SPORTING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3517, 9 August 1921, Page 39

SPORTING.

IS AGING CALENDAR. August 9j 11, 13.—Grand National meet August 6, lu, 12. —Addington trots. August 24. —Dannevirk© mooting. August 31.—Egmont-Wanganui mooting. September 3.—North Taranaki Hunt me September 7.—Mur ton meeting. September 10. —Kangitikei Hunt moet’n September 17. Manawatu Hunt meet in September 23, 24. —Ashburton meeting. September 29, 30.—Geraldine meeting. October 1. —Napier Park meeting. October s.—Hawke’s Bay meeting. October G.—Kurow meeting. October 13, 14. —Dunedin meeting. TALK OF TIIE DAY.

By

Sentinel.

THE TOPWEIGHTS. In supporting a motion that the minimum weight m steeplechases should he reduced from 9.7 to 9.U, -Mr E. Earl, K.(J., stated that in 4-4 years the Grand National Nteepiochase lias been won on only four occasions by a horse carrying 12.7 or over. Mr Ear! apparently hoitls llie opinion that 12.7 is a somewhat prohibitive weight, but seemed to have overlooked the very important fact that reducing the minimum by 71b is tantamount to placing a. little extra on the topweight, and hence making ids chance less remote than under the old minimum. That, however, by the way, although it is a rather illogical lemark. In regard to his other statement that so few horses have won with 12.7 or over, it also is very largely discounted by the fact that on many occasions the field did not include a runner carrying so much as 12.7, or even half a stone less. It may be of interest to take a run through the records since 1391, as weight carrying performances in such a race are always sour tiling worthy of note and standing, recalling as monumental efforts in racing history, in 1901 Alma went oat with top weight of 12.10 in Freeman V year, but, finished outside a place. He was the only starter carrying over 12.0. Alina, however, made amends by winning under 11.9 in the following year, when Whalebone was topweiglit with ii.l3. In 1893 Norton, 12.12, was second to Waterburv, 10.8, but the next highest to Norton in the handicap carried only 11.5. Norton won in 1894 with 12.8, when the unplaced Despised was next on the list with 11.3. In 1895 Mutiny won with 11.5, when Norton was third with 13.0 up. and Liberator ran unplaced with 12.7. Mutiny won again the following year with 12.4, when Liberator was unplaced with 12.9, and so al-o was Donald M'Kimion with 12.3. In 1897 Levanter, .12.6, and Mutiny, 12.13, fought out their great finish, when Kingswood, 11.4. was cairying the next highest burden. These were the days of giants between the flags. In 1890 Rhino, 11.5. was topweiglit. and ran second to Dummy, 10.15 —the rear after a police-man upset Dromedary. Dummy was top weight the billowing year, when he finished fourth to Blackberry, 10.6. but he v, as the only runner carrying 12.0 or over. Tn 1900 Black Dust was topweighr with 11.6, when he finished umilaced behind The Guard, 10 6. The hdi-wring void v saw the greatest ’chaser Nov Zealand ha-? ever produced, in the shape of Moifaa, who, with 13.6, started se-vond favourite, when Go bo won, but the top weight ran off dining the same. To show public opinion of Moifaa in those days > i f need only be rovullpd that he wars sen! out* favourite for the Grand National Hu riles run at the same meeting, when carrying 12.10. The Guard was topweiglit with 13.4- in 1902, when Haydn won and Ab- ifaa, 12.8. and Caveliero, 12.0, were in 1 eluded in the field. The Guard, who was undoubtedly a great ’chaser, fell at (he Kennels doable, when looking a likely winner, t-i.it i be mishap ended Jib racing can-e>-. In i.9i 5 .twain,rl won with 11.3, \ l.vs K .divwag. 11.5. v tope, eight. In 1964 liu;. tb.- u a > tnjiweigiit wir’u 12.0. when un|‘!a< e-l : eliimi .Slow l orn, carrying 11.0, and tl-e i;i -1 i-■•;.! i -lied .1. iM‘Gregor, 11 ii- : was one ol the gre i-'-l ir as ever seen in the face. The unlucky Pi pi and Slow Tom went tlv> be t part of the final circuit at fence after fence, and Slow Tom finally won byhalf a length. It: 1595 Kiafore, 12.5. we • the unplaced topweiglit behind Inniskilien. - Kin)ere. 12.0. was topweiglit again in the following year, when Bhsetomis won. Kiatere, 13.3. again had the honour of being the only horse carrying 12.0 or over when Eclair, 10.2. won in the record time of 7jnin ’ 10 2-ssec, and the topweight, who ran a good third, would have been much more dangerous but for laying too far out of his ground in the early part of the race. Kia tore. 12.8. again had the distinction of being , topweiglit in 1903. and with Lo.-h Fyne, 12.4 ■ (including 10lb penalty), being the only runners with 12.0 or more. The unplaced Eum,s, 11.3. was topweiglit in 1909, when x Nadsdor won. and in the following year Capitol, carrying a 141 b penally, was top- ! web.-.ht with 1.2.0. when To Aral won with 11.9, which included a 71b penally. In 1911 t'lri'azon. with 12.3. including a 71!> penalty, ) a- sen uid to Parif utu. and Antarctic. 12.2. ran third. The next year saw ('apt,tin .Tiiu.de win with 11.7. when Continuance. 12.3. topweiglit and spilled his rider. Pm-itutu, with. 11.9. was topweiglit when !*., ir-o’a. 11.3. won in 1913. and in flic s iccoeding year Bercola. 11.13. second to Tim Doolan. .-harcil with Oaptnin .Tael; the , honour of carrving top weieid. Tim Dorian, with 11.7. was topweiglit in 1915, a-, hen Ngatoa, 9.9, won when most of the fa-b! fell Braidtitfii 11.11, was at the head r or fln' list wlir-n TVahnai won wit!' 118 in 1916. and in the following vonr Waitv-ai, • i2.,b. and Ma-i.-r St rowan. 1.2.7, fi’G.l the ! nla.-.-s l-.ehind Rf. Fiton. 9.11. after Master Fir< wan \v on with 10.11 4 ho urovions voar, when Crib. 11 .U who vnn third. wa/ to*n■woighf. Tn 1910 Loehelki won with 9.9. 1 when Wii'inju. 12.7. with Bon Rom. 166. i followed. This tilings us to b : vear. wtie-- , G,,:,h'ti-".. 11.13 won. -Old r. wlm.l’-,. 19 7. and M-sster Pinnva». 12.5. failed K e.v - X pie to tin- . - 'ir-e. It will be m-'n M:i! i:i , V-O-S ill | • ipv night cavi-b'd in thn » rnee did tn.t vm-h 12 0. and so if J. oi-.-o. cl -in, that I: minimuin sir -Id 1 •• 1 - i-l '■ f'-e.n-e so fe'v topweighta SJOfcd. On the other hand, the fact that

co few heavily-weighted horses have wuii i< really suiting a gc ui case for the reten- • is misleading from m i» than one point of vie w. Tli E sroi So far tiieiv has h-.cn no • i:• vn of the real > -ter ii:.-i;.x -p« •• . j .- • . . Aii cikpLyed ] by any oi tho clubs off'e.-ivd by the re_-.n«i- | niondution-s of i in. ib, U . onV-Fii,. lu tiie best ij-u iv. ;s of iiu* a, ii shoiihl not , be surprising if ,50me <■[ do Gnb- rt-vonuj ! recommended for tutaii-a; ■■• c ];-•. 1 »i : 1 .s, and '■ with all their doiiLrful li\ o> &oi-»iv them, decided to yield t-hedr possi! le privileges in favour of established clubs, which by long years of service have, < e, won the right of tenure to coni mue in the game which they have protected and fostered since the days of its infancy in tiie Dominion. Nor are any of the older club-' threatened with exnnetio.n apparently inclined to philosophically accept the* recommendations and say, “Well, if ir is in die best interests of sport, and wc are to suffer, let us suffer for tne general benefit.” That is not all the spirit of the times. The pipe of peace is being bidden and one cam see sparks flying from the tomahawk and scalping- knife in efforts to get them ready to massacre fhe Racing Commission before any pos-ible fruits of its existence are allowed a chance to ripen. One would listen, and Jisu.-n in vain with elephantine oars, for any whisper from Avondale that h should yield graceful!-* in favour of Ta-ka-pumi. or vice versa. Or. again, that the three trotting clubs in Christchurch would act on the bundle-of-si i< ks theory, signifying si l ength in union or union in strength, and decide that it b a case of united we stand, divided we fall. Under such circumstances tiie strong appetite for trotting would be satisfied by being supplied in a town mansion instead of being compelled to travel and pay for the upkeep of two unnecessary home-. Both Uantcrbury Park and Avondale made a rod for their own backs by their small and very select' membership, and Now Brighton was umil recently practically in the same box. The establishment of the New Brighton Trotting Derby no doubt was materially responsible for >aving the star of the club from a total eclipse. Seme of the small country club* which have been granted a permit are doomed from birth to a very preeaiiDH.s existence, made so by the cost of transport incurred by owner.-, lack of ac ■•unmo dat-ion for the public, and the general state of affair*, which find most people keener 1 in patronise a woll-e.-iabashed fixture than submit to the discomfort and doubtful i>ys of attending a back-block country gathering. difiicidt to reach and a pleasure to leave behind. Will some of these clubs in the erode and others riding in the tumbrel on the way tn the .«e:iff'o*ld unite and reprieve a. strong life for sport by falling in with the views of the Racing Oommfs--1 si on hr amalgamation, by yielding to the best intcreMs of spurt, by dorliitinc to • accept- a permit for ivhnt mu.«t bo always a tinpot club at tbe expense of one I a'.read v stronßly estabT-tlied Will any of the clubs interested play Fie jrn'tt? mni art in the grr.o-1 snort ins: spirit su .rfreMed Oy tho above lines? Not on your life! ! ; TN A NT 7 TSTIELL. 1 C. Emmer-son wi 11 ride Pi 4 prop in the > Winter Cup. 1 A. M. Donald will have the ride on Stur-dee in the Grand National Steeplechase. l A dead heat between three took place at a recent- meeting held in Johannesburg. : Tliere is some talk of sending Coalition to . England to contest the next Grand Liverpool Steeplechase. Madam Edmond Bhinc, who wen this year’s French Derby, is the rust lady to via 1 ill■ race since 1860. | Many a man lias an icy stare .a J the totalis a tor after backing n loser, and a liquid } stare after backing a winner. 3 S. Henderson, who won the Grand National Steeplechase on L-.rhella, will have the 1 mount on Coro glen this year. 1 The five-year-old mare Fife and Drum. w!r> l got amongst the winners at Gisborne, is a i half-sister by ID; the; Akxlr:-' t ; t':- r‘L-. Jock Hymons bioke down last week, and 3 was i'i consequence allowed to drop out of his engagements at the Grand National meet- , i^grl'he pacer 010, which has given N. Cunningham a lot of tr--uhh.\ was operated on i recently, and will race next season as a gelding. j “Filet,” cf the Sydney Referee, reports l that Gloaming is doing remarkably good ' work for a horse not yet wound up to racing condition. ’ The AY; llington ow Mr AY Ili paid a flying visit to Du 1 .■ -4 i: 'prior to .a'tend.’i tlte Gr.•i: • I Arhoir.:' n . ' u . a* K ; ( or t ton. Prior to Icav in. l " to iud'i l. : - c d in the Grand National Hurdles Alteration has Turn getting through good solid work at r Trent ham. j The Waimate Trotting Club intends to , nmke a further effort to race on October '22 A instead of 0.-tober '2:), the date allotted by ? tlv> Dates Ci'-mmittee. i. It is und-erstoorl that the Canterbuiy Park Trotting Club intends contesting tlte decision of tiie Racing Commission in depriving \ it of its four days’ racing. T The death is reported from Auckland of ! the pacer Antonio, who was got by Harold 1 .• i• 1-t.:i from Ocean AVavo. the dam of Muri--1 cats, Oceanic, and Dan Dillon. >’ Th-o Avondale Jockey Club had drawn up a programme carrying 16.7CK>.5.-vs for four 1 days’ racing when the- Racing- Commission’s 1 repori said “Off with his head.” The New Zealand mare Rod Signal -All g Red.- Aucilia) w... -• unionist tin. winners at . Geelong on July 13. She started favourite, and won the Plunipton Plate from seven others. Master Hamilton has been doing: some work at Riccarton since lie won at the South Canterbury Hunt lrw'inr, and obviously imjiroved a. good deal duiiii"’ the past couple of months. 1 From all accounts the clubs, both trotting and. racing, which has been wiped out by the n Racing Commission are preparing' a good 1 tight to annul the decision which will wipe 1 them out ol ! existence, ' Grib met with a mishap on the journey r ‘ to Iv ,: ccarton, and in consequence may not ’’ he seen at his beet this week. He was also unlucky enough to men! with a mishap 011 the eve of the Dunedin winter meeting. The imported horse Callaghan is said to have beaten Dainty Step in a gallop at Trent ham. and if he fails in the AY in ter Cup may show up in som subsequent even: to be run at the Grand National meeting, a 11. Gray is retained for the present season ■ bv Sir 1L Cunliiic -l.)v win s Xjowerful t am in tra 11 rr, in dm 11 d wort, 011 whom Gray won the Ascot Si : - -- s and Alexandra Stake.- run at tlu> Ascot Geld (- Cup meeting.

“Tim Spc'dal Commissioner,” of the London Sportsman, stated that Sp.'arvvort, on v.d-om Gray made a winning debut 011 Iho IN lish turf, is a chffi ult hors: to ride, a u«I '"a.i a tiv uni [di for the New ZvalamLr to score a success. The Pal 11 ga Hunt Club lias d to 17. The - o : Pukur • iga Hl.ll St pkchas< oi 70 | und no race on the r u'd will carry h ■ - th in ; id ■ ovs in prize immrv. kho crack En li 1 filly 1 ■ < 1 .. ■. 3 ! °oe or the snuu-'S.st sju*inters 011 the turf hist r-o” son, fa en is to have at Last tempcnarily L- her pundi, as she went mu well-backed favourite Ascot, hr.: could only manage to run serc-ud. Since the total: - a -r has been thoroucTiiy eslabhslied it i 3 very ra ■!v ird I tlist a <-lub comes out with a loss at tli.e en I of a season. Thi ; year, hawever, il.o Mes< rt;n Club fir:’,: a wiiii . a balance c:, the wrong side of the ledger, h lie were brushed, but an alteration has be *in made, a.nd at each obstacle ru w there arei two open hurdles and two brush ones. This .gores trainers an opportunity to school their ir c<s over either kind of fence they think fit. Amongst the winners at Gisborne is Monte, who was got by Zetland, a son of Obbgado end Lady Zed and. who was a wall-known performer in tire South Island. Lady Zetland was one of Hie best mares of her time, and wen n New Zealand Cup and Canterbury Cup. hhe do a. h is report c-d from 9ydnev of Air Rol .-rt C’ranq who at one time was a prominent fieur? in A.u. tra.linn racing circles, and who will he known to New Zealanders as the owner of Yum Yum, that remarkably fine vsqua! e-g:i tecl tro ter which raced with considerah*l:' snooe-s 111 t!.*o Dominion. r l he 7jond.au h pnr.sniau states that the Deihv wimv r Ilu.g urist broke a bloodvessel w 1 !-; at a At first i was tl that the trouble would not prove s-oricus, and the coll was expected to fulfil -engagements ai the Ascot Gold Cup meeting, hut, unfortunately, the mishap had a fatal termination. Writing- o*f noted steeplechasers, n wellknown critic mentions that Liberator contested ih * Liverpool Grand National when 17 years old. Frigate was about 16 when shot ''•'•'on. and AYhv Not won when 13 years old. Mountain Go h who led iLe field home in the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase this year, is r:f-ing- 10 years old. Mr G. N. M’Lean, president of the Amberley Racing Club, displayed a very fine sporting spirit, when lie spoke at ih.e annual meeting of the North Cant rburv and Oxford Jockey Club. He congratulated the Ran&iorn Club on the probabilitv of its obtaining an extra permit, and in the own' cf his club losing its day itwou’d pa red 1 in wi t h the Raug'c a. AYIIIF a contrast to the unsv: r 1 sm!,n-like feeling clispla.vcd by som: of the clubs marked for extinct’on. There will be a keen ccntest for on. tic committee of ilie FovlmiT Park Trotting Club at the c’ectirm whh h will k- ]r.*!d at the end of the present month. Four seats will become vacant, end in addition to the nien.il) 3 1 ■ vill, it undersl< -d, , seek re-election, the names of fully half dozen ethers are mentioned as sure candidates for cme.al connection with the club. In planning our a campaign for the early coring inerting. Mr AY. G. Stead engaged Menu in at Av'.mFU. but owing to tin* meeting- clashing v'th V.'a t?:ii -11 ? did net engage the coif- at the letter meeting. Tin's means 1 licit Memun vi!’ not- have a chanc: to run in a cla -ic until hirer in Ihe season. Mr G. D. (cod has 1 ft for Sydney in o:dcr to see (; ’ e:-■ m■ n g nn rl co c*a rrv his o'>'ours at •! - uing m 'clings in that part of the world of his two-ymr-olds, Voil ■AI-suv' G' is also engaged in the AUR.C. A ; ■ ■ : 1 . s, run at t * M Cu m eet ing. In AT !bo:irr-e re ex, •ly or employee a; the Mentor.- 1 was commit' ed for trial i " cli;ir«>' *1 ’• v ne a man oai f.svnKT!fc of Is. to enter the sadd ng p.; - dock thereby ’ • .ip v ; in ; char; •• at t * ■ - ; , and it was | -alleged that ‘ . . o'i cm ]c-se than, ; ordinary < 1 - r - j 0 1 • d the money, j Ihe fir to; !’ M dm u; s*ud foals came lon the see fr’y 31. and In nee \\*ns <r.-ffi- ; c.'aby a vi a c!d next dav. r l hi- is a ridicur j lous -st;i'c of -aff'drs. and tiie rule slmuld be • , altered *0 tl-.a a »’ •* . ’ bom a few hours toe s: on should no ri ; a chanc* to t run. in the nrin- ’pal ciaeri AYcsiwarct Ho, win c :-t H. ' Figs as a yearling, hrs won in England !h ’. 0 season, but ir is now consid- r ’ imimoh :b!o t!;at he will make a fir-- c’a raccliors n The experience is not I pri< e ■ is the case. \Yi r< it Fli r v , . the man with ihe ; ! longest ju -e v. oind V- certain of owning* ; most of tk Ih s: In n s s. * 1 Arm l ' t lie Kn:r •; 1 1 Derby, run at Epsom , on June 1, the following appeared in 1 lie* L New York ITerald of tl: 1 foil, wing day: ‘‘L'ondoi A 1 ■ • y itten in j Fa-i:in : th.ir ccmF w an’- -A. K. Macomber) 1 r i ii Ik hornian Frankie O’E ill, tiie American jocJtcy. had the mount, and rep< . (3 from ) Paris, ere the h v - .■ w. - trained induced almost evc-y Yankee in L-ndon to put tho family jewels whtre ].a 4 riciism dedicated. | To-night there ‘ain’t no’ family jewels in the Ion.” The secretary of a lacing club r.-ot one hundred miles from Masterton .-wet mu last y< a r ; to a Maori me*rd>. r a demand, for the current year’s con; D.butio;., but had no r sporiso. This year -a I’urvher < -mand was sent for the two years’ cont ibi-Fon, and tine follow- ; ing reply can - to liand : ”1) ar Sir. —Your 1 letter last year aDb: > my father for on© iwiind came hero. He did net receive it. He is dead. Your letter tlr’ ! - 3’ear asking ’ my fath for t \ > p s iu liei He <iid not receive i:. He is still dead.” 3 Tli laic-x L'iidon Sportsman to hand . Tilings det-aiks of Hie fir-st ra ing in which ; Hecior Gray participated in England. It id - applaud his hoF rnn-nship, and if (' ra y elected 1 to remain in England there would be a big demand for his services. Gray won the Awc'-t Stakes and Alexandra Stakes, run at the Ascot Gold Cup meeting, on Spcarwort, a son of the Carbine horse Spearmint, The Alexandra Stakes is run over two miles six furlongs and 85 yards, and Gray on Spear\v< rt beat h Bullock o: B i in a great finish. It is very seldom indeed that a y>rofit can lie made in backing boih runners in a field of two. In the All-aged Slakes, run at tho Ascot Gold Cup TTw-ebng. fractional odds were obtainable about both runners, who al > different stages of the betting held the posi--1 tion of favourite. This moans that the more invested the more a backer would win by > supr)orling each horse when the odds wei<2 t against them in the. market. Suppoeing, r for instance, that at different stages of the betting 5 to 4 c uld have been jirocurablc abdut e.qrh horse, tlm hacker w-uld have tc u pay cut four ]>■ in s and receive live. The. annual mccDn;.' of tiie New Zealand Trotting- Association will be held this week Tim report to Ik* presented states t hat t - .1 ivv >pt i from all -c-'s were i.'3057 18s * ainl the expenditure A 5052 6s £>d. r l

revenue shows an increase in all departments, the fees for licenses producing nearly £IOO m-ore than in the previous season. The number of licenses issued has grown steadily, the figures for the past- four seasons being—--1017-18, 1677; 1918-10, 1748; 1919-20, 2347; 1920-21, 2617. The association has accumulated fund 3 amounting to £1335 9s Id, including £1127, the present value of Government War Bonds held. During the year claims amounting to £2BO 13s were paid out of the Provident Fund, which at present amounts to nearly £SOOO. The Derby winner Spicn Kop lost all form after winning at Epsom last year, but has proved himself .again by his display in the Ascot Gold Cup, run over two miles and a-lialf. lie started the rank outsider of the field, and the. “ Special Commissioner ” of the- London Sportsman expressed the opinion that, but for being badly ridden and twice bumped by the French horse Juveignonr, he would have wo:.. The French horse finished third, but was disqualified for bumping Spicn Kop, who got the almost barren honour of third place. Spion Kop made most of the running l , and was apparently very unlucky in suffering interference. Comrade, who von last year's Grand Prix d,e Pars, was .also in the field, but rail a poor race. Tiie winner was h 1 feur-y car-old colt. Periosteum, who was got by the Bond Or horse Radium from Persiearia, by Persimmon from Courtly, by Hampton—Little .Lady., by llosicrucian. The Australian rider, F. Bullock, had the rid© on the winner. Extensive improvements ore to be carried out at Forbiuy Park, and tenders are being invited for carrying out the work. The present outside stand will be improved, and part of the ground fronting it will be taken mto the inside enclosure, which will be terlaced along its complete length. The cutside public will be accommodated with a new stand. It is also intended to. erect a stand for riders and trainers at the northern cn.J of the numbers’ stand. The tea Toe ms are to be improved, and in order to- do so Iho public will bo shifted to the southern end of the grand stand. Other improvements will be carried cut to meet the alterations. The outside tota-lisator will be enlarged and made available to patrons of the lawn. It is also intended to. erect two. largo concrete tank-3 for stowing water for using on the tracks. In order to kill the dust nuisance the committee has decided to asphalt all the ground behind the stands and the space surrounding the totalisa.tor buildings. These improvements will bo much appreciated, and will naturally assist in giving further popularity to the Fcrbury Park meetings. Ukraine, the dam of Sa-sanof and others of lesser light, is to De mated this season with the imported Spearmint horse Catmint. Both Ukraine and Martian are getting on in years, but it seems strange that another mating of the combination which produced such an exceptionally good horse, as Sasanof should not be tried again. Ukraine was bred to Martian on three occasions, but two of the matings resulted in fillies, and some of the weaker sex got by the son of Ma.rtagon and Otterdon were comparative failures. For instance, sisters to Soldiers’ Chorus, Rossini, Cherubini, and Tamiehauser were failures from a racing point of view. Another case of neglecting- to breed back to a successful ntc.k is furnished by Gossip, who threw the black demon Bobrikoff to Finland in 1901, end did not visit, him again until 1912. Tne latest Stud Book shows that Gossip was bred te- Finland in 3919-20-21, but there is some margin between 1904 and the vitality which may exist around a. score of years later. The belated mating dc-es not read promising, as Gossip threw En Parole in 193 2, _ Pourparler in 1913, and Scandelmenger in 1914 to Finland, who in common is not likely to improve with age. The interesting little story relating to Positano from “Milroy’s” pen reads-—“ln rile middle nineties the late lion. H. C. Dang-ar decided to secure a St. Simon stallion for presentation to his son Richard, of » Neotafield, and lie instructed his old friend, Mr know Sir William) Cooper, then racing in a big way in England, to buy him a St. Simon horse. Of course, money was. really no obiect, but to Mr Hangar’s great surprise Sir William bought him a St, Simon* colt (Positamo) for 150 g?. I have heard Mr Hangar was much shocked. He wanted a. horse of racing class to uphold the credit of the old stud. From an English point of view Positauo was a, bad horse, but SirWilliam had other ideas—and Sir William, of course, was very right. Positauo was not an early beginner, and after several failures as a youngster he was. regarded as a gcocl horse to bo got rid of. It was Mr Hangar’s intention to send himj to Neotsfield on arrival, but when lie left quarantine it was necessary to physic the horse, and he sent him to his old trainer, John Alison, for that purpose. Allcop fell in love with Positano, and persuaded the Hon. H. C. Damrar to give him a trial, which he did. Positano arrived in Sydney in January, and left quarantine early in February. At Randwick in April—about 30 weeks later—he was given a run in a maiden race, and he ran third to The Grafter, afterwards a runner-up and a winner of the Melbourne Cup. At the end of that week Positano started in the A.J.O. Plo.ce Handicap, which was run over a mil© end a-haif, and he won easily, though only 3,1 weeks off the boat, and in the spring was a weight-for-age horse.” CANTERBURY DOINGS. B v Obsebver. Trainers have been very fortunate in the weather that has been experienced lately. It has been an exceptionally favourabl winter, and the tracks at Rioeavtou have been in much better order than is usual at this season of the year. As a. result, training work for the Grand National meeting was conducted without any serious breaks, there being plenty of good .ground available each morning. One effect of this was that faster times were recorded than are generally witnessed in July and August. On the oilier hand, with good weather in other parts, visiting trainers were slower in arriving than is usually the ca-e, while the work was very dull, ow ing to Ihe fact that even the horses who were on the scene provided no jumping. Up till the beginning of last week none of the visiting horses had teen a hurdle or a fence. During the last week there was a change, a lot of interesting exhibitions being witnessed over the jumps. The late arrival of the majority of the visiting horses made it look at one stage a« if there would be small fields for the principal events, hut, the North Island jumpers canto along in good style last week, and now there is an assurance of keen competition in the steeplechases and hurdle races. The report of the Racing Commission continues in provide an interesting tonic of conversation in sporting eir, los. The opinion is growing that the report will not be aupro-ed i v Parliament, This. ~r is the obi. Cl abn-d at by people ini creeled in Ihe < bibs which the repnrl proposes to wipe out. ll is I.a. .' ever, hard to sav how the rejection of the report will even! ually

affect the situation. It is quite certain, for example, that the new clubs which were recommended for license in the report will not take kindly to any proposal which takes from them what they were promised by the Commission, and we may expect, after the rejection of the report,, another agitation for the recognition of the claims of these country clubs. The ami-racing section in Parliament has no special end in view, save a desire to wipe the sport out, and, in any case, to frustrate any attempt to grant t\n increased number of permits. There seems'a grave danger that in trying to meet the wishes of the various factions we may find a further reduction in metropolitan racing and trotting, in order to give the country clubs their sport, without increasing the permits. The well-known cross-country jockey, L. Ilagertv, met with a nasty accident* one morning last week. He was riding Bay Lupin in a school over the fences, when the hor.-.e iell at the double and broke a leg. Hagerty was rendered unconscious, and ho was taken, to the hospital, where he still lies, suffering from an injury to the spine, ills case is. reported to be not, dangerous, but it is quite bad enough. At the best, he \\i-i not ride for uome time. Alan a wap an go has net been jumping well lateiy. He gave a slovenly exhibition over the fences about a week ago, and a few days later he fell at the first of the double. Fit-prop lias been showing signs of lameness lately, and he is unlikely to race at tuo Grand National meeting. This smart LnalLh-bred gelding Juts had a chequered career so far. Luff ban developed trouble in one of his nocks, and Mr J. 11. Grigg has taken him homo for a spell. It was a piece of bad luck tor ue young Ashburton sportsman to lose the services of the Golden Knight gelding, u iio gave promise of becoming a good performer over country. The Hawke’s Bay trainer, S. Waddell, who has been on a holiday in Otago, spent y-onplc of days hero on his way north/ and o.j.v the opportunity of renewing acquaintance with old irienda at Riccarton. While at Trentham l;u,t month S. Trilfoid purchased the Campfire gelding The Digger, for Mr G. Fulton. The Digger is a useful galloper, and after the * Grand National meeting he will be schooled for jumping. Ihe English-bred horse Counter Attack is to be raced on the flat this week and he may then resume schooling, in ’view of liurd.e races at tile spring meetings The annual meeting of the North Canterbury and Oxford Jockey Club was held on lhuisday. Tho balance sheet showed an income of £3225 2s Id, added to which was a credit balance of £1123 18s 7d hrou-riit forward,, making a total of £4359 Os Bd. A, principal items of income were:—I ot aus a tor revenue, £2129 18s 9d ; ncmina-o"-n , a f‘ d acceptances. £318; gate' receipt's, £o/2 16s: suinscriptions, £135 Is; and race o-nno’s• TH expenditure totalled £auoO 15s 3d. including stakes £IOSO work on course £342 2s sd. officials £173 lea 6d yyjiyGw £909 13s 3d., interest on mortgage , 12s 4 cl, «md printing nnd ndvertising £lO9 3s Id. The credit balance was £1278 5s fed. The assets are £3978 16s lOd and the liabilities £2577. In moving the adopticn. ot the report and balance sheet, tho Chairman congratulated the club on the Lacing Commission having recommended that they should be allotted two days for racing. At the, same time, he was sorry for the Amberley Club in having its daycut out. He trusted that the Amberley Club would throw in its lot with North Canterbury and make one strong * club. With a view to carrying out the requirements of the commission with regard to improving the course, the committee had purchased an acre of ground in front of the course near the . gate, and if they carried out the work this season the course would have to be closed for the year and arrangements made to have their meeting in some other centre. A proposal will come before the club later to alter the name to Rangiora Racing Club. At the annual meeting of the North Canterbury and Oxford Jockey Club the committee was recommended to apply for the second day’s racing, as suggested in the report of the Racing Commission. It was also decided that three trotting events should be included in each programme. This lost proposal, however, cannot be carried out. The position is set out in a note by the president of the. Racing Conference, attached to a memorandum sent to clubs with respect to the effect of alterations in the Rules of Racing. It. is as follows : “In relation to this rule (trotting events on racing club programmes) it must be noted that by arrangement with the Now Zealand Trotting Conference not more than two trotting races per day may be comprised in the programmes of race meetings where this has been the custom hitherto, but no further assent is to be given to the inclusion of trotting races under other circumstances.” The spell of fine weather came to an end on Friday night, when rain set in. and there had been a lot of rain by six o’clock on Saturday morning-, when there was a . fall of snow, lasting for over an hour. As a result, the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s track at Addington was in a very bad condition, and the committee, after inspection, decided to postpone the opening of the August meeting until Monday. There was n similar happening last year, when heavy rain fell on the Saturday fixed for the start of the fixture. WELLINGTON NOTES. (Feom Oub Own Corhespondent.) August 4. 11. Telford, ihe Trentha-m trainer, returned from the other side on Monday after a three monih*.’ absence in Melbourne and Sydney. He saw a good deal of racing, and met quit© a lot of New Zealanders m Victoria. W. J. Donovan left for Sydney last week with a team of horses belonging to Mr W. F. Desha, also Kick Off, the property of Mr J. S. M’Leod. At a meeting of stewards this week the Wellington Club decided to proceed with tho new buildings at ’) rcnlham. It will he some time before the work is completed, but it will be a great transformation. A Victorian light-weight jockey named Gland© Stephens has com© across under engagement to If. Telford’s stable, and has been grail led a license by the Wellington Racing Club. He was the most successful rider in Tasmania during Ihe season just ended. Mr Thomas Duncan, owner of Isabel, has been elected a steward of the Wanganui Jin In y ('I lib. 'idle local melropolilan club has decided t'j U! . yu-e ilrj vo’uc vf die Wellesley and

ellington Stakes and New Zealand St. s -Leger ro lOCOsovs each. i Lord Martian was last week shipped to r Sydney to J. Lowe, who has in consequence 1 altered his plans about returning. The writer is informed that a New Zealander at Caulfield offered BGogs for Insurrection, but it was turned down. There is some talk of sending Coalition to Lug land to contest the Liverpool Grand } National if he is successful at Riccarton. [ lhe Patronu-s gelding is a champion this ' season, when there are no horses in the , same class about. \\ inning over the Aintroe obstacles is a different matter. , AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By

OBSERVER.

Ihe annual meeting of the members of the Auckland. Racing Club was held on the Ist last. Owing to the unavoidable absence of the president (.‘sir Edwin Miteiieteon), the vice-president (Mr 11. T. Gome) occupied lie chair. Ihe president-’a report- j (read by Lie secretary) congratulated the members on the success of the past year, winch was easily a, record. Alter allowing tor expenditure on improvements and depreciation, also £12,000 income tax to be U'C 111 February next, there remained £15,086 to be carried forward to capital account. jhe amount pa; cl away in stakes during tiie past season was £61,450, which was nearly double the amount paid three sta.-.oiis back. touching on iho bookmaker, me report states that he is still flourishing uospue the Act. of last session. The only means of putting down the bookmaker would fco to allow the telegraphing of investments to the secretaries of clubs, the reinstatement of the double machine, and ihe abolition of the right, of trial by jurv Good progress was being made with tho improvements in hand at Eileislie. The Leger Maud would bo ready for the Christmas meeting'. Ihe new totalisator would not ie ready till the 1222-23 season, but, to avoid any congestion in the menniime, ticket-selling boxes would be erected, 'ihe import yeas adopted without discussion. Mr C. E Major propose,l—‘ That tho club as » .body congratulate the president, Eir Edwin Mi teh el son, on the well-earned distincconferred oil him by the King." The motion was carried unanimously with great enthusiasm. In. a short speech cn various mat-tors, Mr O. E. Major got off the course in discussing- the Racing I’onimissioii’s roD?H, but was puled up by rhe chairman, l lie election cf iho committee resulted in Mr R. H. Diuler, Dr Grant. Mr 11. \ Brice, Mr N. A. Nathan, and Mr J. J£ Jones being elected. For the stewards Mr G. A. Wynynrd, Air M. J. Lynch, and Mr L. G. Rathbono wore elec tod. Waimai and Coroglen will be 1 lie AuckInAul vepre^entat ive*? in jhe Grand National Stcepleonase. Vv’aimai is rep.vied to be in capital nick, and Lis connections expect him to run well, but it seems rather doubtful vlie th er the cl cl fe 11 ovr v. ill “come bac kb' Coroglen will be a hard horse to beat. On ids running at Eilerslie the son cf Glen A 1 byn is a. good one, and the flat country at Kiccarton will probably be more to his liking than the kilerslie country. Kauri King, Thrace, and Goto glen, are engaged in the Hurdle Kaee. ijKatiri King v ill probably prove to be the *pick of the trio, though after his easy victory at Kilerslie it would be hard to pick one to beat Fisher. Prior to the Great Northern meeting Kauri King and Fisher had a spin over a mile and a-half on the sand, tiie former boating his companion rather easily, but in the Great Northern Hurdle Race Kauri King never got near Fisher. Tlis turn, may cinne in the Jumpers’ Flat at, Riccarton. Sir Fanciful will have plenty of friends in the Trial Hurdles. Te Oro should run well in tho minor hurdle events. Though, he has not yet succeeded in winning a hurdle race, the son of Wauchope has been placed in each of his four starts over the small sticks. J. Buchanan registered his first success as. a, trainer when Mumble won the Hack Flat Race at Gisborne. The veteran horseman also rode the winner, and got a great reception on returning to the paddock. Two old ones in Signature anil Marconi got on the winning list at Gisborne. Marconi is one of the few descendants of Soult still racing. The defeats of Esthonia and Crowhurst were very costly- to their supporters. Esthonia was considered unlucky in not winning on the opening day. The programme for the coming season has been passed by the Auckland Racing Club Committee. The sum to be paid away in stakes amounts to £73,100 —an increase of £11,650 on last year’s total. The princi- ] pal handicaps will now carry the following stakes: —Spring meeting-: Mitchelson Cup, one mile and a-lmlf. £2OOO. Summer meeting: Auckland Cup. two miles. £3500; Railway Handicap, six furlongs, £2000; Summer Gun, one mile and a-qnarter, £1400; A.R..0. Handicap, one mile and a-half, £2000; Grand Stand Handicap, one mile and a quarter, £I2OO. .Autumn meeting: Easter Handicap, one. mile. £2000; lluia Handicap, six furlongs. £IOOO. Winter meeting: The Great Northern Hurdles and Steeplechase each cany a. stake of £2500. The committee has not overlooked the minor events, for no race on the programme carries a, stake of less than £SOO. RAGING IN NEW ZEALAND. METROPOLITAN TROTS POSTPONED. CHRISTCHURCH, August 6. The start of the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting has been postponed till Monday. the track being in bad order as the result of rain and snow. RACING Ifc AUSTRALIA. MELBOURNE, August .1. The first acceptances for the Caulfield Cup include Arch Marella, Finmark, Cupidon, and Conniston. For the Melbourne Cup: Duo, Cupidon, Athens* 11, Big Chief, Loyal Irish, Kick Off, Arch Marella. August 6. The Australian Hurdles resulted: —Roieel 1 Sandulo 2, Front Rank 3. Won by four lengths. Time, Cmin 43 3-ssec. RACING IN ENGLAND. LONDON, August 1. Last season’s champion three-year-old Tetnitema (by Tctrareh —Scotch Gift) has been retired from racing.August 6. Keen interest is maintained in the rivalry between Bullock and Donoginie, and tho daily references in tho newspapers are remarkable a>3 to how often they finish first

and second. Honoghue rides of teller, with the result that Bullock has a much better average. Donoglme leads with 71 winners, Bullock having 68. HECTOR GRAY AT ASCOT. LONDON, June 21. Hector Gray, the New Zealand horsemen, rode another winner at Ascot on the last day of the meeting. This was in the Alexandra Stakes, of two miles six furlongs, when he brought Speanvort again home to victory. The race, which is the longest in tho whole racing year, had a finish which was as eloso and as thrilling as anyone could wish to see. After this terrific journey at a hot pace, Bracket (Mrs G. Robinson’s filly) and Spearwort fought out the last few strides in close company, and there was only a head between them on 'passing the judge's box. Both had been out previously, Spearwort having created a surprise by winning the Ascot Stakes, while Brocket hud run. no more than respectably for the Gold Cup. Frank Bullock rode the filly in order to make ihe best use of her grand stamina, cutting cut (lie pace in a lively manner. Those who recoiled that Bracket had given 4lb and a handsome beating to Spearwort in tho Cesarcwitch expected her fb win again, especially as she was now receiving weight. But tho market tolcl another story, and that proved the correct one. The mare ceme into the straight still with tho lead, but Speer-v.-ort, ridden with excellent judgment by her Australasian jockey, gradually wore her down. Gamely as the. filly struggled, she could not resist Sir Hugo CunlifTe-Owen's coll, with his wealth of Spearmint’s blood, and Spearwort just won. Gold Guinea could hardly hobble home, and the French horse, Juvcigneur. was decidedly leg weary. In the Windsor Castle Sic.kes, of five furlongs, for two-year-olds, Gray rod© Sir 11. Cunliffe-Ouon’s Hunting Song, and succeeded in coining third in the race. Tho New Zealand rider is now being inundated with offers of work. He left London yesterday for Newcastle, where lie has several engagements during n three days’ meeting. At the encl of the week lie will be back in London, and lias been engaged to ride a two-year-old belonging to Mr T. If. Lowry (Hawke’s Bay) in the British Dominion Stakes at Sandown. WEIGHTS, ACCEPTANCES, ETC. GRAND NATIONAL MEETING. Following are ihe Canterbury Jockey Club acceptances and final payments in connection with the Grand National meeting. Acceptances : Trial Hurdles, of 400sovs. One mile end three-quarters.—Penury Res© 31.1, Sir Fanciful 10.13, Dribble 10.12, Tigritiya 10.11, Te Oro 10.6, Wild Pilgrim 9.8, Master Boris 9.1, Pariform 9.0, Mickey Free 9.0, Indus 9.0, Mettle Drift 9.0. Hunters’ Hurdles, of 200sovs. One milo and three-quarters.—Bellroek 11.11, Grange 11.9, Birkenvale 11.9, Bandy 10.13, Innisfallen 10.9, Ready, Pamplona, Red Blaze, Likelihood 10.7. Jumpers’ Flat Handicap, of 2oosovs. One milo and a-half. —Gamecock 11.11, Fisher 10.12, Kauri King 10.11, Demagogue 10.4, Dribble 10.3, Hyttus 10.2, Glr.dful 10.2, Mmtive 10.1, Thrace 19.1, Cross Words 9.3, King Star, Manawaponga, Phil May 9.0. Enfield Steeplechase Handicap, of SOOsovs. About two miles. —John Bunny 11.8, Fire Eater 10.13, Vice-Regal 10.13, Tigerlaud 10.12, Joffro 10.9, Pckanekano 9.13, Tidal Wave 9-11, Mali!uni 9.10, Six Cylinder 9.7. Avouhead Handicap, of t’Od.rovs. Seven furlongs.—Mirza 10.5, Linton 10. ■l, De monstrato 10.0, C.irnbrea 10.0, Explorer 9.13, Staff Officer 9.13, Sembric 9.13, Filagree 9.12, Bc-be-hoad 3.9, Scrimmage 9.8, Osterman 5.2, Happy Captain 9.2, Lady Lucullus 9.2, Cantoris, Treso, Red Gown, Amendment, Missland, Silverlea 9.0. The following final payments have been made: New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase. Three miles and a-half. —Coalition 12.7, Lochella 11.11, Master Strowan 11.5, Coroglen 10.9, Waimai 10.7, Luke 10.2, First Line 10.2, Sturdeo 9.13, Crib 9.9, ,Gayboy 9.7, San Sebastian 9.7, Barrister 9.7, Master Hamilton 9.7. Winter Cup. One mile.—Vagabond 11.1, Onslaught 10.7, Clean Sweep 10.6, Royal Star 10.6, Killowen 10.6, Heather Sprig 10.5, Mustard Pot, 10.4, Miss Muriel 10.3, Arch Salute 10.2, Callaghan 9.11, Kareao 9.9, Bonnie Maid 9.9, General Advance 9.3, Prince Martian 9.2, Royal Mao 9.2, Mouloa Ivanova 9.1, Some Kid 9.0, Pine Arch 9.0, Silent Dick 9.0, Hiero 9.0, Fabrinad© 9.0, Link Up 9.0, Nautical 9.0. New Zealand Grand National Hurdle .Race. Two mile 3 and 0/-half. —Fisher 11.11, Gamecock 11.10, Gladful 11.2, Kauri King 11.1, Muhive 10.13, Alteration 10.8, Thrace 10.8, Mil! o’ Cowrie 10.3, Coroglen 9.11, Crosswords 9.8, Hyttus 9.6, Sir Fanciful 9.0, Demagogue 0.0, Whipcord 9.0. TASMANIAN RACING CLUES. HOBART, August 1. A conference of Tasmanian Racing Clubs adopted a lesolution objecting to the legalising of bookmakers. AUCKLAND RACING CLUE STAKES. AUCKLAND, August 3. The Auckland Racing Club Committee lias allotted £73.100 in prize money for the ensuing season, an increase of .£11,650. The allotments are:—Spring meeting, £12,050; summer meeting, £30,750; autumn meeting, £13,000; winter meeting, £17,300. The Cup lias been raised to £3500, and tho Great. Northern Hurdles and Steeples to £2500 each. In 1923-4 the Great Northern Derby will be worth £3OOO. NORTH OTAGO JOCKEY CLUB. The annual meeting of the North Otago Jockey Club look place on July 26. The chair was. occupied bv Mr Wm. Gardiner, jun.. president of ihe club, and there was a large number of members present. Tho annual report and statement of aceounis for the year ended June 30. already in the hands of members, was taken as ron<l. The president, in moving the adoption cf same, complimented the meeting on tiie success of the year’s operations, which at. one time looked ns if the year would end wiih a loss; but ho was pleased to report that the opposite was the result. A boycott hail been initiated by a person of little standing, with a view of injuring the club, but many of the trainers had since admitted that they had been misled. He considered that the new committee should endeavour to raise the slakes all round, so as to induce horses to come from a. distance. The present expenses to owners were very high, and he thought that the railway department should make a rebate on horses travelling to race meetings. Notwithstanding the fact that practically £1.000,000 went into the Treasury from racing, vet. ihe Government was endeavouring to lake Ihe fractions, and unclaimed dividends. It would be to

the interests of both galloping and trotting were combined action taken against the Government in this matter. He regretted to have to refer to the death of the late Mr J. G. Nicolls, who for many years filled the position of. a steward, and did yoeman’s service in the interest of the club. Ihe late Mr Allan S. Orbell , whose death I t‘ k p ace at Y> aikouaiti, was also a keen supporter of the club. The February dates had been found to be unsuitable owing to harvest being in operation, and December 16 and 17 had been claimed for the first meeting, hut he d:d not know if even these dates were suitable. ITe moved the adoption of the report. L ! ' G. Livingstone seconded the motion, which was carried without dissent. 1 lie election of officers resulted as follows:- President, Mr Wm. Gardiner, jun. (re- I cted); vice-president, Mr J. F. Reid (re-elected) ; auditor. Mr -J. M. Hunt. Tlio following were nominated for seven seats on the committee: —Messrs A. A. P». Christie. J. R Mitchell. .T. O'Brien. F. Jones. W. O. MKellar. W. K. Doolev, T. A. Munro, T. Johnston. E. Lane, W. J. Hannon, and J. Henderson. The chairman and Mr H. IV. Bailey were appointed scrutineers. On the motion of Mr F. W. Onglev, seconded by Mr F. Jones, it was decided that the club be incorporated. The-president mentioned that it would be necessary to hold a special meeting of members to consider the Racing Conference's suggestion that the name of the club be ebanged to that of the Oamaru Jockey Club. Three new members were proposed after which the customary vote to the chair closed the meeting. RAGSMC COMMISSIONS REPORT. WHAT MAY HAPPEN. WELLINGTON, August 2. Protests against the report of the Racing Commission continue to reach the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. Downie Stewart;, and representatives of some clubs are seeking personal interviews with the Minister. Just at present the main cause of protest is the decision that permits will not be issued to clubs whose applications have been lejected b- the commission. Presumably protests against rejection will be reserved till the report comes before Parliament, which may accept the report with modifications and alterations. There does not appear to be any authority for this in the Act. The Act authorises the appointment of a commission to determine the number of licenses to be issued, the clubs to which they will be issued, and the number of days in which they may be used. The Governor-general “may,” by Order-in-Couneil, authorise the issue of a number of licenses not exceeding the number recommended by the commission. It is this Order-in-Council, and not the report, which is to be laid before Parliament. Within 30 days of jts issue or the commencement of the session, either House of Parliament may, by resolution, reject the Order-in-Gouncil, which will then cease to have effect. In that case the licenses shall not exceed those authorised by the principal Act. It does not appear that the Governor-general (otherwise the Government) is not bound to follow the report of the commission, except that licenses must not exceed the number recommended by the commission, but once the Order-in-Council is framed and issued. Parliament has no choice but to accept wholly, or reject absolutely. Of course Parliament is the master of its own businc=s. and can. it it chooses, pass legislation embodying all. any, or none of the recommendations of the commission. Whether the Government, having obtained a report from experts after a thorough inquiry, will iriow the House to reopen the whole matter in detail is another matter. HAS AUTHORITY BEEN EXCEEDED? AUCKLAND. August 3. A protest on behalf of the Orahv.hu Trotting Club in respect to the Racing Commission's report was put before the Auckland members of Parliament bv a deputation < of about 150 sportsmen. ~ After the club's case had been fully stated, the Hon. G. J. Garland drew attention to the fact that the commission had been set up under an amendment of the Act of 1920 and that clause 3 Act gave the commission power to extend the present racing davs but no authority to cut away totalizator permits at present in existence. In that respect he L't the present commission had exceeded its authority. , -L 1 \ H- Potter, M.P., intimated that the parliamentary members present had decided to .telegraph lo the Minister of Interna! Affairs drawing attention to the point mentioned by the lion. Mr Garland, and 1 ‘questing that no action be taken ’ until I’.i iiament had considered the report. .V protest against the commission's recemmendation regarding the Otalmhu Club has been forwarded by the North Island Trotting Horse Owners and Breeders’ Association to the Hon. W. Downie Stewart (Minister of Internal Affairs). r J O BE RESUB JUTTED TO CABINET. A MINI -1 TRIAL STATEMENT. ... .. , M ELLiNG'ION, August 5. in- difficulties that tunc arisen in conic;, lion with tne report of the Racing Cum-im.--i.jii me such that it is now likely that no action will be taken in regard to it until Parliament has an opportunity of considering it. to-day a deputation irom the Utanuhu Trotting Club waited upon the Oom \\. Dow nie Stewart (Minister of ln- !. and put their particular :. e before him. Air Stewart explained tne position in regard to the Racing Commission's ;epil l. and the Act as recently E‘ vi !■> t’aib.iuier.t, and went on to sav 1 - ■ a now factor which, . 111 UI y,, Hud taken him somewhat by sur--11 this: Quito recently u' mimb ament bad made mi. both p< rsonally and 11 their opinion that 1 1 . ■, >'.e '(one wit], the eomrThl "". hl Ind dealt '> . protiiii no extra pen* r,.- shoul(t ix ■ v.;. be w he had had a request'froiri « R -aby the whole ol the member., f,,, Auckland as!;:: g that nothing should !nne uni;. Par lament met. As memlims of all shad*-, of opinion, and of nil parti--■ n the House from the Speaker down wards, had made representations on those in<= either asking that the matter should > held ovi'i until Pa, j -arnent n et. o g ■ 'a l't her and slating that they considered there would be a broach of faith if he riiowed the report to operate before Pallia.-

meat dealt with it —he had had to consider these representations very seriously, because he was accountable to the members of Parliament. It was not so long since he, himseif, was a private member, and he was most zealous of the rights of private members. It appeared to him also, that if they were correct in their contention, and it he were to act in contravention of their strong representations and wishes, he might defeat the very object he had in view of securing fnr the report a fair and impartial hearing from Parliament, because he might succeed in antagonising members against the report, and prejudice a fair consideration of it when it came to Parliament. That was the last thing he wanted to do. Indeed, his object was to see that Parliament dealt with the report without regard to any external considerations of how members had been treated by the Mimster-in-Gharge, or anything of that sort. He had, therefore, promised those members who had approached him that he would re-submit the matter to Cabinet. When lie had arrived at his original determination. Cabinet had concurred in it, but he had promised now that he would resubmit the question, for the purpose of ascertaining whether matters should not be allowed to take their usual course until Parliament met and dealt with the report. That was the way in which the matter now stood, and he did not think he could carry it any further at present. If the matter was reconsidered on those lines it might lead to permits being allowed to issue for the early part of the racing season until Parliament could arrive nt a derision. The deputation expressed itself as thoroughly satisfied with the Minister’s rmly. They had. they stated, every confidence in Parliament, A PROTEST FROM MARTON. MARTON, August 5. The Rangitikei Racing- Club has placed before Mr Ei Newman, M.P., a strong protest against the injustice of the Racing Commission in proposing the withdrawal of the club's annual permit. The chairman stated that the chib was one of the oldest in the dominion, having raced over 65 years, the course is on.e of the best on the coast, the meetings are well conducted and popular, as is evidenced by the large and excellent fields. The club does not intend to be sent under without a strong protest, and will take the matter before Parliament. Mr Newman said that although strongly against any increase in racing permits he. recognised that injustice was being done to country clubs. He is strongly opposed to the Racing Commission’s recommendation respecting the Rangitikei Club being carried into effect. AN OBJECTION FROM BEAUMONT, At a largely-attended meeting of the Beaumont Racing Club held on Thursday night, it was resolved to forward a strong protest to the Minister of Internal Affairs in connection with the Racing Commission’s recommendation to withdraw their permit; - also in the meantime to circulate a petition throughout the district praying for the retention of the club.