IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1981, 11 February 1892, Page 28

IN A NUTSHELL.

— Dunville is turned out at the Taieri. — Poole went up to Mandeville to ride Justice. — A horse called Just as Ilobbs was entered at Mandeville.

— Lumsden races to be held to-day. The club pay the State tax.

— Good news is to hand from Melbourne as to Tirailleur's condition. — Morpheus was scratched for the Dunedin Cup at 3.15 a.m. on Tuesday. — Capital entries for the Dunedin Amateur Trotting Club's meeting. — In .England they are betting even on Porter's lot capturing the next Derby. — Palmerston is to have its stand finished for the St. Patrick's Day meeting. — MrM'Donald with LBS 10s was the biggest winner at the Naseby meeting. — Koorali is to be put to Ormonde if that stallion arrives safely in England. — There is some talk of Alf. Drake returning from Australia to settle in Auckland.

— Robert Sherwood, the English trainer, had 44 yearlings sent to him last December ! — Dispute ran very badly at Tapanui. What seemed to keep him back was that he was short of work.

— "Phaeton" will, I know, excuse me for pointing out that he is in error in stating that the D.J.C. charge investors the 11}. — Jockey Henderson has been disqualified for 12 mouths for his suspicious riding of Tyrant in the Westport District Handicap. — Mount Ida Chronicle says that the trotting horses Joe Barnett and Governor have been purchased by Mr E. Lefevre for L4O each. — Garryowen, winner of the District Hack Race at 'Tapanui, is the horse that used to be owned by Mr M'Clure, of Christchurch. — Cruchneld has been scratched for all engagements at Wanganui ; Palliser Thame, and Lebel for the Cup, and Kavenswood for the Derby. — The New Zealand-bred Too Soon, by Anteros —Steppe, has been sold iv Sydney for 750gs to Mr Long, and will be sent to the stud at Hobartville — The Advocate tells us that Mr J. Melrose, well-known in trotting circles, left for Sydney this week. He took his trotting horse Phantom with — The Yankee cr^ck Longstreet had to be fired for a bowed tendon after his match with Tenny, and it is thought he will not stand training ' °'-r Theyearling brother to Gipsy King now at the Taieri is well spoken of by those who have seen him. He is, I hear, to be offered at auction shortly.

— "'Buff and Black" goes for Occident, Galtee, and Prime Warden for the Dunedin Cup. He is of opinion that Occident should have had B.U nstead of 7.10. ~— John Porter says that no foals born after May are ever roarers, and that if the Jockey Club would alter the dates for horses' ages accordingly all would be well.

— Old Penguin (by Mangle) won the chief event at the Ormondville meeting on the 2'ith ult. Only hacks competed. The hum of L9(57 went through the machine.

— Central Taieri Club did not decide r on hold ing a meeting on St. Patrick's Day until it was ascertained that the Toko, folk did not intend to claim their old date.

— There is plenty of money to be won on the French turf, the total value of the races run for last season being L 225.135, of which L 174.700 was hona fide added money. — An American driver named Turner has been fined 230d0l for refusing to drive when ordered by the judges to get up in place of another man whose integrity was suspected.

— It is said that the jockeys riding at West Side Park (U.S.) are allowed to ride in overcoats and heavy wraps of various descriptions, these not being considered as over weight.

— I don't know how I came to make the mistake of saying that Derrett had not ridden a Wellington pup winner until this year. It was his fourth winning mount in the race.

— From "Zunko" I learn that Kauvoo broke down at Naseby, and that Warlock died there of inflammation. Mr Robertson, his owner, purchased Bracelet before leaving the district.

— Mr W. J. Taggart has sold the stallion Black Hawk to Messrs 1). and J. Bacon. I hear that the price was 120gs. I should not be surprised to hear of the horse being shipped for Melbourne. — Tw o of those remaining in the C.J.C. Champagne may be strangers to some ; wherefore I mention that Reynard is by Le Loup out of Miss Kate, and The Winchman by Cadogan out of Miss Russley.

— A writer in the Mail, speaking of the D.J.C. startership, says :— " Unless Mr Powell will adapt the prefix of Mac to his name I fear his chances of election will be smaller than his deserts."

— A crack two-year-old from the United States will run in England next year. This is MiGideon's His Highncbs, who won the rich Futurity Stakes at Sheepshead Bay, New York, last August. — A tumour 401b in weight was taken from the abdomen of the American hor.se Kurus, winner of the Suburban, who died last December. This, it is thought, accounts for his erratic behaviour on the track.

— Sir Modred's sensational son Tournament has most likely reached the end of his erratic racing career. He is suffering from a peculiar form of hip trouble, which makes it doubtful if ever he can be trained again. — "Spectator" has it that Flinders, Launceston, and Captive will be kept in regular work till after the Easter meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club by Harry Piper, but they are not likely to run at Dunedin.

— The owner of Eros and Paramo, a well-known sportsman, has leased a property at Taita, Lower Hutt, comprising about 25 acres of land, which will probably be converted into a private training establishment and racing stud. — Breeding from animals affected with roaring is prohibited by law in France, where no animal can be used for breeding without a certificate to the effect that he is free from roaring. Such certificates are available for a year only.

— At Turakina on the 28th ult. the sum of L 1905 was passed through the totalisator, the best dividend being LSS on Strike in the Flying. The Jockey Club Handicap was taken by Swindler, a son of Don Pedro's sire Vas>co di Gama.

— During an interview with a reporter Charles Marvin is reported to have said : " I give you my word that Sunol went as easy when she trotted in 2.8} as though she were trotting a mile in 2.15 or so. It was no exertion for her at all."

— In ISBS the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons instituted an inquiry amongst its members', with the result that of 349 correspondents 347 replied that they had by experience been convinced that roaring in horses is hereditary.

— The death of Air Hume YVebster, by suicide, is reported from England. Mr Webster was a great authority on the breedingof the thoroughbred horse, and he was the chief mover in the attempt to recover Ormonde from the South Americans.

— They say that an Auckland trainer, who ventured to abuse the handicapp-jr (Mr Evett) on tho appearance of the weights for the Farewell meeting, received a severe lecture in the room from the gentleman whose work was so severely criticised. — Mr J. S. Reid has unavailingly applied to the Taieri Club for a remission or modification of his 12 months' sentence of disqualification over the Milford affair. They say that they cannot yet awhile see their way to comply with the request. — It is said that shortly after the announcement was made that subscriptions at 300gs each would be received for Ormonde's service, requests were sent from the United States to Mr Webster for the entire series of services. All, however, but one were refused.

— The Wellington correspondent of the Referee says that on the last race of the day at Kumeroa the " walking machine ' charged cent, percent., and got away with the whole pool, for we are told that "the totalisator could not be found after the last race."

— North Otago races are fixed for April 7 and 8. The following officers are appointed : — Judge, Mr E. P. Burbury ; starter, Mr Henderson ; clerk of the course, Mr Orr ; clerk of the scales, Mr Bee ; timekeeper, Mr J. Nicholls ; totalisator steward, MrProbert; secretary, Mr G. Hislop. — Oamaru Times says it lias been suggested that a track should be formed on the North road Recreation Ground, just outside the cycling track. Were this done, pony and other trotting races could be established, and amusement provided for the public, who evince a good deal of interest in trotting races, — There was a dividend of L37 19s on Hurricane in the Maiden Hurdle Race at the Danevirke meeting on the 28th ult. Rough won the Hurdle Race with 11.5 up, and the Danevirke Handicap fell to Maid of Lome 8.12, beating four others, among whom was Mr Stead's cast-off, Liquidation, 8.5. — Arthur Smith still has Wild rake in his stable — or he had when I asked about the horse on Saturday— but it is doubtful whether the son of Argus Scandal will do much good at the forthcoming meeting. He is not so likely a one as Mr Coombcs had when he sent Right Bower to the same quarters 15 years ago. — I wonder (says an English writer) why we are never told that broken knees are inherited, as they undoubtedly are, just in the same sense that roaring is inhcritcd,*that is indirectly. The bad shoulders that lead to broken knees are inherited just as the great size aud bad constitution that lead to roaring are inherited. — At the December sales in England a three-year-old sister to Semolina, named Koorali, realised 3100gs. For Lonely, the Oaks winner) : ISBS, Mr D. Cooper gave 200gs, and for Simon's Bay, a filly foal by St. Simon out of Mazurka, Mr B. Maple paid the .same amount. A number of purchases were made for America. — A jockey club has been recently formed in the Wairio district, and it intends holding its first annual meeting on March 2, when over LIOO will be given away in stakes. The club has, I hear, been formed on a sound basis, and Mr James Gardiner, of Birchwood, who may Inappropriately termed "the father of racing in Southland," acts as judge. —On board the Tallin e, expected to reach the wharf this morning, are the horses o Waterfnll, Waterbury, and Rosefeldt, in charge of J. Hickey, and the Hon. J. D. Ormond's Freelance and his two-year-old Lustre. R. Raj', jun , comes with the horses to ride for Mr Ormond. It i» expected that Thame will put in an appe.iranre. — Mr Gordon P. Wood sends me the draft programme of the South Canterbury meeting on the 28th and 29th April, and asks me to notify that the club intends making its principal meeting the spring fixture instead of the autumn as hitherto. The Timaru Cup will in consequence be run at the Spring meeting. The club has resolved to deduct only 10 per cent, from investments. — A new room for the reporters is being erected at the Forbury, at the side of the jockeys' room and opening into the carriage paddock. It is to be furnished with a special tower stand for the pressmen's exclusive use. The old pressroom was too handy for men who came in to yarn. It will henceforth be used as tho telegraph office. The club deserve the thanks of the reporters for starting this work without delay. — What "Phaeton" thinks of the Dunedin Cup "Some of the Southern writers are inclined to think that Occident has been rather too favourably treated with 7.10, but the son of Lapidisthas not been responsible for good form for some time past. With only 7.4 to carry, Rosefeldt, the three-year-old daughter of Nordenfeldt and Rose d' Amour, seems to me to stand out as one likely to have a good deal to &ay in the settlement of the question." — The English list of foals of 1891 shows a total of 2433—1192 colts and 1241 fillies. Among the prominent stallions Barcaldine is credited with the largest number, 39; and next to him are Esterling and Galliard with 34 each. Isonomy comes next with 31, and then follow Melton 30. Minting and Hampden 29 each, St. Simon and Timothy 27 each, Merry Hampton and Royal Hampton 25 each, while those with 25 each are Charibeit, Highland Chief, Kendal, and Paradox. — I learn from the Sydney Field that Mrs White has had certain of Chester's remains preserved

and converted into ornamental mementoes of the famous lacehorse and sir*. The ears, with the tuft of hair over the forehead, have been mounted on a gilt shield, bound round about in blue and white ; and the fine bushy tail has been mounted on blue and white satin. The shoes have been mounted in silver, and the hoofs, which have been polished, are to be sent to London to be made into inkstands of a unique pattern. —An English exchange says: — 'A stallion should be so trained that he ran be taken out in any company or driven on the road without squealing and prancing to show that he is a stallion. Stable manners and road manners can be taught to a horse as well as to a child. What he needs to be taught is that he is a horse, and should act like a sensible, tractable one. This can be done by his keeper having constantly before his mind this idea, that he needs to use all his faculties or the horse will beat him thinking." — Mr C. J. Hamlin's opinion on the two-minute trotter business is thus quiintly expressed : " Yes ; when the time comes when a man will be able to hold himself in space by talcing hold of his boot straps, then a horse will be able to trot a mile in two minutes, and not until then. Thegreat thing to overcome is the weight, and no horse will lie able to draw 1501b 320 rods, finishing where lie began, and make a mile in two minutes. It may be accomplished some day if an electric motor is attached to a sulky, so the horse will draw no weight, much the same way as fast time ■ is made with a running mate." — Messrs Weathorby's annual volume of " Races Past" gives the following table showing the number of races of different distances in Great Britain in the undermentioned years, including the races in Ireland :—: — Distance. 1SS!) ISM ISiH Five furlongs and under six... 793 7J>7 733 Six furlongs and under 1 mile 2o(i 238 205 One mile ... .. 345 35!) 44'J Over 1 mile and under 2 ... 17<i 183 1!I2 Two miles and under 'i ... 42 38 40 Three miles and under 4 ... 8 7 7 Four miles ... . . 3 2 3 Total ... ... 1(>23 1594 1(52(5