TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2198, 16 April 1896, Page 29

TALK OF THE DAY.

By MAZBPPA,

*** Juno, winner of the Hurdle Race a( Riverton, was at one time reckoned a smart mare at the game, but the daughter of Pertoba i« now troubled with the slows, and unquestionably it was a fluke that she won on this particular occasion, though she fully deserved it ou account of her honesty. She alone of the half-* dozen statters faced the timber every time. The jumping exhibition at this meeting was nob very bright, taken as a whole. Five horses refused or made mistakes in the Hurdle Race, and the whole lot in the Open Steeplechase. Something better than this might have been expected at Riverton, a district when jumping k appreciated and made a specialty of. Strange to say, the Maiden steeplechasers made a better show as a body than the preßnmably-profloienti crowd— a better show in this way, that onlyone of the maidens baulked. That one, it may be nottd, was Grace Darliug, whose sole error was that at one stage she had to be pulled back a bit when commencing to take the wrong courso. She is a daughter of Johnny Faulkner, and will be remembered as having unexpectedly won the Maiden Plate on the flat at this meeting last year. Peter Simple, winner of the Maiden Steeplechase, is a son oE Alluvium. He gave his owner, Mr Gerrard, an uncomfortable ride, one of the stirrups break* ing early in the race. There was a St. Patrick among the Rivertoa winners last year — a locallybred colt, that caused a surprise in the Lager. No one is likelji to become confused as between this youngster and the St. Patrick that won on the present occasion. The latter is the Auck-land-bred St. Legar gelding, end his race was' the Riveitou Handicap. A question was raised as to whether it wa9 a fair-and-«quare run on Dilemma's part to finish second. As I wss not present, I can only offer a somewhat diffident opinion on the point, and it is this : that Dilemma, having been quite recently lame, could not be expected to show much ( form. I certainly did not reckon that* he would win, and it seems to me a little unfair to calculate his chance on past form. The stewards were apparently in two minds about the matter, as they went no further than to caution this horse's rider, M'Kenzie, which is equivalent to saying "We don't know whether you were trying . or not." Personally I was not in the least surprised to heap of a speedy non-stayer like St. Patrick defeating a horse that was supposed to be finally broken down two months ago ; and the suspicion crosses my mind that possibly M'Kenzie may be harshly jadged by those wha say he was doing a bit of Johnny Armstrong 1 . This impression is confirmed by DilemmasJ»

. backward running in the Pj ing later on in tb^e day. Musket seems to owe his success in this short race to the fact that be was the first to begin galloping. He led all the way, stalling off a late rush by the penalised St. Patrick, Mason and Roberts parsed £1981 through the totalisator, as against £1312 lait year.

* # * Those who saw the 0.J.0. meeting seem to pxetty well agree that it would be misleading to make too many excuses for Liberator's defeats. The old horae was looking fre3h and well, and all that can be fairly suggested is that he was » trifle light. Comparing him with Hopeful, we find "Lib." conceding 91b en the Irst day and being soundly beaten, and reDeiving 71b the second day with the same result. On bare figures it may be thought that in the next handicap " Lib." ought to receive at least » stoße; but if he does I shall take Patsy's horse to beat the Hawke's Bay representative, because the latter is just now at his very be«fc, whereas Lib's lightness may, and probably does, mean that he will be all the better for a little relaxation. Both horses absolutely at their best, they would be a nice match at level mights, and perhaps Dante could be put in to make up a trio. These are the three dandy hurdlers of New Zealand. We get & line to their ability through Barnardo, who can concede a stone to nearly everything else J can think of. They were a fine lot of two-year-olds that came out for the Ricoarton meeting. Look what a splendidly bred lot Mr Stead had fco represent him'—

Bombshell, by Chainshot— Nautilus Epaulet, by Medallion— Dudu Firefly, by Artillery— Fairyruaid Uniform, by Hotchkiss— "Formo Grand Gross, by Medallion— Marion jrad then there wer«, as representing the Hon. J, D. Ormoad — Dauntless, by Dreadnought— Oricutale Trentalto. by Tienton— Montalto. . It wonld be risky to pick oat one of these seven ■nd label it second-class on the chance of being asked for an explanation about the end of the year ; also I should not, care to stake my judgment on an out-and-out selection as to which is ' the besb ; bat the owners nave themselves indicated their opinion as to present form — Dauntless being sent from the Hawke's Bay stable in preference to Trentalto for the Challenge Stakes, and Mr Stead relying on Epaulet and Bombshell in thif, the richest weight-for-age r*ce of the season, and it will not be surprising should this trio prove to be the best next season of the lot of their age so far seen out. Bombshell represents the cross of Musket end Tradueer. Dauntless comes from the combination of Chester and Leolinus strains, bis sire, Dreadnought, being by Chester from the Blair Afchol mare Trafalgar, and his dam by Leolinus from L'Orient, by Kaight of the Crescent. L' Orient was dam of Franeotte. Aparb from him she threw nothing that gained note on the turf, bat she has a fair show now of being .remembered through her grandson. That is the effauce that leveral imported mares have made use of — their own sons and daughters doing nothing, but the next generation, helped, perhaps, by the crossing, making: amends for the failure. Consideration of this fact »hould make as -chary about condemning any imported thoroughbred proit is free from transmissible disease or infirmity. The only three-year-olds thafc scored »t the C.J.C meeting were Bellicent and Black and Red. The latter paid a Fair dividend, but no more than enough t should suppose, to return his party their oufcJay in the Autumn Handicap. He turned into .the straight the leader of the party in the mile and it-half race, and then finished fifth, behind New Forest. The stable, it is said, did not , back the colt with freedom in the Easter, as a new rider had to be put tip at the last moment. Altogether, Black and Red probably paid' expenses, and Belle Clair from the same stable was a dead loss. Bar Rsngiatea, who, by way of variety, ran a really good race in the Addmgton Plate, Black and Red^was the only winner *mong the Dimedin contingent. Culverin, winner of the Easter Handicap, is by Son of a Gun from Roteneath, by Leelinus from Lacenfeed, by Tontsn. Considering the heavy going, she made capital time in the seven-furlong race— 3£ieo faster than Casket's last year ; s and even with her 101b penalty she was close up in the Autumn Handicap, the time befog l£sec faster than North Atlantic's. This roan filly from the pountry matt be really good stuff.

*** There is a tolerable unanimity of opinion, jemarks "Asmodeus," that the Australian tnrf is at present suffering from a paucity of efficient horsemen capable of filling the places formerly occupied by such accomplished riders •s Hales,' O'Brien, Robertson, Cracknell, Morrison, Donnelly, Yeomans, and Ashworth, who -may fairly olftim to be the shining lights of the pigskin during the last 20 years. The defect .alluded to made itself very manifest at the late Y.R.O. meeting, which brought together the leading jockeys of Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia. The inferiority of the riding in certain instances was particularly marked, and one important race was ■thrown away through a grave and almost unpardonable misjutigment of pace, while at least two events were forfeited in consequence of faulty riding. Other in»tances ot defective jockeyiktp could be particularised without terving any beneficial purpose. To say that the tart is utterly devoid of capable horsemen would be an unmerited slander on such men aa E. Power, Sanders, Holmes, Huxley, Dawes, Eitridge, Tomlin, Faiker, the Delanejs, the Redfearns,' Jamas Hayet, Ellis, R. Lewis, th« Goughs, and others. Bnt this is not the point at issue ; it is rather the absence of such stars as Hales and O'Brien and the superfluity of inferior horsemen that forces itself upon the turf-going public just now. To ft racing enthusiast and expert like Mr William Cooper, wwhso s visited Eiemington after an absence of seven or eight years, the deficiencies alluded to make themselves very evident. Like most unprejudiced oritics of both countries, Mr Cooper is satisfied/that Australian jockeys, as a class, suffer by comparison with their Eoglith contemporaries, that their prin-v cipal defect is the too free use of whip and spur, ridiug more with these appendages then with their beads. It is also generally allowed that our jockeys, as a whole, cannot judge pace with the same accuracy as do Eoglish riders. While admitting the all-round superiority of English horsemen, the turf in the o?d country . is, according to Mr Cooper, sadly deficient of Stars of the Archer and Wood type ; so thafc in this particular bearing the English turf is similarly situated to our awn. As gfcar jockeys, like »tar actors and pet«, *re bora and uot made, it ia perhaps not within the rat; go of tinman ingenuity to mggeat any system whereby high-clafs horsemen like Archer, Wood, Morny Cannon, and Hales can succeed one another with nndeviating regularity and promptness. In jookejahip, as in almost every ether calling snd occupation of life, tnceess depends more or less on early tuition. Unless a boy if a born horseman like Hales, he needs - good and rigoroat schooling in order to make bim & perfect jockey. It may therefore bo to

the lax system in vogue emong»t those entrusted with the instruction of youthful aspirants to the saddle rather than to the boys themselves that the existing mediocrity in the ranks of Australian jockeys is attributable. Some alterations in tha apprentice system might assist to remedy matters, and as the V.R.C. are ever ready to institute any reform calculated to improve each particular branch of the turf, some active moiubar of the executive may deem it worth hit while to take such steps as wjll eventually lead to a diminished comparison between the display of riding peculiar to Australian and English racecourses.

*»* Favourites had * fair innings at the Beaumont meeting, 'winning six of the nine races. Blizzard headed the list for the day in respect to dividends, paying the fair price of £9 8s in a field of five for the Novel Race after defeating Sebastopol in a clone finish. This pair also fought out the Hack Selling Race later in the afternoon, and Blizzard triumphed at level weights with the horse that had pre-

viously tried to give him 101b. If horses had the gift of speech, and did as much bragging as some of those who profess to be their superior!, we could quite understand Blizzard and Sebastopol having a little " ohyak " about these races — BHzzwd blowing about what he had been and the company he used to keep and the big trial he once ran in Melbourne, while Sebasfcopol would no doubt reply, after the fashion of some bipeds, by skiting about his parentage and saying what a great horse his "pa" (First King) was. Both Blizzard and Sebastopol are very small potatoes, but, taking an analogy from mankind, that would not prevent their gassing — rather the reverie. Poor old Blizzard is now valued at only £10. That was the price he fetched after each of his wins. 1 am pleased to see that R. Hastie had a win with Lady Somnus in the chief event. He is a deserving man, and very patient with his horses, and has of late had very bard, luck. The mare won pretty easily, and in decent time. Charleville showed gcod pace in the first trot, and was bought for £25 by Mr J. Boyd, of Roxburgh ; while J.H., according to the Tuapeka Times, gave one of the finest exhibitions of trotting which have ever been seen on the Beaumont coarse. The way iv which he cub down his field was simply astonishing. He was on even terms at the mile and threequarter flag with Garryowen, who took a commanding lead early in the race and looked at one time as if he would be the wiener, for he made the best use of his handicap. J.H , however, was not to be denied, and covered the distance in smin 14sec. Garryowen was second and May third. JH. and his rider received a perfect ovation on passing the post, and again on returaing to the weighing-in room. There was a good deal of ill-feeling manifested by the outcry of Taggart* manifested towards Biggins, the rider of Charleville, for an alleged attempt to block J.H. during the progress of the race. Biggins's explanation was that Ma horse, which had bolted, had been struck on the hock, and in consequence he had been unable N to pull him out of the road. Mr M'Kenzie, the owner of J.H., expressed himself satisfied with the explanation, and the matter, which did not come before the stewards offi.iilly, was allowed to drop.

*#* The special commissioner of the Sportsman writes: — I have received an interesting cote from James GaUon about Musket, who must indeed have been trained in the good old atyle if the work described was at all frequent. He sayß : " I can well remember riding Musket in some of bis work. He would have two suits, of heavy clothing on, and go three, times round t<hfi down? — that is seven miles — at a slow pace. This is what Mr Taylor used to call ft sweating gallop. After be had pulled up and been allowed to get his wind, he would be rubbed dry and walked about the downs for half or three-quarters- of an hoar ; then he would have - to go a two mile and a-half sharp gallop wifch a light suit of clothing on. There would be two horses to lead him ; one to bring him along the first mile and a-half, and the other *to jump in for the last mile. He was one of the besttempered horses I ever knew ; I don't think he W33 ever known to kick. He was a beautiCullooking horse, and no man ccu'd find a fault with him. I well remember Mr Tayloc^saying he could win a Cesarawiteh with 10.0." And this is -the hone we allowed to go to New Zealand for 520gs.

*** Mr J. O. Hayward, who took Derringer to England, writes thus to "Te Whiti " :— The English impression of the colonial horse (which are here termed " walers ") is that they are great coarse brute*, with big heads, deep shoulders, coarse bone, and no quarters. Well, as far as I am at present able to jadge, I mast admit that oar horses suffer considerably in many points when compared with' the English thoroughbred — as seen in hia native home. The latter undoubtedly shows very much more quality all over, has a neater bead, with more character, finer symmetry, and much higher quarters, coming out straighter along the crupper, which completely hides that split-up appearance so many of the coloninl horses than. But they certainly have nothing like the same amount of bone — though I am not se sure that this is a defect, as I am inclined to believe that the extra quality more than makes up for the want of size. Quality and size do not, as a rule, go together. It is in the feet where our horses beat them by streets — I have not yet seen a stud horse here with what I call good feet. But their action is superb, and when brought out for parade they are like balls of spring wires. I could never tire looking at them. Their every movement is indeed the poetryof motion.

*** Mr Lawley lets outsiders into the secret that the English Jockey Club has a difficulty in getting three competent stewards from among its member*. Here is what Mr Lawley says on the subject; — "What, let me inquire, is the English Jockey Clnb p A self-elected association, consisting of less than 70 members, mostly high-born, of whom five or six are honorary. Ia addition, there are eight or nine royalties, of whom, with the exception of the Prince of Wales, none ever owned a racehorse j and about the same number of presidents and chairmen of foreign and colonial jockoy clubs, who are, of course, honorary members. Now, upon analysing the composition of this somewhat heterogenous body, it is easy to see how few of its members are fit, able, or willing to act as stewards. To begia with, all statesmen and Cabinet Ministers belonging to it, whether in or out of office, are too busy to undertake an unpaid, responsible, and exacting trust. Secondly, four or five of its members are too rich and too m'ich <-ng~ged in managing their own vast estate- to be able to spare the necessary time. Thirdly, a very large proportion are too l*zy, too luxuriius, or too mercenary to work without pay, and high pay, too. I'ourthly, there are others who care no more about the breed of horses or about such an out-worn abstraction as patriotism than they do about the precession of the equinoxes. The result is that it is no easy matter to find three gotd stewards year after year." ■

*** Coniidenble canfuoioa wca caused at

Epsom (Vie), says the Leader, owing lo two oE the starters in the Steeplechase being named Stockwell, both being chestnuts, too. The attention of B. Humphries, owner of the Stockwell more recently named, was called upon to register a change of name, and he promptly seleoted " Rechriatened " as the appellalion by which bis charger is in future to be known. Humphries explained that he had previously paid to register a change of name from Ballyhooly to Stockwell, and under those circumstances the stewards were generous and conrented to forego the fee for the change of name, but in this instance their kindness was contrary to the rule, which says that such alteration mast be accompanied by a fee of £1. Another rule which should also be well borne in mind by owners is that which declares that any owner giving a horse a name whioh has been previously adopted by someone else shall be liable to a fine up to £50. The enforcement of this rule by the V.R.C. would have a salutary effect.

*#* Once more the trotting record is presented, revised to the end of last week. In the interval since last publication the following amendments and additions have been made :— At Danedin The Bailie improved his time by 26sec for two miles, and Duchess entered the mile section with a recurd of 2min 42-^sec. At Hawke'e Bay, five recruit? were enlisted — these being Argyle smm 49 •« ii c and Wha'erangi smin 52-|sec at two miles, Wild Rose 6mm 45seo at two miles and a-half, Eric 4min 17$ sec at a mile and a-half, and Duke C. Buoin 20sea at three miles, while Marion did a mile in 2mm 46s'c. If this is the same Marion that was already on the list, she -has lowered her own record by half a second. At Tuieri, Good Enough came in at two miles with smin 40sec, and Cottage Girl joined the mile and a-hali crawd with 4-min llsec. At Lancaster Park, three " even times or better " were made, but Pastime 2min 41sec for a mile is the only record to be made. At Beaumont, Charleville enters at two and a-balf miles with 7min 21sec, and J.H.s smin 14aec for two miles is a second faster than he had done previously. The list will be found in its customary place.

*** Melbourne Sportsman says that some excitement was caused just prior to the running of the Brookton (We«t Australia) Cup. A fielder not unknown in pencilling circles in the eastern colonies was standing watching the proceedings when a gentleman approached him and asked, "What price Lochinvar ?" "3 to 1," promptly replied the Book. " I'll take 30s to 10s," said the punter. -But he didn't ; for the words had barely left his lips when a policeman, who had happened to be within earshot, Btepped up and said, "And I'll take you." Suiting the action to the word, he arrested both the taker and the layer of the wager. They were, removed to the railway station, where they were watched like criminals until about 7.45 p.m. Mr Sam Gtrimwoad, the well- known Melbourne tport, offered £100. bail for the men, but it was refossd, as were several similar offers from well-known and wealthy citizens. At 7.45 they were pat aboard the train and taken to Norfcham, where was at last granted them. * On the following morning they were brought before the Northam magistrates and fined £2 apiece and costs. According to the law of this colony, if either of these men, backer or fielder, should again come before the bench on a similar charge, they may be convicted.as rogues and vagabonds, and are liable to a sentence of 12 months.

*** Several horses by Gozo have been doing pretty well, bat Ganlus comes into special the Hawkesbury Handicap and Rosehill Cup. prominence by winning Wo gcod races like Gozo (Wild Oats — Maltese Cross) hts done well at the stud, and in addition to many successful racehorses he has sired many winning galloways and ponies, which, in these days of much pony racing, are more valuable to a stud master than they would otherwise be. Very naturally (says Sydney Referee) Mr J. R. Smith his "a high opinion of his stallion, but the master of Tucca Tucca, who, by the way, doss not so often visit the metropolitan courses as he did, is not" al trays correct in his judgment about youngsters. About foals, ye*rlings, and two-year-olds the best judges are often astray. No one will ooneider the owner of Gozo as a bad judge, bat there ia a story about Gaulus which goes against him. , When Mr Forrester took tha colt his breeder retained an interest in him. As a young two-year-old he didn't please either of the gentlemen named, and they decided to have ,him castrated. The veterinary surgeon didn't think him. aturdy enough to (iand the operation, and it was decided to turn him out. He in a paddock for some time, and ultimately Mr Forrester deoided to take him np and see what he was made of. Ou communicating this decision to Mr Smith the a&swer was, " Very well, on your own account— not for me." And consequently the Gozo four-year-old would not have won either of th-sa races had Mr Forrester not formed a belter opinion of him than his breeder held. No doubt Mr Smith is well satisfied with results all the same, for Gaulue had good breeding on his Mdv all the time, which is always liable to tell, appearances notwithstanding.

*«* The- Caulfield stewards lost no time in patting Mr M. O'Shanassy's plan to a practical test. Four members of the-committee, including Messrs H. Power (chairman), A. Miller, R. Row, and C. D. O'Hulloran, accompanied by Mr Movie, the secretary, were present. The false rail having been fixed 30ft out, as suggested by Mr O'Shaoassy, a mixed field of a dozen came round the tarn sharply. When they reached the end of the false rail the horses spread out, just as Mr O'Shanassy felt sure they would do, leaving room for each one to finish without the least chance of" interference. Melbourne Sportsman tells us that all those who witnessed the experiment were perfectly satisfied with its practicability, while the opiuioa wm emphatic that it would be, certain to mißimise the chances ot accident at the turn. The only point that came under discussion was the necessity of extending the carve of the tarn 30ft oab, the weight of opinion being to the effect that 18ft or 20ft would be' sufficient- So satisfied were the members of the committee themselves as to the usefulness of the plan itself, apart from the question of detail, that it is more than probable- the false rail will be used In connection with the next day's racing.

*#* Wallace comes out of the Sydney meeting with credit — and that is all. To win the Cup was a meritorious performance, equalling that of his illustrious sire's in the same race a few years ago. But Wallace is not yet entitled to wear his father's shoes, and, havipg now closed his tliree-year-old career, it is doubtful whether he ever will he. He has arrears to pull up, and the chances are against his lasting as long as "Old Jack" did. The A.J.C. Plate result on Saturday last reads very much as though the blame for defeat rests partly with the colt and partly with the rider. We must wait for particulars before coming to a final decision as to where the fault was. What makes me susppefc bad judgment in the riding is the fact that the race was run at a. wcetwlUdly

slow pace. Six minutes 7 seconds is mere crawling for three miles. If Wallace o»n go no faster than that, he is no stayer at all. Still, however much he was checked in the " shepherding " that one may assume took place, he ought to have been able, if worthy of his lineage, to have put in a fioal rash (hat would have at any rate dwpused of Fort, a colt that was running hia lecond race in the day. That The Harvester should win is not to be wondered at. But Wallace ought to have been closer up if at all well. That he was not suggests a screw loose somewhere. _

*** The Ashburton meeting, if not so important as it vied to be 10 years ago, still attracts a fair representation of the secondolassers to try their paces on the naturally fast course, and the meeting this autumn would have been decidedly successful in anything like fine weather. Heavy rain, however, set in, and in the presence of such an infliction none bat most enthamsiio sports, or those who happened to ba makiug ynouoy, could pretend that they enjoyed the pr oca d iug<s. As it so happened, it was possible to make a bit by the " mag's " rule of following the favourites. Anyone who did this came oub over £7 ahead of it on an investment of a sovereign each time. As frequently pointed out in these columns, the rule referred to is the safest one that the ordinary person who " don't know nothing " can adopt. His money will last longer this way than by any other system. Alltha " morals " are landed, and that is better than going through the day without a winner. At Aahbnrton on this occasion there were no " dead certs ," tho heavy course causing backers to open out a bit and prospect on horses that in fine weather would have been neglected. That is how it came about that it would have paid so well to back actual favourites. Still the rule is a sound one — not as a means of making money, bat as a way to circumscribe the losses and make one's money eke out. Though the course was heavy, I am fairly satisfied that the results represent form. Cannonshot, winner of the High- weight Handicap, is a good colt, a fact discerned by all who saw him exercising for the Duncrlin Cap meeting ; and this, the latest perfortoai cc, should be remembered to his credit, for ha was giving weiglit to a fairly strong crowd of their class, including Warringfcon, who later in the day annexed the Fiying Handicap, and presumably, therefore, is in pretty .fair nick. Mr P. Campbell had the satisfaction of capturing one race with the seriously disappointing Magazine, who, however, had the luck to catch Lord Zetland a bit off, and therefore had nothing more formidable to beat than Lord of Misrule at even weights. This was not much of a distinction. Magazine was at one time counted among the valuable horses of the colony, whila Lord of Misrule was sold for £# This last-named joker, though, is better than the seller thought. He has Decision »lly showed very fair form, and now walks off with the Easter Handicap. Poor old Prime Warden started la this race and finished last after a fruitless effort. I fear he is quite done.

\* The leading stake-winners on the English turf during the past 30 years take this order: Isinglass £58,584, Donovan £55,053, Ayrshire £36,900, La Fleche £35,900, Orme £32,926, Gladiateur £31,105, Ormonde £28,465, Surefoot £28,278, Lord Lyon £25 465, Seabreeze £24,266, Achievement £22 483, Signorina £22,181, Amphion £21,588, Memoir £Z1,580, Formosa £21.268, Minting £20,378. These are all who within the period mentioned won over £20,000. Commenting on this subject, "Anglicanus" of Sydney M»il cays: — ! " This brave list of heroes and heroine-; of turf history brings back a flosd of memories, for I have watched racing and racehorses ever since [^4he mighty Frenchman, Gladifttenr, the first in | point of age, -squandered his field in the Derby iof 1865, and that was, alas ! nearly one-aad-I thirty years ago. Many a, good horse have I t seen since, but never one with a grander stride | or a more thoroughly noble frame, and I cannot ; bnt look upon him -as the champion of the | whole 16, with Ormonde as a runner-up, and < the gallant Achievement as the best of the L fillies. And yet, as a sire, Gladiateor was one f of the most most notable failures of modern : times. One curious circumstance deservessa passing note. It will be observed that the lira contains the names of four horses who were running in «' the sixties," bat between the years 1869 and 1835 there is a complete blank ; that j is to say that for 15 cocsßcutive years no horae at the English turf won £20,000 during his ! career. Thi«, I take it, is mainly to be accounted for by the fact that in "the seventies," the | great "gambling era"— as the period during which the Marquis of Hastings, Mr Chaplin, i and the Duke of Hamilton were such desperate 1 rivals was termed — had come to an end, and it was not until, after the ensuing decade was fairly advanced that the huge stakes of the present time began to ba established."

• *** A Sydney cable says : — Newhaven's easy win in the Easter Stakes caused a lot of hostile comment and a demonstration against the horse and owner. After the former's ignominious defeat in the Champagne Stakes Thursday's performance wa3 considered inconsistent. The Jookry Club Committee having inquired into the riding of Courallie by Delaney in the All-aged Stakes, the horse's owner having asked for an inquiry, decided that the charge against Diilaney, rider of. Courallie, was not substantiated. They also decided that the evidenca explained the inconsistent running of Newhaven. The owner of Newhaven intend* to send him to England after he bas fulfilled his three-year-old engagements.

**.* For South Canterbury, writing hefore the acceptances appear, 1 suggest Vandyke or Loveshot for the Autumn Handicap, Speculator for the High-weight Handicap, Warrington for the Flying, Rex II for the Welter, and The Duke or Bel Lorimer for the Trot. I observe that the handicapper bas at both North Otago and Sooth Canterbury kept the range of the trots within reasonable compass, and by so doing he -will,- 1 think, find that he has encouraged the good hones to try.

• * # * My selections for ths - first day of the North Otago races are i»s folio*, given K' start : — President's Handicap, Cactu* or Vanquisher ; CudJ Barmby or "Van Buren; Flying Handicap, Molly Durling or Speculator; Novel Race, Lounger ; Trot, Joe Barnett or Bridget. The races are pretty open, and I expect there will be some good racing.

**# At a committee meeting of the South Canterbury Jockey Club on Monday night a letter was read from B. Curtis re his exclusion as a bookmaker. It was resolved that on Carfcis's assurance that he is not now a bookmaker, but asks for admiision to the course on the ground that he is the owner of racehorses he will accordingly be admitted to the club's Autumn meeting. A strongly worded letter was received from Mr Longfellow with respect to the handicapping of his horses, bat no action was taken thereon.

OWNERS* REMINDERS* April 25-Tahu&» Fuk ftdjtyptiftfifr