IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2287, 30 December 1897, Page 33

IN A NUTSHELL.

— Mr Gwynne sends a ticket for the Palmerston meeting. — Florrie will probably be mated with Delaware next season.

— Sixsmith, the Sydney jockey, had his leg broken while riding work. — Euroclydon it now ridden out daily, and will probably be galloping in a few days. — George Frederick is the name conferred upon the Carbine— Danse colt formerly called Vetterli.

— The Wairio programme for Jauuaty 19 is to hand, also the Orepuki programme for January L — Tire 1 , if at all well, ought to have a show of winning the President's Handicap at Hawke's Bay. — Mag, by Carbine from Astarfte, a full sister to Riclimond, won a race at Canteibury I'aik (N.S.W.). — Ecnxceliiie and Prime Wai den are among the Lake County nominations. The entries are decidedly promising. — Vincent nominations appear in this issue, thanks to the courtesy of Mr T. Duggan, who always looks after these things. — James Scobie won the Ballarat Cup with Chit Chat, by Neckeregat from Ada. Chit Chat started favourite, and won easily. — Mr W. Allen, ikt veterinary surgeon of Melbcume, contradicts a statement which appeared in print to the effect that he partially castrated Hova.

— The two-y^ar-old colt by Medallion— An ray, now in Goodman's stable, is one of the strongestlookiDg two-year-olds I have seen this season, and he will probably be racing shorLly. — W. Alsopp. who took Form and Georgia to England, is on jiis way out again in charge of a thoroughbred mare ancl stallion, the property of Mr 11. O. JVTiite, of Hivilah.- It is stated that Alsopp wm make aDoiher trip to England with rscehorses on behalf of Mr White.

— When the S.A. Legiblaiive Council conBidered .the Gaming Bill in committee a proposal to abolish the totaliaator was defeated by 17 votes to 5, but a clause waa inserted for the institution of a totalizator in which smaller amounts may be invested in the enclosures to which admission is charged. J^ , — The Greymouth Trotting 'Wfib has uaid by resolution that it has every confidence in the administration of the South Island Trotticg As-ociation, and approves of the stand take.n by the association in the Bed-o'-Stone case, and also commends the action of the Colonial Secretary in the said case.

— Chairman J. A. Murphy, of the license committee of the Americm Turf Congress, is quoted as declaring that the congress has adopted a rule to the effeot that anybody proven guilty of selling a thoroughbred to any individual for outlaw racing will be barred off all race tracks within jurisdiction of the Tiuf Congress. — As expected, the Gore programme has attracted ent» ies from far and near. The Duneilintrained horses that are nominated include Lord Rosslyn, ITulmen, Lady Lear, Red Lancer, Marlin, Majdawn, Goldspur, Stockfish, Rebel, and Belmont. With good management avd fine weather this meeting will prove a great success. — The Waimate Club has £55 odd in hand. The newly-elected officer* are : Mr E. C. Studholine, judge and president ; stewards, Messrs M"lj°an, H. E Mann, and J. H. Mitchell ; starter, Mr J : Henderson ; treasurer, Mr J. Molloy ; cleric of scales, Mr M. O'Brien, jun. ; clerk of course, Mr J. Freeman ; secretary, Mr A. M. Taaffe. — Exile felt dead on his way to scale after winning the Ballarat Cup in "<SG', but his owner got the stake. It was supposed that Ex le was P'isoned, and Mr P. J. Keighran ( ffered a rewaid of -£600 for information which woult lead to the conviction of the guilty parties, but no one peached, and the mystery was never cleared up. — Four of the t'opweights in the Perth Cvp — Battallion, Amvuia, 'I he Merry Boy, and Musicwere what is known as " complimentary" entries. .They were just -put in by one man— presumably with the owners' authority— on the off-chance that they might be "bought for the race, or transformed into starters by some other arrangement. — Asmoiens," of Melbourne, writes : At Auckland a bookmaker named Whiting has been fined for betting with an infant under the age of 21 years. That is what happens in a country where a totalisator bill is in operation. In Victoria the army of punters includes boys and girls in their teens, and occasionally their grandmothers. But then this is a moral community, which accounts for it. — Says an Indian paper : Poor old Highborn \* living a very dull life at Woodlands, Alipore, and it seems a bit sad that there should be no one in Gharge of the horse bar a syce. He is looking all to bito, and a vety caricature of the proud old horao who has bo gallantly and so often taken his owner's colours to the front. He is never exercised, and if it is any information to those connected with him the syce rarely takes him out of his box.

— Annadour weighed out so finely for the Stewards' Mile at Canterbury Park (iV.S.W.) that the bridle had to be called for before hs drew Iho weight. In the same race, M\rec'ial Niel, who was only beaten by a Deck for second place, lost that position because he could not draw the weight, the horse hiving been led out of the enclosure before the discrepancy was noticed, and theiefore could not claim ttie bridle.

— The reported sale of Einnialea for 440gs makes it evident that news of the Parthenon seus case has reached England. As the pr< perty of T. ArDfielcf, Etnmnlea would not be allowed to race in England, where the disqualification role is made to apply to " this.ov any other country," the law having been altered tso as to exclude the Victorian jumper Dutchman from a Liverpool Grind National Steeplechase more than 25 years sgo.

- — There was rejoicing in-Bendigo when it became known that the success of the late meeting had.been assured through Tattersall havirg agreed to promote a sweep on the Sandhurst Cup. Now it is announced that negotiations are in progress with a view to inducing Tatlertall to get up a sweep on the next Geelong Cup. which had been starved out of existence, and that the Kyneton Racing Club will give a good stake at their St. Patrick's Da.y meeting if Tattersall can be induced to promote a sweep on it. If this be not the absolute demoralisation of what was once sport, asks "Javelin," will anybody tell me what it is?