TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2171, 3 October 1895, Page 29

TALK OF THE DAY.

BY MAZBPPA. * # * The conference that sat at Chri*lcb.urch last November coneidered the report of a sekefc committee on a scheme proposed by tho Hon. J. D. Ortnond for the management and control of raciog. This report, which wai adopted oa a division by 21 to 8, provides that tbe system of racing conferences be cou'hiiied ; th&t tbe conference annually appoint a committee of seven to act during the nceie, its duties being to act as a court of appeal in cases decided by or referred to it by the district committees ; that the committee shall either itself determine any ewes brought before it or appoint a sub committee of throe membera (including one member of the conference committee) to hear such cases, and if necessary or desirable this sub-committee may hear any case iv the district in which it has arisen ; that in eaoh metropolitan district there shall be a district racing committee composed of four representatives from the metropolitan club and three elected by tbe country clnbß ; that such com-mitU-es Bball annually mako recommendations to the confeteoco as to the appointnaoufc of totalisator licenses and exerci3e all the functions at present devolving upon metropolitan clubs, tho latter, howover, to rotain full power to manage their own affnirc ; and that an appeal shall lie from the decision of any Buch committees to tbe court of appeil. These are the leading provisions of the scheme as adopted ; but there is a saving clauee at the end which Bays that while tho resolulionn come into force on Angutt 1 (vow past) the-y shall not be binding on auy club which may give notice before tbe meeting of next confereuce th»C they do not wieh to come undtr the resolutions. Tb)B notice has now been given by the D J.C, a motou to that effect having beeu pas Fed at last week'u meeting of committee. Tho rehson for this decision, though not stated, may be gutssed twice out of ouce : thoD.J O.tbinkfcbat tho Bcheme is simply the Now Zealand Jcckoy Club in disguise. To that proposal the D.J.C. has ever been hoitile, believing that it would not be for the gcod of racing in Otago that it should be controlled from Wellington oc somcj other central place where the executive would necessarily have its hea<?qu Tiers. Thst objection seems to me a sound one.

* # * Whether it is justifiable to assume that the Hon. MrOrmond'a scheme is practically the N.Z. Jockey Club is auofcher question. For lack of evidence I am not satisfied on that point, one way or the other. It seems to me, as I stated when the scheme first saw the light, that tbe higher court is not desirable, mainly for the reason that in practice it would of necessity lead to racing appeals being decided by a central body. No assurance can be given that competent men could be found to spare the time and the money to travel, say, from Auckland or Otago to sit on such a body every time an appeal was raised, and if the headquarters of the committee were fixed at Wellington, fche geographical centre, wo should have theae matters decided in most case* by Wellington men. Surely this would not be satisfactory. Be it noted, also, that appeals would multiply _s soon af. ifc was known that the question w«b to be taken away from (he orlprinal plaoe of disqualification and settled by » Dodv of men who knew nothing personally of the wnole surroundings. Disqualified men would natur&Uy mako euch a reference on the off chance, whenever they could afford to. A farther objection is that the Boheme contains no provision U to ways and means. Tkis is very important;, and eboald be understood before one can come to ft final opinion about \b. For Instance, who is to bear the expiuiße of transporting witess£e3 to the Appeal Court ? No fund « provided for that purpose ; and presumably each appe&l&nt mast

look after that for himself. If so, it we uld ooma to this : that ft poor man could _ot appeal at all, while oeo who had money or influential basking could go up with a wholo enny lo tmp« pott his owe. Even if t'-ero are to be no witnesses th«ro must still bo oomo expt-me in preparing a o*bo for appeal acd placiog ifc i>roiJ«rly befora tho court). I thould certainly liko to know tbe details of this branch of tho schemo before commending it. At the same time th» o'.lu v half of the proposal— that which refers (o the appointment of disricb commhtcea — blmu* to me one which with proper detail might te mtdo very serviceable. It is not vary cls»il> tt^tod in th« schomo, but I gathtr that) theso oi»mUfei6fl ■would Uwothepowc-r of taking appeals from fcb.6 clubs. If bo, tho provision might be a y-.ry good one to adopt. I am rapidly cowing to the opinion th*b so ma method of upi;o.\l by which a purson aggticited oould t/b'aiu ft*be*ru»g praotioally on the spot, a_d without much cost, would be a very good piiaoipLo to engraft ou to our system, 'fake Browu'n c»*s law May. It was deoidedly a wrong thing to condemn him unh.Oß.rd ; no good excuse can bo ttftdo by the D J.C. for so ddog ; mhJ such » ciiM «a» prop'-rVy o> c ioc nppotl, i«o* lo a ci»tant tribunal which might or might not b» fully apprised of the ioa and oute of the iiffaii', bat to a bidy such as ooiJd l>e mads, uj>, say, of mert like Mvßsta G. _I Bill, 11. Oraig, "^V Ctmoroßß, and W. L. PhUp, who, while e:.aly called togetker, could f«iily bvi Bt>id to ba hutepoudenfc. H»loi«>g th'sw opinions, I am rather »orry that tho D.J.O. han found it ncr.cs »ry to veto ag-i-sfc tho sckooio as a whole. T> c diatriot commivtees miy.ht b« of sfrvic^ iv mmy w*ya, and ib is a pity that Iho propoa^la for rs^-hli-h* Jugtiuisa bodits were wmid&l to the othirprot po-iliou, which hits always b>;eu opposed in, OUgo.

*«* The announcemeoti that !Hnrab,m In fee rot 1896 will bfl lOO^k inst'ftd of 250&5, a_d bh»4 Xi ndal will s^»nd at tsojs, obouid opar&tw at a oxamplc to otb^r owners of 3<alh'on9, says a .London writer, for it is smu 5 [y Hlg to koop up t_o f«ro<a of n>:.Mug believo that br»edvi'» uow&d-»yn cau p^y the higi? fet 1 * which hi.vo b>»en in voguo ttr the last 10 ye ftra. It c<i-n»>ot be vaid chat; fchn rt-duciion of S«.mbai>d'B or Kt.nc'at's fee h btoug.b about by any failure on tho part cf eithev bcrse to Dad public favour. iDtieed, an to Uarr.baiul, iti is okly the other day that Sir Blunr'eU Maple gave 5000g« for half of him, and thin is a big priest cousidefing that tho her. 9 it 12 ye*r> old. M fee of lOOjtfi, however, will am^ly >-uui<^ to rev coup it iv a tew Kcasons. during v>hich '-fceborse will, of course, be insured, no bhs,K tbtre is not-hiog really ii*l*y about' th« outUy. Wheft 12,50008 waa givw> foe BJair AtKo', no or«.o even drtamrd of higher feiß than ICOgc, and tho gre-i hor^e xn%% luil at that Hguit> for seroral geaauns, dnrinj wln'ciihc als> htaded ttxj lietof winning stalltonu. TI« soe*n got bkek all hit purehj'Fc moi.ey, and would have beeu suoocasful to thu end of his tarter ht*d not the fooliih policy of rwsir.g his feo to 200g» ln-eu adopted. Bretd«a of thbt period bad mure oense thwito p»y euoh a fte, even for Blair Athol'a ser>io«s, and the cous 'quence wab th»t ho drifted out of fashion. Ido not contend that euc'i a phenomenal siro as Kt. Simon is not wotth his fee, though it be 300gi<, but with sit the riolu Involved it would bo nnwisa for auy but a rich breeder to pay it. Taking St Simon out of account, hov>t>vtv, I ca-nuot but think thmb almost ull the high-p<ic«d fttson will hwo to come d«wu. Tho whole tc_lo of fi.e% is an exaggerated one. I wish to make m>self perfectly clear, however, that iv advc-eaUng re^'ucVion of fees I by no meam wish to dopcecinte lUe value oi stud hordes, b*>k to being them withia the margin of commorial poß»vbiHty.

*** Noblera*o, wiuner of tho Metropolitan, was bred by the late Hon. John Hairs at Dackenfletd Pj»rk, and ia by The Amtralian Pear from Paradox, by Henchman from Ophdta, by Hamlet frvm Typhoon (imp.), by Wild D^yiell, &?. He was trained afc R_ndwick by H. Raynor, and pifoted by his oH rider, J. GatnsEord. Nobleman made bin debut ontbetuif at the Roativill SyrJDg meeting in the Sapling Skak«s, won by BirondeHe, but did nob get a situation. His _ext essay tvaa in the Trial Stakes at the A J C. Suurnwr mooting, won by Button; a»d ho opened hw monwg career at Tafctefsall's Club's annu <I raieoWpg by annexing tbe Juveuillo Stakes, fivo furloagj, with 7 1 up, from Enid 7.7, Mooroi-gio 7.11, and a dizeu oth*ra, in l»>in 2sec A% tho H»wk*sbury Autumn m«*ti»g he carried 8.9, and finished s»oand to Acr»cna7.ll, ii> Kw Two-year-old Handioap; but he failed Co «efc a place in the Champa-go St»k«s, wen by Acinena, on tho second d»y of _h»A J.C Autumn meeting. On the third day, however, h» flui^hed second to BoQDie Scotland ia th» Fvflh Bif nnal Sskea ; sud on tho fioal day ran out of a v^ ac<l iv tho Secotul Nuwery Handicap, wou by Collatette. He to*k pa»t in the Nujsacy Handicap at the Queen's Bitthdny met-tHig of tbe Sydney Tutf Club, but did not gtt » place; but abT»tteisUrfl June msetiog, with 8.0 up, be got second to Pilot Boy 8 7 in t_» Flying Handicap. Ho opened Ws thivi-jonv-oM 60-Son by winning th« Sixth Bientiij-l Sfftk^d at th*e A.J C. Spring meeting fiom Cutj-V>»by, Cbeat^vman, Bonnie Scotland, A<«^c», &ud Oollaiette ; a»d, though hfl factd tho ll»g ou 16 subsequent cccasions, he failed to tsrw another winniug bracket.

# # * The question of the _lloc&ti.>n of total.sator Hcenßcs is not yet settled, so f«r »s is puWioly known, though the ntw si-niK'n ia already nearly nine wotl« old, but mi alarming report comes from tie north, app^uWy on authority, siDce it ia read out ot a llJ»;s^age from the Cwlouiai Secrerarj's rffiif, to tbe effect that only 23 tcottiDg meotit^g-i »r* to be licensed for the whole colony. Tb*r« will b« a terrible lot of confu» ; on if this is brought about. But surely the Government cannot m-an to thus break doivn a sport which is oi tangible and monet*ry valuo to tbe colony. Ouu roadster stock has improved in valou by mauy thousands of pounds since trotting became a reeogoised branch of racing, and frum n commercial aspect only it would pay tho colony to give help to the game. That, of course, would be too mnch to ask for. There is pkiity of precedent, but racing of all kinds is rather out of favour just now, and possibly will ho remain until Sport follows the example of Old Tea and solidifies its vote. But without asking for favours, surely trotting meo may fairly be let alone insofar as they are concerned in building up the sport on legitimate lines, as is being done everywhere. lam very hopbful that this disturbing message is capable of some interpretation other than that trotting is to be practically discouraged. It would be ridiculous to carry out tho details named and give Otago only throe meetings.

%* Nat Gould, now in England, has been pitching them his old story of how Valour beat Peter in the Manchester Cap, and though the tale was told by our friend before he left tho colonies, it will b&ar repeatlng'in its new form. " Peter," Bays Nat, " was a hot favourite, and I heard, ' Here, 33 to 1 Archer,' supg wit by a bookmaker whose lunge aid credit to him. These vere not the tort of odds a backer o_ Arohor cenettllT eb_-im_l. and it showed th_fe

the ring at all ovents did not think Vulonr had | panch chence. Soch a price w«s too tempting j for me, sud ulUicTSgh I had » ♦ Over' on IVter, ' and t bought tin rfi&e a good thing for him, I ' rook 100 to 3 V«U.n-, which an oocoaarac- , iflatiugTJiMilaidni^.fiiulieaOiefubthe 'ready' 1 in his capßCious pocket. I shall never forget Ihtt race. It wre, in mj huiuble opiniou, one j Wf Uje beet Frei?. Archer ever rode. Chwlcs Wood \?r.s a jickey equal to any emergency, bu^cn thlß ooce.«ion ho was f*irly ca! ridden. Archc-r evidently knew the «orb of horse he hid {wider him. and to aso a ilang term he ' kiddwi ' ,Va!onr all the way. If Vslonr could for a few ■"Wmentfi have been gifted with the talking powers of that celebrated ass of Beldam's, 1 |) cy he would have delivered hims«4f as [oilowfi :—'l thongbb it was a mile rsce at the farthest. Ajchor rcda me at the start at a good feace, »nd as we ncared the end of a mile ho sent B» at H. Then he eased me, and I thought Yd Jwon, But he fet me going again, and I was in for another sprint, which r»th'-r a&tonif-hed me. 1 oould cot urderfctand running two races one jrftotthe other. I won both You see It wab Josb my distance.' Ac I watched the race it suddenly dawned upon rue what Archer was up [to, and I thought it about; the cleverest bit of work I had cvtr seen. K»owing Valour did not 'care much for the Manchester Cup distance, 'Archer rode the first part of the race as though jit wjs a jnile. 5 hen he gave Valour a rest, but kept him well up, ond when they came to the rtraight it was a race. Wcod seemed to have fcie race won on Peter, but Archer on Valoor Still kept going. The 'demon' rode for his life, and I never saw a hone fiufgh a« Valour ;aid. Peter wa» just b-vatro, and through sheer goed ridiog on Archer's paifr. Th*t Peter was a better howe than Valour I do cot tbiuk anyone will deny. It was a gaiu : ne case of 'the lid jug did it,' "

* # * After winning the Open Welter at Lewes (England) in Augiut, F.'are Up wr-s obji.cbpd to «n tie g'ouiwl that he wofl entored p. 6 fonr years imteid of five years old. The matter could not T» eeltlcd on the spat, as none of tho stewards ccu\d be found. It therefore remained in abejanca for the day. Wb«n the atewatda did •wo-st they ovcnnlßd the ol j«ition, bot fi'-.od the trainer 25sovb. This is p rtaissi- 1« by the revieed Rules of Raciifg. R-ile 83 its-tea th»t "any error or violation of rule in the entry of a fcorse may be corrected on payment of a flue of Jhsovs within 14 day?, or 20*oVB ivt any subseqatnt time before the host's number is exh.bited,'" ko. Furthermore, the cl*u*e tes.ds : •'Wben auj horse ruus wihout the prescribed co.Ttctiou having Jafen rar.de, the stewards c>f tbe j.-clcey club may inflict fines npon or otberwi. c dwl wiih any peisjts rnsponsiblo for Buch erro-.5." It is not a Httlo curioui that a eimilar mistake wee made in entering Ejector, from the B»ma stable, in a. race at Brif;hton. In tha% in6tance the error was corrected at scale, and the £oaovs fine paid, bat the horao wan b aten a sbcrt beid. More curious still, or «o it »ppe«.ta to colonials, is that when the protest was made no stewards could be fonnd. Such a thing could hardly happen in New Zealand. You can always fiad cone stewards, and it ia not ttlways necessary to go to tho .totalizator to find them.

***"Whoa Mr M. Dwy^r, of tbe United Btfttfs, relurted ta New York, the reporters »sked him how he had bceu treated in England, »nd, as was s*at^d a fortnight ago, he replied 'that he was " perfectly sa'Jsfted, having been *i«kt«d f*irly." Now we find bim reported at having said in an interview that "he had done with racingin England. Despite theboa-'tedfair-j?l*y ' nth at country, no fair chauci was Riven an American owner or horee to wiu. Eery devico, he declared, hfid been employed iv order to defeat bim. In the first place, the ab?urd weights allotted to his h'-r«ee rendered the chances of victory extremely improbable. Then Sn selling race*, h?8 henta when victorious were always bid up by wealthy men who combined against any of his representatives. Finally, when sure ro have won, Harry Reed was left at the poet, tbe fl*g falling when tbe horse's head vra* turn d the wrong way." It is thi« lastaoentioned speech that upbears in the English jtpera. Which of the two interviews i» correct, I should like to know. Hm the man ben misreported, or is he pitching two different yarns, and if so in which of tie two is he saying wbit fcemtaus ? On this problem, fortunately, we have, some light in the fact cf hi* sending a big batch of yearlings to England to be raced there That circumstance reveals his true feelings, in spite of anything he is reported to have etid.

* # * On Friday last Peris appeared to be a bit eesier for tbe CimbridgChhire, his quotation being 10 to 1. This would not be good news For the Australian* who had been cabling remittances wherewith to back him. No doubt they hoped to see the price shorten and' be able to Btaud a bit to nothing. And calculations of that sort are uob panning out satisfactorily when the odds grow longer. Strange, is it not, bow it sometimes happeDS that the more a horse is backtd for, the more money there is in the market for him. That was once an occasional trouble in New Zealand as cslsewhera. Now, happily, we h»ve only to read of it. The totaiisator has cured all tbat nonsense. Our Anst'-alian neighbours, or those of them who aie too virtucu« to legalise tbe machine, still endure the infliction referred to. There ia plenty of it home-mads; and now, sending to England they are being furnished with a further supply. In Paris'a ca*e, bowev r, Ido not suggest that there is ajjy nal cause f < r alarm. Tbe owi er, Lord W»Hia.ni Bsres ord, ts straight cntugh, anyvray. It may be that one cause of the horse's d< c-ine, which after all is not serious in extent, is that he is expected to run in the Gatwiok Handicap, a mile and a-half race, ou the l&h October, and that a fear is entertained respecting a penalty if he should win, or a knockout if he shapes badly. I ncttce that Truth has bjen taking the handio&pper to task for letting in Paris so lightly. Thia is not ttrat ge. Paris is chucked in. All the same, I shall be surprised if he wins, fs there not a rivk of hie being sent for the first leg cf the back-end double, the Cesarewitch ?

*** At tbe Redoar (Eag.) meeting in August the stewards called for an explanation of the runntag of S^pe in the chief event, after hearing which they accepted the view that he was prevented from winning owing to the incapacity of the jockey (iStapleton). Then followed an addition to the decuion which might very •well bs t*ken as a precedent in some cases in the col jixiee : the stewards instructed the clerk to call the spocul attention of all handicappera io the- raco, as a'so to all other races in which Btaploton has ridden. The object of this instruction, of course, is to pn-v<>nt hßndicippera hombeinj dtceived, as may very well happen in btief and unexplained reports of racea. If aandioappers could in 6ome way or other have iccesj to reliable information as to how horses loisb, a3 to whether they were ridden out, and tso forth, maoy a mistake as to weight might be avoided.

* # * The Asfcjey Stakes at Lew 6» in August resulted In a match between the two favouritsß, o! whom Helm, a daughter of Marion tnd Anetta, proved the better at the

end of the five futlongs. For the Lewos Haadicap, the r&ce that in the seventies was won three yea,is in Ruccceßaion by Rylstone, the fi-.-ld mußterei 10 strong, rather above tho average, aud ll*Yon»bury, depitu his steadier of 9 9, went out favourito, but at no part of tho racmli'i he appear in the first three, aud eventua'lj Gnished eixth, the winner of an exciting race boirg tho Noviiiate oolb Marco, wbo bad started at 8 to 1. At the Kompten Pa*k meeting which followed, B»n> Dance was made a wa?ta favourite for tbe International Breedere' Two-year-old Stakes, and tie d .wgV-rr (f Cimaiou and Mazurka di 1 a dcs rv<»l tu-n for the poj.u'ar colours of Sir J B und.-U Maple. This filly, which i«, I think, the fi.ht o^ Common's stock to win a race, was bred by her owner out of MaEurka, by Sees*w fiviu Mtthill?, by ParraeBftn, and made her fi«t appearance in public in the National Breeder' Produce L'tukesat Sundown Park on July 20, v.-h.-u she ran third to Eawwortb, Santa Maura beating h»r for second place by half a length. Prior to h*»r success now announced she was onVy once again seen at the post, when, in the Rons Memorial Sakea at Goodwood, with Bradford up, the much- fancied Q.ileftzw>, who co.iceded her 3lb, was only able to snatch the veidicb by a head. In the Breeders' Fo»l Plate the fast bub somesvhat unoeitiin Matchnnkfer beat Curzon (who w»s placed in the Derby) over a mile. This was Matchmaker's fourth win out of eight appearances. By cable we le&rn the result ot the rich Jockey Club Stakes, » mile a'>d a-quarter, tt Newmarket^ This eveut, to which 10,000tovsaio guaranteed, was run on Thusday last, and the placed horses were— lst, Mr Houldbworbh'a L»veno, by Bend Or— Napoli ; 2nd, Mr Mriner'a More the Wiser, by Wisdom— Currie R-y ; 3rd, Mr T. Cannon's Venia, by MeUnion— Raine Blanche* 4tb, Lord Rosßbery'B Ladas, by Hampton — lUiroainota.

* # * Quality was not conspicuously prominent at the horre parade held last week at Ta v una P*rk. In each class there was a coiuidt-r^ble •• toil." O«je thing that I could nofc qi.iv underfitaad was the eut&riug «^f Ril< v.^\ iv<d Taiaroa ao roidbter utallionp. Tii^j «•«;•. ulnly had mt-rc claim to ajipesx ia the tbM\ i U(.S> I >ijed section than obo or two that went for th? wore stlocb honour*. As it was, however, they v?ov-e well to the front in tb.e company chosen, and oth«rs that attracted attention were the tcottern B-rlin Abdallah and Bltoltsmith, the hunttr Wickloff, and Conk o' tbe Walk 11, the latter a roadster of vtry u«iful type, as prcviourly remirki'd in these colu«ns. Ituby was among the tliorougbbredts — a n <ted horso in that be is a record-holder, th' Ugh ib was a very iv ar squeak he had for that dignity, Sfc. Ivea briing only a head away and not ridden so we.'l as Ruby was. During or subsequent to tbe para-e T»iar>»a was sold to Mr Felix O'Neill ; and the big horse's iinoaediate mission wi'l the>-»-fore b?, I cupposo, to step into the ahcei of Don P*dro. Wherever ho gopn f Tai*roa should be ufcbful, and suiftsbiy mated ho may gut ii«f, showy stock.

*»* In the Squatters' Handicap, tbe opening race at Geraldine, Moderation led to the home turn, where Speculator came through and won easily. Fiddle**, winner of the Trot, was driven by hi« owner. Miss I. Bu'tinp, whose performance was rewarded by a rou d of cUetr- for herself personally and a decent dividend for those wbo followed the Udy. Two of the four horses entered for the Cup dropped out. and tho remaining pair were not anything like a m'.tch. Invader led by three lengths till reaching the straight, where Chaos run past him without challenge and won by a length, dvriug tho m'le end a-quvter in 2rain 19' CO, the smie timo as Goodwood took l*6t year. For tho Post Stakes the favourite, B*ug»li>ro (why he should have been chosen fv»r the honour I can't conceive) failtd badly, aid Lord Stanrtmry cot home after a good set-to with Wetsail. Tbe winner was bought in at £16. Last year L*dy Zetland won the Flying from Errington ; this year Lady Zetland's scraggy brother Lord Zetland, ki.own locally as • Bon-s," won from Eo ingfcon's btotb.tr W*rri»gton, and it was a very fuir performance on the part of the attenuated one, even thcugh the time was slow, for h« had a big weight up. FidUer found his penalty too heavy a handicap in the Second Trot, which went to Wea Ben, and the day's hport wound up with the We'ter, ia which Malcolm Allan had another easy win on tbe isipr-uving Sp curator. On the seoond day this I«eman gelding again landed a double. Iv one of these events he was not quite bo much fancied »8 Warrington. That wbb the only exception to the winning of first favouiites throughout the day. The public picked all the ethers. Thtre were, however, two or three close finishes. Chaos bad only half a leoth to spate in the Racing Ciub Handicap, and in the H'ek Rice Rofithill bad pr^ious little to epare with Wetsail in the ruu home. The sum o1o 1 £1546 pt-ssed through the toUliaator is £*00 less than last year's total.

* # * Bkodshob looks bn paper to be a reslly good thing for the Hawke's Bay Quiue&s. He had an hononrtible, if not brinianb, career aa a two-ytar-old. B;ginning by running third to Euroclydon iv the Welcome Stake*, he next day beat both of these in the Juvenito St.ikes. Then, going on to Auckland, he beat all opposed to him in the six furlong* of the Foal Btalies at D^rby weißbts, aud when a^ked to cjnwde from 9 b to 291b to his opponent* in the five-furlong hai d ; c*p he won again. Hi* un-t-xp'-tt-'d d&feat by his stable companion Blie-fi.-e in \\\c Mv kot Stakes loit him far from disgraced. His reputation was also mMulaitird on returning home, for he won the Middle Park Pl'*te by a' couple of length*. He beat all the two-year-olds he mtt at Dunedin, and captnred the tvsro-year-old race at W»nganui, winding up his season in the Challenge Stakes, by which time he had probtbly had enough of it. The son of Maxim and Irin may not ba a wonder— l do not suggest that ho is— but his deeds are creditable, and they have evidently imoresped. owners of other horses engaged iv the Hiwke's B*y rsce. It was known a month or two ago, or pretty geuerally understood, that he bad his eye on the Guineas, and only three have paid up against him These areQuiltiri.acolt by Qailt— Waitiri that has never raced ; Hippogriff , by Sfc. Andrew— Hippona, who aUo has yet to rrake bis appearance in public, and Orion's Bolt, the son of Castor aud Bangle. This lastmentioned fellow was placed nearly every time he ran last season, but he won only twice— viz., in a handicap at Hiwke's Bay, when he beat Caribou at level weights, and another race of similar character at Napier Park. There's nothing in this form to lejid one to suppose that he can r*ce B'o.d-^hot oa equal terms, and, as th ■ i>th°r imr are unknown, I must plump for V.v S' u fu\' colt, with the reservation, howtvi r, that I should not care to bet exttavagant odds on him.

*** Disquieting news for the backers of Royal Rose for the New Zealand Cup comes from Sydney. It is reported that the horse is sold over there. The name of the purchaser is not mentioned, bub presumably he is a loc»l man, and if so the chances are that he will elect to keep the horse in Australia. Speculator did ftll that wm *ak«d of him last week at

Geraldine, winning four r^ce*, the neb value of whioh w*s £93 2s. He thus eaoap es & penalty for the Cup. Nevertheless he io aot one of my fancies. Of the Canterbury contingent of New Zealand Cup horuos the pair moat talked of at preh-eut are Marino and Skirmisher. The hitter is doing vory well, by all accounts, and everybody keej-s noticing what a nice handy weight he has. I don't object to either of these horses — I liko them both — but before coming to a fiaal decision as to the Canterbury ioh I ?-hould want bo know s >mebhing about Mr HobSs's team. That i« a particularly dangerous bttUile. Old Prime Warden sets the standard, and if Mr HoSb* lnv* unjtMng btttor it would bo worth knowing. Fivna Auoklaad there aro. further good leports about Impulse ; and Pegnsns, who is to leave for Curiatchurch in a fortnight's time, has had Davis engaged as the ridtT for him iv- the Cup. St. Hippo is expected buck at Auckland on Sunday, and on Tuesday of this week ho was baing backed at 100 to 6 : but somehow or other I dou'b fanop him much. If really doing bo well as some th-'U^hb he was, he would p3rhaps have remained in Australia. Locally there is nothing fresh to report aboub tho Cup horses with the exception that Caekeb is again in strong work.

*#* Barnctt and Grant report having done tbe following lines during Iho week :—l5O: — 150 to 9 Outp--'8 l i, 100 to 4 Lt>rd Zetland, 100 to -6 Lady Z-tland, 100 to 6 Prime Warden. 100 to 7 Irish Twist, 100 to 5 St. Hippo, 150 to 10 R.>yal Rose, 100 to 4 Sterncha«er, 150 to 8 Besfie Macarthy. The following are the prefcent ruling priosß cf the hor«es mofcb in demand—loo to 8 Irish Twist, Royal Rose, Pegasup, Impulse', 100 bo 6 8t Hippo, Bessie Mftcrtby, Wainka, Mag«ziue ; 500 to 8 can bo bad about any of tba .fullowing — Aldershot, Bugler, Loveshot, Mis-fire, Orion's Belt, Di adshofc, Ntjfttaere, Maximilian, St. R- gel. Quiltiri, Au Revoir. Torpiuo, Caunon Ball, Speculator, Solano, Erxiugton, Bellicent.

* # * Blacksmith, though always known to be a fast trotter, had to light his wny to public favour and overcome a lot of prejudice before he was accepted at his true value, for ho comes of colonial tt-M-k and nom-ihow or o'her we are gtiif-ralir slow to believe tbai thf fi-'ld close by has such g<eeu grass ac tb.u one a mile away. But when, after racing very civditnb'y up country, Blacksmith ciuae t) Dunedin and did a mile i:i 2miu 31-deo, nud two miles in smin 9.sec, thereby burying th« Cjlod>'« lecurd, prejudice was caab r-sido, r.nd the new eh tuition waj hilled ai a woudt-r. It wai also thon discovered that, th ugh home-bred, he rame of go «1 ftock, for B .thwell, his 6ire, derc.iida from Wbakbone, and bin dam id one of thise pplendid Longbeach maces that are improving our stock all over the colony. BUeksuirth's credentials are, in fact, quits uuitup'jaehible.

* tt * TheD.J.C. hcs dtcidfd to ad. Nt Res ,'b patent instead of Giay'ri for tiic etaithig machines. Tbe newer system hs? »1 c *dy hed a public trial at the Fort-my, crod the Works Commit t':e are s*t ; sued, after caret ul c> rapntisdn and deliberation, that it is the on* from which tho beet results are likely to ensue. It gives security, I understand, »gvn i t em-h an annoyance as the tapes sticking at one ?nd when tho lever is pulled. Mr Rose is aki! ru>n, and can personally fuj.-e v!s« the mac'iine i luuM that be required, and I b.lievo no royalty is demanded for the use of his patent. These are distinct advantages which the club has done well to secure. Tho adaptation will, I believe, bo an inexpensive procesn, the old posts being usad.

* # * Messrs "W. and J Brown, of W»ikouaiti, have a couple of stallions ai the service ot the puWio. The tiottsr Duucao Abdallib, a winner both in tbe show ring and on the rf»e. c >i>r*e, is by Blackwood Abdali&h (cng of the Ammcinbred airos) out of a mare called Funny, iln ia to travel in the Moniototo and Ida V^lk-y restricts. The other horee is the tuo ou^ 11 ' • -1 Trump Card, who w*s quite a fiojt-i'la'-* former in his day, as may be judged fro-. frt(t i.ix.t he h&H the sole distinction of wum.i g th- D-.l.iesßt Chrietchßi-c'a, Welliugfe-.u, and Dii'ifc'iiu, that be once defeated Templet on in a weight- for-age raoe when carrying a penalty, aud that in his thtce-y ear-old Beswou he stood third ia order of winners, nothing but Ttmpleton and Ariel winning more monsy.

*a* There ia no cfcuse for discontent at the respouse by owners to the D.J C.'s call for nominations in respect to the principal handicaps at the Spring meeting. Numerically the returns aro all right, ai witnoaa the figures :— 1892. 1303. 1594 ISPS. OtsgoCup 28 23 19 20 Federal Handicap... 23 30 tf 30 St Andrew's .. 30 ,2fi 19 19 Pre-idenl'a :H 28 25 21 112 107 90 90 • The horses nominated are. also fairly representative of quality. Cmehfiold, it will be seen, is one of the crowd. He has not ractd sines tho early part of 1893, but seems to be going well at Christcburch. The Eclipse Stakes has so far anssveivd exf ect*lio:ui splendidly, rs witnKts the fine l ; s>s (appeuring c! a ewlee). including D 8 they do the best breeding of the colony. This s'.ako is going to boom.

*#* The followiug is tte correct version, given on authority, of a story which in a more or legs perverted and ronvm'ic form is going the rounds:— lv March or April la9t tha owner of Beodonwell wislei to buy a two-year oM, and word was sent to Mr S. U C-ok, of Melbourne, and Mr D. O'Brien, Sy.luey, asking those judges of stock to keep their eyes open and send word if they saw auything likely to suit. In the May following, no word having been reef ived from Australia, Black ond Red was purchased from Mr Ste\d. Tyro or three days afterwards a. cablagr&m from Mr O'Brien cams to hand staling that thora was a colt wl.ich Beadonwell's owner could have for 75^s. By way of reply the owner eaid that he was very sorry to have given Mr O'Brien the troub'e, but that he had already m^da a purchase. The colt thua declined was Bob Ray. Such is the lack of the turf.

*** Berlin AbdaUah, who will make the round of the Tai?ri and Peninsula district?, ia a showy, upstanding horse of undoubted pedigree, descended as he is from imported Blackwood Abdullah and Princess Emma, who was got by an imported horsa from an imported mare, the importations referred to being all from tbe laud of tbe Stnrs and Stripes, the home of the trotting horae. B 'rlin Abdallah is also a noted racer— a r. c ir.'-brt'wk.-r, in fact — and H'.iro i-.n- !'. w, if : ny. }>•>• V\ft #ors thr.n h-3 is. It i f -.in h .rs s oi hi; , url thai; tv: fuluce Irotte.-a will come.

*** James Cotton has moved or is about to move iuto tho establishment just vacated by Stuart Waddell. He was there some time ago, and should know the place, which is said to be rather higher than most portions of the Soulh Dunfdiu flat. The horses he takes with him are Dilemma and Victim. Bn'n has gone to the north, in charge of young Jim, who will ride him in the Hurdle Raoe ab Hawk&'s Bay, a»d rjossibU win, fot he has a very fair chance in

so small a field, and he will be capably ridden, though I would warn backers that Briu i« by no means a dead bird. Next week I may endeavour to pick the winners at this meeting.

* # * Iv his note 9in tho first number of the Badmiutou Magazine, " Rapier " gives the following as the amount of stakes won by Isinglass, wbo wa» only defeated onoe — vis., in the Lancashire Plate, when ho even then earned £1200 : 1892 — A two-year-old plate value £196 ; New Stakes, Ascot, £2006 ; Middle Park Plate, £2375. 1893 — Two Thousand Guiueas, £4250; Newmarkot Stakes, £3795; Ep3om Darby, £5515 ; Donsaster St. Loger, £5300. 1894— Princess of Walos's Stakes, £10,911 ; Eclipse Stakes, £9285 ; Jookey Club Stakes, £11.302. 1895 — Aooot Gold Cup, £2250. flfr M'Calinonfc's howe Ijrs therefore won a total of £57,185, the greatest amount in stakes ever won by a singie horao.

* # * Among tho stal'i.'ns frtshly advertised as for use during the current season is Dunville, in whom we get a rather rare mrxturo of stout blood, for his sire is the sturdy Duntrojn, who has produced a hoet of exceedingly useful horses (Rubal being one of the youngest), and his duni ie Elfiu Maid, who cornea of Tasmania^ blood through her sir© Archive!;, and is only three rein -voi from an Arab. These oonaideralions will no doubt be weighed by breeders when selecting a stallion.

*** Hugh M'llroy, of Duuedin, has oonae back from Sydnny. He had bad luck ovar there. "While attending to tho hortoi one morning ou the Randwick track, ns they were preparing to have a trial ettvrt with the mnchiuc, one of them kicked him on tbe ankle, and, Mannlioher b-inff a pul iug cs»lt, r. quiiiog a rider to be at hi-. br«c, M'llroy had to abandon the mount. H« consequently eime back as soon as poeeible, returning by way of Auckland before the A J.C. meeting commenced.

*#* For the events of tho C J C. me-jtin*, nominsvtione to whioh were taken lust; we k, th' re v a to'al of 188 for five event/, afi figiiusfc 192 last ye»r, and for the Middle P.Hik Pl<;to there aie 37 entered a-5 ag^intt 45 a jcar ago.

*** " Rata " telegraphs on Tuesday night :— All of the visitors, inMuding Bic George Clifford, Mr Reid, Mr Boyle, aud Mr Campbttl, were on the conrse thia mornii fi. and tv lot "f re\l gojd v?ork wai d.mp, I "<ni dii'mmi a', out the winner of the Ne v Z-A n\ o<i>> bain'ft s.b lliccarton jet, however. A lob <if ruvirffi were tiied at the smarting m chine this morning, and Mr Boyle, who made two or thtee vory good starts of from six to eight lots to-day, Rays ho will ba in readiness of a morning to start whenever any trainer wanta to practise his bortes at the starting businees, and therefore, in regard to Riocorton horses, there will by i.o txcuve for gceennts'J at the starting pfsl doring the Metropolitan rocotutg time. Apparently the p iviloi^e of starting praclico is as easily obtaine 1 at Riccarioa as ft g«Hup on the grass, and Inor-m-s lifire have notfcwg bo gtuwblo about.— Mas-.n was on the oou<«« with tbe Yaldhur*.t joung oiks this uuvn'ng. G-.and Oro«<* is a maguifi jent col^, but h« ia nn\r likely to rac in th<> t-p-iiiK. ?T.i ou fi.v/s t'je An ray filly locks aivl in v s wo'i, and fhe may bo w«.rth vr&tcbii g in November.— Wftrdancf, who had certaiuiy ;)• j.oo<i sbow of winning the Hor^le Race nt V\< m «\o* on Saturday, jumped into a hurdle to-tin^ while being exeiciwd, and hu-t him^vlf hadly. At any rate he is iaree and out a'tioufc a bit Eev&rely. Just Mr Ajnd-iy's iuok.— Muou Ado is out on the track again, bub aho will not ruu at Plnoipton on Saturday —That most fxcellcnt horhtman, Chailio Stratford, w»,b riding Sunsp>t in work today, orjd I f atxjy ho will ride him at Plumpton. So-Hfhow I hardly think the grey is g. od enough to win, though.