TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2199, 23 April 1896, Page 30

TALK OF THE DAY.

By MAZEPPA.

* # * The South Canterbury meeting, held last week, found no fewer than four hones pulling off a double. Sum, a trotter, performed (he feat without having to burst himself, as he cwon both races easily in rather poor time. He Jmay be a good one, but had no chance to show It, 88 the others either could not or. would not {rash him. My own opinion is (hat he is no Wonder, and may yet have to go down before Eome of those that at Timaru finished behind Lira. No Wondrr, an aged gelding by the same aire as the trotter Perkin Warbeok 11, acconuted for two hack races on the first day, displaying very fair form, and he is not dear at the £3(7 that tit M. Jones paid for him after the Selling fiace*. Warrington, a fast but uncertain horse, Seemed to be less put about by the heavy going pn the second day than some of the others, and finished in good etjlo in each of his races, it requiring a sustained effort on his part to win the Shorts. Th<- •U o- double winner was Lord of Miirule, with - J ' - Holmes is making hay while the sur or, in other words, taking all he can • > i •> hone while it is in condition. The sc mlnndia was generally expected to win tie High- weight Handicap, but when slipped tor the chief event later in the afternoon backers made him the outsider of . the quartette, and be paid £7 16s. Condition Baust have mude a really serviceable secondrater of this horse, once sold for £6, as be fairly and squarely beat Culverin on her merits. • Certainly she was conceding 221b, but then is - Bhe not the, Easter Handicap winner and -Kuoner-up in the colony's most important Itaok -end . handicap ? Lord Zetland finished lasb in .the first day's race, and r cannot understand why the 91b difference on the second day should, have been deemed fufficiest to sesd him out a red-hot favourite, while Cnlverin was allowed to pay' nearly £4 in a field of three. There leema to be something strange in these facts. She knowing ones wore surprised to see in the mile race on the second day that Salvo was clearly able to hold Lord Zetland, and Culverin, coming with a late run, to defeat Mr Butler's colt. It WBJL& funny race altogether, and one in wh.ch I am inclined to fanoy true form was exhibited after the sharps had expected a bit of fiutting-up to be done. -

■*** Maybe The Soarer did not start a com. plete outsider for the Liverpool National. He tan in a three-mile steeplechase at Hurst Park In February, ridden by Mr Douglas Campbell, jmd was going well two fences from home, when he and The Hidshipmite fell together. Some lay 'twas one horse and some the other that was )it fault, but each was subsequently backed for the National at 1000 te 15, and as the announcement quickly followed that The Soarer was a certain starter perhaps he would see a workable priced I observe, by tha way', that before start; ing in this Hurst Park race The Soarer was sola ,-to Mr W. H. Walker, whose colours he carried, though ridden by the selling owner, Mr Camp- . bell. Biscuit, who gained third place in the National, was also a marketable commodity in February. Being engaged in a race at Wind- • cor 1000 to 30 wbb taken before that race about her chance in the National, and when she trotted in alone, her companions having be*n ssttled before reaching tbe two last fences, 100 to 4 was taken about her for the big race. Tbe mail also •brings news of Ebor being twice defeated, and the public were beginning to think him badly nstd. Speaking of one of hi« races a writer Bays :' " The New Zealand borse, Ebor, had his tail loose this time, and a desperately long tail it is. Hitherto in his races it has been tied up. With a hog mane and a Hying tail, not to mention a slight string-halt, he presented a curious appearance, and I must record my opinion that tandicapptrs up to now have been very unfair to Mr Gollan, who has kept on running his liofaes out, and yet they are not lowered to the BtandarS at whioh they might have a chance. On what conceivable form has Ebor a chance of beating Pricce Frederick at 91b ? If they met at 191b would not Prince Frederick be the "favourite ? In a case such as tbii handicappera ought surely after the fint few tests to err (if At all) on the .fide of leniency to an owner like Mr Gollan, who bas brougttt his horses from the jtntipedea, instead of -"burdening them with something^ like 14lb too mnch." Posribly, howfiver, this criticimi may be modified after Bbor's win recorded lust week. One of the few certainties on tbe turf is that handicappera prevail over their critics. It must be so, in the very nature of things, for if the critics could always pull a handicap to pieces, and results justified the process — well, the handicapper would have to go and the critic would get his job.

*#* A new book which sporting men will doubtless read with relish i» entitled " The Memoirs of Sir Claude Champion de Crespigny, Bart." I have not yet seaa tbe volume, but an Barly review has found its way out, and one oan guess therefrom that the exploits of this keen rider and splendid all round sport are told in a highly interesting style. Sir Clande rode bis first steeplechase in the south of Ireland in the spring of 1867, and had his first winning mount on a mare named Maid of bhe Mist, trained, by himself. She was a rank outsider, and he had the intense satisfaction of . beating the renowned " Baj " fifiddleton by 0. length, >

no small feat for a complete novice. Then he went to India with his regiment, and hia reminiscences of racing in that country are very interesting and amusing. It must have been conducted at that date in a delightfully primitive fashion, to judge by the following anecdote 1 " Racing one afternoon at Lnoknow in 1869 in a very bad light, I agreed with my opponent to have a little fun at the expense of the judge. I won the race by half a length, but on retiring to weigh-in addressed my opponent as the winner, wbioh so embarrassed the judge that he ordered the race to be run off next day. This was done, and I again won. Imagine suoh a thing occurring In this country I " His bent hits were made in India with a mare named Baby Blake, "a superb jumper when she did jump, but she usually fell some time in a race. Indeed, so invariable was this habit of Baby Blake's that even money was laid that she would fall." Not a vtry delightful mount, one woald think ; still her owner managed to wid the Cawnpore Steeplechase with her, and evidently still remembers her with -flyoHnn. A book dealing mainly with steujleuhatring eoald i-ctrcfly be written without some reference to Chandler's historic jump at Warwick. This has generally been given as being 39ft, Sir Claude reduces it to 33ft, and expresses very serious doubt as to whether the horse ever cleared even that distance, and, as the measurement was not made for nearly an hour after the great jump had been accomplished, during which interval several spectators on horseback had ridden over the course, the matter is certainly open to very serious doubt.

*#* Now that Skirmisher is turned oat, Mr J. B. Reid is mostly interested "in a couple of fine yearlings which Lunn has taken in hand. One is tbe produce of St. Leger— Bangle, bred in Auckland ; the other a brother to Firefly (by Artillery— Fairymaid), bred at Elderelie. Those who have seen tbe youngsters speak well of them, and it is to be hoped they will turn out as good as by looks and breeding they ought to be. The public are directly interested in this. They know full well that they always get a straight run with Mr Reid's horses ; that he is an enthusiastic lover of the thoroughbred, and races for the pleasure ; that he does not take it to heart and meditate reprisals when the people baok his horses ; and I speak of personal knowledge in saying that he ntver seeks to mislead the public, being always ready to answer questions put to him by an authorised pressman. The success of such an owner is worthy of supplication by the united praying power of backers as a bedy.

*** 'l li Tew Zealand stallion Artillery, the propeitj of Mr Parsons, of Christchurcb, is getting a good show in America, and I am pleased to learn that the lessee intends to mate him mostly with Sir Modred mares. - The horse comes from- a combination of Musket and Yattendon blood, and crossed with " mares begotten by the handsomest of all the Traducers (many people affirm that Sir Modred is the most beautiful horse of any family ever reared in the colonies), the product should be stock to suit the demands of our American cousins. Mr Parsons has not yet quite made up his mind as to what he will do with Artillery when the lease term has expired, but he has some idea of sending tie horse to England, and with that object in view has already opened up a correspondence with Mr Allison, the expert authority ou b> ceding. It may be taken for granted that Artillery's pedigree will be approved of, but I should think that his photograph would be even a stronger recommendation, for the brown son of Ouidahas powerful proportions, and one would suppose that he is just the sort of stallion to put to stock in which prettiness and fine lines ate predominating at the expense of size and muscularity,

*** The Washdyke course, whereon the South Canterbury Jockey. -Club races were held was greatly improved prior to the recent meeting. The principal feature of the new works is a new stand for the use of stewards and members. Accommodation is thereby provided for about 100 onlookers, who from this look out secure a good view of the turn for home and the run up the straight. The saddling paddock has been enlarged ; three new boxes are added ; and among the numerous improvements of what may be termed a detail character, there is a new scaffold for hoisting the numbers on, this being placed in such a position as to enable the signals to be seen all over the course. The new arrangements help materially in providing for the comfort and convenience of those who go a-racing, and the club has undoubtedly earned the thanks of owners, members, and the public in general. Those who attend race meetings nowadays have a fair claim to more consideration in regard to matters of tfiin kind than is given them by some of our clubs. The days are gone, never to return, when the public oan be igaored or compelled to put up with makeshifts, and we shall find the prosperity of clubs very largely depending for success on the provision tbey make for the comfort of their patrons. The S.C.J.C. is a live club, with a wike-awake executive, and in launching oat on the expense necessary for the improvements indicated, it has sown the seed of a sure harvest. Further alterations are, it is said, projected as soon as funds are available, the .enlargement of the grand stand being seriously contemplated.

*#* Two deaths are announced. From Gisborne we hear that K*lo, by Yattendon— Gipsy Girl, bas gone under. He was a black horse, bred by Mr J. Lee in New South Wales in 1879, got by Yattendon from Gipsy Girl, by imported Kingston. This made him out to be half-brother 1 to Randwick, who, if not over-con-sistent, was fast, and a better horse than K»lo. Kalo was brought to Auckland as a yearling, and made his first appearance as a three-year-old in the Trial Stakei at the Auckland Spring meeting, winuing very easily from five others, -' including Billingsgate, and paying £2 18s per 10s ticket. Oat of 14 starts that season he won four races of the net value of £225. Racing through his four-year-old season he picked' up only two stakes, the ohief of these being the Northern Jockey Club Handicap, for whioh Libeller started favourite. It was in the following Benson that he made himself famous by paying a dividecd of £251 14s in the Shorts Handicap, one nrle, at the Auckland Autumn meeting. Necklace 8.12 started an odds-on favourite ; nothing else was fancied ; and Kale 7.0, rid.den by Byers, won by a length from The Dauphin 8 4, Alpha 6 7 being third. There wai only £2 investid on him. This is what we shall remember K«lo for : he helped to make the totalisator the fanhiou among backers at a t"me wheu m«.ny of them were in two minds as to whether they sbould not support the old-fashioned system of bookmaking. For this we will forgive him his erratic performances and alio bis failure at the stad. Mr J. Simes was his owner. The other death is of the brood mare Corcyra, who was bred in England by Lord Stamford in 1871, got by King Tom from Cerintba, by Newminster from .Queen Bee, by Amarino. Mr R. H. Long, who put her to Outcast in 1874, and to Unc&a in 1875, got no results, and the then passed into the Cobhast itnd t where, I ttuak, Mr P. Gamp*

bell selected her for New Zealand, she being at the time supposed to be in foal to Ben Battle. The first of her progeny to race was Aloinous, who whan well could get a fair mile, and the best of the small family was Bay King, who stood a lot of racing for Mr F. Butler and Mr W. Russell, and has to his credit tbe Gereldine Cup, the Epsom Welter, and other racea in which he had to gallop. *#* "Oileua" supplies the Canterbury Times with a list of tbe winning two-year-olds during | the season up to the end of the Auckland meeting :— Bombshell, by Chainshot— Nautilus, £1017. Dauntless, by Dreadnought-^Orientale, £807 103. St. Paul, by St. Leger-Satanella, £736 ss. . Armilla. by Ca&tor— Necklace, £577 105. ~ St. Ouida, by St. Clair-Ouida, £374 6s. Defiance, by Dreadnought — Legacy, £253 ss. Marlin, by Artillery— Fallacy, £213 16s. Biruetallist, by Apremont— Silver Queen, £199 10s. Marquis of Zetland, by Parkin Warbeck ll— Reverie, £194 15s. Belle Clair, by St. Clair— Dione, £180 10 a. Nestor, by St. Leger— Tamora, £171. • Uijou, by Medallion— Sapphire, £156 15b. Trentalto, by Trenton— Montalto, £147 ss. I'alliauoe, by Medallion— Galatea, £137 155. Antares, by Castor— Hilda, £133. Daring, by Dreadnought— Blflock, £128 ss. Porangi Potae, by Castor— Madcap, £128 ss. Firefly, by Artillery -Fairy Maid, £128 ss. St. Elmo, by Castor— Welcome Katie, £118 15s. Pitch and Toss, by Medallion— Vaultrass, £118 15s. Epaulet, by Medallion— Dudu, £95. Irish Girl, by St. Clair-Lady Gertrude, £66 10a. - Bavaria, by Forerunner — Starwater, £66 10s. Lady Anna, by St. Leger— Anna, £57 03, Uniform, by Hotchkiss— Formo, £57 sa. Decoration, by Medallion— Flattery, £33 15s. Hangfire, by Flintlock— Armadilla, £23 153. Forest Rose, by Forester— Rosa Bonheur, £19. Sheet Lightning, by Quilt -Waitiri, £19. Manutake, by Castor— Balista, £19. Caritas, by Apremont — Charity, £19. Grand Cross, by Medallion— Marion, £14 ss. DAinieella, by Artillery— Titama, £9 103 Lorenzo, by Armourer— Len ore, £9 10s. Here we have Musket blood predominant again. Twenty-two of the youngsters catalogued spring from the great sire on one side or the other, and only a dozen are left that are not more or less Mu'keb stook.

*** What there is to be said in answer to the oft-quoted cases of high-priced yearlings turning out failures is made the most of by the Sportsman's special eouamifsioner. He conteuds that it is foolish to sum up the cost on one side and the stake winnings on the other. Anyone with a small vestige of intelligence knows that the capital value of a well-bought racehorse or mare remains, while the races won are in the nature of profit We may see La Fleche and Childwick bought for high prices, but is it to be supposed that their value ceases with their racing carders ? Of course not. La Fleche at this moment could not be bought for less than 10,000gs, and Childwick would command at any rate his original price. Is it not therefore absurd to ignore the capital value of such animals, and set their initial cost merely against their winnings on the turf, as if they represented a loss ? Why, good heavens ! no man suggests that the mere stakes to be won oan by any probability balance with the whole value of our bloodstock — that would be too absurd. It would simply mean that the total number of yearlings in any season are exactly worth the total value of stakes that they may win, leas the incidental expenses. Such a calculation is manifestly misleading. Bren hopeless failures at racing have a value — sometimes a considerable value — for the most successful brood mares have not uncommonly been quite useless for racing purposes. It seems to be forgotten that racing is but a means to an end — viz,, the improvement of our horses, whether thoroughbred or half bred, and that the great v&lue attached to the British thoroughbred all over the world is tha direct outcome of this. Many of our Queen's Premium horses were of no account whatever on the turf. Again, is it not obvious that when a horse wins a race like the Cesaretvitch, as Childwick did, the value of that win is never limited by the amount of the stakes P There is almost invariably a good sum also landed. in the shape of bets. In short, we all know that even over an unimportant race a big sum may be won, so that the mere value of tV~ stakes is very far from being all that men r»f for. Then again, even in stakes, there are horse , such as Donevao, Isinglass, and Orme, that win fortunes, and were the purchase of yearlings ju»t a lottery, still there woald always be plenty of eager buyers to try their luck for some snch prizes asuthese. It- cannot be disputed that if yon can only pick the right yearlings their value even by the stakes calculation is very great. Tnnt many people buy the wrong ones for large sums is no proof that good yearlings are not worth such sums. It demonstrates this and nothing more — viz., tbat buyers are lacking in judgment. There is really, however, little or no risk in buying, say, a good-looking St. Simon filly for a large sum. Sir James Miller gave over 4000gs for ftoquebrune, and stie is worth every penny of it now, even though she should never start for another race. Knight of the Thistle cost 2000gs, and has won nothing. Is it contended that he is therefore worth nothing? What would he make N if put up for sale now P Certainly twice his cost price, at the very least.

* # * This is very well put indeed— no point is missed on behalf of the side the writer espouses, — but his arguments would lose much of their force if applied to the colonies, where a hone's value is chiefly measured by his stakeearning ability. There are here no fortunes in store for stud horses. Stallions' fees are on what may be termed a very reasonable scale, there being no millionaire enthusiasts to ruih a fashionable horse's subscription list at fancy figures. Traduoer, in his last season, commanded a high fes— £loo it bas been said, though my information places it at £50. This sum, however, is quite uncommon. The rule, so far as the colony is concerned, 4s that when a horse goes, to the stud he has lost his chance of making a rise 'for his owner. Most men buy merely for racing purposes, and sell when a horse can race no longer, and if one of a team is retained for . otud purposes the profits he brings in no more than balance the losses on others of the same establishment that are not wanted for stud use. Our New Zealand experience is all against the highpriced yearlings. I am no advocate for low prices, but I should like to see a decent average maintained, holding that this is far better and eafer business for the buyer than that a few styli»hly-bred ones should sell high and the bulk go for hack values. Australians aUo have had a sickener of tall figures for ye&rlings.

*** The Australasian says: In Australia we seldom see a yearliug fetch lOOOgs. When they have we are afraid the result has been mnch the same as in England. Warwick (2000gs), Superba (1900ge), Genesta (1300gs), Montem (1650g*), and Miranda (1200gs) wore all failures, although Warwick did manage to pick an some 4ood-E*ees m * two-yeac-oW. In

1886, Abydoa brought ISOOgs, and sever won ft race. Huntingtower (lOOOgs) and Rosewood (1050gs), in the same year,' did no good, la 1887 four yearlings brought over lOOOgs. Redbourne, for whom the late Mr Pearson gave 1350g5, never won a race. The Sylvia and Onyx fillies, bought by the late Mr Thomas Ghirnside, also failed on the racecourse, but one of them, Beryl, bred^ a lOOOgs yearling in Founamu before she died. Chetwynd won a few races in moderate company, and that was aIL After this there were no big figures until 1890, when Ascotvale cost 1050gs and Steadfast 1025ga. They certainly were not downright failures, but they did not prove better than their contemporaries. Strathmore, for instance, only cost 350gs at the same time as Steadfast. Pascarel (1075g5), Lord Randolph (2300g5), and Mousquetaire (2625g5) were high-priced failures bought in 1891. The following year saw Garcon sold for 1400gs, Pounamu (lOOOgs), Filatua (1000g«), Currawang (HOOgs), and Havoc (2200g5). Mr Wilson is probably satisfied with his purohase of Havoo, and Garcon and Pounamu were good colts who met with bad luck, bat Currawang never earned a bracket, and Pilatus must still owe Mr Wilson his original cost. Since then Astronomer f1575^«), the Necklace colt (1050g»), and Coil (lOOOgs) have been the only four-figure yearlings sold. It is pretty certain from these records that the costly colts and fillies iv Australia have been anything but a success. It should be mentioned, however, that Martini-Henry and Chester would both be included amoDg the lOOOgs and over lot ; but they were bought privately. The late Mr James White must also" have done well out of Palmyra (1159g5) and Segenboe (2000gs). Both won the Maribyrnong Plate, whioh was one of the best prizes of the year in their time. That the ill-success ef high-priced horses has been the cause of yearling prices falling off in Australia is not at all likely. The decline is explained by the change in the character of our racing men. We have lost the wealthy young enthusiasts who thirsted after winning clastic races a few years back. Nowadays the great majority of our racing mea want to make their horie* pay their way, and will not risk a big price for a yearling.

#£# Mr Ben Curtis was granted admission to the South Canterbury courss on the footing of an owner, he undertaking, I understand, to abstain from pursuing his old avocation as a penciller. It is pleasant to be able to record the making of such an agreement. I like to think that our racing men are honourable, and cau hru«b each other. It would be most satisfactory if an arrangement on a basis of honour could be effected as between clubs generally and the whole body ef reputable fielders. Snch a thing will no doubt be possible some day, aad maybe the time is hastened by the edict, now becoming quite the fashion all round, excluding bookmakers from tbe courses. Most of these nsen love raciug and like to see it, and they will sooner or later climb down from their present attitude of defiance, and ask to have their parole not to bet accepted. Wheu that is done, and proper safeguards are furnished, and the clubs are satisfied that their revenues will be protected^ thft sentence of banishment will no doubt be revoked. Meantime the bookies have only themselves to blame. They are supplied with plenty of legitimate business without going on to the courses, and must; be satisfied with that. This principle is now generally reoogniaed. Clubs are putting more money through the maohine under the new system, the' public are not inconvenienced where a 10s totalizator is opened, and owners are beginning to see it is to their interest to strengthen the funds, and so keep up the stakes. A* one of them remarked the other day: "I don't mind taking my money to the machine if all the others do, because if we all pursue that plan, each man backing what he thinks will win, there will be a dividend for the winner. What Ido object to is to put on my £20 and sea other owners send theirs away. If I win I've got to bear the weight of the rush from the public, and down goes my dividend, wherea* if the other coves get h'>me they scoop in good dividends." This IB the commou-seusa view of the matter, and ommoa sense must prevail.

*** The Measrs Manifold, of Victoria, sent three horses to South Australia for the Onkap ringa meeting at Eauter, and with them won he three principal races — namely, the Hurdle R*ee of 400sovs wi»,h Geometry, >the Cup of 500.-toys nihh Veronica, and the Great Easter 6te»plrchase of lOOOsovs with Dungan. The Hurdle Race was a very soft thing. Geometry, a daughter of Euclid, made all the running, and won easily by six lengths, paying the respectable dividend of £10 4«. For the Cup there were 11 starters. Duke of Richmond 6.13 led to the straight, where Veronica 7.4 passed him, and after a good race she beat Preston 9 5 by a length and a-half, doing tha mile and three furlongs in 2miu 28secaudreturning a dividend of £8 9s. Veronica is a four-year-old by Wellington from Isla, by Camden from Julia, by Tramby from Juliet, by Romeo. Prier to this race Veronica had run only three t'map, and some of those who turned up the rec ire's to find her history wore rather surprised to discover that she bad won each of her engagements, two at Camperdown and oue at Colac. The Steeplechase wont to Dungan, a six-year-old son of Wellington and FJirfc, ridden by M. Carey at 10.11, He started favourite (divividend, £3 8a), and beat Joi 10.12, who was Breoaer's mount, by a length and a-balf. At the end of the s&me,vrefck Dangau palled off the Steeplechase at South Australian Tattersail's meeting. /

V The death of Mr William Filgate, of South Australia, at the age of 84, supplies "Terlinga" with the opportunity of raking up a few interesting reminiioenccs. Wben Mr Filgate came to South Australia first he was in the saddle at all race meetings, riding for the late Mr J. Hawker or other friends and for himself. In those days fences were big and falls numerous, but although at one time or another he had every bone is his body broken, Mr Filgate never felt any inconvenience from hit hurts, and until very lately he never knew \ what illness meant. Fidget, a grey gelding,^ was the most succsiful animal he rode over fences in -Australia. All his riding contemporaries s*ve itfi- C. B. Fisher have gone. Soon after Fisherman was imported Mr Filgate took the management of the Messrs Fisher's horses, and was in charge at Maribyrnong in the days of Fishhook. He had a deal to contend with, as in those days "nobbling" was anything but a lost art, and the Fisher horses were such favourites that there was - always an inducement to bribe stable helps to make them safe on the eve of an important race. No one dou 1 fci th*t Fishhook was poisoned in 1867. M,t- Filgate went to his grs.ve knowing full p»rUr.u! irs of th»t fonl conspiracy. He told me the facts cama to him only a few years back. A dying man tent for him, and on bis de*tb bed confessed the whole details of the plot, but made Mr Filgate promise not to divulge the secret — and William Filgate was not the man to break a promise. For himself Mr Filgate won the Adelaide St. Leger in 1853 with King of Motialta, and after he left Mr O. B. Fisher he won the V.R.O. Derby of 1873 witk fcapidist, who bad gee-

viously scoured the Asootvale Stakes. With Dolphin lie won the Adelaide Cup of 1875, Glenormiaton, who" woo the same race in 1878, was about the last hone of any note raced fay Mr Filgate. He had a penchant for litigation, and many will remember his action against the A.J.C. for placing him on the forfeit list over Retort. The date of the meeting had been changed, atfd Mr Filgate took the ground that the club had broken its contract with him. The case was tried in Melbourne and was the fireb big sporting case in whioh Mr J. L. Furvea took a prominent put. I think Filgate won the day. Later on he was going to law with the A.R.C. for insisting that Glenormiston should put up a penalty for a Birthday Cup, but the horse broke down one morning and was scratched.

*** Leslie, winner of the opening Hurdle Race at the Sydney meeting, had not previously earned the brackets. He made all the running, and was never approached till coming to the last fence, where Llena challenged but- struck heavily, after which Leslie ran borne alone. He is by Bulgoa (a Goldaborough horse) from Atalanta. Raillery broke a leg in the race and was shot. , The time for the mile and a-half of the Autumn Stakes (2<nin 45seo) indicates that the horses were waiting on one another in the early part of the race, and that was actually the case, the pace being not put on till about flva furlongs from home. At the point when thay did begin to go Delaware was at the head of affaire, and he was sever quite dispossessed of the lead, winning by a head from Valiant, who fought out the finish very gamely, and would have won, it is thought, but for holding Delaware too cheaply. We are told, at any rate, that Monaghan blamad himv-lf for the result by hampering the jockey (Cox) with instructions. Of the six starters for the Two-year- old Maiden Btak«s, Dan O'Brien's Mosaic was smartest away, but when Fucile, who wai slow in beginning, got fairly going he .drew to the lead with Snapshot (by Nordenfeldt— Miriam), and a capital race ended in Fucile winning by a neck* He is a son _ of Carbine from Venice, by Malta from Marie ' Btu*rt, by Maribyrnong, and co»t Mr F. Gaxfen 240gi as a. yearling. CouraMie, winner of the Donoaster Handicap, was bred by Mr 11.I 1 . Cook, of lownsville, and as a two-year-old was sold to his present owners, the Messrs Moses, for 60ga. The horse is by Gemma di Vergy from Honeymoon, by Maribyrnong from Bridesmaid. He did not race till he was four years old, and until (he Doncaster Handicap had Itaen a great disappointment. ' It being supposed that he had gone off,\ his owners did not back him for much this time either, and it is said that on a pinch 100 to 5 could have bsen procared about his chasoo. The St. Lsgsr story is soon told. Cabin Boy Made the pace, but was not permitted to get such a lead as he held at Flemingfcon, for Wallace dodged on at his heels till it was time to race fn earnest when Gough gave him a reminder and he won. Cabin Boy ran a good colt, and, fairly b?at the other three.

* # * On the second day Wakawatea carried 9 5 in the Flying Handicap, but' was cot seen in the race, nor was Royal Rose 8.3. Courallie 10.0 got up only in the la»t stride. It was a very close shave as between* him and the lightly-weighted Dora. Patrons, winner of the Maidoa Plate, is siater to Patron. She was seriously interfered with in tie race, or probably would have won very easily. The Champagne Stakes resulted in the defeat of the favourite, Newhaven, on whom odds of 7to 4 were laid. Thin was a bad start for his new owners, Mr W. T. Jones and Mr W. Cooper, who bought the colt jointly b afore the race for 2000gs. Newhaven, lays the Mail's reporter, «a* the fir»fc to leave the mark, and after half a furlong had bean travelled he was just showing in front of Huret and FuoiU, while Coil was in close attendance, and in patient waiting. As they raced past the three-furlong post the pace was auythiDg bat solid, and Huret, Newhaven, and Fucile were clustered, with Ooil going strongly a length away. Newhaven on the outside just led into th 6 straight, but to the dismay of his backers he went all to pieces when called upon by Gozoezar, who for a few strides looked like winning; but as they came on the favourite suddenly retired, and as he did so Coil, flashing through with 7 a bril limit ran, never left the matter in doubt, and, w-i"g right away from his opponents, won very e«ilj by a length and a-half from Gozoezar, who was two lengths in front of Newhaven. Tire was two lengths off, three lengths in advance of Fucile, who was waited on by Huret and Vigilance. The Sydney Cup has been already described by cable, and it is sufficient to add that Mr Wilson did not greatly 'fancy* Wallace, his selections being Aomena and Toreador, wherefore he won very little over the race, and Mr Donald Wallace, who might be supposed to be Wallace's mosb consistent supporter, was satisfied to seek elsewhere for the winner. If men like these %o wrong in their calculations, how is the outsider to get ob to winners P Comments on the subsequent racing at the meeting are supplied by onr correajoadent, and appear in this issue.

*** A contemporary relates the experience of Mr Fisher, who when in England tome years ago desired to buy a good sire to bring to Australia. Lord Falmouth suggesting he should interview Mat Dawson v and giving him a letter to expedite matters, Mr Fisher journeyed down to Newmarket,' and after calling at Dawaon's st&blea and finding him out- went to Newmarket Heath to meet him. The letter of introduction read, and the time of day passed, Dawson said : '■* Well, Mr Fishsr, you say yon want a stallion for Australia ; how would this fellow I'm riding do you ? " " Oh, dear me," replied Fisher, "of course it's a nice hone, but, sir, I should like something a little better class than that." "Ah ! " remarked Dawson, "then lam afraid / can't suit you, because this white-faced chestnat is Stockwell." Mr Fisher collapsed ; to poohpooh that mighty sire was too awful. We know this story is trae, for the hero— Mr Fisher, net the horse— told as it himself.

***Njrth Otage races are fixed for Thursday »ud Friday of this week, and, as an early edition will reach Oamaru in time, I may as well express my opinion as to the likely winners oa the first day. The Maiden Plate may be won by Grand Crois, the Publicans' Handicap by Vanquisher, the Cup by Van Bnren, the Trot by Joe Barnett or Tikaro, the Novel by Nomad, the Flying by Vanilla, and the Ladiu' Bracelet by Vanity. The Cup, it may be remarked, is a very open race, and, though there will be a limited field, nothing ought to be made a certainty.

*** The following stakes were paid over by the South Canterbury Jockey Club:— A. Q. Holmes, £80 15s; 8. Brown, £66 10s; G. •Qrice, £61 155 ; H. Vallanoe, £47 10s ; J. J. Lewis, £42 15s ; M. Friedlander, £38 ; Hugh Jewsey, £23 15s; J. Bryan, £23 15s; -J. Meikle, £23 15s ; F. Butler, £14 5s ; John Corran, £9 10s ; G. Hedges, £4 15s ; W. T. Turner, £4 15s; F. Dkon, £4 15»>-iot»i £448 10#.