TURF NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVIII, Issue XXI, 24 May 1902, Page 1009

TURF NOTES.

“Teriinga” says Mr A. Miller has a worthless lot of horses racing just now.

Mazurka, the dam of Shannon Lass, the Grand National winner, is said to have won 28 races.

A gelding called The Peer, and said to have won forty races in Tasmania, was sold recently for £2O.

Volcano, 12.7, figured as top weight amongst the steeplechasers engaged at Rosehlll on Saturday week.

Gobo has been more In favour than The Guard during the past week for the Great Northern Steeplechase.

The third prize In Tattersall’s Adelaide Cup sweep amounting to £153, fell to Mr Stringer of the s.s. Rotomahana.

Tresliam has received a little support In doubles during tne week, coupled with Gobo and Cavaliero.

In ten years nearly five million pounds have been given to the poor of France as a result of a tax on betting.

A Dunedin penciller has been laying the Auckland double, according to the Otago “Witness,” at 100 to 1, any way not gone.

The Victorian cross-country jockey, J. 8. Edge, contemplates retiring from the saddle, and engaging in farming near W arrnambool.

Geraldine, by Sir Daniel, son o£ Daniel O'Rourke, was sold on Friday by the New Zealand Doan and Mercantile Agency for 25J guineas.

It is reported that Tresham has changed ownership, but is to remain In J. B. Williamson's hands. The name of the purchaser has not transpired. The Hawke's Bay Jockey Club's Winter Meeting is to be commenced on Coronation Day. June 26th., instead of on the 25th as previously fixed.

The dates of the Wanganui Jockey Club's Winter Meeting have been altered to the 22nd and 23rd May, instead of the 23rd and 24tb, as previously fixed.

The V.B.C. Committee. at its next meeting, will consider the advisableness of holding a race meeting at Flemington on 'Coronation Day.

During the week a cable message was sent informing Mr Dovett's representative that owing to the bad weather it had been decided not to ship Hohoro to Sydney.

It is stated that the A.J.C. intend following the example of the V.R.C. and V.A.T.C., and an electrical gong and timing apparatus will be one of the next Improvements at Randwick.

The Auckland Trotting Club, after hearing further evidence in connection with the complaint against the jockey Jenkins for alleged foul riding, decided to dismiss the charge.

Cruciform, on Thursday, added to her winnings the Ashburton County Stakes, thus bringing her total winnings this season to £3,755. No three-year-old filly has ever won so much money in one season in New Zealand.

The system of paying first and second horses on the totallsator has not been altogether a success in Tasmania, and it was decided to pay on first horses only at the Tasmanian Racing Club Winter Meeting this month. Regalia 11. started in the Sydney Turf Club Handicap at Randwick on the 3rd inst., but stumbled at an early stage, and was never dangerous. The winner, Horace, had been racing for four seasons without success.

The V.R.C. handicapper, Mr F. F. Dakin, has, owing to the pressure of otherwork, resigned his position as handicapper to the Moonee Valley Club, Oaklands Hunt Club, Melbourne Hunt Club, and Bunlnyong Turf Club. The well-known Australian galloway Clnderellen (daughter of Mr D. Twohlll's old mare Cinderella, who was taken to Australia about'ls years ago. from Auckland) is now In Ireland. She is in foal to St. Aldan, and next season will probably be mated with Bill of Portland.

When Mr B. Alien gave 1000 guineas for Caledonia, it was thought that he bad paid a stiff price for that horse, but recently at the South Australian Jockey Club’s Meeting he won the Elder Stakes, and got back a big slice of his cost.

The New Zealand gelding Etang, by Jet d’Eau from Bonnie Idee, in the nomination of Mr J. F. Atkinson, recently won the Warrnambool Welter Handicap by a head, beating 16 others. Etang is four years old, and last, season started 11 times, winning twice in the nomination of J. Maher, the well-known trainer.

The Australian-bred jumper Ebor, once owned by Mr Spencer Gollan, took part in a two-mile steeplechase at the Maiden Erleigh (Eng.) meeting, on March 27. He carried top-weight, 12st, was not quoted In the betting, and did not complete the course.

A trainer on Friday informed me that during the past ten years he had never seen the Ellerslie racecourse exercise grounds so much cut up, and so much water about. Probably there has not been so much rain there in the month of May in so short a time as during the past ten days.

At a recent meeting at Sandown Park, Victoria, a gelding called Lance, by the Auckland-bred Fusilier, won the Trial Handicap. Afterwards It was found that he was entered as a four-year-old Instead of a five-year-old, and as being from Miss Grandee instead of Miss Grand, anti a protest has been lodged for misdescription.

The water jump has been abolished at the Moonep Valiev course. according to “Ravensworth,” in the “Otago Witness.” It has lent variety to steeplechases there, but has been responsible for several horses being Injured. It was never a very formidable affair, but a good many borses ricked their backs through failing to clear It properly.

According to “Ajax/’ the Victorian correspondent of the Sydney “Referee.” a horse called Maori, said to hail from New’ Zealand, and owned by Sir Frederick Sargood, has gone into G. P. Brewer’s hands, to be tried over fences. It is stated that Maori has done duty as a carriage horse.

The way in which Carbine’s sons and daughters are performing this season in England must be as gratifying to his present owner, the’Duke of Portland, as the news is pleasing to all colonials, Aucklanders in particular, as it was at Sylvia Park where good “old Jack” first saw the light.

Highlanders name is missing from the acceptances for the Grand National Hurdle Race. It was only the other day that we were told that he was jumping well. Another of the horses hitherto known only on the flat who was talked of as a likely runner, but who has not been paid up for, is Strathnairn.

The Messrs Keene, who are looked upon as being the most successful students of breeding in America (says an exchange) are firm in their allegiance to Americanbred sires, and the majority of their bestlooking two-year-olds are by native-bred horses, such as Kingston and Ben Brush. As a rule, however, English-bred horses imported to America show’ much more quality' than the locally-bred article. It is the same in Australia.

D. Brazil, who was warned off in connection with the steeplechase frauds at New Orleans (America), has (says an exchange) been reinstated. He has proved that he was invited to join the jockeys’ ring, but declined. They, therefore, made a dead set for him, and saw to it that he should not win, no matter how gcod his mount might be.

The tracks at Ellerslie have been unfit to work upon for several days past owing to the bad weather we have been experiencing. It is hoped by trainers that during the coming week they will be allowed to use the grass gallop, and at least have a gallop on the outside of the course proper. Some of them have been working their horses in paddocks near One-Tree Hill, and a good many have been trotted about the roads.

Of late the official stand at Randwick has been rather extensively patronised by ladies, according to the Sydney “Referee,” and at last week’s A.J.C. Meeting, it was decided that in future their admission without payment would be prohibited. The committee’s action will be appreciated by the sterner sex, as there seemed a danger of .the ladies fairly crowding them out. Of course, those members who have been in the habit of bringing three or four lady friends Into the stand mey not be pleased, but that does not matter. The writer does not express any opinion as to bow the ladies will view the position.

The Royal suite of apartments in the club stand at Epsom have (says an English authority) been re-furnished and redecorated magnificently, and an electric lift has been constructed, at a cost of about*£2ooo. to carry the Royal visitors to their rooms on the second floor. The Royal apartments consist of a diningroom. kitchen. Queen’s drawing and retiring rooms, and King’s retiring-room. Altogether, about £3OOO has been expended on the alterations and improvements.

A correspondent of a southern exchange relates that on the 3rd inst., a horse, the property of Mr McAlpine* walked up to the front door of the Bower Hotel, New Brighton, Canterbury, and dropped dead. Shortly afterwards, a valuable trotting colt, the property of Mr Mulrolland. went to the trough in the yard to drink, and becoming frightened. ran into the stalls of a dray standing in the yard, and died immediately. Mr Mulholland has had very hard luck with his horses.

The Wanganui Jockey Club received 14 acceptors for their 400st>vs Steeplechase, and 10 for the Century Hurdle Race.which is worth 300sovs. The meeting commences on Thursday next, and much interest will attach to the running jn the majority of the jumping contests, seeing that most of the likely competitors are engaged at the North New Zealand Grand National Meeting. Walwera and Gobo in the Hurdle Race and Waiwera and Moifaa in the Steeplechase are most to my fancy. The Takapuna Jockey Club will open their Winter Meeting on Saturday next, and judging by the fine acceptances received the meeting bids fair to be a successful one, always providing the weather is favourable. There are 10 in the Birthday Handicap,l2 in the First Hurdle Handicap. nine of that number being engaged in the Grand National Hurdle Race: while of the 15 acceptors in the Steeplechase a round dozen claim an engagement In the Great Northern Steeplechase. The other races show like results. Tn a future Issue I shall indicate my fancies. On Saturday morning Cavaliero, Rufus, and Tim were schooled on the course proper over hurdles. It was merely a working gallop so far as the two last-named were concerned, but Cavaliero was sent along strongly. In the afternoon Tresham went more freely than Royal Conqueror and Haydn in a two-mils gallop over six hurdles, the fifth flight of which Tresham missed. Haydn, ridden right out, finished in front on sufferance. The going was very holding, and the time slow. While this gallop w'as in progress Cannongate went twice round the steeplechase course. Hector accompanying him part of the journey, but stopped at the sod wall. Little Wonder and Firefly, each alone, were schooled over the small hurdles.

A local penciller, out of the fullness of hi« heart towards his numerous patrons, has been letting all his regular customers have a chance of picking the double. Great Northern Steeplechase and New Zealand Grand National Hurdle Race, at the liberal odds of ten pounds to nothing. Another is doing business ton a ncvel system. He lays the odds, paying on the winners or on a Ist and 2nd, or a Ist and 3rd in the proportions of SO per c«*nt. on Ists, 15 per cent, on Ists and 2nds. and 5 per cent, on Ists and 3rds combinations. Most of the pencillers are complaining that there is not a great deal doings but one with a £5OO double has already £2OO in, and has not operated to any extent against Southern horses.

It is in the blood of Irishmen to own jumping horses. Shannon Lass, ihe winner of the Liverpool Grand National, Is Irish-bred. She first ran as a three-year-old. both on the flat and over hurdles, in the colours of Mr E. C. Irish, but it was not until she w’as purchased by her present owner. Mr Gorham, that she could claim a winning bracket. That was as a four-year-old, and the more then won thrice in succession. She continued to run consistently, several times, however, finishing second: but in winning the Great Shropshire Steeplechase last year she defeated Drumcree, Gangbridge, and several others. This year, prior to securing the Grand National. Shannon Lass filled three engagements, each time being placed.

Mr J- H. Pollock, of Wellington, who has had considerable experience in racing, and who for many years furnished anticipatory handicaps for some of the leading races in New Zealand for comparison with those of several handicappers. has decided to offer his services as a weight-adjuster to any clubs that may want a handicapper. and has Issued a circular to that effect. There is a feeling that the handicapping of horses in New Zealand is in too few hands, that work is given to some handicappers who have already more than they can give their attention to. Mr Pollock has been recommended by a number of leading horseowners to take the step he is doing, and Messrs Henrys and Evett, the well-known handicappers, are amongst those who, he says, have generously put in a good word for him.

Mr J Atevens. M H.R., has been successful in’ getting together five hundred horses for the Imperial Government, and most of these have been secured in the Auckland province, and ar© described as s good all-round, even lot. There can bo no question about the sunny North as horse-producing districts. It is really a matter for surprise to many where all the remounts have come from. It may interest some of my readers to learn that from a compilation made by the Government there were no fewer than 270 sire horses at the service of breeders? within ♦be old provincial boundaries of Auckland over a year ago, when the statistics were compiled. My readers will not infer that they were all thoroughbreds. It is to be hoped that the information pos-

seaaed by the Government will be turned to good account it would be interesting to know what proportion of this formidable array of entire horses are flrstclass. and how many belong to the garden variety or common herd. We asually hear of the good ones, but the Inferior sorts are too often only found «n the back-blocks, just where good horses art badly wanted to improve the breed. A letter received from a trooper of the Eighth Contingent says that only a dozen horses were lost on the voyage, and that Veterinary Clayton was walking on his toes a proud man. Apropos of reinounta. the following letter appeared in the London “Daily Mail" of March 21Nearly 50 per cent, of the remounts landed in South Africa were lost owing to the fact that their lung tails were at once docked The result was that the horses were worried by flies, sickened, and died. I personally remonstrated with one of the responsible officers, but was promptly told to mind my own business, and mockingly asked if I wanted to go and take charge at Pretoria.—Remounts.” The acceptances received last night by the Auckland Raring Club for the Great Northern Steeplechase and the Grand National Hurdle Race are highly satisfactory. This comes of a liberal policy in endowing such races. Mr Evett must feel on the best of terms with himself at the result. Twenty-one out of twentyeight is a splendid response for the Great Northern Steeplechase, and twenty-five out of forty-four for the Grand National Hurdle Race may be considered very good indeed. The big half of the horses in the cross country event hail from outside Auckland, but of the twenty-five still in the Hurdle Race, the greater number are locally owned and trained. The material for excellent contests is well provided, and it may be taken for granted that the fields will be good. The welter and open handicap races have alj filled well, so also the maiden jumping contests, both over hurdles and country; indeed the general entries are amongst the best that the Auckland Racing Club have had the good fortune to receive, and they are to be congratulated upon the support owners continue to bestow.

The following Is a list of the moat successful three-year-olds during a period of ten years in New Zealand: 1892-3, St. Hippo (St. Ix'ger—Hippona), £2800; 1893-4, Skirmisher (Vanguard—Oulda), £1321, 1,894-5. Casket (Castor —Bangle), £1187; 1895-6, EuroclydoK (Gorton—Lady Gertrude), £2o9u; 1896-7, St. Paul (St. —Satanella). £1406; 1897-8, Multiform (Hotchkiss —Formo). £2144; 1898-9. Altair (Castor— Cissy), £1406: 1899-1900, Advance (Vanguard—Laurel), £3251; 1900-1, Renown (Dreadnought—Lyrebird). £3185; 1901-2. Nonette > (Seaton Delava’—Charonte), £4052. “On Looker.” In referring to this list, mentions that Nonette holds the record for this colony. Cruciform is likely to add to the £3635. which is her record th!.; season, and her total has never been earned by a three-year-old filly. The report is revived that Mr R. J. Mason, for many years private trainer to Mr G. G. Stead, contemplates settling in Auckland. A correspondent of a Southern paper has compiled from the “Turf Register” a list of the amounts won’by Mr Stead’s horses and trained by Mason during the past ten years. Here it is:—

Mason has, however,been training for Mr Stead for a longer period than ten years, and commencing with Lochiel’s year successes of horses trained by him have been remarkable. An accident happened at Eagle Farm (Brisbane) Racecourse on May 1, during the morning gallops, by which a wellknown racing gelding Ohio lost his life. Ohio, with the jockey Archer up, had cantered round once, and then, when opposite the stewards’ stand, began to play up. He dashed into a paling fence, falling on the jockey, who escaped with a shaking and a cut on the forehead. Ohio’s left patella was broken right through, and he was otherwise cut. With difficulty the horse was conveyed to the stables, and a veterinary subsequently declared his case hopeless, consequently Ohio was put out of his misery by a friendly bullet. Ohio, who was by Gozo fiom Procella, was bred at Tucka Tueka. and although a failure when tried in Sydney, he was a good performer in the Northern State, and was victorious in the Hotham Handicap at the last V.R.C. Spring Meeting.—“ Town and Country Journal.”

In commenting on the case of a horse which won a race recently in Victoria, but which was afterwards disqualified because the rider could not draw the weight. the Melbourne “ Sportsman ” tells the following about Richmond’s A.J.C. Derby, for which race the late Jack Thompson had backed Richmond to win him a “ton of money Knowing how flue Eli Jellett always weighed out his jockeys, Jack was a little uneasy—so uneasy, in fact, that no went In search of Tom Hales, who had the mount, and inquired If all was serene in this respect. “ Weight to a feather.” came the reply. “Then, here,” said tho well-known fielder and down went four crown-pieces into the ego( Tom s boot. Of course Richmond won, the merest schoolboy knows that. But it takes one of the “ old brigade ” to explain amhl what suspense and breathless excltemen' the beam trembled. and then ro<e a little, and then a little mere, as poor

Riaichless Tom stood on the scales with •addle, bridle, dollars, and everythin* else included. It was a close call, but Jack Thompson's four crown-pieces had saved the situation.

An English paper says; “There is some idea of getting the chronograph as used by the V.K.C. at Flemington set up on some of the most up-to-date of English racecourses, it is quite certain that the timing of our races is every day becoming of more interest to racegoers, and that even our conservative trainers are admitting the vaiue of the time test in their trials. This being so, it is obvious that the electric timing can be the only method assuring absolute accuracy. The ’Special Commissioner’ in tha 'Sportsman' recently published a long letter from Messrs /T. Gaunt and Son describing the apparatus which they put up at Flemington and Caulfield, with full details about the way in which it is contrived and operated. It is said that tne first electric chronograph will be erected at the new meeting in Phoenix Park, in Dublin. If so, It is certain to be followed by such meetings as Sandown, Kempton, Hurst Park, etc. So, perhaps, after all, before many years are over with the startinggate, electric timing, nicely got-up race programmes, etc., an Australian who visits the Old Country will not have so much just cause to complain of the antiquated style of the general arrangements.”

The " Sydney Mail,” which is strongly opposed to two-year-old racing, blames the V.R.C. for giving those extra races tor two-year olds at the spring meeting. •' Terllnga,” in the “ Australasian,” in referring to this, says plenty of Victorians who do not like to see youngsters run off their legs in the spring dislike these “ extra ” races, but I cannot see that they can be reasonably condemned unless .it is settled that we are fo have no two-year-old racing until the summer or autumn. With things as they are, we cannot expect that. It would be almost impossible to fill programmes without the two-year-olds, and if they were barred what would become of breeders? The ” Sydney Mail ” writers say that in the end breeders would profit by not selling their stock as yearlings*. I doubt this. Mr J. R. Smith, of Tucka Tucka, is patriotic enough to keep his back until they are three and four years old, but the result of his last sale was not by any means encouraging. H£ sent In well-bred and well-reared three and four-year-olds, but the sale was not a success. Owners and trainers who knew the value of Gozos and Metals were round the ring, but none of them would give as much for a fine three-year-old gelding as they would give for a yearUnnr weed.

There has (says a writer in the "Otago Witness ”) existed amongst many sportsmen a strong dislike to the first foals of a mare, and several instances can be quoted of many mares which have become famous matrons, and which, St their fame rested on the deeds of the’r fiist productions, would be considered rank failures at the stud. In New Zealand plenty of instances can be given in which the opposite has been the case. Templeton, the hero of many a hardfought battle, was the first foal of Belle uf the Isle, and Templeton was by far he best of his dam’s many foals. M>ss Delaval, although small and very lightboned. was a great mare on the turf, and she was the first foal of Campania. Mitrailleuse was the first foal of Eryclna, and the best known of her stock. Dudu was the first of Fame’s foals, and fe.w would say she was not *he best. Trenton was the first foal of Frailty, and his deeds as a racehorse and at the stud have earned that mare a name as a brood mare second to no e in Australasia at the present day. Many good horses followed after Trenton, but with him the first was undoubtedly the best. Antares was the first foal of Hilda, but Fulmen was her second, and one of the hardest to knock out that has ever raced in New Zealand. Betrayer was the first foal of Idalia, but with her next, Sir Modred, rests her fame as a brood mare. Melwood and Nobility were the first offspring of their dams, Ladybird and Lady Emily. Old Blizzard, who was foaled «n ’S«, and sorted silk last Easter av the Beaumont meeting, was the nfst of Lady Gertrude's long list of foals. Blizzard was a cut above the ordinary, but Euroclydon did not see the light until six years later. Thame was the first of the few foals Lady Mersay dropped, and Hohoro is the first from Lady Moth. Lady Lillian is the first of Lady Zetland’s offspring, and while she is a good mare at pi esent, many excellent judges consider that her will only be seen when more age has further matured the daugh ter of Phaethon. Ideal was the first of Mount Ida’s foals, and for her size there has not been seen many better on thto New Zealand turf. Marquis of Zetland war the first of Reverie’s foals, and was dropped when his dam was a three-year-old. The Marquis the reputatioh ot being a great liver, but the wear and tear of th® training track found him out. Dundas came next the following year, and he is still with us. True Blue was the first of Rose of Wellington’s foals, and while he wifi a. good horse, the fame of the mare rests on her latest production. Royal Artillery. Screw Gun ts another that has helped tr. make her name known as a brood mare on both sides of the world Scottish lonly had two foals prior to her death, and these were St. Andrew and Clanranald, both good horses on the turf, and they have also shown they can produce good stock since they have taken up stud duties. The following are the first foals of their dams, and they have proved their worth:—Waluku, Artillery. Tirant d'Eau, and Red Gauntlet, and no doubt many other cases could be quoted in which the first pro-

duction of a mare has proved to be the best. But in several cases the first foal has, although a proved good ’un, had himself eclipsed by the doings and fams of some of the mare’s later stock.

Looking over the pages of the “Natal Mercury (says “Martindale ') I learn that away In that distant part the Legls- , ar€ a,Jl>ear to be bent upon doing away with any sweeps drawn upon similar lines to our “Tattersall’s.” Touching upon the matter the paper states that the bill for the suppression of sweepstakes may be said to have passed, unless the ’•Lords,” in their superior wisdom, choose to alter ? r r^lT ct ’ but this is not considered like--15. vve consider the bill is too severe as regards the penalties and some of its provisions, but, in spite of this, we uannot ’ we are in the least degree sanguine that it will abate the gambling evil, and, indeed, we fear it may be going out of the frying-pan into the fire. The total!- ??, t 1 or is exempt from the provisions of the bill, or any other Gambling Act we have in the colony, because the totalisator is not technically a lottery. The difference from a moral point of view would, however, be more difficult to define than the legai difference, and, Indeed, so far as the bill is Intended to deal with gambling. It ,s sheer farce. It will suppress the public sweepstake in Natal, and lead, no doubt, to sweepstake offices being opened in Delagoa Bay. It will increase street betting, without a doubt, and add to the number of those who frequent the racecourse. The private sweepstake will be winked at, as is the case at Home, and secret gambling dens spring up, as they have done in other countries. The sweeps certainly require regulating, but we fear their suppression will do more harm than good, so far as gambling proper is concerned. The "Mercury’s” sporting writer. “Hotspur,” commenting upon the debate in Parliament, said t*he Prime Minister’s speech teemed with this one ideagambling of any and every description in which the rich man can indulge should be legal; minor gambling, which would allow of the poor man to participate,must be made illegal. To put it plainer, the mover of the second reading of. the bill says: Gamble in shares, in land, or any other source, back racehorses (only rich men can do this with impunity), gamble with cards for hundreds or thousands (a not uncommon practice)—in all this we give you carte-blanche; but when it comes to a form of gamble in which a man can try his luck with half-a-crown, or half-a-sovereign, acording to his funds no! here we object, and have resolved to put a stop to it.

The Paris correspondent of the London Sportsman” says that the Gambling Act in France Is a very severe and summary one. Everything contained on the premises where gambling takes place can be •elzed and sold for the benefit of the poor, while fine and perspective Imprisonment • wait the conviction of the keepers of gambling houses. There is a whole brigade of police told off for thei suppression of gambling and for tfie better protection of the Interests of the totalisator. Frequent raids have been made of late among those who did the starting-price business and took money up to the moment that the result of the race was known In Paris. There are no "tickers” here, and backers and layers depend on the different agencies for the required information. A day or so ago the keeper of a clandestine agency was hauled before the magistrate as an habitual offender under the Gambling Act. He occupied an apartment with the rent paid beforehand, and just a f6w chairs and benches for his customers, wl th the addition of a table for his own personal use. There was nothing to seize, and the Public Prosecutor was "down” on the defendant, who pleaded that the agency had brought him nearly to ruin. It appears that he had to do with some very sharp customers, who had some means of getting the winner early. They came into his place and always backed the winner. He at last discovered that a confederate, who managed to get the early information, signalled the winner to his friends by means of an organ-grinder, who played a certain tune.

Harry Cochran, who signed to ride for Mr W. C. Whitney at a salary of £3OOO, this year, made a record among jockeys last season (says "The World”) that will last for many a day. He rode In 1247 races—nearly 400 more than his nearest rival. Cochran was placed 527 times, a marvellous percentage and another record. In order to achieve this result Cochrane had to be almost continuously In the saddle. He never missed a day’s racing from New Orleans to Saratoga. At the latter place the first break came through an accident. He was thrown out of the saddle by one of John McCafferty’s horses in a mix-up on the first turn, and escaped death by a narrow margin. This laid him up for a week. During the past month the great strain on the boy’s constitution and nervous force began to tell on him. He failed to show the ability he had previously demonstrated, and lost race after race that he should have won. Just when his nervous system was all at sixes and sevens his parents decided to take him away from the track and give him a rest. He will go to Indian Territory and hunt and fish for two months, and then return to the East for the racing season. Cochran’s father manages him. He recently stated that he had broken Henry’s contract with Mr Whitney because there was a clause in It which allowed Mr Whitney to send the boy to England to ride if he chose. Mr Cochran, of course, has the boy’s interests at heart, but he has made many mistakes in his management. In the first place he kept him riding races too long, and the lad "staled” and lost his form. Then, again, he was

too particular. When Clarence Mackay wished to sign Harry at a big salary, Mr Cochran stipulated that be was not to gallop horses in the morning nor to sleep at the stable. Mr Mackay thought these conditions were ridiculous, and broke off all negotiations. i

In America, heavy betting takes place on events at some of the leading meetings, and at the close of last season, some of the doings of professional turf speculators was referred to by "The World” correspondent in the following terms;—

George Rose, the Californian penciller, won £lO,OOO, while his business rival, Eddie Burke, who often sat within a few feet of him, lost £25,000. These amounts represent the extremes of success and failure by the two largest operators in the betting ring of the Metropolitan racecourses. David Gideon was the largest individual winner. This well known plunger and horse owner relieved the bookmakers of £20,000 during the year. But for him and "Pittsburg Phil ” the bookmakers would have been enormous winners. Mr Gideon began., the season badly, and was a big loser at one time, but made up his early deficiency, and quit a large winner. His success was mainly due to several coups which he pulled off from the fall meeting at Sheepshead Bay, to the close of racing st Washington. His reliable old horse First Whip started his change of fortune by winning two heavy bets for him during the concluding days at Saratoga. This gave him confidence, and he backed Josepha, Clonmel, Namtor, and Carrington to win a fortune. The quartette won their respective races. Not a -? ai,ure was made - All were at large odds. Josepha’s highest odds were 30 to 1, Clonmel 12, Namtor 20, and Carrington 15. The bookmakers fear Mr Gideon more than any other plunger in the country. He is a clever judge of a horse, and he knows more about preparing a horse for a race than -half the trainers in the country. Under his careful tuA bree ° f . hi l. horses - His Highness, ’ and Re< l ul t ai . "'on as many a „ reeori3 »° man has achieved. £6MO hi?’ (Pltt sburg Phil) won 'I friends say. The bookmakers Phil „?^i/ eC ? re . d double tbat “mount. T nrofit 5- ° UP the season with a profit. His Jockey, Shaw, was very «nd e phn U l> ln ,, th , e^l lrSt period °f tl*e sporL and Phil backed bls mounts. He won various large sums throughout the season. His largest loss was when he bet at Sarat?*** 0 t°r n 1 to beat Yankp * ? aratoga - 11 he had 'not met with this serious reversal of fortune he would ba ™ W,tl ) Mr n,deon f °r the honours of first place.

rge R °se Is now the premier bookof A mertca. He daily handles f thousands of dollars where his rivals do not handle hundreds. The magnitude of his operations is scarcely of by the public. It is a common thing for him to handle £2OOO to a race. On busy days his “take” will record £15,000 to £16,000. He employs two cashiers, ™ r ®® to T faar outside men, and a sheetlt Is not generally known that M.- Rose was born and brought up In srand I Z?\ He n W4S 25 years o,d when he ed bls br - st raee - That was after he had taken the £2OOO hls father left him and started In business. He laid siege to the bookmakers’ bank accounts at first, and found he could not get any part of their money. Then he tried hls hand at owning a racehorse, and found there was more pleasure than profit in the sport. Disappointed with hls experiences on the turf, he sold out his business and went to California. There he made a book and lost his money. He worked hard dally until he had gathered togeTher a few hundred dollars. Then he opened a small book. Fortune smiled on him, and as his fortune increased he widened out hls business. Mr Rose was the first man to “discover” “Tod” Sloan’s ability in the saddle. When he had horses in California about seven years ago Sloan could not secure a mount. He put “Tod” up on his horses, and never had occasion to regret his choice. Sloan has never forgotten this friendly turn, and always calls on Mr Rose when he comes to America. Mr Rose is worth nearly a half million of dollars, the greater part of which was made laying odds against racehorses. ITe owns property In Brooklyn, New York. San Francisco, and -will soon have some at Sheepshead Bay. He Is negotiating for land there on which to build a summer home. Eddie Burke, who handles nearly as much money as George Rose, lost a fortune. He lost steadily throughout the season. When he went to Saratoga he was £12,000 to the bad, and he lost £BOOO at that meeting, which proved a "Waterloo” for all the layers. In the latter part of the season he lost £5OOO more, making £25,000 in All. Mt Burke's book is a syndicate affair, several men being interested In it. The principal backer is Edward Marks. So) Uchenstein won about £6OOO, his trip to Washington cutting down his early £lO,OOO profit just £4OOO. George Wheelock won £BOOO, but most of this was secured betting on Seth Low.

The committee of the Auckland Racing Club met on Monday for the transaction of ordinary business, and it was resolved that In future committee meetings should take place on the first Wednesday each month In future. Some licenses were dealt with. In view of the approaching Racing Conference, it was resolved to appoint a sub-committee. Including country delegates, to study the rules, as applied to hack racing, with a view to amending them in such manner as may be deemed advisable. There Is a feeling that the present rules are not giving 'satisfaction. Auckland Is

probably less affected by their operation than any part of the North Island. There are really bo few of these so-called hack events run for in the metropolitan district of Auckland, that it is really of little moment whether the rule is altered or not. so far as the Auckland Racing Club are concerned. I fancy, however, that the interests of owners and of breeders can be consulted by making changes. The present system has been on its trial just long enough for us to learn that many horses raced in country districts until they have won In the aggregate the stipulated sum which debars them from competing further in hack events are practically shut out from racing, being only tit to compete tn the most moderate company. The effect of the rule is to compel good horses to move Into better society after they have won a race or races of fixed sums, but for every one that graduates In this way that is of good class, and fit to go into the open races, there are scores that become disqualified from running- as hacks that are incapable of winning In open company. The first class hack comes through hls hack career finishing up very frequently with somewhere about in 0 on his back. The inferior hack may win just the same amount of money by goon luck, and may not have more than 7.0 when he is forced to leave a class in which he has not ranked as at all a conspicuous figure. & possibly be voted all 3.0 below some other horse that has parted with hls qualification for all but open events. Vnder . our handicapping system, it is impossible to give the inferior class hack a chance in open company, whereas the owner could have gone on racing him as long as he so desired in a class In w’hich he would have some little chance of competing with success. In attempting to give these inferior horses a chance in open company, good horses are occasionally unduly overburdened.

It is discouraging to breeders to find many highly-bred horses entered in and raced in so-called hack events before they have been legitimately tried In open company, and it would please many connected with the racing business and breeding interests were an embargo placed on all Stud Book pedigreed horses for hack racing purposes until they had raced unsuccessfully In open company up to the end of their three or four vear old careers, or had not started at all up to the periods mentioned. At one time the plan was to try horses in open company, and if found wanting to make hacks of them. For years past the order has changed. Our so-ealied hack races are made the stepping-stones to the bigger ones, and we have had many Instances during the present and recent seasons where owners have set horses they have had engaged in classic races to compete in hack races first. We have seen owners winning hack races one month and the next trying to win classic honours. We have seen horses competing in hack society at country meetings and then a few weeks later trying to win the New’ Zealand Cup. This sort of thing seems all wrong. The races set apart for hacks have helped to bring out many first-class horses, Including New Zealand and Auckland Cups winners, and years ago did a lot of good in encouraging owners of likely horses to give them a run to see if they gave promise; but nowadays it is only in a few isolated districts where hack racing as it was once conducted, is known.

The fool of the family is no longer regarded as good enough to make a parson of. Men of brains are wanted, and the conviction is forcing itself upon many that to win the hack races given by leading clubs requires something above the common herd, and that some of our racing men are laying themselves out to win such races, and often send their best maiden horses to compete in these events, we have evidence of frequently. What we want is a better system of classification of our horses, so that it will be unnecessary for handicappers to make such extreme differences as we recently saw at Avondale, where Hohoro gave from 381bs to 70Ihs -in weight and a -beating to a fair-sized field. This is taking an extreme case, some will say; but we have this season seen handicaps in which three-year-olds have been asked to give away more weight than ever three-year-olds were asked to do in previous seasons, and we have seen greater maximum imposts on an average throughout the season than in any other that the writer din think of. It is not because our best horses are so much superior to the best horses of some previous years, but because handicappers have had to try and give the rubbish of the country a chance in races for which they should by some rule be debarred from putting in an appearance. Racing and racing customs are changing, and we must continually be making conditions to suit the greatest number of our racing men and their horses. At one time handicaps were looked upon as only for inferior horses that could not win races under other conditions, and Admiral Rous laid it down that if the owners of the good ones would allow them to mingle with the common herd they must expect them to be lumped -with weight. Only under certain conditions can such a course be advocated, and that is when good races are provided for good horses to compete in, and their owners prefer to nominate them tor the minor events which are properly speaking meant only for an inferior class of horses to run for, though really open for all ■who may care to enter. The subject of classifying our horses opens up a lot of ground for argument, but our racing rulers should evolve some better system than the one in vogue at present

1892-3 .... £3,172 1897-8 ... £7.123 1893-4 .... £3.109 1898-9 ... £6.485 1894-5 ... £3.361 1899-0 ... £3.231? 1895-6 ... £3.609 1900-1 ... £7.1X5 1896-7 .... £5.614 1901-2 ... £12.105 Total £54.98®