TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2253, 6 May 1897, Page 31

TALK OF THE DAY.

Bit MAZBPFA.

"#* Three montho ago there was every ppo*

j specfc of a. regular row between Ihu Dtmei'ia Joclicy Club rucl the South Iplund Trotting Afigociation. 111-sdrisea 1 letters were scut to the club demanding obeieaiice to the association, and the club, really vexed, was in no humour to make friends. But the Colonial Secretary intervened with proposals that were more or lets acceptable to both p&ities, and, presumably as the result of his wise action, the quarrel has blown over. lam not told how the. understanding was arrived at, nor do I want to know. Suffice ib thab the trouble is ended. So, at any rate, ib would appear from the decision of tho D. J.C. Committee on Thursday last to comply with the request of certain owners, trainers, and riders and order the trotting races on the May programme to be run under the rules&pf the association. I understand that that was one of the principal demtnds pub forward by the association. The rest of the differences between the two bodies will no doubt adjust themselves. There ia no need to specify what those differences were. The whole question is, I hope, relegated to the past. In this belief I congratulate the club and the association on their good sense, and express thanks to the Hon. J. Carroll for his mediation. Sport has plenty of foes from without, and we cannot afford internal strife," all the strength th»t can be mustered being needed to keep in check the epoil sports who are forever poking their noses in and trying to find some excuse for hysterical bewailings regarding a subject which they dp not understand.

*** I have been thinking over and talking to learned xacing men about the Rangiriri problem as stated in our Auckland correspondent s letter, and having listened carefully and given tho matter some thought, I venture to express an opinion upou it. The question is simply whether a horse that has carried declared overweight and ruu a dead heat is bound to carry the came acaount of overweight in the tun-off. My opinion is that there ii no such obligation. Most men, when asked the question eff-hand, reply that in fairness the same weight should be put up the second time, but the thought seems to come at once that it might be difficult to enforce such a decision. That is how it strikes me. Tbe question is surely, so fur &a the law goes, one of contract. The owner in this csse undertook to run his horse at a weight not leas than 8.0. That was the basis

of the contract with the club. It was, however, optional with him to put up overweight if declared, and he «>xerci*ed that option in tho race, bub it cannot be said that because he did bo he could be deprived of his , right to go back to the contract and abicta by ifcs t;eriJoß until tbe Avent came to a proper conclusion. Ii: is not argued that the owner did anything to deprive himself of the rights originally acquired. Ac the matter occurs to my mind, the position ia simply this — the carrying of the 2st extra ia a voluntary act, and the club hao no right to forcß the carrying of it again, since Wbat; would be inflicting a penalty without; cavae. Tho other owner cannot possibly complain. Ho lias no s^y in the matter at al.\ according to *inj< view of the case, from ji legal aspect, and in regavd to equity alao ho caa scarcely open his moutb, because at the h&ndic&pper'a weights his horse would probably have been beaten oufe of sight. The betting^ issues are, of course, quite a secondary consideration, but ht>ro also the opinion which I pub tor ward seems to stand psretly well, for no injustice i« done to anybody, »nd the verdict squares with the totalisator rules, these providing that a runoff shall be treated as a new raoe — meaning, of course, a new race at the old weight?, since there is no provision for the preparing of a freeh handicap, I feel fairly sure of my ground in this opinion'; still the question is pne that ifc would be ns wpll to sebtle by an addition to the rules.

* # * I should chink, writes the scribe of the

i Sporting and Dramatic News, that there has

never Been less winter betting about Derby /borsos than now, but the three who left off at the top of the trea last back end — ! namely, Gftltee More, Vesuvian, *nd Velasquez — axe all apparently doing *s well as their aioss ardent admirers could wish. The fiwsi:-naiae-ri iB reported to have been having an easy time of- it just lately, but no one in the world knows better than Darling what work his horsa wants, and it ia chiefly due to that trainer's patience with him a3 a two-year-old that ho in vrhat he is now. I have it, too, on the authority of a really good judge, who has seen him lately, that he has come on altogether in the right way siuce last back end, and that he is doing as well ns any horse could. I have always thought that he would make a better three-yesr-oM , than Velasquez, because he was a very backi -ward colfc all last, Rummer, and wan never i really at his bestf' uutil the Middl? Pack Piftte day, wherea* Lord Rosebery'a colfc, jon the contrary f^ was always * «. forward } eort, and cherry ripe at rAscot time. At the { same time' I hear tha beat" accounts of- Velaß- ; quez, who, although ho haa not grown much, - I has, I believe, thickened » good deal, and has I lost none of his perfect action. That he is a ' really good colt there is no doubt, and it should never be forgotten that his dam, Vista, who is by Macaroni out of Verdure, by King Tom out: of May Bloom, "by Ne^minater, is also the d*m of Bona Vista, so that he would eadly disgrace his connections if he were not * good racehorse, which he certainly proved himself to he at two years old ; and if I have always preferred the son of Kendal, it is because he is by far the finer colt, and one in whom there haa always been much room for improvement. It msy be, I though, that neither of these is fated to have his name enrolled on the list of Derby winners, since no one can say how much improvements John Porter may not hare brought about in I Vesuvian, who was a mere baby when he won ! the Dewhurst Plate, and may easily be the best I colt of bis year next May. Certain it is that j his trainer thought him too backward to win I that race, and we all know what a knack ha has of turning moderate two-year-olds into great three-year-olds.

*** Budd Doble, the veteran driver of trotters, has been telling the American publio some particulars about the old-time queen of the tracks, Goldsmith Maid. " I drove Dexter, one of the greatest horses that ever lived, to a record of 2min 17isec at Buffalo on August 14, 1867, and after it had been announced that Mr Roberh Bonner, wh.o had purchased him, would retire him from the turf, I looked around for another prospective record-breaker. Mr Alden Goldsmith sent me a telegram asking me if I would not take his mare, and I gave serious thought to the answer. May 16, 1867, I had trotted Dexter against the Goldsmith marc ab Middleiown, and won in 2tnin 28£s6c, 2min 32sec, 2min 28sec, but the mare had shown such bursts of speed a? to greatly impress me. _ I decided to give the maro a trial, and bo iem formed Mr Gold-rmth. I delivered DextaS tO..

Mr Bonner in September, and a few days later received the Goldsmith mare. She was a nervy, wiry bay of 15hds lin, bred by John B. Decker, fcaled in 1857, and got by Alexander's Abdallah (son of Rysdyk's H&mbletonian) out of Lady "Abdallah, a daughter of the Abdallah thab sired Hambletonian. The mare that Mr Goldsmith turned over to me was broken-gaibed, and I started her in bat one race that fall. This was st Narragansett Park, Providence, against May Queen, Confidence, Colonel Maynard, Orazy Jane, Old Pat, and Bruno, and although I won I was somewhat ashtmed of the performance. The third heat wes lost to May Queen in 2min 31sec, and the others were won in the slow time of 2min -31isec, 2min 29£ sec, 2min 31sec. The gait of fche mare would not pass muster in these days. She was very unsteady, would break and rush and not stick to the trot. I carefully wintered her near Philadelphia, and in the spring took her to Fashion course, Long Islsnd, and* my aim was to correct her faulty action. In *11 of her work I never allowed her to chop her gait. I restrained her and confined fter to a pure trot. In conquering her desire to rash »nd break speed was lost, but when I worked her in races her speed gradually came back to her. She rapidly improved, and I named her Goldsmith Maid.' When the Maid was doing her besb trotting the weight of the forward shoe was from 12oz to 14-oz, and that of the hind Shoe Bcz. I always drove her with a loather bit, specially made, with a fine chain inside, capped with chamois/ She wore an open bridle, and a loose side check. Her boobs were quarter boobs, ana light felt knee boots forward and thin boots and scalpers behind. She was very easy on her shoes — wore them evenly."

*#* The loDg-expected judgment in the English case of Dunn v. Hawke was delivered in March by Mr Justice Hawkins on behalf of himself and the four other judges who heard the appeal of Mr John Hawke, the secretary of the Anti-gambling League, against the decision of the Kingston magistrates. Their lordships found that the magistrates took an erroneous view of the law, and that the enclosure at Hurst Park in which Mr Dunn betted on July 4 was a " place " within the meaning of the act. They therefore remitted the caso to the Kingston Bench for further consideration, and ordered the respondent to pay * the costs. In the couree of his judgment the judge said : " I ;have arrived at the conclusion that any area of .enclosed ground, covered or uncovered, which is known by a name or is capable of reasonably accurate description, to which persons from time to time or upon any particular occasions or occasion resort, used by a professional betting man for the purpose of exercising his calling and betting with such persons, or for the purpose of carrying on a ready- money betting .business, may be a place within the meaning of jthe statute." This decision, it may ba remarked, does net finally settle the case. What >it really means is that there is to be a fresh 'hearing, at which Dunn's defence will raise jeeveral points not yefc taken. So that the AntiSambling League, though temporarily successful, has not yet wholly carried the position, and will have to secure further advantages ere it can claim to have stopped ring batting. I hope it will not get io far. Ring betting is not the ] test — it is the worst foim of wagering, but it is preferable, with all its attendant evils, to the despotism of the Cold Tea Party. ;

■*♦* "The V.R.C. by a large majority has decided to strongly support the introduction of the totalisator at Fiemington, and to ask the co-operation of country clubs." Such is the wording of a recent cablegram. Ido not know that it means very much, for there is a mountain of difficulty to be overcome before tbe machine can get to work. Still, the resolution jshows that the desire for the great reforming •gent is not only alive, but active and growing. [That Victoria and New South Wales and every jother civilised racing community will have the jbotalisator sooner or later is absolutely certain, .unless something that we have not yet heard of comes to intercept the machine and outdo it in respect to the advantages conferred. Whatever occurs, one thing may be prophesied without any risk — namely, that the days of the ring as » Monopolising institution are numbered. The public are heartily sick of the old arrangement nnder which owners and bookmakers make their sport at the expense of backers. Australian Bupporters of the newer and cleaner system will doubtless have to face the old combination of tulpit, Ring, and Vested Interests,- and in all probability the allies will win again ; but the reformers can count on an accession of strength following each repulse, for theirs is the cause of the People, and they have Sight on their side, and one of these days the ppposition will sustain nob merely a reverse, bnt ntter rout. Tbe Bookmakers are fighting not For conquest, but in what they believe to be the defence of their living. If they really understood the position they would drop their arms and welcome the reform as their greatest friend. New Zealandera could give them a hint on that subject. But they won't see it, and can hardly fee expected to, for it does not seem feasible, though quite true, that the Totalisator would be their best friend. We in this colony did not think- so at first, but things h&ve so settled Sown here that our Ring is now unassailably lolvent. If it had not been " the corner " would have gone to smash over recent losses, whereas only one man has succumbed, and he a comparatively small bettor who foolishly, and against the advice of his brethren, " went for the gloves " instead of sticking to strict business.

*^* Mr Henry Eyre Linde, an Irish sports- j man whose name is known all over the world, ! died at Kildare last March from Bright's disease induced by a fall in the hunting field a dozen years ago. The Sportsman says that "■The Farmer," as his intimates styled him, was almost as well known at the great racing reaottß of Liverpool and Paris at the Prince of Wales or the President of the French Republic. And well he might be. With the aid of Mr "Tommy" Beaaley, the greatest steeplechase rider in the world — as he has been deservedly called — he achieved some of the most distinguished successes known in modern turf history. To prove this it is only necessary to mention the names of Empress and Woodbrook, the first-named of which pair in 1880 easily defeated a field of 13 others for the Grand National, gficond to her being The Liberator, who had a year earlier carried Mr Garretb Moore to victory in the big 'chase, on which occasion Mr Linde had trained the animal that finished third, a mare named Martha, belonging to Mr OelscbLaeger. In 1881 Mr Linde achieved a second victory in the National by means of Captain Kirkwocd's Wood^brook, who, starting favourite, •won in a canted, included amongst the field being his stable companion, Fair Wiod, *rbo was the property of the owner of Eoapress. Fortune after this* ceased to smile on Mr Linde's candidates for Liverpool honours, although he usually had something running, Lord Zetland's Choufleur, for instance, in 1891, who came a cropper, and Ardcarn, in 1892, who uame over with; a great repntation and started third favourite at 10 to 1, only to finish fourth ; while last year he sent out Swanshot for Captain Orr-Ewina, but the horse fell at Beecher'a

Brook. Another notable National failure was Emperor, who was bred -by Mr Linde out of his old favourite, Empress, and was bought by Captain Maohelt with an eye to winning the race, but he proved a disastrous purchase, running nowhere in Come Away's year, when trained at Epsom by Nigatingall, and he broke his neok in returning to the paddock trying to jump some rails. But if there were no further Liverpool honours in store for Mr Linde subgequent to Woodbrook's success, he obtained in France the distinction of twice carrying off the Grand Steeplechase de Paris, in 1882 and 1883, by means of Whisper Low and Too Good— the latter having had his name bestowed upon him by the Empress of Austria when on a visit to Ireland. Amongst other notable animal? that won more or less important victories for Byrefield Lodge can be mentioned Uena, in the opinion of many good judges one of the best 'chasers that ever breathed ; Mohican, once placed in the National ; Seaman, sold by Mr Linde to Lord Manners prior to his victory in the crofs-country blue riband of 1883 ; also Chancery, Spahi, Ashplant, Bridegroom, and Chitchat.

*#* Discussing the old races at R&ndwick, "Delaware" cays: Thirty-one years ago Mr Andrew Loder won the A.J.O. St. Leger with ; The Piteford, a son of the. Two Thousand Guineas' winner, Pitsford. Thirteen ran for the first Leger, find among them were Angler, Tim Whiffler, Thompson's Cossack and Sappho. Only two out of that 13 live in the racehorses of tCiday, and they are Angler and Sappho. The former may live for ever through his great son, Robinson Crusoe, but the blood of Sappho is not likely to last first or second clais for another generation. She left three great sons behind her — at least they were great on our racecourses — but alb the stud they weroonly ordinary. The winner of the Cup in '66 was the immortal Yattencon, who turned out to be the best sire ever seen south of the line. Strange to pay, his greatest mate in after life, Sultana, ran up to him in the firs b Cup, and, if my memory is all right, he was her only love when they retired from the racecourse, and to him she bore two stout sons in Sterling and Sweetmeat. Joe Scan says The Barb wa3 the prettiest a.nd mesb vicious buck-jumper he ever saw. When he (Joe), Jim Kean, and Bob Ingersol were coming to Sydney over the Blue Mountains with several bits of blood, among them was The Barb, then a two-year-old, and they had a lively timn ot it. Ingersol always rode The Barb, and hi« antics to rid himself ot his rider used to sefc Jim screaming. " Take that black wrelch to the devil and lose him. The brake ! He'll never be worth a set of shoes," &c However, they reached Sydney »11 alive, and The Barb went to Byron Lodge, and his first essay in public was at Homebusb, when he showed his loin strength by chucking Charlie Stanley heels over head after they started for a two-year-013 race. However, his manners mended, and he beat Fishhook in the Derby and went on to Melbourne and won the Cup. He was weighted at 8.12 for the "Sydney Cup in 1868 and won in a canter. Stumpy and his stable mate Tim Whiffiar were second and third, but Tim was oarrying George Donnelly, 9.10, on that day, and among the beaten lot were Fishhook, Pitsford, and Glencoe. Next yesr, -1869, The Barb carried 10 8 and won the Cup, and again Stumpy and Tim escortad him home, as they did the previous year, leaving 13 others down the course.

*#* Honours at the Wellington meeting were divided between Waiuku, St. Paul, and Goldspur, and it is- a pjfcy that the three did not meet in one of the races so as to see how the northern pair would have shaped with Goldspur. The latter was handicapped to give Waiuku 61b and St. Paul 71b in the Thompson Handicap, and on thoge weights he certainly looked like having a show, bur for some reason which has not transpired Loughlia took him out, electing to go for the short-distance race, which he appropriated with the utmost ease. In Goldspur's absence the public made Barshot and Waiuku joint favourites for the Thompson Handicap, and those who had a bit on both hit the winner, though they must have quaked in their boots when they saw St. Paul fighting out a desperate finish. Barshofc, who suffered at the start, made a demonstration in the straight, but failed to stay, and none of the others ever looked dangerous. It was a twohorse race. Hence, perhaps, the explanation' of the fact that the time was not fast, though, on looking through the list of winners, I notice that the Thompson Handicap has never been a time-cutting race. Here is the list : — 1892— Kupenga syrs 7 0 lmin 51Jsec £15 5 1893— Rangipuhi syrs 7 7 lmiu 46Jsec 8 18 1894— Lottie 4yrs 8 2 lmin 44} sec 12 10 1895-Waiuku 4yrs 7 5 lmin 47isec 9 3 1896 — Meeting abandoned. 1897— Waiuku 6yrs 8 13 lmin 45 sec 5 19 The largeness of the dividends tells a tale of the downfall of favourites in this race. In 1892 there was no very pronounced favourite, but Kulnine had most supporters, and he finished a fair third. Cretonne, who ran second, was a rank outsider. The next year, when Rangipuhi got home with his 71b penalty, The Workman 9.3 started a decided favourite, and finished no nearer than fifth. Vogengang 811 and Purepo were ths chief fancies in 1894, when Lottie won, and four others were heavier backed on the machine than Jim Kean's mare. When Waiuku won in 1895 backers were very much in love with St. Clements 8.11, who finished a bad second, three lengths away ; and this year, as the report shows, Barshot had the greatest amount of support from investors on the course.

*#* Over the longer distance of the Autumu Handic»p on the second day Waiuku failed ignominiously when raised to 9.7, an increase of 81b. Backers judiciously preferred St. Paul for this event, seeing that he had 91b the besb of it afe compared with the horse that had fought out the Thompson handicap -with him. and it was no surprise to find the Aucklander winning ; but Waiuku might have been expected to make a better fhow than he did. Presumably his race on the first day had taken the fire out of him. If so, he is not made of such fibrous material as Goldspur. This southerner fairly despises weight. They got him up to 9.11 in the Railway Handicap, and he won all the way, and when lifted to 10 12 on the second day he buried everything that had the temerity to offer opposition. The weight itself is unusual, if not unique, in a common handicap, not a welter, and if it ever was carried before I'll engage that the bearer did not make .«o light a burden of it as Goldspur did. He is a crack sprinter with a vengeance, at any rate in respect to weight-carrying ability. His record is something worth sticking in scrapbooks :—: —

Palmerston, December — Second to Toxa, 10.0 ' up, in Hack Race, five furlongs

Tapanui, January — Won Maiden Plate ; dividend, £1 6s

Canterbury, February— Won Hornby Welter,

8.4, one mile, lmin 44sec ; dividend, £8 55... 100 Ditto — Second 7.2 to Jewel 7.S in Craven Plate 10 Dunedin, February — Won Stewnrus' Purse. 8.8, six furlongs, lmiu 17Asec ; dividend, £3

2s »v Ditto— Won "Domain Handicap, 8.7, six furlongs, lmin 16Jsec ; dividend, £A 9s 110

■ North Otago, March— Second, 9.0, in Flying Handicap, won by Telemeter 7 12 10 Ditto— Wou Waitaki Plate, 9 2, five furlongs, ; lmin 3 3 ssec ; dividend, £1 16s 35 I Canterbury, April— Won Easter Handicap, 8.7, j seven furlongs, lmin 28£ se c; dividend, £10 > _17s6d 440 Ditto— Wou Teinrdeton Handicap, 95, six 1 furlongs, lmin IGJsec ; dividend, £i 9a .. 110 Wellington, April— Wou Railway Handicap, 9.11, six furlongs, lmin 18 4-ssec ; dividend, £2 13s 105 Ditto— Won Farewell Handicap, 10.12, five furlongs, lmin sJaec ; dividend, £1 18 a ... 60 Twelve races — nine wins and three seconds; £1062 won in stakes, b*r a little deduction for percentage ; total dividends at £1 a pop, £36 i3s 6d. These are the scalps hanging at Goldgpur's girdle. And four months ago he was bought for £14 ! *#* The South Canterbury course was very hard last week, but good going for sound horses. ; Ted Hankins drew first blood, his improved j mare Lady Lear, nicely ridden by T. Buddicomb, getting home with precious little to spare | in the High-weight Handicap. Pitch and Toss lost a lot of ground at the ofcarfc, yefc fiuished close up, and she waß travelling faster than anything else in the last furlong. Lady Lear is by Chainshot rub of Templeton's sister ' Miranda, and therefore closely related to Miss ' Orwell, who started in bhe same event and won i later iv fche day, for she is by Artillery (same j sire as Chainshob) out of Folle Farine, half sister to Miranda. Bliss Orwell was bought in at £20 10s afber winning the Selling Race. In getting his mare back at that price Mr HaySmith was lucky. I think she could be sold at once for a better price fcban that, as aheia a fair mare, if my judgment is of any value. Ammunition fell just after the start in the Washdyke Welter. Glenore, a six-year-old geldiug ' by I Fir3t Lord, made the pace, and after staving off j a challenge by Padlock — who when a two-year-old was supposed to be.phenomenally fast — ha j won rather eauily. The Autumn Handicap was an unsatisfactory race, inasmuch as Vandyke whipped round ntern first when the flag fell, : and took no part in the race, and Salvo Shot ; stumbled at an early stage, unhorsing N. Williams. It will be remembered that Vandyke did the same thing at Oamaru. It is to be hoped that this whipping round is not becoming a habit with him, otherwise it will be very awkward for his followfrs — Ihey won't know when it is safe to back him. Two dangerous horses beicg thus disposed of in the Autumn Handicap, the race was made rather &n easy thing for Telemeter. W« used to think seven furlongs his besb distance, but in this uvent he waited on Bt-lligerent and Jewel until the former had run himself out, and then tackled Jewel, outlasting her in decisive fashion at the end of the mile and a-quarter. It seems pretty evident on form that Jewel, good mare as ahe is, prefers shorter coucses. Further on in the day she won the Flying easily in lmin 15secfor the six furlongs, makiug up three lengths on such flyer« as Moliy Darling and Vanilla, and beating the former by a couple of lengths. Telemeter's time for the Autumn Handicap was the fastest yet made in the race since the distance was settled at a mile and a-quarcer, as the following statement will show :—: — 1891— Cruchfield ... 6yrs 8.1 2min 39sec £2 0 0 1892— Liberator ... syrs 7.7 2min 42sec £8 13 0 1893— P. Warden... syrs 9.5 2min 41sec £1 13 0 1894— Oaptive ... 4yrs 7.7 2min 3>?ec £i 15 0 1895— Aqualate ... 6yrs 8 2 2mm 15sec jC4 7 0 1898— L. of Misrule syra 7.3 2miu 14sec £7 16 0 1897— Telemeter... 3yrs 7.11 2min llsec £5 14 0 Or uch field's year was the last in which the race was called the Timaru Cup, and Aqnalate'fl race saw the distance reduced to a mile and a-quarter. Several of the best horses of their day figure in the list of old-time winners, the names of Maritana, Mata, Betrayer, Sir Modred, and Tasmnn being in the catalogue ; and if the dons of the presenh period find employment elsewhere, the quality of the horses generally engaged is sbill very good. The surprises of recent years were in 1892, when Liberator downed Prime Warden, who was , reckoned a certainty, and in 1896, when the i horse bought by Stratford for £6 got home in front of Culverin and Lord Zebland.

*#* Salvo Shot could not have been much knocked about by his fall, as on the second day he led off with a brilliant performance ia thi Stewards' Stakes, getting to the end of the six furlongs with 9.6 up in lmin 15£ sec. That is something worth bearing in mind. Also, it was to Lady Lear's credit that she was able *to finish second in so fast a race, for she had 8 5 up. The County Plate provided a splendid race between the three placed horses. Glenore beating Izal by only a nose, with Gladys II a neck away. Izal showed a fair turn of speed for five furlongs, and will probably win a race before long. Thanks mainly to bis pace- making the sir furlongs were cut out in the decent time, for country horses, of lmin 178ec. Backers practically said by their allround patronage of the totalisator that they could not pick the Jockey Club Handicap, and the horse eventually made favourite finished last bub one. I refer to Telemeter, who looked dangerous at the home turn, but tailed and fell away at the distance. Vandyke, showing no temper this time, jumped away with the lead and was never caught. Pitch and Toss made a run at him in ths straight, without, h-iwever, making the leader go a bib faster. Stockfiih made no show in the Novel Race. Rojehill hold the lead to the home turn, bat died away with 100 yards to go, aud Toxa won by half a length. Stockfish, who had been all astern riurin* greater part of the race, made a fine ru am the entrance to the rails, but got blocked, aud finished only third. The stewards held »v inquiry of their own motioD, with the result that afler examining Mr T. Kett (who had charge of the horse) and Emmerson (the rider) the explanation was deemed satisfactory. Vandyke, having a 71b penalty, was sent out the outsider for the Shorfs, but he managed to win after going on in thi? rear to the distance ; and it was a pret.fcv good perform_aEc\ he being calied on to give VanilJa 51b and Molly Darling 12lb over a course which probably suited them. Len King hud the pleasure of riding Double Event to victory in the Consolation, this colb paying £13 7s — the dividend of the meeting. The sum of £3367 was passed through the totalisator during the two days, or £107 les3 than at last year's meeting. Mr C. O'Connor's starting is favourably spoken of, and P>lr G. Dowse, the handicapper, was in great form, one proof of which is to be found in the fact thab in the 12 handicaps he made for the meeting nob one found backers picking out the weak spot. Five times the favourite finished second. once third, and six times the presumed good thing failed to get a shop. Hats off to Geordie !

*ji* Seasonable advice as to the preparation of jumping horses is contained in some recent remarks by the London Sportsman's special commissioner, who writes : A correspondent observes that the famous Abd-el-Kader, who won the Grand National twice, and ought to have won it a third time, was just like Cloister in being quite useless on the flit, and owing all his succe^s to his style of jumping. This, as he rightly adds, is not a style learned without j long and patient schooling, and the real reason ' *«* Turf, Field, and Farm says that when

why Irish 'chasers are so superior to our own is that they are taught to jump from the very first, being lunged and driven over fences even in their two-year-old days. Here we conceive the idea that a horse can be made into a jumper without learning the essential rudiments of the business. Our practice is the same as if one endeavoured to make skilled watermen aud capable rowing men by putting them into a racing boat right off, and bidding them go along as best they could day after day. Anyone who has ever been in a racing boat knows that it is only by much aud laborious " tubbing " that you can ever feel at home in it for a moment. So it is with horses. They may " slither " over fences somehow or oiher in their stupid schooling gallopa. but unless t^ey are taught the very grammar of jumping ah initio they will never get up from their hindquarters, and always land, so to speak, on their shoulders ; nor will they ever get to jump without tiring themselves.

*** A meeting of the TahuDa Park Trotting and Racing Club was held on Monday evening. Present — Messrs Myers (chairman)", Brown, M'Donald, Begsr, Wilson, Gourley, Townsend. The following officers were appointed : — Judge, Mr H. Gourley ; treasurer, Mr X, S. Begg ; clerk of scales, Mr J. M. Wilson ; clerk of course, Mr S. J. Mercer ; starter, Mr F. J. Townaend ; timekeeper, Mr E. Hogg ; surgeon, Dr Closs ; handicapper, Mr George Dowse ; stewards — the Committee. Resolved that the next trotting meeting ba held on Saturday and Tuesday, Juue 19 and 22 (Record Reign Day), and the following programme was adopted :—: — Firat day — Maiden Saddle, of 20iova, one mile and a-half ; Pony Handicap (saddle), of 20sovs, fcwo miles ; Jubilee Handicap (saddle), of 55sovs, two miles ; Novel Handicap (saddle), of 2030Y5, one mile and a-half ; President's Handicap (harness), of4osovs, two miles ; Pony Handicap (saddle), of 20'oyb, one mile aud ahalf; Ocean Beach Handicap (sadd ! e), of 2550v3, one mile. Second day — Maiden Handicap (harness), of 25eovs, two miles ; Victoria Pony Handicap (saddle), of 25sovs, two miles ; llecord Reign Handicap (saddle), of 7550/s, two nii!e3 ; Selling Handiciu (saddle), of 20sovs, one mile ; Winter Oats Handicap (harness), of 50dov8, two miles ; Queen's Pony Handicap (saddle), of 20sov«, one mile and a-half ; D&sh Handicap (saddle), of 30aovs, one mile; — total, 450sovs, An apology was received and accepfed from one of the owners for using insulting language to some of the stewards at last Autumn meeting. An application from ati owner whose deposit was forfeited for entering a frivolous protest asking for a return of samo was declined.

*** Bob Hasliie recently had in training a six-year-old mare raised on and belonging to the North Ot-igo farm on which Goldspur was raised. She was related to Goldspur, baing by Fusileer out of Mizpah, who is by Gorton from Rosemary, dam of Goldipur's mother. The mare I refer to, named Mishap, was being prepared for the Trial Stakes at the Taieri — ifc was to be her first race — and that she wonld have had some sort of show is proved by the fact that in a gallop over the distance Bhe fairly ran away from Border Lad, who finished third in the race ; but three days prior to the meeting she broke down badly in one of her hiud legs, the pastern giving way, I understand, and she has bean sent back to her owner, Mr T. Thompson. Hastie has also h*d the further ill-luck to find his two-year-old unnamed gelding by St. Clair from Lady Florence compulsorily placed on the retired list, this youngster having in some way sustained an injury to the inner aide of the stifle — probably by a kick from a mare. He was emasculated rather laber in life than some youngsters are, and may have been teasing hi 3 companions in the next paddock. II is bopad, however, that the injury is only temporary and that the gelding will bo rno'ng early next season.

*»* The decision of the D.J.O. Committee in regard to the Riverbon Steeplechase — thab Nirnblefoot, who fell in runniug off the dead heat, is not entitled to second money — appsars to bo authorised by the rules, for, though suoh a case is not expressly met, the meaning is pretty clear. But while the decision seems to be quite justifiable in law — indeed, it would be difficult to wrest any other reading out of the rules — I do not understand how the system of depriving a horse of all share in the stake under such circumstances can ba defended in equity. The policy of racing law is to promote close contests, and here we have a case in which a horse ia actually worse off for running a dead heat than he would have been had he finished 200 yds behind if second. Does this seem fair ? I submit thab tho rules have in this instance led to a decision which, though perfectly legal, if not unavoidable, haa worked a monstrous injustice The conference ought to fake notice of the matter with the view of amending the rule and bringing it into line with common sense and fair play.

*** A number of additions to the even-time list of trotters are incorporated in the table as brought to date in this issue. The one-mile section gains Annie Rooney 2min 58« ec, Bed o' Stone 2min 4Sj^sec, Daisy 2min 50sec, Jessie" Palm 2min 54sec, Kap&i 2oiin 41« ec, Lorine 2nain 51sec, R*si> 2min 30* ec, Violet 2min 4-5 4-ssec, and Waihinepai 2min 49see, while Berlin Maid and Nigger have improved their records. Ab a mile aud a-half Alice 4min 14 c ec, Clyde 4min Bsec, Little Bob 4-min 25£ sec, Mist 4min ssec, and Wild Rose II 4min 28sec are recruits. The entrants to the two-mile category are Allerton smin 25^-ec, Andanta smin 41^ec, B ; ddy Biddy smm 26sec, Factory Girl stnin 40sec, Garryowen, smin 44sec, K«.pai smin 31sec, Maggie smin 16|sec, Mist smin 59sec, Rosebud smin 27sec. Ruadan, smin 19£' ec, and Vainglorious smiu 40£ sec, while Billy Buttons, Mambrino Abdallah. Marguerite, Nero, Prince Albert, and Ruby II have improved on their old records. The only alterations at two miles and a-half are that Clyde has reduced his time to 6min 593 ec and Welcome La*s gets on the list with a pace of 7min lOaec.

*** Lord Russell, presiding over the Queen's Bench Division, recently had before him the action of the Field Syndicate v. Titmas. The plaintiffs, a firm of turf commission agents, sued to recover sums of money invested on the turf at the defendant's request. Defendant in reply pet up the Giming Act. Counsel for the plaintiffs said that he could not meet that plea, but having regard to the fact that no doubt had he won the defendant would have taken the money, he would ask the judge not to give the defendant his costs. The lawyer on the other side asked, at any rate, for costs. Lord Russell said there would be judgment for the defendant, with costs on the county court scale. He should not think of depriving the defendant of his costs in such a case, and he must not be taken as expressing the remotest sympathy with the plaintiff. Batting on a racecourse by persons who took some interest in sport was one thing, but betbing by these betting agencies with people who had no sympathy with sport was quite another thing, and it was a most injurious system.

the great pacer John R. Gentry went into tha stable of W. J. Andrews he was shod with a plain open shoe in front and behind. His toes were extremely long and his feet were contracted quite a bit. Mr Andrews lowered his feet all aronnd nearly £in and kept a spring in each foot from the time he took him to Jowettville until May 1. Then he shod him with a 6oz bar shoe in front, with very little frog pressure, leaving the shoes quite full at the heel. He shod him behind with a 4oz plain shoe, with low heel calk. Mr Andrews -says that the feet of Gentry, when purchased by Mr Tewksbury, were fully fin wider than when Mr Simpson became the owner of him. As the stallion improved so much in the hands of Mr Andrews, these particulars as to shosing are quite interesting.

*** The cablegrams record the death of Neckersgab. This hors9 was bred in South Australia in 1873 by Mr W. Gerrard, got by Talk o' the Hill from the imported " Miss Giraffe, by King Tom — Giraffe, by Melbourne. This shows Neckersgat to be brother to Rapid Bay. sire of Gitana, dam of Gipßy King. The decea3ed sire got a number of noted racers. Newstead, winner of the 1884 Maribyrnong J?Ute, was one of the first to bring the horse into prominence ; three years later he became very much talked about as father of Dunlop, winner of the Melbourne Cup ; and his crowning triumph was the begetting of the champion Porbsea, who still holds the three-mile recerd. In between these dates came , a host of very decent performers, such as the NeWmarket winner Sedition, Montalto, Lord Hopetoun, Annesley, and, of late, Destiny ; * while many others that could be mentioned will for some time to come help to keep the old horse' n memory green.

*#* Mr H. Goodman is offering for sale privately the six-year-old horse Alderflhot, who was bought -the November bsfore last for 200gs. This well-bred horse, by Foul Shot (son of Musket) from Anterina (by Antero3), haa often proved himself fast, as shown particularly when he led the New Zealand Cup field into the straight and finished third in Impulse's year. This season, also, he has been placed in important races. When he is done with the turf Aldershot should make a valuable sire. I understand he can be bought at a moderate price. The Winchman, Datnigella, and Tiara are also for sale, and Mr Goodman being desironn of reducing the number of his team, will let them go at a low price. These horses can be seen at any time on applying at the stable, Kew. If not sold privately they will be put up to auction during the Slay racss.

*** The schrme for an International Derby is still being talked about, and various suggestions are being msde from all quarters. The plan upon which Mr Farrall, the American gentleman, would proceed to secure the requisite amount of money for a mammoth stake is ingenious. He would extract a small stallion fee to make his progeny eligible for the race, , and a similar fee from the owner of the- mare who might be the dam of tha entered foaJ, while 1 per cent, should, he suggests, be deducted from all stakes in all countries from which the contestants hail. An alternative suggestion is that the owner of every horse going to the post should receive a sum at least sufficient to cover expense

*3(* One of the fielders who did business at Dunedin has disappeared since the Easter meetings, and since there is no sign of his returning it is fair to assume that the general re- • port to the effect that he "changed it" against Goldspur, laying about £25 worth more than he was able to pay, is correct. The story is that he has j;one to Australia. If to, by all accounts he will nod himself in a pretty severe place of repentfincß, for they tell me that lots of the fellows there are on their uppers.