Turf Gossips.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue I, 5 July 1902, Page 17

Turf Gossips.

By

WHALEBONE.

Sundial was sold at the Haymarket last Friday for £23 to Mr S. Morrah.

The New Zealand Grand National nominations are due on Friday.

The Swimmer is to be taken to Wellington, and afterwards to Christchurch for the Grand National meeting.

Royal Conqueror is likely to journey South to the Wellington and New Zealand Grand National meet*hgs.

Hippogriff, the ten-year-old three-quar-ter brother to St. Hippo, is engaged In a Ladies' Bracelet at Gisborne.

Tauhel Is a rare gool sort for hurdle racing, if she has not lost her form altogether.

Mr J. Bowman advertises his snug little racing property at Greenlane for lease or sale.

Mr H. Friedlander has purchased Firefly for breeding purposes from her ownertrainer, G. H. Franks.

Hylas and Doctor were shipped by the Te Anau for Gisborne on Saturday. Thev will probably go on to Wellington also. ‘

A race meeting is to be held at Newcastle in aid of the Deaf and Dumb Institute.

Boonal is a horse likely to run prominently in the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race.

Owing to The Guard not being paid up for in the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase, a few doubles have gone wrong.

“Pilot,'' in the Sydney “Referee," states that Rufus, the Auckland jumper, may be taken to Sydney ere long.

Holka and Sindhia were backed for the double, V.R.C. Hurdles and Steeplechase soon after the nominations were sent in.

The funeral of H. Underwood in Melbourne was largely attended by jockeys, trainers, and racing men.

J. Cameron, the New Zealand horseman, while schooling Volcanic recently at Randwick, had a fall and dislocated a shoulder.

The Duke of Westminster rode his own horse, Sprig of Shl'dciagn, in a maiden national hunt race recently, but could only finish third.

According to a Southern authority, J. Gainsford purposes returning to Auckland from Sydney and settling down here permanently.

The Doctor, if in anything like form, should have a rare chance of winning the Flying or the Winter Oats Handicaps at Gisborne.

We have at last got a Ping Pong amongst our racehorses. A hunter steeplechase candidate at Gisborne bears this name.

Billy, who is enga_ged In the Hunters' Steeplechase, is by Perkin Warbeck, and probably the oldest horse racing in NewZealand.

It transpires that it is the Aucklandbred Hengist that figures in the Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup nominations.

A.B.N. (the initials are those of a prominent Gisborne resident) is the name of the Crackshot gelding, winner of the Ladies’ Bracelet at Hawke’s Bay.

Tirea is either a very badly treated horse or is racing a long way below his best form, judging from his running last month at Ellerslie and at Hawke's Bay.

Singlestick 11., the colt Imported by the New Zealand Government, and now in the Waikato, is said to be developing into a very fine horse.

Lord Seaton, full brother to Beddington, and the Torpedo—Antelope colt are probably both under 14.25 at the present time. They are doing nicely, however, and the last-named is a little thick 'un.

Dexterity, winner of the Winter and June Handicaps at the Hawkes Bay Jockey Club's Meeting, is a filly by Sou'wester from Eclat, by Tatator, from Fame, dam of that good mare Dudu.

Benedick, full brother to Mr J. Monk's three-year-old colt Ghoorka, won a hurdle race at Warwick Farm, New South Wales, on the 14th inst.

IL Spencer, the American jockey, on his first winning mount in England brought off a 100 to 8 chance on Mardi Gras. Spencer passed the post first on Cappa White for a Maiden Plate at Hurst Park In April, but was disqualified on the grounds of bumping and boring.

Mr D. A. McLeod, who has been laid up for some weeks owing to an accident through a runaway horse, is, though stll' lame, able to get about again.

Survivor, after an absence of nearly two years, was in evidence in a Trial Plato recently in England, but finished amongst the "also started” division.

Referring to the. backing of Siege Gun for the New Zealand Cup, “Advance” says: “Punters are getting in early to avoid the crush.”

Entries for classic race events of tne Wellington Racing Club closed on Monday Breeders complain that the cost to start for some of the events is rather stiff. The W.R.C. will no doubt see this themselves.

The detectives on Thursday removed several persons from the enclosure at Chevalier Park, acting on instructions from the North New Zealand Coursing Association.

According to latest advices from different parts of New Zealand, Nonette has been supported for more money than any other horse in the New Zealand Cup, Not since the weights appeared.

In tfie Hunt Club Steeplechase at Gisborne, Mr C. 8. Bennett estimates The Gryphon to be 121bs better than Peter Osbeck. In the Hunters’ Steeplechase, at Napier Park, Mr Henrys makes a difference of 161bs the other way. “When doctors differ, etc.”

Writing to a friend here on the eve of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s Winter Meeting, an Aucklander who was present said that Reliance was voted a bad jumper In private, and was considered too green a one to win at the first time of asking.

Sir Rupert Clarke, the well known Australian studmaster, and owner of La Carabine, passed through Auckland on Friday on his way to San Francisco, from Sydney, on the Ventura. Sir Rupert has a couple of horses engaged at the Victoria Racing Club’s Grand National Meeting. His stay in Auckland was very short, a matter of a few hours, but he took a drive to the top of Mount Eden, and got a view of Auckland and suburbs, which he has not visited for some years. There was no time to visit the studs hereabout. however, as the Ventura went on early in the afternoon.

Though little known in recent years in the world of sport, uie late Mr Thomas Skelton, who died on the 19th inst., in England, at one time io~k considerable interest in racing down South, and was a regular visitor at the leading meetings at Riccarton. As a traveller for the finJi in which he became the senior partner ne was widely Known and respected.

While wonting on the tan on Thursday the St. Leger gelding Putty, who i.as been getting into nice condition, slipped, and in the fall badly cut one of his knees, his rider escaping unhurt. The accident will cause Putty to remain in retirement for some time.

The victory of the Auckland-bred galloway Go’etzer, by Howitzer, In the Coronation Handicap at Fiji is an event to which some little importance can be attached, since the cable announcing the fact is the first on a racing subject to be despatched to this colony from that part ot the world. Under a light weight uoetzer is a useful little horse. Evidently he likes the climate.

Some recent appropriate names claimed are Martinique, by Wonderland—lncense (this is a brother to Eucharis and Jack-o’-Lantern, who were racing at Hawke’s Bay during the week); Waimanu, by FHntlock—Waterbaby, a half-sister to Kelpy; Chant, by The Officer—Lullaby; and Bandmaster, by The Officer—Lyrebird.

The number of race meetings sanctioned by the A.J.C. for the season 1902-3 are:— Australian J.C., 13; Rosehill R.C., 11; Canterbury Park R.C., 9; Warwick Farm R.C., 9; Moorefield R.C.. 9; Tattersall’s Club, 4; Sydney Turf Club, 3; Hawkesbury R.C., 3; City Tattersall’s Club, 2.

Up to a few years ago Mr G. P. Donnelly was one of the best known of our Jumping horse-owners. Lately, however, he has had more flat horses than timbertoppers. In Kahuwai he has evidently now got a very useful mare for hurdle racing. The two essays of the daughter of Quilt and Brooklet at the Hawke’s Bay J.C. Winter Meeting stamp that mare as much ahead of a number of other beginners over hurdles that were seen ffut at thq, same meeting. Kahuwai has run one good race of a mile and a-half on the flat. She used to stumble a great deal at three years old. Putting her to (ho hurdle game may improve her la staying qualities.

A Sydney exchange says that the owner of CavaHero was recently asked to put a price on the son of Cuirassier and Clio, and named SOO guineas. At one time he would readily have fetched more than that in Melbourne, and would bring far more in England were he known there.

As a result of the recent discussion on the question of increasing the distances of races, it is probable that we shall see fewer four and five furlong events during the coming season in New Zealand. The Australian Jockey Club are taking steps to lessen the number of short scrambles in and about Sydney. One result that Is sure to follow is better starting.

A new racing club has been formed* at Whangaret. and an endeavour la to be made to obtain a permit for it. The following are the officials, with power to add to their number:—President and judge, Mr R. Thompson, M.H.R.: vicepresidents, Drs. Hall and Sweet; and the Mayor of Whangarei (Mr W. Cornes), judge; committee, Messrs A. G. McKenzie, R. S. Hunter, N. Mclnnis. J. Main. J. S. S. Hill. J. R. Mclnnis. J. Rawsley, E. O. Weaver, L. W. Nelson, F. P. Brendon. P. W. Moore; starter, Mr L W. Nelson; secretary, Mr A. R. Cave; clerk of the scales, Mr R. Dent; clerk of the course, Mr R. Whitelaw; treasurer, Mr J. Main.

A gentleman who is on a visit to New Zealand will likely select a couple ot Arab stallions for a friend in Christchurch, specially for the purpose of getting polo ponies there on his return to India. There are many tough and useful horses in the colony got by imported Arabs, who, however, have not been up to the standard of early day importations.

To-morrow the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s Winter Meeting will he commenced at Hastings, and it is likely that there will be good racing. The following suggested as likely to run prominently in their engagements: Great Scott and Eucharis in the Trial Steeplechase; Convoy and Loch Erin in the Winter Handicap; Ladies’ Bracelet, Kelps’ or Valiant; Hawke's Bay Hurdles, Reliance and Rufus; Hunt Club Steeplechase, Jack o’Lantern; Hack Hurdles. North Star and Abergeidie; Corinthian Stakes, Daredevil and Convoy.

The death of Mr Lawrence Levy, who for some years raced under the assumed name of Mr L. Arthur, took place on Saturday night. After a long illness the deceased passed quietly away, and at his funeral on Monday there was a large following, including members of Tattersail’s and representatives of sport. For some years Mr Levy was chairman of Tattersall’s Club in Auckland, and his opinions and decisions on cases brought, before that tribunal were held in much respect. Amongst horses at one time owned by the deceased may be mentioned the jumpers Guy Fawkes, Omata and Titokowaru, the pony Blue Paul, and latterly the promising young gelding Tresham.

The following is a list of the foals now at Cambria Park. It will be Been that there are nine colts and ten fillies:—blk c by Simmer—Kilmorley (Imp); br f by Simmer—Neringla; cii f by MedalliouEpine; ch c by Cyrenlan—Silk; br f by Simmer—Laxly Agnes; b c by Cyrenlan— Hlnemoa; b c by Cyrenlan—Windmill; br f by Cyrenlan-Pauline; b c by Simmer— Melodia: b c by Cyrenlan—Lady Hamilton; b f by Cyrenlan—lrma; b f by Cyrenlan—Morvcau, b f by Soult—The Shelah; br f by Brigadier—Dolly; b c by Brigadier—Barmaid; b c by Soult—Princess Alice; b c by Brigadier—Sappho; br f by Brigadier—Gwendoline; b f by Cyrenian—Mantilla.

Mr G. G. Stead has been a consistent nominator of horses for the New Zealand Cup. and time after time horses entered by him have been freely supported by the public, and occasionally made favourites.' Ever since his horse’ Lochlei won in 1887, and so many bookmakers lost more than they could pay. Mr Stead has kept on nominating, and has started a few horses, but it has frequently happened that horses he has had that looked like probable winners, have been rendered hors de combat- about the eleventh hour, in other words have failed to stand the strain of a necessary preparation, or have met with accidents that have precluded them from competing in the big handicap.

A correspondent suggests the name “Tornado” as a suitable one for the Torpedo—Antelope colt, conveying at once the idea both of destruction and speed. The name is certainly very appropriate, and it is possible might be accepted. We have had a couple of Tornados running in New Zealand. They were geldings, and cr.e, by the three-quarter-bred Sydney By long from Policy, was very brilliant. The other was a half-bred, a hurdler. My correspondent suggests, as an alternative. Submarine. By the way. this reminds nr that I saw a photograph of the Toi podf»—Antelope colt during the week taken with a fox terrier sitting on h’s back. -This colt and the canine are fast friends, evidently.

The Auckland Racing Club are about to make a number of improvements at Ellerslie. The course is to be made wider by taking a slice off the lawn, and the judge’s box is tc be moved further back from the fence than at present—a wise thing to do. The grgss slope to the grandstand is to Im* replaced with concrete stops. This will, it Is expected, give more room on the lawn, or at least compensate for i he strip (o be taken to make the course wider. The widening of tfie course is rent’y wanted at this part. After crossing tbe Inst stone wall tn steeplechase? riders will be able to pursue a more direct line for Wrnne fn future, as

the fence which leads to the course wifi be placed further out. Some further stauu accommodation outside is contemplated, and the time is opportune for improving the bookmakers’ corner.

That jockeys can be more effectually disciplined by suspension than fines is what an exchange contends, and the contention is probably right. An old English trainer once told his jockey, "Now be sure thee gets well away at the start. If thee gets fined I’ll pay it for thee. If thee get suspended I’ll board thee. But if thee gets left at the post I'll break every bone in thy body.” The latter-day crop of Jockeys are evidently imbued with the •‘get away at all hazards” policy, and to that end will take any risks with the starter.

When noticing the success of The Victory in the Birthday Handicap at Adelaide •■Martindale” took occasion to refer to a one-time New Zealand racing man thus:—“We have few of the old-time owners at the present time taking an active part in the great racing game. One of the few is Mr Sam Cook, one of the hearty old sort, whom I am always pleased tc meet. No man has had a worse ma of luck than Mr Cook, but he is always cheerful, and the good work done by the stock sired by his old favourite. The Admlral. will have put him in great spirits this waek.”

Blessed is he who expects little—he is likely to get it. From Sheepshead Bay, where the Whitney horses are quartered, tli«- news comes that \ankee has pulled up lame, and it is good-bye to his chances of taking part in th r sc stake events in the near future. Hard luck, Mr Whitney. and you are deserving of far better. Nor is Yankee the only one afflicted in like manner. King Ila nover, another crack tnrre-vear-old of this same collection. is likewise on the ailing list. King Hanover was one of the first to be attacked with the fever—had it mildly, and has been doing weh ever since. Now his understandings have gone wrong.

•’At latest advices.” says a Sydney paper, "the Indian horse market was in a very sluggish condition, the demand for racing animals being much below the standard of previous years. Some of the horses taken to India by Mr T. C. Naples did not find buyers, and altogether the season has been an unsatisfactory one for shippers. The foregoing suggests that Mr B. Allen will have trouble in getting good prices for his horses if he takes them to India.” Shippers like the late Teddy Weekes usually bought on behalf of sportsmen who were requiring racing stock, and did not trust greatly To getting a market for high-priced horses.

Mr R. Sievler received the following letter shortly before the decision of the Two Thousand, the writer evidently being a strong believer in the efficacy of prayer:— ••Sir,—You would. I am sure, be disappointed Sceptre did not win at Lincoln. -I asked for £25 at 12$ to 1—£312 10/—to be put on St. Maclou the night before the race. I felt Sceptre would win. and I humbly prayed to God for St. Maclou to beat it. which it did, but. through a misunderstanding. nothing was Invested for me. and I relied on it so that I could be married. “It has made me ill, and I feel that I have thrown a spell of ill-luck around Sceptre: but I will pray that it will 'win this week, and that you will be very lucky, and I believe it will be so.—Yours, etc., “ “• •• , Yorkshire. April 28.”

A writer in an English exchange says that the Hungarian Jockey Club Intends to adopt summary measures against offenders under Racing Law. Trainers and owners are reminded that they will be lined unless their horses canter down to <nie post with the other starters. Special permission has to be obtained from the stewards should it be imperative that a horse should be led to the start. The club also announces that it maintains its right t<> refuse to issue ring tickets for the betting enclosure to certain persons, and that those who have a ticket and render themselves in ahy way objectionable may be summarily ejected from the enclosure after the money paid for their ticket has been reimbursed them. This means that a sharp eye will be kept on those who work commissions with the bookmakers, and more particularly on behalf of the jockeys, who have again been cautioned against indulging in betting or accepting presents from any person not being the owner of the horse, they have ridden.

The American correspondent of the •Sportsman” says that he was surprised to read in the evening papers that Nasturtium had turned roarer. It was not expected for a moment that he could be prepared for the Derby, seeing that the time was so short. Yet (says the writer), we had hoped that be* would afterwards come out In some of the big stakes, and prove that wh were not so far wrong when it was claimed for him that he was a first-class colt. Now wo must s«y goodbye to him. Perhap • he may emulate the doings of Prince Charlie, for he certainly has a wonderful turn of speed. Still, that is not what was wanted of him. We wished him to prove himself a Derby hors*, and tfie fates have been against him throughout. Misfortunes never come singly. In .fact, where a man has a big string of horses in training, they seem to come with persistent regularity. W. C. Whitney’s string has suffered greatly this past winter from the catarrhal fever, which attacked nearly every horse in the stable One of the two which escaped was Yankee, the winner of last

season’s Futurity. He is an immensely powerful fellow, with legs apparently like iron, and much was expected of this thoroughbred dray horse in this year’s stake events.

Mr Morrln has nineteen colts and eight fillies at Wellington Park this year, being fed with a view to the annual sale. Though we have had anything but good weather for the past four months, all the youngsters are in splendid condition, and there are some exceptionally fine colts amongst them. Menschikoff. the latest addition to the sire ranks at Wellington Park. is developing into a rare nice horse. Imported Phoebus Apollo is getting more into stallion estate, and the four colts and fillies by the son of St. Simon do him much credit: while the seventeen years, to which age Hotchkiss has attained. sit lightly on the big fine son of Musket, who has never been represented by a more promising lot than the ten rolts and two fillies he has on the estate. There are full brothers to Multiform, Battleaxe, and San Patricia, by this sire; full brothers to Daystar and Casket, by the defunct Castor; and half brothers to Nobility and Euroclydon. by Hotchkiss, who has also colts from Armllla. Edith Cureton. Crescent. Cresy. by Hippocampus. and Mantle, that are very well developed. Freedom. St. Paul and Cyrenian are other sires represented in the list with one each.

Lochade. who won the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase, is a sample of tire hack racers bred on the West Coast of t-.e North Island. At Wanganui this gelding, who is a son of the Musket—Georgi horse Flintlock, ran second in the Steeplechase to The Guard. The Hem pie, who won the Hawke’s Bay Hurdle Race, Is a halfsister by Natator to good old Norton. She has raced consistently, but never jumped too well. CoHello deserves ms success, as he has persevered with this mare in the face of much bad luck in the past. Rufus ran well in both his essays at the Meeting. He is one of the gamest little horses we have, and was well supported for both races by his owner and local followers. though many were afraid he might make a mistake over the Hawke's Bay country, which a trainer from Auckland described as a nice one, no fence therein being over 3ft Win high. Kept at one game. Rufus can fence with the best of them, but many of our horses, like Ku.as, have to take on both lines of business.

Traducer. who as a sire in this colony has probably had no superior, was a No. 20 horse. So was St. Florian, the sire of Ard Patrick, yet partly because no horse of that line had ever sired an English classic race winner, that good authority on racing, the “Special Commissioner” in the London “Sportsman,” elected to pass him over as an unlikely Derby winner, with such opposition as Sceptre engaged. The number 5 family of the dam of Ard Patrick has been responsible for some of the best horses in the world, and many notables in the colonies, and as the influence of the dam is by experts invariably considered greater than that of a sire in the production of great racehorses, and as Morganette had already left a Derby winner in Galtee More, It could only have been the presumed superior excellence of Sceptre that prevented so many good judges from summing up more strongly in Ard Patrick’s favour. Springfield, sire of Morganette. was the greatest miler of his time. It will be interesting to note how this blood in Cyrenian. and of some of such No. 5 mares as have been mated with that horse, turn out.

We are accustomed to read of horses falling and receiving fatal injuries while competing in steeplechases over the Flemington country, which is constructed of much too solid material. The- number killed there forms a long roll indeed, and the number of horsemen that have been badly injured or killed Is also large. It was only a couple of weeks ago that the news was received of the death of Harry Unaerwood through the falling of Inkerman at one of these formidable obstacles. On Thursday the horse Jack Tar, while running in the Steeplechase, fell and broke his neck. Earlier in the day, however, the accident taat happened in the Hurdle Race, in which seven horses came down, four of the number ocing killed, and one badly injured, must constitute a record of casualties *or a jumping race. If such a thing nad happened in the Steeplechase the racing authorities would perhaps have been induced to alter the stability or formidability of the country. Fortunately none of me ric.rs were seriously injured. We have only the bare inteiigence before us of the fact that such an accioent did happen, and can only marvel and wonder how the riders escaped. The horses whose names are furnished are all known performers. Ihe Watch Dog was in the stable of P. Nolan, an erst Auckland horseman.

There is a numerous class in Australia, as in the Old Country, narrow-minded enough to denounce everything as bad and undesirable which they may not happen to approve and support, and there is good reason for believing that by such people a big attempt is to be made through the medium of Parliament to place all manner of irksome restrictions upon sport —especially horse-racing and the speculation Inseparable from it—even to the extent of endeavouring to prevent betting on racecourses, quotations of betting, and so on (writes “Javelin” in the "Leader.”) Every decent man in the community would like to see all sports properly controlled, but it would be ,a sorry experience for any part of th^ 'English Empire if one section of it were compelled to relinquish its legitimate ways of amusing itself because those ways did not happen to fit In with the Ideas of another section. The moralists of this community have continually been Invited to assist in bringing about a desirable supervision and re-

gulation of speculation on horse-racing, and whenever they are disposed to accept the invitaxion they may depend upon the support of all good and true sportsmen. The latter, however, must insist upon haviug most to say in regard to a matter concerning which the former are necessarily not so well or so practically informed. There is, however, Reason to believe that a big political attempt to harass and place absurd restrictions onspoH is contemplated in certain quarters, and therefore it behoves supporters of legitimate sport to keep their weather eye open,and to remember that this is a genuine warning— not an alarmist’s scare.

It is a well known fact that some of our turf legislators have a deep-rooted dislike 4.0 bookmakers, and would not allow them on racecourses if they could help it. The bookmaker, however, is a creation of the people, and will live long after his would-be exterminators are dead. Some are highly esteemed and deservedly so. Few are allowed to stand high in the social scale, but where is the difference between the man who lays the odds and the man who accepts? Bookmaking originated with the gentlemen of England finally becoming a profession. There are bookmakers in the colonies who own racehorses—not a wise thing, perhaps—but run them honestly and enjoy the confidence of the people, who are fairly good judges in these matters. The victory of a recent winner owned by Mr H. Oxen Lam. tne Australian bookma«?r. is thus referred lo by “Martindale” in the “Sydney Town and Country”: “Racegoers have become so usea to seeing Mr Oxenham’s violet and gold striped ja ket beaten lately that it was quite a change to see it once more in front. Whenever one of Mr Oxenham’s horses start it is pretty safe to say that it is heavily backed. Perhaps not by the owner, but tne public will have their bit on. as they know from past experience that they are sure to be ‘on a frier.’ Jr is strange, but, nevertheless, a fact- t.,at backers who will wait off before backing horses owned by people who are high in the social world have not the slightest hesitation in putting their money upon a horse owned by Mr Oxenham. It is a great compliment that is paid to our leading bookmaker, who Is not, through the laws of the leading racing club, allowed to uo business upon our race tracks.”

The Special Commissioner of the “London Sportsman” has the following reference to the late Captain Machell: —The Captain was certainly one of the greatest men we have ever seen on the Turf, though he never was really himself after his illness of about eight years ago. Perhaps his surest key to success was in being absolutely straightforward, and yet having the reputation for being singularly astute. He would tell the plain naked truth as he went round his stable, and yet, such is the peculiar instinct of suspicious humanity, that the truth told in this way Is rarely believed in. I have in my time been round many stables, but never knew any owner, trainer, or manager who would tell you so much as would Captain Machell. For instance, in the spring of the year, when Suspender was a two-year-old, he pointed the big colt out to me at afternoon “stables” and said, “1 think he is sure to win whenever he is fit to start.’* This was In response to no question of mine, but how true the information was the “Calendar” will prove, for Suspender was never beat?n. Captain Machell was a man who would have gone up somewhere near top In whatever walk of life he had chosen for himself, for his was a very high order of intelligence, and a large share of that magnetic influence which makes men into leaders of their fellows. Moreover, he was a thorough stayer, never flinching under adverse fortune, and, even in this struggle with his last grim enemy, it was really marvellous how. by jheer gameness and resolution, he lived on when men of weaker spirit would have long ago lain down and died. From almost ny earliest recollections of racing I have had a sincere admiration for Captain Machell. and. now that he has gone, there is a great void whic-i nc one that I have ever come across is at all likely to fill.

It is evident that there is a general awakening on the subject of longer distance racing. The following is a letter from the “Australasian,” from the pen of a gentleman in Deniliquin, who says:— “Another subject that will stand more criticism is country race programmes. . They are all flutters. About 70 per cent, of the flat races are six furlongs or under. Improving the breed of the horse’ is now much talked about; but if these sprint programmes are persevered with, their influence will be felt in years to come. I would like to see a mile and ahalf made the standard distance for the chief handicap at all country meetings; then a mile race as well on the programme would still leave plenty of room for the sprinters. A meeting should not be registered that cannot run, at least, one mile and a-quartei race. Committees are too keen on trying to make every race as great a financial success as possible, so have cut down the distances for the sake of nominations. It is a common thing to see about six entries for a mile and a-quarter race, twenty-six for a sixfurlong event, and more still If there is a half-mile flutter; in fact, no distance seems too abort for the nominators. This seems like admitting that the average modern thoroughbred cannot get a distance. The racing public would as soon watch the six over the ten furlongs as the 3S over the six. So it is not the gate that is considered. The entries for the long raves would soon improve if there were more of them. It is from the rank and file of the racers that the majority of our Australian saddle horses come, so every «hou)d be given to those with stamina. If «&e V.R.C. or

A.J.C. cannot legislate to Increase the distances, they can, at least, set the example by always having a mile and ahalf event at headquarters at all their off-meetinas w

The latest performance of the Aus trail Jip mare Wakeful was even more phenomenal than early news by cable gave us to imagine, says the Special Commissioner of the “Sportsman.” Her one great victory on Easter Monday, when she carried 9sr 71b and won the Sydney Cup, two-mile handicap,in the record time of 3m 28sec. was cabled home, but it is only on receipt of the mail that I find she won on the preceding day of the meeting the Autumn Stakes (one mile and a-half), then, taking the Sydney Cup of two miles on the second day, she came out all right on the third day and won the All-aged Stakes of one mile, finishing up on ths fourth day of the meeting by winning the A.J.C. Plate of three miles. She had been run even harder than this at the V.R.C, Meeting a month earlier, for there she had a very severe race over three miles on the third day, and, nevertheless, ran twice on the fourth day. It is within my knowledge that an offer of £4OOO for her has been refused, though 3000 guineas would have bought her before the Sydney Cup victory, and a cable sent actually on that day arrived just too late. It Is a good object lesson tn the wisdom of giving young stock time to mature, for this extraordinary mare never ran until she was a four-year-old. and she is now a five-year-old by Australian time. Poor old La Carabine had no chance with her at the Sydney meeting. Wakeful stands only 15h. 21n., but is described as a model of power, and her successive victories worked up the mass of spectators to wild displays ot enthusiasm. How good the time for the Sydney Cup. 3min 2S.«ec. was may be judged from the fact that the record for that race up to date was held by Carbine and his son Wallace, both of whom won it in 3min 31sec —Carbine in 1883. and Wallace in 1896. Carbine won a second time, with 9st 91b in the saddle, but on that occasion the time was 3mln 37sec. The records of the Melbourne Cup show the Flemington track to be distinctly faster than Randwick.but the best evet done there was by Carbine. 3m 2SJsec, IJI 1890. and that was before the days of the starting gate, which naturally tends to make times a little longer, as the start is made from a stand.

week I referred to some of the notices of motion to be brought before the Racing Conference this month at Wellington. There are others that can be touched upon. The Wairarapa Racing Club are desirous that the colours worn by riders must be stated at the time of entry, whether registered or not. The secretaries of clubs are often put to a lot of trouble through owners neglecting to furnish their colours, and some rule should be introduced on this subject. The pronosed addition to Rule 89. in reference to starting, so that horses shall not be started when more than half a chain behind the post, is in the right direction, but it may not always be In the power of a starter to carry such a rule out to the letter, The proposed alteration to Rule 156. having reference to the Issuing of gentlemen riders’ certificates. is one that is likely to meet with favour. In rule 167 it is proposed to alter the wording so that a majority only, and not three fourths, of the voting power present, may decide. This may receive some opposition. The Walkouaitl Racing Club and Tuapeka County Jockey Club are desirous of abolishing the Official Calendar, and substituting in Rule 2 the names of “one or other of the following weekly newspapers, published in New Zealand, viz.. The Weekly News.’ Auckland: ‘The Mail.’ Wellington: ‘The Press,’ Christchurch; the ‘Canterbury Times,’ Christchurch; and ‘The Otago’ Witness.’ Dunedin.’ ” It is felt by some of the small clubs of the colony that they should not be compelled to advertise their programmes in any paper published outside, or at least at any great distance from the districts tn which their meetings are held. The reason advanced on previous occasions when the question has been raised, has been one of expense. The expense, howver, is not a big matter, and in the interests of the sport It is certainly advisable that all programmes of duly registered Racing Clubs should appear in ah Official Calendar, and the Conference will, no doubt, continue to insist upon this being done. The Clubs can give their advertising to such papers as they deem advisable, apart from this. It seems, however, that while a few of the country clubs are ready to protest against being made to advertise in the Official Calendar, they are very inconsistent, for they would make it compulsory that clubs should advertise in one or other of certain specified papers, whether they desired to do so or not. By the proposed re-arrangetnent. only five weekly papers would be considered, and two of the number are published in one city. Each is published in important racing centres —Dunedin. Christchurch. Wellington. and Auckland. There is no provision for the advertisements of Wanganui. Taranaki. Napier, Invercnrglll,, Marlborough, Greymooth. and other important Racing Clubs. They could be left to choose for themselves. The change would lead to endless trouble. They could of course, advertise in any of the papers indicated, thus selecting any of the Official Calendars they mlghf think fit. or advertise in alt. or give each a turn at their pleasure. Tn the event of the Racing Conference publishing a Racing Calendar Ind.-pen-dent of any newspaper, which could of course be done. It would first have lo M

considered what the expense would be, all clubs would have to pay their share pro rata, sending: in their advertisements In the same way as they do now. It would probably cost them more than at present. Would they receive equal, or fewer, or greater benefits than they do now? Viewed from all standpoints, it seems to me that our racing machinery would be thrown considerably out of gear by having a number of official publications. It will be interesting to note how delegates from the various clubs throughout the colony will view the question. New Buie 71 A. proposed by the Wanganui Jockey Club, deals with a question that should be settled. An owner’s name or that of a horse may appear in the forfeit list in the official Calendar. Before publication of the next one, the money may have been paid, but too late to withdraw the name or names from the list that week. The proposal is that the name or names shall be deemed to have ceased to be In the forfeit list from the actual time the forfeits shall have been paid into the registry office, i.e., the office of the jockey club. It is likely that the Wanganui Jockey Club’s proposal will be given effect to. The Greymouth Jockey Club would like to see part of rule 118 struck out, and section 1 of rule IGB, bearing on the same subject, also. They would prefer to see six judges annually appointed by the Conference (not more than one from any one metropolitan district) to decide appeals, three to form a quorum. The present arrangement will, I think, be found to work the best. The same j’ub propose, “That the Conference give a definite ruling as to whether inconsistent running is a quest-on of fact.’’ The answer to this will probably be that the running of racehorses depends so much upon numerous and varieu conditions under wnich they compete, such as the state of the weather, u.stances, weight, intervals between the events, state of the ground, the health of the horse, jockeyship. severity or otherwise of the pace, etc., that racing must necessarily appear more or less inconsistent. An inconsistency in running might be very pronounced, but at the same time be reasonably accounted for, or It might, on the other hand, be unaccountable to the stewards, to the owner, and to the rider. There might .be very strong grounds for suspicion tha’t the inconsistency was the result of connivance on the part of the jockey, or jockey and owner, or jockey and someone else, but unless it could be established that something of this sort had taken place it would be dangerous to allow of an inconsistent performance being treated as a question of fact, and so'removed from review by a higher than a club tribunal. The running of hor-es cannot be reduced to a mathematical result. If it were not that horses do run inconsistently, there would soon be no speculation, since everyone would back winners. It is the uncertainty how horses will run, and the probabilities that speculators conjure up, that causes most of them to invest. The new rule proposed by the Wellington Racing Club, if necessary, is a right one. Reference has be ».n previously made in these columns to :he proposed amendments from other clubs.