IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2669, 10 May 1905, Page 50

IN A NUTSHELL.

— Machine Gun stands 16.1£hds high. — Canteen did not start at the" recent A.J.C. meeting. —It is said that Mr R. J. Mason bid up to 550ga for Machine Gun.

— Tartan, the Sydney Cup winner, was bred to English time— January 7, 1901. — The South Canterbury Jockey Club made a profit of £167 on its autumn meeting. — Pallas has been entered for some of the events on the North Otago programme. — The South Canterbury Jockey Club spent £423 in improvements on its course this season

— Owners are reminded that nominations close on Friday for the D.J.C. winter meeting.

— Red Gauntlet and Brighton are on the mild exercise list after being indulged in a, spell.

— The one-time Yaldhurst crack, St. Michael, has been nominated at the North. Otago meeting.

— Messrs H. Fricdlander and E. R. Cruin«ss will represent the S. C.J.C. at the Racing Conference.

— A Sydney cablegram states that the racehorse J^ong Tom has bean, sold to an Indian purchaser for lOOOga.

— Mr C. O'Ccmnor has been the recipient of high praise for the manner in which he started at the A.R.C. meeting. — A complimentary ticket for the North Otago Jockey Club's winter meeting is to hand, and acknowledged with thanks. — The nominations received "for the Wanganui winter meeting total 395, as compared with 307 received for last year's meeting. — Charles Stuart, the crack two-year-old, who performed so conspicuously at the recent A. J.C. meeting, cost HOOgs as a yearling. — Congratulations are accorded to the wellknown rider W. H. M'Kay on the occasion of his recent marriage with Miss E. M. Pringle.

— The Ashburton County Racing Club has decided to run a double-event totalisator at its autumn meeting, to be held on May It and 12.

— A complimentary ticket is to hand from the Ashburton County Racing Club for ifa autumn meeting, and acknowledged with thanks.

— There was a record attendance at Kan-I-wick on Easter Monday. It is estimated that 28,000 persons saw the race for tins Sydney Cup.

— The Onkaparinga Racing Club's meeting was spoilt by bad weather, and the totalisator returns were only £12,588 10s, as against £19,278 last year.

—J. M'Guire, who was iujureel at the last Plumpton meeting, is expected to be able to leave the Christchurch Hospital in the cours-e of a few days.

— The South Canterbury Jockey Club will apply for the following dates for its next season's fixtures- Spring, September 21, 22; aivtumn, March 29. 30.

— The Southland fencers, "Wonderful and Manazona, are likely to be seen out at Dunedin, and subsequently at the Riccarton. National gathering in August.

— In alluding to LTp to Date's win at Randwick a Sydney writer said that as far as appearance wont the half-brother to Record Reign might have won in a cup field.

— The Forbury Park Racing Club has leceiyed irery fair nominations for its winter meeting, which is set down to take place on May 20. Handicaps are duo on May 13. — The first prize in the blood stallion class at the New South Wales Royal Agricultural show was awarded to Sir Foote, Projectile being placed second and Regained third.

— The well-known American-bred mare Norice became entangled in a wire fence last week, and severely cut herself, but it is hoped! +hat a complete recovery will be made in a few weeks.

— The well-known trotters Lieutenant J. andl General Pet go under the hammer on Saturuay npxb, and as they are a pair of fine-looking level-gaited horses there should be some competition for their ownership.

— South African sports indulge in a lot of betting over the big events of the Engiisii

tnxfj and recently a commission to back a ionse for £10,000 for one of the English handicaps was successfully negotiated on Hi 2 Band. — There is a strong probability that the D.J.C- will alter the dates of their winter (meeting fromi June 2 and 3 to the 3rd and sth, in order to 'have the second day of the meeting on tihe Monday, which is to be the public holiday. — Convoy's saddle slipped during the race for -flic' Great Autumn Handicap, and gave M'Combe & somewhat dangerous ride, whilst it accounts for the way in which the gelding appearftd to take charge as lie ran along the back «f the course. — Cross-country racing in Germany occaBionagy partakes of the nature of circus work On- th« Dresden racecourse one of the obstacles to be crossed in the steeplechase «7eatß « an excavation in the ground, 3ft ■wiae, "without fence or barrier. rtu~ 2?^. we^~ ino ' fni Auckland trainer, J. Chaafe, lias fallen on evil days, and recently Jaa<L to seek the protection of- the Bankruptcy Court. When St. Paul was winning some of our best laces -the B.C. looked a long distance *w*y as far as Chaafe was concerned. „ ~ At * meeting of the South Canterbury Jockey Club, held last week, the President staved thaf the appeal in connection with iJODrOvan's disqualification had been adjourned in H>rder to -call further 'evidence, and the result .-would; probably be known in a few flays. - — Redeemer, the Caulfieia Grand National Hurdle Race winner of 1900, waß successful in .the -Busby Handicap -.Steeplechase, of lOQsprs, -three miles, rat Hurst Park, England. I«i a- -field -or- «ight Redeemer went out *t 10 to 1, and won easily from the second favour-ite,-Dtrumkerrin. — We iave adopted the "giant" hurdle in India (says the Asian) ; it is twice the length of the ordinary sheep hurdle, and is supposed to be harder to knock down, and we have from the commencemenifc of last season bushed ■our hurdles, whereas before thai horses used* to jump them bare.

-fW. Lane, the crack English jockey, -who -was seriously injured some time "back, has Tbeen staying at Sidmouth, Devonshire, for several weeks past, undergoing a special course of massage treatment^ and lias bo far recovered that his lather, who has Tbeen in” attendance on him, has returned to London. " : — Long Tom, -who -won the Place Handicap at *Randwiek-*n£l put up an Australian record of for 12 furlongs, and was snbse«punr% -sola 1000gs, is a half-brother by Projectile to Crossfire, one of Mr J. F. Reid's _ aEiaereli© Stua matrons. At the last sale of the Elderslie jyearlings Mr G-. G. Stead purchased .a Stepniak — Crossfire filly at 130gs. — The injuries- of Dividend in tie Sydney Cup are mare «erious -than -was at first supposed. Shortly after -the start several horses ran into him, and" cut about his hocks and tind 'legs. Hicken-botham is of opinion that some, months' -complete rest will put Dividend right. Evidently the half-brother to Tiozd Cardigan ran a, good race under difficul-* ties. - — ;The higli jump .at the New South Wales mhow was. won*- Jjy the piebald pony Pi aymate, -who cleared . 6ft " Sin.' Tlaymate is said to be only I3.2hds iigh, and, as -he" carried 11.10» -his .performance was a remarkable one. -was bred in' Queensland, and -was/ lirought over-by^his owner, T. Maloney. , Play3na£e is jqow one of rthe attractions of FitzGerald -Tiros;* Circus.' -^-The Australjsn Jockey Club's handicapper'was evidently greatly impressed with Up to Date -in the First Steeplechase at Rand--widk,jas~;lie Awarded him 13.2 when required ■to -welgibt'tlie St. lEppo 'gelding for his second engagement. Up to Date, however, showed signs having struck one of the fences in Jiis- 'wfrniiTig effort, and was withdrawn from the- Test -of his engagements. Sjr Rupert owns a little 'orse, Three thousand ojria he cost; And that's not counting brass, of course, Sir Uupert Clarke has lost In backing Hm for laces where He's neveT copped a bean : There's :not a. blessed drink to spare In Rupert Clarke's Canteen. — Exchange. — The -well-known southern sportsman, Mr 3. Wilier, is sending » number of his horses ,up for -Traction on tie-.l9th at Otautau, and amongst these -are a number- of his North Island .purchases, including, the following lot: Meditation (Leinster— Reflection), Folicle (Casket— EamOa), Orderly (The Officer— Sabra), Shield (Captain Webt> — Cartouche). Office Girl (The Officer— Tom Boy), Order (The OfficerSpot), Raditor (Sir Lancelot — Spot), and sevexal others.- —^ In -a case the" other day ■& prisoner protested -when the judge declared that tie culprit's fall was "due to gambling on horse _xapes." "I care nothing for the sentence," protested "thevprisonier, ""but I object to being •called a. gambler." It is this kind of thing that unwarrantably brings -undeserved discredit upon a -splendid- sport (says a N.S.W. ■writer), 'and judges who know nothing -about the matter -should be more cautious, and ponder welL over ' the business before they denounce ■&-* sport which affords wholesome amusement for the King of England as well as , for. . the - humble collier who -''backs his f aacy- ■for *«. bob or two." —^JUx 3. J. Macken, the owner of the Sydney Cup. winner, Tartan, is understood, according -4o a Sydney paper, to have thrown in for » large stake in bets, in addition to the handsome prize. Some of the money comas through the drawer of Tartan in TattersJilTs sweep. Mr Macken was offered a large percentage of it "to nothing," but, being one of -the few owners who object to benefiting in that way, he refused the offer, and eventually accepted d£L7SO at about the price that Tartan was quoted on the course. The "trainer and rider of the horse will. benefit from the same sweep to the extent of -£250 and £LQO respectively. —^Recently the London Sportsman conducted a competition with respect to pro--viding the most suitable mate for Pretty Polly. The matter was decided by an international committee, and it agreed by a con«iderable majority that Plying Fox wpq the -winning .horse. Cyllene had a strong following, however, and Persimmon, Collar, ZinfanSel, Orme, and Bonavista all had supporters in the first instance. Among those -who from tlte first chose Flying Fox wers the Duke de la Torre, Sir R. Waldie Griffith, Mr W. H. Rowe (U.S.A.), Mr Th. 4e Dorojinski (Russia), Mr J. A. Doyle, Mr John Brown (Australia), and Mr Spencer Gollan. — The American sportsman. Mr James R. Keene, has recently sustained a severe loss by the death of his very promising stallion, Comrnandp, who was, however, insured in England for £10,000. Commando was by Domino ont of Emma C, by Darebin (son of The Peer and Lurline, by Traducer). He •was the winner of a great many races, and considered one of the fastest horses .seen on the American turf in many years. Among tis victories were 'the Zephyr Stakes, fhe Great Trial Stakes, the Montauk Stakes, th© Brighton Junior Champion Stakes, fhe Belanont, eic His present two-year-olds Rre his first, and they are said to have been highly tried. —If one glances at the list of leading Btallions in America *in 1905, the first thing fo attract attention is that practically uo»9

of the winning stallions for any full xcar of the past appears in prominence. The leaders in 1904 were imp. Meddler, Ben Brush, Hamburg, imp. Ben Strome, Kingston, Hastings, imp. Goldfinch, imp. Athelm;*, Lamplighter, King Eric, Sir Dixon, Octagon, Requital, imp., Golden Garter, imp. Pirate of Penzanoe, imp. Esher, imp. Hermence, The Commoner, imp. Star Ruby, and Ornament, etc. The first eight on the list of 1905 to date do not appear among the first 20 of 1904, the nearest approach being imp. St. Gatien, the sire of imp. Meddler. — John Schorr, the millionaire brewer, announces that he has quit betting, that his losses in that direction amount to jE60,000 in I the past few years (says Kew York- Sports |of the Times). Which shows that while a ■ man may be clever enough to sell a Judith Campbell to a William C. Whitney, he is not clever enough to make a profit at a rather simple business. There is no fortune in it, Mr Schorr, buj; surely you must know from a dozen to a score of men who for long years have made a steady income from backing horses on a business basis, with no plunging, and with competent capital! It is the poor business men of the turf who lose. Then Mr Schorr reduces his two-year -old purchases and lays it to anti-racing legislation! — Fresh developments have now taken place in connection with the racehorse Valiant (now known as Satire), who was stolen from Mr J. Connors at Tarrawingee -(Victoria) about 16 months ago (says an Australian exchange). It now turns out that the -question of ownership of the horse is to be re-opened owing to a man named Burgess having quarrelled with his former companions who were associated with him in connection with the horse, and having turned King's "evidence. Burgess has made a statement to the police authorities which has caused the re-arrest in Queensland of P. -Mullaly, the man who was tried fOT stealing the horse and acquitted. Two other men, MTLean and Tlarvey, have also been arrested in Queensland in connection with the matter, and the three men are to be remanded to a Victorian court.

— From what I can hear (says "Terlinga"; the present A.J.C. stipendiary stewards are not doing nearly as w.ell as was supposed. According to practical racing men, they are constantly getting the wrong pig by the eu\ v On the other hand, in alluding to the progress of the turf in New South Wales, ihe Sydney 2S.aU said, when commenting on vhs recent A,J.C. meeting, that the governing body has done everything possible to secure clean honest sport, and a strong factor in ihat connection is the stipendiary system of control, which, though only a recent inno^afion, appears to have come to stay. Jts beneficial .effects in connection with horseracing in the metropolitan district are •icnerally recognised, and in the interests of the national sport it is" desirable that the pystem &c -extended throughout the Commonwealth. — Many people seem to have a notion (says an exchange) that if a horse is to be tough, lugged, and wiry ft must -endure hardships "■ during colthood. Others have an idea that nothing is too good for a well-bred colt, and therefore it should be kept closely stabled and" blanketed in the winter season. Tt is difficult to tell which of these is the worst nonsense. Let us see what is required: In the , case of" the -weanling the foundation is r being laid. Tf tfie plan of the architect is to be carried out the colt must have abundant nourishment, mainly albuminous, such as oats and alfalfa hay, with more or less -grain during the -winter. To give this colt a kind of balancing ration and keep it tied up in the stable is absolutely cruelty. In this country every colt may have abundant -exercise in tha sunlight and oiaen air all ■winter. It is folly to hamper a as well as to stunt it by submitting it to hard conditions. — Commenting on the awarding of the championship to Ribbonwood at the Sydney show, the Town and Country Journal savs~: > "With the champion Ribbon-wood entered, i th* judge had no trouble in picking out a first. Ribbonwood was bTed in New Zeai land, and is by Wildwood (imp.) from Dolly, j by Irvington (imp.) Of all the horses that ; took part in the grand parade, Ribbonwood stood out as the best-tempered horse in. tl:e ring. In the stable he is the same, and never gives the least trouble to T. Price, who looks after him. Ribbonwood ctanc's the champion trotter of Australasia, having beaten Fritz and -all-comers. He "was purchased by Mr A. D. Playfair at llOOejs, and that we have such a horse located m this State we have to thank Mr Playfair for. Ribbonwood is black in colour, stands 15.2hds with shoes on, but of most perfect formation. The great feature, however, is his splendid temper." — Advices from England announce that the Australian-bred horse Newhaven, who won. the V.R.C. Derby and Melbourne Cup, 1897. has been purchased by Mr Osborne for the Currandooley Stud, "New South Wales, and the son of Newminster will shortly return to his native land. During his sojourn in •"Jsgland Newhaven won the March Stakes at the Newmarket spring meeting in 189S; the following year he captured the City ami Suburban Handicap at Epsom, the rtfar.:h Stakes at Epsom, and the Epsom / ""ur>, while he Tan- third to his compatriot, Merman, and King's Messenger in the Goodwood Cup",' his turf- earnings in stakes alone amounting io £3380. Though there is no doubt that the son of is as purebred as Eclipse, he -did not have much show at the stud in England, as, owing to carelessness 4 n the past, his pedigree cannot be traced into tiio English Stud Book, consequently theio '^as very little demand for his services in that conservative country; yet he fiired a few •winners, notably- Ravenshoe, and a filly from l'eaee, which piaced his name on the jvianjno; list last season. — Describing the Steeplechase at Randwick, which was won by the Aucklander Up to Date, the Sydney Mail says: — Solitaire showed the way over the first obstacle, which stopped Marjorie, but Bardenoo crossed the fence near the mile post four lengths from Sftlitaire, after ■whom came Up to Date. Skyward, and Young Creswick. Save that Solitaire dropped back, there was no alteration as they crossed the hill, and Baidenoo flew the fence near Kensington nearly six lengths from Skyward, Up to Date, and Young Creswick. -while Solitaire tumbled over the obstacle. In that order they flew the logs at the old Derby- corner, and crossed the treble in front of (the stand, the last set of -which brought down Bardenoo. Up to Date and .Skyward, on terms, flew the logs near Oiienhani's, followed by Snowstorm and Young Creswick, Kaffir next, and Driscoll last. Ycung Creswick, Up-to-Date. Skyward, and Kaffir crossed' the hill -in a bunch, and raced to the final jump, over which Up to Date showed the way. and holding his own in the run home, won easily by two lengths from Skyward, who was four in front of Young Oreswick. Kaffir -was a similar distance off, , with Driscoll and Snowstorm in the rear. ' —It is something of a coincidence vsays "Milroy") that Tartan and Tatterdemalion, who ran first and second in the Sydney Cup, are both out of mares belonging to the same family. Tartan's dam, Colours (13), is by Grandmaster (14) from Red and Black (imp.), by Exminster (7) from Wildfire (imp.), 1 y Gozo's sire, Wild Oats (14), and so back to Mj§ "WalLa^ h£ Kiss, Tom. Tatt-erdemahoii

is from Tatters (13), by Robinson Crusoe ''13)

- — ■grandson of Fisherman (11) — from Raguicker (sister to Goldsbrough's darn, Sylvia), by Fisherman from Juhet. The above-men-tioned Wildfire was the granddam of that great stayer Gipsy Grand, and she is rlo?>>iy related to Sea Swallow, the dam of Achillas, a son of Medallion, and -who is the chamr.ion of New Zealand. Tatterdemalion, who lins had a long and varied experience from picnic racing under weights to long-distance cups, was bred by the late Mr H. C. White at Havilah. Cherson "was raised at 3elltr?es by his owners, Messrs H. E. A. nn 1 Y. White, and is by Bill of Portland mm Xti&a (10), by Trenton from Rosedale ump.i, tiie ancestress of The "Watchdog and many 0.1.ci smart horses, among them Dr Fraser's goodlooking Positano colt, Jargoon.

— Mr E. E. Jones, once the leading bookmaker in Sydney, died recent'y- It must be nearly 20 years sinoe lie was in the ascendant, and I suppose, says "Terlinga," it is quite 15 years sinoe be dropped out of the ring. At

one time he was interested in rowing, and used to back the crack Sydney scullers of the early eighties. "N-ed" Jon-es was in the firm of Miller, Jones, and O'Brien. They had the reputation of laying very big wagers. One I

can remember was a bet of £50,000 to £1000 against an Adelaide horse, called Sensation, for the Melbourne Cup. Sensation never

started for the race, and I do not suppose the firm ever got the thousand. Another "leviathan"' bet they laid, and had reported all over Australia, was £50.000 (I am not sure it was

not £100,000) against the double Navigator

and Gudarz for the Derby and Cup of 1882. Navigator won, and Gudarz was"fibird. Terence O'Brien dropped out after Arsenal's Mcl-

bourne Cup, and died about 15 years ago; but J. J. Miller, the veteran m-ember of the firm, is still to the fore, although he does not bother about racing. E. E. Jones owned a few hors«3 at times, and was mixed up with

others. Backing horses must have cost him some thousands. When on the top of the

wave he was a most liberal man,

— Trentbridge, the six-year-old son of Phaethon and Throne, is in the private sa'.e hV. and. as he is a winner and at stud has proved himself a sure foal-getter, lie has a good deal to recommend himself to those_ on the lookout for such ar horse. Trentbridge i 3 a big-

boned, upstanding brown, showing a lot of power and quality, and should make a good jumper if put to the business. On the score of breeding he comes of undeniably attractive lines, as he was got by the Trenton horse Phaethon out of Throne, a daughter of Per-km Warbeck II and the Trflducer mare Peggy, •who was bred by the defunct Middle Park Stud ompany. Phaethon is best known as the sire of the crack mare Lady Lillian, the promising 'chaser Phaetontis, and other winners. His sire, Trenton, was one of the best horses ever seen on the iurf in the colonies, and as a sire his excellence is being continu-

ally demonstrated. Phaethon is out of Sapphire, the Australian-bred daughter of The Drummer, -and is consequently a half-brother

to Blueirre (winner of CJT.C. Champagne Stakes. Challenge Stakes. C.J.C. Oaks, C.J.C. Derby, and other races), Ma-nnlicher (winner of Champagne Stakes, Challenge Stakes,, etc.), St. Conon, and Bluewater, the darn of Submarine. Trentbridge is at present in training, and further particulars can be obtained from the sporting editor of the Otago Witness. Tbat English breeders appreciate the mistake that was made when they allowed Flyig Fox to be sold and taken to France is evident from the statement of "Clarion," in County Gentleman. He says: "The number of English mares that are sent every season to Flying Fox compensates in some measure for the loss the British stud sustained by the expatriation. Credit must be given to those breeders who have been enterprising enough to secure nominations to him at his enormous fee of 600gs. Not that there has been any lack of English applications for services. The horse's success has been so phenomenal that M. B.'anc would probably have no difficulty in doubling the number of mares from this country that have been subscribed for this year. I mentioned last week that Major Platt's Primrose had foaled a filly by Flying Fox, and that his mares. Sea Air and Surprise-Me-Not, had been sent on a. visit to M. Blanc's horse. I learn now that

Mr R. A. Brice's Hampton mare, Lady Rayleigh,- has foaled in France, where she is on a visit to the son of Orme. The announcement '"'is made, too, that tne nomination secured by the King to Flying Fox this season will be filled by the young mare Nadejda, who was a woeful disappointment when in training, but may make amends at the stud. She is a full sister to Persimmon, Diamond Jubilee, and Florizel 11, and mating her with Flying Fox is rather a daring experiment in breeding. — From an English exchange we clip the following: — It was whilst stationed at the

Curragh that Captain Machell first got his name- up- Not having been on the turf beiore, he probably looked a bit green. A particular bookmaker monopolised most of the betting at this noted Irish meeting, and was

anxious to add to his already large connec-

tion. "Will you back one for this race, Captain?" he called out as Machell sauntered by. There were only three starters. "What about

Sc-and-So?"

"Even money." "Book it to

50." The race was soon over, and Captain Machell's horse won by th-e length of a street.

The next race came on, and the bookmaker, wanting to get his £50 back, almost implored the Captain to have a bet on with him. Four

horses started, and on being pressed, our

' subject laid £50 to £40 on one. The favourite j again cantered ia first, 50 yards of daylight I separating (him from the second horse. So again the new hand drew. The next event | was the Cup race, and the crowd gathered ' eagerly round the big bookmaker and began. , to speculate briskly. There were 13 runners,

and it seemed a good betting race. The bookie caught sight of his new client, stroll-

ing by, and, eager to get his century back, called out from the middle of the crowd tlmt surrounded him. " Have a bet on for the Cup, Captain?" "Let me see." said the Captain, getting on his tiptoes, and stretching his neck. "Thirteen runners : no, no, my boy, I won't bet just this time. You've got a chance." — The "betting regulations in Austria are very stringent. The Australian Jockey Ciub

(Vienna) has recently issued

an important

document, and those countries which are troubled with the betting question — and ■which

is not? — will no doubt be interested in its

provisions. The chief medium of betting in Austria, it may be pointed out, is the totali-

sator, but bookmakers are permitted to ply their calling pro%-Ided they hold a license from the Austrian Jockey Club. The license issued to bookmakers provides, among other things, that the bookmaker shall pay the sum of 5000

crowns (about £208) for each day's racing in Vienna, and 3600 crowns (about £150) for each day at two other places. This sum must be paid even in case of absence. Bookmakers are forbidden to act as agents for bets to be made in the totalisator. or to own racehorses or a share in racehorses, ot in any way to possss a-n interest in racehorses. They are also forbidden to own or have an interest in any sporting publication, or to act as editor or correspondent to a sporting paper. The licensed bookmakers will be provided with a list of persons with whom they are forbidden to iiava any betting transactions whatever.

Every bookmaker must deposit with the Austrian Jockey Club the sum of 20,000 crowns (about £800) as a guarantee for carrying out the conditions of the license, and shou'd a bockmaker break any of the stipulated clauses, or be convicted of swindling, or of trying to swindle, or be concerned in any wrongdoing whatever, he will forfeit the whole or part of his guarantee, according to the circumstances- — Talking of judges and races, I, says "Boondi," was present at a Tambaroora race meeting m the "good old days," when one of our Supreme Court judges (now dead) actually rode in a flat race, and won after a hard, dingdong finish under somewhat peculiar circumstances. At the time I speak of the judge referred to was a smart young man. acting as C.P.S. at Sofala, and the horse be rode belonged to Mr Harold Ma-clean, the Gold Commissioner at the race dinner which wound up the day's sport, Mr Joseph Cox, the Gold Ccmmissioner at Tambaroora, in the chair, and in the course of his speech he told us that "something had occurred that day which in all piobabihty would never occur again during our lives." The fact was thit Mr George Ir.nis, who rode Mr Maclean's horse, was short of weight 12lb, and no "leads" being procurable in town, he (Mr Ccx) had lent him 12lb of gold from his office, which was enclosed in a belt fastened round his waist. Amongst some of the trainers and jockeys engaged at that meeting were a few prime ''Van Demonian" gaol birds, who would have cheerfully broken the other jockey's neck to get at his belt had they only known what it contained. Mr Cox's disclosure was tho chief topic of their talk for weeks after, and all their confabs ended -with the one remark, made with grim determination, "Oh, if we had only known!" Amongst the good honest jocks I saw at that meet were the old-time champions Joe Taeffer, George Burgess, Tommy and Ted Ryan, old Dunn (a real wonder), and old Sam Holmes, who couid do more with a length at the finish than any other jockey I ever saw. I don't think the hero of the golden belt episode ever rode races after he became a judge, but he certainly would never be found denotincing the grand sport as some do who are wholly ignorant of its nature.