Welter, and was just cut out of a good dividend for second money. Prince Fcrouz won handsomely when galled upon at the finish of the Riccarton Welter and is no doubt on improving horse. Ardour was a strong fancy for the Riccarton Welter, but she ran a most disappointing race after being well placed in the early stages. Deucalion was a quiet paddock tip for the Gup, and he at least ran a much oetter race than most fancied candidates. Scion could never get near the firing line in the Cup, and perhaps he is only a good stayer when acting under a lightish weight. Peneus drew No. 1 in the- Steward's, but appeared unable to hold his place, and after losing it did well to finish close to the placed lot. Mr J. P. Murphy has decided to shift his team from P. T. Hogan’s stable and set up a private training stable at Timaru. Mr W. Stone has purchased the Solferino gelding Master Sandstone, who won at the recent Gore meeting. It is understood that the price is in the neighbourhood of £SOO. Razzle Dazzle ran a good race in the Stewards’. She had to begin_ from wide on the outside, and lifter suffering interference, finished fairly close to the placed lot. The Australian-bred two-year-old Tresham is evidently a much better youngster than generally supposed, and with a better run might have won the Welcome Stakes. Soliform is a nicely-bred three-year-old and quite a likely sort to go on winning. Ho w-as got by Solferino from Adour, by Danube from Perle D’or, by Multiform from Aura. Swallow Flight drew No. 12 in the Linwood, and as he came with a string to make up his disadvantage looks sure to be worthy of future notice. Roseday has been unlucky in not winning the New Zealand Cup either this year or last year. He may never be able to recover the lost opportunities. Some of the track watchers at Riccarton who were fully aware of his recent form at Trentham regarded him as a good thing for the Oup, but he shaped disappointingly. Still he may do better at the meeting. Palestrina ran a poor race in the Oup, but did not seem to be greatly troubled when she pulled up, and it appeared as if she had declined to exert the full extent of her powers. Inferno is one of the finest looking colts seen at Riccarton. His owner is also the owner of a oolt who is a half-brother by Martian that fills the eye as one that should make good after. Silver Peak has joined R. M'Kay’s stable at Oamaru, and on a contemplated visit to Solferino it was found that she was thoroughly sound, and this plan of campaign became altered, and she is to continue in training. Happy Warrior was too much of a handful for his young pilot in the Cup, and it was the erratic course which he steered which decided Wilson to keep well away from him in order to avoid trouble with Koseday. At the seven-furlong post Happy Warrior nearly ran off the course, but this fact was not discovered until in conversation with a spectator who happened to be on that portion of the course during the race. Tukia was going so well when he arrived near the leaders at the distance in the Stewards’ that he looked to hold a royal chance, but although he got to Murihaupo ho could not sustain his effort and go on and win. On two-year-old form he looked on paper a better than Murihaupo or Razzle Dazzle. Murihaupo, however, got a really good run, and that turned the tables in his favour, whilst Tukia and -uazzle Dazzle were not so favourably placed in that respect. Very lew horses can win from the outsiue position at the six-furlong barrier at Riccarton when a big field musters at the post. Still Glentruin did so, and it seems that the best tactics to adopt in such a case is to cut in behind the leaders and head straight to hit the rails near the home turn. Glentruin was not noticed in the Stewards’ until she loomed up on the rails behind Mireusonta, and then getting a luckyopening managed to squeeze through. The false rail which has been installed at Riccarton as at Trentham makes an -opening that gives a chance to anything coming from behind with a late run. Still if Mireusonta’s pilot has not been paying too muon attention to danger from Murihaupo on the outside, Glentruin would never have got through. A notable feature of the first day’s card at Riccarton was the remarkable success achieved by M. M'Carten, who rode the winners of the Cup, Welcome Stakes, and Stewards’ Handicap. On each occasion the win was due to good judgment, and very vigorous finishing power materially contributed to success. There was a slight element of luck about Glentruin’s win, as she got a lucky opening on the rails, but it was a prompt grasping of opportunity that enabled M'Carten to seize success. He was riding in great form and allied -the confidence born of success with considerable ability to do the right thing at the right time. A. H. Wilson has been the subject of hostile criticism for his handling of Roseday in the Cup. It is, however, stated on his behalf that when he realised the danger of being shut out of his position he used his whip, but Roseday failed to make a sufficiently prompt response, and in a few strides he struck the trouble which cost him any chance of winning. Most critics are apt co ride good races from the grandstand, hut it appeared as if the element of pure bad luck was largely responsible for Roseday getting into trouble. Wilson is blamed for not making good his position in Hie early part of the race, but no one on the stand? knew that Happy Warrior was cutting an erratic course, and hence the danger of getting too near him. There was apparently a suspicion abroad that Wilson was not -as busy as he might have been, but anyone knowing the full circumstances of the case can be pardoned for holding the opinion that the lengthy inquiry into the matter was in a sense adding insult to injury. A FAMOUS MATCH. Undoubtedly the most famous match ever decided in Australia was the historic interstate contest between Veno. representing New South Wales, and the Victorian mare Alice Hawthorn, at Flemington in 1857. Mr Chirnside’s grey mare had that season won the Great Australian Sweepstakes, three miles, at Flemington, and the Geelong and Western Turf Cup, three miles, and was considered the best performer in Victoria. Veno was the acknowledged champion of New South Wales. The Victorians were so impressed with Alice Hawthorn's powers that they issued a challenge to race her against any horse bred in New South Wales, three miles, weight for age, for lOOOsovs a side, “the race to be run either on the Camden (N.S.W.) or Melbourne course, a toss to be made for the choice . . . the loser of the toss to receive £IOO for expenses.” This challenge, says The Australasian, was promptly accepted on behalf of New South Wale? by Mr George T. Rowe, owner of Veno. After a lot of talk and bickering Mr Rowe agreed to run the match in Melbourne, the Alice Hawthorn party allowing him £250 for expenses. For many weeks scarcely anything else was talked about in Melbourne and Sydney sporting circles, and the most elaborate preparations were made on both sides. Eventually the fateful day arrived. “Johnny” Higgerson. that “customer queer” of whom Gordon rhymes, rode Veno, and Steve Mahon at the last moment, was given the mount on Alice Hawthorn. There was an enormous crowd on “the racecourse”—lt was not named Flemington until some time afterwards —including many sportsmen from Now South Wales, notwithstanding that the journey by sea cost £l6 _ return. It was a black day for the Victorians. Veno had Alice Hawthorn beaten in the first round, and won. pulling up by three lengths About an hour afterwards another much-talked-about match was decided—Cooramin, a New South Wales horse, against the Victorian, Tomboy. Higgerson rode Cooramin, and “Bob” Mitchell Tomboy. It is recorded that Mitchell took matters too easy, consequently Cooramin, vigorously ridden, won by a head on the post. Then Veno, fresh as paint, came out again to meet Van Tramp, whom he defeated without an effort, and ran the three miles in six seconds faster time than ho made in his race against Alice Hawthorn. A DISASTROUS CUP. In recalling the disastrous Caulfield Cup of 1885 “Touchstone” says; —The record field of 41 horses went to the post. Who that saw it will ever forget Grace Darling’s defeat cf Britisher, and the terrible catastrophe that took place at the home turn, with the surging crowd of horror-stricken spectators, the struggling chaos of fallen horses? Prince Imperial. Tom Brown, Lord Exeter, Lord Wilton, Plausible, Sirocco, Despot, Claptrap, Kingship, Im-

pulse, Tarpeia, Too Too, Lucky Hit, Winchester; Sardius, and Uarra-h all came down. There never was such a frightful smash before or since in the history of the turf. Uarrah was killed on the spot, and several other horses received injuries from which they never recovered. But, worst of all, Donald Nicholson, the crack light-weight jockey of the day, was killed, and several other riders sustained serious injuries. Frank M'Grath, the present wellknown Randwick trainer, got a terrible fall off Prince Imperial. He lay unconscious for days, and his case was thought to be hopeless, but. after a long struggle, he beat “the grim Reaper.” The bend on which this terrible accident occurred was afterwards regraded, and is now perfectly safe for the largest of fields, but never again will 41 starters be allowed to race at Caulfield, or on any other course. THE AMERICAN CRACK. A remarkable feature about the breeding of Zev, who beat Papyrus, is that his darn carries three strains of St. Simon. Zev is a son of Miss Kearney, a mare by Plaundes (son of St. Simon), from Court Plaster by Sandringham (son of St. Simon), from Setfast by "Masetto by St. Simon. The Sandringham mentioned above is own brother to Persimmon, Diamond Jubilee, and Forizell 11. and from a most notable quartet bred by the late King Edward VII. As the match between Papyrus and Zev attracted wide world attention it will no doubt' interest breeders to have a glance at the latter’s pedigree, which reads: Arbitrator )I olon ~ , True Heart Kl 'ci™ r iW? Hasty Girl Lbrd Gough g (imp.) Irritation %' Bend Or faster ~ * Oriole Fenella Camhiißoan £ La Farnritn S “"s'"* SSS | a 'S5“ _ .t Flageolet S Rayon d’O Aradcaria ?. Woodrav , Bhiswlor Wooduympl Magntiser o Woodbine <- ~ _ , . Vedette ■“ (£, Galopm Flying Duches > i, St ’ Sim ° n St. Angela ui e Adeline N 3 „ Ncwminster * a Lonely Hermit Sectarian y I Anonyma Stockwell c; _ Miss t»arah h o- Oalopin W Sandring- bimon .\ n g e la S I ham Pcrdita IL Hampton m J 3 Herraione ® 1-1 ' St. Simon s Setfast Masetto im Lady Abbess 3 Vandela Kin S Ham imp Nannie Gray PUBLIC PIPE OPENERS. It seems to have become an accepted idea that a horse cannot produce its best form without previously having a race or two in public—a public pipe-opener, as it were Hence, we frequently read that this or that horse ‘‘will be greatly benefited by the race and should show great improvement, etc.” There is no doubt a race or two in public lends great assistance towards sharpening up a horse, and one race may do more in that direction than several gallops in private. It is no doubt for this reason that horses claiming engagement in the New Zealand Cup are treated to two or three races in public before being saddled up for Riccarton, and it is also a noteworthy fact that a defeat in those preliminary races docs not dishearten a stable from bringing off the big engagement for which their candidate is set. This state of affairs is due to a strong tendency on the part of owners and trainers to train a horse in a race or races rather than rely on producing their candidate fit and well without any public performance as a guide to condition. In other words, they want to see their horse gallop in public before forming an idea as to how it* is progressing in a preparation It ia this state of affairs which is responsible for the production of stayers in sprinters’ laces, and very frequently for the belated run which horses put in when the leaders are right under the shadow of the winning post. Still, the idea may he canned too far, and whilst the trainer is “waking up” his horse by a nice race or two in public without, of course, any idea of winning, he is also waking up the public to be ready for the great race. The stewards, apparently, never wake up under such circumstances, and perhaps they are wise in not paying too much attention to horses with engagements in birr events running badly in small races. If they did otherwise some star attractions would he missing from meetings ,and it_ is fust as interesting to see a good horse in action as a. couple of duffers fighting out a finish. It is a remarkable fact that during the last ten or twelve years only three Now Zealand Oup winners in Indigo (dead heat), Ardenvhor and Menelaus have won a race earlier in ibo season than their big triumph at Riccarton. Several Cut) winners have been raced three or four times and even more, but their form did not convey much idea (on paper) that they were New Zealand Cup winners. The remarkable improvement in form could no doubt bo attributed to the fact that they were running out of their distance, and also to the fact that training a horse for a two-mile race does not assist towards winning over a shorter course. Still the fact remains that old time winners over a distance also won over a sprint course at the same meeting and, in fact, sometimes during the same day. Some of the greatest winners in turf history won, say for instance, the English Derby, when making their first appearance for the particular season, but with big teams to handle, the English trainers have much better opportunity to get a horse ready than the small team trainers at this end of the world with, perhaps, nothing in the stable capable of giving the champion a gallop. Very few horses have made their first appearance of the season in Hie New Zealand Cup race, but as some indication that it is possible to get a horse ready to show his very best form without a race or two in public, the case of Masterpiece can he quoted. Masterpiece did not appear prior to being saddled up for the race in which some considered be was unlucky to suffer defeat by Midnight Sun. The writer for one ia inclined to doubt that opinion, and on form in the previous Great Autumn Handicap, Midnight Sun always held a rrreat chance of beating the Cbokebore Lodge candidate. FINANCE AND SPORT. Everyone who takes an interest in racing and trotting cannot fail to notice the great stress laid on the severe taxation to which both branches of sport have been subjected during recent years when the subject has been mentioned at the annual meetings of the various clubs The existing state of. affairs ha? seriously embarrassed a great many clubs, and is bound to do much more damage if' the taxation is allowed to continue for any great length of time. The position, it is needless to say, arose out oi the devastating upheaval caused by the war. During the early days of the war racing was deemed superfluous under the circumstances, but only by those who held a rather superficial or no real idea of its commercial and industrial ramifications. When this side of the question was pointed out it saved the situation. But the life of racing was saved at a tremendous cost imposed by this power of might and because that power was not adequately combated until it became too strongly entrenched to be easily shifted. And so the position stands to-day. The right of might derided to take all the easy money it could grab, and is continuing to do so, until it is obvious that “Poor Richard is indeed paying too much for his whistle.” If the racing and trotting clubs had made a light before taxation pinned them to the ground in all probability they would not now bo standing cap in hand and begging for their financial lives. The whole situation as it stands shows how completely finance has become the dominant factor of sport. Finance has practically been the only subject discussed at the annual meetings of club members. The tax is both real and painful, but there lias been far too much parading of wounds and far too little notice taken of the good cause in which they wore received. The financial side of racing has been brought to a farcical aspect by paltry curtailment in the way of expense incurred by a few luncheons to policemen, who are amongst the first on a lacecourso and the last to leave. During the whole day the police are busy controlling the crowd, performing such very necessary work as clear ing the course, in all sorts of \yeather, between races, and generally protecting the public as far as possible. It is a matter of regret that the financial side of sport seems to bo in danger of overshadowing every other aspect of the question. It is becoming the paramount pivot on which success is gauged as it swings from debit to credit, whilst the greatest factor to bo considered should be the quality of sport and how it is supplied and controlled. The cost of racing, like everything else, has soared to heights undreamt of before the war, and whilst that is so every effort should be made to give real value for the money. If this aspect of the question was more strongly and capably considered there could be very little ground for complaint, and even though cost, ran high most people interested in sport, would endeavour to carry on until better days c-arne round.

A profit of close on £BOO was made over the Gore Spring meeting. Koodoo, a recent winner in the north, is a brother to the defunct Elens. Fred T. Smith, who has been acting aa private trainer to Mr W. H. Ballinger s stable, is relinquishing that position. Humbolt, the half-brother by Sunny Lake to the Derby winner Ballymena, ia to bo tried over hurdles. Thespian's withdrawal from the Stewards’ Handicap was due to a breakdown whilst racing in the Champion Stakes. The Winton Jockey Chib's programme attracted liberal response from owners, and good fields should be seen out at fhe meeting ; The two-year-old sister to Kilboy, which was to go under the hammer next week, put a hip out a few days ago, and in all probability will be sent to the stud. The £16,000 won by Zev in his race against Papyrus increased his earnings to £53 000. He is now America's greatest winner. Alan o' War ' previously held (he record with £49,800. Two of Mr H. A. Knight’s two-year-olds by Gay Lad from Comely and Majestikoff have been gelded recently, and are expected to be taken in hand by F. IX Jones in fhe near future. Like the majority, if not all, of Absurds stock, The Monk has proved speedy, but a non-stayer. Absurd’s stock may enrich owners, but it is doubtful if he will enrich the Stud Book. The Tredennis horse Treclare has been purchased bv Sir Hugh Denison, at present, in England,' and will join Quantock and Great Star at the Sledmere Stud, N.S.AV. Treclare was got by Tredennis from Clare, by Desmond. It is hi years since Tasman won the first New Zealand Cup. In doing so he seems to have “sol a main” in winning with 8.9, as no other winner has been successful under a greater burden. Others to score with 8.9 are Vanguard, Lady Zetland, and Sasanof. Nominations for the Forbury Park Trotting Club's Spring meeting are due on Tuesday, November 13, at 5 p.m. The chief events on the programme are the President’s Handicap, of 750sovs, 4.34 or better, and the Forbury Cup, of 750sovs, 4.34 or better. Messrs Peach Bros., the owners of Oakleigh, have got a promising performer over fences in Royal Fame. Like Oakleigh, ho was picked up cheaply, and is being given every chance by his trainer, G. Coleman, who states that he was purchased for £23. The successful sire Balboa is to stand the season in the Maniototo district. The announcement that he will do so is somewhat belated, as many mares arc already booked up. Still, everything that Balboa pets seems to gallop well, and as the sire of Baldowa and Laughing Eyes he is well worthy of patronage. Had there been a protest against Linden when he won the principal event at Auckland it would not have occasioned surprise. He certainly left his running in the straight and went out to Sheik twice in the straight. Possibly it did not affect the result, but (says an Auckland writer) it did not assist Sheik. At its 12 days’ meeting, commencing xt Pimlico at the end o? last month, the American racing body, the Maryland Jockey Club, will present the trainer of the winner of each race with SOdol (£10). As the average number of races each day at Pimlico is seven, this means £B4O in premiums for trainers. The committee of the Dunedin Jockey Chib are contemplating the purchase of a motor lorry with a view of using it to carry sand from Outram to top dress the Wingatui tracks. This method of transport would work out much cheaper than the cost of procuring fhe sand which was first used on the tracks. Up to the beginning of September the most Brilliant two-year-old in America this season was Happy Thoughts (Sir Martin— Gipsy Love), who had won at each of her three starts. After her third win she did a track gallop of 1.10 3-5 for six furlongs, and was subsequently sold bv her breeder, Mrs \V. V. Thravcs. The Lexington Thoroughbred Record says the price reported was £15,000. Although the Forbury Park Trotting Club has notified the Ashburton Racing Club that the former body cannot alter its dates for their Autumn meeting, there is a possibility that a satisfactory arrangement may be made to avert clashing. The Forbury Park meeting is set down for May 8 and 10 and the Ashburton meeting for May 9 and 10. Either club could drop back a. week, and so obtain e. clear date for their meeting. Idalia is best known to fame as the dam of Sir Modred, Betrayer, Idalium, and July, but she also achieved great distinction through her daughters Fair Nell and Enid. Fair Nell was the dam of Saracen, Loyalty, and Bonnie Scotland, a trio of good winners. Enid won the Oaks in 1887. the first time it appeared on the calendar, and threw Bellicent, the winner of 1895. Idalia also produced Ravenawing, the dam of Ich Dien, the Oaks wiuner of 1893. J. Cameron was very unlucky with Egyptian Flower in the Ascot 14,2 Thousand, run over a mile, just before the mail left. She drew No. 20 at the barrier, and, after receiving a bad passage, ran the winner to half a length. With better luck Egyptian Flower would apparently have proved a sure winner. She is a three-year-old filly by Egypt or Finland from Mint, an imported marc by Mintagon from Brig of Ayr, by Ayrshire —Santa Brigida, by St. Simon. Stepniak won the Derby of 1892 and sired other Derby winners in Menschikoff and Orloff. Multiform won in 1897 and aired other winners in Nightfall and Noctuiform. Martian has sired three winners in Danube, Cherubini, and Rossini, and Musket sired Maxim, Manton, and Scots Grey; but Traducer holds the record in siring winners of the Blue Ribbon by being responsible for Trump Card, Natator, Sir Modred, The Dauphin, and Cheviot. Since Musket sired his first Derby winner, Maxim, in 1887, ms line has been successful 14 times in the classic event. , , At Gatwick, England, on September 2, the wav Tulwar played up with him in the paddock before the Rostrum Plate evidently scared the crack jockey S. Donoghue. He dismounted, and, returning to the wcigh-ing-room, announced his intention of not riding in the race. The matter was referred to the stewards, who, of course, decided that as the horse had been weighed out for he must run, and accordingly Tulwar eventually went to the post with Donoghue aa his rider He was soon tailed off, but made up ground in the straight, without ever promising to join the leaders. R Lewis is a favourite in Alelbournc, but even in that city a few years ago racegoers were asking, “Why doesn’t he retire? They reckoned his beat days were past, and he was out of form for a time, but (says “Pilot”) during the past couple of years he has been riding nearly aa well aa at any previous time in his career. He has done well at long and short distances, and, according to all accounts, his success on Veraine in the V.A.T.C. Debutant Stakes was absolutely due to vigour. Heir Apparent will consequently not lack anything in that respect in the Melbourne Cup. Lewie won his first Debutant Stakes on Sylvanite in 1903, and his successes since have been on Orvieto, Angelia, and Versine, the last-mentioned two being owned and bred by Mr E. E. u. Clarke. M. M'Carten, who won the Derby on Ballyment, made a good impression in every way, and (says “Pilot”) when he visits Sydney again will command a. fair amount of riding, apart from that of New Zealand owners with whom he is associated. M'Carten said he found very little difference between riding in races in Sydney and in New Zealand, and in reply to my query as to whether he struck any rough riding here he replied; “No. 1 was always fairly treated, and all the races in which I rode were very cleanly run.” This from a visiting jockey is an answer to those followers of the game who would have you think that manslaughter is the main object of some of our jockeys in nearly every race they ride. It is wonderful what a lack of genuine knowledge, aided by vivid imagination, causes people to imagine they see. The Referee states that the finish of the pony ' races at Victoria Park, Sydney, recently were kinematographed .from the judges box. Owing to difficult angles the general public often disagrees with a de cision when horses finish almost in line, though wide apart, aiid, aa developing the film is only a matter of a minute or so, it is considered that “shooting” the horses will determine the accurateness or otherwise of the human eye when a seemingly doubtful decision is given. The scheme at Victoria Park (says the writer) may have been in the nature of an experiment, and I do not know whether the other metropolitan pony clubs intend following suit. Opinions differ on the matter, but the idea does not seem to- have taken on too well in South Australia, where it has been given a trial. Full accounts of the Caulfield Cup state that Wynette scored a comfortable win. She was one of the last five out of the straight, and. getting a lucky run on the rails at the finish, got there without being seriously challenged in the last few strides. Wynette is not in the Stud Book. She is hv Lord Alwyne from Caripedes, and was bred by her owner, Mr S. Torr, who will have pleasant memories of his first visit tv Melbourne after a long absence. Mr Torr also bred Wynettc’s dam. who was by Carylon, a son of Chester, from a mare named Pedinga, who won decent races in South Australia in her time. She has Gang Forward and Fisherman blood in her podi gree, and traces back to Bennot’s Sydney, who was by Acteon from a mare whose pedigree was lost in New_ South Wales This explains (says “Sentry”) her non-inclusion in the Stud Book. Lord Alwyne, the sire of Wvnette, was bred by the Messrs Moses in 1907, and is a son of imported St. Alwyne and Demure, by Amberito from Modesty, bv Maribyrnong from Etiquette (imp.), by Caractacus. Wolshers have been making things so warm at country meetings in Victoria, particularly at unregistered fixtures, that a I deputation from five country associations representing about 250 registered clubs recently waited on that State’s Chief Secretary to see whether something could be done to combat the evil. It was suggested by some members of the deputation that a district police officer would bo a far better

person than a racing club secretary to recommend anyone for a license to bet, Tho conduct of undesirables had left a stigma on registered as well e-.o unregistered clubs in the country. In reply, tho Chief Secretary and he would endeavour to get the Government to bring in a measure of reform in the direction indicated. “There is no doubt about it,” he added, “the conditions of A ictorian country and metropolitan racing require some revision, and I assure you it will be made.” In New South Wales welshera and other undesirables have made matters unpleasant at some country meetings during the past year, but (says “Pilot”) those pests are apparently worse in Victoria than in this State. The disqualification of Audex for tho Ellerslie Trot Handicap was under Rule 314, which is a very comprehensive one, and reads as follows:—“The stewards of any race meeting may, at the time of holding their meeting, review and consider the running of any trotting horse or horses which has competed at that meeting or at anv meeting of any club, racing club, or body held within 14 days previously, and if the stewards believe and are satisfied that tho running of such horse is inconsistent and unsatisfactory, they have powerto disqualify such horse or horses as they think fit. And, further, tho stewards of any club, racing club, or body have tho power to select and order any licensed rider or driver to try any horse trotting at their meeting should they consider it advisable to do so. Any licensed rider or driver refusing to comply with such order, and any person refusing to allow such trial, or altering the gear or hopples without the consent of the stewards after being notified of any such trial by any steward or official of the club, shall be liable to be disqualified or suspended for such period as the stewards think fit, or be fined a sum not exceeding £50.” , ~ Writing in the Australasian “Teyiotdale states that ho had a “long conversation witn the emperior of finance, Mr S. Green, alter his arrival from America. “He has a magnificent scheme afoot. As the very best method of improving our thoroughbred, he has the fixed idea of forming a syndicate, after the same fashion as the Tiessady syndicate in England. Fifty thousand pounds would be the sum subscribed, and, say, £20,000 cf this sum would be expended on.the purchase of a high-class sire. The remainder would be used for the importation cf several really good mares. The stud farms would be leased, not bought, and everything, of course, would be well covered by insurance. A stallion at £20,000 would bo a very paying P ro ' position, just as payable a one as the purchase of Tracery. The amount assured upon that torse, until the end of his first season, was £4-0,000, and not more than 40 inarms are to be taken at iOOgns each. Mr Green s scheme would be a safe and an equally paying one out here, and I will bet you what you like that if be gees into the business with bis tremendous energy and with that acumen whi,ch is his he will make the affair a complete success. It would have a very great effect upon our thoroughbred of tho future. I hope we will all hear more of it very soon.” “The current issue of tho calendar reveals different handicappers to have different opinions with regard to certain horses, and (says an English paper), as is seen there, the independent system can even lead to striking variations, but it is to be infinitely preferred to handicapping by committee, which found favour with a majority in the Jockey Club a number of years back. The idea at the time was that a consensus of the opinions of three handicappers whose personal surveys of running extended to so many meetings would mean getting the work done as near to correctness as was humanly possible, but in the result the handicaps mostly everywhere partook of a stereotyped character. Even when each of the committee was handicapping at meetings outside Newmarket, Epsom, Ascot, and Goodwood, where the three were collectively working, his weights naturally bore similarity to those at the more important fixtures named. Accordingly, cases of overweighting or the reverse ran through a series of handicaps. The system at length found declining favour amongst owners, and its death-knell was sounded when a member of the Jockey Club publicly drew attention to a spectacle, with which regular followers of racing were accustomed, that of ‘the committee being huddled together in a corner of the stand, all obtaining the same view of what was going on.’ Small wonder the handicapping was stereotyped.”