IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2833, 1 July 1908, Page 54

IN A NUTSHELL.

— The New Zealand horse Waipu, who is engaged in the V.R.C., is credited with being a great stayer. — The cognescenti credit the Vancleve gelding Durbar with being the fastest light harness horse in training in the Dominion. — The first of «. series of 20 trotting meetings, to be held under the management of Mr , John Wren, at Richmond, were to commence on Thurs4»y, Jun« 25. — r It is rumoured that the weil-known horseman Mr A. Pringle is engaged to be married to a Dunedin young lady, whose charming presence has been a conspicuous feature oi our local race meetings. — Cresceus (2.25), the champion trotting stallion of the world, has been -bought by M. Tahemerzin, a prominent Russian horseman living near St. Petersburg, the price paid to the great horse's owner, Mr W. Savage, of Minneapolis, being £5000. —At th« Phoenix Park (Dublin) Apjir meeting the Greer Plate, of 300sovs. five furlongs, was won by Cinder King, by Wildfowler from Cinder Ellen, a daughter of Trenton, was a, well-known performer among the galloways in New South. Wales about 10 years ago. — The C.J.C. Grand National meeting is one of the most popular fixtures on cur racing calendar, and the excellent nominations for the principle events to be decided at Riccafton next month strongly suggest that the popularity at the gathering is anything but on the wane. — The Australian, light-weight J. E. Pike had his first win in England at the recent Newmaxket spring meeting, when ha rode Vigilance, the winner of the Brefby Handicap, run on the One Thousand Guineas Day. Vigil<ince is reported to have "won a capital race by a neck." — Fretwork, the winner of both th» big steeplechases at Napier last week, claims » pedigree whioh kills the surprise that may be expressed at first blußh. He is by The Workman (son of Robineon Crusoe) from Variety (a daughter of Natator, a. successful aire of -cross-country horses). — A "made in Germany" winner was in evidence on the first day of the Newmarket sprinc meeting, when, a German-bred colt by Ard Patrick captured tKe first race on ths card. The colt is called Goldgulden, pncl raced in the nomination of Count I/ehndorff, manager of the Royal Graditz stud in Germany. — The Sydney Referee reports that J. Cameron arrived from Auckland in charge of Waipu, who is engaged in the V.E.C. and Caulfield Grand National Hurdle Races. Waipu h*d a, rough trip across, but held kis oe>m<iition well. aji<a looked, freak asd bright when he appeared on the track at Rand wick. _ Awarding to the Horseman, the Rus-

[ si«ns heve made an unsuccessful attempt ! to purchase the champion American irottiner m*r», N»ncy Hanks, who has a record .of 2.04. In declining the offer Joseph Madden is reported to have said: "Her tembatone on our farm would be worth more ih-an. w« paid for her." — Concerning fractious horses at the barrier, it has been decided by the West Australian stipendiary stewards to impress upon the owners of certain horses not broken to stand up properly to the starting-gates that , they must educate them better before start- ! ing them again, or take the risk of having their entries refused. — The English rictar Trigg had an unpleasant experience at Alexandra Park recently. His saddle split immediately after the start, and the jagged edges of the- steel tree penetrated ep deeply into his thigh that he returned to scale smothered in blood. Despite the disadvantage at which Trigg was placed, his mount won. • — & jH. Hewitt rode Elm Twig into fifth position in the One Thousand Guineas, won by Rhodora. His mount started third favourite and after showing the way in the first part of the rac» droppped back beaten. I Hewitt hid., three other mounts on th* I same day, and it is evident there is a growing demand for his services. — Nogi, who gained' a phtce in both the ; big steeplechases decided- -.at N*pier last ! week, iron a lot of admirers when he raced > at Riccarton at the National meeting of i 190& He commenced by winning the Hunwsrs' Hurdles in _good *tyl«, but fell when • well fancied lor the Hunt Club Cup. Sine* then he has been, absent until last week. — The Officer, gelding Defeat, who succeeded in getting amongst the winners at Napier Park lastr week, is a half brother to ' Trumpery, who was intended to be a present to his -Majesty -the King of England. A • fatal accident at Ricwrton, howeveT, pie l vented that piece of loy*lty fft>m being carried to a successful snd laudable conclusion. — The recently defunct Redleap ia said to have gained his name by the fact the ' a friend of his own*T who was invited to see the hone jump 'prior to his making * debut in public, exclaimed (on wiiceesing the first •Hempt made over timber) : "What a Jially-bally great jump!" A modified rendering of the exclwmation w*s found in ".Redleap." — An. English writer remarks: "Experience hae shown the tendency of the ege towards post betting, and undoubtedly the days of big ante-post speculation axe numbered. It- was bo in th» owe of the City and Suburban, for, though little was done anterior to the day of the race, there w*a sufficient business on the course aton«_" for the previous apathy." l < The death is reported from Austrah* of Redleap, who was one of the greatest steeplechase horses ever raced in Australia. In 1892 he won. the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase for Mr S. Miller, undeT 18.3, and the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle R*ce, carrying 11.12." He also won the latter event in 1889 and the Oaulfield Grand National .- Steeplechase under 13.12. — Thfe betting laws must be given crem* , for shutting up the pony courses They i could not be carried on without the book- ! makers' fees. The bac to proprietary racing i in South Australia is (sfys A Melbourne paper) supplied by the totalisatox. It can ! only be ussd by a genuine club, • «ad J pro- ' prietary racing, with no- revenue from betting, is, of course, out of the question. — The AshbuTton County Racing dub made a profit of £540 over their autumn meeting, and a piofit of about £100 oye# their spring fixture. DuTing -the yew improvements to the value of £1380 - had been effected, and the -stakes increaeed by /^BS. Tlie principal ""increase of prise money, it is worthy of note, was m*de in _ connection with the ■au.tunm, meeting, which yielded the largest profit. — A case of interest to trotting-owners was he*rd at Wyndhara last week, when George Nash sued Thos. King for £45 6s 6d— viz., £46 for 46 weeis' training of the trotting horse Walnut at 20s per week, shoeing of horse £1 5s fid. trotting fees paid a* Gore, Tapan-ni, and Dunedin 410 (total £57 5s 6d), less £12 cash received. After hearing evidence, the bench gave judgment for plaintiff for JEIS, without costs. —An ex-jockey named Frederick Hodges (who rose under the name of Fred Slack) has been given parish relief in Worcester (England). Accidents resulting in paralysis . have rendered him unaWe * follow his vocation, though he is only 32 years old. At bis bankruptcy four years ago he said fte I made £2000 one season, and received £1500 ' a season for several years. The guardams have given him 6s a week. — Something that may be applicable to thw country:— Handicapping for the Chester Cup must (says an exchange), however, be on> of the most" th*nkless of tasks. For a race on such a track (it is frequently and aptly referred io as a circus ring) the weights would be far more equably adjusted if they could be allotted *ftex the draw for plfces. Ta be well drawn at the start of thk race i» equivalent to receiving a big advantage in weight. _ — The French colt Seasick II was. according to the Tatle*. named in a humourous fashion, "What shall we call him? i said his owner, Mr W. X Vanderbilt, to , the irainer. Duke, who was formerly locate" lin England. "Oh," was the reply, call him after me; call himi seasick, because that's how I am always when I. cross to England." So Mr Vamderbilt, having r rather grim sense of humour, accepted the l\ j. E. Pike, the "newly-arrived little Aus- , tralien jockey, scored his first vctory here on Vigilance, in the Bretby Handicap (says the London Sportsman), and acquitted fajm- , self well. He has had only a few rides in England, so success has come ta nun quickly and in later years he will probably cherish the. fact th*t his first triumph m , England w«s scored in Ihe black and yellow iacket of Mr Stedall. All jockeys regard it as an honour to ride to these colours. , —The Buncos Aires. Jockey Club nave I just decided to pull dawn all the existing I sSnds, etc., upon their famous Bergrano I racecourse (says the Throne and Country), and re-erect them on quite up-to-date and ' improved principles *t an estimated cost of £150,000— which sum is cetrain to be increased another 30 or 40 per cent, .tow** everything ifl finished with. The buildings wiH then certainly be the most picturesque J and perfect stands in existence in any coun- | —English owners are playing a poor part 1 in the classic races this season, but American sportsmen are well to- the front. To start with. Mr August Beimont captured • the Two Thousand Guineas with Norman I III; Mr R. Croker folowedl with Rhodora in the One Thousand Guineas ; Mr W. K. Vanderbilt's Sensick II ran, » dead heat ' with Quintette for Hbe French Derby; and his stable mate, North-Eaet, secured the ■ richly-endowed Grand Pri* d« Paris on Sunj day last; while the Derby and Oaks were won by an Italian. I —Aa Australian exchange (reports th«.tMr Sol. Green is going to New Zealand; in August with a view to, buying some of the marea to be submitted at the sales of norsea in the estate oi the i«t© Mr ©-. e-. Stead. As the sale takes place during tb« Grand National meeting at Christchurch, per-

fcaps the Melbourne man will iay the odds as' well while he is over there. Mx Green has a select stud of mares, and with one or two of the geme from the Grasslea paddocks he would be unlucky if he did not get a good winner or two. — Writing to a friend in Melbourne a. month before the Derby, Mr Joe Thompson gave it as his opinion that Perrier had no ohance -of wanning. "He may win the Leger if they train him. especially for it." Mr Thompson thought: "But such a heavy, loosemade customer will never be able to come down* the hill at Epsom in comfort. It would not surprise m* to see him fall down the hill." The "old man/ who^was far from well when he wrote, is still a fine judge of racing, and the victory of an outside chance ia the Derby should have cured him of^ the ailment -which was bothering him. x — Mary, the three-year-old filly imported from England by Mr John O'Keefe, is 1 evidently' more than useful. At the recent V.R.C. June meeting, with 6.9 in (he saddle, she easily beat a big field in tde Royal Handicap, of six furlongs, and though put up to- 7.11, subsequently accounted for Rosny Plate at Caulfield, again disposing of numerous opponents decisively. Mary is by William the Third ~ (son, of St. Simon) from _. liody-A., by Rightaway from Lady Bay, by Edward the Confessor from Miss Zay, by ■ Blinkfcoalie/ and was bred By- Mr John Porter. / . . , , -t-A. mas took a nap in the woods, laying' his .umbrella on a rock beside him. After a- while it began to rain, and the man awoke. He- was all wet. He took hold of hi* umbrella and opened it hurriedly. It seemed rather stiff in going up, and these was » ripping tearing sound. Then a live black snake fell to the ground, split in two from its head to its taiL You see, it hod swallowed the umbrela, all but the handle, and the man' did not notice what, had happened till, putting the umbrella up, he halved the- -snake from stem to stern. — Philadelphia- Record. — The brilliant Galvani only defeated Glacis, by Carbine, a head in the Chester Vase, one mile and a-half. They carried 8.13 and 8.12, and as Glacis hod only 7.6 to carry in the Chester Cup on the day following bis running to Gatrani was a good tip for that event- Glacis won the Cup, ridden 4y the Sydney horseman, Wootton, by three lengths Amidst tremendous cheering. Glacis is the result of crossing the Musket blood through Carbine on to an Isonomy more. GlasaH, dam of Glacis, is a gem. of the Stud Book, as she is by Isinglass, by Isonomy from Broad Corrie, by Hampton from Ooxrie Boy, by Galopin: — The -New South Wales Trotting Association has endorsed the disqualification of Menyboy and the driver, Gawthorne, in the £100 trot at the late show. L. Cassimir ap-' plied to ha*e the disqualification removed from the hqrse, stating that he had only lent the animal to/ Ga-wthorae, and hud no interest in %e-ra4e. The application was refused, and the secretary of the- association wrote: "When a horse is leased for racing purposes the owner must accept the responsibility attached to the -racing of .the horse, an* to release *,iborsa'fror^d»»qnalffication becvuse he happened to be 'eased -would be" such * dangerous precedent as mo ruling body could entertain." — Some horses have won fortunes for their lucky owners. ' For the late Colonel K'Calmont, Isinglass eecured £57,456, - including "the ' Triple Crown" of classic erenits^ — Jie Two Thousand Guineas, Derby, and St. Leger. Donovan, who failed in that accomplishment, winning but the Derby and St. I/eger, however, won £55,154 for the Duke of Portland. Lord Lyon (£25,600), Ormonde (£08,465), Galtee More (£27,019), Diamond Jubilee (£31,886), Flying Fox (£40,096), and Rock Sand (£45,618) all won "the Triple Crown," and carried off the sums mentioned after their names. Sceptre accumulated £38,968, Ayrshire £35,915, Pretty Polly £35,312. and Persimmon £34,706.— Live Stock Journal — Apropos of tEe gambling question. — Sir John Lade was • little given to sharp practices. Thus, he bet-1/ord Cholmondeley a considerable sum that he would carry him on his back twice round the Steine, and a great crowd attended .to witness "this extraordinary feat of the dwarf carrying the giant." the moment oame for the wager to be won or lost there was ft pause, and when Lord Cholmondeley asked for what Sir John was muting, the latter said calmly thWt h« was waiting for his lordship to strip. "I engaged to carry you, but not an ounce cf clothing," he remarked; "so. therefore. my lord, make ready. Naturally, Lord Cholmondeley paid forfeit.— "The Beaux of the Regency." — A strike of jockeys and horse-owners took place on the second day of the Rocknaxnpton (Q.) carnival, owing to the starter, •Mr C. F. CoUnsell, imposing fines totalling £18 on the riders of horse b engaged in the first race. The outcome of this was that the riders decided to go on strike, -but at a gubseqtaejit meeting of the stewards it was decided^to remit the fines. A deadlock was then brought about by Mr Counseil, who iraa present, refusing to continue as starter 'unless the fines were paid. This difficulty iras omcome by Mr -A. S. secretary of the Central Queensland Racing Association, offering his services as starter, which were accepted, and the racing proceeded without further trouble. — A system of graduated penalties haa been included in the conditona for the coming Grand National Hurdle Race at Flemington, as under: — "Winner of any handicap hurdle race after declaration of weights to carry as follows: — If handicapped for this xace at 9.0 to 10.0 inclusive, 71b extra; at 10.1 to 11.6, inclusive, slb extra'; at 11.7 or -upward. 3lb extra ; of two or more such races, if handicapped for this raoe at 9.0 to 10.0, inclusive, 121b extra; at 10.1 to 116 inclusive, 10lb extra;- at 11.7 or upward, Blb extm." The 'conditions of the S-teepekhaee in the matter of penalties read: "Winner of any handicap steeplechase after declaration of weights, value lOOsovs or over, to carry 71b extra; of two or more such races. 101b extra." — The new rule of the V.R.C., with regard to registration of racehorses, will come into operation on August 1. The fee is 2s 6d, if the application be mode prior to the horse having been placed in a race; and a fine of £1 in addition if the application be made after suoh horse has been, placed in a race. If any misstatement or incorrect information be furnished with t£e application-, the horse m»y be- disqualified, and the applicant punished by fine, suspension, or disqualification. It "will not be necessary to register a visiting horse until it has i>een six consecutive months in Victoria, but. the identity of the horse must, if required, be proved to the satisfaction of the V.R.C. This part of the provisions will, it is believed, defeat the object of what is beyond doubt a- wise law. — The late Dnk c of Devonshire's stud of Vocehjosses was sold just before the mail last left England. The top price was 3700g5. for Acclaim, 4yrs, by Am oh ion. given by Mr J. Buchanan, and Mr S. Darling paid 3400ga for the five-year-old Fugleman, by Persimmon. Other big prices were IGOOga given by Sir R. Waidie Griffith, for Caramel. 3yrs. wj Persimmon; 1200gs for the two-jear-okl

T filly by Fkarixel IT; .Caxim, which Sir R. Jardine bought, and-HOOgs each for two two-year-old colts, one by GaLldnule from , Grand Prix, and the other by Ayrshire from ! Light and Gay, the former going to Mr S. Darling, and the other to Mr T. B. Miller. There was one other four-figure purchase. • Hillsprife, by Cyllene — Elf, which went to Mr J. Buchanan, for 1050gs. — One of the most remarkable horses that , ever ran was Isaac, on whom Sam Darling's grandfather won co many races in the early i half of hest century. Thanks to the evergreen I John Osborne, I ami in possession (says an I English writer) of details of Isaac's career, .fie was a grey horge, bred by the Hon. 1". O. Rowlett in 1831, _ got by Figaio out of Jack Spigofs iam by Sorcerer, granddam by , Precipitate, great granddam. by Baghflyer out 'of Tiffany, by Eclipse. He first ran as a four-year-old in 1835,_ and he continued campaigning until 18467 running 101 times and winning 48 times. This career is even more remarkable than may at first be thought, for many of the races were run in heats needing two and often three struggles, so that in reality Isaac's life oa the turf was even mo-re strenuous than that of Fisherman. His great year woo> 1839, when he started 23 times and'-^won 19 races. — The Singapore Derby, which Durbar . won last month, attracted eight starters. and they were mJI well-known Au&trxlians. I In addition to the pieced ones, Durbar (by M»lvolk>), Newbury (by Dalmeny), and Rosemead (by True Blue), the starters were Gillo, Rapid Pilgrim. Delcore, Acetine, and 1/aAj Brockleigh. Ross rode liie winner, who was third favourite. Pause, who accompanied Durbar from W.A. to Singapore, also won a 'race- on Derby day, the Paddock Stakes, but another stable representative. Pin, was beaten in the Grandstand Cup, which went to Excelsior. The Sultan of Johore, Durbars owner, had not raced at , Singapore since falling foul of the racing authorities there ?om<e y«ai3 ago, and his reentry was therefore nrther remarkable. Further, Durbar broke the record for the Singa--pore Derby, his ttiem c being 2min 41|sec. — The committee of the V.R.C. has decided, in order to assist the Commonwealth ■ and State Governments in entertaining the officers and men of the visiting American fleot, to hold a, race meeting on Wednesday. September 2. In honour of the American^ who are gre*t lovers of trotting, the committee has (agreed to permit the Victorian Owners and Breeders' Trotting Horse Association to hold a trotting race under their 1 rules and control during the afternoon. It ( is understood that the association intend to make a special effort to produce the very best trotting horses available in the Commonwealth, and to provide a trotting race for the visitors to Flemington which will be in every way worthy of the place and occasion. Only approved horses and riders will be allowed to take part in the even*, which will be decided over a mile and a-half. Both pacers and trotters will be eligible. The _ prize will be a cup to cost £50. t — A New Zealand-bred sire represented on the list for the Grand-- Prix at Paris was Carbine, who was responsible for Mr W. Hall Walker's Oaradoc, whose dam is the Galopin • more Warrior Queen* A' couple of candidate* from Australian-bred mares were among the nominations — the - colts Ballymacmoy, by Winkfield's Pride from Beanba, and Shillelagh, by Le Roi Soli el (winner of the Grand Prix, ' 1898) from Seolusion. Beanba is by Wallace from Emmie, by Robinson Crusoe from Olga. by Piscator, and among her turf succesees is the V.R.C. Oaks, 1901, which she won under the livery of Mr D. Smart. Seclusion was bred by Mr J. Wilson, jun., at the Bonny Vale stud, Victoria, and is by Carnage from The Nun, by First King. Seclusion was not raced until five years old, when she won three small races in Vie- ' toria, and the following season she captured a similar number of races for her breeder. , These two mares were purchased in 1902 by \ I the late Mr James Hennessy, of brandy | fame, who bred and nominated the colts i ■ aforementioned. — Thus the Sporting Times:— Could we i devote so much space to one topic. Bobbie Verrall's (the clerk of the scales in England) I experiences o-t the scales at Hawthorn Hill lajat Thursday .-would fill out these five columns. Most of the young officers who , rode at the meeting were as sublimely inI different as to what they weighed as if they ! had been carded to ride bare-backed. "I really cannot pass you without your saddle, sir," said Bobbie to one offender, "Come, come," coaxed the boy, "rt's a bit officiouß of" you just because my horse is already saddled. I weighed the thing myself last night, and it drew exactly 13lb, I give you my word. I Deduct that from the bally weight, don't ye know, and let me get away!" Another, who I had been fully dressed in time fox the first j race, though he did not ride till the thiid or fourth, reappeared in the weighing room ! directly after the second event, and loudly a,?ked for the stewards, whose permission he ! needsd. "Permission for what, sir?" asked j Verroll. '"To change this satin cap for a j bowler, as I want to go across the course to j get a- bite of lunch, confound it!" tras *he rejoinder. —On a recent Sunday afternoon, in the vicinty of the Ascot racecourse at Belmont (W.A.), a football match took place- between a team of jockeys and trainers coached by the ex-Wurerley trainer, Paddy Ward, and called "The Fenians," and a lot of nondescripts, who rejoiced in the name of "The Cowboys." -The Fenians, all of whom, wore a piece of green ribbon, supplied by Paddy, just scraped home by a narrow* margin after a very ;lose game. Paddy Ward was timekeeper, and at the finish is reported to have been the most excited man on the ground. A collection for charitable purposes was taken up during the afternoon. A match of a similar description took place on a Randwick oval on a recent Sunday, between a team of local stable boys and a nondescript lot from the city. The Nondescripts more than held their own in the early stages of the game, but (says the Scout) the "condition of the early risers prevailed towards the clofc when they ran over their opponents. The uniform of the winners consisted of sugar bags provided with arm holes, a stablefork emblazoned on the breast, and a broom on the back thereof; whilst, with apo-lcgies to a previous New Zealand team, their war cry was: "Mucker! Mucker! Mucker' Mucker! Out! Out! Out!" — According to the la-test London Sportsman to hand, the last Chester race meeting | was by far the most successful gathering ' ever held there, and, despite the fact that the weather was as miserable as it could be. , the attendance was a huge one in all depa-rt- ; ments. The King was again present, but, • as in the expectation of sunshine only a flimsy awning had been erected over his private stand, and the rain speedily began to percolate through, his Majesty watched the races from a mor-e sheltered position. j It was at this meeting that the Gold Vase j 1 resulted in GtVani beating the Carbire . | horse Glacis by a head, and there was much j discussion afterwards as to whether the j winner had won easily, or whether he had beeu "all out." Referring to the event, ! the same writer says. — "The race was run after this fashion. Galvani was pulling his I jockey's arms out for the first mile — that is to say, until the winning post was passed i the first time round, when the horse thought

he had won, and began to pull himself' up. Then Glacis, hard driven, went away with al lead of a- couple of lengths, with Queaipart, the third runner, travelling smoothly

last. Dillon says he never felt like being i beaten, and though the horse could not act i very well on such a cramped course, when the jockey sent him to tackle Glacis he ~ e ni;- a< l immediately that he had the race in hand." although Mr Marsh has the King and

distinguished patrons to train hoTi?es

for, he sometimes is surprised at his own expenses in the upkeep of such a vast establishment. Few have any idea of the thousand and one items of outlay in ■ connection with a first-class, or what might be termed a show place. Then Mr Marsh maintains a eh-arming private house, ejid all those who are. in his employ are locked after as if they personally belonged to him, and this

I solicitude extends as far as lh.e humblest boy in the stable. Everything is well done, and those who can claim the privilege of going to the private chapel on a Sunday evenj ing and hearing some oi those lads sing will i know that the spirit pervading the .stable ! is n-ot one of mere display. No wonder that J applications come "to Mr Marsh from all j ports of the kingdom, doctors, lawyers, and others beic<> anxious to get on undersized , lad in, the business of racing. One of the ■ most satisfactory indications of the turf f of the present day is the greatly improved ! social status of these connected with a- traini ing staible, and Mr Marsh has done » grcnt ds*l to put a spirit of emulation in all the j lads who- have come under his care. And let me tell you (says a prominent English. j writer) tfe&t many of the yongsters take the i Master of Egerton House as ,c pretty good ' model on which to mould themselves.

— The win of Glaci, a Carbine horse, and of Victrix, a filly by The Victory, may do something to restore the prestige of Aua-

tra-lisn isires in England, but, after all (says » Sydney paper), there is not much merit in either win. as Glacis was in at 6.11, though a four-year-old, and Victrix had a 101b allowance, being the progeny of a sire standing at less then lOgs. The Victory, a Melbourne Cup -winner, stands at the Straff*n Station Stud, Ireland, a, small etud belonging to a, private gentleman, who has been remark*.b!y successful with the stallion Foeunio, and a few good mares. The 'Victoria was sent to this stud by his owners, Messrs Clarke and Robin-son, in the hope that he would be well patronised as a descendant of the mighty Fisherman. However, the name of Fisherman evidently does not appeal to- them very much in England, and The Victory attracted no attention whatever from breeders. At the same time Mr Kennedy, the owner of the stud, wrote to an Australian friend xecenitly that, with the constant in-bieeding of St. Simon and Isonomy, and Bend Or Wood, it would be absolutely necessary soon to go to some of the old-fashioned lines for an out-cross, so as to restore the stamina, temper, and staying power of the stock. For this reason he w»a sen-ding some good mares to The Victory, in the hope of getting something in the way -of a _ good brood mare to- use with his own stallions;

— TEe well-known brood imare Memoir, the property of -the 1 Duke of Portland', Tmis just died at the Egerfon Stud, Newmarket, from rupture of the nterus. Foaled in 1877, she wag by the reoen^ly defunct St. Simon from Quiver— the dam of Le Fleche and other good thoroughbreds — and was bred by her late Majesty Queen Victory at the ilampton Court Stud, being purchased as a yearling by the Duke of Portland for 1500gs. She was one of the earliest of St. Simion's stock to carry silk, and as a two-year-old won three of the half dozen races in which she took part, these including the Prendergast Stakes at Newmarket. She w*s destined to do better things in, 1890, when among her five successes were the Newmarket- Stakes, the Oaks, and the St. Leger. In the Oaks she defeated" among others Signarina (another daughter of St. Simon), who had shown brilliant form as * juvenile, and at Doncaster ehe had behind her the Derby winner Sainfoin, Surefoot, and other good horses. As a four-year-old she only took one race in six, but in winning the July Cup at Newmarket she put in a goad performance in giving weight away to all her opponents, of whom Noble Chieftain (who was smart over sprint courses) had a short-head beating when in receipt of 91b. After that season Memoir was sent to the stud, but proved a shy breeder, and cannot be said to have produced anything nearly so good as herself, among hey produce being Golden Moments, Miss Gunniug 11, Mannlicher, Brauneberg, Tom Boyce, and Quair.

—If the various agricultural societies desire to retain the patronage of the owners of trotting-bred stallions, which has been so generously accorded in the past, they will have to 'jay down some haid and fast rule 3as between trotters and pacers. As matters now stand an owner lakes all the risks, and pays entrance fees for a stallion without the certainty of even being judged for a prize. The pacing hopples are surely extinguishing the trotter in Australia, and the various agricultural societies may well make an attempt to keep the trotter with as by making separate classes for trotters and pacers, or better still, by banishing the hopples from the showground. How unfairly the present system works may be judged from the doings of this year's shows at Dubbo and the Kawkesbury. At Dubbo all the stallions m a so-called competition for trotting stallions wore the pacing hopples, bar one. whose owner objected to start his fair and square trotter against the hoppled horses, but (says Rothschild) the judge overruled his objection, whereupon the owner of the trotter withdrew_ his horse. At the Hawkesbury show, almost immediately afterwards, the judge openly declared he would not award a prize under any condition to a pacer. In ita own protection the Hawkesbury show will have to mend its system of judging, for as pacing stallions mtnumber trotting stallions 10 t5~~ 1 next year the committee may expect what at present is far and away their largest s (Tall ion entry to dwindle to two or three horses.

— I had a mournful reminder of the late Mr G. G. Stead the other day (says the special commissioner of the London Sportsman), wfc-en R. J. Mason, -wiho is on a visit to England, presented a letter of introduction to me which his old employer had given him just before he sailed from New Zealand. The following extract from the letter will be read with interest. — "Mr R. J. Ma-son, who has been exclusively my private trainer for the past 21 years, is paying a visit to England for the first time. He has trained something over 400 winners for me of races exceeding £100,000 in value, which are fairly large figures foi a email place like New Zealand, and as he {rained Noctuiform and Multiform you might be interested in having a- chat with him. My present team is weak, both in numbers and quality, but since my return from England I have won the biggest two-year-old race in New Zealand, as well as the Great Northern I>erby at Auckland. The latter was won by Boniform. the third son of Otterden. I have some nice young ones coming on, which I hope will be ready for Mason on his return The above-men-tioned Otterden. I may explain, is a mare I sent out to Mr Stead in 1900. She waa then covered by Martagon, to whom she produced the great stayer, Martian, to English time. Hex second foal was Sun God, a. very

good colt., and the third, Boniform. The mare herself is of the Sunshine family, being by Sheen out of Springmorn, by Springfield. — The interest taken in International racing by French' breeders has led to tihe retort courteous being given by the German stables, although Messrs Vcn Weinberg and the Itoyal Stud of Gradiiz are as yet the only subscribers to races in Francs, where fhe German horses have no special allowances made them as they enjoy when racing in their own country against visitors from Franca and England. If Fortune smiles at youth some recognition may be* anticipated of the new management of the Royal CradiyZ Stud. Count George liehndorff, whose n-ame is known wherever there ie a question :>f hippie interest as being that of one of the best judges of a thoroughbred in Europe, haa ceded hia position as manager of the Royal GTaditz Stud to his son. pud the result has been that Count Siegfried Lehndorff has inaugurated his nomination by entering Gwtfreund, being trained in England, for the Grand Prize of Paris in 1909. There has been a complete change at Graditz since the English trainer Reginald Day Mis taken up service under the new ananagement. The premises recently purchased by the Government at the German training headquarters at Hoppergarten will have greatly facilitated the task of preparing horses for iheir different engagements, and may bring about the realisation of the idea- of {he gentleman to whom Germany owes- such a deep d&bi of gratitude, and who hoped one- day^ro win the Bamiburg Derby with a. truly Germanbred horse from German-bred sire and dam.

—Mr John Cc-rlett writes interestingly as under onent Flying Fox: — "Cimcernii^ John Porter, we hs.v» always thought that one of the happiest moments of his life was when Flying Fox le£t his stable. It was not with any real regret that he declined M. Blanc's offer to train him for his four-year-old career. It began to be a question of 'save himself who can' when Beaudesert got on his hind legs on being led into Jhe ring at Maarden. Door Pork, and even Mr Edmund Tatters* l ! put to himself the question, 'Am I really safe here?' There were equally anxious faces when Flying Fox, after behaving well for a bit, seemed become tired of being bid for at the sale at Kingsclere, and for a moment it looked as though there would be a scene. We are not sorry that he has left the country, and the Hran that his brother, Pipistrello, ate had no reason to welcome the arrival of the Wood in France. There was a mad scene with Orme at Goodwood just because Be beat his stable companion, Watercress, and wo promptly got out of the £50 that we had on him for the St. Leger. With Orme crossed on the mad Vampire we can see full well where the temper comes from. Thai it haa given us racehorses of the most brilliant character roust be admitted, but in the human race we see tibat dazzling brilliancy of intellect sometimes crosses the thin line of lunacy. A horse very similar to Flying Fox is The White Knight, whose dam ought to be turned out into the same field frith Vampire and kit them fight it out, Desmond at the same time -.having a. battle with Orme as to which should have the two naares, the same as is related in the story of Hobgoblin-."

— Among the 11 direct descendants- of Mtwket on our register (says the Sydney 'Hail) is the magnificent Machine Gun. to whom the signs point as being a distinct success at the stud; and since his late stud mate, Havoc, was sold to M* W. M. Borthwick, of Bergen-op-Zoom. near Wolcha, the stock of this fine stayer have flourished exceedingly, among his winners being Plunder, just now the best horse in Queensland. In Scottish King and Aurum we have two distinguished Muskets, the former being a descendant of Carbine, and the latter a sob of Trenton. Scottish King, who himself was a good racehorse, is a brother to Mountain King, and Aurum, who left a bright mark on the English records as a sire, is unquestionably Trenton's best son. Medallion and Havoc represent the Musket line through that bull dog of bull dogs, Nordenfeldt, of whom no gamer horse ever lived. Though Trenton, Nordenfeldt, and Carbine were markedly successful as stallions, Hotohkiss was, perhaps, the best of all the Muskets' sires. This, however, was the late Mr G. G. Stead's opinion, and such an authority stands with most racing men. So far only four descendants of Hotchkiss have joined our register. These are Cuneiform, Machine Gun, Siege Gun, and Swordfish 11. The latter is further recommended by the blood oi Sir Hercules and Fisherman in his dam, a3 is Siege Gun, who is a half-brother to Trenton and Havoc. Cuneiform is by Multiform, the greatest son of Hotchkis*. The king of the Musket racehorses, Carbine, is represented by George Frederick, Fucile. Scottish King, and his imported son Mousqueton, all fine individuals.

—It was notified in the Press a few days ago that J. Pike, the lightweight jockey, who •went with K«lso to England, is coming back again. Apparently Pike ha« not found it so easy to get a footing in the land of fog as one might reason-ably have expected. At tike same time. England ia the centre of attraction for talent from all over the world. Riders from America, South America, the Continent; in iact, from everywhere, are always pushing and struggling to get a chance at the big fees and enormous retainers which the leading men command in England. The argument that Pike was the best in Australia would have little weight over there. It would be much the same as if a boy oam-s down to Sydney from Cobsr or Wiloannia with the recommendation of being a crack in those places. If he oame without friends to give him a start he would be a long while before he got much chance to show himself superior to TBarden, Clayton and Co. The surprising thing about Pike's failure to get good riding lies in the fact that he is such a remarkably ligh4 weight. According to all accounts (cays "Martins*le"), they are nearly as -badly off for light-weight riders in England as we are here, and how badly off we axe here only those know who have to hunt round for a 6.7 jockey for a horse that requires any riding. There is talk of an agitation to reduce the top weight in handicaps, bnt a-s things are at present it is impossible to get capable rfders with bottom weights now, and what it would ba if fche maximum were lowered it is hard to say. Pike, at any rote, will be able to get any amount of riding here, and after performing at our spring meeting and the Melbourne big event lie might go back to the Old Country far next season's racing. '— It is only when we see the records published by the race clubs which have the privilege of using the totaß&ator that one can get an idea of the great amount of revenue that would come to the Australian Jockey Club and our best raoe clubs in the country districts if the -machine were only lega-lised in this State. According lo the balance sheet of the Canterbury (JNew Zealand) Jockey Clu<b, the- revenue received from the totalisattor this season is £18,741, and they paid in the way of taxes to the State £2907 14s 9d. Suoh on addition, to the A.J.C. revenue would mean an all-round increase of prize money that -would fee- welcome, indeed, to owners and trainers: There is not the least doubt but what the revenue would be for in advance of that mentioned. During the last two years there has been % great increase in the racecouise crowds,

and consequently more mosey invested. We Lave only to turn up the records published in connection with the Adelaide Race Club to see thai it is so even in South Australia. They all but reached the £50,000 mark at" their Birthday meeting. i'hat is a lot of money -to be invested in three days. The actual figures (says the Town and Coutttry. Journal) were £49,302. Here in this State, and also Victoria, we hare no chance of even guessing with any idea' of accuracy the amount of money that is wagered during a racing season. The returns published in the Adelaide Register -starte that during the sea- • son of 1908-7~"ihe amount invested in the totalisator at fhe principal race meetings was £171,499 15s. This -year it is £226.884 15s, an increase of over £55,000. We want no better evidence than that of the increased prosperity) of the Sta^te. Perhaps in time gut legisla- , tors will pass a Totalisator Bill. i

— I<t frequently happens that when a two-year-old handled by a big bettings con ting-eat, wins a race unbacked, it turns out to be , a good deal better than its connections ever anticipated, and develops into <t profi.tia.ble asset. When a- two-year-old Projectile ran. away with the race at Rosehill. though not backed for «. shilling, nor did anybody connected with him believe he was capable of getting a place, nobody was mare pleased than the cplt.'s trainer, Tpm Payten. 'He walked like a man who had thrown in fox a big stake. He did not win a penny. Hisr joy lay ,in the ihougjbt thai' he had- been entertaining, a- champion unawares. For he held ih%t a half-ready, unseasoned colt, who could baai at seasoned lot, as Projectile did r was a. bit out- of the common, as he well proved later/ on. Though Callarii's saooncl engagement resulted in a win, and returned a big winning credit to his owner from the betting ring, he was allowed to run unbacked in his third race some weeks later, because: he had done little or no. work meanwhile. The big colt, however, jumped out in front, and quite paralysed the opposition with hie pace, and fairly opened the- eyes of everybody to his real worth, and when he met the cracks of his time latex on at the A.J.C. meeting, the Rosehill performance was reimembered in his favour, and the public profited largely by his success. For some reason not generally known to outsiders, Hia»t«f was not backed for a shilKne in the Tw-o-Year-Old Race at the recent Warwick Faxmf meeting. One large bookmaker told "Milroy" 1 that she was the, only horse in the race that he did not receive an inquiry about, and* would gladly have laid 109 to 3 if asked 1 . Aauta was taken to the front shortly after the start, and, to the surprise of hst people, won easily. They certainly had no idea bm was N co good. Some time back when lh* writer was on a visit to Tocal, Natrf* w*« pointed out as one "bred to ordter," 'and was reserved with four othet fillies far the stud* The filly is by Sir Tristram from the Medallion mare Bonrta.