TURF NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVIII, Issue VIII, 22 February 1902, Page 347

TURF NOTES.

Kaimate is now located in Viet .i_. Doneraile, by St. Leger—Balista, broke his leg recently. Aurous is first favourite for the Newmarket Handicap. The English Derby will be run for on June 4th. The stable had a good win over Battleaxe in the Taranaki Cup. Waiwera has come out like a giant refreshed after a good spell. Regalia 11. was shipped to Sydney to P. Nolan during the week. The Newmarket Handicap will be run for on March Ist. and the Australian Cup on the 4th. Mr Leonard Marshall did not nomi.i.ite any of his foals for the C.J.C. Tenth Challenge Stakes. R. Hall is having the Seaton Dehv-il-InnisfaH colt, purchased at Sylvia Park by Mr B. Armitage, ridden. The Egmont Racing Club will follow their old custom of debarring the bookmakers from going on their racecourse. Bacchus has changed hands, having been purchased during the week for a Thames sport. The death of Jack O’Brien, who at one time was racing in different parts of New Zealand, is reported from Opunake. J. Rae brought The Needle back from Taranaki by the Ngapuhi, and also Evening Wonder, who has been purchased by one of Rae’s patrons. Tupara, one of the winners at the Taranaki meeting, is a full brother to Battleaxe, Gorrick. and Brown Bill —all Wellington Park-bred ones. The Watchdog, in P. Nolan's stable at Randwick, has been given his first lesson over hurdles, and is credited with having shaped very well for a novice. A Sydney paper says that a five-year-old untried gelding, by Fabulous, has arrived there from New Zealand, and goes into P. Nolan’s stable at Randwick. That once useful horse Tarquin, engaged in the Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup. has lost form, and besides it is feared that his wind is affected. Impati. who won the First Hack Race at the Taranaki Jockey Club's Summer Meeting on Wednesday, is by Castor from Brown Alice. Cruciform by winning the Midd’o Park Plate has added one more laurel to her wreath of fame. What a sterling bit of stuff this daughter of St. Leger is. When purchasing his new sire. Gambol, Mr H. C. White went in for substance, as that horse won a gold medal in England for sires suitable for getting hunters. Loch Erin, winner of the Hack Race at

the Taranaki J.C. Summer Meeting, will probably be favourite for the Egmont Sires’ Produce Stakes, to be run for next week. Koss Heaton has decided to throw in his lot as a trainer, and has had Golden Rose placed In his hands by Mr J Lynch. Koss has boxes at R. Hall's Green Laue stables. A. Gray, a steeplechase rider, was -e---jected by th* l selection officers of the Ninth Contingent because it was considered by those officials that he did not show proficiency! It is reported that the Wellington Racing Club may license bookmakers to do business at future meetings, and it is suggested that a prominent Southern racing club will do the same. Reflex, who won the Telegraph Stakes at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Summer Meeting, is by the Lochiel sire Reflector. who was returned the winner of the Great Northern Foal’ Stakes in 1892. The Taranaki Jockey Club appear to have come out well over their Summer Meeting financially — £11.187 was put through the totalizators, as against £10.254 last year. D. Morrighan, who went Home wi:h Seahorse, came out in charge of the Messrs Nathan’« new purchase. San Francisco. and the Hon. J. D. Ormond’'- Birkenhead, and should arrive in Auckland on Sunday. The Auckland pony Little Bess has won another race. This was at Kensington Fork, New South Wales, last Wednesday week, when she came fast and up in time to win by a head the Fourteenone Handicap. A. Sutherland and J. Gallagher a-e the only two jockeys who have ridden the winner of the Taranaki Cup in successive years. W. Krafr. “the old identity, ’ was twice successful in the race, and also the late G. Williams. The death is announced of Mr W. Ellard, whp was many years ago an official in the Australian Jockey Club’s office under Mr S. C. Burt, when that gentleman was secretary. Many New Zealanders will remember Mr Ellard. The local stock inspectors had a busy’ day on Tuesday at the Remuera yards overhauling noises brought there for sale for remount purposes. A fair proportion of the horses proved suitable. Mr A. Davis, manager of the Sylvia Park Stud, intends leaving Wellington on Thursday, bringing back with him the newly-irn ported San Francisco, whose safe arrival was announced on Tuesday. At Newcastle. Athlestone, by the defunct Navigator from Athole, foaled in New Zealand but got by Blair Athol from the Macaroni mare F. ;rence Macarthy, ran well and is described as a useful sort. Acting under instructions from Mr Dan McLeod, the New Zealand and Mercantile Agency will sell without reserve on Friday, February 21st. the racehorses Jewellery. Scotty, Sensation a ad Miss Dclsval; the last named in foal to Cyrenian. Ames, the American jockey, who passed through Auckland a short time since, is to ride Carinthia in the Newmarket Handicap. It is thought that such a quick beginner and free mover will be suited to his style of riding, and that Carinthia may be very hard to beat. Mr H. C. White, of New South Wales, at present in England, has purchased the English horse Gambol, by Gaiopin from Happy Hampton, for the Havllah Stud. The same gentleman has afso secured two blood colt foals, which will accompany Gambol to Australia. Sir Tristram, purchased for Mr Reynolds, of Tocal, will be shipped by the same boat. T, H. Hewitt has ridden three successive winners of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Midsummer Handicap, in Ben Farley, SkobelotY and Dundas. From a time point Ben Farley holds the record, viz., 2m 36 2-5 secs, or a fifth of a second faster than Dundas recorded. L. Hewitt is the only horseman who nas ridden the winners in three successive years. A two-year-old by Beauchamp from Melodla, imported, and now in Mr Leonard Marshall's stud at One-tree Hili, died on the sth inst. of lockjaw’ at Randwick. She was operated upon for navel trouble, and was doing well, but being a highly-strung, nervous filly, she tried to jumn out of the yard in which she was running, and thus re-opened the wound, bringing on lockjaw. Creuzot, by Torpedo, from AegyptiHa, is said to be seventeen hands one inch In height. Thin is evidently a record height for a three year old thoroughbred. The

biggest that I can remember was Jumbo, a son of Gladiator, bred by Mr H. Nixon, of Wanganui. Jumbo was full brother to Satanella, who ran there about twenty years ago. He stood just eighteen hands but was not a clean bred one.

The Taranaki Jockey Club it appears could only exclude the bookmakers from a portion of their reserve, but found that they could not keep them off another portion, and they were obliged to submit with good grace to the leather lunged fraternity, who. at their last meeting, had made the discovery that they were safe in insinuating themselves on to part cf the grounds. The club did increased business not withstanding the presence of the bookmakers.

Battleaxe has won th© Taranaki Cup twice. Last year he carried 7.11 and this year 9.2. J. Gallagher, who was in good form at the Taranaki meeting, had the mount or. each occasion. Since Opawa won in 1876 and 1877 the race has not been won twice by the same horse until Battleaxe succeeded. Opawa on the occasion of his second win carried 9.0. and no horse had succeeded with so much weight until Battleaxe won on Thursday last.

The London “Sportsman” of December 3<‘ says: "D. Maher, the American jockey, wno was econd last year in the list of winning jockeys in England, and who is now under engagement to the King, is at his home in Hartford. Conn., but is coining back to this country at the commencement of the flat racing season. He is not enjoying very robust health, and it is probable that next year will be his last in the saddle.” What a pity Maher wasted so hard. The Grove Stud Farm, near Ashburton, has produced seven horses that have accounted for the C.J.C. Midsummer Handicap. Dundas, the latest winner and before him those good horses Sultan, Prime Warden. Lady Zetland (twice), Reynard and Marquis of Zetland were bred there. Lady Zetland is the only dual winner of the race, and the name of Hobbs has been more frequently associated with victorious horses in it than any other owner. Mr M. Hobbs, who owns Dundas, has not been having a great deal of luck of late. In deciding on increasing the added money to be run for at Ran cl wick next season by SOOCsovs. the Australian Jockey Club, according to the Sydney •‘EveningNews.” have raised the amount of the stake contributed by it for The Metropolitan from 150Csovs to 2000sovs. the Derby from COOsovs to lOOOsovs, the St. Leger from 300sovs to SOOsovs, and the Champagne Stakes from 500sovs to 750sovs. The Sydney Cup, which was last year 2000sovs irrespective of sweepstakes, was not altered. An accident which might have resulted much more seriously occurred at the New England Jockey Club’s meeting recently, four of the six starters falling. When the barrier rose Myall took the lead, and kept to the front till reaching the back of the course, where he fell, owing to the slippery state of the course through rain. Peerlike, Steeibusk. and B.K. also came T-own in a heap, the horses and jockeys being mixed up together. Two brothers. Callinan, were taken to the hospital, and the other two were badly shaken. Psyche, dam of Antigone and Greek Maid, has proved a most useful stud matron to Mr T. Sheenan. I have no record of her first foal, Lucifer, having won a race, but between 1886 and 1599 she had eleven others, all of which have been returned winners. Vogengang. amongst other events, won the Middle Park Plate, C.J.C. Champagne Stakes, and the Wellington Cup. and Ben Farley the C.J.C. Midsummer Handicap. Ail her stock have shown pace. Psyche has been the most successful daughter of Anteros at the stud, and descends from the same taproot as Pungawerewere, indeed is half sister to that mare, who has done so much for the Wellington Park stud. Daughters of Psyche and Pungawerewere should prove good matrons. It must be allowed that Mr D. O'Brien has stuck gamely to the pastime ho loves so well. At one time that owner could not go wrong; all the luck seemed to come his way. hut “the good old colours that never were struck.” to quote Lindsay Gordon, "the rose and black strrpcs,— have not been seen to the fore often in late years, and indeed for a long period no owner in the colonies could have found the fates so unkind. During the interregnum between winning, which extended to about three years, Mr O’Brien told me it had cost him over £700) Even allowing that an owner has been fortunate enough to make a lot of money at the racing game, it takes a bit of pluck to keep at it when the fates go on proving unkind year after year. Military’s success the other day at Taranaki was well received, though that gelding was not fancied to any extent by the public. An Australian exchange says that Mr W. N. Willis Is getting together a useful lot of horses to the order of someone in South Africa. No doubt, people over there can see that the war is pretty sure to terminate shortly. When it comes to an end, there will be a great Influx of people from all parts, and as the past shows racing is the popular sport there, good horses will not only have a chance of winning good prize money, but they will sell readily. One of Mr Willis’ purchases is Newry, by Abercorn from Kilmorley. imported, and now in Mr Leonard Marshall’s stud. Newry has amply demonstrated that he can gallop, but the writer says, ‘’like the majority of those got by Abercorn. he is not always in the humour. About the best performance that stands to Newry’s name is the winning of the Members* Handicap at Rand-

Wick with 7.12. when Rock Gun, 8.7. was second. ”

The V.R.C. recently had to deal with complaints of owners as to the treatment of their horses iaa and Clanside in the Newmarket Handicap, but treated the matter lightly, and elected not to refer to the handicapper. At a country meeting in Australia on January 28th a mare called Miss Gladstone was saddled up four times in the day. won twice, and ran second twice, finishing up with a win. Miss Gladstone Is evidently composed of tough material. City Tattersall's Club in Sydney (says an exchange) has eliminated from its rules the provision permitting complaints being entertained from non-members. The reason for this was that the different race clubs now hear all cases and protect the public. According to an American writer, the Percy Gray I.aw. which since 1895 has made It a crime to make a book on the races in the city, yet permits bookmaking on the racecourse, is about to bo put on trial tor Ils life in the United States Circuit Court. The result should be interesting.

Proceedings are pending against the Pahialua Racing Club by the owner of Tlrea for the value of two races in which that goldlng was not allowed to start at the recent meeting. The question is one for the racing authorities to determine, not the law courts. The question Is a dimple one as to whether Tlrea had parted with his hack qualification or not. Birkenhead, whose arrival In the colony has already been referred to in these columns, and whose performances have been given also, is said to be a nice sort of horse. By Orme, son of Ormonde, he is come right on the sire’s side, while his dam Tragedy is by Ben Battle, sire of Bendigo, from Whlto Witcft by Masslnissa from Jeu des Mots by King Tom from Jeu d'Esprit. Mention has been made of the fact that a number of horses have been purchased in Australia for South Africa. Newry ■was added to the catalogue after he easily won his race at the S.T.C. meeting, and later on Golden Ring, a useful mare over a middle distance, was secured, as well as Pryte, Gay Gordon. Ranjitsinhjl, Cast Iron, Camiloch, Bydus, Metal Maid, Sal us, Truthful, and several racing galloways. They will be shipped from Sydney for South Africa in a few days. The success of Gratia, says the “Referee,” in referring to that filly's recent victory at Rosehill, draws pointed attention to th® fact that Wallace has sired a number of very smart youngsters racing this season. His fillies especially are going to keep him In the forefront among the successful stallions, and he has already such good, ones as Heloise and Independence on his list. Then Beanba won the Oaks, and Ceres won a two-year-old race at Rosehill. The continual dropping of water, it is said.will wear a hole in the hardest stone. A confrere In a Southern paper, dealing with the question of appointing paid stipendiary stewards, says “the clubs one by one are drifting in this direction, and it la only a matter of time for the appointment of paid assistant officials to become general.” The subject Is a very old one, but advocates in New Zealand of this system have grown tired of Irving to impress clubs with the advlsableiiess of making such appointments. Evidently the paying of two dividends has not taken well in South Australia. An Adelaide writer says that the committee of the S.A.J.C. need not regret having adhered to the old principle of paying ono tolalisator dividend at its recent meeting. Not a single complaint was heard at Morphettvllle, while at the Anniversary Meeting at Victoria Park tho objections to the dual dividend were numerous, and emanated from the public and owners alike. This is confirmation of opinions previously expressed from another quarter. Most people would be pleased at Mr Dan O'Brien's success in the Autumn Handicap at Taranaki with Military. The win seems to have been quite unexpected, however, as the son of Light Artillery paid the excellent dividend of £l5 18/. I have been expecting Military to reward Mr O'Brien for keeping him so h ng. There was not much merit in the performance, but he may go on and do better now that he ha.s started winning again. Since winning the Cha'lenge Stakes at Rlccarton as a two-year-old Military has failed to score until Thursday. He has not been raced a great deal which Is something in hts favour. He ran four times as a two-year-old and nine times last season. By winning the Midsummer Handicap at the Canterbury Jockey Club's Meeting on Thursday, Dundas, who has proved always, very brilliant, but too often faint hearted, has rewarded Ills owner for sticking to him, though he .ame nearly parting with the son of Perkin Warbeck II two months ago. Mr J 9.’P r l™ ,n of Taranaki, wanted him, and bM £3OO, but would not spring a little on that price, nnd so no business resulted There was very little between would bo buyer and seller. It was the Inten'lon of Mr O'Driscoll to have put Dundas over hurdles had he got hint. Dundas was evidently in a galloping humour, for he covered the distance In 2.3 R 3-5 and won by eight lengths from Fulmen. Tn n special article dealing with bettTng as a business, “Martindale" In the •Town nnd Country Journal" has the following:—“Slowly, but surely, the book-

maker, bo far as Australia generally Is concerned, is being beaten. It was all very well when he was opposed tn the way of backers by only what might be termed gentlemen amateurs. It Is different now. The whole business o£ horseracing is on a professional basis. Practically no one is doing much good. A number of people are living on the business just the samd as by any other. At times an individual realises a handsome • urn, so might a speculator at any other business. The tact of the matter is that things are cut so rtno now that if a bookmaker can make what may bo termed decent wages after paying his clerk and all other expenses, it is about as much as he can, taking the year round.”

Time was when Dunedin was looked upon as the best betting centre in the colony, when more money was wagered over the Dunedin Cup than any race in New Zealand. Things have changed. The Dunedin Jockey Club have waged war against the bookmakers and layers of the odd*, and racing has gone back sadly. Now a crusade is being made there against the tolalisator by some church people. Two prominent racing men were discussing the position the other day, when one of th? number was heard to say that the Dunedin Jockey Club would not feel it very much if they were to lose the tolalisator altogether, the receipts from that source having fallen so low. It is to be hoped that racing will take a fresh lease of life In Otago, tor there can be no doubt that the decadence of racing there has had a weakening effect upon clubs in Canterbury, which received considerably more support from owners further South in times gone bj r than at present.

Colonial sires are playing an important part in the studs at Home and In America, and New Zealanders will always evince an interest in the doings of any bred In this part of the world. The following is taken from tho “Sportsman” anent a recent visit to the Cobham Stud: —“The stallions all looked wonderfully well and in capital trim for the approaching stud season. First of all we came across Merman and Aururn being ridden round the straw bed in the paddock. Old Merman has put on flesh and thickened into a shapely sire, and Aurum was full of life and go. BUI of Portland, dark brown, with only a small star of white, was muscular, and reminiscent in appearance of his great sire, St. Simon. His subscription list is full. Trenton’s flowing lines always command attention, and it is difficult to realise that he is now well on in his teens. Abercorn, last but not least, completed the tale of sires, and looking at him it is easy to understand why Carbine was three times beaten by him at weight-for-age.”

New Zealand Tod Sloan, L. H. Hewitt, was much In evidence at the Canterbury Jockey Club's Summer Meeting on Thursday, when that rider piloted four winners. Cruciform in the Middle Park Plate had an easy victory, and Dundas probably all the better for being ridden in American style appears to have made a runaway race of the Midsummer Handicap. Then Greek Maid won the Lyttelton Plate, after a good race, in the hands of the same horseman, who, to finish up with, landed the aged Vandyke a winner in the Craven Plate by a bare head from the favourite Glenogle. Another horseman who showed to advantage was the veteran Derritt, who rode Lapidary and Antigone, the first two winners, each of them paying good dividends, and finished second on Fulmen In the Midsummer Handicap to Dundas, and second on Lapidary in the Farewell Handicap. Jones and Cahill each won a race, and were each prominent in other events. McClusky rode two close seconds and a third, and J. Pine and Rickaby each a second and third. Other jockeys to secure place honours were James, Manning, Wilson and Secular.

Betting affairs are much duller than than they used to be at this time of year (says a Sydney exchange of the Bth inst.), and Mr Oxenham says that he never knew them to be so bad during his lengthy connection with the ring. There is, however, always a little doing on horses which had previously been befriended on a comparatively large scale. Aurous, who was elected favourite for the Nowmarket Handicap when the weights appeared, but lost her place early in the week, is back in her old position, and yesterday the best offer to money was 100 to 8. But she is only a point more in request than Insect. Man-o’-War, Carinthia, Sir Foote, and Tip-top, about each of which it is difficult to get a better figure than 100 to 7, and unkss something unforeseen occurs some of the collection will further shorten. The flying Ibex is firm at 100 to 6; so are Juindo and Drawbridge nnd the best offer against The Victory is 100 to 5. The Australian Cup has not attracted much attention, backers as a rule preferring to wait until they have got through with the shorter event; but Revenue has been supported at G to 1. Haymaker at 8 to 1. and small Investments are reported in favour of Blue Metal, United States, Man-o’-War, and Horace at 100 to 8.

In an article dealing with handicapping t.roub’es. prompted no doubt through the complaints of owners who felt that their horses had boon allotted too much weight on the form they have shown the “Australasian says it cannot call to mind any case in which an Inquiry has resulted in favour of tho aggrieved owner, and then assorts that no flagrant mistake has ever been proved. This, of course, refera to cases that have been brought before the clubs, but have not flagrant mistakes been made and referred to tn tho columns of the sporting papers, the “Australasian” amongst others? Ow-

ners whose horses are unfairly treated as a rule are reluctant to make public their troubles. A tew in my experience who have done so would have been much better had they left it alone. Far better to go and Interview the handicapper and try and reason matters out, some will say, but satisfaction is not always got In that way. as a Southern friend of mine knows. Feeling that one of his horses had received more than its fair share of weight, he repaired to the handicapper. and told him his mind in a quiet way. After listening for sonic time, the weight adjuster In characteristic style said: “It's no use, man: you know damn well you can win."

Looking at the way Mr Knight has previously handicapped Ding Dong and at that gelding's running. It is hard to understand why he should have come in for such distinction at the Rotorua meeting as compared with other horses. For Instance, with Evert, whom he has previously been asked to meet by the same weight-adjustor on very much different terms. Ding Dong’s owner has good reason to complain. There is not much fault to be found with the handicaps generally as far as the form or the 'better known horses of those engaged can be folio-wed, but when horses are engaged in two races of the same distance and the handicap Is started with one horse at the same weight in both events, why should tho other horses not be treated correspondingly? Can anyone explain? The Inconsistencies are not very pronounced, but they are Inconsistencies ail the same. To come to actual figures. Honesty received 9.8 in the Tourists’ Plate and 9.8 in the Electric Handicap, both races six furlongs; Hector received 7.8 in both events; while Sly Miss received 31bs less in the Electric than In the Tourists' event, and lota 21bs more—a difference of 51bs. Mr Knight gave Cavalry the same weight In the Rotorua Cup as in the Electric Handicap, but strangely six other horses claiming engagements in both events are asked to meet him on from 21bs to Gibs better terms in the Cup than in the shorter events. The appointment of a Track Committee at Randwick has been hailed with satisfaction, and is thus referred to by “Chevalier” in the “Town and Country Journal”:— "The visit of such men must do no end of good, and there is little doubt but what we shall eventually see something done in the matter of having a training track laid down at Randwick on good, sound lines. My contention is that, with so many horses in work, it is an utter impossibility to have a grass track that will stand the wear and tear. What is more, I am dead against tan tracks. The latter may be all very well for slow work, but when It comes to galloping at their top, 1 think tan gallops have in the past ruined many good horses. To my thinkIng no better kind of track could be wished than that at Flemington. If we have a similar one laid down at Randwick, with a good rubble foundation, there will never be any necessity for our trainers to be going elsewhere. Pipes could be laid on all round, so that when required it could be thoroughly 'watered. With such a track for general work, the cinders, tan, for wet weather, and inside grass track and the course proper for winding-up purposes, there should be little left to grumble at. Strange to say,it is the training tracks at the racing head-quarters of the English Jockey Club, Newmarket,that are now giving the committee tho greatest amount of trouble." Though there have been many flyers of the same family, and winners of

other classic races, no descendant of the great Pulchra family had won the Middle Park Plate since Lady Evelyn won in 1884 until Cruciform scored on Thursday. What a lot of high class two and three year olds have won that race. The names of Carbine, Maxim, Russley, Gold Medallist, Strowan. First .Lord, Vogengang, Dunkeld, Lakeshell, Bloodshot, Screw Gun, Conqueror and Menschlkoff are those of the colts that have won, and all fine colts too. Then in addition to Lady Evelyn and Cruciform those good fillies Florrie and Rose Argent were winners. Menscnikoff holds the record for the race, viz., I.H, and Cruciform’s time, easily’ accomplished, Is better than any of the other fillies have done. Looking over the tables of previous winners I find that on twelve occasions two year olds have been successful, and on seven occasions three year olds have scored. Bloodshot is the only winner whose sire also won the race, and the only one who appropriated the stake at two and also at three years old. Mr G. G. Stead has won the race twelve times, and bred six of the winners, including Bloodshot, and Imported Pulchra, maternal ancestress of the first and last winners. In connection with the race it is worthy of remark that while Derrett has caught the judge’s eye first on eight occasions, no other jockey has ridden more than one winner. Battleaxe is said to have run two of the best races of his life at the Taranaki meeting. The Shannon, on the Egmont handicapping of Mr Henrys, was that weight-adjuster’s first tip, and next to The Shannon, Battleaxe. The Shannon, however, ran unplaced. St. Michael, who beat The Shannon in the Wellington Cup and was next day beaten by Mr Watts’ mare, caught it hot at the hands of Mr Henrys in the C.J.C. Midsummer Handicap. When we come to look back upon the form of Coronet at Takapuna, after his Taranaki display, and to turn to the running of Bluejacket at Takapuna, and of that horse, Nonette, St. Michael, Battleaxe, and Coronet at the Auckland Racing Club’s Summer Meeting, the form looks somewhat confusing. Battleaxe on his best days, which are rare, may be better than he gets credit for. Coronet has always had th® reputation of being somewhat unreliable, but one thing is certain, and that is that Bluejacket has been much over-rated in Auckland judged through his best form this season, and that St. Michael, good four-year-old as he is, and Nonette, useful three-year-old as he has proved, can each be asked to do too much in the way of weight-giving. Had St. Michael started in the C.J.C. Midusmmer Handicap he would have had to put up a record mile and a-half performance to carry his 10.3 home In front of Dundas, and Tortulla would probably have failed to give Battleaxe lOlbs in the Taranaki Cup. A two-year-old filly, Gratia, by Wallace from Loch Ness, by Lochiel. from Nonsense, the brilliant but somewhat uncertain daughter of Albany, who ran Tasman to a head for the first New Zealand Cup, came out at Rosehill on the Ist of the month and won the Nursery Handicap from eleven others, having four lengths the best of the pair that finished second and third. Gratia was practically an unknown quantity until she appeared at the post. Then her connections supported her, and the public followed the stable, making ner first favourite. In an article headed “Betting Business,” “Martindale” J n the Sydney ”Tcvn and Country Journal” refers- to the changes betting has undergone in Australia in recent years, and by way of illustrating how the public follow the

lead of stables, says: “No better instance of the difference between the way in which horses are backed now and what they were years ago could be than the Nursery Handicap last Saturday at Rosehill. Here we have a fitly starting, who not only has no reputation, but whose name is almost unknown; in fact, was known to but few on the course. Starting against her were several well known? cnes, but the public did not lack them. No, they waited, and, seeing s’ao’a money go on the unknown one, followed the lead. Very keen, too, are the public at this. Occasionally they may make a little mistake, but It is rarely, and eight times out of ten they are right. In this instance Gratia was a g 00.7 thing, and won. Now a few years ago that filly would only have been ba?ked by the stable, and the others would have found such support that the race, in place of being a bad one for the bookmakers, would have been a good one.’* It has been an open secret for some time that the Hon. J. D. Ormond was in search of another sire for his stud itt Karamu. One of the horses submitted was Paleface, a son of St. Simon, but this horse was declined a few months ago. Now comes word that, accompanying the Messrs Nathan’s recent purchase, San Francisco, on the Karamea from England was the five year old horse Birkenhead, by Orme from Tragedy, for the Hawke’s Bay stud master. Birkenhead, who was nominated by Captain Greer, had twelve valuable engagements at two years old, but did not run. His first essay at three years old was in the Two Thousand Guinea Stakes, won by Flying Fox, Caiman seoond, and Trident third. His next appearance was in the Princess of Wales’ Stakes of 71S0sovs, won by Flying Fox, Royal Emblem second, and Nlnus third. Was unplaced in the St. George’s Stakes at Liverpool to Sweet Marjorie, Flambard second, and Hearewood third. In this race odds of 9 to 4 were laid on Birkenhead. Carrying top weight, 8.4. in a field of twenty, i.i the Rivemead Handicap at Kempton Park, was again unplaced. At four years old at Kempton Park in the Stewards’ Handicap, carrying 8.7, and ridden by M. Cannon, he won, running the six furlongs in 1.14 2-5, and beating sixteen others, fourteen of the number in receipt of weight. In the Portland Plate at Doncaster, carrying 9.5, finished outside a place in a field of fifteen, two older horses only being more heavily handicapped. Carrying top weight was unplaced in the Richmond Plate at Kempton Park in a field of thirteen runners. The way in which Birkenhead was started for important races and handicapped, rather than the actual iorm shown, is an indication that he was thought a good deal of.

The thoroughbred horse San Francisco intended for stud purposes at the Messrs Nathan’s Sylvia Park stud, arrived by the s.s. Elingamite from Wellington on Sunday night, and was met by H. Wilson, the stud groom, and taken to Mr C. D. Halstead’s stables, and put up for the night. This morning he was led to his future home. San Francisco is a well bred horse of medium size, and coming of a good family will ba given opportunities of proving his worth as a sire, as there are no doubt in the collection of mares at Sylvia Park some that will be found to mate well with the new arrival, who was landed in excellent health. San Francisco appears to be a horse of fine disposition. He is a dark bay in colour, with a white star and streak a,nd three white legs, just nicely marked.