TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1989, 10 April 1890, Page 27

TALK OF THE DAY.

BY MAZEPPA.

Messrs Pyne and Co.'s sale (writes " Rata " from Ohriatchurch on Wednesday) to-day was a very uninteresting affair and no big prices were realised, and very few buyers were about. Neither Butler nor O'Brien sold anything, and those sold from Middle Park were well out of the way. A St. George colt was passed in from that stud, but it is any odds that he will never be a really good one, A good price was offered for him but refused, and in my opinion the chestnut colt (by Apremont— Flattery) sold very much cheaper than the price wanted, for the St. George is worth two of him for racing purposes should his off fore leg stand. I thought last year that he had sprung a tendon but I am assured that that is not right, and should he really stand it is any odds on him smothering the St. George passed in to-day whenever they meet both fit. %* The Autumn races of the Canterbury Jockey Olub have not for years past looked as attractive beforehand as they did this year, Capital contests between good horses were promised in at least the three leading events. Even after Occident went out of the Autumn Handicap there was the prospeot of a noteworthy set-to as between Dudu, an undoubted olinker over the distance, and Merrie England, who on his performances and appearance haß a olaim to be reckoned in the first flight of our New Zealand racers ; in the Champagne there was the attraction of Medallion's first public appearance in his native land, opposed by proved gallopers suoh as Freedom, Thackeray, and Pygmalion ; and it was a job to pick the Challenge Stakes as between Merrie England and the best of the two-year olds. But notwithstanding this promising outlook, the attendance of visitors from other districts was perhaps the smallest on reoord. The North Island was, so far as I saw, praotioally unrepre> sented : while the professional sporting men from Dunedin could have been counted on one's fingers, and the unprofessional adherents of the turf were not present In force. Among those who did make the journey from Dunedin were the Hon. G. M'Lean, who took his beat: ing with St. James in the best possible spirit and extracted what consolation wbb afforded by the faot that the horse ran up to his trial ; Mr Harry James, out for a well - earned holiday; and Mr Harry Goodman, who for once in a way was purely an onlooker, having nothing good enough ready'to race at the meeting, Personally I found in Ohristohurcb much that was interesting, it being my first trip there since the meeting at whioh Captain Webster was "downed" by Leon and Firßt Lord added to his reputation by winning the Middle Park Stakes and running Tarantalus to a head, at a difference of about three stone, in the Nursery Handicap j and if I bad not been pleased aB 'well as interested I should deserve to dubbed an ingrate, seeing that in addition to the excellent raping provided by the O. J.O. there were more invitations to see the sights, than I oould possibly, accept, and that a most friendly welc6me was extended by my brethren of the press, Mr Satmder's of the Lyttelton Times, Mr Ohadwick 'of : the presß, and Messrs Selig And Bird of the Referee being, especially kind in affording me facilities for putting in the time pleasantly, * # * Being away for a holiday, I did not make a point of hunting round for news, and do not propose to worry the public with my personal experiences. If I were set the task of putting to paper the leading facts that came under my observation it would be my duty in the first place to note that in Obrißtohurob, as in Dunedin, bookmaking is pretty wall a thing of the past. I saw Jack Harris, looking none, the worse for wear, but disenchanted of his old love and no longer anxious to lay $00 about the Autumn or to oblige a oustomer with a good line for the Handioap and Champagne, his present occupation being that of a licensed victualler, Bill Haokshaw, also, an indefatigable worker in the la^r years of the betting period, is still about, and co is Le Sueur, both finding it necessary 4y move about to do business ; and Martin Taylor, a good man who of late has taken to laying the odds, finds plenty of time to bestow on his hobby, coursing, which he follows not merely for the loaves and fishes, but for pure love of the Bport. There may be, and doubtless are, others who have some right to be identified with what is known as the Ring, but I did not encounter them, nor did I hoar of their fame.

* # * How different from the old days, before King Totaliaator's accession, when a man oouli back bis horse with Harris and Weßton and Drake and a few others to win him a couple of thousand over even an Autumn Handicap, and when the public seemed to think it good business and excellent sport to make their own coffins by anticipating owners and taking long odds about horses that could never, under any conceivable circumstances, have the ghost of a show to win. Tempting prices were often obtained, but in some cases the odds procurable were ridiculously short. I remember a friend of mine asking a bookie on one occasion what price he would lay a horse of whom great things were prophesied on account of its pedigree— l think it was Le Loup. The colt was at the time not properly broken in— at any rate, no one knew whether it had any ability to race ; and the offer was sto 1, This was of course declined, and the bookmaker refused to concede a point for the Bake of doing business, though the would-be customer was a good mark. We often talk about the evils of the totalisator— it ia the fashion of the day to do bo— but lam sure that if we were to drop the

machine for a year, jußt by way of experiment, we should very soon get " full.up " of the old system, and welcome the day when Hobbs and Goodwin, Mason and Roberts, Hill and Poolo, and others in the same line were again prepared to do business. The chief fault in the totalisator system, so far as I can see, is that owners have to come in on the same terms as the outside public ; an arrangement which is manifestly unfair, though I do not see how it can be altered. If Bomeone could suggest a feasible plan for overcoming this difficulty, there would be no room to grumble. * # * Speaking of betting and bettors, I may remark that a movement is afoot in Christchurch to establish a new sporting olub. It | will not interfere— at any rate it is not intended ; to do so— with the more exclusive Tattersall's ; the object being to provide a social rendezvous for those who over a game of billiards or a cup of coffee may be inclined to exchange opinions as to how Melos came to beat Carbine, or what chance Merrie England would have with Dreadnought, and how Dudu was beaten in the Autumn Handicap, and so on. There is, I believe, a demand for such an institution, 'and if it is well managed, as it promises to be, there is no reason why it should not prosper. A fairly long membership roll is already ' guaranteed, and pains will be taken to exclude all doubtful characters and epielers. The club's rooms are in High street, on the Triangle site. %♦ On the Saturday morning I took the opportunity of driving out to Ricoarton in Mat Livingstone's trap with a fellow pressman. We arrived at daylight, jUBt in time to see Cutta make a start by sending Dudu for a spin with Alsace, Helmsman going with them. The pace was sound throughout and all went well. Later on Horry Lunn made an appearance with hiß lengthy string, consisting of Merrie England, Alma, Ohatfield, Count d'Orsay, and a couple of others, Merrie England was not asked to extend himself, but in his three-quarter-pace work we observed that he showed signs of being somewhat short of perfect condition, and everyone present, trainer as well as tout, registered a solemn vow that he would baok Dudu in preference to the colt, tho mare being as fit as hands could make her. Honce these tears ! 1 wish now that I had not seen that work. It led me to go baok on my tip in the Witness and put my half-orown on Dudu. But though it was the meanß of causing my silver to disappear in the wake of many a lost handful of the .same, that visit to the course waß one of the moßt pleasant bits of touting I have ever done. The morning was delightfully fine, the company agreeable, and it was a pleasant experience to be on a new course. Used as I am to the Forbury, the Riccarton tracks seem rather large, so much so that the movements of horses at the back cannot be closely watched excepting through a good fieldglass ; but as compensation for this disadvantage, the racers have a better chance of being tried on their merits than at the Forbury, inasmuch as they are not bo much on the turn. I should think that the perfeot racecourse would be about a mile and a-quarter round. The exeroise traoks were in very fair order, and I was particularly impressed with the serviceableness of the plough gallop, whioh must be a great jconvenience in dry weather. For wet seasons, I fancy the Forbury would be preferable, or it could be made so, in that the drainage is better. There is no call to give the particulars of the work done, as the moat of the horses performed at the race meeting, a report of which appears in this issue ; but I may remark that Hazel, one of the New Zealand Cup candidates, did not impress me very favourably— l don't think she is one of Dan's best purchases— and that British Lion, who was pottering about, seems likely to return to his form before the springtime comes round. V There was a trotting meeting at Lancaster Park on Saturday afternoon, and to this I repaired on a threepenny tramcar. It is a very pretty ground— a orioket field enolosed by a oinder track, on which the trotting is done, this track being about wide enough to allow three sulkies to drive abreast. The ground is manifestly too small to permit of the horses doing their best times. That is the first thought that strikes a stranger on seeing the racers shooting wide to pass each other on the turns. And a horse in the rear can be effectually blocked if desired, in a harness race at anyrate. Further, I observed that some of the competing horses were not furnished with saddle-cloths. Ada 11, for instance, the winner of one of the events, waß ridden without a number at all. But lam bound to say that on the whole the meeting seemed to me to be well managed. I kept my eyes open for dodgery, and saw none. The best horse at the handioap won each race run while I was on the ground, and no serious fault of any kind appeared in the managerial arrangements. From what I saw I have the opinion that there is distinctly a demand for these trotting meetings. lam sure that they are calculated to do good in encouraging the breeding of a superior claBS of roadsters, though, as it happened, we had not a very bright lot competing at this particular meeting, and I think that the association will prosper on its extended basis. As showing how the game has taken on in Ohristohurcb., I may remark that at the meeting I am referring to there were 156 nominations and 112 acceptances, Farrar's Billy was about the best of the competing horses, bar Kentuoky, a four-year-old son of Berlin and Jeannie Treacey, who will improve with age. Tbe method adopted of taking tally of the laps is a good one, but the working can be improved on. Oa Saturday two or three mistakes were made with the bigger ' fields. * # * At a meeting of this trotting association held last week letters were received from the Fairlie Creek, Waimate, Greymoutb, Ellesmere, and Southland Clubs, intimating that they desired to become affiliated ; and several other clubs wrote that they were prepared to Bupport the association. The result of the appeal to the various oluba is so far most satisfactory, and I have no doubt the club will have an auspicious start on its new foundation. After results depend entirely on the efficiency of the management, and it is hopeful to note that those at the head of affairs are so far working moet zealously. %* Easter Monday morning found Christcburob all astir early, and on going to Cathedral square, from which point everyone starts for everywhere, I saw hundreds of folk on the move, evidently preparing for a day's outing. By 11 o'clock scores of vehicles, including capaciouß waggonettes, the largest of which carry more than an ordinary four-ia-hand drag, were on the streets for tbe accommodation of those wishing to go to the racecourse. In a general way I eye vehicles of this kind with suspicion. A 'busman once on a time bargained to take me from Auckland to Ellerslie for the usual fare less the price of admission to the course— this question being none of hiff business seeing that I had my own press ticket— and when halfway on the road he first insinuated that I might be able to pass in bis whole 'busload, and finding that dodge unsuccessful, he threatened to pull me off the 'bus, and we had a shindy on the subject. Other cases of attempted imposition have also come under my notice. But the Ohristchurch conductors and drivers are apparently not given to vulgar swindling of that kind. They

Beem to be a superior class of men. I was in faot struck at once with the smartness of the equipages and the civility of tbe men, and resolved to throw my suspicions aside andc ido to tbe course in one of their waggons. I jumped up and the trap started, but at the corner of High street it turned back, and it kept on at this game, wandering up and down the street ever so many times, until at leugth I discovered that those who remained on it would not see the first race, and I had to apologise and retire, making my way to the train. I jußt mention the faot in the hoptj that the men concerned may see that it would be an advantage to them and to their customers if the traps went off to the course sharp to an appointed time. If these conveyances ran a3 punctually as the trains they would seouro tbo bulk of the passengers.

**♦ I arrived at the course just in time to secure an investment on Little Arthur for the Hurdle Race, My judgment was that Cathedral would win, but he was backed down to a short price, and I was therefore, luckily as it turned out, induced to put my dollar on the ABhburton member, who stripped very fit. Plungers and those who make a living by following the machine must baok the horse they think will win, no matter what the price, but the man who puts on only a> orown, and as often aB not stands out of the swim altogether, wants odds when he does venture. Looking at Jho matter in that light, I make it a rulo tc keep away from the level money and G to 4 chances. Well, Little Arthur was, as I have said, very fit, and he was also capitally ridden by Jimmy Walls, who, having faith in the borte under bim, rode in Jimmy Cotton's fashion, making the pace from the jump. Cathedral was in trouble at half the distance ; Ahua could not get up sufficient pace under bis undeserved weight of 13 stone; Royalty was beaten from tbe jump ; and as a matter of faot Little Arthur had tbe race won all the way, his pace being superior to that of the others under his light weight. Ahua was on the job — no mistake about that, and he was the most distressed of the quartette on pulling up. %* White having the mount on llnby accounted to some extent for the warm support accorded to Mr Webb's chestnut for tho Templeton Stakes. I have seen the horse looking gayer than be was on this occasion. Alcinous, Ked Ensign, and Leinster seemed to ba tbe fittest horses in the race, and I understand that tbe followers of Mr J, Harris' fortunes had their pieces on Ensign. This mare was, however, settled in the run home by the challenges of Ruby and Aloinous, and Bhe oould never get up to her stable companion, Lord Aston, who praotically led all the way and waß landed a winner by a clear length. Ruby was eased up when it was seen that only third place could be secured by him, and Red Ensign reaped that barren honour. I fancy that Alcinous might have- won if tbe distance had been shorter, but his performance in this race was his true form at a mile. The stable backed him.

%* In the Autumn Handicap Merrie England showed us a gallop which entitles him to be reckoned among the best horses that have ever won tbiß event j indeed more than one good judge expressed the opinion, after seeing him defeat Dudu with that marvellous run, that Tirailleur could have done no better, if as well. Into comparisons of this sort lam not going to eater, but there is no doubt that Merrie England is quite first class. He was evidently short of work— he lathered in his preliminary and the white marks gathered about his neok and thighs long before ho bad finished his race, and he was practically conceding weight to everything in the race, Of course he had White in the saddle, and this is by some said to account for his success ; but I think this conclusion is not warranted, the presumption in my mind being that Matthews rode a good race on Ifudu, and that if the jockeys had been changed the result of the race would have been the same. Alsace shut up like a knife at a mile and a-quarter, and Rose Argent was nerer able to get with the field at tbo rate they moved along, while it was a surprise to most of us to,find St Jamas finishing behind Wolverine. St. Jameß, however, ran up to his trial, A second more than tbe winner's time brought him home. lam bound to say that as between the starters the handicap was a remarkably good one, save that Rose Argent had a bit too much. That ia one's idea after seeing the race. . .

*#* Mr Campbell got into the bad graces of the public by a most unfortunate start ia the Champagne. A stronger field for this event was probably never seen, and everybody was looking forward to a splendid contest, but expectations were dashed to the ground by Medallion' getting such an advantage at the start as to make . pursuit almoßt hopeless. Not only was Medallion in front of the others when the flag fell, but be was on the move at the time, and Pygmalion's gallant endeavour to catch one of the test two-year-olds we have yet seen will rank as a particularly good performance. Fraadom was run off bis legs, so smart was the pace, and Thackeray was never within cooey. With an even start there would have been a desperate race between Medallion and Pygmalion, who was very fit. The time recorded is tbo Bame aB that made by Carbine in 1888, and only half a second behind Maxim's in 1887. %* The Epsom Welter was a splendid race. Leinster l»Bted all the way, to the surprise of many of the spectators, who reokoned him just as likely to break down as not, and his superior condition helped him when it came to be a question of staying. ' The 17 hands mare Enchantress was badly beaten all the way, A foature of the race was the splendid rush made by Catamount a half-mile from home. He was toiling on in the rear apparently beaten, in the first mile, and then came up so well that for a moment he seemed likoly to win. But he is a bad tempered horse, and bis unkind running in the early part of tho race cost Mr Hammond the stake. The start for the Russley Stakes was unfortunately unsuccessful, insomuch that there were only three horses in it from the jump. Town Moor ran well, but he ought to have had opposition from Richlake, Bon Trovato, and Liquidation, and probably would have had to raca to boat tho beat of these three if they had had a fair chance.

%* The racing on the second day^ -was really firßt class. It opened well with a rattling set to between Ahua and Royalty in the Hurdle Race. {Royalty made the best use of his light weight by making one run from tbo six furlong post, Hid then it was a treat to sea Ahua making a gallant struggle under a great weight, Lunn's horsemanship was taxed to tho utmost. He nursed Ahua until the last hurdlo was cleared, and then Bat down to drive his tiring horse home. He did it, but with nothing to spare. Royalty's gallop on the first day had evidently improved him The stable went for Oarronade in preference to Moraine in the Nursery Handicap, or so it is understood, but the daughter of Nordenfeldt and Rosavina was not do good a favourite as Town Moor, on whom White bad the mount. Rich lake, who put up 2£lb overweight in order to secure the services of Wisby, made one lopp run all tbe way from the entrance to the rail and lasted just long enough, though Chatfiel. was in front two strides paat the pest

Stationed on the press stand I thought Chatfield had got up, and so did the reßt of the scribes, but those who were standing behind the judge assured ub that Riohlake won by a neok. Chatfield is a good oolt, and I foreßoo, or think I can, that he will prove the dnddy of those opposed to him in this race whon tnoy count &b three-year' olds. Richlako, too, is no slouch, and Carronade will turn out a good mare. Thackeray never behaved worse than at the start for the Challenge Stakes, Ho jibbed, he bolted, and he did everything abominable that a horse can do, and ended by putting himself out of the race altogether, for at one stage of these interesting proceedings he kicked himself clear of the boy who was attempting to hold him, and bolted the whole coarse, being Btopped at the stand. Tommy Buddicombe.hadluokily dismounted just before the colt took into it his head to make his final eruption, and thus escaped injury. When the flag dropped Pygmalion bad a slight advantage, and of lb : 9 he was never dispossessed. Medallion was last to move, and he alone gained anything on the brother of Oynisoa, the final result being Pygmalion by a couple of lengths. It was n thousand pities that the start was not an even one, as many on the course were extremoly anxious to find out which is the hotter of these two splendid colts. That problem remains unsolved, and if they were started to-morrow over the same course at level weights, bath would find baokers. Personally, I rather fancy that Pygmalion is a trifle the better at their present age, whioh is equivalent to saying that he should have won the Champagne, but I also fancy that Medallion will develop into the better three-year-old. But there is preoious little to choose between them either now or in prospect, and if anyone chooses to maintain an opinion contrary to mine I shall not quarrel with him. Both beat Merrie England n the Challenge Stakes, and that sets the Btandard of their excellence. Merrie England was oalled on to do bis becst from the jump, and had nothing left in him when called on for a final effort. I half Buspeot that Medallion will follow Pygmalion to the other aide during the winter, and that their next battle will be fought at Iflemington in November of 1890. Red Enßign was bought by Mr Goodman at £50 after winning ;the Selling Race, and was brought'down as a mate for Blizzard and Co. She ib apretty fair mare over a short distance, but no wonder. The knowing oneß went nap on Rose Argent for the Easter Handicap and were put in a hole, for the mare shaped badly, and finished absolutely last, Dudu also did not travel as well as I thought she would, but the race was a very fine one, there being four of them abreast like a squad of oavalry aa they went past the press stand at the end of the lawn. St. James shaped indifferently in the Consolation, for which he was made favourite when the weights came out. He was done at ' half ft mile. It was at first announced that Ruby had beaten Alcinous for second place, but thiß mistake was quickly remedied, the numbers Joeing altered in the judge's box. More next week. V" Friend Bisset, secretary of the Ashburton Racing Olub, waß at Ohristohuroh and handed me a oopy of his programme for the club's meeting on the 23rd and 24th inst., a date that fitß in well for most sporting men, it being about a week after the Timaru fixture. On the first day of the meeting the Hurdle Race of 45sovs, the Autumn Handicap of 60aovs, and the Flying of 30bovb are open to all horses ; while on the Becond day visiting owners have the Grand Stand Handicap of 50sovs and the Welter of 35bovs to go for. Besides these, there are several dißtriot races which promise good sport, the moßt important of these being the Longbeaoh Plate, a mile raca based somewhat on the conditions of the Challenge Stakes. Nominations for all handicaps oloße on Saturday first, the 12bh inst,, and don't you forget it. I have the utmost confidence in assuring owners who think of having a out in that this meeting will ba a good one. Mr Bißßet and his colleagues are sparing no pains to ensure its success. V Licensed Victuallers' Gazette says it is not generally known that Blink Bonny, the winner of the Derby and Oaks of 1857, suffered greatly with her teeth, which prevented her eating and masticating her food. Many teeth were extracted, which doubtless gave her some relief ; but in the skeleton of the mare, bo ably and scientifically preserved and put together by Mr Tom Bowman, V.S., of Sledmere, the presentation of which to the museum of the Yorshire Philosophical Sooiety in York was almost the last act of the late Mr I'Anaon's life, there oan be seen still remaining, in the jaw one of the grinders or back teeth, the blackened and deoayed state of which tells of intense suffering and consequent deprivation of food. Many a time, after a morning's exer cisc in the clear, bracing air of fcangton Wold, did she rush with avidity to the corn offered her, and then lay her bead on the edge of the manger in despair at being unable to eat it. One day, just before the Derby, Mr Maw, the respected veterinary surgeon who attended the Spring Cottage and other raoing establishments in the distriot, was asked by several friends about the Epsom race. He answered, " I cannot tell you what will win the Derby, but I can tell you what will not, and that ia Blink Bonny, as I took these from her head only a few days ago." At the Bame time he produced a number of "wolf teeth" from his pooket. How the prediction waß verified is known to the merest tryo in racing history. It will be remembered that for the One Thousand of 1857 Blink Bonny was an immense favourite, which proved the unbounded confidence of Mr I'Anson, her owner, though without doubt the mare was in very backward condition. Imperieuse, who waa as tough as a badger, but waa full of health and good work, was Bent by John Scott, the Wizard of the North, as he was styled, from Whitewall to take her chance. It was one of Mr Scott's theories always to run a filly if she ■was well, as he said, " You never know what may happen." Mr Scott, a careful man in Euoh matters, as he was not present at Newmarket, gave strict injunctions to his representative, whom he sent with the mare, to hedge his stake, that is to lay the odds to £100 ainat her But her rough looks, the prestige of Blink Bonny, and other causes, led to as muoh aa 15 to 1 being offered against Imperieuse, and the idea of laying £1500 to £100 against a filly he knew to be well determined the said representative for once to disobey ordera. He therefore had the satisfaction of telegraphing to his principal, "Won easily, and not a sixpence hedged." *+* The Australasian reports that Mr S. Gardiner has sustained a loss ia the death of that famous mare Lurline. She was found dead in one of the paddocks, three or four p-llets of shot having passed through the skin into the intestines. The death of the mare is supposed to have been caused by some boys accidentally shooting her while after parrots. Lurline was undoubtedly one of the best mares ever bred in Australasia. She was bred by Mr S. Nosworthy in 1869, being by Traducer out of Mermaid. She .won, among other events, the Dunedin and Canterbury Plates. In 1874 she became tho property of Mr H. Eedwood and another, and wifch^ her relative Calumny she was taken to Victoria, and rau afc the V.R.C. Spring meeting, but being altogether out of sorts, she did not cut a very respeotable

figure Shortly afterwards she was purchased by Mr Samuel Gardiner for 700gs, Mr W. B. Dakin having her placed in his hands, and in her now owner's colours she carried 8.1 and won tho Australian Cup. In the Sydney Cup, with 0.0 up, bug ran a good third so Imperial, 7.9, At tho same meeting she beat Llama, Kingsborough, and Redwood in the All-aged Stakes, nnd on the following day she defeated the The Diver, Melbourne, and Goldsbrough in the A, J.C, Plate In May of the same year she journeyed to South Australia, and with 9.1 on her back won the Adelaide Cup very easily, and on the third day of the meeting won the Queen's Plate. In the following season she did nothing of consequence. " Mr Gardiner put her to the stud in 1876, and The Peer was selected as her mate, the produce being a chestnut colt, who was subsequently named Motea, but he did not shine as a racehorse. In the following year she produced Darebin to the same sire, and he proved himself one of the best horses in the land. Then she visited Tubal Cain, and the result was Prometheus, a very brilliant horse, and Ringarooma, a chestnut filly, came next. A dead foal was followed by Maroondah to Angler, but he injured himself when a yearling, and never distinguished himself on the turf. A filly by Angler or The Marquis succeeded, and she died when a yearling. Lord Bundoora, by The Marquis, waa the next foal, and after showing fair form, he fell on the road one day and injured himself so severely that he could not be trained again. She visited The Marquis again, but failing, she was put to Suwarrow, and a grey colt named Plenty was the result. A brother to this colt followed, but he unfortunately died last year. It will be seen that Mr Gardiner had very bad luck with the old mare, and he unfortunately possesses only one daughter of hers. Her best son, Darebin, was sold to go to America ; Prometheus is dead, and so is Maroondab.

*** An account of the closing scene in the Benzon episode will doubtless interest many of thoße New Zealanders who met the unfortunate young man. I select the Sportsman's version. The small and stuffy court of the Nice Correctional Tribune waß orowded to excess with persons who were anxious to witness another scene in the eventful career of a young man who, from being the possessor of great wealth, had dropped down to the level of an ordinary Jeremy Diddier. Long before the court opened thiß afternoon every seat was occupied. Among those present who had come to testify to the character and position of the accused were the Marquis of Aileßbury, General Willougby, Captain Dey, Mr Harbeck, Mr White, Captain Blair, Mr Howett, and Chevalier de Kuyff, while the rest of the public was made op of English and American residents who had attended to see the hero of the recent book— the youth whose prodigality would have formed the subject for the brush of a Hogarth. Mr Benzon, who waß brought from the town prison in a private carriage, looked very pale And worn when he was placed in the dock by the side of two gendarmes. He looked shyly around, now and then acknowledging the salutations of some friend, and glanoing nervously towards the bench as the few cases which came on before his were disposed of. Hiß tears were not feigned, and although he tried to look unconcerned, be trembled visibly when his name was oalled, and he took his place at the bar. His counsel, M. Lairolle, the "orack" advocate of the Nice bar, leaned over and whispered a few words of comfort to him, and after a few minutes he sucoeeded in mastering his emotion and responded to the formal questions put to him by the president! of the tribunal, M. Maohemin. The general impression was that the court would regard with leniency the errors of a young man who, after spending a princely fortune, had found his level in the dock of the Correctional Tribunal. Indeed, it was whißpered that the sentence would be a month, oounting from the first day of bis arrest, whioh would mean that he would only be deprived of his liberty for a few days longer. Evidence waß first called to prove that Benzon had offered a cheque to the landlord of the Hotel Mentone for £111 to pay a bill of about £20, acoepting the change, at the same time well knowing that he had no funds at Mb bank. The cheque waa subsequently returned dishonoured. The same thing ocourred with Mr Monday, who lent him £40 at the Casino, Monte Carlo, to gamble with, Benzon paying the loan with a cheque for £60, which was also dishonoured. As to the affair of signing Mr Hargreaves' name to cheques and cashing them at the Credit Lyopnais, Benzon, it was acknowledged, lost all his money at roulette, and made use of Mr Hargreaves' name as a last hope. Having also lost the money acquired in that way, he wrote, to Mr Hargreaves confessing what he had done and craving forgiveness. M. Savelli, the Public Prosecutor, summed up the case as lightly as be could for Mr Benzon, and then M. Lairolle made a powerful speeoh of an hour's duration on behalf of his client, Witnesses were afterwards oalled, who spoke in warm terms as to the respectability and sooial status of the prisoner, who broke down more than once as his friends referred to bis past career, attempting io prove that be had been more sinned against than sinning. Certainly the most fayourable construction waß placed on the actions pf Mr Benzon during bis stay on the Riviera, and great hopes were entertained that the judges would take a most favourable view of $be matter when they withdrew for the purpose of deliberation. The court found the prisoner gin'lty, and to the surprise of everybody present the president sentenced the prisoner to three montb.B' imprisonment. Benzon gave way entirely when hia sentence was pronounced, and was removed in a prostrate condition.

* # * For the Sandown Grand prize, one of the most important of the early spring hurdle races, run on the 11th February, there were 14 starters. Promoter (syrs, 10.11) being first favourite st sto 2. The winner proved to be Captain Whitaker's Franciscan (syrs, 11.12), who beat Promoter by half a length, doing the two miles in 4min 14sec. Francisoan is a son of Hermit.

%* Speaking of horse racing in Italy, a correspondent of a Home paper writes : —"Speculation is carried on, and there are several bookmakers— the principal ones English. They have to contribute handflomely towards the fund, and at Lazio time were asked to pay £20 for their places, although they were told that no open list would be permitted. The 'mutual' betting, or the * totalizzatore,' as it is called In Italian, has proved an attraction, and, as anyone oan judge from the numbers who orowd round the lottery offices in the different citieß when any drawing ia about to take place, the Italian is at heart a gambler, this system haß proved a valuable adjunct to the 'gate' money. The c mutual' are carried on in a most nonchalant manner, and as there are no maohines to register the number of pools whioh have been sold, or of the persona entitled to participate therein, everything is left to the employes, who mußt have a happy time of it every now and again. Ab low a sum as two lire (1b 8d) is taken, and the total amount is not added up ; thus one man who ia in one part of the stand may get 8 to 1 or 10 to 1 for hiß money, while another receives only 3 to 1 or 4 to 1, A% the man saidi however, ' What's the

odds as long a 8 you're bappy,' aWd as no complaints are made as to the manner in whioh things are ordered at the ' totalizzatore ' it would be ungracious on the part of a visitor to criticise any arrangement in which he waß not directly interested. Betting is carried on, and the result has been that raoing' has become not simply an aristocratic Bport, but a truly and widely popular one, extending all over the country even to the very far south, and this notwithstanding the amount of red tape which the Italian railway companies have distributed in- each department for the complete confusion of owners and trainers." V The special commissioner of the Sportsman devotes an article to a metropolitan stud whioh not many years ago harboured Borne of the highest-bred stock in the country, and after, as it were, dropping out, haß latterly been steadily working ita way into prominenoe. "Allusion is made to the Glasgow Btud, down Enfield way, and where in the 'seventies' General Peel and Mr George Payne kept certain stallions and mares whioh had been bequeathed them by the fifth Lord Glaßgow, and continued breeding from those old strains that for many years had battled for that eocentrio noble with but chequered fortune. In the autumn of 1878 the Btud was brought to the hammer, and no more fitting opportunity could have been chosen, as Sefton, of this breed, was the Derby winner of that year, and tho Bale waa actually held the week after Peter had won the Middle Park Plate in such handsome style, carrying the late General Peel's colours. Not long afterwardß that distinguished Boldier- statesman passed over to another land, and all the nominations taken for Hermit's best son up to that date, at all events, became void. At this sale Mr Stirling Crawfurd was far the heaviest buyer, aa .might well be expected, taking Sefton's dam, the price being 1550g5, whilst amongst hiß other purchases were Lady Masham (Peter's dam), 1700gs, and Flurry, 1550* a. These did not, however, realise expectations, but Mr Chaplin struok on a gold mine in Adelaide at 900g9. buying on the same day other dames of Melbourne descent, whose progeny have brought in large sums, including the magnificent Faraway, whom I saw at Blankney the other day, looking wonderfully fresh. Competition for the stallions was Btrangely slack, General Peel taking his namesake, the distinguished rival to Blair Athol, for 170gs, and subsequently the old horse was resold at Hampton Court, to go to Ireland, for a paltry 'pony.' Nor was competition for Musket brisk ; and soon the oountry suffered an irreparable loss by this lion-hearted horse's expatriation to the antipodes, where he has founded a noble line. Granting that comparison between the Glasgow Btud of 15 years ago and ita present state would not be to the latter's advantage, there still is muoh to be seen that ia interesting in the spaoioua oldfashioned boxes, or on those rich pastures which have supported many an old-time heroine, with foal at foot destined to become brilliant. For some years past the farm has been oooupied by Mr H. Arnold, who buys and sells blood stock in a large way, both at auction and privately, and also sends horses to Buenos Ayres and elsewhere abroad for sale. Thoroughbreds, indeed, of all denominations are to be found at the Enfield stud, though the changes are so frequent that it would serve no purpose to supply a list of what were on the place when I was there not many days ago."