TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1901, 17 July 1890, Page 25

TALK OF THE DAY.

' BY MAZEPPA.

♦»* Mr Stead has forwarded to the Dunedin Jookey Olub a reply to what is known as the ultimatum. The subjeot came up for discassion at last night's meeting of committee. The reply waa received by Saturday's post.

%* Stuart Waddell has strengthened his working team by the inclusion therein of a bay filly, unnamed, risintr three years old, by Le Loup out of the Tubal Oain mare Ouida. The horses now in work from this stable, besides the one mentioned, are Occident, Franootte, Tempest, Stonehenge, Mariner, and the two yearlings by Le Loup— one out of Ouida and the other out of Titania, Forbury is running in Mr HazUtt's paddock at Anderson's Bay. %* To us New Zealanders the best item of news in the cablegram giving results of the V.R.O. meeting last Saturday was that whioh recorded tbe success of Mr Goodman's Blizzard 'in tbe Winter Handioap. Thifl was a mile and a- quarter race of lOsova eaoh with SOOsova added, second to receive lOOaovs, and the third 50aova. We know of only Bix starters —viz., Dividend 8.6, Stanley 8.6, Jebusite 8.5, G'Narroo 8.0, Precedence 7.lo, and Blizzard 7.5, but it is likely tbat at leaßt 12 or 15 of the 30 entered started, audit will not be surprising to learn tbat the stake waa worth £500 to the winner. In addition, we may be sure tbat Mr Goodman baoked his horse, and one way and another I expect bia good luok will be worth almost aa much as would be got out of a New Zealand Oup, Everyone here was very much J (leased at the result, and Harry's many riends hope that he may win another stake before coming home. In the handicap for tbiß race Fishwife was top weight with 9.5, Russley had 8.9, Apropos 7.9, Tartar 7.1, and Helmsman 6,11, The oompany was really good, but we may suppose that Blizzard owes bis success mainly to the fact that he was fit while some of bis opponents would be in winter condition, and perhaps not very much in earnest. All the same, a win is a win,' and this particular one is a good advertisement for the Hon G. M'Lean's Gorton, sire of Blizzard, Another New Zealand er, Donald, raced more than respeotably in the Hurdle Handicap, and it must not be forgotten that Midas, winner of the Two-year-old Race, ia a son of our Canterbury Derby winner Oudeis. %* Continuing from last week the notice of the New Zealand Oup weights, we come first to Renata, who has perhaps earned bis 7.7, but not more, by one win out of seven starts, and that not of much value, seeing that he met nothing, "excepting bia stable companion Leonardo, that deserves tbe name of racehorse. Asa guess, thehandicappera have not gone far wrong in putting Jet d'Eau on the name mark, but he also could not be justly placed any higher in the lißt. As a matter of fact we find some better performers— Eotuku, Wakatipu, and Lenore, for example— among the six-stone division ; tut the handicappera consider, I suppose, that Renata and Jet d'Eau have not yet been seen at their best, and henoe should be taken oare of, an opinion that is shared by others. Pisoador is in something like the same position, but his five performances — one last Beason and four this— are really of bo commonplace a nature that I think he might safely nave been let off witb half a stone less. Rose Argent would at first Bight seem to be well treated at 7.3, but it must be remembered that Bhe distinctly failed to stay in the Great Autumn and also in the Easter Handicap, being last in eaoh of those races, bo that after all she may not bave deserved moxa weight than that now allotted to her. If she should with another year's age develop lasting power she must have a big show, but so far I do not oare much for her. Thackeray is not badly treated in the light of hiss Dunedin Champagne running. Admitting tbat he caught Pygmalion at a disadvantage, his performance was nevertheless proved to be a good one by tbe way in which he disposed of Freedom, whose claim to rank in the first olass was established by ;hie subsequent performances— finishing in front of Merrie England in the Challenge Stakes, for example. Master George, Prime Warden, and tbeEoßette colt are absolutely untried two-year-olds, counting as three-year-olds at the time of the race, and they are properly put in at 6.12 each. * # * Aronoel won five out of the 11 races in whioh she started this season, and for that form she has been put in at 41b above the absolutely untried filliea of her own age. I think this is about fair, seeing that Bhe lost

more races ttan she won, that she had no very high weight to oarry in any of the races she won, and that she gats jußt her 6lb sexual allowance from Thackeray. Wolverine has a now-or-never chance witb 6.11, and if this big chestnut oan be landed at the post aB well as when he gave Sultan weight and very nearly beat him in the St. Andrew's Handioap we Dunedinites will have a show. But Wolverine is Btrangely unluoky in getting into bad poßitiona and being knocked about in his raoes, and alao in going wrong just when his ohance Beems on paper to be a good one ; and in view of this last mentioned f aot I should not care to plunge on to him, even though he is so leniently handicapped. At the same time he is undoubtedly one of tbe lightest-weighted horses in the raoe, and aa such must not be loßb eight of. Aofcing according to tbe rule observable all through the handioap, Wayland and Oraokshot, three-year-old oolts, eaoh with one losing performance, are put in at a couple of pounds lower than those of the same age that have not yet been seen out, It ie on the whole a good rule, and in these particular cases well applied, seeing that Wayland and Orackshot were notoriously unfit when they started, Forbury, who has never been seen in publio, has bis Sib gelding allowance from Master George, Prime Warden, and the Rosette colt. He is at present running loose, Freedom is properly weighted at 6,9. Strephon should, I thmk, have had a few pounds more, on the strength of his being a good third to Tirailleur and Scots Grey in the Hawke's Bay Guineas, in which he beat Renata; but on the other hand his after performances were not good, and the beating of Renata ia perhaps not deserving of much notice, the popular impression being that the No Name colt was unfit. Moraine is a colt that has pretty well exposed his form, baviDg raced all through the season. Aa with Aronoel, he won and he lost, but there was some merit in bis running, and, on the whole, considering that he beat all but Pygmalion in the Welcome Stakes, and oarried 8,0 home in tbe handioap at the same meeting, he might have been put a little higher in the list. The reason why be baa not is, I Buppose, bis double defeat in April. Hazel, Leonie, and Queen of Trumpa are untried fillies, and as suoh they properly receive 51b, the sexual allowance, from Master George and 00. Leolantis, a colt that was four times beaten, but never lost a place, is correctly weighted, I think.

%* Catamount's ability is practically an unknown quantity, but he seemed to be beaten on his merits in the Provincial Handicap, and if so he has not earned more than his 6.7. If be becomes amenable to reason, and is as good as his friends say he his, he may have a show. St. James on the same mark would have had a little more for form's sake, as the winner of the Dunedin Oup, if the handicap had bßen made up by most men; but I reoognise that the 0.J.0. handicappers have disregarded " patchy " form in reßpect of not only this horse but Beveral others, and have concluded, I think rightly, that horses apparently unable to win unless by a stroke of tuok do not deserve to be olasßed aB good ones. On paper Sfc, James reads well, but I am sure several of those above him in the list oan beat him. Don Pedro won a raoe in the early part of the season, but later on showed that he was inferior to Little Shamrock and Sir Julius j and so on this form he is no throw in. though, as one that may possibly improve, he could not be ezpeoted to be placed on' tbe minimum. Enchantress' form in tbe Epsom Welter was bo sbookiogly bad— she finished laßt— that the bandicappew might, I think, have Bet, that against her flukey win in the Oaks in a previous season, but 6.8 for the biggest mare in the colony ib not much above what is a fair thing. Gipsy Prince, a hare with two luoky wins to his credit, deserves no more than he has got. Katinka could not win at 6.0 if she cannot win at 6.5, but if I were handicapping her and Eotuku for the Oup I should make them change places, for tbe reason that in the Hawke's Bay Summer Handicap Eotuku gave her 131b and a beating. Pique, Burlesque, and Liquidation-have eaoh run once and been beaten, and hence are placed 21b below the untried fillies. That is on the same rule adopted with Wayland and Graokshot in relation to the untried colts. As to Reprisal and Ohatfield, eaoh has been beaten twice in good company, Reprisal having beet third tc Pygmalion and Moraine in the Welcome Stakes, and Ohatfield second to Riohlake in the 0.J.0. Autumn Nursery Stakes. These performances were meritorious. Reprisal was a good third in his race; and Ohatfield, carrying a deoent weight, very' nearly got home in the handioap after a remarkably brilliant run all along the straight. This was such a good performance that I think the handioappers are quite right in plaoing Ohatfield on the same mark as Town Moor (who waß essaying to give Obatfield a stone); but I do really think that the handioap would have been improved if Reprisal, Ohatfield, aud Town Moor had been bodily moved up to tbe 6.10 division. Lenore is not the beßt of her family, though slb extra . would not have spoiled her ohanoe, if she has any, On form it is quite right to put Wakatipu at the minimum, but I have a hope that some of these days he may persevere to the end of a raoe, and his Bhow is surely a better one than that of Fitzjaraes or Meta or Kimberley, if for no other reason than that when he has been beaten— and thiß has taken place nearly every time— it has been in good company, whereas tbe other three are as a rule kept among the aeoond-ratera. Eotuku should, as I have said, change places with Eatinka ; and yet when ope comes to consider the number of times tbis Bißter to Scots Grey baa run without winning, it would almost seem fairer to bring Katinka down instead of raising Eotuku. The truth is that the handicappera have had a deuoe of a job with these elderly failures, and many of us who are oritioiaing might have made a worse job of plaoing them together. I do think, however, that Richlake, as a winner, ought to have been lifted above Bay King and Ben Trovato, and Emmaßon too should for the same reason bave had a little more to carry. These two. Riohlake and Emmason, might bave had, Bay, 6.5 or 6.7. To wind up, we have Manner, Oarronade, and Corolla on the same mark. Each of these was twice beaten, and on striot rule Mariner ought to have bad 51b more than the fillies. On the present handicap that would have been unfair to Mariner because it would put him above Reprisal, Ohatfield, and Town Moor : but I say that these three should be on the 6.10 mark, and that would have made a place for Mariner,", This little irregularity— in respect to Mariner I mean— is, however, of minor import and hardly worth calling attention to.

%* On the whole I think tbis is a good handicap. The handioapperß have had to addresß themselves to a very difficult task, and the phief mistake they have made, in my estimation, is that they have commenced rather too low, the result being that the best horsea have the beßt Bhow, and speaking with oar present knowledge it would seem hard to find anything to beat Tirailleur, Merrie Hngland, and Medallion. It is of course impossible to even guess at what is likely to win, for the reaaon that we don't know which of the candidateß are going to Australia ; but on weight alone I should take, as I have said, Tirailleur,

Merrie England, and Medallion as the pick of the bunch— Medallion for choice— and next to these my fanoy is for Thackeray, Crackshot, Freedom, Moraine, Reprisal, Ohatfield, and Riohlake. I discard Recluse beoause I hear that he is not likely to be fit, Raglan beoause they Bay he is permanently amiss, and Town Moor because he ijis away and not likely to return. When the acceptances appear, on the Ist August, I may be able to reduce this list. Meanwhile I hang on to the 10 mentioned, and may take the liberty of expressing the opinion thus early that if

Medallion remains in New Zealand, and trains on satisfactorily, he will just about win tbe treble at the Canterbury November meeting.' He is a clinker, and will make his mark wherever he raoes. *** Mr Clifford, of Canterbury, has intimated his intention of proposing at the Wellington Conference an alteration of the rules by which two-year-olds may be permitted to raoe up to a distance of seven furlongs after the Ist of February. I bave not heard what arguments are to be brought forward in favour of the proposed amendment, but oan guess that one of the phief reasons relied on will be that by making the change we shall be offering more inducements to owners to keep tbeir two-year-olds here, and race them in New Zealand, instead of sending them to Australia, where they are permitted to run up to a mile and a-quarter^-a distance, by the way, at which Medallion won a race for Mr Stead thiß Beason. It will be relied on, I suppose, that if two-year-olds can run without sensible detriment up to a mile and a-quarter in Victoria, no harm can result to them by racing up to seven furlongs in New Zealand. I have not studied tbis matter very closely. It involves, as we know, a debateable point. But Ido not think there would be any risk in going as far as Mr Clifford proposes to take us. Tbis, by the way, is eminently a question for a conference or some sort of supreme body, and doubtless aB we grow older other subjects which cannot be satisfactorily settled by any lobb representative body will crop up, and emphasise the necessity for either a succession of conf erenoeß or a permanent New Zealand Jockey Olub. *** It was mentioned last week that Captain Russell lost his case against the Napier Park Racing Olub. From the full report of the case I see that leave of appeal was taken, so fcr the present, until we see whether the matter is to go further, I must refrain from comment. In the meantime no doubt my readers will like to have the text of the Resident Magistrate's judgment before them. It is as follows :— " This is a oase in whioh the plaintiffs, members of a sooiety called tbe Napier Park Racing Olub, Bued the defendant for the sum of £38. It was proved at . the bearing that tbe plaintiffs are the stewards of ; tbe club ; that in the month of Deoember 1888 they advertised certain raceß to take place at the Napier Park raoecourae on January 1. 1889 ; that amongst others was an event called i the Handioap Hack Raoe, of £40 : that the plaintiffs' olub have adopted the rules of the Hawke's Bay ' Jockey Olub, known aB the Metropolitan Olub; that there is no definition of the term haok either in the said rules or in the advertisement j that at the foot of the i advertisement there waa a note stating that full particulars could be seen in the handbills ; i that these handbills are posted in conspicuous places, and a copy ia posted to every known homeowner ; that the said handbills oontained the following condition— namely i 'A haok shall mean a horse that has never started in a weight-for-age or handioap raoe, haok raoea exoepted, or that is nominated in a Derby, Oaks, Guineas, cr Leger at time of nomination ; ' that on December 3, 1888, the defendant's trainer, without any knowledge of the conditions on the handbill, entered the defendant's horse called Van Dieman aa a haok to run in the said race; that on December 28, 1888, the defendant also, without knowledge of the said conditions, accepted' with the said entry ; that on January 1, 1889, the said horse ran in the said raoe, came in first, and was declared winner, the stakes being paid to the defendant in due course ; that a horse called Veßper, owned by one R. Gooseman, waß aeoond ; that on March 9, 1889, Gooseman lodged a protest againßt the defendant's horse being declared the winner on the ground that it was nominated for the Wanganui Derby at the time the said race was run. There waß some correapondenOe between the plaintiff and the defendant, and at a meeting of stewards they decided that the defendant's horse was not qualified to run aa a haok, and that the defendant be requested to refund the stakes. The defendant requested that the matter be referred to the metropolitan club under Rule 128. Rule 129, under whioh the objeotion waß lodged, reads as followB : *An objeotion on the ground of fraudulent or wilful misatatement or omission in the entry under which a horse has run, or on the ground that the horse whioh ran waa not the horse he was represented to be in the entry or at the time of the race, or waß not of the age which he was represented to be, or on tbe ground that he is disqualified by reason of any default entered in the Forfeit List, may be received at any time within 12 months after the race.' Rule 131 reads aa follows ' * All protests and objections shall be determined by the stewards, whose deoision j shall be final. Suoh decision Bhall, however, be subjeot to appeal to the committee of the j Jookey Olub so far as relates to points involving interpretation of these rules, but not as relates to questions of fact, and the decision of suoh committee shall be absolutely final, and shall not be questioned in any court.' Rule 28 readß : 'If any case ocour which is not, or whioh in their opinion ia not, provided for by these rules, it shall be determined by the stewards in such manner as they think just, and they may report the case with their deoision (if they think necessary) to a general meeting of tbe olub for confirmation.' It was admitted by the defendant's trainer that had he seen the condition on the handbill he would not have entered the horse for the race. It was urged by the learned counsel for the defendant that the question should bave been referred to the metropolitan club for their decision, under Rule 125 ; that the plaintiffs bad made a mistake, and must stand or fall by it ; that a mistake would oome under Rule 127; and that no protest was made at the time ; and that the plaintiffs could not be judges of tbeir own case, and be cited several cases in support of bis contention, The learned counsel for the plaintiffs urged that if the defendant had omitted, the plaintiffs decision was correct ; that the stewards are the final' judges on all questions; whether the horse was a hack or otherwise waa one of faot ; that there was no I rule defining a haok, and therefore there could I be no question of interpretation of rules ; that seotion 129 provides for cases of this kind, and that the Btewardß were justified in their find- 1 ing. In support he quoted * Fißter's Digest,' j vol. iii, columns 1960 to 1964, and urged that the authorities quoted by defendant's counsel j were authorities in the plaintiffs' favour. m I have referred to the authorities quoted with the exception of Obotwynd v. The Earl of Durham, no report being obtainable. In any case I am of opinion that as there is no definition of the term 'hack' in the Jockey Club Rules that there waa no question of iaterpre-

tation for referenoe to the metropolitan club, and tha^the stewards were acting within their jurisdiction in deoiding the matter. As it is one of faot and not of interpretation of the rules, the court will not interfere with a deoision of thia nature unless it ia shown to be oontrary to law and jußtioe. Judgment will therefore be for the plaintiffs."

♦ # * Final payments for the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase are not to be made until Saturday of thia week, but aa the raoe ia to be run on the following Thursday (thia day week) it iB neceßaary that my final say beforehand should appear in this issue. Well, up to the present nothing has occurred to Bhake my faith in Ahua, and I Bhall go for him in one without any its or buta, with the saving clause that Bhould he break down before the day Daddy Looglegs will win. As to the National Hurdle Raoe, my selection is Ixion, but I am not bo confident in hia oaae, thinking it quite possible that he may encounter formidable opposition from Trimolite, besides whioh Erin-go-Bragh and Little Arthur have to be reckoned with, I am, however, content to stand by the two favourites, and sball tip Ahua and Ixion to annex the double. Modeate will be an absentee, having unfortunately gone lame.

%* The following remarks by the Earl of Durham may be quotedjas a fair set-off to some opposite opinions we are oooaaionally treated to by men who for the most part don't know a thoroughbred from a Clydesdale :—": — " It ia a miatake to suppose that the turf generates auspioion, fraud, and untrutbfulneas in any greater degree than other pursuits from which, unfortunately, these vices are inseparable. Nowhere are . generosity, confidence— upon which all turf transactions in the way of betting are baaed— and loyalty more conspicuous thau amongst all classes of men — bookmakers, jockeys, trainers, and owners— associated with the turf. Nor is it unworthy of conaideration that race meetinga are the cheapest and most accessible form of amusement within the reach of the great masses of our popula^ tion, and draw together all classes in a friendly appreciation of the sport.

*** One of the most sensational racers of the New Zealand turf was Maritana, whose death is just announced, she having died on the voyage to Sydney— a fact for whioh I am indebted to the Referee, This mare waa bred in 1870, by Mr Standiab, and was got by Traducer out of Hypatia, by Nutwith out of Phyllis, by imp. Gratis. The last volume of the Stud Book tells ua that " Phyllis, Wed in New South Wales, waa, we believe, imported to Taranaki. Nothing further ia known of her pedigree." For an account of the early part of Maritana's career I am indebted to an old dipping from the writings of " Pegasuß " —a clipping that I have carefully preserved for a number of years in expectation of turning it to its present use. The writer referred to said : " The first that we hear of Maritana in publio waa at the Canterbury Spring meeting of 1876-7, when Bhe waa six years old. She was then the property of Mr A. W. Money, a butcher in Chriatohuroh, and was used by him I as a haok, and I believe did at times aotually oarry the basket, Anyhow her first reported appearance on a racecourse waß at thia meeting, and at it she won the Haok Raoe, of lOsova, beating a field of 11. I well recolleot that when going away from the oourse a man in Mr i Moneys employmentitold me that this Maritana waß a grand mare— far better than her owner | supposed her to be— and that if she was sent to any of the up-country meetings I had better , baok her for a little. One hears so much of tbia BOrt of thing from persons connected with horsea that I paid no need to the advice, but Maritana'B subsequent performances have proved that my informant was not wrong in his estimate of her capabilities. Her next appearance waß at the Peninsula meeting, and in the Peninsula Handicap, of 20aovs, she ran unplaced behind Grecian Bend, Black Fine, and Roßy Smart. At Oxford, a month later, she carried 8 7 into second place behind Mr Clone's Manuka (9.7) in the Oup Handicap, of SOsovb, and won the Consolation Stakes (8.1), beating three others. At Rangiora ahe improved on tbiß by winning the North Canterbury Oup, of 50aovs (7-7), beating six more, including Tattler, and Bhe waa now considered good enoughfto mix in higher sooiety. ' Accordingly, at the Canterbury Autumn meeting we find her figuring in the Great Autumn Handicap, of 300aova, won by Bribery (6.13). Maritana here oarried 6.12, but aa she got left at the post at tbe start, ehe had no ohance of Bhowing what Bhe could do in a field, which included Guy Fawkes, Templeton, Puriri, Danebury, Fallaoy, Titania, and other good horses. She, however, secured the Consolation Handioap (7.3), beating Elfin Eing, Titania, Dead Heat, and three more, At Ashburton } Bhe waa beaten by Eclipse in the Oup and in the Free Handicap, but ahe landed the Consolation Stakes. Thia wound up her season's work. In 1877-8, at Canterbury Spring, she ran unplaced in the J.O. Handicap (6.12), won by Mata (6.3); third in the Tradesmen's Handioap (6 7), won by Bribery (8,2) ; and second in the Consolation Handioap (6.2), won by Mireille (7.0). She was now purchased by Mr J. H. Lunn, who took her to Hokitika, where she aeoured the Eumara Handioap, of 50aovs ; the Westland Handioap, of 70sovs ; and the Grand Stand Handicap, of 25aovs. Returning to the Peninsula she won the Jookey Olub Handicap (9.9). At Oamaru she ran unplaced in the Jookey Olub Handicap (7.3), won by Ariel (10.1) ; aeoond in tbe Publicans' Handicap (6,6), won by Fishhook (9.3) ; and third in tbe Consolation Handicap (6.9), won by Luna (7.0). At Tai Tapn she could come no nearer than third in the Oup (9.7), won by Merry Monarch (8.4) ; but at Tim&ru she landed the Oup, of 175bovb, carrying 6.5, and beating Bide-awee (6.12), \ Hippocampus (7,0), Templeton (9.12), and Ariel (9.5) in 4min 9aeo for the two miles and a-quarter. At Canterbury Autumn in the Great Autumn Handicap (6.10) she was just beaten by Longlanda (7.3), with Jangler, Templeton, Titania, Ariel, Mufti, and others behind her, with the mile and a-half run in the extraordinary time of 2min 41£seo ; ran unplaced in the Easter Handicap (7.5), won by Foul Play (7.2) ; was beaten by Ariel in the Consolation Stakes at a difference of 171b.

***Bythe commencement of the season 1878-9 she had become the property of Mr JR. Ray, neither of her previous owners having apparently known tbe full value of the treasure they possessed. She commenced the season at Geraldine, where she won the Publicans' Purse and Geraldine Cup. At Duntroon won the Waitaki Cup ; but waß beaten in tbe J.O. Handicap (8.10) by Chancellor (7.1). At Canterbury Spring electrified even those who knew her best by winning the J.C. Handicap, of SOOaovs, carrying 7-7 and doing the two miles in 3min 35£seo, the quickest on record in the colony. Chancellor (6.10) was beaten by only half a bead, and Fishhook (9.1) waa third only a head behind the Ofcago horae, and among the rest were Terapleton, Longlanda, Laertea, Bribery, Ramarama, and King Quail. She ran second in the Tradesmen's Handicap (8.7)» won by Foul Play (8.2) ; and second (8.0) to her Btabla companion linking Fund (64) in the Metropolitan Handicap. Tbiß is the race for which the pair were distanced, because some interested parties asserted that they were not ridden out, and Mr Ray had not declared with

either. At Oatnara Maritana won the Grand Handioap, of SOOaovs, carrying 8.12, beating Oamballo (6.8), Pinfire (75), and others, doing the mile and three quarters in 3min ll^sec ; also won the Publicans' Handicap, of lßOaovs (90), beating Pinfire and Nemo through a muddle being made of the start. Going for the first tima to the North Island she at Mar-ton-Rangitikei won the Railway Handioap, of lOOaova (86), and the J.O. Handicap, of 250SOVS (8.8), beating five in each race ; and also oarried off the Shorts, of 25sovs. At Wellington Bhe soored another great win in the Gold Oup, of 60030V8 (9 A), beating Lara (8,2), Longlanda (7.12), and Bix otherß. At Dunedin annual Mr Ray started her for bet firßt Dunedin Oup (8.12), in which she ran unplaced behind Mata and her stable companions Sinking Fund and Templeton ; ran second to Fishhook in tbe Railway Plate (w.f.a,) ; unplaced in the Flying Handioap (8.7), won by Chancellor (6.7). At Canterbury Autumn ran second in the Free Handicap (8.0), won by Nemo (7.12) ; unplaced in the Easter Handicap (8.7), won by Mata (9.0) The aeason of 1879-80 Bhe alao opened at Geraldine, where she won the Publioana' Handioap (9.2), beating Rangatira (8.1), Libeller (6.12), and four others. At Duntroon ran unplaced in the Waitaki Oup (810), won by Pinfire (7.12) ; won the J.O. Handioap (8 12), beating Rangatira and Chancellor. At Canterbury Spring ran a grand raoe in the J.O, Handicap (8,7) with her old antagonist Chancellor (7.8), but this time suffered defeat by a head; won the Railway Plate (w.f.a.), beating Tim Whiffler, Billingßgate, Chancellor, and six more ; ran unplaced , in the Tradesmen's Handioap (9.7), won by' Billingsgate (6.12). At Auckland ran unplaced in the Railway Plate (w.f.a.), won by Billingsgate; won the Publicans' Purse (w.f.a. j, beating Billingsgate (with a 7ib penalty) and Omega ; third in the Stewards' Handicap (8.10), won by Hippooampuß (7 7), Lara (7.5) second."

%♦ Leaving my quotation at that point, I oan figure out Maritana's subsequent career for myself. It waß very abort ; indeed, her oaly raoea during 1880-81, the season she retired from tbe turf, were two at the Canterbury Spring meeting, where she carried the colours of Mr Horsford. She waa unplaced in the Railway Plate (w.f.a.), won by Billingsgate, with Talent second and Betrayer third ; and waa alao unplaced in the Grand Stand Handioap (9.0), won by Billingsgate (8.6), withNatator (8.6) aeoond and Betrayer (8.6) third. Next covering season she was served by Eorari, and had the bad luck to produce a dead oolt ; in 1882 she gave birth to that unworthy customer Riooarton (by Hornby) ; in 1883 she missed to Hornby; in 1884 Blipped twins to the same horse ; in 1885 her foal was Martha, who ia a winner ; and in 1886 Bhe produoed a fairly good colt in Don Caaaar.

\* The illustrious Mr Orookford, proprietor of Crookford's rooms, was at one time a fishmonger ; but between his gaming rooms and his betting book he had amassed a fortune of half a million before his death. That event is said to have taken plaoe on the evening before Tbe Princess won the Oakß in 1844, Ou behalf of himself and a party of friends he bad baoked that filly for a large Bum in his own name, and his confederates were horrified at the idea of all these bets being rendered void by bis death. To provide against Buoh a catastrophe in caße of victory— in oaae of defeat the truth would have been told readily enough— Orockford'a death was kept a profound secret, and as soon aa a carrier pigeon reached bis house after tbe raoe bearing the word "Princess," his body waa dressed up in his clothes and propped up in a ohair in the window in whiob he was aoouatomed to sit. Many people on tbeir return from Epsom, " as they drove past to their clubs saw the old man, ' looking,' as they said, ' rather lively*' By this means all the beta .which in consequence bis death had lapsed were duly obtained, eaoh of tbe confederates getting tha amount for whioh he bad respectively ' stood in.'" Suob at any rate ia the story according to " Ellangowan, and has appeared in print, muoh in the same form, before.

%* The Cromwell Argus has a leader on tbe affairs of the Dunedin Jookey Olub. The concluding part of the article runs as follows :— •' It is quite evident the club views with subpioion the attempt at the formation of any supreme body as the proposed New Zealand Jookey Olub • and all things considered, it is no wonder it looks askance at it, It would only want Mr Stead to be at the head of that body, and the seat of government to be at Chriatohuroh, to tighten' the reinß so that threefourths of the existing clubß would be wiped out, and raoing centralised in Ohristoburch. With the controlling power in Ohristchurch, too, the Dunedin Olub would soon be made to feel that ita independence was a thing of tha past, for in view of the present turn whioh affairs have taken, the friction between the Ohristcburoh racing world and Dunedin would not soon be forgotten. The Dunedin Olub is wise enough in its generation, apparently, to foresee all this, and accordingly, while it sends its delegates tto the conference ia Wellington, before which tbe proposal to form the new body ia to be^brongbt up, it accredits them with bound hands as to the course of action they are to pursue. We confess we admire the tone of its instructions to the Hon. G. M'Lean and Mr Driver— the delegates referred to — viz., tbat the olub ' is unanimously of opinion that there is no necessity for the formation of suoh an institution as a New Zealand Jookey Olub, and will not allow of any combination of representatives from other oluba to interfere with them in the management of its own affairs.' We say we admire the stand taken ; at the same time we must express regret that the Dunedin Olub did not sooner see 'matters in this light. Had the D.J.O, taken up this position last year, when the affairs of the up-country clubs were being interfered witb, tbe chances are tbat tbe latter would not now be Bubjeot to the yoke of the metropolitan oppression. It ia only now, wben, as we said at tbe commencement of this article, the Dunedin Olub's 'sorrows, like chickens, bave come home to roost,' that the members of that olub have awakened to the injustice of any non-repreßentative outside body dictating- and interfering with tbe rights of others. We prophesied that tbiß would come about, and wben we did bo we suggested as a remedy tbe formation of an Otago and Southland combination. And now, if we read the signs of the times oorreotly, matters are rapidly tending thiß way. The Dunedin Olub may soon be glad to call upon its olive branches to support it in a combination whiob would work harmoniously and advantageously together. Wben it does, we think it need not fear the result of the summons, and the sooner it comes the better for the welfare of all con cemed."

V The death of the Hon. J. White, reported this week from Sydney, ia rather unex peoted news. We were led by the lateßt accounts prior to the actual announcement of the climax to understand that tbis eminent sportsman's health was improving, though it waß remarked by more than one &s an ominous sign that there was no further talk of bis going to England, a trip on which ho had set bis boast over since ho conceived the idea of try ing to win iv* Epsom Derby, The decease gentleman waa not one of Australia's old

s

dentity raoing men, I do not know exaotly when fas began racing, but every turfman is aware of the faot that his first great success was with Chester in the Melbourne Cup in 1877, when the clinking son of Yattendon and Lady Chester upset the Savanaka cowp y and few people are likely to forget how Chester was in turn put down by the mighty First King in the Champion Stakeß the same season. That was 12 years ago, and the good beginning made id 1877 has been continued through the agency of Democrat, The Pontiff, Segennoe, TJralla, Tempe, Trident, Martini, Henry, Nordenfeldt, Ensign,, Alter corn, Titanand others, the outcome being that for the past six years the squire of Kirkham has been each season at the top of the list of winning ownerß, Of bis best horseß, Trident won £8840, Abercom £8172, Oarlyon £4157, Cranbrook £2640 Martini-Henry £4751, Matchlock £3324, Morpeth £2190, Nordenfeldt £3225, Palmyra £2100, Rudolph £2209, Tempe £3036, Tfrafta £4821 and Volley £4072. These figures are from a list compiled up to April 1889 by Mr C. Westbrook, who adds that the Hon. J. White bad 52 winners of 176 races, the value of which was £86,555, That was over a year ago, and when we have the winnings of Titan and others to swell the total we shall find, I expect, that the aggregate is not far ahort of a hundred thousand pounds, But it was not only as a big prizewinner that the Hon. J. White made a name for himself on the turf. Ho was a pluoky buyer and a noted breeder, and he alone of all Australia's great raoing men had the enterprise to invade the British turf in force with the avowed intention of raoing chiefly for honour. He was in every respect worthy of being styled the Lord Falmouth of the colonies, and we may have to wait for a generation before we again possesß so remarkable a racing man.

%,* For the Newmarket Stakes, one mile and a-quarter, there were 12 starters— viz., Le Nord, quoted at 85 to 40 on j Memoir, 100 to 15 agst ; Blue Green, 100 to 7 ; Garter and Ponza, 100 to 4 ; Riviera, 100 to 8 ; Kirkham, 100 to 1£ ; Martagnon, M'Morrogh, and Loup, eaoh 100 to 1 ; and Bull's Eye and Keythorpe, each 200 to 1. Kirkham ran well for half the distance ; but the finish was entirely between the placed horses, Memoir just squeezing home from Blue Green, with Le Nora third, The last-mentionbd is now.'said to be only a seven furlong horse. *„* La Rosa made her first appearance in Victoria at the, Williamstown meeting on the 7tb, being started in the Epsom Handioap, of lOOsovs, one mile. Her weight was 8.6, and she was ridden by Campbell. . The race was run in a dense fog, whioh sprang up suddenly, and so completely enveloped the course. that it was impossible to see for more than a distance of 200 yards, How the race was run no one knows, all that could be seen of it being that when the horses hove, in sight Derision (7.10) was winning very easily. Spud (7.4) was second and La Rose third. Six others started. The daily prints quote the mare at 2 to 1, but I have seen a private letter which sajra that is not ooriect, 4 to 1 being taken just as the flag fell. This was not, owing to the mare not being on the job, for her party stood to win a decent stake if she had got home. At the same meeting Seoretary (11.0) was beaten by three lengths in 'he two-mile Steeplechase, the winner of whioh was Sorew-wrench (10.0), ridden by the English jookey Brazil. %* There was nothing very remarkable, so far as we can see by reading the telegraphed report, about the Wellington steeplechases^ It seems to have been an average sort of meeting, exceptional in no respect save that it was not j in any way prejudiced by the postponement. Asper, winner of the Trial Steeplechase, ran Becond ftp Gasparini in the Maiden at the Wanganni meeting, in May and subsequently defeated Orient in the Consolation, bo tbat it was a bit of luok for his backers to get over 4 to lin a weak field. Raven, who twice got home first, is the son of Fleur-de-Lys, at one time owned in Canterbury. He was surely :old oheap enough at £36, the price at whioh he was knooked down to Bill Froffitt after soming home in the Selling Race. The chief event of the day was taken by that old warrior Orient, whose age 1 and repeated defeats had very properly lowered his weight. He must be considered lucky, in that Darnley, Gladius, 3asparini, and The Donkey all fell. One of .hese would in all likelihood have won bar coidents. As it bo happened, these jumpers fell, and Sir Maurice, a horse that we know very little about as a leaper, lived to the finish, l'ho following table shows the Winners of thb Wellington Steeplechase.

The Bracelet was woo easily by the New Zaaand Cup horse Leonardo, who, however, was badly beaten in a later event, the High- weight Welter. Those who are keeping the list of performances of Oup horses now appearing in these columns should add thereto these two performances by Leonardo. %* In another column will be found the text of the sub-committee's report to tho Jockey Olub on the New Zealand .Trotting Association's rules, which the olub thought it advisable to look over before finally adopting. To Itulo 2 an amendment is proposed exempting country clubs from paying an annual subscription. The reason for this amendment is tbat metropolitan olubs make no charge for scanning and approving programmes, and therefore cannot very well re commend these country clubs to pay such a fee ; but so that they may formally oome undet the association rules* in case of a question being raised in a court of law it h recommended that the affiliation fee be paid, This is a reasonable compromise. The amendment in Rule 7is plainly in the direction of givng the metropolitan oluba equal jurisdiction with the association in the passing of programmes. In subsection 3 of Rule 16 the amendment is merely for the purpose of unDurdening the rule of superfluous detail. Rule 32 is new, and is intended to guard against ambiguity in estimating the value of a race for the purpose of penalties, or the conditions of suob an event as a maiden race. The addition to Rule 74 is of vital importance, and contemplates severe punishment in oases of wiiful inerference. I know that it is necessary, and havo a conviction that it will work for good. In Rules 79 and 80 the evident intention is to define with more accuracy when and how stewards may intorpoße in the case of breaking. The amendment to Rule 102 sufficiently oxplainß itself ; and the remainder of the committee's proposals have also a defined object which will ba easily paroeived. It occurs to me that the report is of n. reasonable and compi'obenßive aalure, and I do not thiuk that it viil be objected to by thn association or by ciiior clubs interested equally with tho D.J.C. i-- soaking trotting a WituoalQ oport.

%* " Robin Hood," the London sporting orrespondenfc of tho Austr»lnsmn, wrir.es: — Otaio, the New Zealand horse Mr Wakley (judge lie Y.R.C.) brought to England, is creating

quite a sensation, and is the talk;of ♦The Row,' where he is to be seen on most days with Mr Wakley on hia back. He is, lam told by one of the belt judges in England, one of the grandest animals ever seen. As a hunter he is perfection, and can jump anything, • bare wire for choice,' in a manner whioh has perfectly astonished the natives here. That I am not over-statiug the case maybe judged by the, fact, .that the first day Mr Wakley had him, out with the Surrey staghounds he was offered 700 ' guineas for him. Many of my readers have seen Otaio, aB he was brqught over to, Melbourne with a string of horses for sale, was bought by Mr Wakley for something under a couple of hundred, and pluokily brought hqme to the Old Country by that;gßntleman. The horse stood the voyage well, although he is a big 'un, very close to 17 hands and up to 18, stone. He is a grand advertisement, indeed,, for the Australasian colonies as horse-rearing -countries, and is certain to draw the attention of hunting men thitherwards. Mr Wakley is certain to bo offered *a thousand ' for him. He is very fond of him, however, and I fancy would decline."

Yr. [ str ' I Winner. Eider. Weight. st )b 10 6 10 4 11 5 9 10 10 10 9 3 10 4 1884 1885 1886 [887 1888 iB«9 .890 8 8 6 10 5 12 8 Early Bird Faugh-vbMlagh Denbigh Echo Kangaroo Rossiter Orient Herd Chambers Ellingham 80110 Pell Cameron Keith