TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1926, 15 January 1891, Page 25

TALK OF THE DAY.

BY MAZEFPA.

* # * No less a sum than £240 is offered in Brakes at the Canterbury Trotting Club's meeting at Addington, Christohurcb, on the 30th inst. The date is well chosen, and, there being Buch a varied and well-endowed programme — the races are from one mile to four miles — it is a certainty that there will be a large number of entries. Nominations close with Mr Fred Mills on the 17th inst. *** The exceedingly satisfactory position of the Danedin Jockey Club, financial as well as otherwise, which was reported at the general meeting and clearly illustratad by the understandable statement presented by the worthy treasurer, is immediately traceable to the wise management of thoae gentlemen constituting what we may without offence call tho continuous committee. The secret of their success is that they have popularised the race meetings of the club by keeping in touch with the public and providing good racing at as low a figure as posaible. We all give them our Bincere thanks for their good work. At the same time I for one was rathor pleased than otherwise to see a move on the board to get a couple of new members elected at the annual meeting. It is well

that men should aspire to and seek to retain positions of honorary trust such as these are ; and more honour to hold them when they are gained at a real eleotion such as this was. Further, while quite satisfied with the result, I hope that the rejected candidates will toe the mark again next year. Mr Myers in particular is " a good sport," a popular straight-going and enterprising owner, and perhaps be and Mr Grose, or one of them, may be inoluded in next selection. The report to which I have referred speaks for itßelf, and I need say nothing further beyond congratulating tbe club and its veteran secretary on the results already achieved and the hopeful prospects of tbe near future. The compliments paid to Mr Meenan, Mr.Philp, and Mr Dowse are thoroughly earned, and it is to be hoped that the committee will be able to see their way to carry out the suggestion in regard to the last-named gentleman by attaching some increase of salary to the responsible office which he holds. %* I propose to hold over to next week my remarks .on the, Dunedin »Gup Handicap, which was issued on Monday sharp to time. The general opinion is that Mr Dow Be has been exceedingly successful in calculating out the several horses' chances on paper. Merrie England would probably be first favourite if there was any betting, but so '.far no business has been done. Everybody is waiting to see what the Wellington results will bring forth, and in the meantime the bookies are trading off as many lines as possible on the double, Cup and Publicans', the offer this way being 50 to 3. * # * On Saturday last I made a trip to Warrington for the purpose of having a look at the yearlings whioh the Hon. G. M'Lean proposes to send up for sale next month. Leaving by an early train, in company with Mr J, M'Guinness, the trainer in charge of the St. Clair establishment, we were met at Warrington station by Mr J. Dobbin, who gave us a smart drive to the farm behind one of the stoutest and staunchest buggy horaeß it has ever been my lot to travel with ; and, declining for the time the hospitalities of the house, owing to being in a hurry to get through the inßpeotion and catch the midday return train, we at once commenced a tour of tbe paddooks, Mr Dobbin leading the way. The firßt of the stock we saw was Lady Emma, with a splendid filly foal by St. Clair alongside her. The old lady has not put on that massivenesa which marks most equine matrons after their first few years' experience of foal-bearing, and one could almost imagine that she had only been a few months out of training. Her present is, however, her fourth foal. Those who made money over her when she won the Dunedin Cups will be pleased to learn that Emma is as sound in all respects as Bhe ever was, and in the most perfect health. Her St. Olair foal is one of the biggest I have seen, and it is a strong and aotive one too. Going on to the next paddock we saw three youngsters frisking about ; Lady Gertrude's two-year-old colt by Rubezahl, and therefore own brother to Lady Mab ; 'the yearling filly by Gorton from Lady Gertrude, which is of course a sister to Blizzard ; and a yearling colt byjßubezahl out of Malice. This last mentioned customer, a nice bay inclining to brown, with white markings, is half brother to that useful horse Merlin, and also to Mischief, who in her best days was a regular flyer. I rather like the youngster, for, though on the small side, he seems to be very vigorous and well shaped, and he looks like one that would come early. Blizzard's sister is a light chestnut, reminding one somewhat of tbe payable horse to whom she claims suob olose relationship, but she is bigger than Blizzard was at her age, and from what one could see of her aB sbe galloped round the paddock, she is a very iree mover. I fully expect there will be some smart bidding for so desirable a filly, one that comes of a sound family and is Bure to raoe early. Lady .Gertrude's two-year-old is a rather plain»looking light bay of a sturdy type — a good stamp, one, may prophesy, of what is known as " a poor man's horse," one that will raoe soon and race often, and not cry out when asked to carry a bit of weight. I had almost forgotten to mention that this youngster has been gelded : a further recommendation in the eyes of buyers who want to keep down expenseß, %* Proceeding further afield we were introduced to what many will regard as the pick of the yearlings: the chestnut colt by Le Loup out of Lady Emma ; a well set-up young gentleman that will, if preBent appearances may be accepted as any guide, grow to be an upstanding lengthy horse showing form and quality all round. Judging yearlings is confessedly a hard taßk and more or less of a guess, but tbe signs are bo promising in this case that I feel strongly tempted to hazard a prediction that this colt will turn out^to be a Cup'winner before he is done with racing. Mountain Lily's yearling by Gorton is a bay, with black points; not so commanding in appearance as one or two' of his mates, but a nice sort of youngster, said by those who are in a position to Bpeak to bear a remarkable likeness to The Shah when he was a yearling. If the resemblance is followed up by the yearling emulating the deeds of Red Rose's hard-worked son the buyer will have a cheap lot at anything like a fair price. The youngster to whioh lam referring is one of tbe sweetest tempered and docile customers I have seen, and if he is not exactly a dashing looking colt he is at any rate one in which there is no perceptible defect or blemish, besides which he cames of useful stock and will probably prove to be a hardy and payable racer. In the next lot shown, a chestnut yearling by Le Loup out of the Grand Flaneur mare Indolence, one recognises at a glanoe a colt ot exceptional quality that is almost sure to Bell well if there are any buyers about when he is put up. He is a bip powerful loose- made sort of gentleman, carrying himself well when on the move, and displaying from all points of view tha characteristics of a high-class thoroughbred worthy of his redoubtable parentage— just the sort of colt, in fact, that should tempt; buyers not to limit themselves to a price. So far as I can judge, and others have said tbe fame thing, this colt is one of the best of a good batch, and on his merits fit to put alongside any yearling in the land. Running in the adjoining paddock is the two-year-old chestnut colt by Gorton out of Lady Evelyn — a youngster that was not submitted last yoar on account of his being then down with a slight attack of rheumatism, of which he baß been effectually cured. I should take him to be a serviceable kind of colt that will carry a bit of weight, and maybe travel fast too, for he has great freedom in his action and is built en the lines of a racer. *** Having finished with tbe lots intended for sale, Mr Dobbin next gave us a peep at tha Btallions, Gorton, Rubezahl, and St. Clair, who -%re all in the best of health and as quiet as sheep, permitting the intrusion of visitors without objection, and submitting to the groom's fondlinpr as though they wore pet cats. Don P6dro we did not see ; he waß at tha time in one of the outlying paddocks, which thßre was no time to get to. Coming to the mares and foals, wo found that Lady Evelyn had kicked her Rubazahl colt a day or two previously, but this youngster, a well-grown and knowing-looking bay, was able to walk about

after his feed, and will probably be all tight in a'week or two. Lady Florence, the youngest i of tbe brood mares, has a nice Rubezahl foal . with her ; Lady Gertrude, who has beoome one of the likeliest-looking matrons at the farm, was tending a promising youngster by St. Clair; Mountain Lily has a Gorton foal that is almost as big as some yearlings we occasionally see ; Dione's Buckling is distinctly a St. Clair ; and Indolence has certainly improved in appearance Binoe she knocked off racing. Legerdemain wanders about forlorn, having lost her filly ; and tbe only other mare belonging to the Hon. G. M'Lean is Malice, who did not bear this season, and probably will not be of any further service, seeing that she is now 23 years old. In bodily health she is apparently all right, and her back is as straight as the younger ones, but she is gone badly in tbe legs, one especially, and walks about with difficulty. Having looked at acouple of other mares sent to the farm for service, and complimented Mr Dobbin on the excellent condition of his stock— a oompliment whioh was thoroughly deserved— we partook with eagerness of the excellent luncheon provided, and were then driven to the station just in time to catch the train arriving in Dunedin at 1.15. The trip was a very pleasant one, and I was satisfied from what I saw that when the Warrington youngsters are put up to auction during the Forbury race week they will fetch good prices. *„* The Australian-bred horses Wentworth and Mons Meg have been entered for the Ascot Gold Oup and Bunbury Plate, and Mons Meg for the All-aged March Stakes at Newmarket.

%* A rather important decision has been Riven by Mr Juetioe A. L. Smith and a special jury in the Oourt of Queen's Bench. Mr J. E. Hart, turf commission agent, brought an action for libel against Messrs Weatherby, the agents of the Jockey Olub. The action arose out of a dispute between the plaintiff and Captain Bailey, in which the latter claimed a sum of money as being due to him over Seabreeze when she won the St. Leger in 1888. Mr Hart did not consider himself liable for the money, and refused to pay, whereupon the oase was brought before the Committee of Newmarket Rooms. They decided in favour of Captain Bailey, and the ruling was upheld by the Jockey Olub, who, finding their order still resisted, caused a notice warning Hart off Newmarket Heath to be published in the Sheet Calendar. Sir Henry James appeared for tbe plaintiff and Sir 0. Russell for the defendants. The case turned upon the question of privilege, and the judge considered this plea valid, and gave a verdiot to the defendants, costs being allowed. *#* Particulars of the racing at Cauiaeld on Boxing Day show that Mr W. R. Wilson's New Zealand-bred colt Steadfast, by Nordenfeldt—Nelly Moore, ran second to Hartington in tbe juvenile Stakes, but the winner beat her very easily. There were 14 runners for the Hopetoun Cup, and Malvolio (7.8), the son of Malua and Madcap, was made a good favourite. The. colt is a three-year-old, and his sire ran second for the similar race (wo years ago, while his dam won it six years back. Malvolio had previously distinguished himself by beating Highborn in a handicap at Oakleigh Park, a few days before Highborn ran second for Carbine's Melbourne Cup. Escutcheon (7.9) waa well backed, and Maggie (7 6) also had raaany sup Dorters, while Dillon (79), Yarra (7,4), The Pioneer (6,7), and Precedence (8.8) were also supported. The raoe, says the Argus, was an especially fine one, and at the distance half a dozen horses had a chance of winning. At a critical moment Escutcheon, who was next the inside raik, got an opening, and hia jockey, taking instant advantage- of it, shot his horse to the front, and won by a neok from The Pioneer, who simultaneously was making an effort' on the outside. _ The favourite ran very well/; but died away in the straight, Dillon, Maggie, and Pingara, who also looked dangerous, doing likewise. The time for the mile and a-quarter and a distance was 2.261. Moss Rose was beaten by The Bud in the Selling Race ; Satan fell in the Steeplechase, won by Knight ; and Albina, a half-sister to Algerian, beat Investigator and *** On the second day of the Sydney Tattersall's meeting Meloa was considered a real good thing for Tattersall's Cup, and the price offered about the son of Goldsbrough, since his debut in the Summer Cup, was 5 to 2 against, but the public would not come, and at last the books opened their hearts and freely sang out threes against the favourite, which price was freely accepted. In the Steeplehase Reuben came down the second time round, and brought his rider with him, and Marmion and bis rider also came to grief. Lee, the rider of the former, got a Bevere shaking, and the New Zealand horseman Shearsby met with a naßty accident, but neither was seriously hurt. , %* The imported stallion Albany died on the firßt day of the year, aged 23 yearß. He was bred by Mr J. Lowe, got by Thornoanby out of the Touchstone mare Griselda, and imported to this colony in 1874 by the late Mr E. G. Griffith. There was a time, within the recollection of all of us, when Albany's stock were thought a great deal of, he having won a name for himself by the doings of such racers as Mischief, the clinking Oudeis, Disowned, Hilda (winner of the Wellington Cup), Whisper, Talebearer, and Nonsense (who won a lot of money, and was highly tried for the New Zealand Cup won by Tasman), while beßideß these he gave us a great number of smart horses over short distances, including Maligner, First Lord, La Mode, and Ruby; but at the time of bis death the old horse had to a large extent outlived his reputation, and Springston was one of the last-begotten of what we may regard as his worthy representatives. Ifc used to be noticed that Albany's stock mostly came early, and hence they were sought after as yearlings. •*♦ One of the most important races reported in the latest English papers is the Chesterfield Nursery Stakes, a handicap of lOOOaovs, five furlongß, run at Derby on November 11. There were 25 runners, the favourite .being Mr D, Baird's Patrician 8.6, but this and all the other fanoied horses were clean out of it, the race being won by Mr T. Cannon's Billow 7.1, who started at 20 to 1. Mr D. Cooper'B Melody, carrying 9.0, was one of the starters that failed to show up prominently. Billow is a daughter of Ocean Wave and Queen Frederics, by George Frederick, and this makes her out to be related to Dilemma and other youngsters belonging to the Hon, G. M'Lean, since Ocean Wave is by Sac-saw, the aira of Rubezahl. This was Billow's firat win. The Doveridge Stakes, a six-furlong event for two-year olds at the same meeting, was won by Lord Hastings' Breach, by Hagioscope— Mitrailleuse. She started at 3 to 1 in a field of six, the favourite (Chesterfield) being unplaced. At the same meeting Lord Ellesmere's Sabra, a daughter of St. Simon and the Hampton mare Belinda, beat the favourite in the Oamaston Nursery. The St. Crispin Nursery Handicap at the Northampton and Fytchley Hunt meeting resulted in another addition to the many unexpected results in two-year-old racing this English season, the winner being Rose dv Barry, who went out a 100 to 6 chance. %* The Manchester November meeting

produoed some excellent raoing. On thei second day, the 21st, there were 16 runners for the Lancashire Handicap, of 500bovb, one mile. Wise Man, who won this race the previous season, and will be remembered aB a Lincolnshire Handicap hero, waa handicapped at 9.0, and the public rushed on to him until he went out a 2 to 1 chance. Warlaby (8.8) and St. Germain (6.9) were at the head of the betting bar the one favourite, while Ringmaster (8 5) was quite neglected. The flag fell to a good start, and Dazzle (713) out out the work to suoh a merry tune that there waß a tremendous tail when the leaders entered the straight, when Dazzle, resigned the command, and the stable companions Screeoh Owl (7.11) and Westminster (7.1) went on in front, and were then joined by Wise Man and Warlaby, to whom tbe issue was confined for the laßt 200 yds. Although Wiseman hung very much he won easily enough from the unlucky Warlaby, with Ringmaster six lengths away third. The time was lmin 52 2 53e0, but the course was very heavy through rain. V For the Manchester November Handicap, of lOOOaovs, one mile and three-quarters, run on the 22nd, there were 19 starters, and the Duke of Beaufort's Parlington, a three-year-old son of Highborn and the Brown Bread mare Nanoy Lee, carrying 7.9, won decisively by three lengths, doing the distance in 3min 26 2-saeo, and beating for places Shall We Remember (3yrs, 8 10) and the Australian horse Ringmaster (aged, 8 7). .Although Sam Loates was far from easy on Parlington in the middle of the race, the state of the ground brought out all the stout qualities that served him in tbe Metropolitan at Epaom in the spring ; and at a quarter of a mile from home there were only Parlington and -Shall We Remember in the raoe, and Parlington easily shook off the filly in the run home. Perhaps the surprise of the race, says an eye-witness, was that Ringmaster, after being so far behind, should finish such a good third. He passed Star Trap and Tommy Tittlemouse inside the distance with a regular sweep, and although unable to improve upon his third in the Lancashire Handicap, he could have caught Shall We Remember in a few more strides. Some of his form this year has been simply inexplicable, and it would be interesting to see bow he would f are in the hands of an experienced English trainer and jockey. It is remarked that at this very meeting the previous year, Parlington, entered to be sold for £50, won the Saturday Selling Plate, but subsequently attracted plenty of bidding, and was knocked down to Mr Alec Taylor, on behalf of the Duke cf Beaufort, for 500gs. In his new ownership Parlington has since run twice prior to hia victory in the November Handicap. Upon the first occasion the colt won the Great Metropolitan Handioap at Epsom, and he was one of the unplaced division in the Cesarewitoh. The stakes in tbe November Handicap this season amounted to £1315. The previous year Mr Vyner's Fallowchat (4vfb, 7. 5) occupied 3tnin 26 4-5360, winning £1444 15 a, and in 1888 Lord Howe's Claymore (4yrs, 6 11) won £1304 15a, covering the distance in 3min 16 3 ssec.

♦„• The Wanaka meeting was not in every sense a success, I am sorry to hear, though it is not surprising that the attendance of both men and horses was smaller than could have been desired, seeing that the race days were the same as those on which the Vinoent Olub was holding itß meeting. Bad weather ,waß also responsible to some extent for the marring of the sport. Heavy rain fell on tbe morning of the firßt day, just as people were considering whether they should or should not go to tbe raoes, and on the second day a high wind raised fearful clouds of dust. An abridgement of the Cromwell paper's report of the racing appears in another column, and from this it will be 89en that Mr Lambert won the ohief events with Loo and Sir Julius. Messrs Solomon and Murrell passed £881 through the totalisator. *** The attendance on Boxing Day at the A.J.d meeting was the largest ever seen at Randwiok. For the Flying Handioap the publio rujhed on to Fiancee" (3yrs, 6 6), who won easily by four lengths from Aoushla (7.4), doing the six furlongs in lmin 15seo. The valuable December Stakes was voted a good thing for Corvette, the daughter of Martini-Henry and Lady Vivian, who won comfortably by a length and a-half from Theodore. There were 27 Btarters for the Summer Oup. The Sportsman's correspondent writes that E.K. was backed very spiritedly for the Cup, and, though getting a shocking bad start, and being lengths behind everything most of the way, came very fast at the finish, and must have been dangerous. It is doubtful, however, if he could have beaten the uncertain Stotkwell, who was well ridden by young George Garland. That the Newcastle party did not greatly fancy the horse's chance is shown by the betting ; but, barring tbe fear of a breakdown, he was so fit that it was thought he must run a great horse. Though it was apparently bis day out, The Henobman horse stumbled once during the raoe, and young Garland sprained his thumb in consequence while his mount was making the reoovery. Melos, aa usual, came very fast at the finish, but was late, while Paris never showed up at all. Highborn had a good position inside all the way, but appeared done at the home turn. Piecrust won the Nursery Handicap, and Antaeus the A. J.C. Handicap, doing tbe mile and a-quarter in 2min lOaec. %♦ In these days of mammoth stakes it may be interesting (says the Sportsman) to note that among the rich prizes on the turf which have lately been competed for tbe following take preoeaence :— The Futurity Stakes, won by Potomac (a son of St. Blaiee), at Coney Island in August last, worth to the winner £13,590; Eclipse Stakes, at Sandown Park, won by Ayrshire last year, £11,165 ; Prince of Wales Stakes at Leicester in 1889, won by Donovan, £11,000; Lancashire Plate, at Manchester, won by Seabreeze in 1888, £10,222, and by Donovan in 1889. £10,131. The Eclipse Stakeß in 1886 and in 1888 was eaoh year worth £10,000 to the winner. I may add that Carbine's share of the Melbourne Cap was £10,080, so that as regards the bonanzas of the present age the one that fell to his Bhare counts fifth in point of value. The total value of the Melbourne Oup to the three placed horses was (with the trophy) £13,230, so that it was not the most valuable raoe ever run for, although the richest handicap and also having the greatest value in added money. *** Success attended the Manawatu meeting on Boxing Day, the weather being fine and the racing good, while the large sum of £3092 was passed through the toralisator. In the Flying Handicap there were Bix starters, and of these Weka was undoubtedly the best at the weights, aB Bhe led all the way and won ia a canter from La Pstite Fille, who was receiving nearly two stone. Jacob was apparently pulled in the Hurdlo Race won by Matchless, and the owner (Mr J. Driscoll) and the rider (J. Pell) were cautioned by the stewards. Weka, with 7-4, eaoily beat her opponents in the Boxing Day Handicap, of lOOsovb, one mile and a-half, paying a dividend of £6 15s. Second money was taken by Pyramus (7.3), and Lady Leger (7.4) was third, beating fouvr others, among whom were Montrose II (8,11) and Foxton (8.5). Mon-

»troße II won the Tradesmen's Handicap by a neck from Cruiser, the latter receiving a atone and a half. %* The American racing season for 1890 is practically over for the big stables. The season has been a profitable one for some of the stables, August Belmont heads the list with a total winning of 167,000d01. John A. Morris is next with a credit to his account of 158,000d01, while Senator Hearst, whose bad luok in previous years was proverbial, closes the season with HO.OOOdoI. Graen Morris ia fourth with 88,000dol, and Congressman W. L. Scott is just below him with 69,000d01. Tho Dwyer Brothers, in epite of the crippled condition of their Btable, a mere wreck of the princy establishment of the past, have earned 65,000d01, whilst D. D. Withers, whose stable has been rathor a disappointing one this sea Eon, is a winner of 64,000d01. It is a curious fact, says an exchange, that nearly all tbe big money in the leading stables has been won by one horse. Potomac won nearly onehalf of Mr Belmont's 167,000d01, and if Tournament's earnings were deducted from Senator Hearst's total, there would be very little left. J. B. Haggin ends this year with 51,000d0l profit, and of this sum over 30»000dol was Salvator's winnings. The bulk of the remainder was Firenzi's. Marcus Daly spared no money in getting the choicest strains of blood. He has Bpent perhaps 500,000d0l on the turf, and yet be has won only one race tins year. That was a stake raoe, however, and he got I out of it 9940d0l to help pay his enormouß losses.

%* The result of the Two-mile Trot at the Clutha meeting was acoidently omitted from our report last week. There were 10 starters, and it was a good betting race, there being 29 investments on Fossicker ISsec, 23 on Bluebell 403 ec and Sulky 43seo coupled, 21 on Mies Johnston llsec, 17 on Orion scratch, 17 on'Giysy 37seo and Mersey 40seo coupled, 15 on Sandfly 37sec, 8 on Jane 6aeo, and 7 on Oliver 23aeo. A Bplendid race resulted in Orion being landed a winner with very little to Bpare from Gipsy, with Bluebell a good third. Orion paid a dividend of £7 ss. In the Consolation Prima Donna ran wide and threw her rider, thus permitting Hector to canter in by himself. Messrs Mason and Roberts passed £1102 through the totalisator, or £1 lesß than last year. I may remark that the general arrangements at this meeting were satisfactory bo far as it was in the power of the stewards to make them bo, with the exception — there is generally a fly in the amber — that too much time was cut to waste between the events.

*«* Mr Revell, Resident Magistrate, was occupied at Gore on Wednesday last in hearing a case in which Thomas B. Mortimer was charged with a breach of " The Electric Lines Act 1884," by having, on the 11th July last, Bent a telegraphic message to Milton, purporting to be Bigned by W. J. Taggart, instructing tbe informant to purchase the mare Norah as agent, and to give £60 to £70 for her. After evidence bad been taken, his Worship, said, addressing defendant :— The evidence of complainant goes to show that you were tbe owner of a certain mare ; that it was sold to Green on the 12th July, and that the cheque was cashed the same day. The mare was sold to Green as being Norah, by Childe Harold. He received a telegram purporting to be from Taggart to purchase the mare for him. The mare was purchased on the', strength of the telegram, It appears that the telegram turned out to be a bogus telegram. The evidence of the prosecution goes to show, from experts who have examined letters in your writing, that they are written by the same band, and it is further shown what interest you had in the mare to make the sale of her. Circumstantial evidence goes to Bhow that you had a strong interest in Belling the mare to Green. On the other hand, in your evidence, (you deny it personally, and you have called witnesses who do not profess to be experts. They say, in their opinion, they are not the same, they are different handwritings. Taking the whole case, I am of opinion,|from the evidence produced before me, that the telegram is in your handwriting, and was Bent by you for the purpose alleged.' You are fined £20 and costs, or three months' imprisonment in Invercargill gaol. * + * The anxious endeavours of certain sportsmen to transplant trotting in England have so far, as before remarked, been anything but a gigantic success. It is claimed that the promoters are satisfied, but, if this is so, it does not take much to satisfy them. For instance, I read in one of the late papers that "there was considerable jubilation at New Barnes (Manchester) on the 10th November among th«J supporters of trotting, as their effort to bring together the best horses at present on the European Continent was orownod with a Bucoess that the promoters hardly anticipated. ... In all £160 was given in prizes, apportioned as follows : — One hundred pounds for the International Stake, £40 for an open Handicap called the Salford Stakes, acd £15 for a pony handicap. Ten pounds waa j also put up for a turn-out show, but darkness intervened before it could be proceeded with." The support must have been very hearty, indeed, when the prize money in a place liko Manchester was less than is given at some of our New Zealand trotting meeting, and I further observe that, bo fearful ware the managers of prejudicing the fields, that they barred one horse, Colonel Wood, a reoord-breaker at Alexandra Park. %* The North Canterbury meeting on New Year's Day suffered to some extent by reason of the boisterous weather, many being kept away. The amount passed through the tntalisators by Messrs Hobbs and Goodwin was £1662. Ruapehu (10.0) bad a very easy task in the Hurdle Handicap, of 30sovs, cne mile and a-half, waiting on his opponents till the straight was reached, when he buried them. Iroquois (9 7) waa second, Isidore (9.5) third, and Ivanhoe (11 9) last. Drift with 9 6 won the District Welter easily by a length from Rangiora (8.10), the ancient Kate Hayes being last. Primrose with 23? Ec start just got home in the Two mile Trot from Flora Temple 20sec, but had to pass through the ordeal of a protest for breaking, the protest being dismissed. Tbe starters for the Midsummer Handicap, of 55sovs, one mile and a half, were Ixion 8,8, Harkaway 7 12, Catamount 75, and Gold Spec 6.0. Ixion was a strong favourite. Catamount, who got off badly, rushed through and led with Gold Spec until reaching the back stretch, where Ixion assumed tbe lead, closely followed by Harkaway, and these two fought out a good finish, resulting in Ixion winning, all out, by a length, with Catamount 20 lengths away third. Time, 2min 423e0. Dividend £1 14s. Adiau, a daughter of Chancellor any Farewell, upset a pot in the Maiden Plate paying a dividend of £4 123. Loiter beat a couple of others in the Novel Race, and w bought in at 10#b ; Harkaway gave Inez 2 1b and a besting in the Flying, for which Dragon at level weights with Inez, was favourite the District Hack Race was taken by Maria daughter of Bstrayer. Mr Boyle's starting the meeting is well spoken of. %* They do these things differently France. Instead of asking for an investigatio by the Jookey Club, or sending a lawyer's letter threatening a libel action in default of apology, tbe offended owner challenges the

offending journalist to a due l . This at any rate is how one affair of the Bort was recently settled, It aroae in this way. I quote from the Sportsman. " Unfortunately for the Bake of the turf the mutuals, which bring considerable grist to the mill, have of late absorbed the entire attention of the stewards, and prevented them from noticing the incongruities which have arisen of late as far as public form was concerned." [Is it really of France that the man is writing ? I fancy we have heard of the same thing muoh nearer home.] " The papers have pointed out the startling changes which have become apparent, and the racing of Friday laßt gave the sporting writer in the Eobode Paris an occasion for calling the attention of the publio to the running of M. Maurice Bphrussi's Pourpoint. On Friday week Pourpoint and War Dance were entered in a race at Maisonß-Laffitte. Both were on the ground, and those who are always jumping at conclusions imagined tbat when War Danoe >as Btruck out in favour of his stable-

mpanion the latter oould not fail to win. Pourpoint was made first favourite and backed or a lot of money, but ran in a most disappointing manner, while those who looked him ver after the race regretted their temerity, as he seemed very short of work and, at all events, far from being wound up to ooncert pitch. On Friday last, over the same ground, and meeting the winner of the previous week on less advantageous terms, he opened in the betting at 12 to 1 , and was backed down to the ground. He started at 5 to 1, and won easily. This improvement on previous form inspired the writer in the Echo de Paris to animadvert on the running of M, Ephrussi's horses in a manner which called for some reply. Legal proceedings were not taken, and M. Ephrussi considered himself called on to demand an explanation from the journalist. He met him on Saturday in the paddock at Saint Oven, and Borne sharp remarks passed between the two. M. Ephrussi is reported to have asked the journalist why he presumed 'to meddle with Mb book.' We can hardly credit this part of the story, but at any rate, when the owner of Pourpoint flourished bis stick and seemed about to use his Kentucky persuader on tho back of the offending scribe, ths latter sent out right and left and floored M. Ephrussi, who found himself seated on his hat. The matter might have been settled there and then with a couple of rounds under the rules of the London prize ring, but officious friends intervened, and during the evening M. Ephrussi sent his seconds to demand satisfaction from the editor and proprietor of the Echo de Pariß." The result is briefly reported in a later paper :— " M. Bphruasi, owner of Alicante and Modestie, fought a duel with swords yesterday morning with M. Treille, a writer on the Echo de Paris, who bad commented on the running of Pourpoint. The meeting took place at Vesinet, near Paris, and M. Ephrussi wounded his adversary in the armpit, whereupon 'honour was deolared satisfied.' " * # * The English flat-racing season was practically brought to a close with the Manchester November meeting, and the Sportsman was promptly ready next day with the first of its statistics for 1890— viz,, the winning jockeys' records. For the 'second successive year T. Loates takeß the lead with 147 wins, and is again followed by G Barrett with 106, while J. Watts, who in 1889 finished fourth, just behind F. Barregt, now fills third position with 85. S. Loates follows with 83, and Riokaby, who comes next, has been suooesßful on 78 occasions. The following table will show the relative positions of the first 12 jockeys in the winnkg list :— Mounts. Lost. Won.

Among the gentlemen riders Mr Abington is first and the rest nowhere, his record being 42 winß out of 114 mounts, and the next best Mr Lambton'E 5 wins out of 20 mounts. Mr Abiogton's score is considerably less than that of last season, when he won 61 of the 137 events in which he took part, but in the present season he did not commence operations as early as usual, and when it is remembered that bis first appearanoe was not made until the Leicester Spring meeting it must be admitted he has done well. *** The list of winning owners is again headed by the Duke of Portland, who thus occupies that place three years in sueoessfon, having been top of the tree in 1888 with £26,811 and in 1889 with £73,858. This year, with four horses, who have taken 14 raoes between them, he has scoured £25,203, and to this amount Memoir has contributed the largest share— viz., £15,702. Mr J. H. Houldsworth, whose colours have not been carried to viotory too frequantly in recent years, has had something approaching a good time, and with £14,719 15s he takes second place, a little in advance of Mr H. Milner. The latter gentleman, with 31 races won by 19 horses, secures the next highest total of £14 ; 123 153, and that good horse Amphlon has baen mainly instrumental in crediting General Byrne with £13,089 15a. Mr A. W. Merry, Mr Abington, Oolonel North, and Lord Oalthorpe complete the list of those whose winnings are represented by over £10,000. The following is a list of the prinoipal winners in

\* Among the winning sires, first honours ara taken by 3t. Simon, who, with 13 representatives heads tho list with £32,799, the chief contributors to this grand total being Memoir £15,702, St. S=tf £5809, aud Swiolina £3400. Wisdom stands seoond with £20,411, of which Surefoot won £12,722, and then comes Bend Or with £17,627, made up of 39 raoag, Orvietooonfcrihufcmp: £5737- Springfield is close up with £17,203, Sainfoin's three wina resulting in £6950. Barcaldine, with 50 races, and 19 representatives, has £16,556, of which Morion is responsible for £5032, and he is followed in order of merit by Ohayibeit, who is now in France, with £18,813, this total being made up of 51 wins by 27 horses, chief among whom may be mentioned Cleator, whose five races were worth £4032. To this I may add that the Australian sire First King appears ia the list with his one solitary representative Ringrmster, whose one win came to £100 ; the American-bred Foxhall has 10 wins of £3119 ; Hermit is dropping down the lißt, and bas to

fbe content with £6229, won by nine horaes, I ohief of whom are Heresy and Alicante ; Ilsonomy has eight winners of £9636 ; Musket has disappeared from the list altogether, but his son Petronel takes £1147 ; the veteran Rosiorucian bas six winners of £1121; the Victorian St. Albans has Lady Betty's three wins, worth £502 ; and Sac-saw, the sire of our Kubezahl, olaims four winners of 15 raoes valued at £3679. %* The recently-formed Wairarapa Raoing Club, including all that remained of the South Wairarapa Racing Club, the Wairarapa Hack Racing Olub, and the old Wairarapa Jookey Club, held its meeting on New Year's Day on the Tauberenikau course, whioh has been newly set out and vastly improved. The weather was unfortunately not favourable, thus to some extent interfering with what would otherwise have been a most successful meeting. The first event was the Hurdle Handicap, of 45sovs, two miles, whioh produced a chapter of accidents, all falling or baulking excepting old Halicore, who jogged along quietly by himself, and eventually won by 50yds from the remounted Playboy and Reputation, paying a dividend of £7 175. The Flying Handicap, of 40aovs, six furlongs, was the softest of soft things for Retina, the much improved daughter of Apremont and Irie, who gave junks of weight to Scraps and Box Iron, and was left at the post, but still won by half a length. For this she had to put up a penalty of 51b in the Cup, of lOCteovs, one mile and a-half, making her weight 8.12. St. Malo, the favourite, had 9.7, and Comet 7.12, while Frolio carried 7.10 and General Gordon 7.0. These were the whale of the starters. Frolio led for a mile, when Retina challenged, and a good finish ended in Retina winning from Frolic by a length, with Comet a good third. St. Malo fell. Time, 2min 48aeo : a good performance considering the heavy going. Speculator paid a dividend of £17 9s in the Hack Race, and Comet (S 1) won the Stewards' Handioap from Frolio (8.0). V The report of the Vincent meeting, as published in the Dunstan paper, does not give an exhaustive account of the different results. We know, however, how the horses were plaoed, and from the facts obtainable it will be seen that Mr Rivers' Avis, a son of Le Loup and the Roebuck mare Tui that seems to be improving with age, was first home in the prinoipal event on each day, with Disappointment and Knickerbocker Sam behind him on each occasion, while in the Flying there was a dead heat between this horse and Nenthorn at a difference to the disadvantage of the latter of only 41b. We shall have Avis very near the top of the handicaps before the season is out if he improves at the same rate during the next month or two, though so far he is not a match for Disappointment, who in the Ophir Handioap gave him 41b and a beating. Bad weather interfered with the attendance on the first day. %• There was fine weather for the Mamototo Jookey Club's meeting, and the capital, racing provided led to brisk speculation, Messrs Solomon and Murrell passing through the totalisator the sum of £1799, or nearly £200 more than at last year's meeting. A few comments, gleaned from the very complete report in the Chronicle, may be of interest. Rothamstead, the favourite for the Maiden, was not tried on his aaeritß, his rider losing a stirrup after going half the distance. Irene (7.0) led from end to end of the Jockey Club Handioap, and won in a oanter, doing the mile and a-half in 2 51. Disappointment (9.5), who finished second, was rather the better favourite of the two. Herd Laddie was the favourite for the Trot won by Norah. The Welter was won very easily by Fable (8.0), ridden by one of Mr Taggart's sons. The placed horses were about equally backed. The stewards were not satisfied with the way Paddy was ridden in the Selling Race, and of their own motion (an example to the D. J. 0.) they held a meeting, the result of whioh was that Tripp, the rider, was disqualified during the pleasure of the club. Paddy ran again in the Novel Handioap with M'Kay up, and the horse behaved sp badly, boring all over the course, that the stewards had reason to think that Tripp's defence was a good one, and, there being ground for the conclusion that they had made a mistake, they at once reinstated Tripp. A protest against Home Rule, winner of the Novel, was rejeoted, as it w»b not accompanied by the necessary deposit. Knickerbocker Sam won the Oup rather easily, waiting on bis opponents till the straight was reached, and then burying them. George Robertson, the well-known jockey, made a remark after the running of the Naseby Oup, to the effect that the stewards of the dub were interested in frauds and were mixed up with every oaße of dark running on the course. The stewards naturally took the matter very seriously, and Robertson was brought before them, when he admitted having made the assertion, and still held to it, although he could bring no evidence in 'support of his statement. Many of the stewards were in favour of disqualifying Robertson, but upon being again brought before them, he admitted that be had no grounds for his assertion, stated that be regretted having made the remark, and expressed his willingness to give the stewards a written apology to that effect. The offer was accepted. *** There was some good racing at Hororata on the 9!;b inst., when Messrs Hobbs and Goodwin passed £1622 through the totalizator. Romulus gave Ivanhoe 41b and a beating in the Hurdle Race ; the Farmers' Plate and the Welter were taken by St. George's son King of Ulster, who is having a good run of luck ; the Oup and the New Year's Gift were annexed by Mr Russell's Breadalbane, who paid £4 153 and £4 23; and Catamount (7 6) beat Inez (8.7) and two others in the Consolation. The I starters for the Oup, one mile and a-half, were Rosebud 313, Ixion 87, Harkaway 7.10, Breadalbane 7.9, Silver Pine 6 12, Catamount 6.7, and Liquidation 67. Ixion was rather a better favourite than Liquidation. There was a good raoe to the home turn, where they were apparently all in it, but at the finish Breadalbane drew away and won easily by a length from Rosebud, with Ixion third. Time 2 43, rather good for a country course. *„* By the brief report of the Lake County raoes tbat is to hand we learn that Waitangi ran off in the Hurdle Race, and thus suffered defeat by Butoherboy. This is about the only time that Waitangi has worked off that dodge, so far as I remember, Poole was also unlucky in the Cup, his Milord baing beaten by Plunger, but Milord managed to oaplure first prize in the Grand Stand Handicap, which should go a long way towards paying the expenses of the trip. Loo also woa a race and was in turn beaten by one of the local lightweights ; and Avis did not get his spoke in until the Consolation came up for decision, *** That "disappointing horse Wakatipu, who while in the South was for ever misleading everybody, bis own party included, by gallops in public and in private which somehow never enabled him to quito win one of the big races, seems more at home among the emall9r fry of the district which he now finds a horns, and we learn that ho has jußt captured the Turanga Stakes (not Tauracga, if you please, Mr Printer) at the Poverty Bay meeting, paying the decent dividend of £8 10s. I may perhaps be pardoned 1 for remarking that I seleoted this horse as

soon as I saw the weights. It will be seen that Waterfall fell in the Hurdle Race. The amount passed through the totalisator was £3074, the largest reoord in Gisborne for one day. *■#* There was magnificent weather for the V,R O. meeting? on New Year's Day, and the racing was capital. The Normanby Stakes, of 400aovs, five furlongs, produced a field of seven, Hartington being the only one penalised, The race was really a struggle between Swordbearer (a son of Grandmaster and Oerito) and Carbine's half sister Lady Carbine, the firstnamed, who Btarted at 6 to 1, getting home by a neck, owing ohiefly to Maybin's resolute riding. Lottie won the Hurdle Race, and then came the Standish Handicap, whiob, as reported elsewhere, fell to a rank outsider. The Steeplechase narrowed iteelf down to a field of five. The New .Zealand-bred Orangeman (12.1) who ran in Mr S. Miller's colours for the first time, left the post a firm favourite at the short odds of 7 to 4 against him, and won easily by a length and a- quarter from Sir Joshua (9.7), Oivis just beating Saxon for third place. Liwler, the seoond favourite, came down at the logs leading out of the straight, but his rider, Batty, fortunately escaped unhurt. The raoe for the Bagot Handicap is described by " Aamodeus " as a very one-sided exhibition, the issue being never in doubt once Greygown assumed the lead shortly after passing the[fiyefurlong post. It was a wild goose chase with the rest of the field from this point to the finish, and a relative estimate of the merit of the performance may be made from the faot that the time was 2|seo faster than when Chintz won last year, on which day some idea of the going may be formed when it is mentioned that the Standish Handicap was run in 2seo quicker time than this year. The Criterion Stakes, a handicap for two-year-oldß, six furlongs, was supposed to be a good thing for La Tosoa (7.3), but she was never dangerous, and the flag went up for Sadim, the son of Oudeis and Countess, who had the minimum of 6,12.

irder :— Juke of Portland £25.203 Mr D Balrd ...£4.651 Xt Houldsworth 14,719 Mr B Maple ... 4.580 IrHMilnor ...14.123 Sir H Jardino ... 4,546 Jen Bvrne ... 13.089 Mr N Feawick ... 4.493 idr AW Merry ...13,922 Mr OJ Merry ... 4 301 flr Ablngton „. 11,882 Mr R 0 Vyner ... 4 025 M North ... 10,654 Mr J Oharlton ... 3,853 L-ord Oalthorpe ... 10.&02 Mr B Lasoelles ... 3.618 Hr Rothschild ... 9.398 MrWKedfern ... 3,5ia 'rinceSoltykoff... 8,593 Sir J Mackenzie ... 3,320 Sir J Miller ... 8.531 MrWlAnson ... 2,969 Lord Hartington 7,901 Lord Hastings ... 2,954 3aron Bothßohild 7.377 Mr T Cannon ... 2.947 a B Blanc ... 6,960 Mr T O'Neill ... 2,942 3of Beaufort ... 6.566 Lord Penryhn ... 2.892 Hr J Lowther ... 6.030 Mr Q- Olaveland ... 2,699 3of Westminster 5.352 Mr D Cooper ... 2.413 Lord R Churchill 5,238 MrJTWhipp ... 2.381 ffir A Taylor ... 5,203 Sir J Duke ... 2,355 Lord Durham ... 4 776 Mr J Hammond... 2,234

Loates ... - Barrett Watts ... Loates .,. Bickaby Fagan ,t., t . J Oalder Oaanoa Woodburn Weldoa . White ... Barrett ... 659 ... 655 ... 335 ... 383 ... 387 ... 255 ... 851 ... 253 ... 365 ... 229 ... 273 ... 222 512 419 250 800 309 187 290 190 315 186 230 181 147 106 85 ■ 83 78 68 64 63 50 43 43 41