TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1978, 9 January 1890, Page 27

TALK OF THE DAY.

BY MAZEPPA.

■%* I was not far wrong in anticipating that New Zealand would be pretty strongly represented at the V.R.O. Autumn meeting, or, what is not exactly the same thing, in the tntry list for the ohief handicaps at the meeting, Of the 109 nominations for the Newmarket Handicap, our colony owns nine— viz., Jet d'Eau, Tirailleur, Renata, Ouirassier, Kotuku, Quadrant, Maxim, Scots Grey, and Oorunna ; and of the 42 nominated for the Australian Oup, the Bame crowd with the exception of Quadrant and Corunna, and the addition Leopold and Fabulous, represent Maoriland interests. Dudu would probably have been included in the Hats bad she kept right, which I regret to hear is not the case. ♦«* The question is debated whether Mr Dowse should not have commenced his Dunedin Oup handicap a couple of poundß lower, seeing that Occident's ability as a weight carrier is not quite conclusively proved byliis performances. On full consideration Z think that the 9.5 is the better weight of the two : for aa the handicap Btands everybody gays, " I'm blessed if I know what to back," whereas at 9.3 Occident would be pretty well Bupported. Two pounds, however, is not of muoh moment either way. Wolverine is fairly enough put in at 8.7. These horses were at one time reckoned about a matoh, and we really don'fc know what Wolverine would be capable of if he were well. Perhaps if he had kept right he would now be at the top of the list instead of Occident. But he is not right, and will not start. His owner is intending, I believe, to reserve him for shorter races. On the President's Handicap running there is not a great dealtoohoosa between Ocoident and St. James. In that race Ocoident gave him 16lb, and won by half a length, and now there is 211b between them. Ocoident could, in a true-run race, which the President's Handicap waa not, have given St. James quite the 51b extra, and perhaps more, but this Cup, with its higher weights and its longer distance— both in favour of St. James, I think— is a different sort of race, and on weight I don't think there is muoh to choose between the pair. Merrie England is the good thing of the handicap as regards weight, and if he could be brought to the post fit and well he would do with bis field what Sir Modred did with the same weight. I think so at any rate, and am of opinion that a little more weight should have been served out to the colt that on his two-year-old form was reckoned 61b better than Scots Grey. At the Bame time I don't think he ia right, and would counsel backers to leave him alone for the present. Lorraine I will have nothing to do with, though his weight seems to have been carefully calculated. British Lion has been put in at an entioing weight, and this may tempt Mr Hungerford to send the horse over from the Coast. Fit and well he could about win. I can hardly guesß what Tamora's weight should be, and am not going to quarrel with Mr Dowse on the point. Ixion might have had a pound or two more in view of bis recent performances. Certainly they were made in poor company, but Ixion has shape* creditably among racers, and I think he is distinctly well treated. Mark my words : if he strips fit he will get a place in this race. He is a stayer. Stonehenge is working again, but I scarcely think the stable will rely on him. Don Caesar is supposed to have a show, and perhaps he haß, but I think those who have supported him have done so chiefly because he is owned here and is in a food trainer'B hands. I prefer Ixion to him. »erhaps I should be puzzled to give a valid reason for the fancy, butl entertain it nevertheless, and express it. Phantom, a four-year-old non-performer by Musket out of Atlantis, will not come. She is not right. But in weight ahe is very leniently treated. Lisbon has a show. Mr Sherwin is nevei to be despised, and on his Maiden Plate performance thegelding must be treated with some respect, Wildrake I cannot stand at any price. I hear he ib lame in front. Don Pedro is not in work. Gipsy Prince should have a say if he is any good at fdl, but I must see him shape well at exercise

before recommending him, and the same remark applies to Peasblossom, who as the winner of a race might have had a pound or bo more than Gipsy Prince if only for appearance Bake. On the whole I think the handicap is a good one, lbs chief difference of opinion between Mr Dowse and myself being in regard to Merrie England. Those that may pay up the acceptance fee ero Occident, St. James, Merrie England, Lorraine, British Lion, Ixion, Don Ca33ar, Lisbon, Gipsy Prince, and Peaßblossom, and if we see eight at the post we shall be lucky. I shall refrain from making any selections yet awhile, but may remark that of the outside crowd I like nothing better than Ixion, whose owner, however, this week refused to take 100 to 10 about him. In the Publicans' Handicap I like the look on paper of Wolverine and Blizzard. This is a really good handicap.

*** Mr J. H. Stephenson, well-known throughout Otago as son of Mr John Stephenson (part owner of Occident), died suddenly on Friday last. He caught a chill while out shooting on Christmas Day, and inflammation of the bowels supervened on Sunday or Monday. It was not, however, thought that the case was serious until Thursday, when Mr Stephenson, senior, was hastily summoned. Deceased took a lively interest in raoing and other Bports, and at one time and another bad owned a few jumpers, which he used mainly for hunting. His untimely death— he was only 24 years of age— will be generally deplored, and I am sure that I but represent the feelings of the whole sporting community in expressing my sincere sympathy with Mr John Stephenson in his Borrow.

*„,* The Thames meeting did not attract many outside horses of repute, and, as usual, small fields were the rule. In the Parawai Handicap, of 20sovs, Hailstone (a son of Hailstorm) beat Yumyum by fire lengths, and later in the day won the Thames Plate by half a length from Haricot. Seaweed, as to whose breeding we have different accounts, carried off the Hurdle Race and the County Steeplechase. The Midsummer Handicap and the Goldfields Handicap both fell to Memorandum, a half-brother to our Otago-owned Forget-mo-Not, The Steeplechase and County Hurdle Race were appropriated by Reoruit, the horse that last season pulled off the big cross-country event at Ellerslie. The sum of £1689 was passed through the totalisator during the two days, 10s tickets being issued. %* Particulars of the Reefton meeting are now to hand. In the West Coast Produce Stakes Egan's Skybird, a mare of whom I have good accounts, beat Hungerford's Mayboy, who was asked to give her 81b, but was unable to do bo. Molly Bawn (not the mare once owned in Dunedin) was a bad third. The Inangahua Cup, of UOaovs, two miles, waa rightly supposed to be a good thing for Steelbone. The investments on and weights carried by tho starters were aa follow— 3l2 Steelbone (9 0), 160 Sweetie (8.10), 148 Patrician (8 7), 135 Little Shamrock (8 3), 59 British Lion (9.4), 50 Quibble (8.12), and 35 Captain Cook (8.11). British Lion and Captain Ceok were in front aoon after the flag fell, but Patrician made the running as soon as the horses had settled into their stride. After a little while British Lion went to the front, and Sweetie soon ran into second place. Half a mile from borne Steelbone made a forward move, and a good finish found Steelbone a winner by a short head from Sweetie, wi'h the Lion half a length away. Sweetie slipped at a ontical moment. The Novel Race is pointedly described in a local paper, which says that " Leeßton won with hard whipping and Antrose lost with hard holding." Mr Hungerford'a Captain Cook was easily beaten in the District Handicap, being unable to give a stone to Fleetwing ; and the day's sport concluded' with the Hurdle Race, ia which the first favourite Captain, Abram won easily. His performance in that race, taken in itself, indicates promise, but when we read that onjthe second day College Boy gave him 21b and a beating in a mile andthreequarterjumping race the hope that he may prove a second Ahua is not so bright. Mr Hungerford was recouped for his general ill-luck at the meeting by winning the Midsummer Handicap, of 130aoys, one mile and three-quarters, with British Lion. This seems to have been a capital race. The starterß were— 26s Steelbone (9.2), 205 Sweetie (8.8), 150 British Lion (9.0), 49 Little Shamrook (7.10), 14 Patrician (7.12), and 13 Fleetwing (7.6). Little Shamrook led for most of the way, when Sweetie displaced him. She in turn was challenged by British Lion, and after a splendid contest the last-named won by a neck. In the Boatmans Handicap College Boy beat Quibble at level weights, Captain Cook being unable to give 71b to this pair ; and Little Shamrock (7.12) beat Sweetie (8.8) in the Consolation. The meeting seemed to have been an enjoyable one throughout. %* It was stated last week that Forester won the Opaki Stakes, the ohief event at the old-established Masterton-Opaki meeting. He carried the thumping weight of 10.7, and won by a length from Lancer (7.12), with Akatea (8.1) third, and Due d 'Amour (6,1) and Minnie Palmer (7.0) unplaced. The course was a mile and a-half. They must be a poor lot of horses that Forester beat over tbat distance, for be is not a proved stayer by any means. Forester did not run on the second day, and the principal event— the Jubilee Handicap, of 50sovs, one mile and a- quarter— was taken by Lancer (8.2), beating Retina (9.4), Orator (7.3), and two others, one of these being the veteran Pilgrimage, who in years now long past used to race by the name of Jack. The Retina here mentioned is the three-year-old filly by Apremont out of Iris that was bred by Mr Stead and sold to Mr Martin for £60. Her defeat in the Jubilee Handicap is not to be wondered at considering the heavy weight ebe bad earned by winning three races on the first day of the meeting. These were the Waipipi Handicap, ia which she carried 8.4 and did the mile in lmin 48| seo, or a fraction less ; the Produce Stakes, in which she beat Comet, Zara, and Frolic with the greatest ease over a mile and a-half course ; and the Railway Handicap, of 50sovs, which was a gift to her. In the Two-year-old Stakes, a six furlong race at 7.10 for ooltß and 7.6 for filließ— a kind of baßtard Champagne,Stakes— Mr Tancred's Noisette (by Blaok Rose from Fair Agnes) waß returned as the winner, the other starter being Mr Buick's Olive. The sum put through the totalisator for the two days was £2729.

*** It will be a surprise to most people at Home and in the colonies to.be told that horse racing conducted mainly after the English fashion has become quite the national sport of Russia. But unlike the autoorats of the turf in England (writes a London exchange) the Russian Jockey Club own the racecourses ; they build the Btands— all betting has to be done through them, and they have their own training stables, where horses are kept at a fixed rate during winter and summer. The principal races are run on Sundays, as. in France, and the Russian Newmarket is at Moscow. For the Russian Darby, the chief event of the raoing season, which takes place in July, the prizes for the first three horses amount to nearly £3000. Following the English nomenclature, the Russians have an Oaks, a Leger, and a Czarewitch, and their racehorses are almost entirely trained and ridden by Englishmen, though there are few Germans, besides natives of the country, who bold

good positions in that line, The betting being conduoted on tbe "pari-mutuel " system, giving enormous profits to the Jockey Club, has enabled them to build a magnificent grand stand at Moscow, said to be the finest in the world. Altogether, racing matters by all accounts are very well managed in Russia. The stud horses are bought in England, and the largest breeder in the empire lives near Warsaw, keeping an establishment wbiob is excellently conducted, and will vie with any in either hemisphere. *** Wyndham races having only about £60 divided up as prize money, no totalisator waß permitted to be used, and as the weather was as bad as it could be, and the course in a sloppy state, the meeting was rather a miserable one for everybody concerned. In the Maiden Plate there were four starterß, and the three-year-old Fun won by a couple of lengths from Coquette, the others who came to the post being Athol Daisy and Upper Cut. Matamata, the son of Apremont and Speargraap, won the Wyndham Handicap from Silver King, the winner conceding 221b, and outpacing his opponent, who mußt be a beanty considering that it took Matamata 2min 44360 to do the mile and a quarter 1 The Trot was another poor affair. There were Bix starters, and the winner turned up in Peggy, who had a 60seo start, and took 7min 57eeo to coyer the two miles, or exactly the time in which Maid of Munster trotted three miles in private in tbe trial on which she was Bold to go to Australia ! ° The Mataura Ensign says that this trot would havo been an interesting race if all the horses had gone from scratch, As it was, they started at intervals of lOsec, and finished in the same order, with the exception of Regard, who managed to get second place. . The Novel Race was won by Operator from Suva and two others, the winner's time being 2min 27sec for a mile. Streamlet (9.1) beat Matchlight (6 10) and another in a canter for the Flying Handicap; the District Handicap fell to Larrikin, beating five others ; in the Consolation pleasing variety was introduced, there being an excellent finish between the four starters, Matchlight (8.12) just beating Regard (8 8) • and tbe Hurry Sonrry was won by Silver King. *** One of the English papers talks very plainly to the Duke of Portland. A good deal of fulsome rubbish, it says, has been written and said about tbe sportsmanlike qualities of his Grace. If genuine sportsmanship on tbe turf consists in literally running horses off their legs, then it must be oandidly admitted tbat his Grace is facile princeps of all the noble patrons of that branch of sport. Not content with breaking down Semolina, he succeeded in the Champion Stakes in finally closing Ayrshire's career, by starting the horse in a condition which made it apparent to the veriest tyro that defeat was inevitable. As a matter of fact, the suspensory ligament of the off foreleg gave way during the race. Even if tbe Duke were a poor man it would be inexousable to work bis horses in the way he has done during the present season, but as he iB the possessor of a princely income bis conduct appears auspioiously like callous, or is tinged with an inordinate greed for winning heavy stakes. That he has not yet Bucoeeded in breaking down Donovan is a matter of pure luck. There are owners in New Zealand to whom tbe same remarks would apply. It is unfortunately a rare ooourrence for an owner to pension off a good slave, the rule being to race them or breed from them until they die or become useless.

*** The weather at Clinton on New Year's Day was very dicky in tbe morning, but at the appointed hour it cleared up a little and the stewards resolved to proceed with the business. The raoing was in no way remarkable, unless it i be taken as something unexpected that Trapper made so poor a show in company that at his best he would have made mincemeat of. Ceres, one of the starters in the Maiden Plate, is tbe filly that Cotton bad in hand for the Winton Derby. She is no wonder. It will be observed tbat Crossbow ran in the nomination of Mr G. Bain. I had heard that he was about to change hands. Messrs Mason aod Roberts ran the totalisator and passed £607 through, which is not at all bad considering that there were only about 350 people on the course. ♦ # * Particulars as to the career of Lord Falmouth occupy a lot of space in tbe papers to hand by this mail. We learn tbat it was in 1856 that the now deceased lord commenced breeding thoroughbreds, one of his first purchases bfiing a mare named Flax, by Surplice out of Odessa. She was dam of Queen Bertha, this being his Lordship's first homebred horße seen on the turf. Before any animals of his own raising were seen on the turf, however, Lord Falmouth registered in the name of Mr T, Valentine, the popular black jacket and white sleeves. In 1864 Lord Falmouth was elected a member of the Jopkey Club, and from that time raced under bis own name, but, curiously enougL, that was one of his worst years, although the following season he once again got into the winning groove, and pioked up several valuable raoeß, notably with Celerrima and Sunnylocka, both fillies being bred by his Lordship. For many a year (says the Sportsman) has the anecdote been told by narrators who never set eyeß on Lord Falmouth how the betting transactions of his career were so few and unimportant that one on which a sixpence only depended was amongst tbe chief of them, Various versions of the little wager exist, the original one being as follows. In the autumn of 1861 Lord Falmouth, who then raced under the assumed name of Mr T. Valentine, betted John Scott, his then trainer, sixpence that Queen of Hearts beat Q. E. D. in a Criterion Course Sweepstakes for two-year-oldß. Hiß Lordship lost, On the One Thousand Guineas day of 1862 he presented John Scott with the sixpence, set in a handsome pin, and very afternoon carried off the stake just mentioned with tbe Wild Dayrell filly Hurricane. Another paper says this is not the only bet Lord Falmouth ever had. The other gamble was a new hat on the St. Leger of 1878 with Lord Alington, to the effect that Jannette, the bearer of the "magpie," beat Ohilderic, and jthig Lord Falmoutn won. Lord Alington after-, wards offered the late Lord Falmouth a sovereign in payment, to which his Lordship good-humouredly replied, " Oh, no ; our bet was a new hat j and mine cost 303 eaoh 1 " The following table shows Lord Falmouth's WcmiNqs. 1860... ... 1875 21,152 0 1861... ... 1.525 0 1876 10J060 0 1862... ... 3,930 0 1877 34,388 10 1863... ... 5,324 0 1878... ... 37,681 0 1864 1879 23,528 10 1865... ... 490 0 1889 16,061 0 lg66i#i .„ 1881 14,104 0 1867... ... 1,544 0 1882... ... 13,184 10 1868... ... 780 0 1883 18.434 0 1869... ... 1884 1870... ... 11,005 0 1885 1871... ... 4.186 0 1886... ... 391- 0 1872... ... 9,974 0 1887 777 5 1873... ... 7,672 0 1888 2,966 0 1874... ... 15,775 0 1889 835 0 Total ... ... £255.770158. \* Speaking of the price that Harvester fetched (8600gs) at Lord Falmouth'a sale, " Pendragon " calls to mind that horse's celebrated dead heat with St. Gatien in the Derby, and what he has to say on the subject is interesting: — "Acoording to what we know now, it lookß as if St. Gatien ought to have won, and that had the heat been run again he must have won, as he was not only a speedy horse

but a great stayer. On his show as given later he is one of the greatest horses evor seen, and it is not his fault he does not now have to be braoketed an even publio performer, so far as quality goes, with the, as it is, greatest of all equine heroes, Ormonde. But it is likely enough that at Derby titne 1884 St. Gatien had not come to the quality he showed subsequently; if ho had, Harvester would never have been able to make him gallop after Tattenhain Corner. As I don't think tbe exact reason why tho dead-heat wasn't run off has ever been published, I may as well give it, Neither owner was anxious to run the risk of defeat, but Sir John Willoughby was ready to do whatever Hammond, then a vory small potato compared with what he is now, preferred. So Hammond consulted Wood and was advised to make a draw, for though that extremely astute young gentleman felt sure from the way in which his horse was going at the finish that he could beat Loatos on Harvester in a second essay, he said, 'But they won't put Sammy up : they can get Fred Archer now, and no one who hasn't ridden against him knows the value of Fred over this course ; anyway it would be like taking 71b off Harvester.' So St. Gatien's owner thought discretion the better part of valour, Sir J, W. was quite as agreeable to do one thing as another ; and the money was put together and divided according to the laws which govern both rac ; ng and betting."

%* Wet weather interfered with the Westport meeting, and, as narrated last week, two of the first days' events had to be postponed. This stretched out the meeting to three days. As to the events on the second and third days, Clarice (10.12) won the Hurdle Race very easily, Dangerous ■ (10.0) being second, and Royalty (9 2) third. The Orowaiti Handicap, of 40sovs, one mile, was a soft thing for Miss Laoy, who carried 7.12 and beat Stoat (8.12) and another. Thatchpeg, one of Mr Redwood's breeding, won the Selling Race and was afterwards sold for £20, which was a good bargain for the purchaser, as an hour later Thatchpeg won the Waimangaroa Handicap, of 30sovs, from four others, paying a dividend of £7 163. In the Westport Handicap, of 60sovs, one mile and a-half, Victory carried 9.10 and Stoat 9 7, but both wera put down by Clarice, whose light weight of 8,0 enabled her to romp in. On the last day Dangerous (10 4) beat Dan O'Oonnell (10.7) m the Hurdle Race; the Buller Handicap, of 40sovs, one mile and a-quarter, was taken by Victory (9,4), with Coronet (7.12) second; and the Consolation proved an easy thing for Young Perkin. Tho amount passed through the totalisator for the three days was £2591. I observe that " a horse called Murat was ruobing afc this meeting. Can this be the unworthy brother to Sultan, or is this one of the many scores of cases in wbioh a fine should be inflicted for duplicating a name

*** Warning! The New Zealand trotter Hawkdun and bis rider (Lefevre) got into trouble at the Moonee Valley meeting on the 19th inst. Only two horses started in one of the 2.50 heats, and Hawkdun, against whom odds of 3 to 1 were laid, was beaten by 100 yds. The stewards were not satisfied tbat all was on the square, and promptly oalled on Lefevre for an explanation of the horse's poor display. , The account they received was not accepted, ' and it was forthwith decided to disqualify man and horse for a twelvemonth. When this decision was announced to Lefevre he lost his temper and used bad language to the stewards, who at once increased the sentence of disqualification to life.

%* The Cromwell meeting was one of the most important held in Otago during the holidays. The naked results were to hand in time for last week, and I now propose to make a few remarks as to the running, based on the report in the looal paper. In the Hurdle Rac3 Trimolite (9.11) waß ridden by Loughlin, while Secretary (11.0) bad the services of W. Robertson. Blackboy, Boots, and Wild Deer also ran, but had no hand in the finish, which was capitally contested by the other two, Trimolite getting home first by a neck. The winner was locally bred, being one of Dead Heat's get. He was well supported, the dividend being only £2 14s. In the Grand Stand Handicap Billy Sharp had the mount on the winner, Ixion (9.1). La Rose (9.12), ridden by Loughlin, made tbe running for six furlongs, when Ixion went to the front and was not again beaded, winning by a couple of lengths. Avis was a poor third, and Argonaut bolted off the course. The dividend was £2 7s. It may be remarked as a somewhat peculiar occurrence in the history of Darbies that every horse entered for this Oromwell Derby of 1889 went to the post. Was such a \ thing ever known before ? Cain's Irene (by Gorton out of a Scud mare) was left a bit behind at the start, but soon got with her horses, and her superior pace enabled her to lead the field till coming into tbe straight, when the Wizard (by Bucephalus — The Witch), who had been lying in wait, made an effective rush and won as he liked, doing the distance in 2min 57sep and paying a dividend of £3 Bs. Donaghadee (Dead Heat — Value for Money) was third; and the others were Sensation (Dead Heat— Towton mare), Madaline (Rangatira— Architect mare), and Lara Cor (Laertes— Fancy). In the Selling Stakes Hollowback showed up the local crack Hack, Tarragon, by beating him easily at level weights, and also putting through another smart one in Barahbas, to whom half a stone was conceded. Loughlin wanted the Flying Handicap, and sent both Windsor (9.6) and Pennant (7.9) for it, riding Windsor himself. Ixion (9.4) seemed to havo Pennant in trouble at the home turn, and Windsor than went up and settled him, winning on the post from Penpant, who in the last few strides had disposed of Ixion. Trimolite (6,12) was the unplaced member. The time was remarkably good— lmin 17aeo. Tke Trot was confined to Young Jlangi (60aec), Rooky (60aeo), Romeo (453 ec), and Bridget (GOaec), though six others started, ftpoky was never headed after a mile 'bad been covered, and won as he liked from Romeo, with Bridget third. Bracelet (with 8.8) won the Hack Handicap by a neck from Bracelet (7.10), two others finishing behind this pair. * # * On the second day of the meeting Loughlin commenced well by winning the Maiden Plate with Pennant, who jumped away on the fall of the flag and won as she liked from Token and Hanlan. The Derby winner, The Wizard, was among the unplaced three in this raco. Miss Wilkie, winner of the Trot, did the two miles in 6 23 from a start of 40sec, Fossicker being at the scratch. She paid a dividend of £7 9a. The Jockey Club Handicap, of 7530v5, one mile and threequarters, produced a capital race, Ixion (10.4) winning by a neck from La Rose (10.0), with Knickerbocker Sam (6.8) a he id behind, aud the other pair, Windsor (9 10) and Avis (7 8), close up. The time was 3min 15seo, and the dividend the substantial one of £12 53. Irene, who finished second in the Derby, landed tho Novel Handicap Stakeß by a oouple of lengths from Tarragon, who essayed to give her 441b. She waß bought in at £17 ss. In tbe Hock Handicap, Hollowback won with 10.4, beating Hanlan (7.10) and Bracelet (8.4) ; the Maiden Trot, a mile and a-half, was a soft thing for Mr Mountney's Polly (25sec); and the Forced Handicap fell to Token (7.8), beating Lough-

lin's pair, Pennant (8.6) and Windsor (10.6). The dividend was £8 2s. Messrs Solomon and Murrell passed £1555 through the totalisator during tbe two days. %* The principal race meeting reported in the papers received by last mail is the Liverpool Autumn. The Great Tom Stakes resulted in a win for Jack Frost, who was by common censent very leniently handicapped ; the Autumn Handicap was taken by Fallow Chat (4yrs, 77), who started at 5 to 2, and won in a canter from Barnecide (3yrs, 6.2) and Ourraghmore (3yrß, 7.4) ; there were 11 starters for the Knowsley Stakes, a five-furlong handioap, won by Mr J Hammond's Garter Iby Hampton out of Insignia), who started first favourite, but was lucky in beating ; ac outsiders Roseus and Spring Cup; the Prince of Waleß' jumping horse Magio, carrying 12 0, went out first favourite for the Grand Sefton Steeplechase, bnt waa beaten out of a place, the race being won by Battle Royal (11.4), with Bellonn (11 11) second, and Alexander (11.5) third ; and Colonel North's Philomel (7.12) won the Autumn Oup without an offort, the inferior places being filled by Reve dOr (7.5) and Theosophist (7.5). The winner started at 100 to 6, Claribelle (3yrs, 6.8) being first favourite at 2 to 1. Ringmaster, with 8.0 up, finished absolutely last.

*** The meeting at Fortrose on Boxing Day was fairly well attended, and there was some pretty good sport; but to some extent the fun was marred by the two chief events falling through in consequence of only ono horse accepting in each case, tbe rule boing three Btarters or no raco. Mr J. Anderson was lucky enough to take tbe three first events — the Maiden Plate and Farmers' Purse with Gold Saver, and the Trot with Roany. Tbe Hack Handicap foil to Mr Mitchell's Regard, the Consolation to Mr Kidd's Maori, and the Hurry Scurry to Mr Blair's Tokanui. No totalisator was used.

%* Upwards of 3000 persons attended the Manawatu races on Boxing Day. The Flying Handicap was supposed to be a good thing for Boulanger (7 9), a son of Grand Prix ; but the finish waa really a matoh between Cruiser (6.10) and Weka (6 10), the latter being defeated by a head. Cruiser is a son of Robinson Crusoe and Radiance. In the Hurdle Race Oddfellow (11.12) was rather easily beaten by Gladiuß (9.5), theso, the only starters, being ridden by the brothers Cameron, A good field of eight went to the post for the Boxing Day Handioap, Eclac (6.10) being rather a better favourite than Montrose (6.9), while both Foxton (77) and Thyme (6.10) were woll supported. After going a mile Montrosn took up tho running, and a great finish -found him beatiilf? 3?oxton, by ever so little, with Eclat a good third. Montrose's time for the mile and three quarters— remember this please !— was Smin 9aeo. Later in the afternoon Montrose also won the Tradesmen's Handicap, with 7,3 up, doing the mile and a-quarter in 2min 153e0, Tbe Somnus Produce Oup was a gift to Mr Stevens' Endyinion. How many more Endymions are we to have ? The sum of £3218 was passed through the machine. *** At the Manaia meeting the rule as to naming was most distinctly evaded by the stewards permitting a horse to run as the Redeemer colt. If ever the rules on this subject are to be onforced this is surely a favourable opportunity for a beginning. As it happened, this Redeemer colt came in first in his race, the principal event of the day, but he was protested against on the ground that he is a five-year-old instead of four years as represented. If the protest iB upheld the stakes go to Mr Knight's Satyr, who finished second. Redeemer colt is described as a particularly likely stamp of a racer. %* The Taranaki Jockey Club has been the objeot of hostile criticism in that, being a metropolitan club, it was content to oelebrate the Christmas holidays by a race meeting tbat was nominally and aotually confined to contests for hacks. There is some show of reason in the objeotion. A olub that aspires to the honourable position of being a leader of and a ruler among its fellows should at least make an effort to deserve the distinction instead of being satisfied to grub along in ignoble ease. On the other hand, however, a club would not be justified in running a risk of Berious embarrassment for the sake of keeping up appearances, and it may be that our friends of Taranaki may have figured out beforehand that their only choice wan between a hack meeting at a profit and an ordinary meeting at a loss ; and further, we have no evidence that this club is not willing to resign its position as the metropolitan club of the district. Considerations of this sort should make us hesitate before deriding the Taranaki Olub on account of its hack meeting, though tbe matter iB a fair subjeot for comment. As to the results of the raoing, it will be sufficient to mention that the Maiden was won by The Bean, a three-year-old by Feve out of Memento ; and that tbe two chief handicaps were taken by Vendor, a five-year-old, by Resolution out of Mr J. George's old racing mare Confident, The horse that came in first in th 9 Trot was disqualified on the ground tbat she was (the property of some person othot than the reputed owner. **♦ The Hurdle Race on the cecond daj of the Auckland meeting gave Kneecap opportunity, which was taken advantage of, justify his claim to be reokoned among t jumping racers. He is now somethic? mo than a back, and will henceforth figure, t eleven stone division. His defeat in t Steeplechase must, however, be accepted as a indication tbat hurdle racing rather than cross country work is his strong point, though he may be able to last over n less severe cour than that at Ellerslie. Quadrant again dis tinguisbed himself among the fiat racsrs. H had tho worßt of the Btart in the Newmarko Handicap, and yet managed to give Corunna weight and a beating, the time being ver> creditable ; while on the third day he ngai • assertfld his superiority over Corunna and gay the Nordenfeldt two-year-old Mary a stone and a half over a five- furlong course. I regard these aa capital performances. Tirailleur, notwithstanding his cold, added the Derby to his list of wins without an effort, and the Auckland Plate was such a soft thing for him tbat be was allowed to win in 20aec Blower time though with 101b off his back. The further we see into this Tirailleur's abilities, the more wo are are convinced that he could have beaten Occident in the Exhibition Cup if he had been sent for ifc. Pygmalion did not compete on the Becond and third days, and in his absence Mary proved tbe best of the two-year olds by giving them weight and a beating in tho Nursery Handicap. I doubt, however, whether sheis quite first-claas. for the comparatively moderate weight of 8 12 stopped her in the Midsummer Stakes, which race waß appropriated by another Nordenfeldt, Cambria, who bad tho lightest weight. So far we havo seGn no wonderful form among the Nordenfeldt youngsters, but thejr cannot be judged until next season. Tho infirm L^dy Norah showed a capital perfoimance ia the Raoing Club Handicap by beating L:onold and Antelope in the very good time of 2.40 for the mile »nd a-half. Cuirassier was one of tho starters in this race, but was better suited by the shorter oourßo in the Victoria Handicap, which he won in good time and paying a nice dividend, It should be observed that the

Montrose that won the Maiden Handicap is not the horse of the same name that won at Manawatu. Both Montroseß are engaged at Egmont, and the committee there should insist on a change of name for the latest claimant to the title,

*** Owing no doubt to the Railway Commissioners having made no reduction in the fares to Waikouaiti racea on Thursday of last week, the attendance from Dunedin was comparatively Bmall. With a little extra inducement the number of town visitors would have been doubled. The racing was as good as could have been expected considering the heavy going, which caused many of the weaker horses to pretty nearly stop before they had finished their journey. Lady Bell was undoubtedly the most promising animal on the course. She followed Blue Nell off the courso in the Maiden Plate ; otherwise the raco would have been entirely between these two, and it was 100 to 1 that the sister to St. Ives would hare beaten the grey. Chance and Broadleaf, the other pair, could not even raise a repectable canter, being a poor pair, and almost wholly untrained—indeed, thoy made such a wretched attempt at racing that if Lady Bell had been allowed to go on, after returning to the course, Bhe would certainly have won. The Cup waß as good a betting race as could bo wished. It should have been won by Foirget-me-Not but for the bad judgment displayed by her rider in making so much use of the mare in the early part of the race. On the other hand, Tommy Buddicombe rode Secrecy to tha best advantage, and it was the riding rather than the merits of the mares that brought about the big dividend. Lady Bell galloped beautifully in the Distriot Handicap. She is now in Arthur Smith's stable, and will be heard of when quite fit. Blue Nell, if ridden as well ns Cinnabar was, would have won the Consolation. The best finish of the day was that between Bill Allan and Vanguard in the Hack Selling Race. Both riders were hard at work all the way up the straight, and it was only in the last few yards that Bob Taggart got his howe in front.

*#* -The good prices for the Nordenfeldt yearlings at the Auckland sales is a subieot for national congratulation, and others besides racing men will unfeignedly hope that the results on the > racecourae may be bo satisfactory as to induce other Australians to leave us their money in exchange for our horseflesh. The buying was evidently not gone about blindfolded, for the prices for the young Nordenfeldta ranged from 50gs for the daughter of Albatross to 1025gs for the half-brother to Lochiel and Oorunna, but the average was well up to expectations, and such aB to bring in the good return of £143 a head (average) for the 43 lots submitted at the company's auction. I observe that Mr O'Brien secured the half-brother to Clogs, and that Mr Stead took the son of Pulohra. None of the lots oome to Dunedin.

%* At the Napier Park meeting on New Year's Day, that ancient traveller The Laird took advantage of his light weight to win the principal event. He must be a wonderfully sound horse to stand all the work that he has gone through year after year, and then be able to tun a mile and a-half in atiok or two over 2.44. Uronte, the half-brother to Nelson, again ran disappointingly at this meeting, though among the light weights. St. Andrew gave Aronoel 61b and a beating in the two-year-old raoe, from which it may be gathered that his success at Hastings on Boxing Day was no fluke. *#* The racing at -Grey mouth was completely Bpoiled by the accidental death of young Edward Dodd, the boy who as a stable tad rode Fusillade to viotory in the New Zealand Cup. He waß riding Patrician in the Grey Valley Stakeß, when the horse stumbled in a soft plaoe and rolled over bis rider, In the next event two other horses came down at the same spot, and then owners said they would not race any more that Jday. A postponement enabled the club to have the dangerous part of the course mended, and the races were continued next day without mißhap. From the report it will be seen that Sweetie 1 ' won the Cup, whioh was not to be wondered at after her performances on Boxing Day.and that Little Shamrock landed a double on the second day. * # * Very few Dunedin men went up to the Olutha races. It will be observod that Cotton managed to keep that cranky headed mare Seaside straight in the Maiden, which she of course won, She is fast enough to win a better race if anyone could prevent her from playing np. Orion won the two trots. Mabel's dofeat of Relief in the Selling Race caused the down fall of the plungers ; and Vaultroas once again showed how formidable a well-conditioned horse always is by winning the chief event from a decent field. The meeting pasßed off without protest or trouble of any kind, and I hear that the management gave complete satisfaotion.

%* At the Rangitikei races on the Ist inst. the principal race— the Handicap, of a mile and three-quarters— was won by Foxton, who beat Montro&e by a head almost on the post. Time, 3min 17sec. Dividend, £2 14s. Forester broke down. Oa the second day Gladiua again beat Oddfellow in the Hurdle Race, the brothers Cameron having the mount; the Clifton Handicap was won by Cruiser ; in the Sapling Stakeß Olive, by Grand Duke out of a Tattler mare (oan this be the same Oliva that was beaten at Maaterton-Opaki?), put down Fleta, the firßt of the young Armaments that I have heard of ; the Railway Handicap was an easy thing for Montrose, who did the mile and a-half in 2min 44^360 ; and Hiamoe, a son of Somnuß, paid a dividend of £31 2? in an extra hack race. About £5900, or £500 more than last year, was passed through the totalisator by Messrs Hill and Poole. *„,* Tinwald races on New Year's Day were prejudiced by the bad weather that appears to nave been generally experienced throughout the island. The fields were large and the racing good, thanks in no small degree to Mr Dowee's handicapping. Little Arthur (10 12) was made the favourite for the Hurdle Race, and won rather easily by four lengths from Inchkeith (9.5). The Maiden Plate was a soft thing for Martha, the four-year- old sister toDonCeesar, who waß so little knocked about that she was able to win the very next race, the Cup, iv which abe carried 7.0 and beat Golden Hope (6.10) by * length and a-half. Jnck put up 11.2 and won the Welter by a leegth from Little Arthur, there being 10 others in the field. Davo Price and Warner were reprimanded for unnecessarily punishing their horses in this race when they had no chance of winning. Messrs Hobbs and Goodwin passod about £1300 through the totalisator. * # * Hamilton and Sowburn races were held aB usual on Boxing Day. Thore were five Btart6rs for the Maiden Phte, which was wen rather easily by Kennedy's Tho Last, with R9grettocond and Kyeburu third. Cogau's Young Bar won carried 10.2 to victory in the Sowburn Handicap, boating Fable (910), Amuri (10 11), and two others. Dykes' Taieri Lad (55.«ee) beat Prospector (scratch) in the Trot. The Hamilton Handicap was tnken by Inder's Fable (10.0), beating Thistlo (10 7) and another. Potter's Laae of Gowrie won the Hack Race, and the Consolation went to M'Lean's Amuri, Writing as to this meeting, (he correspondent of the Mount Ida Ghronioio

saya :—" I think something might be done for old-established clubs like this that hold but one day's racing in the year to lessen the amount to be given in stakes, so that they might use the machine. The enemies of the totalisator say it it increases the number of small meetings. Surely that can be stopped by not granting a permit to mushroom clubs, but only to clubs that have been established for a certain number of years. There is no doubt the totalisator is a favourite with the publio, and there is not the slightest doubt it inoreases the interest in the raceß to a very great extent, in fact, a meeting without a totalisator is like toddy withoat whisky, and I hope that before next season something will be done for clubs like this one." %* Fishwife, the winner of the Standish Handicap, is half -Bister to the Southland-owned mare Anonyma. Regarding her bad luck in losing the Hopetoun Cup after winning it, the Argus says that the lad Morgan, who is little known as a jookey, was only about 4oz short. During the raco he lost a Btirrup leather and iron. A notice was sent to the stewards later in the day asking them not to pay the stakes over to The Charmer, as it was believed that the weighing scales required testing, but this letter was afterwards withdrawn. The scales were, however, tested, and it was found that the weight of two sovereigns was sufficient to cause them to work. \* The Tuapeka Times says that the race meeting held at Roxburgh on Thursday, 2nd instant, was largely attended, the weather being exceedingly fine. The sport taken all through was very good. There were no spielers on the ground, very few festive "drunks," and as a consequence the police bad nothing to do but smile. The first race on the card was the Maiden Plate (Bsovs), distance one and a-quarter miles, which was won by A. White'B Maid of Erin, Hunt's Fanny being seoond. The next event was the Jockey Club Handicap (1230vh), distance one and a-half milea, which produced a field of four, and was annexed by Ah Kirn's Nelly, White's Maybell being second, and Gordon's Leopold third. The Time Trot (lOaovs), distance three miles, for whioh six started, was won by Bain's Tommy, Whelan's Teddy being second, and G. Bennet's Herd Laddie third. The Selling Raoe (83ovb), distance three-quarters of a mile, was appropriated by M'lntyre's Patob, White'B Maid of Erin and Patrick's Dinah running into second and third place respectively. The Flying Handicap (lOsovs), distance one mile, resulted in favour of White'H Maybell, with Ah Kirn's Nelly Becond, and Savage's St.' John third. The Consolation Handicap (ssova), distance one mile, was carriod off by Gordon's Leopold, Galvin's Mina being second, and Savage's St. John third. %* It is estimated that only about 500 or 600 persons attended the Canterbury Midsummer meeting. Road Metal started first favourite for the Hornby Welter, and won, pulling up, by a dozen lengths. Moraine was a strong order for the Middle Park Stakes, and next to him Alsace was the moßt fancied, but the winner turned up iv Rose Argent, who won cleverly by a neck from her stable companion the favourite. Mark my words : this Rose Argent is one of the bast mares in New Zealand, and will win big money when she is as fit as she can be made. Her running in the Craven Stakes, in which with 8.7 she was beaten over a seven furlong course, is not particularly hopeful ; but the mare is not yet at her best, and in her present condition one race a day is enough. The investments on the Midsummer Handicap candidates were : 144 Scots Grey, 100 Sultan, 93 St. James, ' 80 Roßebud, 52 Wakatipu, and 8 Pursestring. It may be set down as a remarkable occurrence, and a feather in the cap of the handicappers, though the credit is not all due to them, that every horse entered came to the post. The race itself was a very lop-sided affair. Sultan just won as he liked, and could have made a record of 2.38 if it had been neoessary. Bar Tirailleur, he is without doubt the best horßO at present racing in New Zealand among those three years old and over. Rosebud was fourth, St. James fifth, and Pursestring last. Scots Grey was lame as he came on to the course. Messrs Hobbs and Goodwin passed £2092 through the totalisators. *** A want of horses was the rather serious drawback to the Hokitika meeting. People were there, and apparently willing to spend money, but the miserable fields — a total of 36 starters in 12 raoes— ohoked them off and things were very tame. Tyrant won the chief event eaoh day, beating Sir Will'am and nothing else on both occasions ; and Squib carried off the pair of hurdle races, her weight on the first day being 11.5 and on the second day 12.8. The best race of the meeting was the Rimu Handicap, in which the three starters were in it all the way until the finish, when Portfolio went to the front.

%* A new racing club has been formed at the Taieri. The people out there of oourse know their own business the best, but to an outsider it seems a mistake to have opposition in the district, especially at the present time, when the old olub needs all the assistance it can get to lighten the financial burden it has taken on its shoulders in buying a new course. I gather from the speeches made at the meeting called to consider the question, that the formation of this new club is an unnecessary and unbrotherly splitting up of the common interest, and if I am right in my conjeoture I think it a thousand pities that the men from the Western part of the district have gone so far in the matter. To quote from the speeches referred to, Mr Snow said he was sorry that somo of those present had found that they could no longer work with the Taieri Amateur Turf Club a3 smoothly as they had done in the past. At tho last meeting of the T.A.T.O. a plan had been produced of a piece of land that was considered suitable for a racecourse ; the land was situated close to Moegiel and the club bad decided to purchase it. He was not going to find fault with the course selected, nor the Mosgiel people, but at that meeting Mt Brent had suggested that public tenders be called from persons having suitable land to sell. That course the meeting would not adopt ; had it done so a more central site migbt have been secured. Had Mr Brent's motion been adopted tenders could have been in by about the 4th of January. He thought that in common decency that muoh time might have been allowed. Mr Vannini deprecated the position that had been taken up by the West Taieri members of the Taieri Amateur Turf Olub. They had allowed personal feeling to over rule their judgment Instead of forming a now club at Outram, those 120 gentlomen who had signified their inteution of joining a West Taieri club Bhould throw in their lot with the Taieri Amatour Turf Club, thereby making it the strongest country club in New Zealand. If this were dona the club at Mosgiel would ba to Dunedin what the Oaulfield Club is to Molbourne. He was not speaking from merely a Mosgiel point of view ; ho was speaking in the general interests. And Mf Read (of Greytown) thought it would be a failure to split up and form a club in Outram ; it would be far better to combine and strengthen the Taieri Amateur Turf Club. He had not heard a single person express himself in favour of establishing a olub at West Taieri and bis own i opinion certainly was that it would be a mia-

take to start another club. . , . In spite of this advice the now club was formed. It is to be called the Central Taieri Jockey Club. Mr H. L. Johnson (Berwick) was appointed president, Mr J. A. Duff vice-president, and Mr S. E. Brent treasurer. * t * Beaumont races were held on the Ist inßt. There were six starters for the Maiden Plate, of which Craig's Mount Iron waß the best, New Chum being second and Maud third. M'Cursey's Tommy (25sec) led nearly all the way in the Trot, but was passed by M'Oorkindale's Miss Ellen (scratch) at the finish. Mr Nash'a Specimen (a son of Le Loup) put up 9.7 and won the Beaumont Handicap from Stella (10.0). In the Hack Race Mr Wood owned the three placed horses— Gieniffer, Sandy, and No Name. %* Lancaster Park races were held on Saturday last. Rowe's Mary won the Maiden Saddle, doing the two miles in 6 214; the Selling Harness went to Whitehead's Oymvo, who took 7.16 for the same distance; Primmer's Westleigh won the Lancaster Park Handicap, two miles, in 5.56£; Sutherland's Kentuoky the Three-mile Harness Handicap in 9 22 ; Bowes' Barry the Selling Saddle, twomiles, 6.18; Kinlay*s Tamahana the Saddle Handicap, three miles, 8.40 ; Goodger's Scamp the Two mile Harness Handicap, 6.21; and Marsh's Pau-Kau-Ohe, two miles 6.6£. The sum of £1494 was passed through the machine,