NOTES BY BEACON.

Otago Witness, Issue 1856, 17 June 1887, Page 23

NOTES BY BEACON.

In view of a new racing season commencing in a couple of months or so, I would recommend all jockey clubs to do away with stewards for the future and engage " X.," the talen.ted sporting

writer of the Canterbury Times, to carry out the stewards' multifarious duties. Of course he could not attend the race meetings,' but that: would not matter a bit. Bless you ! ( he can manage them without going near them at all, and can even tell you all that takes place at them better than the people who are a3tually present. He recently gave a minute account of Marion's race in the Danedin Provincial' Handicap, and now — rather late in , the .day,, it must be admitted — gives an' 'account' of: Eingask's proceedings in the Hurdle RacS and lthe subsequent protest on that horse's behalf. He says :— " In the Hurdle Race," Kingask passed the post first, but was not placed by the, .judge, that official believing the horse had not; jumped the last flight of hurdles. A protest on behalf of the owners of Kingask, eupporfce ' by the testimony of several independent wit-: nesses, was lodged against this decision, but the' stewards, after some consideration, upheld the '• ruling of the judge. Whether Kingask did, actually jump the hurdle or not is a question admitting of some doubt" ' Now, I should like to know what license a writer has to make such totally unsupported, statements as are contained in the two preceding sentences that I have italicised. Instead of " several independent witnesses " giving evidence, this is what took place: Mr W. Weston entered the protest, stating that he did so on behalf of the owner of Kingask, he having brought the horse down to Dunedin on the owner's behalf. He was asked if he would like to give evidence, but absolutely declined, saying he knew nothing of the affair. He then called two "independent" witnesses, both of whom gave their evidence in a most unsatisfactory and contradictory manner. One of them actually had the " front " to assert that one horse ran round the hurdle, but that it was Garibaldi, with Cotton up ! Now, if Garibaldi ran round the hurdle Kingask must have done so as well, 1 for the two horses were side by side as they came to the hurdle, and Garibaldi was on the inside. This assertion settled him at once, while the other fared little better. The only other witness on behalf of Kingask was his rider. Surely he was not an " independent witness." That individual gave his evidence in such a palpably untruthful manner that he was told by the stewards that he might consider himself lucky that he was not disqualified for life for going there and telling deliberate falsehoods. This same rider, I am, moreover, myself able to convict out of his own mouth. I was going through the paddock at the races, and happened to pass a group of four people talking together, and the rider of Kingask was one of them. As I passed, one of the four said to him, " How did you come to let the horse go round that hurdle ?" The ingenuous reply was, "I'm banged if I know; the took me round." And this was after he had solemnly declared to the stewards that his horse cleared .the hurdle ! In connection with Mr Weston's disinterested action in the matter, I would like to ask him two questions, and I will be happy to give him space in these columns to reply. Firstly, did he admit in the paddock that the question of Kingask's getting the race made a difference of £350 to him ? and, secondly, did he hunt round the paddock offering £2 to anyone who would give evidence in favour of Kingask? The New Zealanders, Mitrailleuse, Too' Soon, Queenie, Spade Guinea, Pasha, Teddy Yujlle, and Vinaigrette are entered for the Hawkesbury meeting, while in the Sydney Metropolitan Stakes appear the names of Spade Guinea, Pasha, Teddy Yuille, Too Soon, Queenie, Escutcheon, and Mana. Trenton is also engaged in the Sydney race. The favourite fixture, Woodeaton, , claimed the attendance of the followers of the Otago Hounds on Saturday, (writes our contributor, " Nimrod ") and at half-past 2 o'clock sharp a large number of horsemen were assembled waiting for the sport to commence. The master had his usual mount, Turk ; Poole, the hunts-, man, Wizard; the whip, Duncan, Potens; Mr Davis, The Drummer ; Mr Hart, on his new purchase, Leap Year ; Mr Percy Laing, Day Dawn gelding ; Mr Rutledge, Glenara ; Mr J. Heffernan, Kate ; Mr Q. Smith, Dunluce ; a lad, Mayboy; Mr Christie, Mabel; Mr Taggart, Robin Hood; Mr Roughton, a white-faced chestnut; Mr Wilson, a bay ; Master S. Gourley, Sweep ; Mr H. Gourley, Tempest; Mr Taggart, jun., Galway ; and W. Sharp, the light-weight jockey, Flirt. The lady patrons were Mrs Walcott, Mrs Myers, the Misses Fagan, besides the usual number who complacently viewed the proceedings from any vantage point that could be obtained. This country has been so often described that all who take any interest in the sport are familiar with the nature of the fences,* but on this occasion the drag was laid some distance on the Green Island side of Mrs Jones' residence, about five jumps having to be surmounted before Woodeaten was arrived at. These were all post and rails and wire fences capped with a stout rail. Most of the field kept well with the pack until a jump into a lane near Woodeaten was approached, when some confusion and sticking-up ■ occurred, chiefly amongst those in 'the hindermost division. A somewhat steep hill was then descended at a pace that made matters rather uncomfortable for those on hard-pulling, horses, and at the bottom was a rather awkward fence to get at. A stiff hill was then encountered, on the top of which was a low double across a road. Some horses, however, seemed to have an unaccountable dislike iothis obstacle, which caused some to participate very little in the remainder of the run. Ultimately some friendly bungler , smashed a rail, of which the stickers-up took immediate advantage. Two or three more paddocks were traversed without anything notable occurring, when the drag was run into close to some haystacks, 10 or 12 of the field being well up. Sufficient breathing time having been allowed to men and horses to recover from the effects of the run, the drag was again laid on a slightly different run back in the direction of Woodeaton. One feature of this run was a very stiff gerse hedge at the start. Most of those who were in the first run participated in this; those who went through being, as near as, I could see, the Master, Mr Christie on Mabel, Mr Laing Daydawn gelding, Mr Davis Drummer, Mr G. Smith Dunluce, Mr Taggart Matipo, Master S. Gourley Sweep, Mr ,H. Gourley Tempest, and Mrs [ Myers, who in the second run rode Robin Hood. At the finish, all, big and little, were invited to Woodeaton by Mrs Jones, and treated with that thoughtf ulness and hospitality which should lay the members and all wellwishers of the hunt under a load of obligations to this lady. I am sorry to have to comment unfavourably on the conduct of some young horsemen who were out, their horses having no pretensions to be jumpers. Hunting, here as elsewhere, is entirely dependent on the goodwill and kindness of the farmers, and these people by knocking about fences and such larrikin kind of, conduct in many cases not only deal a, deadly

injury to the sport but interfere with other peoples-e njoyment. Remonstrahces:being of no avail, it has been resolved to proceed against as trespassers anyone guilty of such conduct in fu-| ture. The hounds meet next week at Balclutha and'.Miltbn. ■ /.*.-$. •' , • • It appears that I was too hasty in crediting! "Senex" with writing fairly on .the Marion' business. Before I comment on his latest remarks in connection with this, matter I will, ask him to answer me these- , two questions : — (1) Why are sporting '„w riters supposed to swallow as , correct everything that the 1 Canterbury Jockey iClub's stewards choose to. do, "while .Canterbury 'sporting ing writers are to be allowed to dispute the Jus-, tice "of ,the Dunedin Jockey Club's stewards whenever a Christchurch horse or man is affected > thereby ? (2) Who are 'most likely to know the merits of the Marion case— three, sporting, writers who were a couple of hundred miles or more away from the racecourse, and who only i "know" ..about the matter what the people' .interested in Marion .tell them;. or the; Dunedin stewards, who saw the races in which she ran and took a large quantity of evidence on both sides of the question? >, . , , The following are the latest remarks by ," Senex," but I hope they are not last, as I want . .straightforward answers to the preceding ques- , tions I have put to him, and also to those that I have put in brackets in the course of his comments : — '" Beacon's ' statement that the whole affair was too palpable may possibly be satisfactory to the Otago public, but, Canterbury men would certainly like to know something more about the matter than such a general statement as the above, seeing that it impugns the honesty of one of the best trusted stables in Canterbury." [Why should it satisfy the Otago public more than Canterbury men ? Why should Canterbury men require more than Otago men get from the Canterbury stewards when they disqualify an Otago horse. How much information did , the Canterbury stewards give to the Otago or any other public in connection with the notorious Garibaldi case ? What difference does -it make whether the horse was in the best trusted stable in Canterbury or any other stable? A queer racing morality this— that people belonging to a trusted stable may do as they like and not have their honesty impugned ! As to more information being wanted, let the Canterbury men read the remarks of all the Dunedin sporting writers on the matter; also those forwarded by Dunedia writers to the three Christchurch papers. If V Senex "requires fuller information than has been published he must be hard to satisfy ; will he kindly say how he would describe such a piece of business— supposing he witnessed it, for it is evident from his writings that if it were again to occur at Christchurch he would shut his eyes?] "The statement, if intended to apply to Jackson's riding on the first day; is distinctly denied by those Canterbury men present whom I have questioned on the matter. They say that there were no disparaging remark* made about Marion's running in the Provincial Handicap until after she won the Birthday Handicap, and this is so 'far borne out by the fact that the daily papers made no remarks on the subject in their comments on the first day's racing." ' [Certainly the' Canterbury men present whom " Senex " questioned would deny that the mare was "stiff" there were so many of them present and they were all so utterly interested in the mare. As to their saying that no disparaging remarks were made till after the Birthday Handicap, all I have to say is that it is totally untrue; they were quite common during the first day and up to the start for the Birthday Handicap. Everywhere one could, if ' he. liked,- hear the remark, " I'd back Marion if I thought she was on the job to-day," or "I' wonder if Marion's meant for it to-day ?" The first day's brilliant rush at the finish when just too late was matter for general comment. One of the daily papers did happen to have a remark on the subject, for the Evening Star on the first day said, in its description of the finish of the race :—" Marion, who had never shown promin- , ently till now, fourth." That was written immediately after the race, and in penning it the i writer had in his mind, and verbally agreed with others too, that he had a strong impression* that the mare could have been in a very different position if desired. I happen to know this, oecause I wrote it myself.] " Had the public noticed any of this alleged roping on the first day, it is very unlikely she would have been allowed to run friendless on the second day." [What- does "Senex" call friendless? The .general public certainly held off, on account of the doubt before mentioned ; but the ring were skinned of several hundreds of pounds — all that could be got — while the 'mare's backers also took over £500 out of the totalisator.] "I am not- arguing that the stewards had not proper and sufficient evidence before them on which to convict Jackson, but I do argue that there was no palpable^ roping, and that the idea of roping did not exist until after the mare had won the Birthday Handicap." [Well, now, " Senex," if you had only admitted all along that the stewards doubtless had proper and sufficient evidence on which to convict, what a lot' of writing we should have saved. And as'you very sensibly do not deny that they had such evidence, what on earth is the good of you wasting time and trouble over the question whether there was any palpable roping or not ? Your suggestion that the idea of roping was an afterthought has already been disposed of, and your argument that because Canterbury men did not see or hear of it proves nothing ; more than that, they are more blind and more deaf than the Otago public] The following sapient letter) purporting to be written from Wellington, appears in the Referee in connection with the Marion affair: — "I think the Dunedin Jockey Club, has been very hard indeed, from what I know of the above affair, on the jockey Jackson, who has always been considered a very • straight,' industrious, and painstaking lad. I think it is still the more hard because the general opinion is that there was nothing wrong about Marion's running at the D.J.C. meeting; All who have watched the mare's past running know what an in-and-out goer she is. She has run in a similar manner at meetings in Christchurch. I don't agree with you, however, that because Mr Stead happens to occupy ' a high position in the racing world and was not present at the above meeting he should be exonerated from blame in the matter. I consider that the Dunedin Club should have gone into the matter thoroughly before taking action. If they had I think they would have found there was 'nothing in it.' That is my opinion, but my object in writing is to record my conviction that a grievous wrong has been done to an honest lad. — I am, &c, Justice."

If the preceeding letter really emanates from Wellington — which I very much doubt, knowing the peculiar manner in which the Referee is worked — then there is one more donkey in Wellingtpn than I had imagined. It was bad enongh to have Christchurch writers describing a race and also giving details of a meeting of stewards which took place 250 miles away from them, but here we have an individual nearly twice that distance away who wants to make us believe that he know? all about the circumstances. From

what he knows of the affair indeed ! What does he know of the affair, I would ask?,' It must be little indeed," for he show's his utter ignorance by two' palpable 'misstatepents. Firstly, he * says 'that " the general opinion is that there was nothing wrong about Marion's' running"; whereas the fact is the general opinion .was all the other \vay, as he can gather from 'all the Dunedin writers' and correspondents' notes. Secondly, he ihas the 'audicity to say that the Dunedin Jockey Club " should have gone into the matter thoroughly before taking action." ' How they could go into a matter thoroughly without taking action is, a bit beyond,me; butUhe simple 'fact -is that the racing was' suspended for a wearisome time while they went into the matter at great length'- This is proof enough that the writer of the letter in question was not' on the spot: ; I should like to ask the writer of. this letter "what weight he thinks is attached to opinions 'expressed by an anonymous writer who admittedly knows nothing of the matter in question ; perhaps he fancies that tacking the signture" Justice "to his 'letter, carries conviction -with it. 1 > The most absurb part of his concoction is his expression of opinion that Mr Stead ought to ' have been punished although there was 'nothing in it." '«••*' - The Chronicle learns on good authority that the • Hamilton Jockey Club has expressed its intention of permanently disqualify the owner of the horse Patch from ever racing again on the Sowburn course, unless he can give good reasons for sending Patch for the Maiden Plate on ' April' 3o, knowing ,'at the same time that the horse was dibqualified from being entered for the event, having previously won public money. ' •,•■-., There is some talk among Cromwell sporting men of forming a trotting club, but whether or not it ' will ever come to anything would be difficult to say. Trotting races are now very popular and the chances are 1 that if taken in hand by a few energetic enthusiasts the 'idea might soon assume a definite shape. The imported thoroughbred horse Feve, the sire of some winners in this colony, is dead, writes the Press. He was an exceptionally well bred" animal, and a good-looking one', but one of the biggest frauds that ever was saddled up for a race. During his career on the turf, which extended over four seasons, those of 1872-75, he ran a dozen times and, though he was frequently heavily backed 1 he never succeeded in getting his head in front at the finish, his nearest approach to it being when as a four-year-old, with 6et 101b to carry, he managed to run second to Coventry, 3yrs, 6st 31b, in the Ascot Stakes, about two miles. When he was five years old and burdened with 7st 91b he was made a big favourite for the Northumberland Plate, ai?d was backed for lumps of money all over England. In the race, however, after looking all over a winner, he refused to try, and finished an indifferent third to> Harriet Laws, 3yrs, sst 71b, with Owton, 4yrs, 7st second. Feve was closely related to Hampton, the sire of the winners of the English Derby and Oaks, as both horses were by Lord Clifden, and Feve was out of the celebrated Haricot (dam ' of Caller Ou), while Hampton is from Haricot's daughter Lady Langden. During Feve's turf career he ran in the colours of Captain, Machel, Lord Aylesford, and Lord Rosebery. The sporting community will regret to learn (says the Palmerston Times) that Mr Mangan's Racehorse Hector broke his neck a few days ago as his owner was washing him with the hose. The horse was tied to a post, and in jerking backwards sustained the injury, which proved fatal. i The two Lapidist colts purchased by Messrs Stephensqn and Hazlett in Tasmania arrived here in the s.s. Waihora, and were taken to their new quarters on Wednesday. The colts are respectively out of the brood mares Pet and The West, and are , well-grown youngsters. They were landed in excellent condition., This is what the Sportsman's writer has to say of Mitrailleuse :—" The Maori mare, who ran second in the Royal Stakes, has more than confirmed, the high opinion whioh I have expressed very pointedly in these. columns. .After a series of wretched displays in second class company she has at last come out of 4 her shell and run a really brilliant race, only to get beaten on the post by something just a trifle better at the weights. What a waste of patience and plot ! The mare might have won any of the races in which she has been beaten, but she " wasn't well," or her party were out of sorts. . They pre,ferred to go for a big thing, and they didn't I quite get home. They have, moreover, sho>vn their hand, and will have to wait a long while ere they find a handicapper sufficiently gullible to let her in a short distance race at anything under Bst 101b." t The following query and reply of the Melbourne Sportsman, referring to a former Dunedin resident, who is, I believe, doing well in Victoria, speak for themselves:— "Loser, Moorilim, writes :— Would you kindly let me know through the columns of your paper if L. Lyons, of Melbourne, is a registered bookmaker. I made a bet with him at the Murchison races, and he gave me' a- ticket with 'L. Lyons, registered, Melbourne,' printed on it; but when the race came off he had gono. Answer — One Lewis Lyons is registered by the V.R.O. for the Paddock at Flemington;- but we do not believe he is identical with the 'L. Lyons ' you mention." Maryborough races have not attracted many entries ; half a doz -n being the largest number sent in for any one race, and all appear ,to be local horses. Among the nominations for the Onehunga meeting are such well-known performers as Turquoise, Libeller, Friendship, Tamora, Rewi, Peter Osbeck, Belle, New Year, Magnesia, and Falcon. I learn from Melbourne (writes, "Hippona") that Clarence, the erstwhile New Zealand crosscountry hero, has been presented by Mr D. Fountain to a brother metallician named Mr S. Quinwood, and that he "will only be used as a hack in future. Since Clarence has been in Australia he never won a single race, but his record up to the time he left these shores shows that out of 92 races that he started in, he annexed 41. The amount he won in stakes tot up to' £3887. The handicapping committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club will consist of the same gentlemen as last season — viz., Messrs Brabazon, P. Campbell, J. B. Gresson, and G. P. Williams. With reference to the plunger Benzon, the Melbourne Sportsman says : — " Most Australian' racing men will remember the young' English Juggins who honoured Australian racecourses by his presence some months back. Benzon, in fact, did more than merely visit our courses, he actually deigned to ride Parwan at Elsternwick Park, and— fell off on the flat. Well, the young gentleman has just come of age, and has, at last, got hoM of the £600,000 unearned increment accruing to him. When he left Australia he left something like £50,000 worth of paper behind him. If he borrowed £500 he gave the individual who 'loaned' him that amount an acceptance for £5000, and there can be np dpubt that two Australian fielders at

present in England went home with the express purpose of 'getting' their money, ," In ihis ,t£iey have been successful, one having received £3500, while the other has been paid £5000; the' lastnamed gentleman , of Deerhurst fame, has cabled over a portion of itj so there can be very JLittle doubt about his having' received his .whack. Those' who didn't, go home', however, are still on tenterhooks, and I have an, idea that they would accept a trifle less for c their share .than the amount inscribed on the face of the bills they hold. I know of an instance a jreekor so back' where a holder of Benzon'* paper for, ,a £1000 on being asked for payment' of abetting' debt of ;£l7 'said • Certainly,, here's *Benzbn r s bill for a 'thou,' give me £33 • and strike me off your settling, and' we'll cry; 'quits'.'',' Yet strange to say even at that temp'tiug profit the bookmaker didn't bite. In '.writing , of poor Benzon's bills I -am rather forcibly reminded of Mark Twain's remare ;' re 'the' trpe v c'ross.'? ]At Jerusalem the 1 American pilgrim saw V so many pieces of the. real original crucifix thai,, he calculated he had seen sufficient remnants. of the * true cross '^o build a fleet of men-of-war. It^trikes me it's much the, same with Benzon's paper.' His fortune, all, told, even according, to the wildest; flights of 'imagination of his creditors, doesn't amount t0. £500,000. Yet at a sporting hostelry in Melbourne' recently bUlholders were displaying or claiming ,to v hold at lea^t3o per cent, of that sum, in acceptances. I wish they may get it ! " The' handicaps for the Invercargill, races should have come to hand by this time, but I have not been, able to come across them anywhere. I wish all secretaries of clubs, would forward such items of interest to the sporting papers when ready. ■ A well-attended meeting of tne Lake County Jockey Club was held in Eichardt's Hotel on Wednesday af ternobni Dr Douglas (president;) in the chair. It was resolved, on the motion of Messrs S. Fischer and W. Miller, that the club hold a Spring meeting on Saturday, 24fch September next, and a sub-committee was appointed to carry out; all details in connection with the meeting. The disqualification of T. B. Mortimer by the Dunedin Jockey Club was endorsed. It was resolved that all persons in arrears to the club for nomination and sweepstakes be put ,on the defaulters' list and forwarded to the Dunedin Club. Mr T. Gilm'our, secretary of the Jockey Club, informs the. Mail that there are 20 nominations for the Queenstown Derby — the largest number yet received for any up-country Derby. Two of the horses are by Le Loup, five by Dead Heat, three by Chancellor, two by. Cloth of Gold, two by Rangatira, and three by Atlantic ; while Hilarious, Duntroon, and Cymbeline claim one each.

A fair number of entries have been received for the Dunedin Hunt Club's meeting, to be, held on Tuesday next, and if the weather proves fine, some amusement will be provided for such of the public as may think the gathering worth attending. The 'stakes are, however, , wretchedly poor. ■ An important case bearing on the liability of Racing Committees was heard in Sydney recently before Sir George Innes. Mr Head, proprietor of the Orange Liberal, sued the Hon. Jas. White, as chairman of the Australian Jockey Club, for £1000 for libel in publishing in the Australian Jockey Club Register of dig-, qualification the fact that he had been disqualified for ever by the Orange Jockey Club for insulting language, he previously being a member of the club in question. He refused to continue so in 1883, and at the March meeting of that year, when seeking admission as a pressman, he was compelled to pay. According to the defence, he abused the secretary and committee, referring to them as " blacklegs," and rogues," and "thieves." He denied this, .but witnessess supported the allegation. And besides this it was admitted, and the paper produced, showing that three or four days after he had in the Liberal slated the committee, some of whom he characterised as the most rascally persons that ever infested a small community. The defence was a plea of "not guilty," and Mr Piloher, for defendant, applied for a non-suit, on the ground that the club, not being a corporation, could not be held responsible for individual acts of libel. The judge over-ruled this. , It, was admitted for the defence that the secretary, Mr Clibborn, had, in accordance with, the rules, caused the disqualification to be added to the list. On Head's application for its removal he was referred to_ the Orange Club, and they promised to reconsider the, matter if he apologised. Mr Head two or three' days after, the scathing articles appeared, was, at the instance of the secretary of the Orange Jockey Club, asked for an explanation, and. made an ample apology,, stated that the comments were made under provocation. He stated in evidence that he was always admitted as a pressman, but against this there is a rule of the club that no reporter was admitted free unless the proprietor of the paper was a member. Mr Pilcher, having called evidence to show the language used by Mr Head, closed his case. During the discussion about the nonsuit, the judge plainly intimated that the A. J.C. had acted wrongly. Mr Pilcher, put it to the jury that if plaintiff had law on bis side, in view of the language he had used to the club and what appeared in his papers a farthing damages would meet the case. During half an hour's summing up, the judge asked the jury had they,any doubt whatever that the publishing of the statement complained of was a libel calculated to bring plaintiff, into disrepute ; if it were a libel, they had to consider the amount of damages, and in doing this there was no question of justification. He said- a jockej club properly conducted was a very useful public institution. Racing was not only allowable, but an admirable sport, and should be encouraged — that is, if the pernicious taint of gambling could be kept out of it. A jockey club must have a governing body, and one of its important duties was to keep order, and in doing this, the keeping of a register among clubs themselves of persons who had misbehaved was quite allowable ; but publishing this information to the world was a different matter, and not at all justifiable." It was entirely wrong so far as the law was concerned, for the jockey club to' publish these libels. They may think they are justified, in the interest of the public and racing, and that the good would preponderate over the evil thus done, and also be prepared to run the risk of any libels thereby resulting. The statement was very widely published by, being posted at the different race .meetings throughout the country. However, it' was for the jury to determine. If they thought the plaintiff, through being disqualified for life, had been injured as was alleged, they ,would award hip' substantial damages. If, on the other hand, his own conduct justified the, action, though not in law, they shoufcTaward nominal damages. After half an hour's deliberation the jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff with one farthing damages. His Honor 1 refused an application on his behalf to certify for costs. He said it was not for him' to express 'approval or otherwise with the verdict, but.upder the circumstances plaintiff was not .entitled to expect more than £200 damages, and '^n action could have been brought in the. District Court,

It was hinted that the matter would be brought befoee the Full Court.

In commenting on the decision, the Sportsaaan Bays the outcome is to show unmistakably that jockey clubs or other institutions in doing so are acting illegally, and lay themselves open ;to a libel action on each occasion. The learned judge stated this plainly, and it hardly needs the approval of such an eminent barrister as Mr Pilcher, who haa advised the Jockey Club to the same effect. Along continuance, of this practice without question has led to the belief that by the passing of bye-laws cartain rights were acquired, but this is exploded. It is now competent for every person who has been " posted" by the A.J.C., or, indeed, any other club, to bring an action against them for libel ; but it is not anticipated that the club will be rushed with cases, for in view of the experience of the plaintiff Head, who was awarded a farthing damages, his Honour refusing to certify to costs, it is not likely that anyone will recklessly set the law in motion. Of course, anyone making out a good case has it won already. Under the circumstances I am led to understand .that the club does not intend to take any special action ; they can keep ' and furnish among themselves a register of disqualifications without infringing the law. On consideration the committee may or may not think some action necessary. Snapshot, that speedy customer that ran away with the Maiden Plate .at the recent Dunedin meeting, has been purchased by Jimmy Cotton at a fair figure. The horse had, prior to coming into his bands, been accustomed to take matters his own way in his races, but Jimmy seems ,to have got the upper hand of him at the first attempt.

" Flaneur" reports that Mr Thomas Powdrell, sen., an old Hawke's Bay supporter of the turf, aud father to the late J. D. Powdrell, of Kakaramea, has just passed away at the patriarchal age of 81. Mr Powdrell was the breeder of many well-known animals, including Hailstorm.

Some weeks ago a rumour was industriously circulated to the effect that the Hon. James White had offered a very big figure and " contingencies" for the yearling brother to Trenton, buc the Sydney papers have authority for saying that it is entirely devoid of truth.