SPORTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10753, 26 April 1913, Page 5

SPORTING.

Wilari won tho principal handicap at Ej>Jm, Melbourne, on April 5. This was licr st success since March of Inst year, when l> won the Victoria St Leger. Mr G. P. Donnelly and Mr Cloring .Tohngton are among the prominent North Island sportsmen who havo recently left, fr.r holiday trips to England. Mr Johnston expects to bo *bsent. for about a year. Blaker.ey. by Sou'it—lnamorata, followed up a win at Ballarat early this month by a Jurther success 'at Epson., where ths distance was sevon furlongs, so ho evidently uwyj better now than when he was racing in jJfww Zealand. ' In the course of a leadinrr article on racing In Australia, the "Australasian" remarks: " Royal Ascot is regarded as tho best race meeting in the world. The stakes for tho four days come to about £40,000. A great part of this money is, however, provided by owners. Tho cost of starting horses ruiis up to £IOO in one race. The Australian Jockey Club's stakes for the meeting just over totalled £30,402. Tho most it cost to start a horse was £2O. This was in tho Sydney Cup, to which £SOOO was added, and the club did not take anything from owners. All th eir money goes into the stake, and is divided. up among the first three horses. Racing under clubs like the Victoria Racing - Cub and the Australian Jockey Club is very cheap compared with racing on a large scale in other countries." Jerry M., says " Blackthorne," in the " Sportsman," was without tho slightest floubt the champion 'chaser of his day, and his record since he made his first appearance at Clonmel meeting as a four-year-old in 1907 has been a notable ono. He beat nothing of any consequence in that race, which was a steeplechaso worth " a pony," hut at the time he was under tho care of Michael Dawson, at the Curragh, and it was well known that that trainer entertained the very highest opinion of the son of "Walmsgate. Indeed, there are very few tetter judges in Ireland than Dawson of ihe capabilities of a racer or 'chaser. The late Mr John \Vidger offered "Jerry" to a patron of the N.H. sport for 600 aovs, but the subsequent winner of the Grand National and Paris Steeplechase was refused, end at 1500 sovs he came into the possession of Sir C. Assherton Smith. An article on stamina in the American *' Thoroughbred Record" contains the following:—We have always considered it possible that the English horses were, as a olas3, superior to ours, especially since we havo bred to so many inferior English sires, while the English bred from the most highly-tried horßes. Moreover,/ their method of racing over hills and descents and over straightaway courses is a bettor test than the American dead level and circular courses afford. Tho English courses bettor tost tho wind, limb, and heart. Many a horso that ' can stay a mile over a circular course cannot do so over a straightaway—the pane finds him out. Besides, a horse with bad shoulders can win over level courses, but a hill is fatal to him. The English horse is bred from generations of horses which have raced over courses, up hill and down, and should havo tetter shoulders than our horses. During the progress of the autumn racing carnival in Sydney, a conference was held Between the committee of the Australian Jo-ckev Club and representatives of the varipus country racing associations of New South "Wales. A long discussion ensiled over the advisability of allowing officials to occupy the dual positions of steward, handicapper or starter. Tho_ "Western district reported that their official handicapper had been appointed for six months on trial as starter also, and the innovation had worked ■••> well that the appointment had been renewed. Eventually the matter was left to the judgment of the uiffeTent Associations, but the objection was narrowed down to that of the steward acting also as handicapper, and this was not considered advisable. One question of _ allowing unbranded horses to race was considered, but, as some owners coject to the system of branding, on hutaanitanan grounds, no action was taken. The following from the pen of a contributo the "Asian" (Calcutta), anent tho day of tlio big meeting in Bomrbay, suggests that there is room for improvement of the conduct of racing in that city: I am Sony to say that there were again reversals of form of qtiito a drastio nature, fcnd one wonders how long this sort of thingis to bo stood. It may be that the stewards »re making more inquiries than we think, but, if they are, we have a right to know l>f what is doing. Not only are we still fcemg fooled right and left in being put on to the wrong one of the stable by the juggling of the jockeys, but the running is so inconsistent that there is general dissatisfaction. If excuses for some of the winners were st all apparent, on© would not growl, nut we would certainly like to know how it is that they can run nowhere one day and come out and win the next at no great difference of weight. "What makes it even worse is that the owners most to blame are not poor 'battlers' who find it difficult to meet fodder bills. Let the stewards act impartially and openly, and may I further impress upon them the absolute necessity of bracketing horses in one ownership." Evidently there is a dearth of jumpers in England, for it must be oonfessed '(writes a critic) that so far as the meetings of the Immediate future are concerned, the outlook, at least as regards the steeplechasing part of the programme, is not a particularly exhilarating one. Thanks to the hurdle races, however, the different racecourse executives can provide adequate entertainment for their patrons, and often the races over minor obstacles furnish the principal means of speculation to the crowd who, generally speaking, are not overwhelmed with f entiment. _ Ninety-nine men out of every hundred visit a racecourse for the ostensible purpose of betting pure and simple, and to these a large field of hurdle racers provides mere interest than even a contest between four or five 'chasers, where the scope of speculation is considerably restricted. This reminds me that many practical people believe it is easier to make hacking horses pav over the jumps than it is on the flat, tiotvrUhstanding the painfully cramped prices •which have to be accepted under National Hunt rules. Following successful stables does not represent a royal road to fortune. It was a maxim of a celebrated English Jockey that a horse ought to be ridden as delicately as if it ra-s being held in check by a silken thread, but each jockey in time acquires a style of his own. Some lads are famous for making their opponent believe that the horse they are riding is quite out of the hunt. This is " kidding," an art. by the way, in which the late George Fordham was facile princeps. Old horsemen of the "knowing" type will try what they can with safety during a contest to keep their younger brethren from scoring a win, all the ♦ricks of the trade being brought into requisition on such occasions. A first rate jockey; however, has qualities that are far beyond the range of mere cunning; he has b firm and graceful scat on horseback, "fine hands, and, above all, is a good judge of pace, quite able to calculate whether the horse he is riding can last the distance he .has to eallop so as to be sure of winning, pr whether he will require to be eased in his pace or " nursed " for a final effort. Of rourse, a jockey can only do these sort of things _ when he _ possesses brains oombined With ripe experience. It will be at once grasped by the intelligent reader what is required of a boy in order to become a firßtciass rider. Under the system of preparing jockeys to-day, according to the American or crouching style, the display of a " graceful ' seat _ and perfect " horsemanship," as the word is literally understood, is next to Impossible. "What will happen in the future it i* hard to predict

NOTES. Tho Ashburton County Racing Club ha-s received a strong entry for its autumn meeting, which .should be ono of the best ever held at Ashburton. Practically all the Riccarton stables ere represented, while there are plenty pf horses from further afield, so that there should be a lot of interest in the facing, quite apart from the prospect bf large fields. I am pleased to see owners patronising this fixture so liberally, if only in recognition of tho club's efforts in the direction of increased stakes. The Ashburton Club is very favourably situated, Christchurch being within easy distane of the course, and there is no reason why ft bold policy should not result in the best horses in training being attracted to the meetings. To secure this result, however, further increases will have to be made in the stakes, but I am ceifcain the result would amply justify tho move. In the meantime, it is satisfactory to find the club progressing in the ifight direction. i Some good news came from Welling"ton last week. In the first place, it is B matter for congratulation that the Wellington Racing Club has decided to reinstate the St Leger, and nominations for next year's race will be taken in September. There will, of course, be a much smaller list than usual, but that will be no drawback, save to tho funds of the club, and it will be amply Compensated for if a decent field is kttraoted next autumn. It would have Seen a matter for regret had this race jbeen allowed to lapse. We have plenty jpf handicaps in New Zealand, put all too few races for the best horses. There are, it

true, lots of special weight, events, hill, most of tliein tiro run over short courses, and their real value is curtailed by the introduction of penalties and allowances. A straight-out contest over a mile and three-quarters at even weights, between the best three-year-olds, is a much belter event, from a purely sporting point of view. Apart from the St Lifter, the "Wellington Racing Club came out last, Meek with a pleasing announcement, to the effect that the stakes for the winter meeting would ho increased by £IOO. This means that the eb;b is in n sound

financial position, after very heavy expenditure on the new course at Trontham. It is to be hoped that there will be a corresponding improvement- in the size of tho fields at tho club's fixtures. In the past, it has to bo admitted, tho proportion of starters to entries has not always been satisfactory at Trenthani. It is not- only in the matter of stakes, however, that there is need for the "Wellington Racing Club to revise its programme'. A glance through the past records show* that sprints are too strongly catered for. while far too little encouragement is given to horses capable of gettimr a decent journey. T know that the sprints pay best, and that may have been a- reason for their prominence in the past-, but the club can surely afford now to pav a little more attention to the 'sporting side of tho question. Rinaldo registered a very attractive performance when he won the Hawkc's Bay Stakes last week. The field was not a strong one. so far as two-year-olds were concerned, as the cracks are now in retirement, but the three-year-old Emporador represents good enough class to try out any youngster over six furlongs and a hall. I must confess I thought Emperador would wear the two-year-old down at the finish and Rinaldo must be given a certificato as a very useful colt. Whether he will even stay remains to bo seen. I v ill have to see a descendant of Charlemagne 11. win over a long course before I credit any of them with being it ore than sprinters. So far. at any rate, that is their record. xYi the same time, I look on Rinaldo as one of the most solid' of the family. He represents the successful St Simon Musket cross, being by Charlemagno 11., a son of St Simon, from Deraeter, by Wallace—Eleusis, dam of Sir George Clifford's two brood mares. Delusive and Elusive. T suppose Rinaldo will have an opportunity early next season of showing how ho can ran a journey.

Six more of Sir George Clifford's yearlings arrived at Riccarton last week from the Stonyhurst Stud, and the work of breaking them in is now proceeding merrily at Chokebore Lodge. I had a look at the latest arrivals a day or two ago, and though appearances are frequently deceitful, it must be admitted that they look a promising lot. The first to come under notice was Court Martial, a hay fillv by Martian—Discipline, by Treadmill— Madowla. She is a well-grown, raking filly, with a good set of legs. There is more size than one usually finds in Martian's progeny, but her appearance suggests that, like many more of his stock, she may be of delicate constitution. Discipline, the dam of this filly, won the only two races in which she took part, and her early retirement was regrettable, as sho was a rare good sort. I saw her not long ago and found that she lias grown into a line I type of brood mare. the ' nest of the juveniles, is by San Francisco from the Maxim—Teredo mare Safeguard, dam of a big family, of whom Stronghold, Fleetfoot and Broadsword. are the bright stars. Commerce is a fine-looking filly of average size and showing a lot of quality. She has an uglv-looking knee, the result of a fall over a fence and this may interfere with her, but if she stands a preparation she should be smart. Wharfinger, by Treadmill—Fairhaven, by Pilgrim's Progress—Elusive, by Trenton— Eleusis, is smaller than his brothers, Quarantine and Stevedore. He is a dark brown, with one white hind fetlock, and very much resembles his dam who was retir-ed to the stud without being trained. I should say he will require time. Botanist is a bay colt by Treadmill—Bonnie Brae, by Clanranald—Golden Crest. He is thus a brother to Heatherbrae and Briar Patch, but'is altogether a better sort, showing more substance than his two sisters. I prefer him to any of the three I have already mentioned. He is a fine, reachy colt, showing plenty of power, being built on similar lines, though showing less quality, than Autumnus, to whom he is closely related, botli colts being by Treadmill, while their dams are half-sisters. Botanist is in every way a promising sort. Wise Bird, by Treadmill—Glenowlet, and thus a sister to Brown Owl and Nightwatch,' is small and lightly built but is a racy-looking filly, showing much more quality than the majority of the Treadmill fillies. She is, in fact, more like her dam than any of her elder relatives. Sho met with a slight injury to her arm some time ago, through contact with a wire fence, but it is not likely to affect her. Bold Stroke, the last of the batch, is by San Francisco—Brave Heart, by Clanranald—Safeguard. She is a light bay in cplour, with a white blaze and two white legs and shows more substance and power than Wise Bird, though she is plainer. She bears a striking resemblance to her dam, but is not so reachy, being low set, like most of tho San Franciscos. Taken all round, she is a useful sort. With the four earlier arrivals, Sir George Clifford thus has ten heme-bred youngsters for two-year-old engagements next season., in addition to one purchase, the filly by Benzoin—Strathspey, who is a small but neat-looking sort. Equinox, a sister to Autumnus, by Treadmill—-Goldleaf, is still at tho stud, having met with an accident, which may prevent her from racing. This is a. pity, as I hear she is a very handsome filly. Altogether, however, the Chokebore juveniles are a much more promising lot than those that were handled a year ago. In commenting on Mr Henry Hughes's resignation as handicapper for the South Australia 11 Jockey Club and Adelaide Racing Club, the Adelaide "Register" says that in 110 small

measure the present buoyancy of the turf in South Australia is due to tho efficiency displayed during the past forty odd years by its chief and almost sole handicapper. It then continues: — "Mr Hughes has had a long associationship with tho turf in this State. While manager, in 1863, of Mr Scott's Ulanworkina Run, in the far north, with the Hon -J. H. Howe and Corporal Wauchope, Mr Bedford Hack, and others, he organised a two-days' race meeting at Mudlapina, on tho late Hon •J. Baker's station. The principal attendants camped, on the ground and others found quarters at Paunana Station. Horses came from Port Augusta, and. from stations hundreds of miles away. Mr Hughes wan two races with a horse called Yorkie and one with Matcherem. On tho death of his brother, a few weeks later, ho carried on tho latter's business, and full play was given to his sporting instincts by Messrs Bennett, W. H. Form by, W. Bladder, Christopher and others, who quickly engaged him in arranging meetings. Funds were raised for the first Adelaide Cup and other gcod races by canyassing among leading tradesmen, solicitors and others. From that time Mr Hughes has always been associated with racing clubs as committeeman, steward, judge, starter, clerk of scales! and handicapper, and he and Ihe Hon W. B. Rounsvell are the senior officials acting at the present time. Ho was starter at the first races ever held at Morphettville. In 1875 he became a handicapper on amateur linos, and two years later pursued the work on a financial basis, and since 1892 has devoted his time entirely to that profession. It is interesting; to note Mr

Hughes has witnessed every Adelaide Clip, Goodwood Handicap, Birthday Gup, and City Handicap, with tho exception of tho one run at Melbourne." STUD NEWS. 'IV brood mare, Rhoda 13., died at Air Richard Croker's stud in Ireland just before the last mail left England, while giving birth to a ioal by Santoi. JUioda IS., who was by Hanover--Mar-garine, bv Algcrine, was bml in America- in 18(15, and was imported to England as a yearling. Sho retired to tho .stud in 1900, and proved a great, .success as a brood mare. The best of her progeny was Orbv, who won the Derby, but"her succeeding foal, was Khodora, who won tho One Thousand Guineas. She also bred a number of other smart horses, and will the two-year-olcP Barnaculiia (by Clonmc.l) to represent her this year. Her Santoi foal has survived.

The final supplement to the last volume of tho English Stud Rook hag been issued', but it is much smaller than usual, as vol. XXTI. will bo issued shortly by Messrs Weatherby. It, however, includes a complete list of the foalingvS l;ist season, arranged under 'their sires, and it contains much information whic'h is useful. It shows that Carbine has practically been placed on the retired list, as he is credited with only two foals —a colt and a miy. Fitzgrafton, who is also at the stud in England, had only one filly to his name, and another ex-Australian, Great Scot, was credited with four—one of which failed to survive. Knightlight, who is now at the stud' in New South Wales, left a colt behind him last season. Spearmint was credited with 30 foals, and as liis stud foe is 250 guineas, he is returning Major Loder about 7500 guineas a year in 6tud fees, a rather handsome return for the outlay of 300 guineas he cost Major Loder as a yearling. Messrs Joel 3i3 not keep Sundridge to look at during the last season he was at Childwickbury, as 37 mares foaled to him last season, and possibly that does not represent the whole of his mates the previous year. Symington has 31 foals to his name, so ho, too, had a heavy season. Mothei* biegel, the dain of th© Derby winner vitY l-01 ' 11^1 " 1 ! a to Minoru, br White Eagle, who sired 17 foals and another extensively used horse was' William tho Third, who has 31 foals standing to his name.

Among the rerent turf failures in Australia_ are Merasca, a three-year-old sister to Desert Rose by Malster—Mangosteen, and Peronella, a four -year old sister to Malt King, by Malster—Patrona. They will be retired to the stud and will be mated next season with the lrn P ol 't horse Bronsino. Malt King, by Malster-Patrona, will commence stud life in New South Wales next spring at a fee of fifty guineas. The feo of the imported horse Earlston, by Love Wisely—Monday, has also been raised to fifty guineas, as a result of the demand for his yearlings at the Sydney sales at Easter.

The wide margin that exists between English and Australian values is illustrated by the case of the stallion Piedmont, by Marco—Lily' Surefoot. He cost sixty-five guineas in England last year, and was sold in Sydney a few weeks ago for 700 guineas. In these days of high prices thoroughbred sires, for which not more tlian £SO is demanded, may be considered cheap, but owners vary greatly as to the value they place upon their horses, and at times one finds horses for which only a few pounds are asked, and yet are apparently more likely to be successful at the stucl than others priced at five or six times the amount. In the " Register of Thoroughbred Stallions '' there is a single horse at £sl 9s, and thirty priced at sums ranging between £4O and £SO. And among these is an animal who v.-as almost a great racehorse, and who has not only sired a couple of Derby winners, but, through his son, Flying Fox, is carrying on the line of Bend Or in many parts of the world. It is (says the "Field") true that Orrne is now an old horse, for he was foaled in 1889, but as a sire he has always been a sort of surprise packet. Thus, for example, he began by siring a really great horse in Flying Fox, who won die Derby in 1899, but eight years later, and at a time when he was almost forgotten, he was responsible for another Derby winner in Orby. When in training Grme won over £32,000 in stakes, his victories including the Eclipse Stakes twice. He was unable to run for the Derby, owing to being poisoned, and he probably lost the St Legor through being injudiciously ridden. As a four-year-old he gave La Fleche 71b at Goodwood, and this suggests that he was more than the equal of the famous mare, who was herself the St Leger winner in Orme's year. His stock have won at least £IOO,OOO, and he has a dozen sons at the stud in this country, several of which are likely to sire winners. -

TROTTING. The New Brighton Trotting Olub is to be congratulated on the success of last week's meeting, which was easily the best ever held on the seaside course. This club struggled along for a number of years without making any | great headway, even when the other two Christchurch trotting clubs were going ahead all the time. A few years ago something was gained by racing 011 the Metropolitan course at Acldington, but this could only be a temporary expedient. Then the club launched out and expended a good deal of money on the course and buildings. This necessitated a cautious policy for a time, but during the la.st jear or two there have been distinct signs of improvement in the club's position. Stakes have been increased, with the result that larger fields have been attracted, while the racing has risen to a very high level. The public has also taken to patronising the meetings more freely, and altogether there has lately been quite a transformation. La-st week's meeting marked quite a new era in the club's .history. When rain set in on Thursday morning it looked as if a postponement was inevitable, but the stewards wisely decided to go on, and they were amply rewarded. The weather in the afternoon, though never ideal, was at no stage really bad, and there was a fair attendance. The totalisator figures came out surprisingly well, £10,804 10s being handled, compared with £7189 on the corresponding day last year. It was then that the officials became really opt-imistio regarding the meeting, and when fine weather was vouchsafed the club on Saturday .success was assured. I do not remember ever seeing such a large crowd 011 the New Brighton course. The totalisator investments were easily a record, the amount handled being more than the total for two days a year ago. The figures on Saturday wore £17.045 10s, against £7793 .iOs on the second day last year, making £27.H50 for the meeting, compared with £'14,97!) 10s in 1912. The club should make a, big profit over the meeting, and I expect it is now in a comfortable financial position. The New Brighten officials are a progressive lot, so wo can look for a big improvement in the programmes for next season's fixtures. I have referred more than once recently to the starting question and to the need for improvement- in the existing methods of dispatching horses. I was therefore greatly interested in an innovation which was tried at the New Brighton meeting Inst week. Mr J. H. Tompkins was appointed to assist Mr H. Reynolds with the starts, his special duties being to marshal the competitors and see that they moved up in their proper batches. Briefly, the system can b« described ?s a. pic-

1 cess. Under the old method it was impossible) tor the- starter to watch r.H i tlio horses, and unsatisfactory starts wero common. Last week, however, Mr Tompkins was able to lend valuable assistance to Mr Reynolds, who must have realised lion- much easier his task was made, and how much better the results. Ido not suggest t Hat- perfection was reached, for I saw room for further improvement, and 1 have no donbt the two officials could aiso point out weaknesses. The results secured, however, should satisfy everyone that a wise move lias been made. T understand that last week's appointment was very much in the nature ul an experiment, hut. after the .marked success achieved 1 take it wo can expect to hear of the Metropolitan and Canterbury Park Clubs following the excellent lead of tlio Now .Brighton Club in the matter. While 011 the subject of starting, T am reminded of some advem* comment. 1 heard concerning one race on Saturday. In the Telegraph Handicap the two limit horses, Aotea Ron and .Dollar Princess, were called off for startHi;? before their time. Jt hps been sug~ jested that this should be impossible in tlio ease of the limit horses, but I cannot agree with that view. The starting clock is .set a few seconds in front of the first bell, the limit horses moving up and having to catch the bell just as the back markers do. Sur?ly that is a fair method. The alternative, which was discarded a long time ago, is to let the limit horses go off, the starter setting the clock in motion to tit the first batch. Ujider that system the limit horses had a distinct advantage, to which they were not entitled, for they surely have quite enough tha best of the deal now in having a clear course. The Ladies' Bracelet on the second day of the Now Brighton Trotting Club's meeting provided an illustration of the need that exists for an alteration to the Rules of Trotting. It was a harness event, and there were thirty-two acceptors, of whom twentysix lined up at the post. The limit was IGsec, but in reality it was a field of twenty-five, with a 9seo limit, as Francita was alone on the scratch mark, giving 7sec to the nearest of her opponents. The Rules of* Trotting contain one as follows:—"If there be twenty or more horses in a one-mile harness race in which the limit is losec or less, the race shall bo run in heats." That rule was framed to meet just such a. case as Saturday's. It would be an improvement if the operation of the rule were considerably extended. The need for alteration was evident in Saturday's race, as the liorcos were crowded together, without any room to move about. Dartmoor reared up at the start and turned right over. His driver, W. Hains, received some nasty cuts on the face, and the liorso took no part in the race. That was not all the trouble, as there wore several collisions in the first two furlongs. More than one rider was thrown out of his sulky, without being injured, fortunately, and Belle Elmore completed the course without a pilot. In the run down the straight in the Brighton Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club's meeting on Saturday, May Dillon bored out,, leaving little room for Lord Heathcote to pass her. After the race the stewards field an inquiry and administered a caution to C. Rhodes, the driver of May Dillon. It looked a case for oificial interference of a more severe nature than a caution, but inquiries I have made suggest that there was no deliberate intent to bore Lord Heathcote out. It struck me that the New Brighton stewards were very harsh in fining H. Kearns £o for ranking no effort to pull Tea Tree up when ho broke near the winning-post in the Stayers' Handicap on Saturday. The whole thing happened so suddenly that the rider could be excused for failing to do the right thing, and doing instead the most natural, of getting first past the post. It was quite hard enough for the connections of Tea Tree to lose the race without having to pay a line. One of the wildest 'demonstrations I have witnessed on a racecourse for many years took placo at New Brighton on Thursday, at the conclusion of the Da&h Handicap. A section of the crowd resented the judge's decision in placing Cute first, being of opinion that Our Aggie had won. Our Aggie finished very fast on the outside, but my view, and I was pretty well placed to see the finish, was that she just failed to get up, though she had hor head in front a stride past the post. In any case, however, it was one of thoso very close finishes in which only the man in the box could tell for certain which had won. The demonstration was altogether unjustified. It came chiefly from those wdio had watched the finish from the grandstand, and at the angle Cute would certainly appear to them to be beaten. I was greatly surprised at the wild remarks made by one follower of the sport, who has been long enough in the game to knowbetter. C. Stace, who won two races at New Brighton with White House last week, is a veteran trainer and driver. Ho was associated many years ago with the late Mr H. Mace's horses, "but lias not done much driving for a Ion"; time. His successes were very popular. On the first day he created some amusement by his action, just after lio passed the winning post. He waved his cap aloft very enthusiastically, to the delight of the crowd, which cheered him heartily. Mr R. J. Sunderland, who died on Saturday from injuries received in a trap accident ten days earlier, was an enthusiastic supporter of trotting away back in the early days, before the sport reached its present high standard. He bred and raced a large number of horses, being one < of the regular patrons of the meetings held years ago at Heathcote, New Brighton. Lancaster Park and the Show Grounds. Tn later years he alsc raced horses, but not so frequently. He was a great admirer of a good trotter, and he used his trotters regularly in _ his bakers' carts. In the old days, in fact, they did their rounds in the carts and were taken straight from there to race. At the request of one of the parties concerned t wish to correct an error I fell into last week in stating that blows were exchanged between a prominent owner and trainer in the course of a recent dispute. They had trouble and it en dec 1 in the horses being removed to other quarters, but I am assured there was no resort to fisticuffs. _ R. Reay has returned Red Ribbon to his owner. He has got on to a had mark, but he is such a speedy horse that even now he should not be past further success. Mr 0. 0. Fryer has placed Princess Louise under the care of .1. Lorgellv. who will probably handle her for a few months, at any rate. Lorgelly has done so well with Lord Heathcote that he has come strongly into the limelight lately and it will be interesting to see how he fares with this fine Prince Imperial mare. One of "Mr K. ft. Lelievre's American purchases, Bertha Bell, by Peter the Oreat. was left behind by It. M'Millan when he returned to New Zealand last year. Information has been received to the effect that she has proved in foal to TSingeu. She will he mated this year with the champion American trotter The Harvester, r.nd will remain in America until she is proved to be in faol. Onawa has changed hands, Juit wid remain under the care, ci T. W. .Price, juu. A meeting of the committoo of tho Ashburtcn Trotting Club was held recently, v/hen Mr H. F. Nicoll presided. It was decided to offer Mr V. il. Maedougall the same terms as given by t!io Ashburton County Racing Club to work the totalizator. The Programme Committee submitted a draft programme for the autumn meeting, and, after making some slight- alterations, it was adopted. The programme provides for stakes totalling £765, an increase of £135 on thc,se offered at the autumn meeting last yenr. Though the Southland Trotting Club has not the advantage of a totalizator permit, it is a very popular ins-titution in its district, its membership being now over 200. Tina D."i.ediii eorresDaudeiit o£ this

paper—Tho many friends and JK-fiuaint-niontj of JiJ. M'Kowen, the wellKnown rider and driver, will regret to hear that his health is causing his family .serious anxiety. His health lias been very bad for some Lime, and at present lie is only the shadow of his former self.

Mr J. A. Buc.kland, the enthusiastic Now 8011 th Wales sportsman, has evidently got, hold of another champion, in ('iiba. Jj. was intended to send Cuba to ilrcN I'tjiiiiurst show, to niiiko an, attemp;, on Fritz's ground record for a mile oi lltnin 13 -l-o.see, hut he injured a log a few days before the show. T'k* Molbourrio Trotting (-iiilt will run another ,fc 1000 handicap in November. It will ha decided over a mile and a ha.li, and will be open to horses that ««<« do 2.30 to the mile or better. Zeala nd-brerl paco.r Boldrowood figured as a, -winner at Temora, Now South V.'alns, this month, when he a mile in 2min 23Jsee. '1 ho progress f hat trot Imp; is making m public favour in Auckland is simply phenomenal (writes " Whalebone"). Alexandra Park, recently acquired as a trotting course, is fast, being transformed into one of the prettiest and hest-equipjxni trotting i racks in th.e dominion. The management of the Auckland and Otnhuhu Clubs is developing on wise and progressive lines, with the result that {lie sport is being lifted right into the forefront of racing pastimes. At the recent, autumn meeting of the Auckland Ciub there was not the slightest indication of anything but absolutely clean sport. The stewards were quick to seize, on any questionable point., and twice riders and owners were sumhioned beforo the officials to make explanation as to the why and th.e v> herefore of certain suspected anomalies. In each ease, however, the reply was perfectly satisfactory. Perhaps the best criterion of the increasing popularity of trotting in Auckland is gaineni in tho fact that the attendances are almost double what thoy were, anrl in the further fact that it is not an infrequent thing to find tho crowd cheering the winners as they returned to the. paddock.