IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 54

IN A NUTSHELL.

The ex-Dunedinite Robert J. recently won a race in Tasmania. Nominations for the Ashburton autumn meeting are due on April 19. The Southland Racing Club made a piotit oi over GOOsovs over their recent meeting. Bronze and Counterfeit are included amongst the entries for tho Thompson Handicap. The New Zealand-bred horse Sunburnt is amongst the horses booked to go under the hammer at tho Bandwick autumn sales. Jerry M., the winner of the Liverpool Orand National, was favourite for the race when the last mail to hand left England. inompson, wife of the once-prominent book maker of that name who died a few veara ago. Master Paul has been put into commission again at Riccarton by R, Longley, who will shortly take up the hurdler White Lockade again. The South Canterbury Jockey Club havo received an excellent entry for their autumn meeting. The handicaps are due on April H, and acceptances on April 17. Port William, who was regarded as the makings-of a high-class racehorse, has again gone amiss, and it is doubtful if another attempt will be made to train the sou of bOUlt. Tho American stallion Green Seal, who was recently bought in Sydney by Mr G. 1 hompson, has been nominated for the Goodwood Handicap and Adelaide Cup at the o.A.J.L. meeting. The English 'chaser Jenkinstown. who, prior to tho Grand National, sold at 3300g5, is 11 years old. At the same sale another aged chaser named Jim May sold at 1200 gs, and a eix-ycar-old named Blue Hussar made cbugs.

m ,V. ?• Cr(lvcn . the owner of Lady Medallist who wuj a liberal buyer at the. sal© of American horses held in Sydney, intends going in for breeding, and with that *oject in view l las acquired 1000 acres on th ? Upper Hunter. St. Savier, for whom ho paid B*ogi will be the lord of the harem. J.IK- Aew Zealand-bred Wimmera is said io to doing good work at OaulfieW under B J Prices mentorship. Bridge wa* to have joined tho same stable with the object of converting tho N«w' Zealand Cup winner into a fencer, and, all going well, Price. should have a couple of small hurdlers for the \ letonan Nationals. After being five months under a veterinary surgeon, the crack English horse Swvnlord now walks soundly enough. Though ho will not run ag-ain, it is satisfactory to know that he has been saved for service at the stud, and in due course such a bea.iti-fully-bred thoroughbred and so brilliant a. performer can scarcely fail to sire something worthy of himself. —lt is unusual to read of a horse being debarred from n race on account of" its co.our. but greys are. excluded from 'ho Prix du Sag-a-n, a £I2OO hurdle race, to bo run at Auteuil (France). This is probably duo to the fact that the winner of this race la generally bought by the French Stud Commission, and grey thoroughbred stallions are not in demand. —ln England last month the death occurred of Mr Miles I'Anson, at the age of 61. Mr I'Anso-.i had been for over 30 years clerk of the course at various rneo meetings in the North of England, and carried on for ft long period the famous Blink Bonny Stud Farm, associated with various celebrated thoroughbreds. The farm in 1905 wag leased to Sir John Thursby. There is an unusually lengthy list of horses to go under the hammer in Christciiurch this week. Mr H. Friedlander will sell his horses in training, brood mares, and some young stock. Mr G. D. Greenwood will submit ceveral of his horses, and smaller lots will be sont up by several other owners. In addition to the above, a lot of light harness horses will be put on the market. The chief events at the Dunedin Winter meeting will be:— The .Birthday Handicap, of SoOsovs, one mile and a-quarter; Otago Steeplechase, of 250aovs, two miles and ahaif; Provincial Handicap, of 225sovs, one mile; Tradesman's Handicap, of 200SOV8 six furlongs, and tho Wingatui Steeplechase,' of 2008OV8, two miles. Several other events (including stakes of loOsovs and 130sovs for hurdlers) carry prize-money up to loOsovs. Nominations are due on May 10.

Now that Sundridge is the sire of ono Derby winner in Sunstar, and may be of another in the latter's younger brother, one. is inclined to revue all preconceived, crusted notions prejudicial to stallons whose credentials show speed to have been their metier on the racecourse, rather than staying power (pays " Vigilant," of the London Sportsman) Then there is Master "Willie getting winners of races over a mile and a-quarter in the Argentine, although he himself was only a. brilliant sprinter. Baron de Rothschild disposed of his stud at Paris, with the exception of Alcantara II and a few others, just before the last London files left. Fifty-one lots changed hands at prices ranging to 5100sovs, which was the sum paid for the three-year-old coit Lo Quatre d'llenri, by Rabelais from Harn'.'ur TI Other high figures received included 3040&0VS for Puritis (aged), by Oallinule— Sanctimony, covered by Rabelais, and "IGtOsovs for the t wo- year-old Puritan, by Rabelais from Purity. An offer of -4000<=ovb was refused for Toi«m d'Or (dam of Alcantra II), by Le Sacy—Harneur TI. covered by Rabelais. "—The Australian rider, W, Evans, who recently returned from India, saw much of Frank Wootton at Calcutta and Bombay meeting's, and he speaks very highly of the famous young Australian, both in and out of the saddle. Evans describes "Wootton aa undoubtedly a great rider. Though a keen rivalry exists between "Wootton and Maher,

the bov has nothing but praise for the j American Wootton freelv acknowledges that ; in watching Maher he picked up some useful wrinkles in the art of rao&-riding. wms confirms the report that Wootton is rapidly developing weight, so much so. indeed, that this mav be his last season in the saddle, unless he takes to the jumping business, and. there is little likelihood of that. Latest reports concerning True Blue are to the effect that the injury he received ; through slipping into a fence are not, so serious a s originally reported, and that he is likely to start at the Riverton meeting. It is pleasing to hear that the southern 'chaser is once again on the active list, ond that there is every prospect of being seen cut again at Wingatui. where he got away ; with the double last season. Too much weight, however, should not be attached to his Wingatui form, as at least one good sort in the "shape of trying tackle— Dora n do— | came down each day. Unfortunately. True Blue came down when running in t ! ie National, and his real merit as a 'chaser has still to be discovered. —W. A Rj-.-an, who rode Golden Loop and Mira to victory at Masterton. tells me (Sir Bediverel that "the pace set throughout events decided in Australia is simply wonderful. It is a case of full steam ahead from the rise of the barrier until the finish., and such a thing as giving a horse a breather la almost invariably out of the question. As an illustration of this he mentioned that Malt King's rider said as they went out to do their preliminaries : " I don't know how I am going to hold this chap during the earlv stages." "Hold him!" answered Ryan, "yon will be lucky if you don't here to sit down and ride him." So it proved, for brilliant, horse though he is. Malt King, Byan assures me. was not in a. position to pull an ounce at any part of the journey. —ln the course of a conversation with J. E. Brewer, the well-known writer " Terlinga " gathered that the returned Australian still thinks D. Maher at his best the greatest horseman he has ever seen in a race, but oil round—that is. on all courses—he thinks F Wootton his equal. Both are great exponents of how to make the most of the American scat, and it is a great treat to them fighting out a head and bead finish. They ride on the top of the withers, with knuckles turned upward, and in the last stride or two the reins will bo quite loose. Neither brings either whip or spur into use. rnd yet Brewer says any horseman can see that they have squeezed every inch out of the horse. Since he has been back in Melbourne Brewer has noticed that some Australian Sloanites got their hands down below the horse's neck. He does not see how they can do anything but retard the progress of their mount when their hands are | placed that way. The Archbishop of Adelaide (Most Rev. Dr O'l'eily). in the course of an address en the religious agitator. In opening the new school for the Sisters of St. Joseph, prayed that the agitator might be consigned to the South Pole. He referred to the fact (says the Weekly Courier) that the religious agitator thought that everyone who loved a horso was hopelessly out of ever}' chance of salvation. He also said—" You can make some {ruess what is going to happen in politics, but in horse-racing you can make no safo guess at all. The horse that everybody says is going to lose is the first past the judge's box. I never did bet on a horse. Where horses are concerned I am a perfect stupid, and if I did bet my money is as good as gone. Still, I will admit this: if I onlyhad the gift of prophecy, which I assuredly have not, and knew with absolutely certainty the horse that was going to carry off the. next Onkaparinga, or Randwick, or Melbourne Cup. I should not have a moment's hesitation, nor the shadow of a scruple of conscience, in backing that horse for a handsome amount."

—ln a reference to Mr William Brown, a lending breeder and sportsman of Xovr South Wales, " Milroy," of the Sydney Mai!, says: —" Mr Brown is a reputed millionaire. Bo that as it may, be is wealthy enough (o provicTto himself with tho beet blood available, and. -evidently he has worked with that end in view in getting his very choice bunch of mares together. Mr Brown breeds mainly for his own training stable, but, of course, he raises more horses than he can do with, and when he has satisfied tho wants of his trainer ho sells the others. He takes what he thinks is best, and sells tho balance. Ho is only betting on his own judgment, and so far the public have got the beat of it. Well, at least the three best by Duke of Melton have been sold, and last ye,ar the Fairwind colt was kept in preference to Loch Amos, ■who went at one bid of .€IOO, but that did not prevent him from being nearly at tho top of the class for two-year-olds, or malto any difference to a southern buver. who vainly offered £ISOO for him. This year MiBrown has reserved an extra fine youngster by Multiform from Sans Peur." —Up to tho time of going to press (says the Pink T T n of February 17) we have not heard that Mr Henry Mason Dorling has lost any sleep in connection with the " solemn protest " of 1000 Eps-omians, gathered in the High street a fortnight aeo. against the placing of obstructions on Epsom Downs. Somehow the Grand Stand Association never seems to take these things seriously. We remember how, some five-and-twentv venrs ago, an indignant ratepayer personally protested that the holding of the course by hireling police interfered with tho public rights. He announced his intention of taking his stand in the centre of tho course at tho advertised time of a race so that tho highhanded association would have to deal with him in person. And lie duly took his place. Then a bell rang, end 21 two-year-olds, comprising the field for the Acorn Stakes, parsed over him—l 9of them, he swore, actually treading on him. He kept his bed till Stockton, and then failed to find a trusting solicitor —they mostly said it was too near the hack-end to begin a racing action ; or. that the association had put the grand stand in its wile's name, or something equally evasive. Writing about a Liverpool Grond National winner, Emblem, and the fact of mistakes being made in dismissing horses as non-stayers because they fail at the end of sprint races. Mr John Corlett, in tho Pink 'TTn, says:—"We love to linger over the nam-e of Emblem and tho many conversations we had with George Stevens with regard to her. He opened our eves to the fallacy of judging a horse to be a non-stayer simply because in a five-furlong race ho had run fast and apparently tired. Emblem was a ca?c> in point. It was not Emblem that tired when she was beaten in races. She was running on as honestly as ever, but ehe. could not withstand the sharp spurt tho more speedv horses had left in them to finish with. We have since notified many instances of this, and more particularly with a of our own called Sandwell. In five-furlona-races ho seemed to tire after goin r ? hah" a mile, and people thought we were mad wh'-n we put him m a mile-and-a-qnartor race, and so did 'Farmer' Giles when we told him to come along as fast as be could lay feet to the ground, He won by =:x lengths, and cs by that time his legs mid gone, we had very likely thrown a Cesrirewitch away in not running him over a course.''

The labours of the New South Wales Totalisator Commission are not yet completed, says " Pilot," and by the time they are the expenses bill will be a fairly heavy one. In the House the question was asked as to what the commission had cost up to date, and the replv was £BIO lis Id of which Mr Le.-iep received £B2 10s, Mr Peters £56, Mr M'Court £B2 10s, Mr Hollis £SB. Mr O'Connor £B-2 10s, Mr Wilson £SO, Mr Bruntnell £lO 10s, and Mr Fitzpatrick £4O 10s. Some members of the commission were absent from Sydney about two months, but others did not see the trip right through, which accounts for the smaller amounts received by them. The sums mentioned only total £oS6 10s, which leaves about £-221 to be accounted for; but I suppose expenses incidental to the appointment of the commissior. would absorb the latter amount. An extension of time has been granted as regards the commission's report, and probably in order that they may not be accused of failing to do their work thoroughly, some of its members are anxious to extend their investigations to Queensland. By the tim-s they are through even the non-racing members of the commission should be able to give an authoritative opinion as to the most desirable form of betting, and the outcome mav vet justify the heavy expenditure. —ln discussing past Grand National winners the " Pink 'Un " has the following anent Manifesto and M. Emil Adam, the celebrated French painter of horses: —When requested by his owner, Mr Bulteel. to paint Manifesto's portrait, with George Williamson in the saddle, the great French artist, fresh from Newmarket, where be had been honoured by King Edward with a, commission in transfer Persimmon to canvas, and perhaps a bit above himself in consequence, at first demurred, on the ground that it would be rather " infra dig." on his part to bestow his talents on what he termed " a mere steeplechase horse." However. the great man's scruples were overcome at last, and he was persuaded to go down to Hampshire and judge for himself whether his subject was likely to do him credit or not. A visit to Manifesto in his box was quite sufficient. "Why, he is a racehorse!" exclaimed the artist in rapture, as he ran his experienced eye over the shapely proportions of the gallant son of Man-o'-Wnr. "Ma foi! What a meestake I have make, to be sure! Paint 'im, indeed. Vill I not!" And the result was that, so pleased was M. Adam with his handiwork that he asked permission from Mr Bulteel to exhiibt the picture at the Salon the following summer, where it was regarded, and deservedly so, by his Parisian admirers as one of the artist's happiest efforts.

The deeds of a good horse arc recorded by a correspondent of the London Sportsman, who said: Mention of horses reminds me of the record of a tough specimen of the breed. Here is is: Realm, by Majestic, by Trenton, now 11 years of age. He was sold by his breeder for 12 sovereigns. What he did as a two-year-old Mr Martin, to whom I am indebted "for the.se particulars, does not say, but as a three-year-old he won a few small hurdle races. Subsequently (in Australia) be won the Williamstown Hurdle JJace: the Melbourne Grand National, worth 1500sovs; the Caulfkld Grand National, three miles and a-half. carrying list 12lb. value lOOOsovs; the Australian Cup. on the flat, two miles, stake 2000sovs; the Australian Cup, two miles, 20D0sovs; the Bond Cup; the Sydney Cup, two miles. 2<>oosovs, and a wcight-for-age race at the sam.e meeting. Kc-ulm was then bought by Tom Scott, on behalf of H.H. the Keer Sahib of Putiala, for 15IJ0.SOVS, but he went amiss, and was unable to do anything for two years. Meantime he had been sold for a small sum of money, and when once set going again began by winning the Grand Annual Hurdle. Race at l-'oona. This season, at Calcutta, he ran second to Mayfowl, subsequently winner of the Viceroy's *Cup. At Tollygunge he lost the Indian Grand National by a head; and three days later on won the Tollygunge Plate, three miles, carrying top weight and squandering his field. At the Newcastle Show luncheon Lord Penman made some remarks about remount breeding. He said " he was aware of the progress that had been made in connection with the breeding of stock in Australia; there was one class in which he thought an improvement had not been shown. I allude," said his Excellency, "' to the breeding of light horses in this country. In many respects the horses of Australian breeders can more than hold their own. I refer more particularly to daught horses, racehor&es, and thoroughbred horses of the best type. But with regard to the light-horse classes—what we in England term lightweight hunter elapses—and horses bred for military purposes, that progress has not been shown. I think this is a great pity for several reasons. There is the Indian remount market to provide., and that is a considerable drain upon the resources of the country. Now. however, there is a new defence scheme in this Commonwaith, and it will entail far more horses being employed in the future than in the past. 1 believe more than double the Dumber of horses will be required for the Light Horso Regiments, together with gun horses, and horses for transport in the V»ar future. I do think that breeders, in their own interests as well as on wtriotic grounds, might turn attention to the importance of this particular class of stock.— (" Hear, hear.") I believe it is true that the South African war was a great drain Upon the resources of the Commonwealth in the way of horseflesh, and that many of the best mares were sent out of the country also. I think m these days of motor cars and motor cycles people are rot paying that attention to those classes of that they formerly paid. It is, therefore, oil the More necessary to remind the horse-breeders thai the class of animal I have mentioned :s essential to the defence of this country, and the proper mounting of its forces in the future." last month. A G. Whiteman. a bookmaker and commission agent, of Hollo way, appealed from the decision of Judge Amphlett at the Birmingham County Court, entering judgment for the defendant. J. A. Newey. Birmingham. It appeared that the plaintiff and defendant had had many betting transactions, and at the end of the racing season of 1910 plaintiff claimed that the defendant was indebted to him in the sum of £l7. while the defendant maintained that there was a balance of £6 due to him. The dispute was referred to the Committee of Tattersall's, and plaintiff said the defendant undertook that if the committee found against him he would send a cheque for the amount. The committee found that the amount from the defendant to the plaintiff was £37 lis 3d, nnrl not £47. The defendant did not pay the amount found against him by the committee, and the plaintiff brought ;-n action in the County Court to recover it Tho defendant pleaded the Gaming Act. and the County Court judge held that the plaintiff was not entitled to recover. The plaintiff now contended that the promise by the c'efei-dant to pay if the dispnte wore referred to arbitration, and the Committee of Taltersall's found against, him. was a new «nd LC-od consideration on which lie was en-

titled to maintain his action. Ho further contended that under the circumstances the defendant was stopped from pleading The Gaming Act. Mr Justice Hamilton, in delivering judgment, .said the real point in the case was whether, there being evidence of a new contract to pay debts the County Court judge was justified in coming to the conclusion that there was not sufficient consideration to support that new promise. Alter the plaintiff had made his claim for £47 the defendant said he owed nothing, and that the plaintiff was indebted to him in the sum of M. The plaintiff gave the defendant the chance of proving before Tattersall's Committee that the account was in his lovcur, and in consideration of setting that chance defendant promised that he would pay the sum found against him. The new promise and consideration constituted a defence to the Gaming Act. and therefore the appeal would be allowed, and judgment en- , tc-i-ed ior the plaintiff, with costs. Mx Justice .Lush concurred.