IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3019, 24 January 1912, Page 55

IN A NUTSHELL.

Midnight Sun started favourite in the Wellington Cup. , , Mi- Donald Munro has been elected president of the Tuapeka County Jockey The Taponui Racing Club’s annual fixlure is to be held on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. , Dearest was disqualified at rrentham because her rider carried overweight which had not been declared. The Riverton Rncmg Club have decided to hold their annual meeting on Easter Saturday and Easter Monday. George M. Juu., a son of George M. Pate-hen was made a strong odds-on chance at Goro.’ and justified the confidence by winning comfortably in 2man 33 2-ssec. Routine has won a few good races, and in consideration of that fact holds her usual place at tho bottom of the handicaps remarkably well. , —lt is understood that Adjudge is not likely to race again. The eon of Blackptono was unquestionably a good horse of which the beef was never seen in public The crack mare Myosotis is included amongst the nominations for the Forbury Park meeting This possibly means that die will bo sent after a new track record. —Tho West Coast clubs intend giving about- 1200sovs in stakes at the three-days’ racing to be hold at Easter. Last year the dub had six days’ racing, and gave 1400sovs in stakes. , , . The Signalman gelding Speybank has not been fulfilling tho good opinions formed ulv ml him when lie first made Ins appearance on the turf. Ho shows pace, but fades out »t the business end. Feodor was finishing strongly in the Core Cup. and it took Parable nil she knew to keep him out of second place. Feodor went lame after the race, and hence was not start(*d again at tho meeting. The total amount of stake money won on tho flat in Great Britain and Ireland during the just-expired racing season was £574.476 63, which constitutes a record. The next highest total was £540 099 18s, in 1909. --Stopmetor and Grvta. who are both troinod by W. Pino appeared to hold good chances of wanning when they fell at the Goro mooting. This is tho sort of double that a trainer does not like to land. Some of the horses performing in the hack class at (!ore were very moderate indeed. and if they cannot do better in private than some show under silk their owners ere very courageous to keep them in training. The Tua-reka County Jockey Club experienced a loss over their operations last season, but have nevertheless practically decided to put out an attractive programme for their meeting to bo held on Easter Saturday. The Forburv Park Trotting Club have been favoured with excellent nominations for their autumn meeting, which takes place on January 31. and February 3. Acceptances for the first day close on Saturday, January 27. The Benzoin gelding Benzowen was galloping over the top of his field when ho scored in the Longford Hack at Gore. On the second day ho again strode homo an ea-sy winner, and should win again when the clans is not too high. The Tun, nek a County Jockev Club have decided to give JOOsovs in stakes for their meeting to bo hold on Easter Saturday. Last sea ■•■ on tho club gave 42050 v« for a two-days’ card. It is intended to reduce nomination fees for the coming meeting. Owners are reminded that nominations for the Dunedin Cup mooting are duo on Friday of this week. The programme is far and away tho richest over offered at Wingatui. and it soems safe to predict a liberal response from horse-owners. The Kilcheran gelding Kilkenny, who acted ns runner-up to Ben zo wen nil Gore, was sold 1 in November last at the Christchurch sales for 31 gs. Kilkenny was formerly in R. Mason’s stables, and cost Mr G. I). Greenwood llOgs as a yearling. Most of those giving evidence in favour of the totalisator have strong financial reasons for keening it on a sound foundation. Some of those giving evidence against it and on the gambling question generally do rot know what they are talking about.

Kostroma won both his races in good style at Gore, and is now probably a better horse than ever. The opposition on either day was not particularly strong, but it is evident that Kostroma has trained on a bit since ho ran at the Dunedin summer meeting. Quota went to Gore accompanied with the reputation ctf a gallop that sent her out favourite for the Ofaraia. Hack Welter, but she only got as far as the post. She was hopelessly left, and those who made up their minds to get even on the following day did not obtain a chance, as she did not figure amongst the acceptors, -- Francisco, a colt by San Francisco from Isolt, is a stable companion of Ladv Medallist at Rand wick, and is said to be highly fancied by his trainer. Isolt was a great maro until she become amiss in the respiratory organs, and the handsome daughter of Multiform may do even bettor at the stud that she did on the track. Undecided, who won the Wellington Cup last week, appears to have a partiality for the Trentham track, as he won two good races there last season. Prior to Saturday’s win Undecided’s most notable success was achieved) in the last Winter Cup. Ho also scored in the Islington Handicap on the second day of the meeting, when NV’iand acted as runner-up to the St. Amy gelding. . , . . Daringdolo put no an inglorious display on the first day of the Gore meeting, when he tailed off offer pacing it with the leaders for about half a furlong. At the finish he was slxmt half a furlong behind and-Blue, and his showing on the second day was not much hotter. The ooTt won in good style at Wingatui and Invercargill, and his form lost wo ok must have been very disappointing to those who backed him. Stepmeter was travelling well when ho came down in the Gore Cup about two and a-quarter furlongs from home. Just before the mishap the writer noticed that Humphries appeared to have a good hold of h:s mount, and nicely placed at second 1 on the rails. The gelding was a bit knocked about a® the result of his fall, but whilst not seriously injured, it is likely to be eome little time before he sports silk again. On Monday next the famous Elderslie Stud will be submitted to auction. The sale takes rank as the most important ever held in New Zealand, and it is attracting the attention of racing men in all parts of Australasia. It is understood that several Australian breeders will be represented at the sale, but it is to be hoped that New Zealanders will be lucky enough to prevent all the cream of the stud being taken to Australia.

Achilles proved himself one of the best horses that has ever carried a saddle in New Zealand, but ho has been a bit slow in making good as a sire. Peirene is a smart fil!y, and she is the sen of Medallion’s best representative up to date. Another winner by Achilles has cropped up in Styx, who won on the first day of the Wellington meetins. Styx is out of The Shannon, by Torpedo—Rivulet, by Javelin —Cascade.

The crack Auckland colt Prince Soult was apparently unsighted in his race on Monday at Trentham. , On his previous form the run was too had to be true, and before condemning him it would be wise to wait until ho next snorts silk. Autumnua is another that failed to run up to expectations, but in any case Ermengarde is a particularly smart filly, and her success should help Charlemagne II when he goes under the hammer next week. Undecided, the winner of the Wellington Cup, was operated on for roaring last autumn. It was, the success which attended the operation, ns he subsequently w'm the Winter Onn and other races, that doomed the owner of Expansion to get his horse similarly treated. Polymorphous, who was amongst the starters at Wellington, was also operated on for roaring, and as he is deemed fit to race there has evidently been some benefit derived in his case. —My Lawyer had an enlarged off hind fetlock, and displayed signs of soreness in the joint when he went out for the Gore Cup. This drawback on the top of adamantine going did not help his chance, but. onoe the battle started the bulldog son of Blackstone was striding out with the best of them, and was well up when he came down over Stopmeter. It. appears that My Lawyer struck himself whilst doing a gallop at Mo.sgiel Park prior to beinsr sent out. Chevalier Ginistrelli said some time a"o he would give up racing if ills roar® Sign-n.rinelto, who won the Derby and On In for him, were sold. Recent advices say that she was sold to Lord Rrisebary for lOOT) guineas, so that it is reasonable to assume that the Italian chevalier will keep to h>s decision Siemorinetta was offered at an, Jr '-n last month, but the reserve of 750 f) guineas was not reached, and she was passed in. Lord Rosebery purchased her later on, however.

Xvloidin- has latterly been showing that ho cannot be relied upon to juimp off ad the rise of the barrier. At Gore ho resolutely stuck Ids toes in the ground and declined to budge. This must be somewhat disappointing to ,T Macdonnell. who has the "elding looking in go~d shape. Mecdonncll has outgrown the saddle, and although ho has captured a race or two with Xvloidine such a horse is not. the bes-t in the world to give a young trainer an opportunity to make a reputation.

Peerage was a disappointment on fhe turf, where he ran some fairlv good but unluokv races, and the goodlooking son of The Australian Peer has not achieved much at the stud. Possibly he has received very few opportunities In Peerless he seems to have got a useful sort that should win again. Peerage was got bv The Australian Pear (winner of the Victoria Derby) from Xaomi. the dam of Gi.nsy Gnand. The dim of Peerloss is nrolnblv identical with the Bouquet get by Hotchkiss from Bridal Rose, by Black Rose.

Adage was sent out a. strong order for bos second race at Gore. On the first day he appeared to be hopelessly left at the start, but made up a lot of ground, and finished a good fourth. In the light of his run Adage appeared to hold a “can’t lose” chance on the second day. and ho beat them all except an unknown quantity in Waikn.ra.ka. who was gal toning on at the finish, and kept the favourite busy to gain a length victory. At his Inest Adage promised lo ho a useful sort, and stays far better than most of the Caskets. Royal Scotch met with rather an cxfrn-o-dimrv mishap when being shipped fo (ho Wellington meeting. Just as the train which brought lum to Trentham arrived nt the racecourse siding a noise in his box betokened that something was amiss, and on (he door being opened he was found on his back with his legs in the air and his h<-ad whore his tail ought lo have been. Whit had evidently hannened was that, on pulling hack, his haltar had given wav. with the result tint ho went clean head over heels backwards.

Mr F. Wallis had some bad horses to handle at the Gore meeting, and. although a bad start or two was made, it was not nltogeibor due to tho stnrfor. Mr Wallis, in common with other sforters. allows far too much consideration to fractious horses, and in giving some half-broken brnte a “fair cliarico” fails to do Justice to the well-be-

liaved horses. Under present conditions a fractious hor&e is more likely to get a good start than a well-behaved, horse. Mr \\ allia operated from a small platform, and this gave him an opportunity to get a fax better view of his fields than when operating from the ground. The BLack-and-Red mare Magdalen has more pace than that usually identified, with her sire’s stock. Her form does not read too high, but she can get over the ground, and should win again when the company is not too select. Magdalen, however, did not make much of a show when she met Kostroma at 13lb over five furlongs. She is inbred to Musket, and was got by IBlack-and-Red (Maxim —A qua', ate) from Minaret, by Medallion, from from Miss Lucy (dam of Barmby), by St_ George (brother to Chester) from Miss Flat (diam of Welcome Jack), by Peter Flat. Magdalen reads fairly well on paper, and may develop a good value in the paddock at the conclusion of her turf career.

Some people have striven of late years to decry Bruce Lowe because the Running Families are more numerously represented than the others (says the special commissioner of the London Sportsman). This, they argue, leads to the natural result that they produce more winners. There is, no doubt, u constant danger that the Running Families may be unduly bred in to now that their merits are so widely known, but they had sorted themselves out before there was any such knowledge, and in his earliest tables Mr Hermann Geos had pointed out the phenomenon of the descendants of the natural Barb mare producing the greatest number of classic winners, though the mares <1 that family were considerably less numerous than those of some others.

The prompt and capable manner in which Mr W. F. James and his staff handle the investments at meetings where he runs the totalizator is a bfg factor in bringing about the “increase of gambling" noted by the growing figures recorded by the totalisators. The racing clubs, no doubt, are much pleased thereat. The desire to bet has always been with us, but the facilities for plunging a “modest score" (20s) not always so good as at present. Consequently we hear of the tremendous increase of gambling nowadays, but seldom heard of the vast number of disappointed bettors who fasilod to get their money on when our totalisators were about the size of a barrel organ. If tho attendances at our race meetings had grown in (he same ratio as our alleged increase of gambling few of our racecourses would bold the crowds necessary to balance the figures. —lf anyone had ventured a season or eo ago to predict that Trafalgar would ever bo entered for sprint races he might have been classed as n fit subject for admission to a homo for people who are weak-minded (says the Sydney Daily Telegraph). At that time Trafalgar’s prospects of winning a rhort raoe in any sort of decent company were simply nil. He was too slow to get out of tho way of a bus, and in his races was last to begin. But before the last spring meeting of the V.R.C. Trafalgar astonished, everybody who saw him. including his trainer, with his pace. The rate at which Trafalgar travelled over short courses on the Flemington training grounds made more than one exnert watch-holder afraid to declare himself until he had compared with another, Trafalgar sprinted as nimbly as a juvenile might be expected to do, and, as Walter Hickenbotham anticipates that his old favourite still retains that remarkable dash he has entered him for the next Newmarket Handicap, as well as putting him in the Australian Cup. I see Lord Derby’s horses have worn for him a trifle over .€40.000 this year (says “ The Syce ” in the Tatler), and yet I am not at all sure that the noble lord has rot been unlucky. Supposing that King William had proved himself the wonder that his trainer always held him to be, he would have won the Derby <i.s well ns the St. Leger. and; Stedfaat. according to some one-eyed people, would have won the Two Thousand! Guineas had lie got off well, while the name people l>elieve to this day that he should have won the Derby. What if Hairtngger had won the One Thousand Guineas and the Oaks ns she was expected to do, and what if Swynford had won the Coronation Cup at Epsom ? In such an event Lord Derby would have had at least €70,000 to his credit iat Weatherby’a. Before the season started there were perfectly pane people who expected his horses to clear the board, so that the achievement of winning this €40.000 is not ®o very wonderful after all, considering everything.

The Racing Club Handicap, which supplied the chief item on the card on the second day of the Gore meeting’, was an interesting race to watch. Thistledown took up the running, and although milling Wilson out of the saddle, had a good four-lengths’ lead after going a couple of furlongs. Racing along the back, she was still pulling double, whilst M'Combe was already at work on Parable. It looked guineas to gooseberries on Thistledown to those who did not know that her heart was formed of material about as strong as that which supplies her name. Turning for home both Routine and Parable had moved up to within a couple of lengths of the bold-striding leader, and heads had barely straightened for homo when Wilson glanced back and found the others at his tail. Ho made a move on his mount, who appeared to collapse like a pricked balloon, and Parable, finishing well, strode home a length to the good with nothing to spare. Thistledown with a hold of the bit and Thistledown when driven up to it are two entirely diTerent horses whilst Parable, although possessed of little brilliancy, was the tortoise that beat the hare.

The “Special Commissioner ’’ writes as follows in the London Spertsman :—“ The pace which the Argentine buyers <iro going sociw to be almost too foot to last, and one cannot but think that there will come an awakening from this golden dream, for there is no possibility of getting round on such a vast outlay by mere racing. Bigger etakes are to bo won in England or France than in the Argentine, but no one in Eurone dreams of piling up the prices for yearlings in such an astounding fashion. There is this to bo said, that more can be won with moderate animals an Palermo Racecourse than can be done here, for there are no races under the B.A. Jockey Chib rules of loss value than SOOsovs. whereas our minimum is lOOsova. Thus, although there are not so many really big stakes, there is an excellent chance to make even the most moderate horses pay expenses, though not to balance such initial extravagance as buying them for the monstrous prices referred to above. However. it is just a gamble, and after all there is more sport in gambling on your own judgment in buying yearlings than there is in losing your money at baccarat or any such game." A little while aoro the f?r>eoial com missinner of the London Sportsman inferred that “roaring” was comparatively unknown emong Australian racehorses. Such may have been the case at one time, but any frequents’- of the training tracks in Sydney, for one place, knows that "whistlers.” if not actually “roarers.” are fairly numerous nowadays. In a recent letter to the paper quoted a writer who betrays his idontitv to many Australians by his signature of “Bell Brand,” subscribes to the idea that “roar-

ing” is on the ircieose in Australia, and I am afraid (says ‘‘Pilot”) this is impossible to deny. Many excellent judges will not have it that “roaring is hereditary, and point to the number of imported roarens whose sons were good stayers, the latter in turn siring horses free from roaring propensities. The change of climate may have had something to do with this, for, according to the Commissioner,” Bill of Portland would not have been patronised had ins services bee. offered free shortly before his departure ior Australia, and. though out here he was responsible for such a mimbr.r of good, sound horses, he soon became known as a sire of “roarers” on his return to England.

—At different times in Australia (says “Pilot”) we have had unlucky horses. East season Apple Pie was placed in many good races, but only won one small handicap, wl ile during the current season Flavian has run second in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups and third in the Williamstovm Cup. England, too. has had its unlucky horses, and Yellow Jack is one specially quoted by London scribes. However, during the past few seasons nothing has raced more unluckily in big events than Mustapha. Discussing his record, the Pink ’Un says he Was second for the Cambridgeshire, of £1370, won by Christmas Daisy in 1909, and second again to the same horse in 1910, tho stake being of the value of £1350. In 1911 he was second once more, the race being worth £1265. He was second for the Duke of York Stakes, of £1655. and second best for tbo Liverpool Cup. of £1375. Before that he was second for the City and Suburban, of £1675. He was second for the Durham) Stakes, of £IOOO, and then, after being badly interfered with, was in the same place in the Peverill of the Peak Plate, of £IO9O. nt Derby. He was second in the Trial Stakes, of £SSO, at Ascot. He was also second for the Durdans Plate, of £IOOO, won' by wand. Counting the Liverpool Cup, he ran second for nine races of primary importance, of the total value of £11,260.

—Some of the English papers have revived the old legend that Deadlock, the dam of Isinglass, was lost trace of by Captain Machell. who subsea”-ntly discovered her in tho shafts of a car l The Stud Book, however, hardly boars •= . the story. Deadlock was bred by Lord Alington in 1678, and went to tho stud as a four-year-old, producing her first foal (House of Lords) in 18S3. She bred a foal each year until after the advent of Isinglass, and it is pretty certain that she was not relegated to the shafts of a cart after breeding Islington and Isinglass. The true story of Deadlock’s purchase by Captain Machell ia told by Mr John Cor* lett in a recent number of the Sporting! Times; —“Tho late Lord Alington was what ia known as a ‘champion kidder.’ Captain Machell was going with him over the stud at Crichel, and professing to admire one of the mares. Lord Alington said. ‘Now, there’s a mare worth £503 of anybody’s money.’ Captain Machell playfully answered, 'I will give you twenty.’ and to his surprise Lord Alington said, ‘She’s yours.’ Captain Machell was by no means kee” -■-! the purchase, even at that, and said must have a sovereign for 'luck penn- this was at once given him. This : short and eimple story of tho purchase Deadlock, as told us from Lord Alington’s own Ups.” Captain Machell at that time bad the run of leonomy, and put .his new purchase to him, and would seam to have transferred her to Mb M'Calniont. The produce was Isinglass,” —An inquiry made just before going to press returned I ho information that H* Spatrkos, who wra injured at Gore, was making favourable progress towards recovrey. Whilst at Core tho writer rang up the local hospital after 9 p.m. on the day of the accident to learn tho nature of Sparkes's injuries, and was rather astonished to find! that tho unfortunate rider had not been seen by a doctor since the time of his removal front the ractcourse in tho amhulanoo. Sparkes was subjected to a preliminary examination on the racecourse, and possibly nothing of a sorious nature was discovered, hut even so it seems rather callous •to that lay mind that tho boy should have to wail from shortly after 1 p.m. tc about 9.30 before being finally attended to by a doctor. Tho matter may admit of easy explanation, but even so there is another aspect of tho matter which calls for notice. Tlue Distressed Jockeys’ Fund has quite a plethoric credit, a.nd is not at all likely to bo exhausted under existing circumstances. With eo much money at (heir disposal it seems quite timo that all racing clubs should! have a paid medical -man in attendance efc their race meetings. Each club should also have an ambulance on tho ground, and not wait for m\ accident to occur before it is brought to a racecourse. There are matters which, in scant justice to those who build up tho fund, should receive prompt and satisfactory attention. A groat deal of interest was taken in tho Referee mating competition, in which first prize was awarded to Mr J. Eamshaw, the well-known Randwiek trainer, who selects a Hampton horse as the ideal mate for Counterfeit and Culprit. Not knowing of » Hampton horse, Mr Earnshaw selects Martian, as the latter picks up tho strain through his dam. If Mr Earnshaw’s knowledge of our blood stock was a little more complete he would have easily located a. Hampton horse in Downshire, who was got by Ayrshire, a winner of the Two Thousand Guineas, Derby, and Eclipse Stakes, and one of tho best horses left by Hampton. Furthermore, Downshire has also a strain of Newminster (airo of Hampton) through hia dam, and consequently if a Hampton horea is tho ideal mate for Counterfeit and Culprit, then the Elderslic horso Downshire stands as a more suitable stallion than Martian. In addition to a micro direct and stronger infusion of the Hamjiton strain than Martian. Do nshire is also a better horso in other respects. He has more size and length, and in other respects is more likely to impart to the offspring of the mares what i 9 lacking in themselves as far as conformation is concerned. One can he pardoned for overlooking Downshire, as his first crop or foals have just made their appearance, but the writer is quite convinced that if MV Eamshaw wa<■ aware of tho horse’s splendid individuality in conjunction with his desirable strain of bleed, ho would not hesitate to name the son of Ayrshire as the most suitable mate for tho mares selected as the basis of the competition.

Mr It. P. Leighton. racing secretary of the British Columbia Thoroughbred Association, was commisyioned to attend the December sales at 'Newmarket (Png.) to "nrchaso any likely-looking two-ycar-oidis o' -> besß Pngliah or French strains. The" youngstars were desired for the annual Vancouver Derby, to be run at Minoru Park next year. This race will be worth anything between 2500 .and 5000 dollars, the amount not having vot been fixed, and will for the first time bn confined to horses owned in British Columbia. Several enthusiastic sportsmen are keen on winning thin event, and are pro, pared to spend considerable money in the gratification of th-’s desire. M.r Leighton will also pay a visft to ?Vanco. Good two-year.-olds are reported to be very scarce in America th is tor, and those th a t are nnv good rat all are not on the market. Mr Phil TWlly, the superintendent of Minoru Park, recently had a look over the pari-mutuel system <A

betting in Kentucky, with the idoa of securing all the improvements possible for the British Columbia .backs. It is said to be very probable that the British C-olum iikl Thoroughbred Association will make an effort to secure, through the new Govornor-general, a grant for a King’s Plate race each year. Ontario and Quebec have their King’s Prate tocos annually, and the Ontario race is t.ie oldest established racing fixture in America. The race is intended to encourage the breeding of thoroughbreds, and is confined to horses owned and bred in the province.

Though many do not recognise the fact, no branch of the groat business of racing iiois boan so complG’toly r'Gvo.'iilionised, during* the last 40 years as bcokmaking. In the early d-avs a bookmaker did all his betting himself. ’ His stock-in-trade comprised a small pocket-book, the leaves of which were a specially-prepared paper, and a metallic pencil. There was no chance of faking a wager once it was put down in those Coon.s. Busy men were Messrs Bill Branch, o-aqui, B. E. Jones, J. Miller. P. Glemiister, Tom Hopkins, the brothers Thompson, Pom Croker, Lou Green. D. Melhardo. and others. The introduction of cash betting, with its book an<l bag, brought with it the betting? clerk, and quite altered the betting business on the racecourse. In the early days there were partners in bookmaking —the most notable combination, perhaps, being Messrs Miller., Jones, and O'Brien, from the fact that they laid the biggest wager that has been recorded, in Australia-, P‘50,000 to £SOO the double—V.R.C. Derby and Melbourne Cup— Navigator and Gud-arz. At the present day feays “ Mart indole ’’), both in Sydney and Melbourne, there are several book making firlns, and the matter of partners’ liability has been discussed by the committee of Tattersall’ Club. That body have ruled that partners ore liable for each other s betting debts, whether contracted by laying against, or backing horses. This ruling is a very important one to those concerned. «nd it makes each responsible for even private business. Writing on the subject of roaring racehorses, the “ Special Commissioner ” of the London Sportsman, says:—“lt cannot be doubted that Mr Alexander Robertson claimed too much when he in effect stated that South Africa is immune from roaring, but many breeders there hold similar views, and it is clear enough that roaring is so rare as to be almost negligible. So. too, it is in Australia—though by no means unknown —and such a pronounced roarer as Bill of Portland appears to have left no taint behind him in that country, though he sired plenty ef roarers in England. On the other hand, roaring has become quite prevalent in South America, though the imported stallions in that country are almost wholly without exception sound in their wind. A contributing cause of this, if not the actual cause, must be the frequent outbreak of bastard strangles and other diseases whose virulence is aggravated by the insanitary condition of many stab'es and stud buildings. The astounding system of having wood floorings to stables has not even yet been abandoned in a largo number of oases. For some reason which I do not pretend to understand horses in New Zealand are more liable to rearing than in Australia, and it is a curious fact that, while Australian horses have generally acclimatised and done well in this country—some even improving with the change—the New Zealanders have, almost without exception, utterly failed to maintain their form when brought to England. The instances are so numerous that this can net bo mere <jhoiiico. and we know, for example, (hat Nootuiform was out by himself the best of Ins year, not only on his native New Zealand. but in Australia also; yet lie was practically usoolss when he got here.” tion of Mr W. C. Quinton ns a handicap per in the mc-fropoltan area was mmoured. the committee of the N'.S.W. Breeders. Owners, and Trainers’ Association communicated with the various Sydney proprietary clnhs to the effect that, if necessity should occasion fresn appointments, a diversity of handioap.pers would bo appreciated by that body. This, no doubt, cn the score that if a.;i owner did not receive what in hie opinion was fair treatment from one handicapper, lie would from another. However, there was little likelihood of each olub employing « different handicapper, and Mr A Wilson has practically been appointed by the Rosohill R.C., and as he has adjusted the weights for this week’s meeting of the Moorefield R.C., his permanent appointment by that club is a.'so fairly certain. As Mr Wilson has been in close touch with racing in this State since boyhood, our form should be an open book to him, and the chances are he will be a sneoevss in his new position. It is improbable he will allow his opinions to be dominated by those of others feays "Pilot” in the Sydney Referee), but at the same time, if he should make a mistake, I am confident he will lose no time in rectifying it For that matter, with so many of the same horses racing week after week, there is not a great den.! of room for mistakes in connection wth suburban meetings nowadays. Of course, a ha-ndicapper, hke anyone else, must be expected to make an occasional slip, but if he recognises it at once there is little harm done. Where it hurts an owner is when any hand’ioapper persists in a palpable error sooner than surrender h's egotism to th" extent of admitting it. Dutch Betting Act, the London Sportsman's Continental correspondent writes :—“ Holland has suffered under the new dispositions iorbiddin" betting in any form on iacecourses., and blighting the prosperity of such towns os Flushing and Midd'ebnrg by banishing to Switzerland and elsewhere those who were previously banished from England and Scotland. Only those who are willing to visit (lie races for the purpose of seeing th cans and jackets of different owners to bo welcome guesto. Racing has lyecome a social function. Some time since a commercial firm attempted to put in practice n system of speculation on similar lines to the parimutuel practised in France and Germany, which, according to the opinions of legal authorities did not come under the prescriptions of tire new Dutch Betting Act. Ad the Last race meeting at Duindigt an e=sa-v vrm about to bo made of the new method of infusing some interest into the gatherings, seemingly dragging out a weary existence. At th* .wt moment a- deputation from the Public Prosecutor made its appearance on the racecourse: declared ns illegal any attempt to work the new system, threatening, in the event of any contravent-on of their behests. the immediate, arret cf all the members of Die committee. Th programme was therfere run through without ary attempt at speculation, and, according to the opinion of nil present, n death-blow lisa been dealt breeding and racing in a land which had a biture before u'd-'-r conditions now declared il'ega.h The fvfvort-Belirc remarks that such high-baudM n-rooc-edincs in Holland attack not only the liberty cf the subject, and nrn a pntioual industry, but abx) demonstrate that without the latitude for speculation the Interests bound un in breeding 'mi-st go to ruin. The idea was fried in France, but ■without s-nroeva. end those who mar a"~>d to abolish the bookmaker were compelled tr> ask for the race lottery and revoke one of their fundamental principles which dee-oed that all horses should be disqualified when

running at meetings where part and portion of the revenue was obtained through a. tax on turf speculation. ■ Baron Creutz, who stands at the top of the list of winning owners in Holland, is preparing to quit and settle down in Belgium. His example will lie followed by other Dutch breeders and! owners. '