IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2914, 19 January 1910, Page 59

IN A NUTSHELL.

Salute’s owner recently priced her at 2500g5. A. Oliver will ride Ringdove in the 'Wellington Cup. —H. Telford will probably ride Diabolo in the Wellington Cup. Prom 1889 to 1909 St. Simon's stock won £515.015 5s on the English turf. Nominations for the C.J.C. summer meeting are due on January 21. Gold Medallist was recently sold under the hammer in England at 16ogs. Nominations for the Tapanui meeting are clue on Thursday of this week. - The Clutha Hack Racing Club hold their annual meeting on Friday of this week. The Martian colt Soldiers Chorus has been sold at 55gs. At the price he is likely io prove cheap. The For bury Park Trotting Club arc giving 1550sovs in prize-money for their autumn meeting. Golden Slipper, who has not been a, success since she went to Australia, has been ..rnecl out for a lengthy spell. An Australian owner recently made an < nor for Sir Antrim, by Soult—Lady Antrim, but his owner declined to- sell. —At the Phoenix (Arizona) meeting a few weeks ago the California, pacer Copa de Oro paced an exhibition mile in 2.1 f. The two-ye-ar-old by John A. M‘Kerr on (2.4 J) from the world’s champion, L-ou Dillon (1.58|) is said to be a trotting wonder. Nominations for the Dunedin Cup meeting are due on the 28th inst. The programme is the best ever given at Wingatui. contain information that Soulilin© scored an easy win in the December Plate at Calcutta. —R. Wootton, father of the crack lightweights, Frank and Stanley, has wen more races than any other trainer in England this sea/seoi. A fancied article for the Gore meeting is credited with winning three races without trying. Generally when such horses try they miss. The Wairio Jockey Club’s .annual meeting proved a success, and, according to report, some interesting racing took place during the day. Excellent acceptances have been received 1 for the summer meeting of the South Canterbury Trotting Club, which takes place on Thursday of this week. A most notable fact about the English racing season just concluded is that a St. Simon horse is not included in the first four the list of winning zim.

The hurdler Stayhoy recently changed hands at l&Osovs, and is amongst the nominations for the Gore meeting. Stayhoy has joined J. M'Comb’s stable at Trentbam. Miahutonga, a good hut unlucky horse, is again in Nlew Zealand after being in Australia for some considerable time. It is doubtful if Mahutonigia will stand a preparation.

The Southland Trotting Club have decided to bold their inaugural meeting on March 9. This date falls a week later than that of the second day of the Forbury Park meeting. Five of the best Orloff mares in (Russia have been booked to Peter the Great (2.74). These mares will bo shipped to the Patcheii Wilkes farm in America, a distance of some 7000 miles.

—G. Stern, who does meat of his ridingin Franco, has an excellent record. In 1901 he rode 133 winners; 1903, 138; 1906. 126; 1907, 153; ISO 3, 142; and up to November of last year Ids wins totalled 110. Nominations for the Maniototo Jockey Club’s meeting are due on Friday of this week. Handicaps are due on the 28th, and' acceptances and nominations for minor events at the meeting are due on February 2.

Poseidon is in work again at Bandwiok after a retirement of over 12 months. He is engaged in several of the big autumn races, but there is sure to be a lot of difficulty in putting him through a solid preparation. While taking part in the Ladies’ Bracelet Handicap at the Malvern Trotting Club’s meeting recently. Electric Bell fell. The horse escaped without injury, but his driver, Mr J. Gemmed, received severe injuries to his head.

Prosser will Par© e big team at tlio Wellington Cup meeting. It will consist of All Beil, Diabolo, Lady Medallist, Gipsy Belle, Pakau. Swimming Belt, Tauira., Laos Collar, To Kakiwangi, Laius, St. Felix, Taitoko, and two others.

A Wellington telegram states that Master Laddo has been withdrawn from the Wellington Stakes, 1910, and Ambrosian, Singer, and Attention have been scratched for all engagem-nts at the 'Summer meeting of the Wellington Racing Club.

—ln our report of the Vincent races it, was stated that Simon Pure carried 8.6 in the Valley Handicap, whereas bis weight was 9-5. The hors® was formerly handicapped at 8.6. but owing to his win in the Railway Handicap he was penalised 131 b.

The Bicoarton horseman,, B. W. King, was most unfortunate in his choice of mounts in the Wellington Cun. He could hare rid-on Ringdove (says “Glencoe’), but he prefered Prim. The latter has now gone wrong, and will not he a starter at the meeting.

Loch Shied, winner of Perth Cup, is a five-year-old by the Perth Cup winner Le Var. from Nitre (who won the V.B.C. Oaks in 1599), hr Off Colour from Mitrailleuse, by Mu sks I. Mr R. P. Meek,ay, who won the Newmarket Handicap with Soultline, bred Loch Shied.

Among t.h.3 stallions that were advertised to be offered at, the Newmarket Gdng.) sales at the commencement cf this month were Milliard (by Malvolioh Australian Star, and Gold Medallist. Gold Medallist has taken, honours in the show ring, but has never sired a good winner on the turf. Mr J>. C. Hazlett, was reentry nevotiet-irij-r for the nurcba.se of Emtercsure with the object of the ‘reklincf befiweon the flags, hut broke off the deni owing to his a<mnt failing to he sufficiently exnlieii as to when delivery should he obtained. Since then the horse won a double at Wairio. —lt is understood that a gentleman was recently anxious to purchase Waiju, but was informed that the gelding was not in Ike market. Waiju is just the sort to make bin mark b'tween the flags, as h has pace and s-alloDS like a stayer, and it is rumoured that ho has shown an aptitude for the jumping business.

—Orissa, one of the finest-lookinsr -two-year-olds the writer Las seen out this season, is in at the minimum in the Nursery Handi--0311 at Wellington. H's handicap nisv bo said to represent the difference between form and figure, but ho may yet be found “making good.” as our friends in the land of hustle would say.

1 11 every way. the entries received by Idle V.R.C. for the Newmarket Handicap were satisfactory. The total of 93 has only once been exceeded in recent years. The Australian Cup entry f 54) is exactly the same 3:S last year, A notable absentee is prince ! Pocte. He has. however, been entered for tho Champion. Stakes, f Minter. a two-year-old half-brother thy I St. Prustiuin.) to Spearmint (winner of tho English Derby and Grand Prixe de Paris), won a- good race at Liverpool in November, s-nd the opinion is ventured that he will bo Hire! of to further advantage at three years cld. Muiter. who is owned by Lcrd Derby, cost losogs ?a a y©airliner.

—As a-n example 0 f the magi--tilde of the trotting game in Russia it may be said that some 3000 horses have h=en quartered in Moscow, and as many as 2*oo h*a.v*e been worked at on-e_ time over the three tracks there. There is o**iy one track over which they race, but there are £wo others, one inside the other, uWt for ioe-viu.g. _— A private wire informs the writer that the Martian fillv h;ao been trought by Mr S. NMihfolcl who probably wifi take her to Austral in-. Martyre i,s a. h'df-'i«ter to Artill-nrie. and is engaged at the Wellington meeting, where she is handicapped to 14M> fr.-r.-n D? nn he in tho Nursery Ha.nrP'oan, of four furlongs.

It is to be hoperl that tho Gore Tracing Club’s sumrner me*et>■’•»», which takes place op V/edn-eprla-v and Thursday oP this week will prove b"(li p, snorting a-ncl financial success

If Midi should foriunctely prove, the osae there is nr* doubt thp* clol’’s proyrcMi vi> programme will embolden other southern clubs to follow their example. The New Zealand ridisr T. Cahill, who broke a. collarbone whilst riding at Riccarton during' the N.atioweii meeting. to** with another in Sydney whilst riding at a. Tat tergal] Clnh meeting.' Cahill fa reported to have had an us’y fall and suffered from concussion, but. subseauenMv appeared to have thrown off the effects of th,e mishap* The English crack Bayardo is credited with developing a. peculiar temper. Twice he showed such a disinclination to an past the crowd on his wav to tire post that h© had to V© taken to the hack of the stands, and walked jin that wiay. Some rhv (remarks an English writer), perhaps. Bavardo will follow the example of the erratic Peter, and stop in a race. The Stepniak hoi-.se Warsaw. who scored in the Invercargill Cup under 9.0. and also ran a good horse in the Southland Handicap' under 9.4. has followed, up that form Try annexing the Wairio Cup with 9,3 on his back. In the Core Cup he was handicapped ?vt 9.0. and will have a 31b penally for his win at Wairio. Warsaw appears to bo a bit of a stover, as he is generally travelling* on at the finish of his races. is conducted by English-speaking people, the feeling in favour of stipsndiarv stewards is oc-ntinuing to grow, and touching on this a. prominent Eon den scribe writes:—"The

notion of stipendiary stewards has always been hateful to me, but having regard' to what has recently occurred in several instances of contravention to racing law it seems almost as though the time has arrived when some such new departure is inevitable.”

Royal Step, who won the Maiden Plate at tho Wairio meeting, figured for .some considerable time on the forfeit list. He was got by Stepniak from Royal Plumes, by Hotchkiss from Ich Dien, by St. George from Ra.venswing, by Apremont from Idalia, the dam- of Sir Mod red. It will be seen that Royal Step is bred on very promising lines, and it will not be surprising to find him winning in better company. Royal Step cost 47gs as a yearlng. “Terlinga,” of the Australasian, writes; ‘‘Fancy Golden Slipper being made favourite for the Summer Cup! Her trainer told me at Flemington last November that he had realised she could not stay. I thought most people had realised that, hut her poor backers gave Golden Slipper another chance on Monday. There were only four behind her at the finish. What a sale that Stead sale was. Idyll, who cost 590 gs, was frying to win a A-10 race at Kyneton the other day, and failed.” Writing from Ciifden prior to tire .annual back races on New Year’s- Day, a correspondent of a contemporary remarked: “Every person is horse-racing mad at present. Private matches -are all the go. In this connection the stakes at a -ploughman’s oamp contest were:—First prize, two sacks of oats; second, a bottle of whisky. On a protest being lodged alleging that the first and second horses- had gone round the wrong tussock, the whisky was constimed before a decision was arrived at by tho ‘stewards.’ ” Though wo do not look for non-triers at Rand wick, where the prizes are all well worth winning, it must be confessed there was room for doubt as to the bona tidies cl some of the competitors at the recent meetings. I a,m quite aware (says “Pilot” in the Referee) that many racegoers discover a ‘ dead ’un” in nearly every beaten horse, hut it really did seem that, ■without their reelings being unduly hurt, a few owners might have been questioned by the stewards. Possibly indifferent riding was the trouble, out whatever the cause, an inquiry or two would not have, been out of place. -- Gravity, the dam of William the Third and Standen, was destroyed in England a tew weeks ago. Sire would have been 26 years old hid she lived until this month .She was barren in 1900, 1901, 1903, 3904,1903 and 1906, so that her prospect of doing any more good seemed forlorn, hut, mated with Forfarshire, she produced a chestnut filly to him in 1907, and had another quite good (illy by him last year. Moreover, she was in foal to him again when she w*as destroyed. Tne oldest brood mare of recent years was Cecropia, who was 32 when she died in 1306, and she had produced a winner when she was 26 years old,.

— "UAlan, 2.02 J, tho fastest trotting gelding of the past season in America, and Penisa Maid, 2.04 J. the meat remarkable trotting mare that ever came down the grand circuit in 1809, were both from dams that are not eligible to standard registry. It is not claimed that they are any better on that account, but they are evidently much better than the average of trotters whose dams’ pedigrees show a great number of standard crosses. It is a singular fact that the pedigree of Penisa Maid. 2.04 J. shows only one cross of the noted' trotting progenitor Hambletonian X, and also but one cross of 'Mambrino Chief 11.

That once good mare G-eorgic has foaled to Tartan, and while regretting that the foal should have been a late one, Mr Hunter White is highly pleased that the daughter of Gian Stuart should have thrown one at all. seeing that she is a shy breeder. In 1907 and 1903 she missed, end the only one of her progeny racing is Horoscope (by Skoposl, who has not proved a particular success. Georgic’s daughter, Ode (by Melton) has also foaled to Tartan, whose foal-getting average promises to be a high one. Georgia, it may fcs added (says the Sydney Referee), is by a son of Prince Charlie, and the latter also got Tartan's sire, Lochiel. While in conversation with Sir George Clifford shortly after Kilwinning had registered his surprise victory in the Great Northern Derby, I ascertained (says “ Phaeton ”) an interesting little fact bound up in his purchase of the Kilcheran colt. When Kilwinning stood in the ring as a yearling at Wellington in the summer of 1908 the bidding for his possess’on hung at 100 guineas, and more with a desire to give the sale a lift rather than with the object of buying. Sir Georg© bid 300 guineas. There was no advance, and thus a future Derby winner was secured in a half-hearted kind of wav. Such are the fortunes of the sale ring and racing. During the week the writer received a call from Mr Jack Whitaker, who purposes setting as p public trainer of trotters,• end with that object in view has taken the Ocean Beach Hotel stables. Mr Whitaker is only a fey; months out from England, and brings with him some excellent references a-s to his character and ability to handle horses. There appears to he an ample field in Dunedin for a. public trainer or two, particularly as trotting! ia making such excellent progress hero, and no doubt Mr Whitaker will soon have some of his boxes tenanted with horses on which he can exercise the talent his English references state he possesses.

Temiy, the greatest rival the mighty Salvator ever had. died recently. He was by the French stallion Rayon d’Or out cf ; Ballewocd. and was 23 years of age. As in ! life, so in death, the destinies of Salvator j and Tennv were practically linked, and Sat- ! vafor beat his old opponent to the grave by ; three weeks. "Vn.ny raced in the name and • colours o' Mr Dave Pulsifer. who bought him j as a. yearling for £2O. Although he lost two important matches, one with Salvator and another with Longstreet. he w«s alwavs re- i garded as a high-class horse. 'Unfortunately, ! he was possessed of an ugilv temper, hut ho | won several good races, and. though beaten, J gave Salvator the two greatest trials of his I

career. 1 The prejudice which has long existed in j

England against the use- of miinhered saddle i cloths appears «V,n( to h» broken down. A j few weeks ago the committee of the Na- I tional Hunt adopted a rule oldisina- every | rider to carry a saddle cloth bearing- a. 1 number corresponding- with the horse’s man- | her on the race card. As is the ca-se- out ' berc the cloth will Ik- supplied hv the club i at the time- of weighing out. and must he I worn, under a, penalty of £2. About the I only par® argument used against the use i o-f saddle cloths on English racecourses- is ! that thex- might h-e the m-eaus- of communf- ■ oa-tiriff' skin disease, hut if animate with skin disease were prevented from, startingthere would be no ground for apprehending trouble in that way.

I Carslake. one of the oldest Victorian trainers, recently returned from a trip to • Austria and , England, savs be does not : think there is much in the doping scare. - He puts the change of form, which has pernlexed the authorities, down to change of '■ shoes. The old-fashioned trainers adhere to : the old exercise shoes. The smart American I believes in that kind or shoe sometimes. He j buys a heavily-shod one out of a selling race, |

and then runs it shoeless, or with tips, and wins a good race. Then, perhaps, the horse goes back to what Carslakc terms the " clogs ’ lor a few races, and resumes its old form, until a. suitable time for changing the footwear arrives. In America and Australia, where the watch is in constant use, the difference between "shoos on” and "shoes off ” has been recognised for at least 40 years. —I) King, who has been identified for many years with M.r 11. Goodman® stable, has latterly been showing greatly improved form in the saddle or perhaps has only been •meeting 'with better 1 licit in live way oe mounts, as he has always possessed good hands, and does not ride on the bit like the average Sloaner. At the "W auto meeting he won four races and deaded-hoated for second place in another, which is not a bad record to put up out of five attempts. On each occasion there appeared to he merit in tire horsemanship-, as each of the races were won by tho narrow margins which usually call for good riding. He call go to scale at a handy weight, and his run of success may result, as noted in other cases, in finding him riding with more confidence and reliability on his own judgment tha-n one has usually the courage to display when fighting the uphill battle. . Schilling, the American jockey, accused of stabbing his millionaire employer, Sir E. L. Thomas, of Lexington, in November, was bailed out, and while liberated won the principal event at Pimlico- on Fitz Herbert. The charge against him did not appear to bo giving Schilling any concern. For a few days the life of Mr Thomas was in danger, but at latest he was -well on the road to recovery, and it was not considered probable ho would press the charge against the jockey. It is said that a dispute arose between the two as to where Schilling would ride after leaving New York, and the boy, a thorough Westerner, in i staking a movement on the part of his employer, got there first, with a knife. Schilling is one of the best riders in America, and at one time it was thought, he would try and obtain a license in England, with p. view of riding Sir Martin and other American horses abroad. Going by the book, Gapon had a hit tlie worst of things when weighted for tho Summer Handicap at the G.R.C. meeting. On the second day at Invercargill, over five furlongs. San Severe 9.7, Obsoao 8.13, Gapon 8.9, Loftus 8.2. and My Lawyer 7.11 comprised the field. My Lawyer got a bit the best of the start and won handsomely, whilst Obso.no and Gapon had heads between them at the finish, but Sa.a Severe and Loftus were badly left. Loftus made up a lot of ground, and would have held a fair chance with an even start. The race, however, was not a clear test of form, except between Gapon and Obsono, but at Gore, over six furlongs, the former was asked to meet his victor on 3lb worse terms, whilst My Lawyer .gets only 51 b the worst of the redealing of the weights. The owner of Gap-on did not agree with Hie handicap, and wired to the- club to withdraw his horse from the race.

The Marchioness of Londonderry, who takes a great interest in thoroughbreds, hia.s propounded tho following questions to be ■answered by those who take part in the London Sportsman’s next mating oompetiton: (1) To select a mare likely to breed a oolt that will win the Derby, and to mate her with that object. (2) To select a mare likely to breed an Oaks winner and to mate her. (3) To select a ma.ro likely to breed a winner (colt or filly) of th,e Ascot Cup or Cesa.rewitcb, and to mate her. (4) To select a mare likely to breed a winner (colt or fills') of the Stewards’ Cup, Goodwood, or the Portland Plate, Doncaster, and to mate her. (3) _To select a and mate her with a view to breeding a horse capable of galloping the Beacon Course at goed speed, and holding the Whip against all challengersIn no oa.se is a mar© to be selected that has previously thrown a winner of any of the races named.

The following from the Melbourne Sporting Judge is a fair example of what can happen in the racing gams;—“ ilney were talking about luck the other day, and several very good examples of bed luck were in evidence. A trainer said that he told his jockey to get his office at the post. When the jockey arrived at the post he was declared late. He had not been there more than a brace of seconds, and when turning to get the office the starter shouted ‘Go!’ The office was got ail right, and it was to go. Losing half a dozen lengths at the start cost him the race. Giving his mount a fair show to make up his leeway he made it all up bar a head. There was a hundred on of stable money and at an average of 7 to 2. The jockey was fined Ssovs for being late, and the ha.ndicapper shot his weight up eight. Ail told not giving the office at the right time and place cost ns direct £'459, and in difference £S9O extra.”

■ One dav last week the writer drove j round the Forbnry Park track and found' j that the top-dressing of clay had been put ; down and the caretaker engaged in working ; the new surface into shape. All going well, ‘ the going should leave 1 ititle to be desired j when the club’s autumn meeting comes j round, and it will be safe to predict much i records under the new conditions, i I he club have issued an attractive proI 'p’t’-nime for the autumn meeting, which is to ; take place on February 25 and March 2. The Principal events are the Dunedin Cup Handicap, of Sodsovs. smin class; Forbnry . Handicap, of 375-sovs, smin class. Both tjsse events are to be decided in harness, arid for saddle horses there is the Kensington Handicap, of 32-Osovs. 5.30 class, and ‘ the j teiegraph Handicap, of 120sovs.. 5.3.9 class. | For trotters only there are two stakes of i lloso 7 s eacll - ««<! several other well-endowed i ev -' rits S’ o . to make up an excellent proI enunme. Nominations are due on Saturday j i'ebruary 5. ’ I filing of breeders and their errvinoaiter the services of fashionable sires a.n i authority tells the following story i I wo or three years ago a certain 'horse was I ? iio , re “ h.ewm,9.rket, and a. foreign buyer | to ,)U7 , Provided the bidding did noii go beyond SOC-Jas. ‘Will anyone i give -oOOOas?’ asked Mr Tattersc.ll. Nobody • - 01,r thousand?’ ‘Two thousand?’ I ® wl * M response. Eventually a bid of 500 gs | was obtained and hammer fell at 810 gs or some each figure-. The foreigner was not t'J© buyer. He- bid up to GOOgs, and a- friend, knowing he had gone prepared to give SOOOgs, asked why he had not bought' the horse. hot for G3ogs,’ he said: ‘none of my country men could be persuaded to- send! mares to a- sire who had cost so little The reasoning sounds ridiculous, but it is true. The payment of a. big price serves as a first-rate advertisement. In the same principle often applies to stallions’ fees. There are breeders who would not dream of sending mures to a< horse standing at 9-giS, but if his fee be raised to £9S they will be after subscriptions in quick time.” A Calcutta correspondent of a, London paper says the jeekevs’ ring in India is a very strong organisation, and in connection with "arrangements” by riders tails the following story: —“At Poona and in Calcutta they have ‘crows’ nests’—erections from which a vigilant steward is able to see, or is supposed to be -able to see, any funny business that is going on in a, race, and when one race in which everything was

nicely ‘arranged’ was being run at Poona, and there was no steward visible in the crows' nest, great consternation was caused amongst the jockeys as they came to the home turn to suddenly observe a. figure climbing up the steps and taking up its position in this point of vantage. It quite upset things, and (he wrong horse (for the ‘heads’) had to win! Greater chagrin, however, was subsequently caused when it was discovered that the mysterious figure was not that of a steward at all, but of a sportsman who was himself in ‘retirement,’ and had merely climbed up aloft to have a better view of the race. The said sportsman was not, it may be mentioned, eligible to get into the enclosure, but as the ‘crows’ nest’ abutted on the public road, ha was aide to avail himself of it when he saw that it was unoccupied by an official sentry!” According to the London Sportsman few names of horses have been the subject of more guesses than Procope. One votary of the muses declared, “Why, ‘Procope’ is the Greek for ‘look-out.’ That is what a motor horn aays when you have to get out of the way.” Procope has nothing to do with looking out. There is a Greek word “proccpe,” from the same root as “sj'ncope,” meaning “progress on (he journey.” So parents who predicted a big future for their baby boy would call him “ Procopius,” a name which in French becomes “Procope.” The first famous Procopius was a historian, to whom we owe most of what we know of Belisuriua (whose secretary he was) and of Justinian. This Procope died a.d. 565. Then there was Andre Procope, surn.amed “The Great,” who, a.s chief of the followers of John Huss, defeated the Germans again and again, butwas eventually defeated and killed at the battle of Bcehmisch-Brod, in 1434. Prooopo the Less falling at his side. But there was stiil another Procope, the founder of the Cafe Prooope in Paris. It was founded in 1680 by Procone Cultelli. And just as ten people remember “ Dorando ” for one that recollects the Marathon runner's surname of “Pi-etri,” so the cafe facing the Comedie Framcaise, the resort of all literary and artistic Paris right until the close of the eighteenth century, was known by the Christian name of its first proprietor. The practice of running off dead heats in India does not meet, with the approval of Indian Planter’s Gazette, which in a. recent issue said:—“Th© Continental rule concerning dead heats is one that might with •advantage be substituted for our present durnsy Indian rule, which has been so much criticised and which is undoubtedly bad. On the Continent it is sudden death—that is, there is no run off under any consideration, and owners are compelled to divide, and, if there is a trophy attached, they draw for it. This is a far more sensible rule than curs, which makes the dead heat a new race, and which, in our opinion, so fax front protecting the public, is offering a direct inducement to a. dishonest owner to put them in the cart. For instance, if the owner of one of the dead-heaters had. backed his horse* at short odds in the original contest, and was again asked to accept a miserable price about the run-off, it would pay him to stop his horse and back the other, and he could make such a certainty of it that he would go on doing it at 10 to 1 on! Our rule is bad, lock, stock, and barrel. Th-a.. Continental rule has another thing to it so far a.s India is concerned, in that we are of opinion that asking a horse to run two •severe races in one afternoon, and possibly with a. short interval in between, is a mistake. It would be better from every point of view to make all dsad heats final, and compel owners by racing law to divide.” Our tendency in England is to s-et info an endless groove, but surely it ought not to be impossible for the Jockey Club stewards* to vary their fixtures with some regard to climatic and atmospheric probabilities., Manchester in November is the worst possible. Manchester at other periods is. or may be. good and plays a great part in giving the working men a show, a point which should never he forgotten in connection with any racecourse, and one for which! Alexandra Park is deserving of th© most ample support. Also for these same working men let there be numbered saddle cloths, so that they can recognise the runners as they go down to the start. In all the colonies this system is well recognised, and it is wrong to ask a poor sportsman to pay for a paddock ticket before he can discriminate among the horses. To the outside crowd colours are a- mere blurry but numbered, saddle cloths supply all the information' needed, for they have cards. It is these: people (says the “Special Commissioner”) 1 , who ai-e really the backbone of racing, as I have maintained since 1893. when the* Sporting League was started; and without! them and—their support racing would be on k moat insecure basis. No one wants them' to be interested in the snort simply to bet. 1 In fact, it is an absurdity for anyone fa bet except for amusement and mere excitement oyer a. chance. Bui if a, man likes to have his bit on, why on earth should ha not ?

Here is a comparative' list of (Tie first' 13 winning owners in England and France, and 'the sums they won in stakes on th-ar flat during the season just closed. Last sar.« son Mr Vanderbilt won even more moaev, although (says an exchange) the record in France Is held by M,. Ed. Blanc in 1504.when Ajax, Gonvernant, Adam. lardy, and* V: 'l_ d’Or helped him to win fi5.267 5 0v&.' In--1897. when he- started racins? in France-, Hr Vanderbilt only won 11.150 francs. ENGLAND. 1 Mr Fah-ie .£37.618 2 H.M. the King 20.14-t 3 Duke of Portland 15.0644 Mr .T, B. .Toel .. .. .. 13.993 5 Lord Rosebery 12.571! 6 Mess’-s Robinson-Clavk .. 9.702 . 7 Mr H. P, Whitney .. .. 9.058 8 Lord Carnarvon 8.583. ; 9 Mr Hall Walker p 5a ■> 10 M.r Ij. Neumann 8 3St i 11 Mr IT. Lvthsm 8.151 ! 12 Mr L. de Rothschild .. .. 7.743 13 Mr A. Bailey . 7 4 C O FT? \ NCF ■ “ 1 Mr vV. K. Vpnde’-biH 40 1-03 2 Baron M. de Rothschild .. 30*540 3 M. F-d. Blnnn 29.394- ’ 4 M. E. Vcil-Picard .. Qi °ot ! ;> M. Mich. Ephrnssi .. .. id ,Ipp. 6 M. Lieux 13 330; 7 M. J. He-nnessy 12544 8 M. A. Htmriquet 11.47.7 9 Ct®. La Marois 30.944 10 Mm®, Chp”omfitsF ~ ~ 9 980 IT M. ,T. do Bremend .. 9 8871 12 M. A. A union t 8 nn 13 Prince Murat ... .. .. gisSS v “ TS . le jockey B. Carslak®. who returned to Victoria recently alter having ridden for a season in Austria, pave a Melbourne interviewer some interesting matters relating to racing affairs in that country. He says that, tile Austrians are splendid snortsm.-n and soend their money lavishlv "-on the ’ turf. Ineve are only three or four races open to English horses, and none to those raoinai in Germany. It j. s recognised that th® Austrian thorougnhred is a little inferior to those ot England and Germany, especially those bred and raised at the Graditz Stud ! n t th ® ,a %l country. The racing season )s.st.a for eight months, and opens with tea ways sports at Vienna in April, and then

Sh® venue is changed to Budapest for a cariand back again to Vienna. The tracks are simply superb for race-riding, and the ■•appointments splendid. Wagering is done on an extensive scale through the medium of (the totalisator and the bookmakers, and the Jjport is well conducted. A jockey’s losing hiding fee works out at about 555, and. a Winning one at £5, while the Austrian sportsjcaan is not slow to resognise; a meritorious piece of horsemanship, and does so in a practical way. Baron Stringer breeds almost "the whoile of the horses be races, and has ■two studs. At the one named Leschva. there svre upwards of 80 brood mares. No stallions are kept, but the mares are despatched to England and Germany, and mated with the best sires available. Carslake is still under engagement to Baron Stringer, and will go back in time to ride the stable trials for the opening campaign at Vienna, while it is just likely that he will take an Australian light-weight back with him, as he holds a commission to secure one at something like lOCOsovs a year.

The withdrawal of a protest after it has ibeen lodged generally gives cause for dissatisfaction, and there was considerable growling in connection with a. case of this kind at Oat wick (England) a few weeks ago. In a bumping finish Dandaloo, ridden by Stanley Woatton, just got the batter of Silver Bay. ridden by the boy Fitton. The majority of the onlookers thought that the winner was at fault, and that he objection would be fatal. More particularly was this the belief of those persons who were looking on from the Press stand, which is so situated that its occupants obtained a good view of the incident. The rider of Silver Bay was responsible for the objection, but the owner bicked it up by depositing the necessary fiver. Later, however, the owner asked for, and obtained, permission to withdraw the objection. That the stewards should have permitted this was naturally taken exception to by the backers of Silver Bay, with whom the Winning Post sides as follows:—“This is a most incomprehensible proceeding to us. The stewards of the Jockey Club and their deputies—who in this case were the stewards of Gatwick—are not supposed to take cognisance of betting. Butthey are ail aware that without betting racing would soon' be of such insignificance that racecourse shares would be valueless. Vet what happens in this case? Before the horses had returned to weigh betting took place that there would be an objection, and in the subsequent wagering on the result of the objection Silver Bay was actually favourite, and his backers lost their money. Truly, we have , arrived at a pretty pass, end the stewards .of tho Jockey Club will be lacking in the performance of their duty -if they do not call upon the Gatwick stewards to give an account of their stewardship.” —lt is a serious, question whether some sort of check ought not to be placed on the continuous export of British bloodstock, says a London writer. It may be admitted that the number of brood mares returned in Vol. XXI of the Stud Book, vis.. 5147, is amply sufficient for maintaining our unrivalled breed, but we have to consider that inim.ber in the light of a continuous decrease year by year, since 1902, when the number was 6004, and in the respective succeeding years 5708. 5661, 5316, 5338, 5263, and now the 5147 of the last return. This seems to suggest that English breeders are- " killing the goose ” by sailing too many of their mares, and the trouble is not merely one of numbers, but of quality also, for the man who wants to buy first-class mares in this country nowadays finds the task far more difficult than'it used to be. Then, again, so many of the old studs are broken up and dispersed, and the class of enternriss which made the Middle Park establishment for ever famous seems to have -almost died out. Mr Blenkdron used to breed and sell as many as 80 yearlings in a season, _ and sometimes at an average of over 400 guineas, ®ven in the sixties. There can be little doubt that a stud managed as his was •vould be enormously successful in these days, but no one since bis time has tackled such a business with adequate courage and capital. During the period in which he was ’breeding bloodstock Mr 81-enkiron realised over £200.000 fo- his yearlings alone, apart from the stud fees to his horses, and the ultimate capita! value of his stock, and it is regrettab’e that such studs should be things of the past-v for very many great winners 'were bred at Middle Park, and the general stock of our horses was augmented. Here is a story, of a celebrated occasion and two somewhat celebrated individuals who were on in the act. It has never been told in print before T believe (says a Sydney writer), and as both actors are now pursuing other snorts in other worlds —if they are 'not sleening for ever in “Blessed Nirvana! Sinless, stirless rest; th-t change that never changes”—nobody's feelings can be hurt bv the telling. It will be remembered that the sensational Titan, the champion two-vear-old of his year, was put up ■at auction, and brought the largest, price ever paid for a. gelding, Mr Brouriho. a. •successful —-ining man. paving 6500 guineas for him. ■'Vhen h» was knocked down Mr Chapman, famous all over Australasia under his pen name o c “ Augur.” of the Australasian. remarked: “ And T wouldn’t be a bit surprised to sea him finish up in a handsome cab.” thro of those crawling, garrulous sycophants who always tail up a nouveau riche, or am- other rich, for that matter, once carried the tale to B v cdribh. who walked up to Chapman and said hlusteringly. “ I hear von passed a very contemptuous rem-erk about mv horse.” Chapman, who ne'-0.--- e<rrpd a tinkers curse fo v ■any man. and felt not the least abashed by a reb-’k- c mdlmnaire. answered curtly “ I 'hurt fbink T did.” “ Oh. res you did. You a*hi vou’d not he surprised to see Titan c -i4sh J'n ; n a. cab,” Wnbo’-c-l Brodribh. “ Ob, 'bat a” w-a.« “Auvur’y” 000 l reply. “ Ye®. I did sav that, I’ll add to it that if you’re no* damned lucky you’ll be driving hi"’.” Wb~t.h«r Tute-i finished ur> in a cab I don’t know but I do know tha + i ic , crib- won 0”“ miserable race afterwards, and that net t.jP Brcdrihh bad sold him for a wng, while the spendthrift- miner wn.o hP’-'-’mg hot f oot caimankwa.rcls. w’-e- u.'nfiiy King Death stepped in and saved him.