SOUTHLAND GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2273, 23 September 1897, Page 33

SOUTHLAND GOSSIP.

By Goldspuk.

The well-known trotter Gaiety is dead. Another old-timer in Spaucel Hill succumbed the other day to the bot-fly trouble.

Annual meeting of the Southland Racing Club on the 24th inst.

The many admirers of Euroclydon are pleased to hear tha* he is doing good work.

False Impression, by Medallion— Apology 11, is in training at Gore.

I understand Barmhy is standing the test of track exercise.

Tot White has bought Prime Warden, also the old fellow's haif-hrother, Battlefield, by Artillery. Wyndham ia their new home. Belsham, an old pupil of Cutts and Goodman, is looking after Envy and the Captain Webster geldiug for Mr Hamilton. Damigella is also under his care. Their first essay will be at Winton. A judicious appointment by the Gore Racing Club Committee was Mr Fred Wal'is to the position of starter, aud I fchall be disappointed if my prediction is not realised. Nominations for the Winton Guineas, although not numerous, contain one or two well-bred ones. This is the only club in Southland that subsidises eai-ly racing. I hope better results will attend its efforts in endeavouring to promote weight fer-age racing. The Derby winner in 1837, Phosphorus, was sold for lOOOgs. Sixty years after £20,000 was lefused for Galtee More. This goes to prove the increased interest shown concerning the turf. Tom Aitcheson has quite a number of trotters in work at Heriot — Comus, Manuka, Playboy, and Whirlwind are all receiving his attention.

Mr George Dowse has been appointed handicapper to the Winton, Wyndham, and Wairio clubs. Some of the larger meetings would do well to follow the example shown by the smaller clubs by retaining the services of this accomplished weight adjuster. By the way, the old warrior was in great form with his framing of handicaps at Timaru. Nearly all the judge' 3 decisions were "Half necks," "Head"," or "Noses." An English writer in a recent review says that

most of the changes which have come about have bean for the better, and that in this sixtieth year of the Queen's leign the turf is in every way iv a better, purer, and more prosperous condition than it was when she came to the throne.