TURF GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 1228, 12 June 1875, Page 16

TURF GOSSIP.

The following are the latest items of turf news from the Australasian and Leader ;—; —

No day is more anxiously looked for in the sporting world than the first day of June, which is to give us entries innumerable. The Melbourne Cup, Metropolit m, and Hawksbury Grand Handicap, besides Derbies, Oaks, Legers, and Produce Stakes, not forgetting the Champion Race It will be a long list, as it is 6 ire to be a good one.

All the best riders ouf colony oan boast of are likely to be in request for the Grand National. I believe Callanan will rido Prodigious ; Rowe, Sheet Anchor ; Chifney is said to be retained for Hans Breitmann ; while Mr. Orr will steer All Fours. Saxon will have the assistance of Harden, and Friar that rising young rider Bourke. Mark Adderley, I believe, has a mount, and C. Ross may be looked for on Murgah ; Oripps is also engaged fov something.

How very unforfcunatetheMaryborough people were with their meeting. What with the postponements and rain every one was driven away. There were at the outside calculation not more than 300 persons present.' Grace Roseberry won tho Maiden Plate, another instance of the worth of a two year old at this period of the year, and Ferryman's Daughter carried off the Shire Handicap, old Steel trap and Dolphin next. Better things were expected of Albany, 6st. 81b., his light weight beins? mentioned aB a reproach un the handicapper. It turned out, however, that Mr. Vowels was the best judge of what he could carry. The two-year-old Richmond won the Selling Race of 20 soys. This is the colt that ran second to Maid of All Work in the Maribyrnong Plate, at the Spring Meeting. Avooa has a splendid entry for the 3rd and 4th prox., there being no less than elevon in the Shire Handicap, eight in the Trot, seventeen in the Telegraph Stakes (including the name of the Ace), seventeen in the Hurdle Race, fourteen in the* T.nvn Plate, and twenty-one in the Flying Handicap. If the handicaps are happy, and the weather fine, the club should have a good meeting.

We arc given to understand that the Now Zealand horses Templeton, Castaway (brother to Lurline), the Phoebe Colt, Tambourini, ar.d some other cracks from that colony are likely to be entered for the Melbourne Cup,

iVIv. P. O'Reilly, of Adelaide, has purchased Mr. Mullins's The Deer for 200 soys., and placed him in Mr. R. Low's hanila to prepare.

It is generally remarked that where great tonality exists, the form is usually found, to be very moderate. Upon this reasoning, then the three - year 01-.ls of the coming season are an indifferent lot, as nothing has shown any great superiority or super-excellence in the two-year-old running. The best public performer in this colony is Maid of All Work, while of the " New South Wales division Hyperion must be accorded the premier position. It remains to be Been whether they will maintain their pre-eminence in the Derbieß to be run, or whether there are better behind or in reserve for the great three-year-old events. Books have been opened on the Warrnambool meeting; and some business has been done ; 1000 to 50 was booked about JDunmore and Saxon for the Hurdle and steeple, and 100 to 5 about Dunmore and .Pygmalion. There has been also some betting on the English Derby. We have heard of three horses being taken against the field— viz., Camballo (the Two Thousand winner), Galopin, and Claremont. Holy Friar and, R,oland Grwme haw© also

been backed. Galopin, whose public performances as a two-year-old have been the best, was not nominated for the Newmarket race. There are several dark horses in this year's Derby that have performed well in private, and if an outsider should win the " Blue Riband," we should not be surprised ; if we had to pick one for choice it would be Lord Portsmouth's Roland Großme.

Mr. W. C. Yuille reports that he has sold the thorough-bred hurdle-race horse Panmure, by Panic, out of Rosabella, on account of Mr. R. Howie, to Mr. Fairchild. We believe Mr. Fairchild made the purchase just previous to the horso starting for the Hurdle Race at the late Melbourne Hunt Club Meeting On account of Mr. D. Hormersjee, of Bombay, the imported Anezeh Arab Prophet to Mr. J. Evans, of Whitfield. Also, on account of Mr. J. C. Bowler, of Ten Mile Creek, the veteran Snowden to Mr. T. Chirnside, of Werribee - park. These horses have all been disposed of at very satisfactory prices.

Occident Going East. — California's favourite trotter Occident (says the San Francisco Chronicle) will leave! for the East about the Ist of April, in charge of Budd Doble. Doble, since he has had charge of Occident, has succeeded in educating him up to a higher standard of excellence in the way of curbing his disposition to be unsteady at times, treating him kindly but firmly, and in a manner that is highly satisfactory to his owner and the numerous friends of this wonderful horse. For the past two months Occident has been having a rest, being merely jogged for exercise. In this time he has grown more bulky and ' strong without getting too fleshy. His feet are in splendid condition, and everything looks favourable for his future career as one of the fastest horses in the country. It is the intention to trot him in the East wherever opportunity offers, and he will take his chances with the best of the Eastern flyers, including Goldsmith Maid, during the coming season. Doble thinks Californians will have cause to be proud of Occident's performances in the future, and that he will make a better showing than he has ever made heretofore. He will be transported East in Doble's special car. The car is fifty feet in length, with the Pennsylvania Railroad passenger trucks, with the Westinghouse air brakes, &c. , being especially adapted for the ease and comfort of race-horaes. Underneath the car ie carried a portable bridge for shipping or transhipping horses at a moment's notice, being attended with no danger or trouble whatever. On the inside the conveniences are of the most superior character. There aye four portable stalls for horses — two near each end of the car. When it is necessary to lie over a day or two for rest, these single stalls can be converted into roomy boxstalls ; their sides are also cushioned to prevent accident. Every aperture, windows, &c, has wire screens to prevent cinders from entering the car ; the arrangements for preventing flies from troubling the horse are also very ingenious and useful. Overhead are conveniences for packing away sulkies. In one corner of the car a stove is carried for the purpose of heating it. In fact, take it all in all, it is one of the most tastily arranged cars for man and beast that there is in the United States. The cost was about 06,500 all told. Occident and St. Jamea will probably be the only horse occupants of this horse - palace in the coming trip. The object in leaving so early is to get Occident acclimated and prepare him for the spring meetings, which will commence about the Ist May. Occident will probably return in the fall, and participate in some of our races ere the season closes.