TURF NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue XI, 13 September 1902, Page 657

TURF NOTES.

Despatch is again at work at Ellerslie. Tap’ow is an inmate of F. Stenning’s stables, at Onehunga. Kelburn is doing plenty of work and is doing it well. Albert Victor was shipped to New Plymouth on Sunday. The Great St. Leger Stakes will be run for on Wednesday next. Role, dam of Rosalia, has foaled a colt to Explosion at Sylvia Park. Mr J. Glenn, of Manala, is the name of the settler who has leased St. Paul. Thirteen new loose boxes are being erected at the Cambria Park stud farm. The official minutes of the annual conference of racing clubs have reached me. Wairiki still continues to please the Ellerslie track watchers. Chrysolite, by Castor from Onyx, has produced a colt to Phoebus Apollo. Mr Tooman has named his two-year-old Soult filly, from his Tetford mare, Bonomiana. It is reported that Sequence will not race after the spring meetings in Australia. Royal Conqueror has been turned out fci a spell in a good grass paddock at Remuera. The game little Australian racehorse Haymaker is improving in form, and is sa»d to be fairly sound once more. War God, by Carbine—Hera, took first and champion prizes at the Wagga, New South Wales, snow. At Stibbington a second foal has made .its appearance, the ncw-comer being a filly from Prestissimo by Ben Godfrey. J. Gainsford will do all the riding his weight will permit for Mr C. Lovett. He will also ride Wairiki. A Stibbington the Castor mare Electra, fui: sister to that good mare Leda, has foaled a colt Paul.

Rosella continues to accomplish good work, indeed nothing is doing more pleasingly at racing headquarters.

Armilia, Chrysolite, and Electra, three Castor mares, have during the past few days each produced a colt foal.

The “Special Commissioner,” in the London “Sportsman/' says that 6000 guineas have been refused for Wakeful.

The Needle finished in front of Mars in a once round gallop on the tan the other morning, but the time was not good.

At Wellington Park that sterling performer Armilia, by Castor, has produced a colt to imported Phoebus Apollo.

The Clansman, by Blairgowric-The Sheelah, won a race for 15-hand horses on August 26th at Rosebery Park, N.S.W.

The two-year-olds Sans Peur and Kamo, \Cordon Rouge and Delania, are amongst those that continue to please track watchers.

T. Taylor was able to start to ride work again on Friday, but though it is five weeks since his mishap he is slih tame.

At an early date after the Otahuhu hack meeting the ann.ua! East Tamaki hack meeting will be held at Mr A. R. Harris’ farm.

Haydn usually wears a woe-begone appearance, but the hero of the Grand National is freshening up and looks all right for spring engagements.

A big batch of young horses have been given lessons at the starting barrier nt Ellerslie, and several showed themselves apt pupils.

Amongst ponies that are doing plenty of work at Ellerslie, Orange and Blue, Stepaway, St. Luanda, and First Whisper «ns.y be mentioned.

Eton was taken to Cambria Park during; the week, where he enters upon stud duties. The son .of Castor and Lady Walmsley looks well.

The Auckland Racing Club’s committee have decided to remove the residential condition it was at first thought advisable to attach to the office of starter. Tresham galloped once round the grass track, assisted tjy stable companions, on Tuesday, and registered a fair performance, as he had some weight up. The imported trotter Wilmington, after two seasons In Hawke's Bay, is back again at Mr Harris', his former owner, place at East Tamakl, looking well. Influenza is prevalent amongst bipeds here, but so far our horses have escaped surprisingly well; Indeed, I have not heard any horses coughing recently. The names of licensed jockeys and trainers will be avallable*in a few days. The cemmittee of the A.R.C. are making inabout several of the applicants. According to an American paper the imported mare Elsie, who recently broke a hind leg, will be furnished with a cork one, the leg having been amputated. . A new weighing machine for dale Jockey Club has arrived from England, direct from the manufacturers, and will be used at the forthcoming meeting.

A horseman at Ellerslie the other morning rode no fewer than 16 gallops, and stated to one of the spectators on leaving the ground that it was very dry work.

On Tuesday, the jumper Muriwai reared up and fell over with W. Satman, the well known light weight horseman, who was for a time unconscious as a result.

It is supposed in some quarters that The Shannon will be a visitor at the Avondale, meeting, and in that case may be a hard one for the local horses to beat.

Mr C. Hird brought five trotting horses to Auckland during the week from the South, including the Sydney ponv Princess and the Christchurch pony Polly 11.

Acceptances close for the Avondale Cup and Flying Stakes Handicaps and for other handicap races on the first day of the Avondale J.C. Spring Meeting on Friday, 12th instant.

The thoroughbred mares Hestia. Dreamland. Neringla (by Goldsbrough—Mabel), and Mantilla have visited Cyrenian at Cambria Park during the week, and Morceau and Gwendoline have visited Eton.

Nonette is still favourite in Auckland for the New Zealand Cup, but backers continue to support Siege Gun, and seven to one is the best price obtainable about er cii.

Lady Soult, in F. Stenning’s team, does not appear over sound. She has grown into a rather nice, mare, and if she would only stand might win a good race this season.

Spalpeen executed a useful gallop over six furlongs on the grass on Tuesday week, and it was the best the son of Gossoon and Windmill had registered this season until Saturday, when he did a faster performance.

Manifesto finished in front of Geordie and Muskerdale the other morning in a five furlong spin, making fair time, ridden out. It transpired that ho was wearing less iron or steel than usual.

The Cyrenian-Windmill colt is somewhat nervous, and the other morning dislodged his rider and galloped round the track, but was fortunately caught before he could do himself any injury.

Coronet Is a visitor at Ellerslie every morning. He is in too robust condition to do any racing for a considerable time, however. A horse of rare conformation and character is the son of Castor and Necklace.

Fortunattis. a son c.f St. Frusquln from Lucky Lady, has been purchased for TOOOgns by Mr J. Brown, owner of Sir Foot>, for stud purposes In New South Wales. Fortunatus has won nearly £5OOO in stakes.

A New Zealand horse owner who went to South Africa a few months ago has written to friends in Auckland saying that country is not a desirable one at present for racing. Good horses are at a premium, however.

In England two years ago Mrs Peck, it is said, refused 5000 guineas for Janissary (sire of the Derby winner, Jeddah), and asked double that sum for-him. Since then Mrs Peck died, and at Newmarket last month Janissary was sold for 500 guineas.

Madder. Lady’s Maid and Aspen have foaled fillies at the Elders He Stud. Oamaru. to Stepniak. and Coronal and Ranee Nuna, respectively, have produced colts to Gipsy Grdnd and Stepniak.

During his visit to England Mr Clibborn, secretary of the A.J.C., has given some useful information to Lord Durham lit" reference to the starting-gate. The resignation of Mr Coventry, the starter to the Jockey Club, was at the suggestion of that body.

Horses by imported Pilgrim's Progress appear to be running W’ell In Australia. Abundance, winner of the Hampton Stakes. -at Tattersall’s Club Meeting, and the runner-up In the South Australian Derby, are by that sire.

A recent order of the English Jockey Club, according to an exchange, is that in future clerks of courses (or secretaries) shall take steps to secure the attendance of all the stewards that are present, and not leave objections to be settled by one or two.

To Kootl, winner of the Steeplechase on the first day of the South Canterbury Jockey Clubs Spring Meeting, is an aged son of defunct Apremont, and has been broken down several times, and two years ago it was thought that he was never again likely to appear. There were seven foallngs at the Elderslie Stud Farm, Oamaru, during the month of August, where it is evident Mr J. F. Reid has an early crop, as the four studs in Auckland cannot show the same total for the same period. The inner grass track was in use on Tuesday’ morning for the first time for some months. Good work was recorded thereon by a large number of horses, chiefly those engaged at the Jockey Club’s spring meeting.

One of the best, if not actually the best, mile and a quarter gallops recorded at Ellerslie during, the.spring was put up by Nonette. and Formula yesterday morning. Ragabrash, who went all the way. finishing some lengths behind the pair.

Ngahere, by St. Leger from Woodbine, by Sword Dance from Woodnymph, full sister to Martini Henry, a pony in Mobeley’s stable at Ellerslie, is a shapely’’ little fellow, and it will not be long before his racing qualities are elucidated.

Sequence, voted one of the most brilliant horses in Australia, and now a strong fancy for the Epsom Handicap, to be run on Saturday, has a pony full brother a year older, that so far has not succeeded in winning a race, though often tried.

From Papakura I learn that Fairy Tale, by Tasman from Sapphira, has foaled a filly to Soult, and together with her dam and Sunrise, all three of which are owned by Mr W. H Harries, of Shaftesbury, visit Soult this season. The two last named are yet to foal to that sire.

Though the general entries for the Avondale Jockey Club’s meeting are on the whole very satisfactory’, nominations for the President’s Handicap and two minor handicaps are rather disappointing. The classic races have been well supported, is probable that several have been left in through inadvertence.

Grey Seaton and Lavalette have been responsible for plenty* of work for some time "past and both are looking well. The grey would appear to be a solid little customer, and it will not be on the score of not having done sufficient work should he fail to do himself credit this spring. Neck-or-Nothing, \aJao was in the hunting field on Saturday, won a maiden steeplechase 12 years ago at Ellerslie, and a year before that as an aged horse was competing in hunt club events at Rangitikei; and yet they* sometimes say our horses are not made of the right materiai.x

Mr H. Hayr took a number of friends last week to Avondale In his oil launch Wairiri, landing them within a stone’s throw of the boundary’ of the club’s property. When the canal between the beautiful waters of the Waitemata and the Manukau is an accomplished fact, or possibly at a much earlier date, race meetings on the Avondale racecourse may be witnessed by thousands conveyed to the scene by water as well as by' rail. That period may not after all be a very remote one.

Fleurette, the grand dam of Royal Artillery, True Blue. Screw Gun, Field Rose, and Shield Rose, only produced two foals in New Zealand, when she was sold, and went to California to the stud of Mr Spreckels. Her foals were Boulanger, who, though a good racehorse, proved impotent, and Rose of Wellington, who has to be classed as a famous stud matron. Fleurette was a daughter of the great brood mare sire Robinson Crusoe, full brother to Onyx, dam of Nordenfoldt. who also proved not only a great brood mare sire, but sire of many high class racehorses.

The South Australians, or. I should say, rot no of thorn. :iro dead against the totnLsator. It is a wonder that the machine ever was allowed in that State (says

* Martindale" in the “Town and Country Journal”). Since ft has been irr use it has worked wonders in the way of Imploring the sport of horse-racing, while, al the same Um**, the charities have derived great benefit from it. Yet we find people clamoujflng against it. Now, what would some /f these goody-goody people say if the qyfestlon whs put: Would they be agreeable to pay to the charities out of their own pockets the sum that each year has been divided amongst them from the totalizator fractions? If this was put to them, 1 have nut. the least doubt but what they would give some sort of an evasive answer, and thon quietly slip away and no more heard of them. For one pound contributed In the way of charity by* those who are always railing against sport, the sporting classes generally give twenty. The goody-goodies arv firm believers in the old adage, that “charity begins at homo.”

The. committee of the Auckland Raving Club have decided to widen the tan track nine feet and to obtain coarser tan if possible than they are at present using. They have also <fl*rlded to have the ground put in order at once so as to start horses in all mile races on their program me s from near their Greenlane boundary, and this work is to bo ready for the first spring meeting. The last stone wall in the steeplechase course is to be shifted and a fence erected on tl.e course about a hundred yards nearer the racecourse proper on better ground.

On Thursday morning and again this morning visitors to the racecourse side at Ellerslie were conspicuous, and each time they' have been well rewarded by witnessing interesting work. Nonette continues to bowl along In good style, and successive gallops have been a short solid mile and a-half, a sound six furlongs, and an excellent gallop this morning over a full mile and a-half, in which Formula assisted him over the last circuit of the tan. Others that have* done good work are Rosella, The Needle, Grey Seaton. Lavalette,Kclburne (who went once round ''•th • Nonette last Thursday morning), vvairikl. Solo, Hohoro, St. Olga. SpalPeen. Jewellery, Geordie, Idas. Vai Rosa, and Tresham; and amongst the youngsters Kamo, Sans Peur, Cordon Rouge, Mid Delania, and several others have been doing pleasingly. Some of the ponies are galloping Well, and good schooling and strong work is being apportioned to a number ot the jumping division.

Not only the horses, but the powers of the law, are swift at Ascot (Eng.), says eXC f° r tne cou'se has a special tribunal for the punlsnment of evil doers. No sooner is the pick-pocket, welsher. or ticket-snatcher arrested than he is standing betore_Sir Albert de Rutzen in a little room in the Royal stand, whera the evidence is heard, and the verdict’ and sentence pronounced before the offender fully realises that he is caught. Nowhere else does punts-iiment so swiftly follow crime as at this Court, which is decreed by Clause 31 of the indictable Offences Act of 1848. This racecourse tribunal arose curiously In the Eighteenth Century from an assault upon a Royal personage- In his indignation at the impossibility of instant punisnment of the assailant he ordered that in future a magistrate should always attend the Royal race meeting. This has ever since been done, and by the above-mentioned Act the chief magistrate at Bow-street was constituted ex-officio a J.P. of the County' of Berks, in order to enable him to hold this court at Ascot. A meeting of Otahuhu settlers was held at the Masonic Hall on Monday night for the purpose of arranging for a hack race meeting to be held on the Otahuhu racecourse on October 81 li (Labour Day). There wore about 40 present, and the following officers wore appointed: — President, Mr W. F. Massey, M.H.R.; vicepresidents, Dr. Rews, J.P., Mr J. D. Rutherford. J.P., Captain Morris, and Mr J Todd; stewards. Captain Morris, Dr. Bows, Messrs A. M. Robertson. T. Brooker W. Abbott, W. Absolum, and W. Hunt; starter. Mr \V. Absolum; clerk of the scales. Mr T. Brooker: Judge. Mr A R Harris; handicapper, Mr H. Johnstone; clerk of the course, Mr T. Brownsecretary' and treasurer. Mr W. D. Bush; committee. Messrs C. Brown, W. Abbott D. Kidd. W. G. Abbott, T. Brooker. It’ St George. T. Brown, W. Martin. A. Robertson, W. Absolum, A. Lowe, J. McPherson, W. Hunt, R. Johnston, and M. Doyle. The South Canterbury’ Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting proved financially successful, and the meeting was chiefly’ interesting from the fact that a numlx-r of Now Zealand Cup candidates were run ning. and that several of them won races. Magnificent, who claims relationship to Nonette, on his dam’s side, and who is one of the least fancied of the Cup horses, could only got second to Count of Kolmar in the chief handicap on tinfirst day. Clanburn, another 100 to 1 chance, after finishing third on tin- first day. won the Walter Handicap on the second day, and Wclhr< k, after being beaten by Rosoniore in the Flying Handicap. won the Memorial Handicap. no mile, while Secret Society won the Farewell Handicap by a head from Clanburn.

The form may not have been very imSressive, perhaps, seeing that only melum distances were raced over, but the winners could do no more than win, and winners at the South Canterbury Spring Meetings in the past have frequently run more than respectably at the Spring Meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club later on. The victories of the horses that competed have not led to their prices shortening a great deal, though it is significant that three of the winners were quoted during the week at the long odds of one hundred to one each.

When Sir Leonard boat Metal and La Carabine at Randwick In the autumn, many regarded the victory of the son of Impetus as a lucky one, but like his second 8.8 to Wakeful, 8.13, in the All-Aged Stakes, In which that mare ran a record mile in 1.39 J, there was more men. in th© performances than was generally supposed, and some of his achievements were distinctly those of a high class colt. At Tattersall's meeting on August 23rd, he carried 9.5 into a place in the Hampden Stakes, one mile and one furlong, behind Abundance, 7.8, and Glenore, 9.4. Brakpan, 8.4, Sequence, 10.0, and eleven others starting. He was apparently unbacked. In the old established Hawkesbury Spring Handicap, now run over a mile and a quarter and 100 yards, he won, carrying 9.12 from a small field, and possibly not a particularly strong one. Sir Leonard has 9.5 in the Sydney Metropolitan Handicap, run on the Bth, 9.7 in the Caulfield Cup, and was given 9.2 In the Melbourne Cup, or 31b less than Nonette, who is the same age, received. He will now have penalties to carry, in the two last named events of 31b and 51b respectively, and apparently he is not fancied much.

San Fran, who has been purchased by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. on behalf of Mr W. J. Douglas, of the Te Mahanga Stud, for so good a performer and so well bred a horse, should be well worth the 650 guineas he cost. He is a horse of medium size, and comes on his dam’s side from the same family as Merganser, Teksum and Brigand, and claims the same taproot as Stepnlak, and also his son Menschikoff, Nelson, Spade Guinea, Merry England, Tiralleur, The Guard, and many really first class horses of the No. 5 line of descent. He is the first Gozo horse imported to the colony, and should mate well with mares with Musket blood, and one tn particular in Mr Douglas’ stud that I should select, especially on blood lines, would be Melinite, for this horse, her thrc-equarter sister Industry having produced to Gozo such good horses as The Grafter and Gaulus, Melbourne Cup winders. Merganser, in Mr Rathbone s stud, snould find a suitable mate in San Fran also, and there dre members of Florence Macarthy’s family that should suit this horse admirably, in the same part of Hawke s Bay. Mr S. H. Gollan has Nelson s half sister Bonnie Idee, by Nordenfeldt, and a number of other mares of stud 3ame family in the Maungaturoto

.. The weights declared by Mr Henrys for the C.J.C. Stewards’ Stakes Handicap, which is run over a six furlong' course, U tV h i a 4 Ve taken a considerable amount of thinking out. That goo< filly Cruciform has received 10.3, top-weight, or 22 lbs over weight-for-age, a record impost for one of her age and sex. Biazer, who has carried some big weights, and won with them, too, has 9,9, or 71bs less than ne had last year, when he failed to run into a place, though lie beat the winner }Ho y al Artillery) a bare half-head on the last day of the meeting, when the difference in weight was lOlbs, Blazer carrying 8.12 and Royal Artillery 8.2, and the distance only half a mile. The time was 47 3-ssec, so that both horses were galloping. Blazer’s form at the N.Z. Grand National Meeting was all wrong, but he will be better when he runs next from all accounts. He is a better beginner than Hohoro, who is on the same mark, but does not finish so resolutely as Mr Lovett’s gelding, who would be considered well treated if he were all right in the wind, as there is no doubt he is a first-class horse. Hohoro has been making less noise than he did some time back, and he may race well this season. He will meet Cruciform on much better terms than he did last summer at Auckland. Pampero (9.3), who ran second last year with 9.4, and won the previous year with 7.8, should be one of the hardest to beat If specially trained for thia distance. I have much respect for Ostiak, with 9.5 on his back, however. He is trained for sprinting, and can get every inch of six furlongs, and at a pace there are few that can muster up Another that should race well is Red Gauntlet. There are so many brilliant ones engaged that a good race may be looked for, but, all in, the best of to carry over 8.7 may account for the race. The best of the threc-year-olds may run well, but those of that age that have shown any form to speak of are weighted to quite their full deserts.

Longevity in horses is a subject to Which reference is occasionally made. An American authority is responsible for the statement that tfi> oldest horse in that part ot the worTTl is a bay gelding, which is certified to be upwards of 47 years old. Af all events, he is a veteran of the Mexican campaign of 185!? a memento of which he carries on his uank. in the shape of a big scar; and he was also used as an officer’s charger In me Civil War. For twenty years he has done no work, and as all his teeth are gone, hia principal food la boiled corn and mash, upon wine, tic seems to thrive, to the great satisfaction of his owner. Major Mass, of Lnnlsvtnp. Kentuekv To come near home. Bella, the grand - dam of Zip, dam of Castashore, lived to the age

of 36 years, and what may surprise readers to know had a foal at the age ot 33 years, ana at two years old this youngster, Lothair by name, ran second for the first two-year-old race run on the Wanganui racecourse. It was claimed that a mare known as Blink Bonn’- lived to the age of 40 years in Wanganui. She bred foals for over twentv years, and was owned by the Hair family, near that town. “Encouraging steeplechasing’* is the subject of an article in the “Town and Country Journal.” It winds up with the following reference to the two chief steeplechase courses In Australia:—“There are many who think that the steeplechase course at Randwick is nothing like so severe as that at Flemington. They will be surprised to read in the tabic given below,that at Randwick one of the fences — the log wall, opposite the stand—is higher than the stone wall, known as the cathedral, at Flemington. The fences, together with their number, position, and height, according to private measurement,

The last few years have witnessed a great addition to the numbers of bookmakers doing business in Australia (says a writer in the “Town and Country Journal” In an article dealing with the favourites In races). The remark is often made that there is not nearly so much money betted now upon a race as was the case some years back. Perhaps not. but we are firmly of the opinion that more money changes hands now over racing in a yoerr than at any other period in Australian history. Take the sport itself, which has changed froi.i the old days of heats and long distances; so has wagering. In the betting clubs can still be found the double book on the two Cups, but he that is working it is invariably one of the “o’d timers.” The most recent addition to the “ring” Is a smart, active Individual on figures, with a good voice, who has the assistance of a clerk who is possessed of excellent hearing, smart with his pencil, and almost a lightning calculator. These are the men that nowadays beW to thousands on a race, and do it at exnress speed. They would not be as much astray at the old line of business as would the old-time bookmaker, were he to try the new system. This we have seen proved over and over again. The old-fashioned bookmaker,with his hctle pocketbook, fastened with a clasp, and metallic pencil, are gone for ever. The modern bookmaker, betting to figures, is quite satisfied with a fair percentage, and from the bulk of business done makes a decent living; in some cases a fortune. Backers, however, with experience, and much racing, have also become adepts, and rarely do we find them so badly beaten as in the old days. Looking over the returns of four race meetings, which were run off on Saturday, we find that of the 22 horses made favourites for thedr resoective events no less than 16 got home, while at least four of the others were heavily backed.

The death of the famous jockey, John Watts, is thus referred to in an English paper of July 20th: Upon the very threshold of another Goodwood, John Watts, who will always be held in popular remembrance as “the iving’s jockey,” has passed away. He w’as seized with epilepsy on Saturday week at Sandown Park during the races, and he died in the hospital at four o’clock yesterday morning. Gne of the earliest messages of condolence which his widow received after ue death was announced was one from His Majesty expressing his sympathy with her in her bereavement. John Watts was in himself a striking i lustration of the prosperous modern jockeyone who was ab’e to take “lortune at the flood.” Such famous artists in the saddle as Jem Robinson, Jonn B. Day, and Charles Marlow did not leave enough money to bury them. Watts won his prosperity by hard work. He served an apprenticeship at Houghton with Tom Cannon, and with such a good teacher his name quickly appeared in the list of winning jockeys. The first successful essay was In the Stewards’ Plate at Salisoury in May, lb<u. What nominally was Watts’ earliest Important victory was obtained upon the rugged course at Lansdown the following year. Tne Bath meeting was then on- the down line, and the Somersetshire Stakes no longer a ‘‘great’’ race. Watts won on Strudwick for Tom Cannon by forty lengths. In 1881 he mnde his first handicap hit with the American horse Foxhall in the Cambrldeshlre. It was poor Fred Archer’s constant failure to secure this event which proved the Inst straw in the upsetting of his mental balance. The “classic” successes of

Watts were of the most brilliant character. He was the hero of the two most notable Derbies of modern times — the “Prince’s Derby,” when our present King secured the prize with Persimmon, and the “Prime Minister’s Der*by“—the longdelayed triumph of Lord Rosebery’s turf enterprises. Besides these he rode two other Epsom champions In Merry Hampton and Sainfoin. Five times he won the St. Leger, four times the Oaks, tour times the One Thousand Guineas, and twice the Two Thousand uruineas. Either under “retainers'* or with casual mounts he had carried nearly every prominent racing jacket known to tne English turf during the last quarter of a century. In the years 1807 and 1888 he stood at the head of the list of winning jockeys. A year or iwo since Waits became trainer, as the difficulties of keeping down weight could not be o. In this new department of work *.e did very well, and his sagacity in "buying was unquestionable.

According to an old proverb, earlyrising is conducive to health, wealth, and wisdom. This may be so, but those whose business takes them out in the morning to watch the work of racehorses will be inclined to dispute it. It is probably every bit as healthy, and certainly more enjoyable, to be snugly curled up in bed than to stand about a racecourse on a windy winter’s morning. As regards wealth, few touts are exactly overburdened with it, while, as for wisdom—well, the knowledge gained by visits to the track is occasionally so confusing as to. put you off a winner which you might have backed but for allowing private form to outweigh public form. Thus writes “Pilot,” a Sydney scribe, who has seen some service in the capacity of a chronicler of the doings on the training grounds. According to this authority touting at Randwick is a much more pleasant occupation now than it was a few years ago, when to keep pace with some of the clever division it was necessary to almost live on the course for a few weeks prior to the commencement of a big meeting. Moonlight mornings were availed of for trials, and more than one spin was brought off as early as 3 o’clock, the course at that time being open at all hours. One effect of this sort of business was to boom horses whose chances of winning big events were small, while a cold contracted through galloping in the early hours settled , the prospects of more than one good horse. An accident or two eventually caused the committee to regulate the hours for working, and now the earliest at which the tracks are opened is five o’clock in summer, while in June and July they are not available until 6.30, and even then very few trainers put in an appearance with their "©barges until an hour later, the principal exception being W. Kelso, who believes in getting through as soon as possible all the year round. At one time Randwick was open to anyone who wished to see the horses at work, and the attendances occasiqnally ran into hundreds. Finally this state of affairs was considered undesirable, and the committee decided that outside of owners, trainers, jockeys, and others immediately interested, only newspaper representatives should be admitted to the course. Possibly the pressmen, too, would be debarred if some of the trainers could have their way, but even if the training reports did not appear in the papers, there would be very little chance of springing a surprise on the bookmakers, who would continue to be well informed concerning track doings, even if the public were not. Then, again, some of our trainers pay as much attention to the doings of other men’s horses as their own, and are often responsible for booming some animal or another.

Recently it was stated that about 250 horses were in work at Randwick, and the following on the subject of “Touting the Training,” from the pen of “Pilot,” about the tracks there is interesting: Numerically, Randwick is well off as regards tracks. First of all there is the course proper, then inside of that there is a grass track (A), outer tan (B), which is separated from the inner tan (C) by a cinder track, *op dressed with sand. Next comes another grass track (D), while in the centre of the course there is a sand track. The jumping division Is also well catered for now, a recent improvement being the formation of a mile steeplechase schooling track. As a rule, one of the grass tracks, in addition to one of the tans, the cinders, and the sand, is opened three mornings a week—Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. In wet weather it is unusual for any of the grass tracks to be available, and then, as the tans are generally too heavy for use, the work is pretty well confined to the cinders and sand. When working on the outer tan it is possible to cut off a lot of ground, and if a trainer for any particular reason should wish his horse to be credited with a particularly good gallop on this track, there is no difficulty about it. The inner tan, however, is a measured track, and anything accomplished on it can be relied upon. Just before any of our big meetings the course proper is used for final gallops, with hurdles out about twentytwo yards from the inner rail. Owing to the continued wet weather none of the Epsom candidates have done anything in the watch-breaking line so far this season, but it may be worth remembering that 1n the past, with the hurdles out the distance mentioned, any horse capable of running Imln 47sec has invariably played a prominent part in the decision of the big mile races. Most of the touts statlqn themselves in line with the winning post,*-and, except when horses are pulled off up the straight, the time is generally taken pretty accurately. Of course, mistakes do occur both as to the identity of horses as well as the time made by them, but taking everything inr

to consideration, errors of this descrip* tion are not too numerous. Naturally,

trainers indulge In a little dodging when possible, and their horses will jump off at or finish at unusual posts. However, most adjustment of the weights, and it is the easiest way, too, as though the onlookers may be pretty confident a horse is carrying more weight than in sight, they have no line as to When a horse comfortably beats another one morning, and then a couple of days later the tables are turned, it is in nine cases out of ten a matter of weight. There are a few trainers who do not believe in weighting horses up for dodging purposes, contending that a big load on an animal gallop after gallop takes a lot of dash out of it, while it also makes a breakdown a possibility. Then there are trainers, men of long experience, too, who have such a weakness for the use of the watch that if. one of their horses shows a particularly good gallop, it is sent along on subsequent mornings to see if it can clip a bit off Its previous record, with the result that a race is often left on th® track. -The watch, unfortunately, is not an infallible guide to winners, as horses, like men, are differently constituted, and some can do much better in private than in public. Some of the most brilliant track gallopers have been failures with the colours up, while others whose work really gave them no chance, have surprised everybody connected with them by winning in good style. Still, those horses which show best form in private generally come out on top fn public, and more particularly does this hold good in connection with the big mile races run at Randwick. Many racing men (trainers included) profess to scoff at the use of the watch, but all the same they are generally anxious to know what has made the fastest time at some particular distance. and would sooner risk their money on the horse that has cut out a mile in, say, Im 48s, than the one that has taken a couple of seconds longer. © © ©

arc as follow:— AT RANDWICK. AT FLEMINGTON ft in. ft Ln. 1. Logs at 1. Palings op. home turn... 3 9i stand 4 0 2Stone wall 3 10J 2. Stone wall 3 11 3. Palings 3 10 3. Logs 3 9 4. Logs opp. 4. Fence at stand . 4 1* river 3 10 5. Fence . 3 71 5. Fence 3 ■’0 6. Logs at 6. Fence 3 10 drain .. 3 9 7. Stone wall 7. Palings, off (Cathedral) 4 0 course 3 91 8. Fence (ab8. Brush at attoirs) 3 7 drain 3 91 9. F e r c e 9. Logs .. 3 10 (sheds) 3 7 10. Brush.. 3 8 10. Fence on 11. Palings on to course .. 3 8 to course.. 3 SI 11. Fence off 12Fence at course 3 7 Kensington 3 9 12. Fence in straight 3 7 13. Fence in straight 3 9 14. Fence in straight 3 11