SPORTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10418, 23 March 1912, Page 5

SPORTING.

Desire, '.Tinner of tho Newmarket Handicap, started second favourite, Popinjay being first choice. Desire is the ninth throe-year-old to win the Newmarket Handicap during tho thirtynine years of its existence. Obsono began smartly in the Xewrar.rkot Handicap, was in a prominent position ail through, eventually finishing fourth.

A proposal to dispense with Stipendiary n'owards will shortly be discussed by the Vallsend Jookev Club. Npw South Wales.

It is reported that H. Gray has appealed to the Hawko's Bay Metropolitan Committee iSgcinst his disqualification for twelve months by the stewards of the Dannevirke Club.

When the last mail left England 473 horses were still engaged in the Paris Grand Prix of 1912. Of this number 33G were entered from Paris, 118 from London, eleven from New York and eight from Rome. The. Australian Jockey Club's stipendiary jtewards recently paid an early-morning visit to .Randwick. They were not out to watch the work, but in order to take stock of some apprentices who were applying for permission to ride in races. When is such a thing likely to happen in New Zealand '! When Mettle won tho Pines Hurdle Handicap at the Victoria Racing Club's meeting he equalled the Australasian record for a two-mile, race over hurdles—3min 42Jsec—•which was established by Designer at Moonee Valley over four years ago. Designer only had to jump seven hurdles, however, while in Mettle's race there were ten. South Australia holds the honour of having one of the most progressive clubs in the Commonwealth, and incidentally the best oneday meeting of tho Australian season. The Onkaparmga Racing Club has just received 192 entjrieß for the five chief events to bo decided at their annual Easter meeting. There are forty-one horses in the Great Eastern Steeplechase. Since .the inception of the Newmarket Handicap in 1874 the first favourite on the day has won the race on twelve occasions. Poodle and Playaway were the shortestpriced favourites to start in the race. Poodle ran second and Playaway third. Playaway won a year later. Forest was the biggest outsider to win the Newmarket Handicap, and _ Six Foote was the shortest-priced favourite to succeed in the big sprint. The following are the principal winning horses- on the English turf:— Isinglass, £57,185; Donovan, £55,15.1; Rock Sand', £45,618; Plying Fox, £10,096; Sceptre, £ 38,283; Ayrshire, £35.915; Pretty Polly, £35,312; Persimmon, £34,706; La Fleche, £34,703; Lemberg, £33,199; St Frusquin, £32.960; Orme, £32,484; Ormonde, £28.466; Galtee More, £27,019; Velasquez, £26,385; Surefoot, £26,678; Lord Lyon, £25.600; and Swynford, £25,508. Poor little Lord Nolan (bovs a Melbourne writer) ran in this Australian Cup with 6st 7lb! He looked a shadow of his former self, and waß never in the hunt. And yet when Mr John Mayo had him he could put up a ?ood race with Trafalgar at weight-for-age. The "Wizard of the North" was at Flemington on Tuesday stepping round, and looking almost as smart as in the days of Sooundus and The. Queen. He made a great deal when he sold Lord Nolan for 2000gs. X suppose stringing him up for his three-year-old races took all tho sting out of Lord Nolan, and Skirving has never been able to resuscitate him.

Referring to the meeting between Trafalgar ind Comedy King in the Essendon Stakes on the first day of the Victoria Racing Club's meeting, "Terlinga" says that both •war* going well to tho turn, but after that Trafalgar had it. He won comfortably, but Comedy King was not disgraced, and with Trafalgar out of the way he would l bo a great horse. Probably he is just as good as he was this time last year, but Trafalgar has imjiroved since the time when Alawa was certain to beat him wherever they met. On Friday Trafalgar sprinted half a milertm the track in 50soc. That is not bad for an old campaigner, even if it'was a flying start. F. Porter has in work at Awapuni a srnnrt two-year-old filly by Martello (Hotchkiss— Bose of 'Wellington) from Miss Bogey, by The Officer from Links (dam of Sir Geraint and Bootle). The youngster has not been up long, but track watchers at Awapuni stats that she can gallop fast. Te Arai, in the tame stable, is doing service about town as a hack. He looks robust enough, but the state of one of hie legs makes it appear doubtful as to whether he will stand another preparation. Porter is considering the question of moving his team to Gisborno, and, with this end in view, Gay Lawless has been returned to her owner at Hutt, and has been handed to C. Pritehard to prepare tor future engagements.

Remarks in Melbourne exchanges suggest .taut Sheriff Muir may have had a lucky win in the Sires' Produce Stakes. One writer (rammed the position up as follows:—The Sires' Produce Stakes was one of the greatest surprises ever seen at Flemington, and except that Wolawa would) not face the straight, there seems no way of accounting for his defeat by Sheriff Muir. At Caulfield the previous Saturday Wolawa carried Bst 131b and won pulling up by five lengths, and Sheriff Muir was last I It just looked a-s though Wolawa, Tadanga and Gold Brew had knocked up. and left themselves at the mercy of Sheriff Muir, who was on the stand side, and not exposed to tho head wind as the- other three were. The straight is all very well for 'big fields, but races like the Sires' Produce [Stakes and Aacotvalo Stakes should! be run [on the turn. People would be able to see I the races, and the form would be truer. [Anyway, I am quite sure that as far as I Wolawa is concerned the form was all wrong. Perhaps he wants waking up with a pair of spurs, just as Revenue did whon racing up the straight as a two-year-old. Possibly Sheriff Muir is good. He is a Wallace, and that is in his favour, but the probabilities are his victory here wa3 a fluke.

In reference to the leading English owner on the turf, it is announced that Lord Derby, who is at the head of the list of winning owners, recently paid a visit to the Royal Southern Hospital, in company with Lady Derby, and passed from ward to ward, a pleasant surprise awaiting them when they arrived at the children's quarters. Hero th 3 walls had been hung with the Earl's racing colours, with many "horseshoes" for good luck, and seated astride a wooden horse wa3 a little convalescent boy, who had been dressed in a jockey suit of the Derby colours. Lord and Lady Derby were greatly pleased, and the Earl at once promised to send the first stakes won by any horse of his on the turf next year to tho hospital, and meanwhile to send the children toys for Christmas. The turf is not quite the " iniquitous" institution which many ignorant people profess to suppose. It does an incalculable amount of good in many ways, and numerous charities have benefited l enormously through the generosity of those who have garnered in wealth on the racecourse. An owner who was a prominent member of the Stock Exchange some years ago invariably gave the stakes won by his horse to charitable institutions, and the late George Herring, who began life as a very humble racing l man, bequeathed vast sums to the hospitals.

The Mefbouniß " Herald," in the course of &n interview with the Caulfield veteran trainer, I. T. Carslake, remarks: —"In his early career as jockey and trainer, Carslake went under the name of " Tommy Jones." Bohemian, with whom he won the A.J.C. Metropolitan Stakes of ISBG, appears on the records as being owned by "T. Jones." Tom Kirk ran in the name of "Mt C. James when he took the Newmarket Handicap, but Cursla-ke sayß that the horses belonged to Mr £'. W. Prell, who promised that, it Tom Kirk won, lie would build Carslake the finest stables in Australia. Carslake was then Quartered at the Cricket Club Hotel, opposite the Albert Park gates, St Kilda. Three nights before the race there was a. terrific storm. In the morning it was discovered that the roof of the stable had blown off, and Tom Kirk was found standing in water a foot deep. To make matters worse, the rugs had slipped off. Carslake put a steambag under the horse's nostrils, but a slight cold developed, and Tom Kirk was knocked out in the betting. Nevertheless he won the Newmarket Handicap, and Carslake got the new stables, which cost £ISOO to erect. Subsequently a residence was added, and the establishment became known as 'St Sidwell's," after Carslake's birthplace in England. Many great winners have come from St Sidwell's'." NOTES. The weights for the Caa*ur.tmry Jockev Club's Great Easter aad Qrrtvt Autumn Handicaps made their appearance prompt to time on I'nday, ami since then they have formed a subject of considerable discussion among the experts. The weight allotted to Los Angelos has been a source of some difference of opinion. I have heard it argued strongly that the San Jrancisco gelding has received too much weight and that, ho might have been lot oft with a few pounds less, after his failures this season. Those who hold these viowis, however, appear to have .judged haotity and without cue regard tor the faots. Twelve months ago, with 9st 131b, Lou Angelos wra just beaten by Madam Madcap in ,he Great .Waster ' Handicap, and on t;io following day, wita 9st 91b ; he was close up third in ,the Great Autumn. A trip to Sydney in the spring brought him one win, and then he leturned to Riccarton. With 9st 31b he finished third in the New Zealand Cup, aud later in the 'meeting finished badly in the Stead Memorial Cup, though he was out witri the leaders during the first six furlongs- when the pace was partictilarly

hot. Going on to Auckland lie failed in tho Auckland Cup and ran third to Equitas and Bobrikoff in the Islington Plate. Since then he has had an easy time, and there is no reason for thinking that he will be any worse next month than lie was in November, when his New Zealand Cup chance was rated so highly. In his best form he is a rare good one, and T will bo prepared to find - him capable of running quite as well as he did in these two races last year. Considerable interest centred in the estimate that Mr Henrys would form of Counterfeit and Bronze, and in placing the Chokobore filly 21b above her North Island rival at seven furlongs, and lfft at a mile and a half, ho has not unduly flattered Counterfeit, who, in my opinion, would probably beat Bronze oven at a greater concession, taking a careful view of the season's form. In coining to this conclusion, I am influenced by the weights carried when Counterfeit won the Wellington Racing Club Handicap, and when Bronze was successful in the Wanganui Cup. Tam inclined to think, however, that both these fillies have received a full allowance of weight for what they InivP done this season. Royal Scotch, in tho Great Easter, is a three-year-old I have some regard for, more particularly in view of his fine effort in the Jackson Stakes. Dearest and Gipsy Belle are two speedy mares, but they are new well up in tho weights, and oil Wanganui Cup running Bronze is to be preferred to Dearest in the mile and a half event. Soldiers' Chorus is rated highly in the Great Easter, but has been let off very nicely over the longer journey, in which race. Undeoided appears to have received his full share of weight, taking a line through Dearest, whom he now meets on the same terms as in tho Wanganui Stakes. Midnight Sun and Masterpiece seem fairly treated in both events, though neither mav be brilliant enough for the seven furlong journey. Labour Do.y, on spring form, mast have a good "chance in either race, and Byron seems in his right place in the Great Easter, that being the distance that should sui, him better than the Great Autumn journey. Bonny Glen is well treated in the Great Autumn, and he appears to he quite sound at present, so lie must havo a chance. Taken on the whole, the weights seem to have been framed very carefully, and nothing stands out as specially -well treated.

I notice that Counterfeit still figures in the Great Northern Oaks, to be decided at the Auckland Racing Club's meeting at Easter. Under the conditions of the race she has earned a penalty of 101b, while some of the others still in the race can claim a maiden allowance. In view of the fact, however, that she is probably the only filly engaged with any credentials as a stayer, the weight would not seriously trouble her. I have not heard whether she is likely to be sent north, but Sir George Clifford may regard this as a favourable opportunity to get his name on the list of winners of a classic race in which he has not been represented in the past.

While admitting that I cannot find anything in either race that specially appeals to me as having received unduly lenient treatment, there is one horse whose handicapping I am at a loss to understand. I refer to tho three-year-old Heatherbrae. This filly first came into prominence in tho spring, when she won two races, against moderate opposition, at Timaru. Going on to Trentham in January, she won the Douro Cup, a six furlong hack race, in which she carried 7st 111b and won from Sanguinary Bst 41b, Sinapis Bst 111b, and nine others, of whom Odessa was top weight with 9st 41b. Having regard to the weight carried and the class of horses she met, this was not a performance to go into raptures aboutf. Just after that race Mr Henrys issued the weights for the Canterbury Jockey Club's Summer Meeting, and in the Filly Stakes, six furlongs, awarded Culprit lOst 31b and Heatherbrae 9st. Culprit ran second to Specialform, while Heatherbrae did not start. On the same day, however, she won the Trial Stakes, one mile, from Oratava and Aphaea, the three carrying even weights. I will allow that she won easily, but Oratava beat her for pace, and it was only in the closing stages that she drew away and gained the verdict by a length, according to my estimate. But it cannot bo claimed, surely, that there was anything specially brilliant oven in an easy victory over Oratava, who is now thrown into the Great Easter and Great Autumn at the minimum, ost 71b, whereas Heatherbrae has received Bst 21b, or 231b more, in the Great Easter, which is run over a furlong shorter than the race in which the pair met in February. As a matter of fact, taking the handicapper's own estimate of Oratava, there was no great merit in Heatherbrae's win in the Trial Stakes at the summer meeting at Riccarton. Now let us turn back to the Filly Stakes. In that race Culprit was set to give Heatherbrae 171b, and though 4th ey did not meet, and Heatherbrae in the meantime has only beaten a duffer, there is now cnly a margin of 51b between them over an extra furlong. It is not that Culprit has been specially favoured over the longer distance but that Heatherbrae has been raised right up to her. Going still further back, to the Donro Cup, Heatherbrae was receiving 211b from Odessa, who was made second favourite. He has won and run several other gocd races in hotter company since then hut now Heatherbrae is set to give him 61b, a difference of 271b for one heating, notwithstanding the subsequent consistent form of the beaten horse. When we turn to the weights for the Great Autumn Handicap, the weight allotted to Heatherbrae in the Great Easter becomes all the more difficult to understand. For the purpose of easy comparison T have taken out the weights awarded the three-year-olds which are encased in the two races, the list being as follow, 1 ? :

It will be seen that a drop of 2!b in the mile and a half race is the- general run, with the exception of two horses. One of. these, Byron, has failed several times over longer journeys, so the concession to him in the Great Autumn is not hard to justify. In the case of Ileatherbrne, however, I am completely at a loss to follow the line of the handicapoor's reasoning. At her last outing she w*n over a mile, going away at the finish ami apparently owing her success to the fact that, she outstayed Oratava. Yet Mr Henrys, while paying her a high compliment as a sprinter, has expressed a very decided opinion that she cannot stay a mile and a half. He may be right, hut he has certainly no form to go on to justify the wide difference in his estimate, over the two distances. 1 doubt if the filly has ever been tried further than a mile, but on wha£ we have seen of her at a mile it is a fair assumption, I should say, that she wiil run out a mile and a half. 11, then, sho is fairly handicapped for the longer journey, she is very much, over-weighted in the Great Easter. I notice, by the way, that sho still shares with Royal Scotch the position of Great Easter favourite. 1 have no knowledge of the programme that will be followed, but on the face of it I cannot help thinking that backers, without special information to guide them, would bo will to weigh

more carefully her relative prospects in the two events. The estimates formed by handicappers as to the merits of different horses make an interesting study at times, and the treatment, by Mr J. E. Henrys and Mr G. Morso of the horses which were nominated for events both at Riccarton and Ellerslie at Easter is worthy of notice. The following list .shows the position clearly, the three races under review being the Auckland Easter Handicap, one mile; Great Easter Handicap, seven furlongs; and Great Autumn Handicap, one mile and ahnlf:-

Thore are several striking differences of opinion here, but on the whole tliero is a general unanimity in the weights allotted by the two officials. The widest divergence occurs in the treatment of Domino and Miscount, Mr Mora© making Domino give 61b to Miscount over a mile, while Mr Henrys places Miscount 81b above Domino at seven furlongs and 21b at a milo and a half. Under the circumstances, it is not surprising to find Miscount an acceptor for Ellerslie, where Domino has also had his engagement continued, though this may not mean that he will race there in preference to Riccarton. where he is so much more favourably treated. TROTTING.

A decision arrived at by the Trotting Association at its last meeting ia hard to understand. During the interval between the last meeting and the previous one an application was recei/cd from F. Holmes for permission, under Rule 194, to attend the New Brighton Trotting Club's fixture. The opinions of members were taken and ii majority being in favour, the application was granted. Following on that, Holmes applied at the last meeting for a similar permission for all meetings during the period that his license was cancelled, but it was declined, Mr Nicoll alone supporting it. The action of Mr Nicoll was quite consistent, as was that of the members who opposed both applications. But I cannot say much for the consistency of those who, while supporting tho New Brighton request, opposed the general application which followed. It was a complete somersault, which the members concerned would find it hard to justify. In connection with the recent inquiry into the running of the Dunedin Cup at tho Forbury Park meeting, a member of the Trotting Association expressed a wish for enlightenment as to whether it was legitimate for a driver to pull out to let another horfee through on the rails. This brought tho response from another member that it was quite legitimate. The remarks struck me as strange, in view of the fact tkat a few years ago D. J. Price was disqualified for six months by the stewards of the Metropolitan Trotting Club, the grave charge against him being that he had pulled out to let another driver through on the rails. Yet now we nre told such a practice is quit© legitimate, and that by mem' hers of the governing body. Time does work changes and circumstances do alter cases occasionally. The committeo of the South Island Owners', Trainers' and Breeders' Association is busy drafting a Stallion Act, which will be placed before the members at Easter for discussion. Should the mombers approve of it the committee will nsk the support of the various agricultural associations in placing the question before Parliament. , Nominations are due to-night for the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's Easter meeting. The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club has acceded to the request of the Owners', Trainers' and Breeders Association for an office at the Addington course in which members of the Association may transact business during the progress of a race meeting. A conference, at which the committees of the three Christchurch clubs and their two handicappers were present, was held on Monday to consider the suggested system 'of handicapping brought forward by the Owners', Trainers' and Breeders' Association. I understand the new scheme did not find anv favour with the clubs. The Metropolitan track at Addington is in good order at present, and some interesting work is being done on it in view of the Easter meeting. Mr W. Begg. of Ashburton, has placed Lord Ashton, by Toronto— Katipo, in T. G. Fox's charge. I hear great accounts of a young trotter by Galindo, in J. Tasker's stable. lam told his equal has not been 6een in this island. W. Fox has Violet C going very well and staving much better than she did" formerly. She was rather unlucky at New Brighton, but, judging from the form she is showing on the track now, she may not be long before she wins a good race. Royal Ribbon, by Ribbonwood—Gingemut, is being handled by F. J. Owen, who has him looking well. I learn that A. Wilson has several very promising horses under his charge just now. Frances Y and Woodthorp Maid are recent additions to R. Allan's team.

lleka, by Rothschild—Flowerwood, shows great pace on the track, and with ordinary luck she would be a fine race mare. Unfortunately, however, she is ono of the unsound kind, and will not stand the necessary work. J. Tudhope t» working; a big string at present, among them being several young horses that show promise. The aged gelding lanto, by Matnbrino Abdallah—Ptarmigan, has been sold to a West Coast owner.

Mr M. Clarice has a couple of nice young horses moving along in good stylo on the traok.

Members of the South Island Owners', Trainers', aud Breeders' Association have, expressed pleasure to nib at Mrs R. 0. Duncan having joined their ranks. General satisfaction is felt by owners and trainers at the inclusion of a 2.18 mile event on the Easter programme of the Metropolitan Trotting Club. The opinion is freely held that the race will fill well and produce a good contest.

It is expected that the Ashburton owner. Mr H. F. Nicoll, will have a big team racing at Addincjfcon next month, at the Easter meeting of the Metropolitan Club. '.Hi? trotting events at the Waimate meeting last week attracted large fields. Bell Ruth, a big, upstanding Bellman gelding, hailing from Southland, was a strong order t'or the Morven Handicap, and with M'Kewen up he won all the way. "Wattlewood, by Wildmoor from Ribbon wood's dam, was a strong second favourite, but never settled down in the race. It is understood that ho is troubled with bad heels, and of course this would not help him to stride out These two horses carried the bulk of the money on the machine. A lot of money was, however, shut out and the race was half over before many of the public realised that the horses had left the mark. IXC.L. did not take long to get to the front in the Hook Handicap, in which thero "'as a good deal cf bumping as the field went round the sharp turn out of the straight. T. Frost met with a nasty accident on Saturday. He was driving home to New Brighton when his horse was startled and he was thrown violently from his trap. He sustained serious

injuries, which necessitated his removal to the hospital. Al Franz, by Franz—Al F., was gelded a few days ago. This horse has frequently shown great pace on the tracks and has more than once been marked off as a certain winner of a br; race, but his public form lias frequently been very disappointing, and the operation was decided on in the hope that it would bring about an improvement from a racing point of view. It should havo the effect of quietening him down., of which there was real need. As a racehorse he has certainly failed sadly to come up to expectation?, and it is, perhaps, doubtful, if he will ever show in public the great things his admirers clnim that he is capable of.

A near relative to Ribbonwood was recently sold to a North Tsland sportsmen at a satisfactory figure. I hear that a well-known local trainer contemplates another trip to America at an early date. If he goes I am prepared to find him bringing back a further addition to the list of American stallions now in New Zealand.

The resolutions recently passed by the South Island Owners', Trainers' and Breeders' Association concerning handicapping have attracted attention in Australia, and the Melbourne writer "Fritz." commenting on the subject, savs:—They are working very strongly in New Zealand towards introducing class racing, or at least sdeh a short handicap limit that will guarantee every race to be a contest in the widest "and best sense of the word, and with the large number of highclass horses at present racing over there the matter should not present the slightest difficulty. I only wish we had anything like the number over here, so as" to start this superior class of racing in Melbourne, and I feel sure that, when the system has once been given a trial in New Zealand, it will never be deoarted from. Developed trotters will put up contests if raced in class trots, and the public will pav to see this style of racing. It has been the strung-out procession we have often seen in the past that has tended to weaken the popular liking for the trotting horse, but in short limit harness races I can foresee the salvation of the sport, both m Melbourne and elsewhere.

Fast performances are becoming quite the rule in Australia, just as they are in New Zealand. At the last meeting of the New South Wales Trotting Club the Flying Handicap, one mile and a furlong, was won by Golden Pie, a five-year-old by Precaniny. in 2min 34sec, equal to 2min 17sec to the mile. Later in tho day Pock Boy, by Rock Huon. won the Epping Handicap, one mile and a half, in 3mm 33see. Chesterwood, who was conceding 2sec to the winner, being beaten by half a length. Vaunt, a well-known performer some years ago on Christchurch courses, comVieted in a three-mile handicap at Wagga, New South Wales. Ho started favourite, but though he showed beautiful action, he finished some distance back. It is worth noting that ho had travelled a distance of 510 miles, at a cost of £3O, to compete for a £65 prize. Vaunt furnishes another illustration of the hardiness of Vancleve's stock, as he is rising fourteen, the same age as Verax, another of the same tribe.

At the lasij -meeting of the Victorian Trotting Association seven clubs were f ranted registration, and applications rom nine others were held over.

The principal topic of conversation in trotting circles just now is the alleged " ringing-in " of tho well-known trotter Venture under the name of Nigger, savs the Sydney writer "Rothschild." With trotting horsemen from Sydney, where the horse is well known, travelling round the various trotting shows and raco meetings, it would hardly be believed that a horse such as Venture could secure eight or nine races before being bowled out. Were Venture a hobbled pacer it would not have been so remarkable, as it is not unusual for fast hobbled maidens to come along from'the country, but Venture is a square-gaited trotter of great individuality, and his sort do not grow on gum trees these times of hobbled pacers. "Nigger" even visited Melbourne and won a race, but that was his undoing, for the story of the dual character of tho horse reaching Mr John Wren, he decided to set the matter at rest, and deputed Mr Harry Knight, the Sydney trotting horseman, to visit Wagga last week and examine " Nigger," who was engaged in a three-miles event. Mr Knight duly attended the mooting of the Wagga Trotting Club, and when " Nigger " came out to do his preliminary prior to the race presented his credentials to the Race Committee, and the horse was called up for inspection. "Nigger's" tail had been banged, but tho banging did not prevent him carrying his tail on ono side, a peculiarity possessed by Venture, and, after a cereful examination, Mr Knight declared the horse to be Venture without the shadow of a doubt. All bo*v wore then declared off, and betting was started afresh, "Nigger" being disqualified. "Nigger," who holds a record of 2min 27scc to the mile for a mile and a half, was scratch in the Wagga event, which was on a 2min 45sec basis. It ha,s been whispered for some time past that "Nigger" and Venture were identical, and the rumour was brought under the notice of the New South Wale"; Trotting Club, which makes it strange that it was left to a Melbou no club to send across the border to decide the matter. When the matter was under discussion at Wagga, Mr Evans, the owner of "Nigger," was quite frank, and said he bought the horse eight months ago at Wagga Wagga as a maiden performer, and since then had won at Junce, Teniora and Melbourne. If the horse was Venture, he was unaware of it. Inferences to the matter were made at the settling, when the club's secretary said that he was a witness to the purchase receipt, which stated that " Nigger " had no better record than 3min, and if anything to the contrary was discovered the purchase money was to be refunded. He was satisfied Mr Evans was innocent of anything shady. Tho club, without in any way blaming him, had been compelled' to prevent the horso starting. Mr Evans said ho courted the fullest inquiry, and if the conditions had net been stated on the receipt he would not have had anything to do with the horse. A good deal of sympathy was expressed for Mr Evans, and a number of visiting sportsmen said they wore positive the horse was not Venture.

AMERICAN NOTES. Argot Wilkes, reoorJ 2min lljsec.'is already tho sire of nine pacers with records of 2min lOsec or better. Strong opposition is being put forward against the rule which wop■ passed last year by the American Trotting Association relating to the abolition nf hopples. _ The rule, as originally passed, provided for a gnidua! doinl; away " of the straps" and read as fo'lows :-- " Hopples shall not be '.used in races or performances against time on two-year-olds in 1010, on three-year-olds or under in 1911, on four-year-olds or under in 1912, on five-year-olds or under in Ittl.'l, on six-year-olds or under in 1914, niter -which date hopple.; are barred."

The New Zealand correspondent to the ''' Breeder and Sportsman.." states under date January 11 :—-Notwithstanding the prosperous times they have been having lately, the principal Canterbury trotting clubs have not given a commensurate increase in stake money. This has caused a lot of illfeeling in the ranks of owners, who, at a recent meeting, decided to boycott the next race meeting of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club, unless better prize-money he offered. Tt is quite likely that a compromise wi!! be effected. A strong agitation is being raised by many Kow Zealand owners of light harness horses in favour of free-for-all racing. They contend that there, are so many horses callable of going a mile between 2min losec and 2min 20sec that every big club should provide at least one free-for-all for this class of horses on its future programmes.

i-aster. Autuvn st lb st- lb Counterfeit . , . 9 5 9 3 Brot.'/e . . , . 9 1 9 2 Midnight- Sun , . 8 7 8 7 Masterpiece , , 8 .7 8 5 Miscount . 8 6 8 -1 Labour Day S •{ 8 2 Byron . , '. a 2 7 11 Heatherbrae . 8 '2 7 2 Drain, vn. . G 7 G 7

Auckland Great Great Easter. Easter. Autumn st lb at lb at Hi Los ! AngcloB . . 0 2 9 6 9 5 Dei ircst . 9 0 9 0 8 9 Vm deckled . 8 10 — 8 9 Gi r isy Belle . 8 10 8 12 _ Hoi •al Scotch . 8 10 8 13 — Mic bright Sun . a 8 8 7 8 7 Dm :nino . 8 8 7 12 8 2 Mif icount . 8 2 8 6 8 4 Tei nerile . 6 9 6 7 ft 7 Ti>i cetuma . 6 7 6 7