IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2009, 25 August 1892, Page 28

IN A NUTSHELL.

— Don Pedro is just commencing fast work. — Occident is still restricted to slow exercise,

— Dilemma and Conjurer are coming on nicely. — Scot Free is scratched -for the Melbourne Cup.q -i

— I saw the trotting mare Stella in harness the other day.

— The Southland Club is instituting an open Guineas Stake.

— The Town and Suburban Club (Hawke's Bay) has a credit of L 146.

— Tirailleur has been backed in Melbourne at 2000 to 60 for the Cup. —Mr Mortimer, of Gore, has purchased the coaching stallion Gratis. .

— Black Hawk was recently priced by a Dunedin man but no deal resulted.

—Mr A. G. Cox was stunned by his fall with Stella in the Maiden at Ashburton. — Fair Nell has given 1 birth to a -filly by Maxim. That should be a good one. — Mr R. Dewar advises me that Gore summer meeting is fixed for January IS and 19. — A two-year-old colt by Le Loup from Gipsy Queen has been added to Hankins' string. — • Mr Gollan's Commotion, Marangai, Qui Vive, and Dhudheen have gone home to Napier. Mr W. W. Finlinson, while in Melbourne had a look atMalvolio and was quite taken with him. — A jockey named Thomas Joyce, aged 20, died very suddenly at Waimate from congestion of the brain.

— The New Zealand mare Lady Zetland ran third to Graduate in the V.A.I.C. Balaclava Stakes.

— It is considered probable that the Totalisator Bill will be blocked in the Upper House of Victoria.

— Blackwood won the Ashburton Point-to-point Steeplechase, with Gamester second and Jess third.

— Plumpton Park Club allowed bookmakers to bet at its Steeplechase meeting on payment of a fee of L 3 3s each.

— Viscount is the name that Messrs Stephenson and Hazlett talk of bestowing on the colt by Sir Gamet — lona.

— The Napier Park Club prides itself on being the only club in the colony that has no stake in its programme under LSO. — Mr C. Potts, of Mandeville, has purchased from Mr Rhodes, of South Canterbury, the horse Kimberley, by Apremont — Martyr. — Florrie 8.7 and Cannon 6.11 are among the acceptors for the Hawkesbury Grand Handicap, 11 furlongs, to be run on September 3. — Complaint is made through the newspapers that the winner of the Bracelet at Ashburton Hunt meeting was unnecessarily spurred. — A letter received by Mr Goodman says that Daydream is being trained for the Doncaster meeting. Leader, her trainer, has 40 horses in his stable.

— This week's boat from Melbourne brought a filly by Boolka and a brood mare which, i understand, were consigned to Mr Robertson, of Lawrence.

— No fewer than nine of the candidates for the A. J.C. Derby (run on September 10) were bred in New Zealand. But Autonomy is also engaged. Good evening. — Newman has been struck out ot the Caulfield Cup, but the stable is said to have a better horse at the weights in Linburn, who is being nibbled at by backers.

— Cock o' the Walk, by Assyrian out of Adventure's dam, has been sold to Mr J. G. Killoh, of Otaria. This stallion will travel the districts surrounding Gore.

— It is now 18 years ago since Custance won the Derby on George Frederick. He is even now the only living jockey who has ridden three winners of the Blue Riband.

— The friends of Mr N. R. D. Bond, late secretary of the Victorian Amateur Turf Club, will regret to learn that when the last mail left he was rapidly sinking.

— In the course of the debate on the Totalisator Bill in Victoria it was asserted that LIOO.OOO per annum was pocketed by the Ring. A very rough estimate, I should say. — At the Forbury on Tuesday Cactus beat Dunville. Tempest apparently had the best of Mariner, and Derby went away from Huguenot at the end of a mile and a-quarter. — Mr J. Silberberg, of N.S.W., whose death is just announced, was owner of Woodlands when that horse was disqualified for short weight after winning the Hawkesbury Handicap. — The Wanganui Metropolitan has passed the programmes for the Rangitikei and Feilding Hunt Clubs, and the Manawatu Racing Club, but has refused the Momohaki Club.

— The winners of the Ashburton Hunt Club Cup sinco its inauguration in 1882 have been Captain, Tommy, Pirate, Victor, Ben H, Ravenswood, Nero, Lewis, Morok, Postboy, and Glen. — The Victorian 'chaser Fatback ran his last race at Wyndham on the 11th. He fell and was hurt badly, and was shot. The race was won by the Maoriland horse Waiter, and Recruit was third.

— The Mentone (Vie.) trotting stewards, at their last meeting, refused to allow the mare Semolina to start in the Time Handicap Trot, as her complete performances were not sent in to the handicapper. — In the North Canterbury Steeplechase, three miles, to be run to-day, Ahua, Whalebone, and Norton were each handicapped at 12.12, and in the Farmers' Steeplechase Ahua and Norton each have 13.0.

— Sporting Standard says that a canvass of members of the Victorian Upper House has been made in regard to the prospects of the totalisator, with the result that there is an absolute majority against the bill. —Mr P. Selig, of the Weekly Press, was married in Dunedin yesterday to Miss Mendelsohn. Mr Selig's many friends in the sporting world will join with me in wishing him and his bride a happy life.

— "Pegasus" hears that the Southland Club is negotiating for and likely to succeed in securing a property on the East road, about two miles from Invercargill, for a, racecourse, training track, and steeplechase course. — A good many people thought at first that Mr Abington had given his best two-year-old in Milford, away to Mrs Langtry. Now that " The Squire" has shown us Meddler, it is by no means certain that he has done so.

— The president of the Woodville Club recently stated that he had ridden four New Zealand grass-fed horses 200 miles in 24 hours. He did not believe that any other four New Zealand grass-fed horses could beat that record.

— Messrs Yuille and Co. have sold in Melbourne the following horses :— Jack's the Lad, by Natator — Kneecap's dam, MrN. Nathan, Bogs ; Whiteman, by Natator, Mr 11. Connolly, 45gs ; Tayforth, by Natator— Pastille, Mr J. Adams, 70gs. II — From " Sir Modred's" notes I learn that the late purchaser of the disqualified Brandy — Rufus horse has asked the Southland Club to use its influence with a view of getting the horse reinstated. The writer was referred to the disqualifying club. — A racing club has been formed at Ida Valley, and its first meeting will take place on St Patrick's Day. Mr R. Love was elected secretary, and the following were chosen as a committee : Messrs P. M'Atamuey, T. M'Atanmey, W. Dundass, W. Brady, and M. Sheehan.

— The Point-to-point Steeplechase held on Saturday under the auspices of the Christchurch Hunt Club was won by Morok 11.7, with Industry 13.7 second and Encore 11 7 third. The other starters were Dutchman, Sarah, and Treason. Morok won by five lengths. — During the settling over the Caulfield Grand National meeting, Titan was introduced into the market for the Caulfield Cup and backed for L2OOO or L3OOO at 100 to 5. Mr Wallace's gelding is now first favourite for the event named, 100 to b" being the price offered on the field.

— Two New Zealanders won at the Epsom (Vie.) meeting on the 9th. Mikado II beat a large lield in the Hurdle Race and Charlie Stratford's Ilium, who was not backed for a shilling, "got home in the Epsom Handicap with 7.4, doing the live and a-half furlongs in lmin 15£.sec. — Spondulix, the champion Victorian highjumper, won the Huntei-o" Plate at the Brisbane Hunt Club sports. Some time a;;o, before the horse was clipped, Mr Fenwickputhimupforsale at well-known auction yards in the city. A good iudge of horseflesh offered 30s for the famous hunter. — It is stated that the largest sum ever lost on .1 race by a backer of horses was lost by Mr Tom Wilson on thio year's Derby. Larger &unis have

been lost on a race, as, for instance, by Lord Hastings in 1865, but he betted against the Derby winner. Mr Wilson met all his engagements promptly on settling day. — The followinghave dropped out of the Caulfield Cup, the remaining horses constituting theacceptances :— Polly Mohr, Seine, Candour, Alphington, Propounder, Tiraillerie, Culloden, Sheen, Medjidie. Wild Rose, Machinist, Lord Hopetoun, Star of Erin, Freedom, Florrie, Villiers, Opera, Briton, Deerswood, Sainfoin, Rebel, Palo Alto. — One of the latest items from America is that there is a man living at Abilene, Kansas, who owns a mare which recently gave birth to a foal with the whole four fact already shod. This (observes a New York exchange) is pretty tall, and the next best thing for the Kansas man to do is to breed again and secure a foal harnessed to a buggy. —An Auckland telegram states that at the annual meeting of the Onslow Trotting Club the report showed a credit balance of L 23. During the season L 482 were paid in stakes, and L 398 went through the totalisator. Having introduced wheel racing they intend to make it popular, and hope to improve the track before next season commences.

— First it is and then it isn't settled. Canterbury Times says : The C.J.C. has not yet, we understand, made a definite arrangement with Mr S Powell, and it is by no means certain that the North Island starter will wield the flag at the Metropolitan meeting. The parties are agreed as to the rate of remuneration, but there is some difference about the method of payment.

— At Newmarket (England) sales recently Mr W. R. Wilson, of St. Albans, Melbourne, purchased the following mares: — Bonnie Rosette (1887) (sister to Grace Emily), by the unbeaten Barcaldine from Bonnie Rose, by Rosicrucian, for 400gs : and the two-year-old filly Silvery, by Sterling from Silnria (sister to Wenlock, ■winner of the St Leger), by Lord Clifden from Kisber's dam.

— Prices all round were not high at the Bundoora sale on the 10th, and some of the lots went literally for next to nothing, more than one mare— and served by a well-bred stallion, too — being sold as low as a guinea. The top price was realised for the stallion Lord Bundoora, who is by The Marquis from Darebin's dam, Mr H. Chisholm becoming his owner #at 260gs. The bulk of the horses went to Victorians.

— Mrs Langtry, who owns the unbeaten two-year-old Milford, bets pretty heavily. She took L 15.000 to LSOOO about the colt the first time he won, laid L6OOO to L4OOO on the second time, andL3sooto L2OOO the day he beat Bill of Portland for the July Stakes. Twenty-one thousand pounds is a nice sum to win about a two-year-old in three races, and to this amount must be added the value of the stakes Milford won.

— The Glasgow Police Bill contains a clause prohibiting bookmakers from making or accepting bets in the streets. The clause, however, has reference to pedestrians only, and the bookmakers have adopted an ingenious method of defeating it. They have been driving about the streets of the city in waggonettes, picking up persons desirous to make bets, and setting them down again on completion of the transactions. — A Sydney writer says that the pick of this year's Morphettville yearlings is a beautifully shaped brown with a streak down the face and four white feet. By Gang Forward out of that slashing mare Josephine, this covey is as level as can be with beautifully sprung ribs and perfect quality, certainly the only foal the mare has thrown who is better looking than the handsome but ill-fated chestnut St. Dennis, who cost 800gs. — Sporting Review says that the old racer Maori Weed is at present located at Jull's stables, Hastings, and looks well on it. The horse will be remembered as having won the Hawke's Bay Cup Handicap, 1$ miles, as far back as 1876, when he was nominated by a Maori named Tangatake. He then won with 9.10 up, and was ridden by W. Edwards, who has trained for Captain Russell. The following year, 1877, he again won the same race for Mr Waters, having an impost of 9.0, R. Gooseman piloting him to victory. — A new firm of punters have lately joined the noble army— Chinese speculators, who stake their L2O orL3oon a race in quite business-like fashion. They are tolerably keen, and prefer long price chances, such as 7, S or 10 to 1, to backing a favourite at short odds. No doubt they purchase tipsterial advice to guide them on their risky way, but_ the incident shows that the gambling opportunities of the turf attract all sorts in these days, many of whom are little concerned with the true sporting instinct. — Sydney Referee. — The backing of Redleap was very artistically done, says a Victorian writer. So well did the stable commissioner perform his task that the bookmakers were fairly had over the Grand National Hurdle Race. That astute individual began on the Friday evening before the hurde race was run to back Redleap for the Steeplechase, and 10 to 1 was freely offered about tnat horse for the Hurdles, and it was not until about LSOOO or L6OOO had been got about that horse for both races that the metallicians " smelt a rat." When they did, 4to 1 was the best price on offer for the little stick event.

— London Truth says:— "The failure of the Ascot Cup this year has produced a deal of wailing. It nas been over-looked by the wiseacres that the result would have been the same if the value of the race had been LIO.OOO One horse was withdrawn on account of a death in the family of his owner, two either fell lame or went amiss at the last moment, two others did not run because their respective owners were afraid to risk their animals on the hard ground, and one did not start for the huckstering reason that its value as a sire would be diminished if it happened to be beaten. The Duke of Westminster's grandfather, who was the owner of Touchstone, must long to arise from ihe family vault and smite his degenerate descendant."

— The Australasian's opinion of the totalisator :—": — " The leading bookmakers, we are convinced, will not be seriously affected by the totalisator, while with the destruction of the minor ones will be abolished also the score of rascally devices which are the accompaniment of a kind of 'cut-throat' competition between backers and layers of a particular class. We are not concerned for the interests of sharpers in whatever line of the betting business they may elect to exercise their ingenuity, and in the case of the reputable layers it seems to us that with the totalisator in existence they will make a greater number of small and moderate wagers than at present, taking some of the small business of the small men and losing little or nothing that they now enjoy."