IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2403, 22 March 1900, Page 41

IN A NUTSHELL.

— Daunts racing career is over. — Seahorse is returning to the colony by the Talune.

— Scottish Minstrel landed a double at Amuri. — Ilex and Vanilla was the winning double at Waimate.

— Multiform did not accept for the Lincolnshire Handicap. — Thanks, Mr Doogan, foi an invitation to the Greymoutn races. — ■Nobility, by St. Leger, is out o Lady Emily, not Lady Evelyn. Winton is asking other southern clubs tc join in the purchase of a tolalisator. — Cherrystone is a bit above herself an " not likely to do much at the Dunedin meeting. — The Watch Dog is so low in front fhat Mr Forrester says he will go ivnder 15 hai:<-I=. —In the District Handicap at Amuri 5 ibbooin threw her rider at the star' and did not run. _

— Sunny Morn, tho Adelaide sister to Cavalry, is said "to be a sprinter rather than a stayer. — Izal, a very consistent loser m Otago, nas managed to lan^ an £3 5s dividend at Greymouth.

— Ted M'Comb was to bring with him from Tasmania a colt, not yet raced, by Meteor out of Web. The report that Arline is broken down is incorrect. She will probably be rating iigun in May. — A London cable says: At the Gatwick races ihe Wiokham Hurdles resulted as follows : Battalion II 1, Ravensdale 2, Lady Deir; 3. — Sir Lancelot is in work again. Another Hawko's Bay horse to reappear on the training track is the 'cnaser Morag. — One of Pampero's knees has been giving M'Ginness a little anxiety, but he reckons that the colt is fit to run.

— According to latest advices, Joe Thompson is "back in England, instead of coming on to Australia from India. — Albert Goodman, one oi Mr H. Goodman s sons, who has been training of late, has joined the fifth contingent. —At Amuri last Saturday the totalisator in- • vestments amounted to JE7O4, as cqrnparecl vrth £1136 for the corresponding fixture last sc ■■•on. — Seahorse will not be present to run r. the Sydney meeting, and I don't fancy Mn # f:ua even if he goes across, though he is ia^-ly handicapped. — The Hon. G. M'Lean's sale of yearlings is fixed for to-day (Thursday). I referred to these yearlings last week, and can stronglj recommend them.

— Onkaparinka- is a small village abotic 20 miles outside- Adelaide. The amount of addocl money given for seven races in 1898 was £2500, and in 1399 £2600.

— Parthian is inbred, for his dam, Archeress, was got by Trenton (by Musket) from Bay Archeress (imp.), who was got by Toxophilits, the sire of Musket.

— Rebel, winner of the St. Patrick's Handicap at Masterton, is a four-year-old gelding by Rebellion, and Ambrosia, winner on the second day, is by Petroleum ont of Nectar. —'• He'll be in a dray next week — he's as sore as a lame dog " — thus the defeat*.* stable lad who tended Merriwee, after the colt had been so badly beaten m the St. Leger. — Ruamahunga, winner of the principal race at Grisyraouth, is, or was, on.*, gi the crack hacks of the Wairarapa district. He is six years of ac,e, by Voltigeur out of Lilian. — Melbourne Sportsman says: Finland must be quite a stone in front of any other two-year-old, and looks like being a hot favourite for the Derby. „ — The fir&t mile in the Australian Cup was run in lmin 59sec, the next six furlongs in lmin ISisec, the last half mile ir, 51sec, the first six furlongs in lmin 30sec,, and the lasi mile in lmin 42sec.

— The Watchdog, winner of tJic Newmarket Handicap, is out of Rose'Fl?" ;ur, daughter of Segenhoe (Maribyrnong — 'I--e Fawn) and Tuberose, by Grand Flaneur froro. imported Rcsedale, by Tynedalo. — The Contingent Hurdle Race at the Wingatui meeting had to be declared off. The Forbury Park Company protested against such i race, seeing that tho horses were practically heir guests at Forbury. — Mountebank has fallen lame, and there leems little hope of getting a race out of him .his season. It was the race with Gold Medalist in the Champion Plate, a little over a year ago, that knocked hiir silly. — The name of Eucharist was very properly objected to by the chairman of the Racing Conference, but he allowed it to be shortened to Eucharis, and now half the papers arc innocently adding the objectionable "t." — For the Lincoln race Damocles and Gerolstein were each supported at last advices at 1000 to 60, and, after 1000 to 70 had been closed with about Ambush II for the Grand National, 1000 to 80 was the best price obtainable.

— I heard the other day of the death, by accident, of Mr George Talbot, in Sydney, and my informant assured me that this Mi Talbot, when residing in Lyttelton, was the owner of July and Sou-wester. — A report comes from Perth that Mr William Bowman Cadell, secretarj cf the Neld Club (W.A.). was found dead io the Perth Park, under conditions which pointed to the case as 'being one of suicide, there being a bullet hole through his head. — Shell was started iv the V.R.C. Leger for the ■ -,i.i,ose of outline; cut the running for her stab c "onioanion, ? r c -iwce. but in consequence o*" the =l ile in which Parthian carried the field a'ong, the chestnut filly was quite unable to get to +he front at any part of the race.

— From what I learned, and from the published facts, I expected that the appeal against the disqualification of the trotter Eiin at Tuspeka, woulel have been upheld. On the face of it, there is no case against Erin. I suppose the association knows more than 1 do.

— Maltster, winner of the Hopeful Stakes at the V.R.C. meeting, is a commanding Idtowii colt, by Bill of Portland from Barley (imp.) (dam of Carbinier), by Barcaldme from Lonely (winner of the Oaks), by Hermit. He was purchased as a yearling for SlOgs by Mr R. Orr.

— The Watch Dog, winne--- of the Newmarket Hardicap, is a half-brother by Gibraltai to Rose I. one of the best ponies of h»r inches seen in Australia. She was sent tc India, and under the name of Beccles won some of the largest handicaps for " small horses " theie, and was regarded as the champion in her class. — The Prince of Wales, who last year had second call on the services of M. Cannon, will in the coming season have first claim. The patrons of the Kingsclere stable, certain of whom were Cannon's first masters in 1899, will this year share in the second claim, included in the number being the Duke of Portland and 3Jord Crewe.

— The Martini-Henry mare Precaution died at F. M'Grath's. stables, Canterbury Park (N.S.W.), this month. Precaution was delicate, but a remarkably fast mare when in form. Her best performance was the Carrington Stakes in 1897, in which she cut out the six furlongs in lmin 13j|sec — at that time the record for Australia.

— Advance came to Dunedin by the Flora, and, landing safe and sound, was sent out to Mr L. Hazlett's new stable at "Wingatui. His stable companion Tortulla is not coming.

— Those who are in a position to know state on their word that Free Holmes was innocent of wrongdoing in connection with the WedIcok affair at Wellington.

— Mr C. J. Roberts, the owner of New Zea-lar.d-brcd Oscillator, has been advised by Mr C. E. Davis, of Uobart, of tho shipping of the blood mare, Sabuna, to Sydney. She goes to Oscillator to be served to English time. Sabrina is by The Englishman (imp) from the Australian Cup wii-ner Sybil, by Tim "Whirlicr (imp) from Jess-ica, by Fisherman (imp).

— At the Melbourne sales, during lhe V.R.C. meetirg, top price oi 400gs was paid by Mr H. Ckifehoim for the yearling by Wallace — CJniiKa, half-brother to Resolute, and Mr J. ocobie give :j7ogs for the colt by J3ill of Portland — .'lonta'to The only purchase for New Zealand, so fai as I know, was the filly by Strathmoiv — Fragment, Major Georse taking tins yoi,u£f-ter at GiJlgs. — The death of imp. Candlemas, on January 27, was a heavy loss to Mr J. B. Haggm as well a& to the breeding ranks in America. He was by Hermit, dam Fusee, by Marsyas, and was full brother to St. Blaise. Candlemas occupied a prominent position as a sire of winning horses, having to his cicdit Dr Catletle, Msrtinias, winner of the Futurity, and others of high class.

— I cordially back up the Sporting Review ir these remarks: We urge once again that dividends be paid* to the 6d. There is no ju^t or iavful rcasoi' why this should not be done. The 10 pei cent, paid by the investor ought tc cover everything, and if some clubs can pay out the tanner there is nothing to prevent tht practice being followed throughout the colony. — The winners of the last three Newmarket Handicaps could, when yearlings, have been, and in two cases were, bought for mere songs. The Watch Dog failed, to change hands at a reserve of 50gs. All that Mr Tom Uphill gave for Forest was 32Jgs, while Amiable only cost 70g3 a£ a yearling. Fancy the price of the last I thiee sprinting championship winners only representing 152Jgs! — The Free Press states that the balance !" sheet o: the Clutha Hack Racing Club slioy/3 I that the receipts for the Summer meeting, in- ■ eluding a balance of £23 17s from last srear,5 r ear, amounted to £119 15s 6d, and the expenditure to JEI3I 16s Gd, leaving a debit balance of £12 Is. When the large expenditure on the new track (£55 14s 6d) is considered, the financial position of the club is eminently satisfactory.

—Mi Edward Corrigan, of San Francisco, in an interview concerning his prospective trip to England next spring, said: "1 will take about seven or eioht horses with me — r ~py.=>". Corsine, Golden Rule, Adolph Spreckels, St. Casimir, Sardine, anci two or thiee v.\o-\e-u-elds. I have a fine lot of youngsters at San Francisco, perhaps the best I have had in years. For riders I will depend upon Sloaa, Martin, and the Reiff boys."

— Drogheda, the Liverpool Grand National winner of 1898, was one of the field that on February 1 contested the Kempton Park Hurdle Handicap, but he was not fancied to any great extent, being regarded more as a 'chaser than a hurdle racer. Despite his weight he came well out of the fight, for he held a handy place all the way, stayed longer than Irish Girl and Josephus, and won comfortably by a couple of lengths.

— The Queensland liorse Hector JI got away well in the Shorts Handicap on February 21 at Canterbury Park (N.S.W.), and, rattling along in grand style, came into the straight with a substantial lead. He finished resolutely, and all efforts to displace him were of no avail. This horse is by Kingfish, the New Zealand bred horse who put up a mile record at Hawkesbury in 1886, when he won the Guineas in lmin 40sec.

— The Scots Grey gelding Bombshell, now owned in Newcastle (N.S.W.), is a very much improved horse. At Rosehill on the 24th ult. he came home in the principal handicap like a tradesman, and seems able to get io the end of a long race, judging by the way he smothered Brazen Lad inside the distar.ee. Bombshell is a nicely-turned, medium-sized gelding, and is, says the Sydney Mail, the best we have yet seen of Scots Grey's stock.

— A very large attendance saw a gieat race at the Tanforan Park Track. Cal., on January 90. The contest was for the Turf Congress Stakes, one mile, 2000dol added, and the field of nine scaiters included the best racing material on the Pacific Coast. In consequence of the great fora recently shown by Geyser, he and Sardine, the Corrigan pair, were made favourites at 3 to 5, and J3annockburn was 4 to 1. The latter won easily in lmin 39sec.

— According to lato English files J. E. Biewer's most recent effort with the horses under his charge was attended with success. At the Gatwick Second January meeting, on the opening day Tornado Il^won the Maiden Hurdle Race, of 17-lsovs, two miles, which constituted the principal item of the afternoon. Tornado II could hardly have been fancied, as he started at 10 to 1, and got home by a head fixm, Peace and Plenty, the second favourite.

— Prior to winning the Newmarket Handicap, The Watchdog had been a great disappointment, and beyond winning a Flying Handicap at Canterbury Par! and at Warwick Farm, he has never before troubled the judge. — The Wesleyan Methodist Conference has adopted a resolution to the effect that pressure should be brought on members of Parliament with a view to bringing about the abolition of Cup Day as a public holiday in Victoria and Tasmania.

— Sydney Mail says : It would be difficult to find a more weak-hearted horse than Sapn. At Canterbury Park, on the 2 101 l February, m the pmicipal event, he appeared when in the straight to run oier his field zv. a covplc of strides, and victory seemed assured for him. That constant old battler "Willie kept plugging away, and Sapir, finding him hanging to him, threw ut> the contest with a suddenness thai was beyond comprehension except to thoso who saw the affair.

— Nat Flatman, a celebrated English rider of the past generation, vhen a lad of 15 made his first appearance at William Cooper's yard, walking all the woy from Bildeston, and was so travel-stained and queer looking that when he walked straight up to Mr Cooper, who was talking tc Mr Gre'ille, he was rejected, though he stateel he could ride a bit, and weighed less than 4.0. Mrs Coo^ier, however, formed a different opinion of the lad, and through her intercession he was allowed to stay.

— Victory, by Invader — Babette, won the Denison Stakes, six furlongs, at Randwick, on tho 3rd hist, in lmin 13isec. This race will no doubt, pays a Sydney write! , be the means of nc end of people losing their money in the future on Victory, as we have cfiiite a number of firm believers m time. Time is a very good guide when it is done fairly, but when fast time is made upon a track as was Randwick on this day, with a high wind blowing behind the horses for the whole of the distance, then it is of no account whatever.

— John Corlett says that that queer old character Harry Jennings was "one of the most extraordinary men we ever met, and set at nought all the recognised rules of training. He thought nothing of bundling two or three horses into a box without a stitch of clothing on them, and it was a very common thing for him, when a liorse was sent on a good exercise gallop, to' turn another horse loose and let him gallop after him, as he invariably did. He said it saved his legs. His success as a trainer was remarkable, and in France for years there was no beating him. — In his comments upon last season's doings on the English turf, " Warren Hill " discourses as follows : Looking back at the past year, we can recall many missing faces that will not look on the turf again, though perhaps Newmarket has been more fortunate than other places of equal size. It was not a little singular thftfc tho deaths of Mrs Sam Rogers and

Mi's Nat Flatman should have occurred in the same year, and perhaps few of the pre&ent generation weie aware that such stiong links of the pa&t era were still living. The husbands of each were jockeys of gre.it repute, and each has representatives m the third generation.

— The laige field for Hie Middlesex Maiden Hurdle Raco at Kenipton Paik (Eng;, m Febrnaiy, included the Grand National favourite, Ambush 11, as well_ as General Peace, last year's Lincolnshire Handicap wiancr. The 1' st-nomed, a son of Gallmule and Moira, had eMde.xtiy undergone a special piejiaration for the race, waj "backed accordingly, mid made a distinctly creditable fiist public appearance oxer hurdles, for, having the lx-tler speed when the straight was reached, he won easily from Jo I So I. 'lhe perfoimance v.as unquestionably a smart one. The time occupied by General Peace in the two miles was 3mm 59 3-ssec.

— At a recent meeting of the A. J.C. Committee a decision was arrived at in connection with the case of Fiank Fielder, who was disqualified foi three yeais for the manner m v Inch he handled Mora in a race at Randvick. At the jequest of several prominent people the case was le-opened and fie&h evide.ice taken. This the committee considered, and the verdict arrived at is that the committee, having heard the fresh evidence produced by the jockey F. Fielder, supplementing that given on January 4, decides that such evidence clears Messrs Knight and O'Connor from the imputation of fraud, and refuses to distuib the decision with regard to Frank Fie'der. — The Leader says : Owing to the neglect of certain owners in not declaring forfeit for the V.R.C. Ascot Vale Stakes, Mr R. Orr's winnings with Maltster were augmented to the extent of cC22B. No fewer than 12 horses were allowed to unintentionally lemain in. The forfeit on each was only lsov, whereas the liability increased to 20sovs. Each of the James Wilsons, father and son, left four in by mistake, thus incurring a liability of SOsovs each which they could have evaded by paying 4sovs apiece had they withdrawn their horses at the pi oper time. Mr James Wilson, sen., scratcheel hia lot by wire, but the telegram arrived at the V.R.C. office a quarter of an hour behind time.