IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3119, 24 December 1913, Page 50

IN A NUTSHELL.

—F. D. Jones will start his career as a trainer with a team of seven horses.

Sombrero and Palisade appear to be very well treated in the Invercargill Cup. A. Oliver will pilot Bronze in the Manawatu Cup and Bandiera in the sprint event. Nominations for the Gore Racing Club's summer meeting close on Tuesday, January 6.

The next Sydney Cup will carry a stake of oOOOiovs, together with a 20sovs sweepstake.

—Mr C. H. Gorton will act as deputy stipendiary steward at the North Otago J.C. meeting.

Eight hundred and fifty-six nominations have been received for the Wellington summer meeting. Nominations for the .Riverton Racing Club’s Pourakino Stakes, of lOOsovs, close on Wednesday, December 31. Handicaps for the first day of the North Otago meeting are due on December 29, and acceptances close on the following day. A memorial hall, erected by public subscription to the memory of King Edward VII, was recently opened at Newmarket. Lord Kelvin, who raced in this country in the interests of the late Mr “Middleton Melrose,” changed hands recently in

Melbourne for HOgs. S. Green has purchased Anna Carlovna from Mr E. A. Connolly. It is understood the purchase was made some time ago. Nominations for the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting are due on Friday, January 9, and the liberally-endowed programme should extract a good response from owners.

—lt is reported from Australia that one of the finest foals of the season is a filly by Wallace from Golden Slipper. The youngster is a liver-coloured chestnut, with a white blaze and two white feet.

The acceptances received for the Wuikouaiti meeting are very satisfactory when all things are considered, and the club will probably hold a far better meeting than seemed likely to be the case.

Fields never appear to have run to any great numerical strength at the Lake County meeting, but, nevertheless, appear to have provided their patrons with some interesting racing at last week's gathering. Racing will take place at Wingatui, Gore, Asliburton, and Cromwell at the end of the present week, and at New iear fixtures at Waikouaiti, Wyndiiam, Invercargill, Oamaru, and Vincent conic up for consideration. The Now Zealand-bred Gold Seal II appears to have taken a fresh lease of life, and again proved a winner at a meeting held at Lingfield in the early part of November. He won a soiling steeplechase, and was afterwards bought in at HOgs The Liverpool St. Leger, which was run on November 5, was contested by a field of five. Night Hawk, who unexpectedly won the Doncaster St. Leger, ran last, and the winner turned up in October, a son of Rock Sand, that was bred in America .

Last season Sombrero won tiie Southland Handicap with 8.2, the Wairio Cup with S.ll, the Gore Cup with 0.2, and the Southland Cup with 8.12. On the last occasion he gave 181 b and a beating to Gapon. who meets him in the Invercargill Cup on 13lb worse terms.

Winners by Aurum are naturally rather rare, because the son of Trenton is not too sure with his mates. One however, cropped up recently in England. It is a pity that Aurum, who was one of the best three-year-olds ever seen in Australia, is a comparative failure at the stud.

The Grand Sefton Steeplechase, which is one of the most imjrortant cross-country events decided in England, was run on Thursday, November G. It attracted a field of 30, and the winner turned up in Bally hackle, a son of Hackler, that carried 11.0 and ran two miles seven and a-half furlongs in C. 15.

— If ignorance is a virtue some people are particularly virtuous. A champion in that respect seems to be the gentleman who stated that a bookmaker did not mind paying ICOsovs as he had won £IO,OOO the same day. Perhaps the gentleman was misreported, as it seems rather a too ncughty remark. the move at the recent Bendigo meeting. One usually shrewd backer of horses lost £2OOO, and so did another; but a third, who is an inveterate plunger, left the course with his account quite £6OOO on the wrong side. It seems as if the state of the turf in Australia.

] is not so rotten after all when such, bets can I go astray. Good judgment and courage do not always meet with a fitting reward; but occasionally things do travel in their desired groove. Some time ago Sir John Thursby paid aOOOgs for Lesbia with the object of mating her with John o’ Gannt. The result is a filly named Torchlight, that a two-year-old handicap at Newmarket on Friday, October 31. John o’ Gaunt is regarded in some quarters as one of the most promising sires in England. According to reports from America Peter Yolo, the world's champion two-year-old trotting colt, and as sensational a trotter of the younger class as Uhlan is among aged horses, has been priced to foreign buyers at A’TIXK). This colt with his race record of 2 Ak is not only the fastest of his age by 3Jsec and for age and sex fully by ssec, but faster than any three and. four-year-old trotter the turf has ever known, these records being 2.4| of Colorado E. and Joan respectively Gretorex a son of Carbine and Mrs Butterwick, is at the head of the list of winning stallions in South Africa this year. Ho was sent there in 1903. When racing here he was the property of the Duke of Portland, and was thought much of as a juvenile (in 1902). in which year he won the Hurst Park Foal Plate and the Champion Breeders’ Biennial Foal Stakes at Derby, but was beaten in the Middle Park Plate by Flotsam, and by Rock Sand and Mead in the Dewlmrst Plate. —H. Coffey, the ex-Australian jockey, has been riding with remarkable success in Japan of late. At the Hanshin Race Club’s meeting at Narno on 10th, 11th, and 12th October last. Coffey was astride no fewer than eight winners, was second five times, and third on two occasions during the three days of the meeting The principal event at the fixture, the Emperor’s Cup, was won by Coffey on Mr Nakai’a Harnkaze. Coffey rede Apologue into second place in the Caulfield Cup, won by Poseidon in 1907. Some arislocratically-brcd lilliputians occasionally figure amongst the ponies in Australia, where there is a great field for the miniature racehorse. One of the recent winners in a 14.1 class at Ascot was Cassada, filly by Duke of Melton from Arrowroot (imp.), by Morion from Semolina, by St. Simon. Duke of Melton is a son of Melton, an English Derby winner. It goes to show the lottery of breeding as well as other things when an imported sire and imported dam can only produce a 11.1 pony. When heard of recently, W. Yeomans, in his time one of Australia’s greatest horsemen, was enjoying satisfactory health, at the age of 70 years. Yeomans has outlived most of that brilliant band of horsemen who flourished in his day. Hales, Colley, R. Battv, M. O’Brien. M'Grade, D. Nicholson, F. Power. J. Williamson, Alec. Robertson, W. Huxley, and many others have naid the debt of Nature. Members of the “old Echool” still alive include (in addition to Yeomans) W. S. Hiekenbotliam, E. Walker, Sam Cracknel!, and J. King. —ln addition to a richly-endowed programme for their autumn meeting, the Forbury Park Trotting Club are hanging up a, purse of 250sovs for any two horses meeting in a match in which the winner must no better than 2.8 3-5 and the runner-up 2.10. In the event of a winner going better than the track record and the runner-up failing to get inside 2.10. the first horse will receive a purse of lOOsovs. In the event of no match being arranged a purse of lOOsovs will bo available for 1 a horse capable of creating a new track record during the meet-

Much has been written to the effect that in the breeding of our racehorses we have of late years been lying too much on the Backblock line of Eclijjse. Australian sires were imported with a view of placing at the disposal of our breeders the Musket floss so successfully emphasised in LaFleche. In Carbine the Duke of Portland has given us a line of stoutness that will in days to come, be still more valuable. Owners of mares cf this line should not lose sight (says an English writer) of the fact that Toxophilito, sire of Musket, was out of Legerdemain by Pantaloon

A northern exchange states that in the ©vent of the horses named starting for ti e Auckland Cup they will probably be ridden by the horsemen whose names appear in parentheses: Potoa (J. O’Shea), Bon Ton (H. Gray), La Reina (J. Buchanan), Jack Delaval (J. Conquest), Prince Merriwee (Phil Brady), Sir Solo (W. Ryan), Santa Rosa (O. Brown). Colonel Soult (R. E. Brown), Sea Pink (L. Wilson), Quarantine (B. Doeley), Royal Arms (R. Berry), Jolie Fill© (S. Lindsay), Guiding Way (H. Young). Soultikoff (F. M/Dcvitt), Marshal M'Donaid (A. Tricklebank). Marconi (Garment).

The principal events to be decided at the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting will be: The Dunedin Cup, of SOOsovs; t lie Forbury Handicap, of -lOOsovs; the King George Handicap, of 200sovs; and the Royal Handicap of 220sovs. Seven other events run in values from laOsovs to ISOsovs. An interesting comparison can be made witli the above figures by turning back to the first programme issued at Forbury Park in 1009, when the club held their inaugural meeting on the track. On that occasion the programme had only two events worth lOOsovs, and the next highest in value did not exceed TOsovs. —Au American exchange reports that on October 24. in a drizzling rain, Air C. K. G. Billings drove the champion trotter Uhlan, 3.58, a quarter of a mile to waggon on the Harlem River Speedway in 2Ciscc, or at the rate of a mile in 1.45. This is a higher rate of speed than has ever boon attained by a harness horse, so far as known, and is a fair rate for a thoroughbred running horse. Chian’s best pevious performance for a quarter was 27sec. His wonderful night of speed was made on the lower stretch of the speedway, winch is slightly down hill, but there is a bad waste in it at one point. —ln the discussion about crack two-year-oUl fillies of the past (says “Caspian”), the claims of Acme (a daughter of Cheater, which carried the late Mr James White’s colours) should not be overlooked. Acme, in 1885 won the Foal Stakes (now known as the Debutant, Stakes) at Caulfield and then carried a 10lb penalty to victory in the Maribyrnong Plate. The same double was also won in later years by another flying fiily, in Hortense. But, while Hortense failed to train on. Acme lasted a good while on the turf. One of her subsequent victories was gained in the Tattersali’s Cup, at Raudwick, then a two-mile race

—ln the course of an interesting communication to Deutscher Sport concerning breeding studs in Argentina, a correspondent mentions that .Tardy, the famous Frenchbred stallion, has not sired a single chestnut. Evidently the son of Flying Fox is a pure dominant for colour, and the writer compares him in that respect to the Derby winner, Ard Patrick, in Germany, who never begets chestnuts. The news concerning Ard Patrick is interesting, as he is, in this, a true descendant of Galopin. From memory. Ard Patrick’s sire, St. Florian, like St. Simon and Galopin, was likewise a pure dominant.

Daringdalo asked for an explanation of that horse's weight in the Otago Handicap, but it is understood no official intimation of the matter has been received by the club. Under the circumstances it is interesting to note that Daringdalo met and defoatc-r Seekashore at Gore over a mile and a-quartcr at even

weights, and again at the same meeting, when conceding 4lb over a mile and a distance. In the Invercargill Cup Seekashore is set to give Daringdale slb. In the Win ton Cup Capon gave Seekashore 9lb, and now meets him on 21b worse terms. Seekashore appears to be badly treated in the Invercargill Cup, and it would be interesting to note if she could “justify the handieapper’s opinion” by winning the stake.

—ln looking over the list of stallions advertised for service in England next year I could not help noting (says “'Pilot”) that, for the first time, Carbine is missing from the Welbeck lot. Last year William tb© Third, St. Serf, Primer, and Carbine were at the service of breeders, th© latter at a fee of f4B, but though the other three are again advertised, Australia’s old champion has dropped out. This presumably means that Carbine’s owner regards bis days of stud usefulness as practically over.- He may possibly be given two or three of the Duke of Portland’s mares, but there is evidently no intention of taking any from outside, though, for that matter. I do not suppose there would now be anxiety on the part of any breeder to send anything to him. Carbine, who is now 28 years olei, did his first English stud season in 1896 at a fee of 2(X)gs, and never got beyond that figure. The blood stock of Victoria is being increased to the extent of five English importations, which made the voyage from England in the s.s. Suevic. Two of these the three-year-old William of Orange, by William (he Third s{sire of Carnell, who cost Mr John Brown 2100 gs) from La Belle France, by Mellon from Silver Sea, and the two-year-old Sap, by Eager from Qnair, by Orrae from Memoir, are for Messrs Baillieu, owners of imported Almissa and others and the remainder are for Mr R. G. Casey, chairman of the V.R.C. Six months ago William of Orange won a six-furlong handicap at Brighton, carrying 8.2, while his performances at two years old include winning Ham Stakes, at Goodwood, when he started at odds on. Sap ran at least four times this season, and on two occasions was second—viz., with 9.0 Bath Grenville Maiden Two-year-old Plate, and with 8.10 in Lewes Maiden Two-year-old Plato.

It is of interest to Australians generally, and to Hew South Welshmen in particular, to know that one of the “big” men was Sir Hercules Robinson, one of the most popular Governors of the State when it was dubbed a colony. After referring to the other offices which the popular sporting Governor had hold, the b; eeder of The Tetrarch, whose articie is headed, “The Lost Line of Herod,” says: “It was while in that country of lovers of horses that the Irish blood of Sir Hercules found full opportunity for indulging lus favourite pastime of horse racing. . . . He was fully alive to the hardiness and endurance of the Australian horse, more especially those of the Fisherman line of Herod. A few days of each ‘leave’ this greatest of colonial Governors spent at the place at which these notes are penned, and it was partly because of hints he was good enough to give me that an attempt has been made to recover our ‘lost line’ of Herod.

While the last Melbourne Cup meeting was in progress a conference of delegatee representing the principal 'acing clubs in the Commonwealth discussed certain alterations and additions to the Rules of Racing. The result has been kept very quiet, but now, all the way from Adelaide, comes a report of what was decided at the conference. The "l or ,, suspicious ’ (probably as the outcome ot the .Blackpool case) was deleted wherever it occurred, and the rule relating to division of races was revised to read:—“Ho race shall be run in heats. Provided, however, that with the object of preventing accidents by limiting the number of starters, the committee may, on such terms and conditions as they may prescribe, allow, and may, on such terms and conditions, and under such circumstances as they may from time to time prescribe, authorise the stewards to allow any race to be divided into two races and may direct the committee of the club holding the race meeting at which such race shall lie divided and run, to add to the stake an amount not exceeding the original amount for such race.'

Anstrahans are very fond of horseflesh of all descriptions, and they patronise the racecourse to a greater extent than the residents of any other country. “It ia remarkable,” says the Indian Planters’ Gazette that the various racing clubs of Australia pay away £622,000 annually in prize-money This exceeds by £13,000 the total amount paid out by the race clubs of Great Britain and Ireland, _ including £50,000 given for races under National Hunt rules. Pacing in Australia is attended by very little vice. The betting is not excessive, and the great amounts paid in prize-money serve chiefly to demonstrate the extraordinary prosperity which is enjoyed by all classes of the inhabitants. Horseracing, too, is a great stimulant to the horse-breeding industry, which is one of the Commonwealth’s big rural assets. Those who think that a strong disposition to horseracing does not go with thrift should turn to the statistics which show the record of Australia’s savings banks, where they will discover that the average Australian spends by no means all his money upon horse-racing, or, indeed, anv other sport or recreation.

“An Australian,” in penning some jottings in a London paper on the result of the Caulfield Cup, remarked:—“Possibly ‘Lucky’ Merton made up his mind that Aurifer's time had arrived, and backed him accordingly. Of one thing we can be certain—-that every friend of ‘Lucky’ Merton is the richer for the win. Ho never fails to give his friends ‘the tip.’ ” The writer continued: “Quite a different man is Mr E. A. Connolly, whose Anna Carlovna filled second place, though lie also rejoices in the sobriquet of ‘Lucky.’ There is not anywhere in Australia a shrewder Judge of horseflesh than ‘Lucky’ Connolly," who, starting with nothing but knowledge and a desire to despoil the Egyptians, has built up a stable, to some extent out of stakes won, but chiefly at the expense of the ring. He is the most scientific, acute punter south of the Line, with the most amazing knack of spotting winners before they leave the starting machine. The ring has grown to fear him, and the announcement that ‘Connolly’s backing so-and-so’ is good enough for most punters pursuing the vanishing sovereign in the bookie’s bag.” Complaints continue to be heard about the starting at Newmarket, not only in the Cambridgeshire, but also for other races. Starting such as was seen in many of the races during the meeting reduces the sport to a mere burlesque, and (says “Vigilant,” in the London Sportsman) in regard to the Cambridgeshire it was veritably pitiable to see the labour of trainers who had done all possible to get their charges to the post in the pink of condition thrown away. For all the chance some of the horses had from the moment the tapes flew up they might just as well have remained in their stables. Surely, it cannot have been altogther the fault of their riders —yet one is reduced to imagining this to have hecn the case, in the absence of any change in the methods employed, which can only be likened to these in vogue at the children’s game of “musical chairs.” In that you may. if lucky, find a seat when the music suddenly stops, or you may find yourself confronted by an insurmountable chair-back. Similarly, a jockey may have his horse’s head turned the right way when the gate is released, or its tail may b»

where its head ought to be. It is seemingly a question of luck; a kind of starting sweepstakes, in which, if a jockey is fortunate, he draws a good start. Racing men of the “new school” are ready to believe that Traquette is the fastest two-year-old filly ever prod need in this country ; but veterans whose experience dates back 40 years or more, entertain different views. The veterans mostly declare for .Palmyra, the Maribyrnong Plate winner of 1879. W. S. Hickeubotham is one of those who vote for Palmyra. Taking the watch for it, Palmyra’s time in the Plate does not compare too favourably with that put up by Traquette last month. The Traquair filly covered the five furlongs in two seconds faster time than Palmyra; but the time test is not always an infallible guide. The ground, cared for in these days like a bowling green, is probably two seconds taster now than when Palmyra flourished/ Palmyra is described by authorities who saw her as a really beautiful filly. Sho was a member of a great racing family, being fully related to Richmond, Sogenhoe (another Maribyrnong Plate winner, Warwick, and other turf celebrities. For my part, says Caspian, I fancy Hortense one of the best two-year-old fillies that ever raced" at headquarters. Apropos of the above, it is interesting ta recall the fact that Culprit is. .a grandanghter of Itortensc. —At .one. time it would .have been deemed utterly.impossible. for ;i horse to win a race in England in. August and another in Victoria in November, of the same year. Had anyone, suggested, such a thing happening (says an . Australian exchange), the idea would .have been derided, and yet the supposed impossibile task has been accomplished without any great flourish of trumpets. Irish Mist ’ (Sahtry—Film) won Juvenile Selling Plate at Brighton, England, on August 6 last, being afterwards sold to Mr Tilburn for 260 gs, and accounted for a race in Victoria early this month. This suggests that Irish Mist was in full training when shipped on the Runic for Australia, and as she did not land at Melbourne until October 5, and was only released from quarantine on October 20 her owner cannot be accused of losing any time. The fact of Irish Mist having had a splendid voyage out may have had something to do With her record. She is said to have lain down a good deal on the lengthy voyage, and an electric fan always kept her box coo l . Irish Mist’s record will probably set shippers of horses thinking whether they do not coddle horses unsuccessfully. The custom is- to give horses in training a spell and cool them off thoroughly before shipping them any distance; but if Irish Mist is to be taken as a guide a lot of this trouble is unnecessary. Mr Jas. Brennan, the foundation president of the West Australian Trotting Association, passed through Sydney last week (says the Sydney Referee of December 10) on his return from a visit to New Zealand, resuming his journey homewards on Saturday. He made some purchases of trotting stock at Christchurch. He secured the racing mare Laura, by Rothschild —Tracery Maid, seven years, for ,30ge, and the racing gelding Bell Car, by. Bellman—Carmen, for 85gs. He also bought the. bay colt Mordialloc. by Willowwood—Sunbeam, three years old. for 35gs. Mr Brenna was tendered a welcome by the Trotting Association of the Dominion. Mr P. Selig, the president, remarked that Mr Brennan had been prominently associated with the best side of the sport of trotting in Australia. Those who desired to foster eport In tlie Comiiiqn wealth had heavy odds against' thbm. ' While' they reciprocated in the matter of rules they also reciprocated and appreciated' the good feeling that existed between the trotting associations of the Commonwealth and the Dominion. Mr Brennan was greatly impressed by the magnificent racing, the high standard of horses, the splendid trotting courses, the good management, and the whole-hearted public support of trotting in the Dominion. Just before his departure from Sydney, Mr Brennan had a conference with the committee of the New South Wales Trotting Club. —At no time more than the present has the necessity for a winter or wet weather track at V ingatui been so pronounced, and the club should certainly give the matter consideration. Under existing circumstances our local trainers (who do not by any means have particularly strong teams in quality or numbers) are under a distinct disadvantage because they have not sufficient opportunity and facilities to train their charges. Great improvements have been carried out at Wingatui, but sufficient attention is not bestowed on the tracks. The frequent changes and alterations that have been made by file additions of very welcome stands, etc., naturally place an extra tax on the labour at the disposal of the caretaker, who, in consequence, has not a fair opportunity to keep the going up to a high standard Under favourable circumstances the plough gallop is, of course, always available, and trainers are generally content to use it; but it is only a good weather gallop, that promptly goes out of action with a fall of rain, and there seems to be more necessity for a wet weather track than anything else at Wingatui. The closing of the plough gallop invariably means that the limited grass gallops are being used in wet weather, and they receive such a cutting up that not a little labour is required to bring them back to shape. A sufficient amount of labour does not appear to be qu hand for this purpose; and hence our trainers are not only working at a disadvantage, but with also an unnccessarj- risk,to their horses.

„ —ln the course of a leading article on New Zealand racing, the Australasian says: —“Sir George Clifford hates the bookmaker, and probably he and most of the leading flat-race owners bet very little or not at alb It was not always so, however. The late Mr George Stead is credited wjtn having broken the New Zealand ring when Lochiel won the enp in 1887. and when that horso won the Newmarket Handicap Mr Stead’s takings from the ring were about £IO,OOO. We have often heard and read of the three owners of First Water having backed the little chosnut for £BO.OOO in the Melbourne Cup of 1883. W. E. Dakin, who trained the horse, declared that Le Loup was backed for the same amount on account of Mr Stead only, for the Melbourne Cup. which the stable won with the outsider Dnrriwell. Mr Stead, however, decided ti-.at belting was a losing game, and for some yearn before his death ho ran for stakes only. When Lochiol won the Newmarket so many friends ‘stood in’ at the finish, taking the first odds, that there was not very much left for Mr Stead, and he had had to stand all the risks of tho horse going wrong before the day of tho race. We like holding up a great racing character like Mr Stead’s was as an instance of a man seeing the error of his ways in regard to hotting. A heavy bettor is, ard always has been, a nuisance to the turf. Mr Stead's example has. no doubt, been followed by the most leading New Zealanders, and as stakes, thanks to the totalisator. are good, they get their sport at a reasonable price.” The enterprise of the New Brighton Trotting Club in making the New Brighton Trotting Cup, the chief event, a scratch event, attracted an unusual amount of interest to the meeting. There were five starters. Denver Muon Emmeline, and Albert XI. representing the very highest class of present day form. There seemed a danger (says tho Lyttelton Times) of the race being spoilt, through inability to get tho five competitors off on even terms, and after ei'-rht false starts Lord Heathcofe was still playing up, the other four being sent off

without him. After gong a furlong the American mare Lovelock broke up badly, but the other three were in close order for about three-quarters of the journey, from which point the Australian crack, Denver Huon, went right away. His performance was very impressive, ihc m ril of it being shown by the ease with which he disposed of Emmeline and Albert H., two of the best animals available in the Dominion. The time was not fast, but the track was dead. The first half-mile occupied Imin 7 2-ssec, one mile 2min 16 2-ssec, one mile and a-half 3min 27sec, and two miles -Imin 36 3-ssec. Denver Huon showed great brilliancy, though he did not move smoothly in the early stages, and he stayed on very strongly. After the race the president of the club. Mr B. A. Archer, presented a silver cup to Mr E. Geddes, the owner of Denver Huon. In doing so ho complimented Mr Geddes on his enterprise in coming so far, and congratulated him on his success. The race aroused great excitement, all the competitors coming in for hearty applause from the public when they returned to the paddock.

I wonder what the phrase “Gambling and such things” means? Why so many believe that “gambling” (ns those opposed to racing like to term betting) is the be-all and end-all of racing I cannot pretend (says the Irish writer “Blackthorn”) to understand. Those of us who know our subject - need no instruction that betting is not the' one sole and indispensable feature in connection wdth the national pastime. To be sure, betting there must be, and the reason why it must be there is no occasion to labour. But to call the very mild betting which* goes on in Ireland by the very extreme name of “gambling” is surelv stretching the meaning of the word too far? I fear that those who condemn racing are oblivious of W’hat it means in the matter of employment and the nu uey it circulates. If racing were - hindered to-morrow in Ireland I cannot pretended to say what an amount of unemployment would supenene. and for one thing the breaking up of the breeding studs would cause an mormons shrinkage in the value of Irish bloodstock. The contemplation of such is terrible. Ihe example of what happened in America should be enough to discourage anyone from interfering with the horse industry. In a few years the whole “racing outfit in the States was reduced to a third of its real value, and some of the best-bred sires anc mares went off at give-away prices. And even there the damage did not stop, tor a few years ago it was discovered that tnc cavalry remounts wore becoming short in number, and then it began to dawn on those responsible for the repressive legislation that their consequences had very farreaching act on. As a horse-breeding country Ireland is a much more important centre tlian America, a fact which may be realised by the coming here of buyers from all parts ot the world to purchase, and amongst tho numbers are many Americans.

It is curious how Hagioscope keeps croppmg up m the pedigrees of big winners (wntes i igilant in the London Sportsman), hiz lama, for example, goes back to him in tail-male, via Santoi and Queen's Birthday. I ho value of mares of Hagioscope descent was shown not only in the Duke of York Stakes, for the dam of Florist, Ladytown, is out of a daughter of Speculum’s stout son but also in the Middle Park Plate. Corcyra's maternal grandam, None moos ha. being likewise a daughter of Hagioscope. Nenemoosha’s dam, Wenonah, was also a successful brood mare, one of her sons, Tv T abun, winning the Queen’s Prize at Kempton Park, while Pistol (now a highly successful stallion in Australia)' won the North Derby, after splitting Sceptre and Ard Patrick in the Two Thousand Guineas. Returning to Cheerful, his breeding is interesting, by Plaudit out of French. Plaudit is by Himyar out of Cinderella, one of the most famous brood mares ever imported into the United States from this country. Bred bv Sir William Throckmorton, and sold in her young days for about 21gs, the daughter of Blue Ruin or Tomahawk out of Manna, by Brown Bread, produced a number of good performers inclusive of Hastings and Plaudit, both of whom became noted stallions. On his dam’s side Cheerful is also well off for English blood, French’s sire being the once mighty Salvator (son of Prince Charlie), and her dam the imported mare, Boule de Noige, by Donovan out of Guilder Rose, by Hampton. paper) to read what M illiam Day wrote about the old and the new jockey. Ho said; “If we compare the work done in the old days by jockeys with that done to-day, we shall find ss great extremes, and, it may be added parenthetically, in the work done by stable boys as well. It was once no uncommon sight at Newmarket to see daily 10 or a dozen wasting jockeys returning' from an eight-mile walk, thoroughly exhausted. Now such a thing is scarcely known and never done except by a few of our oldest men. Jockeys then were .seen riding over Newmarket 'Hath with a light saddle tied round their waist, in their boots and breeches, and carrying their own saddles to the scales, and saddling their own horses. Now most of them ride in carriages to the course, dressed as gentlemen i n the very height of fashion, and having their horses saddled for them. What would jockeys think of riding from Exeter to Stockbridge on a small pony, with their light saddle tied round their waist, after the races, and arriving at the latter place in time to ride there, ard to start for Southampton races the next day in ample time to ride. Mr Montgomery Diily and John Day did this as boys for two consecutive years. Jockeys do not train in this way nowadays. It is too much trouble. The difference between the old-fashioned jockey of William Day’s time and those of the present generation is as wide apart as the Poles Jockeys are spoiled before they reach man’s estate. They arc too well paid.” On the question of Prince Palatine’s Rind career many London writers have had their say. and they appear to bo agreed that at .£IO,OOO that horse will pay for himself, assuming that misfortune does not overtake him. Even then the row owner can insure himself against loss. Those who are unable to see how the purchaser is to get £40.000 and expenses back out of a single horse will read with interest what, London sporting writers have to say on the subject. One of the number discourses thus:—“People who are not familiar with the £ a d of breeding racehorses will, perhaps, be wondering how' such a sum as £-10.000 can he justified. As a matter of fatft. Mr Joel is, with ordinary luck, practically certain to get the money hack by means of stud fees alone. Prince Palatine’s fee has been fixed at 400 gs. During bis first season he will probably lie allowed only 20 mares. In his second and subsequent seasons the number will, however, be increased to 40. Now, 40 n ares at 400 gs will yield IGOOOgs. Three times that total is 48,000g5. Add SOOOgs resulting from the first season, and eJj the end of the fourth year the income will amount to the comfortable sum of aG.OOOgs, or £58,800. Of course, this will not be clear profit. Supposing the horse’s life is insured for £50,000 there will he a premium of about £2500 per annum to pay. Even then the net return will amount to £48.000, or just over what he has cost Mr Joel. Of course, there is interest on the money to l>e allowed for. but the fifth season will square that all right, and thereafter Prince Palatine will he yielding a clear profit of at least £IO,OOO a year, and in the meantime the risk is a negligible quantity.’’

—ln his always interesting notes on oxdtime racing in England, Mr J. Corlett says that after Dulcibella won the Cesarewitcno her year she became snch a warm favour* for the Cambridgshire that it was eimply impossible to back her for tnat race. Fred Swindell’s strategy into play,” writes Mr Corlett. Me had his agents planted all over tee kingdom, with orders that they were to take no notice of Dulcibella, who had become first favourite; but the moment the clock struck 1, and not before, they were to back Weatherbound for all they could e et ° n > accepting any odds that the bookmakers chose to offer, provided the amount was all respectable. In less than half an our Weatherbound was first favourite. Tempted by the price many bookmakers consul y overlaid their books on the chance of gc ,la ° their money back at a profit. To is sternation, each bookmaker who had wi his agent in London from the Pi° vin cover some thousands of pounds, adding “ They are taking 100 to 15 down here, before his message could be sent away - ceived one from the man he had wired 5 to cover a large sum for him. adding. * are taking 5 to 1 here.” We never knew a commission like that before, and ie not been one since. The horses were nearly an hour at the post, and Weatherbound ot badly away, but won by a head. It was o\er this race that Admiral Rous went to the starting post to lend his weight to the starter’s authority. “If an angel from heaven bad come down to start that field, . exasperated Admiral, “a lot of. the hghtweights would not have taken that him.” He was amazed, too, to M that Weatherbound had won. as her oha»o©* the start looked hopoless.J referred to above is the dam of Traducer.^ T n an interview on the gubiect oi - Palatine’s defeat the . (A Morton had something horses generally. All nor.es, e , in the world, have their dull days, he observed. "The only horses 1 cfx o lm on and tended,” he went on, “were St. Simon and Ormonde.” He was reminded of when in* ran Ormonde io a neck for ii .. wicke Stakes at Ascot, and his observation was: “That, was a mile and a-half, and Ormonde was a bad roarer then. He wffs the best two-vear-old I have even seen, was Morton’s description of The Tetrarch and rve must not forget m estimating that high opinion that he has seen the best hor.es in the last half-century. . I believe The Tetrarch was fried asain just before wood. Possibly Mr Persse and Mr M Calmont shared the idea that the colt had experienced some little trouble m 'winning at Sandown Park, and they would naturally want to see whether he had aoually gone off There may have been old horses in this pre-Goodwood gallop, probably there were, and if so, they were certainly accounted for ’with a big margin to spare, but the point I want to make now is that ihe Tetrarch is said to have given 2st and his usual decisive beating to Land o 0 J; quite a smart two-year-old that won at Ascot, beating La M’arquice. who has since won twice; while when giving 7lb to Black Jester for the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood, he was onlv beaten bv two lengths. The grey horse has done big things with older horses, as T related a little while ago. hut in my humble opinion such a trial as this with another possesses the more significance. Tn the majority of cases old horses will not give their form in trials, and in consequence trainers are misled. Mr Persse was not misled by Land of Song, as all who saw The Tetrarch win the Rous •Memorial Stakes at Goodwood wijl readily admit.

Martius is galloping well in his work at Riccarton

Sea Pink is made favourite for the Auckland Cup in some quarters. Coroniform has failed to stand a preparation, and has been thrown out of work. Crown Pearl will bo ridden by H. Gray in the Auckland Racing Club’s Railway Handicap. ' . . Sir Moseley has been put out of training, and it is reported will be be treated to a spell Sea Pink, Culprit, Cheddar, Tatterly, and Good Night, in charge of T. Quinlivan, arrived at Auckland last week. Moonglow is inclined to get a bit unruly when going on the track, and on Saturday morning was worked on a lead. One of Prince Morriwee’s legs has filled, and as a consequence the horse has gone out of favour for the Auckland Cup. Coup d’Or, a three-year-old half-sister by John o’ Gaunt to The Tetrach, has proved herself the best of her age in Russia. The Dunedin Jockey Club’s summer meeting threatens to become an outing for mudlarks, and the horses most likely to win are those who can act in deep going. In defeating Glcnfinnan over five furlongs at Ellerslio on Thursday, the two-year-old First Flight recorded the fastest gallop of the morning over the distance. It is reported that J. Tasker intends suing the Metropolitan Trotting Club for £IOOO damages as compensation for the injuries sustained by Michael Galindo on the Addington track A small group of trainers were discussing handicaps at Wingatui on Saturday morning, and one or two who neglected to nominate at the North Otago meeting are now regretting the fact. The San Francisco Breeder and Sportsman reports that Mr John Porter, of North Otago, has purchased a trotting stallion named El Carbine, who took a two-year-old record of 2min 27i<=ce. With the exception of the lOOsovs attached to the amateur events and the HOsovs added to the Trial Stakes, there is no event on the Forbury Park autumn programme worth less than ISOsovs.

Waimangu, who won the Auckland Cup in 1910, has failed to stand another preparation, and sooner than run the risk of breaking him down altogether his trainer has thrown him out of work.

The Racing Conference has been asked to give a decision as to whether Mr F. Hall, who claims the breeding bonus attached to Caetalia’s win at Avondale, is entitled to be considered the breeder of the filly. Some horses shed weight quickly. At the Gore spring meeting Sombrero was giving Flora Macdonald 351 b, and in the Invercargill Cup the latter meets the Australianbred gelding on no less than 401 b worse terms.

It is stated that Los Angelos will rot fulfil his Auckland Cun engagement, but will bo a starter in the Manawatu Cun, for which an excellent entry of 21, which includes some of the best horses in training, has been received. The Manawatu Cup will be one of the most interesting races decided during the holiday meetings. The acceptances total 21. and include such horses as Midnight Sun. Los Angelos, Sinapis, Bronze, and several other well-performed racers. Daringdalo, who jarred his near foreleg over a week ago. has made his reappearance on the track, and on Saturday morning cantered twice round. He sports a band-

age or the doubtful leg, but walked soundly enough when coming in. nately the enclosures are well drained, and their asphalt surface promptly carries off the water, so that even if the existing weather continues the club’s patrons will not suffer any great inconvenience. There is still a week to go, and by that time it is to be hoped that an improvement will take place and training operations assume a more inteesting phase. Balranald, by Positano—Wakeful, who is now three years old, has been placed under Earnshaw’s guidance at Randwick. Ho cost his Victorian owners —Messrs M‘Cleod and Chirnsidc—l4Oogs as a yearling, and up to the present he is a maiden. ue is described as a big, loosely-built colt, however, and it is hoped he may develop into a useful performer. A very interesting English sporting writer has been discussing the causes of dry coughing in horses with an eminent, though anonymous, veterinary surgeon. As a result of the conference the following pronouncement has been made:—“Horses arc treated too much like lap dogs; they don’t get enough air. This is particularly the case at Newmarket. In many stables there, if you went inside at 5 o’clock in the morning, you would be half-choked by the fumes of ammonia; hence the cough. Give the horse more air, and you will reduce the risk of coughing to a minimum.” A visit to Wingatui on Saturday morning proved a rather fruitless errand to one who made the journey with the hope of seeing some interesting work. The heavy going restricted the business to steady work, and, although a fair number of horses were out, gallops against the watch were out of the question. It is to bo hoped that some fine weather will now happen along, as the track is badly in need of a couple of days’ wind and sunshine in order to improve the going, which, even under favourable circumstances will probably be on the soft side for the meeting. At a meeting of the committee of the Gore Trotting Club, held last week, 21 new members were elected. A sub-committee was appointed to obtain information relative to the cost of a new track at the Gore > acecourse, and to interview the Racing Club on the matter. The secretary of the New Zealand Trotting Association wrote stating that an advisory steward would attend the annual races on Boxing Day if it was thought necessary and it was resolved to inform the association that no outside assistance was required. A private detective was appointed to attend the meeting and prohibit the admission of undesirables. Twelve months ago, at Maisons-Laffitte, a three-year-old. Flush Royal, belonging to a lady owner (Mrs Green), was being exercised with the string of Campbell, a public trainer. Hiawatha, the property of M, Pfizer, was also in the rides, and (says the Paris correspondent of the Sportsman), getting away, galloped into .Flqeli Royal, who received such ejxtonsivc injuries that ho had to be destroved. Mrs Green sued M. Pfizer for the value of the horse (£1200) under the Master and Servants Act, arguing that the owner of Hiawatha was liable for the damage caused through his servant. Both Flush Royal and Hiawatha were in the hands of public trainers, and on the first hearing a verdict was given in favour of the plaintiff against M. Pfizer. On appeal, the court laid it down that a man who made training a profession could not bo considered as the servant of anv particular owner, and was alone responsible for any damage caused by horses under his care.