SPORTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10536, 10 August 1912, Page 5

SPORTING.

CM, a six-year-old English mare by Worcester —St Cicelv, waa among the winners at Cau'field ~n Julv 20.

The Riccarton light-weight jockey, G. Emerson, rods two winners at the Grafton meeting. New South Wales, last month. Irish Rifle was not brought south with The Native and Coronetted, and will therefore not make the final payment for the Winter Cup. It is stated that the old Musketry gelding ia to be spelled. It is probable that the Auckland trainer, J. Williamson, will take Hautere and Olta-i----hau to Sydney at the close of _ the- Grand National Meeting, to compete in the steeplechase events at the spring fixturo of the Australian Jockey Club. News from Sydney by this week's mail that Ermengarde and Bronzo have made good impressions on the Randwick track watchers, and as a consequence they have hardened in the market for the Epsom »nd Metropolitan Handicaps. According- to a Napier paper, Bobrikoff pulkd up lame after working at Napier Park recently, and it appeared at the time as if it was a serious breakdown. The trouble, however, was not of much consequence, for fee put up a satisfactory gallop a day or two afterwards. There seema a prospect of ft particularly • strong representation of New Zealand horses > being at Randwick for the spring meeting of the Australian Jockey Club. The latest horses mentioned in this connection are the steeplechaser Captain Jingle, and tb* tockJand hurdler Dunborve.

During last season Lady Medallist started fifteen times in Australia for three wins, of a total value of £4131, and as she earned another £1285 in, place money, Mr E. J. Craven nag reason to feel well pleased with the investment he made when he purchased the xnare from Mr J. B. Raid.

St Satyrus, a two-year-old by St Ambrose —Git&nella, carried 7at 10lb and won the '.Third Division Handicap at Aspendale Park, near Melbotirne, on July 34. Ob the sr.ruo day Raupar9, a five-year-old maro by Kiloheran—Moreze. Anished second to Miss Footbolt in the Second Division Handicap. F. Macrnaneniin, the trainer of the Auckland horao Bully, was unable to accompany the horse to Riccartc i, and Bully's preparation for the Grand I,'ational Hurdle Handicap and other engagements at the approaching meeting of tie Canterbury Jockey Club will be completed under the direction of M H^bba.

The well-known Australian rider, F. Bum, declares Bribery to be the best jumper he las ridd-en. He preferred Bribery to Grafnax, becaum> Bribery would go wherever one desired, and as fast or slow aa the jockey demanded. Grafnax, on the other hand, had to be allowed to run his own iacß to a largo extent.

The slump in racing still continues in New York, and Mr J. B. Haggin shipped thirty-six ye"arlings for the Newmarket July Bales. They are sired by Watercress. Waterboy, Star Ruby, Toddington, and other lamous Elmendcrrf stallions, and are said to bo one of the best consignments sent across ihe Atlantic.

The Teport that Tui Cakobau had stopped b hia schooling work at Riccarton did not iau°e any surprise in Auckland, says •Whalebone," for the son of Cuirassier bus never schooled in Auckland as if he uliehed it. Tui Cakobau does not shirk his fme.es when racing, although he does not junp proficiently, Conflicting accounts are to hand concernbig The Rover, a prominent candidate for the Uand National Hurdle Handicap, who is ionpleting his preparation at Foxton. One report states that he ia progressing well in his Work, while another says he has shown sight signs of soreness, but that the trouble ft not regarded seriously. Many people wondered, says a Wellington writer, why Uranium was pulled up after going about five furlongs ond a half in tho Final Hurdle Handicap on tho concluding day of the Wellington meeting. The faots are that her rider (Futcher) lost both of his stirrup-irons as the field left the barrier, and ■was unable to recover them. The Coronation Stakes, a valuable race for three-year-old fillies at the Asoot meeting, was won by Polkerris, by Polymelns— Knobkerri. Thk was her first She started only once as a two-year-old, finishing second to Belleislo in the Cheveley Park Siakes at Newmarket last October, on which occasion Tapralio was third. As a result of the running at Ascot, the jpinion was expressed that the English three-fear-old form w»s in a greater tangle than fiveir. In the meantime nothing of that age* seems to stand out particularly this season, and tho opinion is freely expressed, _as is frequently the case under such circum■tanoes, that they are a moderate lot. Latest news from India suggests that T. Bcott does not intend to keep the Calibre gelding 'Gunboat, as soon after his arrival it was announced that he was for sale. This will coma aa a..surprise in Australia, where his form last season led good judges to think that he would ba a very dangerous candidate for the Viceroy's Cup at the end of this year. It is reported that if B. Deeley does not remain in Australia he will, on his return to New Zealand, accept a retain«r from the Highden stable. This does not me«n that A. Oliver's sorvioes are to be dispensed with, but., owing to his increasing weight, it is hnpoflsihle for him to ride lighter than Sat 31b while D»eley can go to scale * atone lighter. Prince Palatine, the Ascot Gold Cup winner, was bred by Mr W. Hall Walker, who iiold him privately to his present owner for 1000 guineas. Id2noru was leased by the late King Ed»»rd from Mr Walker, when ho won< the "Derby, so that it can be ? said of Mr Walker that *e bred a Derby and St Leger winner, nei&*t of whom carried his own :olours. On the flnfU day of the Ascot meeting, Lord Derby's four-year-old Stedfaat, by Chauxer—Be Sure, had an easy win in the Hardiriche Stakes, *no mils and a half. That was iris fourteenth successive victory since he finished stfeon*? .%c i'unirtsr in thi" TVrby last year, but a f*W weeks later the St Leger winner. Prince Palatine, beat him at even weights in tl"« Sandown Park Eclipse Stakes. A well-known jockey who applied for his riding license for the ensuing season, was told hy ths «ommittee of the Victoria Racing' Club to send in another application at he end of three months. The application of mother well-known jockey has yet to be dealt with by the committee of the Victoria Racing Club, and some rather sensational rumours in connection therewith are in circulation. The well-known trainer, A, M. Robertson, who for many years was located at Ellerslie, but who has been on a health trip to Australia for the past few months, returned to Wellington by Wednesday's Sydney boat, writes " Glencoo " in the " Dominion." Ho •wjll leave on a visit to his relatives at Wanganui. Judging by conversation yesterday, there is every probability of Robertson settling, at Tientham Mr E. Hulton's two-year-old colt Shogun, by, ■ Santoi—Kendal Ballo, followed up his puccess in the Woodoota Stakes at Epsom by running away with the Coventry Stakes >t Ascot. Two days later, in the New Stakes, be was beaten by Craganour, a Desmond ♦jolt, who was making his first appearance, and who was receiving 101b from Shogun. No two-year-old has yet succeeded in winning these two races at Ascot

J; Stewart, who has been m New Zealand (or some time, after a lengthy residence in Australia, will return to the Commonwealth in time to ride at the Australian Jockey Drab's Spring Meeting. He will pilot John in the Grand National Hurdle Handicap at Ricoartan this month, and he evidently thinks highly of his mount, whom he recently described as the best jumper he had ever ridden, with the exception of the Australian torso.' The Reckoning. In tho Victoria Grand National Steeplechases of the last fourteen years, altogether 914 horses have started, and of these 139 have completed the course. Tho best jumping revolt was last year, when 11 of the 14 starters finished, and not a fall was registered. The three who failed to get round either baulked •r ran off. When Grafnax won, eight of the 17 starters finished, and in Bribery's year, with a similar number of runners, 12 got >crand without accident. A Melbourne exchange has got slightly gsixed over the New Zealand Grand Nationals, as is shown by the following paragraph:—Weights have bscn io,?ued for the New Zealand Grand National Hurdle Race laid Steeplechase. Te Arai is top weight for the Hurdle Race, with 12st 71 b. while Continuance heads the list of handicaps for the Steeplechase, with a similar impost. Continuance is also in the Hurdle Race, and has but 4lb less than Te Arai. Discussing the chances of Paritutu in the Grand National Steepleohase, a well-known Wellington sporting man gave it as_ his apinion, says " Glencoo " in the " Dominion," that the Castor gelding is a better horße now than he was twelve months ago, and has done a much better preparation this yea* than last, when be was more or less unfound. There is, no doubt, a good deal in this statement. It was noticeable that, after ■ohooling at Trentham, the old fellow was then given a couple of solid rounds on the grass track. The French Oaks, run shortly before the last mail left England, was won by Qu'elle est Belle 11., from M. Edmund Blanc's filly Porte Maillot. The result of the raoe gave rise to much discusaion. for it appeared that Porte Maillot would win easily, but for some reason the jockey Btopped riding, and this enabled Qu'elle est Belle 11. to get up and beat her by a short head. Hobbs, the rider of Forte Maillot, admitted after the race that be had mistaken the winning-post, whioh accounted for his action in ceasing to ride, and hia license was withdrawn.

The team to represent Mr E. J. Watt at the spring meeting of the Australian Jockey plliU. *n* "Miiofa wall ha on

August 12, will consist of Midnight Sun, Theodore, Roya! Scotch and Kildonan, while the Australian-bred three-year-old. Ventura, may bo sent over a little later. It was at first intended to include the two-year-old colt Jason, by Achillea—Stepina. but it was deemed inadvisable to do much travelling with such a young horse, and ho wi! : be left at home for "ow Zealand engagements.

Tho American colt Tracery, by Rock Sand —Toi-iory. who hist beat the King's colt, Pirtadeau. for third place in the Derby, won th* St James Palace Stakes at Ascot, Sweeper 11., winner of tho Two Thousand Guineas bein:r second. On the last day of the meeting the Triennial Stakes was won by an outs.dor, Hector, with Sweeper 11. a?aui second, and Jjieger, the ravmer-up for the Two Thousand Guineas and Derby, in third place. Hector is by St Amant, winner of the Derby in 1901, his dam, Hecuba, being by Ifonomy—Helen of Troy, by Hermit. Hector, whore previous form was moderate, is a half-brother to Picton, who finished second to Spearmint in the Derby in 1906. The feature of the snorting world on July 23 (says the Melbourno " Asre") was th? launching on the market of a commission in favour of Bobadea for the Melbourne CupBobadep, who is at present a five-year-old bav horse, by Bobadil—Ardea, is engaged in th" Melbourne Cup at 7st 121b, a nice handy weight for a sis-year-old of his calibre. Tho commission when completed represented by for tho greatest amount of money stood to be won on a single horse for very many year."!. Bobadea, who is owned by Mr TL S. M'Leod. the a c '3iimed name which hides the identity of a membsr of the committee of th? Victoria Racing Club, is trained at Caulfield by Charles Wheeler, and is « stable companion of last year's winner, The Parisian. Mr E, J. Watt, who did so well with "Ventura in the early- part of the last Australian season, is said to have arother promiwng youngster in work at Randwick in a colt by Trnquair from Aiajoel, by Ouidois, a Fon of Albany, that won the Canterbury Welcome Stakes. The colt will race under the name of Athenic, and on breeding it would not be surprising to find him an early winner. The Trr-quairs were Ftnart in their first season, and Albany, the sire of Onideis (a good two-year-old) p.'so got Fir?t Lord, Forbury, Nonsense, Ruby, Disowned, On Bit, Mischief, Maligner. Day Dream and Whisper. Mr Wt>tt has also p. smart youngster in Concordic*, a son of Prudent King and another, a Charlemagne 11. colt, named Pantheon.

In making some comment on the deprecatory remarks by Tod Sloan iu respect to the horsemanship dipplayed by English riders, Mr John Corlctt had the following: —" Turning to the file of the ' Sporting Times ' for 1899, we see that we plumped for Muaa foT $0 Oaks and she won at long 1 odds, beating the odds-on favourite Sibola. with Tod Sloan on her back. 'Tod' wa3 never associated with 'modest stillness and humility,' and reading the remarks he is reported to have made last week concerning' English jockeys, -wo call to mind his 'clucked away' race on Sibola, which, despite a bad start, ought to have been won by many a length. Ho was placed in much tie same position that Lord Clifden was in the St Leger, and lacked the patience of John Osborne."

The death is reported from the north of the brown horse Soultiform, writes " Glencoe "in the " Dominion." It appears that he was recently injured in a rather unaccountable manner at Ellerslie, where he had been taken to race at the June meeting. It was suspected at the time that foul play had been responsible for the injury, but .nothing could be proved in this direction. The horse failed to mend, blood-poisoning supervened, and the end was not long in coming. It was said that, had he got right again, he would have accompanied Lady GooTgia to Sydney in chargo of T. Wilson. Soultiform was a greatly boomed horse, and nearly always started favourite in his races. He failed time after time, but still backers would not desert him. Last season he was taken to Melbourne, but was beaten there ae he was in New Zealand. He then went lame, and wag returned to New Plymouth, where he was spelled. Subsequently he was taken to Ellcrslio, to race on tho third day of the meeting, but once more he failed to reach the post.

When Stedfast won the Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal Ascot, meeting in June it was the horse's fourteenth consecutive viotory. In most of the races Wootton had tho mount, and. in reference to this, an exchange says that when it was decided to secure a lighter jockey for tho Stanley House stable this year Lord Derby desired that Frank Wootton should not think that any slur was oost upon himself, so as an earnest of this he told Wootton he should ride throughout 1912 the best horse be had in his etable, and that Wootton should have hia choice. Wootton choss Swynford, and when Swynford went wrong Lord Derby gave the jockey another choice, and he chose Stedfa3t. Wootton has. been riding at his best this year, and at the conclusion of the Windsor meeting stood first in the list of winning jockeys with fifty-four brackets to his credit, but, like most Australians, he is of the genus " Cornstalk," and growing so fast that it is only by hard work that he is able to go to scale at Sai 61b. For such a youth his career b:is been nothing short of phenomenal.

Referring . to F. Wdotton's suspension this season for getting out' of position at the start of a race, tha London " Evening Standard" aays:— The starting gate is a very awkward piece of machinery to work, end under the present system a pons asinorum. Hitherto Mr Coventry has shown too much latitude to jockeya when manoeuvring to get the better of each other behind the gate. His reporting of Frank Wcotton and A. Duller at Kernpton Park for exchanging positions at the start waa a atop in the right direction, and stewards should follow the dictum laid by Colonel Baird during his term of office as steward of the Jockey Club, that jockeys during a race shou'd keep their positions without they have obtained a sufficient lead to cross. The suspension of Wcotton should have a chastening effect on jookeys who for several years past have been presuming on their supposed positions. In the old days their employers kept them m their proper place; nowadays many of the newcomers to racing not only dine and wine them, but take them on ysohting trips." Apropos r* the j r-'pc* increase to the money attached to the Champagne Stakes, it is worthy <A note that winners of the race have seldom made any other appearance at our Cup meetings, writes " Sentinel," in tha " Otsgo Witness." At times practically what has b:t}c a walkover has been responsible for the*reappearance of one or two, but. as a rule the stakes given on the concluding days of the meeting have not b:<cn sufficient to get them cut of their boxMensohikoff won the first Champagne Stakes decided p.t Wingatui, and he furnishes the only onse in which the winner of the race has appeared on each d«y of 1 the meeting. He had a walkover on the second day, find on the third Goldrpur was the only one that pursued him home. Vladimir, Stronrrho'td, G-lenowlet.' and Lfldy Landon were Champagne Stakes winners that appeared twice at their respective Cup meetings, but since the last-no.med won we have jiot lied the pleasure of seeing the winner again carrying l silk at the meeting. It thus seems obvious that the races for which two-year-olds pre eligible on the second and third days of the meeting •are lacking in some respect. In all probability it is their financial aspect. An important decision wac reoently given by the committee of the Victoria Racing Club. At a meeting of the Victoria Amateui Turf Club on June 22. the stewards were not satisfied with the running of Itecaller in the Cambria Welter Handicap, the result of an inquirv being that they disqualified the horse,. his owner (E Eccles), trainer (P. Guinane). and jockey (H. Cairns), for twelve months for pusnicious practices. The Victoria Racing Club confirmed the disqualifications, except that of the trainer, whose case was referred bnok to the stewards. Further inquiry followed, Guinane alleging (hat he knew no thing of the instructions given to the jockey, the owner having been solely responsible. Th(- appeal has now been fi":>Mv settled the finding of the committee of the Victoria Racing Club being as follows: —"In view of the fact that the statement of Guinsno that ha was not consulted in regard to the running of Reoallsr in the Cambria WelW, on Jun9 '23,. and that ho was not of th? instruc tions given <o the rklcr, is supported by the evidenca adduced, the committee is not satisfied as to Guinane's complicity in the matter, and, consequently, gives him the benefit of a reasonable! doubt and upholds the appeal." NOTES. A few days ao;o a friend put forward a suggestion with regard to the Grand National Steeplechase which I confess was quite novel to me. He was discussing the prospects of next Tuesday's race, and he proceeded to eliminate' several of the candidates from his calculations, on the ground that they had never raced previously over the Riccarton country. When pressed for a reason, he urged that the records of the race wore all against horses which were making their first appearance in a steeplechase at Riccarton. At first I was disinclined to take much stock in the theory, but subsequently I spent a little time seaching up facts, and I found the result quite interesting. Going back to 1900, which was as far as I troubled about, I found that The Guard, Gobo, Haydn, Awahuri, Slow Tom and Inniskillen, who won in successive years, were making their first ».Di>earaiice over tbe Riccarton Grand

National country. Following them came five winners to demonstrate the other sick? of the argument, as Phaetoutis. Eclnir, Eurus, Nadador and Te Arai had all tried the fence prior to succeeding in the Grand National Steeplechase. The beginners had another turn last year, when Paritutu succeeded at his first attempt. He had, of course, raced many times previously in flat and hurdle ei r ents on the Ilicarton course, but never over fences, though he had tried Eilerslie and Treuthain fences before taking on the Grand National. It will be seen, therefore, that no hard and fast rule can be laid down on the subject, the novices, as a matter -of fact, having the advantage, taking the last twelve contests. # For the benefit _of those who may be disposed to attach any importance to this point, I have looked up the performances .of all the horses claiming engagements in this year's Grand National Steeplechase. Of the twenty horses remaining in the field, Sir Lethe, Paritutu, Captain Jingle, Silver Blaze and Flamingo have won over Riccarton fences, either in open or hunting company; Glenmore has twice run into a place; Antarctic has been placed once; and The Gunner has a failure in last year's Grand National against him. The remainder of the horses comprising the field, consisting of Continuance, Hautere, Black Northern, Compass, Hawick, Armagh, Master Paul, Tyrannic, Tui Cakobau, .Zante, Te Tua and The Spaniard, will be trying the country for the first time in next week's race.

Th. reduction of the Canterbury Jockey Club's racing days in order to benefit the Rangitikei Racing Club has not given rise to much adverse criticism in the north., where the sympathies are with the Rangitikei Club, on the ground that it was badly used in ever losing its permits- The subject was discussed last week by " Phaeton," in the " Auckland' Weekly News," as follows: —lt was anticipated that there would be a very shrill outcry in Canterbury against the action of the Minister- of Internal Affairs in cutting a day off the Canterbury Jockey Club iu order to provide for the reinstatement of the Rangitikei Racing Club. This has been duly recorded, and, in addition, our southern friends predict quite a largo amount of troublo for the Government in their handling of the totalisator permit question. The comments of the southern writers would, however, have carried far greater weight had there not beeu so complete a shutting of the eyes to the strong claims of the Rangitikei Racing Club. Probably the necessary day to provide for Rangitikei might have been obtained from another quarter less deserving than the Canterbury Jockey Club to consideration, for the point has to be admitted straight away that the southern body has always played a leading part in the turf affairs of the dominion; and it can also be stoutly contended that their programmes are framed on a high standard. The fact that the midsummer meeting held annually at Riccarton has never attained very much importance was, no doubt, the outstanding feature encouraging the Minister of Internal Affairs when out in search of a day for Rangitikei to reduce the metropolitan body's permit for that gathering. The authorities of the Canterbury Jockey Club could, no doubt, advance sound reasons to be left at the old level, especially as the Auckland Racing Club was one in advance of that body, so far as the number of totalisator bermita is concerned. Possibly the Canterbury writers may be right in the assumption that there is a lot of trouble ahead for the Government on tho totalisator permits Question. But such a prediction might nave been advanced under any circumstances. There are, we know, people who, if they were granted the limit in permits, would still be prepared to lend a hand in storming the Government, and then again the important little fact has to be borne in mind that the growth of settlement in the up-country districts may be depended upon to bring in fresh applications. ~ That sooner or later the number of permits will be increased by Parliament may, I think, be regarded as pretty certain; and when such come to be_ allotted the small country clubs, with only one day's seeing a year, will, there can be little doubt, take good care to have their claims put forward. That, of course, does not mean that the Canterbury Jockey Club will not speedily set back the permit of # which they have this year been deprived. • D. J. Price has been singularly unfortunate in connection with important events since he took up training in Victoria. On several occasions he had anticipations of success in big _ races, but has usually found something in the way at the finish. He has been particularly unlucky in jumping races. Bribery has eer- ! tainly credited him with two valui able races, but the ex-New Zealander 1 had exasperating luck when Ataahua at the last hurdle in the Victoria j Grand National Hurdle Handicap, and ! again when Bribery finished second to ! Confederate, to whom he was giving ' nearly three stone, in the Australian | Steeplechase three years ago. On Saturday, in the Australian Hurdle Handicap, .Price had another unfortunate experience, Wimmera, who probably started a hot favourite, being beaten by a neck. To those who remember Wimmera's form on the flat and over hurdles in Ney? Zealand, he did seem well in on Saturday with 103t 71b. Ft is possible the long journey found him out, but one must conclude that Oxbridge is a good horse to beat Wimmora at even weights. The only other explanation is that our New. Zealand form is moderate, as Mr E. J. Watt's gelding would have been pretty near the top of the list had he been engaged in the Grand National Hurdle Handicap at Riccarton next week. Uxbridge had earned a victory, in a big race, as at the meeting of the Victoria Racing Club last month he finished second to Wingarara .(beaten by a length) in the Grand National Hurdle Handicap, and second to Bullnwarra (beaten by a head) in tho Doutta Galla Hurdle Handicap. It was announced recently that the ex-Riccarton jockey, T. Cahill, would have the mount on Wimmera in tho Australian Hurdle Handicap, and some surprise was felt when the cable message gave another ex-New Zealander, C. O'Neill, as the rid-er. The explanation is to be found in the fact that a week earlier (at Moonee Valley) i Cahill incurred the displeasure of the [ stewards, and was disqualified for twelve months for suspicious practices. The trouble, occurred in the Hurdlo Race, in which ho was riding Joe, a horse recently purchased by Mr J. Loughlin, well known in New Zealand as jockey, trainer, owner and bookmaker, but who has h°en in Australia for some time past, combining ownership with bookmaking. Notice of appeal was given against the disqualifi-.: cation. A telegram from Melbourne appearing in a Sydney paper discussed the incident aa follows: Why Warwidgerie should have gone out favourite and Jco been at an outside price iJr the hurdle race at Moonee Valley, puzzled many people. When he was made favourite for the Keilor Hurdle Race at Fleniingtori, Wurwidgerio cut up badly, and though ho shaped better in the Leamington Hurdle Race at Caullield. ho was yet unequal to a place, while Joe, on the other hand, won a ra€e in good style at Moonee Valley, subsequently ran second at Williamstown and Caulfield, and, with list 21b up. he finished a long way in front of Warwidgerie in the Keilor Hurdle Race. Compared with the weights carried in that event, both Joe and Warwidgerie were down 61b at

Moonee Valley. Joe, who was recently purchased at" auction by Homo Rule's owner (J. Loughlin) for :2 TO guineas, ran badly. lie was always among the rear division, and showed none of the dash that iie did in his previous races in Melbourne. . The stewards commenced an inquiry into Joe's running as soon as the race "was over, and eventually decided to disqualify, for twelve montus, the- gelding, as well as the owner (J. Louehlin), and the rider (T. Csunll). The'owner notified the stewards that ha intended to appeal to tlio committee of the Victoria Racing Club against tiie verdict. Cahill rode Winnuera to victory at Caulfield the previous Saturday, and hud been engaged to ride the same horse in the Australian Hurdle Race. Unless the committee of the \ ictona Racing Club uphold Louehira s apnea J, or the oase is stili pending, Homo Rule will not be eligible to run in the Australian Steeplechase. Warwidgem shaped a little better than Joe a\> Moonee Valley, but was still never dangerous. The race proved a good thing fcr Fiddlestrine, who is engaged in the Australian Hurdle Race with lOst .lb. The Goodwood Cup, which was decided last week, is one of the leading longdistance events in England, but it is never likely to prove a serious rival to the Ascot Gold Cup, which is run under straight-out weight-for-aga conditions, whereas at Goodwood the provisions regarding penalties and allowances frequently keep the best performers of the year out of the field, or contribute to their defeat by moderate opponents with a big pull in the weights, rudibardine, the latest winner, raced only once as a two-year-old when he finished second to the Persimmon —Dame d Or colt in the Tattersall's Sale Stakes at Doncaster. Last season he opened out by beating ten moderates in the Biennial' Stakes at Newmarket, and the following day, when a hot favourite, he was beaten by Master Wild in a three-year-old race run over a mile. At Ascot he was again favourite when beaten into third place in the Triennial Stakes for three-year-olds, and his last effort for the season was to finish a long way back in a welter handicap at Manchester. A few weeks ago at Ascot he- won the Triennial Stakes, for four-year-olds, King William Being second. A report of. the race says: "In the straight King William drew to the front, followed by Tullibardine, and had apparently won his race, but a hundred yards from the post shirked his task, and, swerving towards the stands, Tullibardine got up to win by two lengths." Another reference to the race concluded with the remark that King William " must be one of the most ungenerous horses in training. That is the reputation King William has had for a long time. In the Derby last season he was looked on as the better of Lord Derb* ~ pair, F. Wootton taking the mount on him, but he ran badly, while his stable companion, Stedfast, finished second to Sunstar. A fortnight later he re-established himself in favour by winning the Ascot Derby, after which he ran third to Swynford and Lemberg in the. Princess of Wales Stakes. Then followed three victories in small fields against moderate opposition. As a result he was sent out a strong favourite for the St Leger, but once again failed, finishing up a poor third to Prince Palatine and Lycaon, and he let his supporters down once more in the Liverpool Autumn Cup, in which he finished fourth. He has the reputation of being a great galloper when in the humour; hut his record in public is decidedly in and out. Tootles had some useful form to her credit last season. She only won one race, but she ran into a place in good company several times. She finished second to Cherimova in the Oaks, and filled a similar position twice later in the season behind Hairtrigger 11., who, after being third in the Oaks, put up some first-class performances over a distance.

J TROTTING. The August meeting of the New Zealand. Metropolitan Trotting Club will be commenced at the Addington oourse on Monday, and will be continued on Wednesday and Friday. The recent spell of wet weather has completely upset the arrangements of trainers, who have experienced groat difficulty, in view of the sloppy state of the tracks, particularly the Addington one, in getting their horses fit. From this point of view the New Brighton trainers have had a big pull, whilst the West; Coast horses have also had a better opportunity of getting into good racing condition. Under the circumstances, I am afraid we will not have any record-breaking performances, such as we witnessed a year ago, when King Cole, to mention one, covered two miles In 4.31. There is every prospect, how- | ever, that the fields will be large, and 'vthe sport should be interesting. Since I the enow cleared off on Saturday-night, the weather has been delightful, and with a continuation of these conditions for the remainder of this week, the track should be in fine order by Monday. Last week I referred to some uorninaI tions for the August meeting of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club as having; been made after the time announced for closing the lists. 1 learn now that I inadvertently fell into an error, and incidentally did the office I staff an injustice. I have since been informed that tho nominations' to which T took exception were handed in at ten minutes to eight. They were, however, all made out on one nomina-tion-form, instead of in the • custom adopted by the club, of having each day's nominations on a separate form, this being done to facilitate the work of I the staff. The trainer was requested to ' make out fresh copies in the approved style, and it was this copying which occupied him till so long after eight o'clock. The original form, I learn, was all the time in the hands of the secretary. I learn that the committee of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trott'ng Club has decided to give £6OOO in stakes durinc the three days of the November meetinsr. This is en increase of £330 over Inst year's total, which was £5670. T have not heard details of the increases, but T exoect the proaromme will be made public shortly. The Now Zealand Trotting Association would, .ordinary conditions, have met to-day, but the meeting has been postponed for a week nnd will be held on the evening cf Wednesday, August 14.

I hear that R. M'Millan, who went to America a short time ago, on what was at the time believed to be a trip in which business and plea ore were to bo combined, has made several purchases, and that he may be expected to leave on his return journey in a few weeks.

Among the winners at the last meeting of the' MeHiourne Trotting Club were Lndy Edna, by Mauritius— Street Nell: Polly Almont, by Almont —Polly: and Ebony wood, by Ribbonwood—Patience. Several horses well-known in New were competitors at the last meeting* of the Melbourne Trotting Club. These included Acrobat, Wheel of Fortune, Valour and Vaunt. Sparkling Bells., a three-year-old colt by Abbey Bells—Twinkle, who won the £IOOO trot at Richmond, Melbourne, some time ago, gave another sample of his speed by winning two races on the same course at the last meeting of the Melbourne Trotting Club, starting favourite on each occasion- In the Flying Mile he began very badly, and long odds were at ono part of the race against him. However, once he got into his pace he cut down the leaders in attractive style, and won handsomely from Lively Bells and Rosewood. Both first and second horses are sons of Abbey Bells. Reappearing in the concluding mile and a half trot, they again finished first and second ahead of nine good class horsey. Sparkling Bells was penalised 50yds for his earlier success, and only conceded Lively Bells a start of five yards. K. Smith, a sixteen-year-old native of Carlton, was astride the dual winner.

While J. M. Ferguson, a prominent American reinsman, was driving Dot M'Kinney to victory in a trotting event at Santa Cruz, United States, on June 30, he fell dead from his sulky within a few yards of the finish-

irig line (says an exchange). Ferguson was one of the best-known horsemen in California, was also a veterinary surgeon of some note, as well as being one of the promoters of the Santa Cruz Driving Club. Mr R. 0. Duncan has presented an enlarged photograph of the champion pacing stallion King Cole to the Forbury Park Trotting Club. As a mark of the appreciation in which he'regarded the sporting recognition which the Forbury Park Trotting Club accorded Emmcline's successful assault on time, her owner, Mr R. M'Donneli, asked the club to accept an eninrf:.jd and handsomely-framed photograph of the crack pacer. The pictu.ro will be hung in the stewards' room at Forbury Park.

Nominations closed last week for the Melbourne Trotting Derby, of 1000 sovsj for three-year-old trotters and pacers, to be decided on the Richmond course, Melbourne, in March, 1914. Mr R. 0. Duncan, the Christchurch agent for the club, received the following nominations:—Mrs 11. 0. Duncan's b. f by Abbey Bells—Jessie; Mr W. Kerr's bo by Wildwood Junior—D.l.C.. b i by Wildwood Junior—Gertie, and hlk c bv Wildwood Junior—Sybil; Mr N. L Price's b f by King Cole—General Tracy maro; Mr R. M'Donnell's b f by Rothschild—lmperialism; Mr 11. Donnelly's b a 1 by Lord Elmo—Tlam ; and Mrs Bush's b f bv Galindo—R.edruth. The Galindo—Redruth filly is a trotter, and the other seven are pacers. A third person has come under the ban of the stewards of the New South Wales Trotting Club in connection with f-.he Coral Hue ringing-in case. R. Beckett, who became possessed of the horse when brought to Sydney from New Zealand, and sold it and re-pur-chased it several times, has been disqualified for two years for alleged cor rupt practices. The two other disqualifications and of the hcrse were for life. Mr Beckett, who declared that ho took the precaution to inform those who had dealings with him of the identity of the horse, that it could not be raced in imy other name, and that he merelv disposed of it as a bupgy horse, stated that he would appeal against the stewards' judgment. Another man who was mentioned as having recently owned the horse in Queensland is said to have gone to Calcutta. " Drivers must be properly and neatly dressed." That is one of this year's mandatory American Trotting Association rules. Another important rule is, "a driver shall not drive a horse in the race without personal knowledge as to the eligibility of the horse to compete in ths vnd contest." L. H. Todhunter's handsome Pete? the Great yearling colt, which James Thompson and John Splan selected in Kentucky for him, arrived at Sacramento last week, and is the centre of attraction there, says a recent American exchange. Every horseman who has inspected him declares he is one of the finest proportioned individuals for his ago he has seen, and if nothing happens he will be one of the best stallions ever brought to California. So well pleased wnth him was Robert M'Millnn, of Christchurch, New Zealand, that on the following day he packed his suit case and said " Goodbye ! I'm going to Kentucky to see if there are any more like him there. If there are, and the prices asked are not too high, you can look for some of them to accompany me to New Zealand. I expect to return to California in about sis weeks with a few others besides thoso T buy which are sired by Peter the Great. I want to see Mr Splan, and may take a run up to Detroit to the races ere I return. I did not think I- would go, but after talking with Jim Thompson and hearing about the 'boys' I knew in years gone by, and seeing that colt, I determined to drop everything and go."

AMERICAN NOTES. (From Latest Exchange's.) The Texas State Fair, to be held at Dallas, October 12-23, so far as harness racing is concerned, will be of Grand Circuit calibre, with its four purses of 2500 dollars and two of 5000 dollars, entries to which close July 1. Uhlan, although he can trot rings around The Harvester, is not as much admired by the Russians. A handsome offer for High Admiral (2.073) has been made by Russian parties, and respectfully declined. The man who takes a great colt or horse and educates it to trot is entitled to a great deal more credit than the trainer who takes a horse after he is gaited and simply develops his speed. Lou Billings lias been bred to The Harvester, writes our Russian correspondent. How will this sound: Bay colt by The Harvester (2.01), dam Lou Billing (3, 2.085) by John A. M'Kerron (2.04J); second dam Lou Dillon (].sßi)?_" Breeder and Sportsman." Bon Vivant (3) 2.10}, by Bon Voyage 2.08, is at Sivorno, Italy. The way to increase the earning capacity of the trotter—train him. Ben Walker says he has three " green " pacers at Pleasanton that are 2.10 or better performers. Elbert Hubbard says "it is better to be standard by performance than by breeding." Bitter is the disappointment of that owner who expects his trotter to get in racing condition with only thirty days' training. Fred C. Thomas, compiler of the " New Zealand Trotting Stnd Book " cables he will be here July 11, as he left Wellington June 21. Mr Thomas has acted as correspondent for the " Breeder and Sportsman " for some time, and is one cf the best-po6ted horse authorities in Australasia.

Harry Hersey, the driver who has ridden more miles in 2.00 or better than all othc -'nsmen put together, will train seven horses for Sterling R. Holt, of Indianapolis. Mr Holt made arrangements with Harry last week, and the trainer will begin work at Indianapolis on July 1. The racing association that insists upon sixteen entries before declaring a purse race filled, never has and never will be popular with owners, trainers and friends of the trotter and pacer. This is tie joking matter, for there may be found' associations following this plan, and they keep on trying to do business.

Walt Ma"on tells of an Emporia man who recently shipped a valuable horse from Sabetlia. Kansas. " Ordinary refreshments weren't good enough for this hitch-bred animal,"" cays Walt, "so the man fed it rolled oats and shredded wheat biscuit, and gave it distilled water to drink, with the result that the horse has been sick ever since it reachr-'d Emporia." If tho horse's shoulders should show signs of becoming sore, the skin being unbroken, a very good application ia sulphate of zinc, one-half an ounce: sugar of lead, one-half an ounce, and water, one quart, and an excellent lotion for hardening tho shoulders, even when thoy have not yet shown any disposition to become sore, is powdered alum, one ounce; sulphuric acid, one drachm, and water, one quart. The most sensational performance of tho year for a yearling trotter and the most sensational of the entire season ft the Kentucky Trotting Horse Breeders' Association course was that of the brown filly Princess Axworthy, in tho hand 3 of Trainer H. C. Moody, that trotted a half in Imin 92sec, last quarter in JPlsec. The filly went on her wonderful journey on the first score. The filly now holds the season's workout record for both a half and a quarter of a mile, she having previously held- the distinction with a half in lmin 12-is-fHj. Princess Axworthy is the property or John F. Howley, of Pittsburg, Pa,., who bought her dam, Princess Kent, 2min 2'2£sec, when she was carrying this great filly, and the mars is still his property. She is the daughter of Morgan Axworthy, the royally-bred son of Axworthy, owned by Mike Bowerman. Morgan Axworthy's dam i.? Kinglyne, a full-sister to Bingen, 2min 6isec. Princess of Kent, the dam of the filly, was quite a fast mare, and is a daughter of the double record stallion, Tjeir-at-Law, 2min 12sec trotting, and 2min s|seo pacing. Trainers as a rule are not in haste to try any innovations either in methods or equipment. Everyone remembers how aloof they were wheu

the first low-wheeled, pneumatic-tyred sulky was shown to them, and until Edward Geers looked it over and tried it in an experimental way on a horse in his stable—the experiment, it may be stated, was eminently successful — none of them wanted to ride in it. The Buffalo trainer, W. J. Andrews, has never been averse, however, to giving any new idea a trial that looks reasonable to him. He has adopted methods of feeding his horses which are regarded with suspicion by other trainers, but it must be admitted that tho new methods have worked all right with him. The latest innovation to got a trial in the Buffalo trainer's stable is the result of his endeavour to make the going easier for his charges. He is using an aluminium pad between the shoe and the hoof instead of leather, as is the general custom, says " Raymond " in the "Horse World." The object is to stop tho sting which occurs when a horse is worked at full speed. This, of course, occurs much more when a track is hard than at other times, but is always somewhat apparent, many horses being unable to stand the strain of training for that reason. After a fast mile, the shoes of many horses are so hot that they can hardly be touched. The aluminium pad also lessens this heating of the shoe, and it is more than possible that the aluminium pad will come into universal use. While the general idea is not new, it is the first time that aluminium has been used for the purpose. Silk, felt and leather are used as pads by many trainers, while a paper pad has been tried with good results. The result of Mr Andrew's experiments with aluminium will be awaited with considerable interest by trainers who are on the lookout for aids to keep their horses' feet right.