TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Volume 06, Issue 1986, 6 March 1890, Page 26

TALK OF THE DAY.

BY MAZEPPA.

* # * Better nominations than those received for the D.J.Ob. Marou meeting could not bo looked for, In numbers there is an increase over last year in all races bat one, the exception being the Hurdle Race, for which the total is oxaotly the same ; and we may expect the Anniversary Handicap to be at least as interesting as the Dunedin Cup, seeing that three of the four starters for that event are engaged, with a few othor fair ones, suoh as Wolverine; Mias George, and Mon Loup thrown in by way of giving the event a more open appearance. The figures published in another column show an aggregate inorease in number of 52. Ido not envy Mr Dowse his job in having to handicap such a miscellaneous assortment as we have in the^Hurdle Race, and if he succeeds in giving us good fields and close finishes in the trotting and pony races I think he ought to be burnt as a wizard. * # * The Wairarapa Club's meeting this year is said to have been one of the most successful ever held on the Moroa course. Probably it was. I cannot argue to the contrary, seeing that I was not present, and, further, that I am not quite certain what test is applied or what conditions are required to be fulfilled in order to constitute a success in the estimation of the local folk. But I cannot help thinking that the Wairarapa meetings- nowadays— l speak generally, in reference to a period of two or three years'— cannot be oompared with those of pome five or six years back, when the programme was graced by a Produoe Stakes of some importance, and a Champagne Stakes, and when such horses as Paßha, Administrator, and the unlucky Consul were competitors. Stakeß and distances are now reduced, the breeders' stakes'; are things of the past in these parts, and one day's racing suffices. A signal falling off all round, but if the olub is by these reductions keeping out of debt and doing all that it can without saddling the unborn millions with a handicap, it is perhaps more deserving of praise than when racing on a more pompous scale. Things are not alwayß what they Beem. At this year's meeting four of the eight events on the programme were profeßsedly reserved for haokß, and one of the other four practically fell through, it resolving itself into a walk-over for Mr T. Ray's Comet. Of the three left in, one, the Moroa Handicap, of 3030V5, six furlongs, was won by half a length by Mr J. Macara's Frolic, a three-year-old Bon of Lord Mandeville, who carried 7 0 and took lmin 21isec to do the distance. Noisette, ono of the starters in this raoo. had 291b ov?r weight. Shewaa started chiefly for tbe purpose of getting used to the crowd. The Cup, of 7530V5, one mile and a-balf, brought to the post Akatea (8.7), Peter (7.10), Toroiiunga 17.4), Minnie Palmer (6.10), and Comet (6.7). Minnie Palmer waß served up very warm, receiving double the support of any

other candidate, and she did not disappoint her backers. The local paper says that Comet jumped away with the lead and made the pace a cracker. For three parts of the journey he made things very lively, and many thought he would never be caught, but Mr Maoara's little mare was going well, and as Boon as called upon she came away and bad the leader in trouble before the straight was reaohed. Torohunga was rather fractious at the post and got himself into a terrible state before the flag fell, otherwise he would have made things very sultry for his opponents when the final trial came. As it was he made a great finish for second money, securing the verdict by a nose, Peter, in his preliminary, went very short and never had a say in the race. Just before coming to the straight the horse unfortunately broke down bo seriously that he had to be destroyed immediately. ' Both legs' were put out at the fetlook and the horse was standing on his bare bones, the shins being skinned nearly to the knees. The accident is a most extraordinary one, the disjointing being as clean as if done by a butcher, The time of the race was 2inin 43sec, which is not to be despised if reliable, and the dividend was £2 11s. Minnie Palmer also won the Jubilee Handicap. The report from which I am drawing inspiration does not tell us how much money was passed through the totalisator. It was probably about £1400 *** On the Monday, I think it was, at any rate just a short time before the Dunedin Cup was run, there was quite a sensation among sporting men in town owing to the circulation of a rumour that Phantom had unexpectedly put in an appearance from Auckland. It was pointed out that if Mr B. Thompson thought it good enough to send this well- bred mare all the way down the coast she must be in some sort of condition, and that if bo she ought not at her weight to have any great difficulty in winning, and thus upsetting all_ calculations. As we know, the report was nothing more than a false alarm, It was something else that had arrived, Phantom was at that moment, and is now, quietly exercising at Takapuna. Her owner, I have learned, had hoped to have seat her down, and intended to do so, but she struck her leg in galloping, and had to be eased up. Whether she will ever race or not is more than I know, and I understand that she has as yet not been subjected to a set trial even in private ; but I believe she is all right again so far as the mishap is concerned. In regard to these Muskets, what a difference there is between the sexes ; the horses, as good as they make them ; the mares, not more than, if so many as, half a dozen first class. %* The Wanganui Club is once more asked to deal with a case involving an enforoement of the rules. At a reoent meeting of the Foxton Club the secretary reported (says the Manawatu Herald) that in aooordance with the Wanganui Jookey Club's request, he had notified to Messrs Ray, owner of Pukaka; Casey, owner of Killarney; Oribbs, owner of Mistake; and Reid, owner of late Cashier, that a fee of £5 was due by them to the jookey club for altering their horses' names, but that none of them had as yet paid the amount. It was pointed out that these horses had run at other raoes as well as at Foxton, and that it was putting a moat invidious duty upon the olub to make them collectors, simply for the benefit of the jookey club, of a fine the rule of whioh had only lately been made, and aB the outcome of the feeling expresed, it was resolved that the secretary write bo the Wanganui Jockey Club asking them to deal with the matter. V* Since last week's paper went to press I have learned that one part of my comments on the Canterbury Trotting Association was oonoeived in error, I was anxious to avoid doing an injustice to the association, and therefore said, " I do not blame the association, for it may have had nothing to do with the affair " —i.e., the passing of the New Brighton proEramme in which there was what is believed to a a vampedrup race put in for the purpose of evading the Colonial Secretary's ediot as to the amount of added money to be given. It is pointed out to me by a correspondent that the association .does pass programmes, and that it did paßs this one. Well, this being so, it must take the blame unless justification dan be shown. The letter Bent contains other statements concerning the association, whioh somewhat astonish me, the more so as they prooeed from a writer who is neither a fool nor a liar. I do not consider it my duty at present to go into particulars. In the first place, the communication is marked " private," and in the* second I would fain hope that whatever errors may have been ohargeable to the present association will be lost sight of in the ocean of good works which the newly constituted association has the opportunity of flooding us with. # Its possibilities for good are enormous, and if it' undertakes its duties with single mindedness, and a stern resolve to repress knavery in all its, many guises, it will deserve the thanks of the; whole community. If it is necessary to declare one's attitude in this matter, I have no hesita-j tion in saying that mine shall be that of the un-; biassed onlooker. lam prepared to judge the new association by its works. And that is the' only test of any value The association has its' destiny in its own hands. Worked properly it! will prosper ; otherwise it will come down like, a thousand of bricks, no matter who may try, to shove it up. There is no doubt, however,; that an association is needed. %* Mr B. W. Alison, one of the leading members of the Takapuna Olub, has just oon-J eluded a short visit to Dunedin, daring whioh I had the pleasure of escorting him round as many of the stables as could be visited in the couple of hours at our disposal. While at Arthur Smith's place we could scarcely help observing that Garibaldi is beginning to show signs of wear and tear in the shape of an ugly puff in the neighbourhood of the fetlock joint on the near fore leg. I hope thiß is not the beginning of the end so far aa this old slave is conoerned, but one oan hardly expect him to last many more seasons. Gipsy Prince was looking particularly bright, and Dispute aIBO seems to be thriving, while Lady Bell and Mon Loup are none the worse for their re : cent racing. . *** Poole's string are all doing well. Waitangi may perhaps be going off a bit— it would not be Burprißing if this were bo, seeing that he has been hard at it for nearly 11 months straight on end ; but MiBS Ann never looked fresher in her life, Wateroreßs is thriving, so is Milord, even the delicate and muoh r doctored Apres Moi seems full of life and ib manifestly coming to a Btate of Bound hea.ltb, while Mammoo, who has already made himself quite a pet of the stable by bis equable temper and generous behaviour at exercise, is looking so well that he should be fit to run again on very short notice. Here we Baw the new kennels and roving ground provided for the Otago Hunt Club's hounds. They are mob as to give the dogs plenty of room and wholesome quarters. Mr Hart happened to bepresent, and a half hour was pleasantly Bpent in a chat with this enthusiastic huntsman concerning his favourite sport, and in critically examining the hounds, of which there were then present Hi oonpleß of as fine a lot as one could wish to see. We were told that five more pups were to come to hand almost at once. Poole has tbedogs in the best of health, and they are cvi-, dently well cared for. .' "♦* Catching a look at Cotton's team just

returning from morning exeroise, and noticing the inclusion therein of Caliph and Gazelle, tbe two Btrangers who visited our last meeting and thereat competed unsuccessfully, we wended ' our way to Stephenson arid Hazlett's stables, and were fortunate in finding both' owners there. Stuart Waddell had tbe whole team in physio, but he kindly permitted a glimpße at Ocoident in bis box, and also showed us Francotte and the other horses in the stable, all of whom are doing well. I was especially pleased with the two-year-old brother to First Lord, upon whom the name of Forbury has been bestowed. He is a likely-looking youngster, and if he doesn't raoe well I will eat my bat. The filly by Apremont out of Fallacy has been fired and turned out in the yard attaobed to the stable. As most of the horses in this team have recently performed, and nothing has happened to them since, there is 0.0 occasion to say more about them. Mr Alison was very much pleased with the general arrangements of the Forbury oourae.

*i* There were about 800 persons present on the first day of the 'Westport races. The local paper calls that a very fair attendance, In the Orowaiti Handicap, Fleetwing, ridden by Frank Oochrane, is said to have done the mile in 1.51. Thatohpeg, now the property of a Mr Wardrope, bolted a mile before the start, and then finished third. Quinlivan's Fly was bought in at £19 103, after winning the Hack Selling Race. There were four starters in the Cup. Steelbone (9.2) waß made a rather better favourite than Sweetie (8.7), tbe others being Tyrant (8 0) and Sultan's brother Murat (7.7). Sweetie led all the way, and won easily, doing the mile and a-half in 2.50. Sweetie also won the District Handicap, for whiob she was backed down to 20 to 7 on in a field of four. Mayboy, winner of the Hurdle Race — this is not the Mayboy that Cotton taught to go straight — was ridden by the owner's son, well-known here, Mr R, Hungerford This horse also ran on the second day. In the Oup Sweetie carried only 21b less than Steelbone, and beat him by a length. Tbe Miners' Handicap was one of the best betting races of the meeting, though as it turned out Fleetwing's condition enabled her to make an easy win of it from . Mayboy and Tyrant, Thatchpeg won the Hurdle Race, but the rules permitted him to start in the Consolation— or rather to go to the post, for he did not start in the broad sense of the word, the starter being so disgusted with bis fraotioutmess ' that the other horses were sent away without him. This caused a lot of hooting,- whiob the local print points out was quite undeserved, as the starter cannot compel a bad-tempered horse to join his field.

%* A country paper's comments on the D.J.O.'s Cup , meeting :•—" The jookey club have certainly reason to congratulate themselves on the ever-growing popularity of their Autumn meeting. Indeed, the meeting just concluded was in every respect the most successful of any yet attempted, and brought the largest crowd .together on Forbury that I have ever Been there. The 'racing was .besides genuine, and was entirely unaccompanied by a single ugly or suspicious incident. The amount of money , put through, the machines was exceedingly large, and is a very manifest proof of the undim'inished confidence still enjoyed by Mr George Dowses handicapping. Indeed, so near perfection was the handicapping carried out that the knowing ones were in a complete fog as to the probable winners. There waß no possibility under the circumstances of outsiders among the general publio spotting the winners, the result being that some very big dividends were banded round, from the totalisatbrd. ! There is no more doubt about' Mr Dowses ability in placing his horses than there is of his loyalty to the publio, who aria, of ' course, ' his employers. But Mr Driver, I regret to say, does not seem, somehow or, other, to make things very pleasant for himself or for the jockeys. On Saturday matters on one or two ocoasions were decidedly unpleasant, and there oan be no doubt abbut it but Mr Driver was subjeoted to a good deal .of premeditated annoyance' at the hands of some of the jocks, This waß particularly the onse in the Consolation Handioap, bo utterly unmanageable and disrespectful did the riders beobme that it Waß found necessary to invoke ' the presence of the vice-president of the club, who ordered the riders to desist from their' objectionable conduct under . pain .of disqualification. This bad some appreciable) eifeot. After this incident Mr Driver was! vory savagely hooted by a portion of the 1 crowd, while others as vehemently cheered 1 him. In the Consolation Race; for which 13 horses entered, I have seldom seen so admir-j able & piece of handicapping— so admirable,! indeed, that every horse accepted, and the publio were sorely puzzled to find out the safest investment." The Tuapeka Times is the paper I have quoted from. ! %* We do not 'often 'hear much about; 'crack trotting horses in England, but there are some good ones there. One of the best, ifj not *ftebest, 61 the crowd' was Steel Grey, 1 the, property of Mr Richard Gold, belonging to' the' suburbs of Birmingham. An exchange gives: some particulars of this celebrated mare. She; came mto Mr .Gold's possession at a very law! figure when ' about .three , years old, and her; owner was not long in making the discovery [ that be bad pioked up a real gem. She com- 1 menoed her racing career by winning one or! two small handicaps, her first race of impor-' tance being a matoh with Grey Sally, five miles on the Stretford road, near Manchester, 1 for £50 a-side, wbicbMr Gold's little mare— she' stood no more than 14hds IJin — won easily in 15min. This race' took place on June 1, 1870, she being then four years old. On August 7, 1871, she won the Liverpool Grand International Stakes of £120, on Aintree racecourse, beating 17 others, being ridden, as in all her great raoes, by that moßt famous of trotting jockeys, Andy M'Mann, who has also 1 lately gone over to the majority. A month later she won the Manchester Grand International Stake of £100 at Royal Oak grounds, and on December 23, 1872, she conceded that celebrated horse Bull Dog 300 yds start id five miles, on Learning lane, Yorkshire, and beat him easily, the friends of Bull Dog mat; ing him a warm favourite. In 1872 Bhe also won first prize (silver cup) for best trotting at Birmingham Horse Show, and on April 7} 1873, won the Great Harwood Cup, beating six bthergood horses. In the same year, at the All-England Show, held in Aston ParkJ Birmingham, she took the silver cup for the best trotter. On June 9, 1874, she again carried off the Manchester Grand International Stakes at Royal Oak, startling from scratch. At the Grand International Horse Show held at Pomona Gardens, Manchester, she took first prize for best trotter under saddle, and also first for best trotter in harness, being driven in the latter competition by the well-known J. Whittaker, of Manchester. On March 9, 1875, she again appeared at Royal Oak, and there won a 10miles match against time, for £ICO aside,' covering the distance in 29min 45seo, and beating tbe 1 reocrd by 16seo. On April 13, 1875, came her great performance, when at' Leeming . lane Bhe beat Mr H. B. Crugga' Peeping Tom, of Glasgow, over, 10 miles, in the marvellous time of 27min 56}seo. On May

1, 1876, she gained an easy viotory over Mr Peter Leach's Grey Bobby, on Manchester racecourse, two-mile heats, for £200 aside, and two days later again won first prize for best trotter, at the Grand International show, at Pomona Gardens ; and at the same show won another first prize for fast trotting. Then on July 10, 1876, she made her appearance at Li'lie Bridge grounds, London, in a five miles match against time, whioh she won easily in 14min 14seo, beating record by 16seo. She again appeared at Liverpool, on August 7, 1876, and defeated that great horse Leybourne and three others in the Sefton International Stakes of £120, and on the following day won first prize for best trotter at the Grand International show, held on Manchester racecourse. She is also credited with the fine record of ISmin 13&8 ec for five miles made in a trial. Sinoe the last date she has led a comparatively easy life, though brought out now and again with almost unvarying success in many little sporting affairs, and has also won many prizes at shows, while, to verify the old Yorkshire saying that "there's nowt oan beat young-'uns, nobbut owd-'uns," Bhe came out two years ago, being then 21 years old, at Blackpool, winning one race, gaining a place in another, and a prize at a show in the same week.

• * # * The firsfc steeplechase is described in a paper recently to hand:— "On a certain evening in the month of Deoember 1803, in the messroom of the cavalry officers then in winter quarters at Ipswich, a young captain named Hansum challenged anyone in the regiment to run against a certain favourite grey horse of his four miles across country for a pony. As the place was very dull at the time a chorus of voices cried, ' Done ! done ' ' Four miles and a-half under the saddle, from here to Naoton Church now. It's a moonlight night, the weather open, the country clear ; we shall not find a better opportunity.' Ready for anything, the chorus assented, and rushed off to prepare. ' I think we should all look interesting if we all wore clean nightshirts over our uniforms, and cotton night caps on our heads,' suggested one. The proposition was hailed with acclaim, A complement of eight was soon ready to start, and a body of troopers waß in the background to witness the fan. Whoop ! away they went in nightshirts and caps, making strong^ running for the lead, and lying well together. At the first fence one of the raoers turned a somersault, and horse and rider were landed in a muddy ditob, while a Major Medley with his shirt tail flying in the wind, vainly tugged at his old ' trooper ' to carry him over the same. The remaining Bix got safely across, and, with Borne ups and downs, reaohed Naoton Heath. But the last fence and field presented a most varied picture of reverses. One jumped smash through the middle of a fivebarred gate. Hanaum's grey, which had occasioned the challenge, took a strong hurdle fenoe and bank in grand style. Two were thrown. ' Yab, yah, yab ! soreaming and whooping like maniacs, the remainder clattered through the quiet village, startling the country folks out of their beds, and making them believe the Frenoh had landed and were upon them ; but the sight *of the white shrouded figurea in the cold moonlight, shrieking and urging on their horses, as if a troop of demons were m pursuit, filled them with terror,

The steam of their steeds, Like a mist of the meads,

Yelled the moon in a curtain of cloud,

And the stars so bright

Shuddered in light As the unhallowed troop, in their shadowy shroud, Galloping, whooping, and yelling aloud, Fast and unfailing, and furious in flight, Battled on like 'hailstorm, and vanished in night. For many a year afterwards some of the good wives of Nacton persisted in believing that it was a troop of devils they saw. This was the earliest steeplechase on record, and suggested ideas that developed into a new era in sport." %* The Arthur's Point programme is before the public. The stakes amount in all to exaotly £100, the minimum required to be given before the use of the totalisator is permitted. The events are well diversified, and I have no doubt that the seoretary, Mr Richards, will have the pleasure of conducting hiß meeting to a satisfactory issue, Up that way everybody is a sport and every sport is an enthusiast.

%* A special writer in Sporting Life has been printing a series of articles on the Derby nags of 1890. He discards the Australian simply beoause they have not yet been fairly tried, and sums up in this fashion :— " Students of* publio form need not be told that on that same publio form, if judged by one performance alone, viz,, when he beat Heaume in a canter by a length for the New Stakes at Ascot, Surefoot stands out clearly as the besti two-year-old colt seen out last year; for it, must not be forgotten that such 'Was the only 1 oooasion on which Heaume/ 'suffered defeat 'from one of bis own fidx, his only other reverse as a juvenile being brought about when Riviera i beat him by a neck for. the Portland Stakes at Leicester, while previous to this overthrow Heaume had ' shown the way-- past 1 the winning post' 1 to 1 -such as Bel Demonio, Llewellyn, Marohesi, Loup,' and Riviera herself, while even when beaten he showed' superiority to Hidden Treasure, Far Niente, the smart little Formidable, and Alloway. 1 Now,- as it was 'trick and' tie' between Heaume and Riviera in their two meetingsone winning * onco ' and the other 'another ' — ' I think the fairest way will be to judge the two as equals ; that is, at weight for sex, In doing this; then, we have the stable companions, Heaume and Le Nord, about as close together as were 'the celebrated Siamese Twins. Seeing that in the Champagne Stakes at Donoaster there was but a head between Riviera and Le Nord, and as the latter only beat Golden Gate a similarly short distance for second place to Signorina in the Middle Park Plate, it is quite evident that Golden Gate must also be taken into account When searching for the oraok tbreeyearold of the coming season, while if Loup recovers his best form, he may also be expected to play a prominent 'part in the best of company, font must not be forgotten that he ' split ' Heaume and Riviera in the Chesterfield Stakes at the Newmarket July meeting, when he finished within three parts of a length of the firstnamed, and a neck in front of Riviera, while the useful Memoir, in receipt of 101b, was still further in his rear. Harking back to Surefoot, however, the son of Wisdom is not, unhappily, above suspicion, otherwise I should have not the slightest hesitation in doing for him what I did for Donovan a year ago, and simply vote the Derby a good thing for him, and him alone. In the first place Surefoot is said to have Bhown signs of developing a temper in the pa3t season, which, if springing from viciousness, would, of course, militate adversely against his future prospects of distinction, though if arising from ' high courage ' then is the horse no worße for it. Throwing this subject on one side, however, a graver fault is, I think, that the horse is too light of bone below the knee to make it certain that he will carry his magnificent frame successfully through the wear and tear of a Derby preparation, and I dc not forget that it was some such cause which prevented his sire from being a really first-class • racehorse, and had the horse been in'less Capable/ hands* than those of Jouaiffel should have meted oat to him the

same treatment that I administered to Chitabob 12 months ago, by declaring that he would not stand a thorough preparation as a three-year-old, and, as a matter of fact, I am paying a high compliment to Jousiffe'a skill as a a trainer in refraining from doing bo now, but at the same time I dare not put my trust in Suref oqt alone, and in looking for one to link with him it will be gathered from remarks made above that I look upon Heaurao, Le Nord, Riviera, Golden. Gate, and Loupas being exceedingly close together on their best form. I will therefore, considering the season of the. year at which the raco is run, throw Riviera on one side, and in giving Heaume preference over Le Nord and Loup it is moro on the score of conformation than anything else that 'l do so ; but of all two-year-olds seen out last year none struck me as being likely to make greater improvement from two to three years of age than Golden Gate, whose absolute victory in the biggest race of the year/ even with Surefoot showing at his best, would cause me not the slightest surprise. I therefore take leave of the subjeot for the present by a declaration of a firm conviction that Donovan's immediate successor as a Derby hero will bo Surefoot or Golden Gate, while to complete the leading trio I will take Heaume,"

*#* Motueka races were held this year on the 18th of lsßt month. The attendance from Nelson was not so large as it would have been had the weather been fine. The Hurdle Race was won by Mr Green's Dangerous, Myrtle being the only other starter. The Cup was supposed to be a good thing for Mr Redwood's Lavinia, but she was never in the bunt, 'the places being filled by Mr Inglis' York Rose, Mr Green's Viotory, and the same owner's Dangerous. The Consolation resultod in Victory beating Lavinia and Eoho. The rest of the raoes were confined to hacks and trotters. The amount given in stakes was exactly £103, so the totalisator was permitted to be used. It did not do a very large business ; the exact amount put through is not stated.

*** Marco, winner of the Hopeful Stakes, tbe opening event on the first diy of the V.R O. meeting, is one of the Hon. J. White's representatives in the next Derby, and bo are the other placed horses : Annesley, a son of St. Albans and Maid of All Work, and Dishcloth, a sister to the flying Newstead. The Kirkham Btable made indeed a very good day's work, for its two representatives bad the Leper to themselves, and Dreadnought was added to a list of heroes, of whom tbe least worthy Binee the establishing of tho race were real raoehorses— a list that includes the names of such warriors aa Melbourne, Richmond, First King, Grand Flaneur, Coinmotiou, Navigator, Martini - Henry, Trident, and Abercorn. Then came the Newmarket Handioap with its 36 Btarters, the largest field bar one (Hyacinth's in '82) ynt seen in this race. Churchill won easily. He was a complete outsider on tbe day, but bad at intervals, been fairly well supported by the stable from the time the weights came out, so that, although they fanoied something else on tbe day— or so the story runs— they are good winners. Much the same as it was with Sedition last year. She waß praotioally friendless on the day of the race, and yet landed a good stake for hor paTty. It is but fair to our Melbourne correspondent to point out that bis tip for this Newmarket was about as good a one as could be. He selected Churchill, Aristoorat, and Apropos as the three most likely, and as between these ho gave us the office, in a postscript, to baok ' Churchill. This horse, that has effected what seems to me to be a well- oonoeived coup, is by Stockwell's grandson Newminster, and is owned by Mr S. Davis, who, if I mistake not, is identical with the Sam Davis who years ago was coachman to Mr Larnach, and was tolerably well known in Dunedin. Churchill waß not, prior to thiß race, a renowned performer. As a two-year-old he did not run at all ; as a three-year-old he won the Maiden Stakes at the V.R.C. Autumn, meeting beating Quadrant and Lady Agneß, and doing the mile and a-quarter in 2.l2|— not a bad performance by any means ;and be was for the moment the subject of some talk owing to his forward running (he finished fourth) in last year's Newmarket, for whioh he carried a light weight and was well backed ; since then be has been beard very little of. Ido { not know that we oan count his win as of a particularly meritorious character. He had nothing much to carry for a four-year-old, and tbe time was tbe slowest made during tbe last 10 years excepting Coronet's lmin 19|aeo in 1885. I cannot,understand bow it comes about that a horse oan win a Newmarket in 1.17£, unless on the theory that a lot of the horses get in each others' way. There surely are several among the 36 that put up silk for this event that could give better time if they bad a clear track. For one, I oan mention Scots Grey, who won the Jubilee Stakes on the slow Forbury course, with 9.0 up, in 1.17, and he was not at top speed all the way. Yet Scots Grey, who according to the training notes was very well, .never bad a look in at this event, and the other New Zealander, Corunna, was also beaten all the way. Money was also lost on' another exNew Zealander, Apropos, and her countrymen Audacity, Tongariro, and Braemar also proved disappointments. Suoh is the fortune of racing. We oan't figure outthese things to a mathematical certainty, if we could, there would be no raoing. But the New Zealanders were not the only ones who sold their backers. Rudolph, I am credibly informed, gave his party such a trial as is seldom seen, and they reckoned that whatever beat him would have to put up a record equal to Cranbrook's 1.14£. The following table shows the WINNERS OF THE NEWMARKET HANDIOAP.

The Ascot Vale Stakes was a farce of a race, completely Bpoiled by Titan being so superior to those sent out against him. Mr Stead's Nordenfeldt colt Medallion gained seoond money, but tbe honour and glory of this performance are reduced to a minimum by the story of the contest, whioh is to the effeot that Magic Circle could have had second position if her jookey had wished it. This is hardly so flatter- { ing to the pride of us Maorilanders as that other second place we once got at this meeting, when Maxim was beaten by Aberoorn in the Sires' Produce Stakes. Carbine gave us a foretaste of tbe Champion result by putting down Singapore, Melos, Bravo, and Chintz in tbe Essendon Stakes, O'Brien did a bit of clowning on tbe great gun, and as nearly as possible lost tbe race through bis foolishness. In the Brunswick Stakes Dunkeld showed.

extraordinary behaviour. _ What with bolting, unhorsing his rider, fighting with tho pfcarter, and getting left at the post, he certainly distinguished himself. It will be noticed that one telegram says that Dunk^ld got away with the load aftor all, while another informs us that he was left at the post. How are we to know which yarn to believe! Anyway, the son of Athole managed to throw away hia ohance, which had been reckoned a good one.

%* On the second day Mr Stead a Medallion gavo the spectators a first olaos performance in the Maiden Stakes, Cusdin, ft New Zealand lad, seems to have ridden an excellently-judged race, and the colt must bo something above the common to out down his opponents as he did at the finish and put up such a smart record. What sort of a racer doeß this make out his couqueror, Titan, to be ? A worthy successor to Dreadnought, one would oay, and one that will be heavily backed for the Derby run next November. _ He added to his laurels by clean running away with the Sires' Produce Stakes, in which he had another Now Zealand owned hoiso, Me O'Brien's Whimberal, as his nearest attendant, and the constant Magic Circle third. The finish botween Dreadnought and Meloß in the Oup.muat have been a very close thing indeed, when the public were in doubt us to which had won. It may be noted that the time recorded is by half a seoond the beat in the colonies, deposing -Nelson's 4min in the Auckland Cup, As Dreadnought and •Melos were close together wo may give thorn both the credit of cutting the record ; and Sir William, too, as he was only half a leDgfh iaway, What, I wonder, could Dreadnought have done had he been pinched all the way He would have approaobad tho world's record of S s6i, made, by Preaknesa and Springbok ,in the Saratoga Cup of 1875. Tho following table shows the WINKERS OP THE AUSTRALIAN OUP. Two miles and two furlongs.

* After two dead heats with Dutchman, 6yrs, 7.5. *** A very readable history of the Newmarket Handioap and the Australian Cup appears in the Sportsman from the pen of "Old Turfite." As the subject is the chief talk of the day, I am tempted to reproduce the summary. ■ I look baok, Bays .the writer, to those early times when the Victoria Jockey Club and tbe Viotoria Turf Club, although uaing the same course, were fierce rivals, when at the Turf Olub Autumn meeting, 1861, Bolero, 6yrs, by Delapre, beat Gaffer Grey and Mormon in tbe places for the Metropolitan Oup, two miles and two furlongs, carrying £.6, and 'running the distance in 4min 30aeo. But in 1863 it became the ■ Australian Oup, run under the auspices of the Viotoria Turf Club, when Barwon, a three-year-old, with Ohiffney up, 7.8, beatFlatcatoher, Saturn, and Regina in 4min 27seo, the winner receiving £120, while Flatoatcher got £50. Tbe next year's Autumn meeting was held undnr an amalgamation of the opposing clubs, and this year Natbalee won the stake from Musidora and Malabar, the only other starters, the value of the stake being £95 to the winner, while Musidora, who started at 2 to 1 on her, got £50 second money. The next Autumn meeting was run under like auspices, and was again termed tbe Melbourne Autumn meeting, but this year tbe Australian Cup was worth £350, and Musidora againsfcarted favourite with 8.10 up, but had to succumb to Lang's Woodman, who bad 7.1 to carry, the time, being 4min 15aeo, being very fast -while Bix others were behind them. In 1866 Woodman was in Mr Sam Thompson's care, and won again, carrying 7.12, Joe Carter steered h>m, but the stake was only worth £320, but this year only five ran. In 1866 the Victoria Racing Olub was formed, and the Australian Cup became a sweep of saovs, 2 forfeit, with 200 added. This year it went to Ballarat, as golden- skinned Tim Whiffler, by South Australian, won the prize for Mr Craig, Woodman and Shenandoah following him home, while nine others were behind them, the time being 4min 20aeo. Host Oleeland got it next with his fiery grey Shenandoah, when a like number started. Then Gasworks beat the biggest field that bad yet come to the post, and broke the record by running it in 4min 14seo. But in the next year Mr Lang won with Norma. The little daughter of Athos and Tricolour cut it down to 4mm llseo, and ha repeated the performance with Nimblefoot in 1871.

* + * In 1872 came the memorable struggle between Mr Crook's Saladin and Mr Lang's Flying Dutohman. Everyone but the judge thought Flying Dutchman won the first time ; everyone but the judge thought Saladin won the second time, and tbe third time there was no doubt about the grey baying won. The Warrior, trained by R, Sevior, lowered the record to 4min 6seo, Nimblefoot being seoond and Blue Peter third. Thus again Mr Lang was close up for his favourite race. In 1874 Mr Wilson Bcored a victory with Protos, the game old son of The Premier, a horse that had been used after stook at Murndal. The Newmarket Handicap was first run in this year, and Dr Bathe, whose horses were then trained by Sam Harding, won with one of his own breeding— Maid of Avenel. In 1875 Mr W, B. Dakin won the Cup for Mr S. Gardiner with that great mare Lurline; whilst the other New Zealander, Calumny won the Newmarket, and a clever division landed a big coup. In 1876 Mr Eli Jelletfc up seta great pot in Imperial for the Australian Cup with Richmond, Mr Bladder's now famous sire, and Tom Hales gained bis second Cup (for he had steered Lurline) and out the record on the little son of Maribyrnong and Tbe Fawn by running the distance in 4min 2§3ec, and this year Mr T. Wilson, with Sultan, by Ladykirk, won the Newmarket Handicap for Mr Ohirnside. This race had now becomo a great betting race. The* ensuing year saw the Cup won for the late Mr Dyer by Mr R. Sevior, with Sybil, beating Oalamia and Vibration in the places, 16 running ; and now T. Jones gave us a taste of his quality by winning tbe Newmarket with Tom Kirk, another son of Ladykirk, and cut the record established by Maid of Avenel. In 1878, First King won another Australian Cup for Mr James Wilson, carrying 61b more and

equalling Richmond's record, and thfe year a rank outsider in Lady Ellen carried the black and red stripes of Abe Davis first past the post for the Newmarket. In 1879 Savanaka, with .10 up, beat Bosworth and Swiveller in the places, while a magnificent field of nine, including Sussex, Columbus, Wellington, and Warlook were behind them, the race being now worth about oOOsovb to the winner. This 'year Diomed (by Manuka) beat Tooal and Le Loup in the places for the Newmarket, beating a great field. V In !880 Mr Maurice Griffin trained Columbus for Mr Johnson-Boe, and won the Australian Cup, while Aspen, trained by Mr Cook for Mr Wbittingham, annexed the Newmarket. First Water romped home for the two mile and a-quarter event in 1881, and out the record to 4min l^eo, and Aspen, with a stone more on her back, repeated her victory over the fine field of 27 in the Newmarket. In 1882 Pollio won the Cup for the veteran trainer, Mr W. Lang, and his popular owner, the late Mr T. Hunter, and out the record to 4min OJseo in the biggest field (22) whioh haß yet started ; while Hyacinth performed a like feat in the Newmarket for the Hon. W. Pearson, beating 36 others in lmin 16&aeo. In 1883, in a field of 12, Tom Hales won his third Australian Oup on Navigator for Mr De Mestre, Willaroo and Guesswork chasing him home ; but he won easily, Commotion, Sardonyx, Ooriolanus, and other good ones being behind him, and this year Tyropean, trained by Mr Dakin for Sir Thomas Elder, won the Newmarket through Oracknell's desperate riding from Ooulston, there being 33 runners. The following year saw the Hon. James White win Me first, and Hales his fourth, Australian Cup, with Morpeth, a Bon of Goldßbrough, 17 running ; and this year the Newmarket Handioap was transferred from the third to the first day of the meeting, and the mighty Malua won as he liked by half a length, with Le Grand second, and Claptrap third in the fastest time to date, namely, lmin 15^60, there being 31 runners. Eighteen hundred and eight-five saw the sensational Coronet win the Newmarket from Middlemaroh, Sheet Anchor being third ; and another St. Albans in Ringwood won the Australian Oup, with Sheet Anchor second, and Stornoway third in a fast run race in 1886, The Messrs Miller, with William Tell, won the Newmarket, Silvermine and Napier, two unlucky horses, filling the places, whilst Malua, carrying the heaviest weight (9.9) yet allotted, won the Australian Cup, and beat Pollio'a record by a quarter of a second, Cerise and Blue, with 6,13, beingsecond, and First Prince, 6.2, third. In 1887, Loohiel, a horse got in England by the Prince of the T.Y.0., Prince Charlie, won the Newmarket, despite heavy going, ana beat Malua'a go by a 2uarter of a second, beating Abner by a nose, iando a good third. Trident won the Australian Oup for Mr White, giving that gentleman bis second and Hales his fifth win in the race, but only after a desperate struggle with Nelson. The Oup had now BOOsovs added to a sweep of 2030v5. In 1888 Mr White won the Newmarket in a canter with Cranbrook, and smashed all the records by waltzing home in lmin 14iseo, Lord Allen being second three lengths away, the Btake now being worth £1456. The Australian Cup again fell to Mr White and Tom Hales with Carlyon, who bad Arsenal and Dick Swiveller as attendants. This race was worth £1285. The year 1889 brings us down to the approaohing meeting, and last year Sedition, by Neckersgat, from Irish Queen, unexpectedly to her owner, landed this noh stake of £1560 for Mr M. Jacobs, last year's winner (Loohiel) being second and Carbine third. In the Australian Cup, tochiel (8.7) beat Carbine (8 6), with Cyclops (9.0) third, the value of the stake being £1170. * # * The Palmerston meeting takes place on Tuesday, the Jlth inst. My fancies are as follow :— Maiden, Savoy ; Cup, Mon Loup ; Three-mile Trot, Count ; District Handioap, Lady Bell (or if she is reserved for the next race, Carina): Shag Valley Handioap, La Rose ; Novel Race, Seoreoy. There is every prospect of a good meeting. I can promise those who have not gone to this place on previous occasions that they will find the meeting well managed and good treatment awaiting them. That is if the arrangements are as good as last year. *** A correspondent request me to reproduce the following from the Newcastle Weekly Chronicle :— " At the present time, when bo much interest is being taken in the Gimcrack Olub, held at York, a few notes on the famous horse of that name may be of interest to some of your numerous readers. Gimcrack, a grey horse, was foaled in 1760 ; he appears to have never raced until bis fourth year, >hen he came out at Epspm and won a £50 plate. He continued his winning career at Guildford, Winchester, Bedford, and Barnet ; altogether, he won seven races during the first year on the turf. The following year he became the property of Lord Bolingbroke, and among other races he took part in a match for lOOOga over the severe Beacon course at Newmarket, against Sir James Lowther's Ascham, which Gimcrack won before the raoing season of 1765 was over. Gimorack again ran over the Beacon course for a stake of 500gB, against the Duke of Cumberland's Drone; Gimcraok won. He now changed hands ; this time to a Frenchman, Count Lauraguaise, and was exported to France. In 1766, this horse ran a match of 22£ miles within the hour. After this he returned to his native shores and ran at Newmarket and other places, During the year 1769 the famous horse became the property of Lord Grosvenor, the price being 1200gs (a large price in thope days). For this nobleman he won a match at Newmarket for 200ga, and the challenge oup over the Beacon course, carrying 10.0. The last raoe be ran was at Newmarket Spring meeting of 1771, which be again won. He appears to have been a very little horse, only standing 14 hands and a quarter inch. I have not mentioned his 10 defeats ; neither have I mentioned all his wins ; but sufficient I hope to show what a game little horse he was. After his raoing days were over, he was used as a stallion at the Oxcrof t Btud, near Newmarket. For the above notes I am indebted to the Turf Register of 1803, published in York by W. Pick. Altogether this rare little horse remained on the turf until he was 11 years old ; and when it is considered that he would do his various journeys from town to town on foot, we may well Imagine what a labourious life he lived.— ' Nortonian.'" . * # * A match between bicycles and trotting horses took place at Ashburton last week. J. E. Fenlon and E. Mayes were matched for £25 against Robin Hood, Marengo, and Princess, the distance being 10 miles. The laps were sft over a-quarter of a mile, and it was agreed to cover 39 laps. Robin Hood (with Price up) and Fenlon first started. The cyclist gained on the horse, and in the 11th mile had wiped off the lap allowed the horse for taking the outer track. At three miles Robin Hood gave place to Marengo, ridden by his owner. At five miles, Fenlon with a lead of about a-third of a lap, gave place to Mayes, who was soon overhauled and passed by Robin Hood. When the latter had covered four miles, Pnneess took up the trotting with a substantial lead. D Price was up on Princess, and the mara went off at an astonishing pace, and in a short time

had nearly half a lap in hand, There was now no longer any doubt as to the issue of the contest, for it was evident the bicyclists could not recover the lost ground. In the 33rd lap Fenlon relieved Mayes for a couple of rounds, and diminished the distance somewhat, and Mayes went another two laps, spurting strongly. Fenlon then set out to try and catch Princess in the two last rounds. This was, however, a hopeless task, the mare finishing with about 50 yards to spare. The time for the whole distance was given at 33tnin 36seo.

ocl :ey. iin c. 1863... | 1864... 18U5... 186(3... 1667... 1868... 1869... 1870... 1871... 1872... 1873... 1874... 1875... 1876... 1877... 1878... 1879... 1880... 1881... 1882... 1883... 1884... 1885... 1886... 1887... 1888... 1889... 1890... Bar won Nathalie ... Woodman ... Woodman ... Tim Whiffler Shenandoah Gasworks ... Norma ... Nimblefoofc ... Saladin* ... Warrior Protos Lurlino ... Richmond ... Sibyl First King ... Savanaka ... Columbus ... First Water ... PolHo Navigator ... Morpeth Ringwood .., Malua Trident Carlyon Loohiel Dreadnought b*. lb 7 8 6 8 7 1 7 12 8 2 7 12 8 5 6 13 8 4 7 8 8 0 7 5 8 1 7 13 6 12 8 5 7 10 8 0 7 6 « 7 8 3 8 5 7 13 9 9 8 7 8 2 8 7 8 6 Ohifney ... Ohifney ... Puller Carter Carter Walsh Garter Day Lang Swniles Thompson ... W Wilson ... Hales ... Hales Williamson Yeomaus ... Hales ... King Wyman Walker Halea Hales Robertson ... Robertson ... Hales Hales Clifford ... Hales 4 3 8 5 9 9 13 7 7 8 12 9 13 12 10 14 12 16 7 22 12 17 12 19 13 14 10 11 m s 4 27 4 38 4 15 4 24 4 20 4 10 4 14 4 11 4 11 4 15 4 0 4 22* 4 25f 4 2£ 4 U a ol 4 4 4 6? 4 H 4 O| 4 2 4 3? 4 l| 4 Oi 4 4 4 6f 4 9jf 3 59}

Yr. Owner. I Winners. I A SI IW'I. I Time i i stlb 7 8 8 0 8 10 7 5 0 5 7 0 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 Or Bathe Mr Ward Mr Chirnside Mr O James Mr A. Davies Mr H Hainea Mr J Wuifcttngham Mr J Whittlngham Mr W Pearaon Sir T Elder Mr J O Inglis Mr Eobert6on Mr 8 Miller Mr 0 & Stead Hon J White Mr M Jacobs Mr S Davis Maid of Avenel Calumny . Sultan 'oin Kirk Lady Bllen Diomed 3 5 5 5 3 4 9 17 IS 31 20 m s 1 17 1 18 1 174 1 16* 1 18 1 16* 1881 Aepea 24 6 8 1 18} 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 Aspen Hyacinth lyropeau Malua Coronet William Tell Lochiel Oranbrook Sedition Ohm chill 5 5 4 4 5 5 5 3 6 4 27 37 33 30 30 30 U 28 21 36 7 8 7 6 7 4 8 7 7 0 8 6 8 0 8 12 7 3 8 4 1 W1 Id 1 16: 1 15; 1 19; 1 17 1 154 I Ml 1 15} 1 17 i