TURF NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue VII, 14 February 1903, Page 428

TURF NOTES.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. “Query,” Avondale.—lt was in the second steeplechase at the Takapuna J.C. summer meeting, on February 1. 1902, that Berry was killed. Marshal Sou It has been receiving a spell in the paddock at Papakura. The Canterbury Jockey Club’s Summer Meeting commences on Thursday. Inchcape bled at the nose after the Hurdle Race at Takapuna on Wednesday. Mr C. O'Connor has been appointed starter to the Ilorowhenua Racing Club. J. Rae took Mars, The Needle, and Strathavon to New Plymouth on Thursday. Vulpine and Full Cry, two of Reynard’s progeny, won races oh Wednesday at Takapuna. A visitor the Avondale racecourse says that property is looking beautiful just now. Achilles should have an easy task in the Middle Talk Plate at the C.J.C. Midsummer -Meeting. Mr H. Massey has received very encouraging nominations for the Rotbrua Jockey Club's annual meeting. Nominations -for the Thames Jockey Club’s Autumn Meeting close on Friday, 13th February. For speaking to outsiders after going out to take part in a trotting race at Gore seven riders were lined ten shillings each. Regalia 11. was sold recently in Sydney for-2«.»0 guineas to a Mr J. K. Hardie, and it is thought likely will be sent to Singapore. Fahey, the Ila went horseman, rides Sloan fashion over hurdles, auu does, the business very well. Evening Star, the dam of that useful horse Jupiter, is in foal to Stepniak this seuson. It is reported that the Taranaki Jockey Club will accept-fees from bookmakers at their meeting this week. Nominations for the Waihi Jockey Club s annual meeting, which takes place on the 21st February, are very satisfactory. Dundas, who pulled up very lame after the Wellington Cup, was working at Riccarton again this wees. Delatey, In Mr Stead’s team, Is the Seaton Deiaval Radiance colt purchased at Wellington Park as a yearling. He has yet to make his debut. Lingard ought to run well amongst the hacks down the Taranaki-Wanganui coast. A mile and a half is a distance that should suit him. The Otahuhu Trotting Club will take nominations for their Summer Meeting on Friday next at the Metropolitan Hotel, Auckland, and at Otahuhu. I have it on the very best authority that a horse owner in America contemplates a visit to Now Zealand with a team of useful racehorses in the not far distant future. There is a probability of Malatua being put into training again. A spell at the stud may have done him a world of good. Malua's sou is a handsome horse. Mr Joe Thompson, one time leviathan of the Australian ring, who has been in England betting for some years, says that the

totalisaior Uuds to Increase gambling, and because he has so expressed himself an Australian paper says be is in league with the Church.

The South Canterbury Jockey Club has contributed £25 and the Fortuity Raring Club £lO to thc fund which is l>eing raised for Mr G. Dowse. The veteran handicapper is almost blind.

Mr J. Marslinll, after winning the Welter Handicap on Wednesday at Takapuna with Paul Seaton’ gave the .best part of the stake to his trainer, Kos Heaton, and Dceley, the rider.

The pony lace at Takapuua on Wednesday was the medium of more speculation than any other race during the afternoon. This shows the popularity of the sport so far as the undersized racehorse is concerned.

Advance will probably visit Ellerslie in the autumn, ami Achilles may go South for the Easter meeting of the C.J.C. Advance should have an easy thing on in the Century Stakes here; while Achilles has a big show in the Challenge Stakes.

Queen Anne has the reputation of being able to gallop fast in private, but she certainly has not shown good form in public yet. and much disappointed her popular owners, the Messis Duder, at the Takapuna J.C. Summer Meeting.

The Australian Feer, by Lurline’s son Da rebin, died recently in Queensland, where he was being used for stud purposes. The winnings of his progeny in eight years, £15.920, barely give an average of £2OOO a year.

Mr P. Lanigan has finished his contract for laying down the foundation of the tan track at Ellerslie just eleven days over time. Mr Lanigan was always noted for bis promptitude in getting through with his contracts. Tan is wanted now.

Mr W. Lovett has bad the misfortune to lose his Cuirassier —Lady Moth filly Matua. The two-year-old half-sister to Hohoro was turned out in a paddock near the Three Kings, and got badly cut in some wire fencing, aud had to be shot. A great loss this. ■

Some time ago It was suggested in the columns of the “Graphic”-that the Takapuna Jockey Club should ievert to the system of paying only two dividends instead of four, as at previous meetings. This course was followed on the occasion of the last meeting, and gave satisfaction.

The Takapuna Jockey Club put £25,092 through the totalizators on the three days of their Summer Meeting, as against £30,835 last year, the figures thus showing a falling off of £5743, which means a big loss of revenue, which the club cannot well afford to be without this season.

At a special meeting of Tattersail’s Club held to decide whether the club should purchase a site in the city and erect premises which would cost £3<X»O, 38 members voted, and on the casting vote of tho chairman it was decided not" to accept the recommendation of the committee.

The Hon. H. Mosman has sold Wellstock, full brother to Waiuku, to Mr J. P. Voss, of Queensland, for stud purposes. This reminds me that Waiuku. who was standing in a country district in Hawke’s Bay last season, was extensively patronised by breeders.

The Rev. Joseph Nicholson, said to be the bitterest opponent the totalizator has in Victoria, was present as a reporter to a religious journal at the conference of delegates held recently in Melbourne in favour of the legalisation of the co-operative system of speculation on horseracing in Victoria.

The “Bulletin”says “Now that the system of race riding has changed, a resurrected Archer w’ould probably be a rider of no consequence.” There are’ other writers, I venture to think, who would prefer one Archer still to a paddock full of crouchers, even of the acknowledged best, for some are very poor exponents of the American style, just as there are poor imitators of the old style.

Several intending buyers who' were making inquiries about Petrovna at the conclusion of tho last New Zealand Cup meeting will be considerably annoyed with themselves at letting the mare slip through their fingers (says "Sentinel” in the Otago "Witness.”) She was under offer at £290, the price which her present owner paid for the daughter of Stepniak. After the last Wingatui meeting the owner of Petrovna refused an offer of £3OO for the mare.

The programme of the Ohtuemuri Jockey Chib’s annual race meeting appears in this issue, and is one well worth, and no doubt will receive, the attention of horse-owners. The events are of a varied description, including the Ohinemuri Cup of lOOsovs, two steeplechases, two hurdle races, two pony races, two hack races, and a number of open events. Nomination day, February 21st. Is well ahead, but should be borne in mind.

Oa Saturday Putty and Hippowal were taken to Gisborne for the summer meeting, which commences there to-morrow.

It is stated that Halberdier is training on satisfactorily at Waverley, and is likely to be in evidence at the Wanganui Jockey Club's autumn meeting, which takes place the first week in next month. •

The Forbury Racing Club, despite the fact that no totalisator is run at their meetings, have received very satisfactory nominations for their meeting to be held on February 21st, and which precedes the Dunedin Jockey Club's meeting a few days.

The yearling full brother to Halberdier, purchased by Mr H. Friedlander at the break up of the Messrs Duder’s stud, has been emasculated. Since being transferred from Devonport to Ellerslie he has done well, and may with age also be found a worthy member of the family to which he belongs.

Mr B. McCanl, who was a well known Btndmaster in the Wanganui district up to a few years ago, died recently. Mr MeCaul owned Izaak Walton, Wapiti, and other horses, and at one time did some racing, iie owned Te Whetuinararla for a while. Onyx, Disraeli, and a few others were raced by him in recent years.

Jack Keen, an American trainer, whose home is in old Kentucky, is back, after a highly-successful season in the land of the Czar. Asked what the outlook is In that part of the world. Keen said: “If a skilled American horse trainer is looking only to making money like a Chinaman that comes to this country, Russia is the greatest land In the world for him to follow bis profession.”

The victory of Dingo In the Steeplechase at Takapuna on Wednesday was the first the full brother to Nor’-west has had for a very long time. Evermore lost a lot of ground at one of the fences on the hill, where Nor’-west and Princess of Thule fell, making things easy for Dingo, and they have to be easy when he takes it into his head to try. Noble, however, rode him well.

A number of the two-year-olds left in the Great Northern Champagne Stakes are there through neglect on the part of their owners to remove them from the list, but most of the 24 still engaged are in work. From present appearances It would seem probable that Mr Hugo Friedlander’s pair. Rose Shield and Kamo, will be the hardest to beat of those that are likely to see the post.

Those who train and race Rufus should know’ more than the looker-on how best to run the little chestnut, but were he mine, I think I should try him with a plain bit. He jumps to** big at times, and this Is clearly due to the use of the bit and brldoou, which Is almost out of date on our racecourses. J. Rae invariably used one in steeplechase riding, but there are few men who can use this gearing properly.

A correspondent suggests that at or near the racecourse gates, or say, between the inner and outer racecourse enclosures, there should be stands where race cards can be procured at all meetings. This practice works out well in Australia, and is one that can be followed with advantage in New Zealand, and I hope to see it adopted. Most clubs who now sell the right to their correct card privileges should retain them as a matter of business, and their gates as well.

English turf writers are unanimous in their praise of the two-year-old filly Caravel, and as she will be seen In all the big three-year-old events, Including the Derby and Oaks, this year the fact is significant Just now. Caravel belongs to John Gubins, owner of Ard Patrick, this year’s Derby winner, and comes of real blue-ribbon stock. She is by Pioneer out of a Kendal.mare, the latter a half-brother to Ormond, and sire of Galtee More, winner of the 1897 Derby. Not alone has the palm been awarded to Caravel for last season, but those who are competent to speak say that she was the most powerful two-year-old animal seen on the English Turf in many years. A bright bay, she stands 16 hands, and has tremendous striding power.

Mr H. Friedlander, In a letter to a friend In Auckland from England, stated that he would have attended one of the yearling sales at Newmarket and probably made a purchase or two, but was unable to do so. Friends of the New Zealander will be pleased to learn that he has made considerable improvement In health since going Hume.

Those famous individuals who are given to picking doubles on the association of Ideas many Indulge their pet weakness to their hearts’ content over the Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup this year. Here are a few instances: — Milner and Lord Kitchener, Chiffon and Lace, Lieutenant Bill and The Midshipman, Boaz and Haymaker, Lock and Cross Keys, Golden Queen and Regalia 11., Bonnie Chiel and Great Scot, Fishery and Falkirk, Independence and Abundance. —“Javelin.”

Trainers at Newmarket (England) cannot accept any new employers until the names of those employers have been submitted to and approved by the stewards of the Jockey Club. Elsewhere in England any man can set up as a trainer, and train for whom he pleases. As this state of affairs is not exactly considered desirable, some of the turf reformers point out that it would be an improvement if the Jockey Club went in for licensing trainers.

Numa, late Warwick, who won a race on the second day of the Takapuna J.C. summer meeting, was returned iu the racecards as by Pinfire. This is the Musket horse bred by Mr Walters. The other day I met Numa’s breeder, Mr Taylor, of Cambridge, who informed me that Tul was the name of Numa’s dam, and that she was got by Ingomar from a mare got by Beuathalath, from an Arab mare. Benalthalatu was a useful horse at the stud, a full brother to Lacenfeed, a mare that raced with success in the early days, and back to whom some winners of good races trace. Despatch and Desdemona, both of which were running at the Takapuna meeting, the first named with success, are of this line.

Mr William Elliott, of Waitara, Is said to have a very promising colt by Sou It from Lady Fisher iu hand. The co.t was a gift from his late brother John, who named the youngster Maniapoto. He is a December foal, now two years old. and is said to be a truly shaped oue. nicely grown, standing 15 hands 2 Inches. Mr Elliott has broken the colt, who is dally being ridden. and sets great store on him. He is the first foal of Lady Fisher, who was got by Cuirassier fiom Lady Emmeline, and was put to Soult at three years old. Thus we have the Musket blood as well as the f irther strains of Fisherman, and as Soult has already produced three winne’rs from Lady Emmeline, in Laertes, Yseult and Cordon Rouge, the result of mating Soult with a half sister to this lot by Cuirassier should be watched with interest.

Addington, by Vanguard, claimed two winners of three races at the Chatham Island J.C. annual meeting on December 23rd. He was fast as a colt himself. His dam. Miss Lucy, won three races in one day, and was also fast, and claimed ualf sistership to Welcome Jack, and was full sister to Winchester, who fell in the Caulfield Cup disaster when backed by his owner, the late Hon. W. Robinson, for £70,000. the most money ever one owner supported a horse for for any Australian event. Addington is now owned by Mr Donald Fraser, who purchased him to mate with Laurel, the dam of Advance, in order to get the Vanguard and Peter Flat crosses of blood. It is not known whether the mare is stinted or not. however. She is 23 years old. Her last foal, Glory, Is being trained by Belcher at Wanganui.

The entries for the Wanganui Cup of TaOsors are not nearlv so large as might have been expected for so Important a race. There are 18 all told lu that event, 15 stables being represented. Advance, Halberdier. and Wairikt represent the best form. In the Wanganni Stakes of 350sovs, run over a mile and a quarter, there are 26 engaged, including Halberdier. Achilles, and Wairlki. The names of several performers are missing from the lists. Windwhistle is the only nomination from Sir George Clifford’s team. Mr F. Watson has not entered either Bal tieaxe or Okoari. The names of Canteen, Pallas, Welbeck,

and Lady Lillian are conspicuous by their absence. Cruciform’a recent accident accounts no doubt fur the absence of her name.

The Guildhall Steeplechase at Folkestone, England, ou December 18, was associated with a peculiar incident, as with all the competitors, with the exception of the favourite, Orpington, and Soubrette 111., coming to grief, the former finished alone. After the winner had passed the post it dawned on several owners that it was a selling race, and that there was likely to be a surplus, and Soubrette 111., who bad been pulled up, was walking up the course, when someone ran and told the jockey the state of things. He then retraced his steps In order to jump the last two fences and complete the course, but in the meantime Mason, who had fallen at the final fence ou Me' Go, and who was walking back $o the paddock, ran across the course and remounted bis burse in time to secure second place.

The following Is a list of the winning payments made over the Takapuaa Jockey Club’s summer meeting:—J. Montgomery, £625: D. Stewart, £230; T. W. Armitage, £130: M. Deeble. £130; 11. Hyland. £180; R. Hannon, £115; L. Coleman. £100; E. A. Laurent, £l«X>: D. Ross. £100; W. Handley, £100; J. Franks, £9O; L. Marshall, £80; J. T. Ryan, £75; J. Marshall. £65; F. L. Armitage, £6O; W. Ring, £55; J. and A. Hanson, £55; W. Howard, £5O; T. Bray, £5O; E. Swann, £5O; C. A. Cooper, £5O; T. A. Williams, £4O; T. McKay, £3O: J. C. Colbeck, £25; E. Alison, £10; J. Lovett, £10; J. Chaafe. £10; E. Hillary. £10; J. Risk. £10; J. McVitie, £10; C. Salisbury, £10; W. Abbott, £10; M. Laurie, £lO. Total £2625.

At the recent Wiuchelsea race meeting (says “Javelin” In the “Leader”) a jockey riding in the Welter Race stopped the favourite by catching hold of his bl idle aud by hanging ou to it uuil another horse had passed them both and had won. The act was so palpable that, after the race, infuriated spectators dragged the offender to the ground and knocked him about so badly that he was unable to weigh in and hud to be carried away. The rider for whom things were made so sultry bore the singularly appropriate and suggestive name Warmingham!

Seeing the way Despatch won the Summer Handicap at Takapuna ou Wednesday with so much to spare from Jewellery, Formula, and Putty, too much credit need not be given to Strathavon for beating the same horses iu the Takapuna Cup aud winning the Jockey Club Handicap. With 9.9 on his back—the weight he was allotted in the Summer Handicap—he would have had no chance with Despatch, judging from the way the daughter of Saracen and Dunoon shaped. Sue cairied 7.10 and won in 1.44, which is good time for a mile on the Takapuna course. The going being soft no doubt suited Strathavon when he won his races, and the time registered in each case was slow. 1 have no wish to detract from the merits of the son of Blairgowrie and Mantilla, who is doubtless a rather useful horse, but at best form at Takapuna is not reliable, and there is such a thing as over-estimating the perfoimances of horses that sometimes win there.

The acceptances for the Taranaki Jockey Club’s Summer Meeting were received on Monday. In the chief event, the Taiauaki Cup, there are nine still left. Battleaxe with 8.12 being at the Head of the list. Strathavon has incurred a 71b penalty, which brings his weight to Bst, aud he should carry it well. Queen's Guard has nothing to complain of on the score of weight, aud there is no reason why she should not get to the end of a mile and a half under her light impost, though hitherto she has been regarded as better suited over a shorter course. The race may furnish an interesting contest. On the strength of recent running Strathavon is likely to be selected by the public to account for the stake. The Stewards’, Flying, aud Hurdle Handicaps have not filled well. Auckland furnishes two of the five engaged in the Hurdle Race, three of the ten left In the Stewards’ Handicap, and three of the eight left in the Flying Handicap. The hack handicaps framed by Mr Tardy have resulted in capital acceptances. The meeting, which takes place on the 11th and 12th February, should be a successful one.

Hohoro Uaa won oue race this season, aud lu that event he had 9.10, the lightest Impost he has started under for over two years. Mr KnlgLt gave Mr laoett’s gelding an opportunity uf distinguishing him self when be weighted the Sou uf Tasman at 11.2 In the Devonport Handicap. it takes a wide margin to bring good aud bad horses together. of the trio that were handicapped at 6.7, one only Geologist — was paid up for, while Formula was Hie only one of the first nine on the list to lie accepted for. If we must have races iu which good horses are to be bandit apped at big weights in order that very Inferior ones that aic entered shall have a chance, we should also hare races with maximum weights, so that the owners of good ones would have opportunities of running them with reasonable weights. This has long been a contention of mine. Weight-for-ag>? races cannot well he given by all clubs, ns

they do not pay directly, and too often fail to bring the good ones together; but highclass handicaps of fair value, with maximum Imposts, should be tried, as they would work for go<»d. and I commend their adoption to all clubs that have any pretensions to position in the racing world. With much of what appears below race goers generally will agree : A form of fraud crops up on the turf occasionally that is not handled by the judges in au energetic fashion, says ’ The Horseman. This was illustrated iu the East recently, where a trainer started his horse knowing he was not fit. The horse was made a favourite on the strength of previous form, and it was not until the race had progressed to the third heat that It was realised that the public had been imposed upon, and that the horse was iu surh condition that be should not have started, it is not olteu that this form uf fraud obtains, but when it does the Judges deal leniently with it. The rules are weak iu that no spt penalty is provided for such cases, ami »ccause of this fact judges are inert. It would seem that this Is a case where more legislation is needed, and racing officials should be instructed to suspend or expel nil person or persons found guilty of sir h practices. Owners who run horses out oi «o.idltion with the object of racing them into form would have tu be careful if vicu u rule were in force. A Calcutta paper says that the only horse which might have been nearer to the Viceroy’s Cup, tnuugh without v. i sning. was Tubal Cain, who fought fur his h 4 d so during the first bait of the race that he took a lot out of nimself. while he was also knocked about u bit when the usual scrimmage took place roundin;; the home turn. Record Reign ran consisttutly with his form in the Trials, an i Is evidently unequal to a long Journey; while xijcrca yeuis have nut tended to increase Up Guards’ speed. Vusto's victory was by no means a barren honour, if al! th it is said be true, as. apart from the stakeand tr<»phy, we are told that Mi Galstaun raked in something like a lakh and a half In wagers. Still, in spite of this big a.sbursement, the bookmakers had a first rat •* raeo, for theie were no other big winners, a ml their place books in parrictrtar must have been a joy io them, as A< etin**, rouse forward running—practically without T.eing galloped -was the real surprise of the contest, did not carry an anna. The renewed interest which is being displayed iu connection with .he legu-isutiuu of the totalisator in Victoria tstiys ‘ Javelin” in the Melbourne “Leader”) again directs attention to the peculiar moral reasoning of people who object to amucy which has passed through the l ands of • ue racing fraternity being used for the a deviation of pain aud sickness. Sure:y, Murc.y, such ethics are unwoithy of ill's g.* »f enlightenment. What a boon to this tjueen City of rhe South would £1 th- pr.-seui juncture bo th - presence of such an uncomprising fiageilator of humbugs ns Gertruda Atherton. II would hr well indeed for the moral expansion of sm-h people hr th< se ab< re i ned to If they w »uld r • ’. mr.rk. learn, and inwardly digest the • ;>*•- gallon administered by the gieat Ac. ri an prophetess of mlvam-ed philo-ophy t-. the professing moralist w in* stood y am! watched a poor wretch «H • 'hi save his life at the > Isk « f his soul Uy the medicinal administration of whisky! About as reasonable would It I 1 > ■ ni.u -1 the elimination of stiychnine from .. h-

tors’ prescriptions on the grounds that It is sometimes used as a means of commit' ting suicide!

The good old Riddlesworth blood crops up in many of our best horses. Advance, Waiuku, St. Paul, Record Reign, are a few that may be mentioned, but scores of winners thia season, as has been the case for thirty odd years, have possessed the blood, and Auckland has more, of it, chiefly through Dainty Ariel’s descendants, sous and daughters, than any other part of New Zealand. Plenty of the blood was in evidence at the Takapuna meeting. Emilias, sire of Riddlesworth, was voted the best horse in England in his time.

A Southern confrere In referring to the breeding of Advance mentions that Laurel, his dam, has not left anything within a mile of that horse, and adds “her fame rests on him aloue,’* forgetting that Lorelei, by Cruiser, from Laurel, was a rattling good little mare, a performer of considerable merit, who, when at her best, would probably have been equal to boating quite ns strong a field as Advance met in the ■Wellington Cup. Lorelei was a sterling bit of stuff, as will be remembered by those who saw her racing on the Wanganui coast.

The death of the famous English racehorse Bend Or recalls an Interesting story about the horse and his master, the late Duke of Westminster, or rather, his ancestors, the Grosvenors. A bend or is an heraldic device, represented as a gold scarf or shoulder-belt, formed by two parallel lines drawn across the shield from the dexter chief to the sinister base. In the time of Richard 11. a protracted litigation arose between Sir Richard Le Scrope and Sir Robert I.e Grosvenor tone of the Duke of Westminister’s ancestors) relative to the armorial bearing “Azure a bend or,’’ which both used. The dispute lasted three years, and was ultimately decided in favour of Scrope, but Grosvenor was permitted to bear “Azure a garb or,” which has ever since formed part of the arms of the family of Grosvenor. It was no doubt in reference to this remarkable controversy that the Duke of Westminster (Grosvenor) conferred the name of Bend Or upon the beautiful chestnut who eventually won the Enslish Derby in his year (1880), and from whose lotus sprang the equine wonder of the last century, Ormonde, who was responsible for Orme,'the sire of Flying Fox.

During a recent conversation with a Victorian gentleman, who is at present in Dunedin, and who is well known in racing circles, on the subject of the totalisator (says “Sentinel” in the “Otago Witness”), he mentioned that the machine was almost sure to be found in use in the sister colony before a very lengthy period had elapsed. The advocates of the totalisator have been very energetic, and their efforts are in a fair way of being rewaided, but should the totalizator be erected at Flemington and ether Victorian courses, it is not intended to do away with the metallicians. It has, however, been proved’ in this country that clubs are nut all anxious that bookmakers should be allowed to compete with the totalizator, and where possible the bookmakers have been rigidly excluded from th< tracks. But although the clubs have been trying hard for many years to stamp < ut the* bookmaker, the racing public have been nullifying their efforts by bestowing a share of their butting on the knights of the pencil and allowing them to live, if not In affluence, at least they are considerably wealthier than Goldsmith’s clergyman.who was “passing rich on £4O a year.” The Takapuna Jockey Club, having gone in for a thirty years’ lease of adjoining land. will. I am informed, commence extending their racecourse straight away, and they have already had the ground surveyed. As a matter of fact, the course was (lagged out so that visitors to the meeting could see the line to be taken. As it is just now, there is no grass course in the colony equal to the Takapuna course for pony racing and trotting, and one of the two clubs that hold such meetings at Alexandra Park would do well if they could obtain the use of it. Let them try just one meeting there. I am sure it would he a huge success and the Takapuna Jockey Club would, from assistance so received, mora quickly reduce the large debt hanging over their course. It would help to pay them for the largo expenditure of money they will be required to make to complete the work they are about to undertake, which, when finished, should increase the popularity of Takapuna as a racing resort Many owners haVe not cared to run their best horses on the small track upon which there have been more accidents, than upon any other flat course that I know of. This will not be so in the near future, and It is a matter for sincere congratulation that the Club have at last taken the step they are doing. The course will bo shaped differently to most coursi s but in such a form that a good view will be obtained when the horses are going away from the stand and enclosures, and all along the back stretch, while the long run to the final bend will afford racegoers a good chance of ir. Heating the positions of the"runners. The English “Sportsman” has selected the crack filly Sceptre jis the subject for their annual mating competition, which is thrown open to the world, says an exchange, and ns the mare’s sensational performances have made her breeding fairly well known to sportsmen, the number of those desirous of obtaining nt least one of the prizes will probably constitute a record. Sceptre is by Perslninion out of Ornament, the daughter of Bend Or and Lily Agnes, and a full sister to the mighty Ormonde. Idly Agnes was got by Macaron! (son of Sweetmeat) out of I'olly Agnes, the daughter of The Cure, and the Birdcatcher mare Miss Agnes. Persimmon is by St. Simon cut of the Hampton mare Perdita 11., who has also achieved prominence as the dam of Diamond Jubilee and Florite! 11. The following gentlemen have been selected as the Judges, and Judging from their widespread addresses it is expected that the

competition will be of Interest wherever the sport of racing is in vogue:—Mr J. A, Doyle (“Oxonian”), to represent Great Britain; Mr Pea rd, M.R.C.V.8., Ireland; M. Halbroim, France; Count Lehndorft, Germany; Count Ivan Sxapary, Au str a Hungary; Count C.isycki, Russia; Mr W. H. Rowe, the United States; Mr W. J. Taylor, Canada; M. Uuzue, South America; Mr T. Hayashi, Japan; Mr John Brown, Australia; Mr Spencer Goll.in, New Zealand; Dr. Eugene Carlier, Belgium; Mr L. E. B. Homan, South Africa; M. Negropontes, Roumanla; Duke de la Torres. Spain; Mr Chas. Rasch, Denmark; Count Emillio Turatl. Italy; Mr Sydney Galtrey (Bombay), and Mr Greenhill (Calcutta), India. These gentlemen will give their opinions as to what Is the most suitable mate for Sceptre, and the final decision will be arrived at by a vote of the majority. Last year Merry Gal (Galopin—Mary Seaton) was the mare selected, and Ladas (Hampton—llluminta) was the winning selection, and the Australian bred Au rum filled second place.

“The Probable,” in the “Canterbury Times,” thus refers to the sale of Siege Gun: One of the most Important items of news available this week is that which relates to the sale of the sensational horse of the season, Siege Gun. The son of Hotchkiss—Frailty was disposed of in Wellington last week to an Australian buyer, and will be shipped to Sydney this week. The events of the last few months will still be fresh in most people’s minds, so there is no need to refer at length to the performances of Siege Gun. His failure in the New Zealand Cup, for which he was such a hot favourite. and the demonstration which followed his victory in the Metropolitan Handicap on the second day will not scon be forgotten. Then came his w*in in the Auckland Cup, followed by an unsuccessful appearance in the Wellington Cup. That Mr Stead has seen fit to dispose of the last descendant of Frailty causes me no surprise. I have never regarded him as more than a fair handicap horse, and his owner doubtless feels quite satisfied at having won two good handicaps with him. There were many people who professed to disagree with the statements of the Yaldhurst owner and trainer that the horse was nothing out of the ordinary, and who backed up their belief by piling the money on him for the New Zealand Cup. Later events proved how far astray these clever people were In their judgment. That he won the Auckland Cup was not due to any brilliancy on the part of Siege Gun, but to the weakness of the opposition. The sale at the price mentioned indicates clearly that Siege Gun is not highly regarded at Yaldhurst. for champions are not sold from there for £5OO, which is the sum which is reported to have been paid in this instance. A_s three-quarter brother to the champion stallion, Trenton, the stud career of Siege Gun will be watched with interest. He is fa-sh-icnably bred, and in this respect he should* command a deal of support.

Mr W. 11. Croker, acting for the V.R.C. committee, moved the following resolution at a meeting of delegates of Australian Racing Clubs, at which 80 were present: “That this meeting strongly approves of the principle of the totalisator, and affords it hearty co-operation and support, and undertakes to use its best endeavours In furthering the movement for its legalisation.” The committee, he said, were to be congratulated on the fine response to their invitation, and it showed. above all things, that the question was a live one. lie concluded, too, tnat those present were sportsmen in the best sense of the term, all favourable to a broader, better, and more national spirit In a fine old English sport. When the Legislature come to consider the matter again ho hoped they would put aside the professional aspect of racing altogether. and consider it only as a sport. (Hear, hear.) Legislative sanction should be given to the totalisator, if for no other reason than to allow the public to judge for themselves as to whether its tendency was to elevate a national sport, or whether, as their opponents declared, the effect would be to increase gambling. If the latter proved to be the result he would be amongst the first to agitate for its abrogation. (Hear, bear.) All the V.R.C. committee sought was the totalisator under proper control, and restriction — used indiscriminately, it would be a dangerous thing. He gave the opponents of the measure credit for sincerity, but they had not the experience which justified their strong antagonism. They declared" that It was proposed to make legal that which was illegal. Nothing of the sort. Betting within moderate limits was an exhilarating, and not necessarily an Immoral, practice; certainly not an illegal one. It was not a question of starting this method x»f speculation as a new feature tn racing, for speculation bad always been associated with the turf—it was mainly a question of its restriction ami modification. (Hear, hear.) It was a remedial measure, and an aid to the sport In every aspect. It wns absurd to talk of the abolition of betting. Every country had admitted it, last of all Great Britain, where a representative body of mon unanimously decided that it could not be stopped. If so, why not control and modify it. In France, apart from other deductions, £lOO.000 had been set apart for the purchase of stallions for use in country districts, and this was emphatically an aid to horsebreeding. The committee of the V.R.C. were of opinion that since the totalisator could only be used within certain hours on a racecourse it would decrease the whole volume of betting, while possibly Increasing the number of speculators in small amounts. It would divert the profits of betting from the pockets of those who took no special interest in racing to the public, who practically supplied it all, and the V.R.C. proposed to use no portion of the percentage for club purposes, but wholly and solely for the increase of stakes. (’Cheers.) in increasing stakea they encouraged breeders, who were not too well supported, and in removing the temptation to artifice, impossible under the totalisator, they ensured the honesty of jockeys, ahd so greatly ex-

sited sport. (Cheers.) Sixty-three signatures in favour of the resolution were obtained. Despite the feeling thus sown by the clubs, aud support likely to come from some leading members of Parliament, it la open to question whether the totalisator will be legalised in Victoria. The sporting papers favour its introduction, but there are persons well qua lined to judge who are doubtful whether it will receive the sanction of the Legislature.

Brother scribes up to a short time ago were in the habit of spelling the name of Mr A. Telfer’s little chestnut St. Leger mare from Bellona differently. No wonder, for Matamataharakeke takes a bit of doing. I had been led to understand that Mr D. A. McLeod, a former owner, or part owner, of the mare, was her sponsor, and named her after a place on the East Coast. The Stud Book has It Matamata Harakikl. Now, just as if the title were not long enough, the compiler of the correct card of the Taka puna Jockey Club, or the printer, gives us a new version thus, Matamataharakeikel, maintaining the two letters e which the Stud Book does not furnish and adding the two letters i which the Stud Book docs give. Now, no one should be better qualified to give the correct spelling of the name than friend Robert Wynyard, the secretary of the Takapuna Jockey Club, who is a fluent Maori linguist. It may be expected that when the next edition of the Stud Book Is published the compiler will have the question set right, for In these days when breeders are so fond of combinations of the names of sires and dams, and this little mare retires from the racecourse to take up maternal duties, when names are required for her progeny there is just a possibility that the owner will want to adopt names for them that will at once bring back recollections of their dam. I have had to write her name very often, and many a time have wished that it were only half so long. It has been a stumbling block with some of our pencillers, who have declared they could lay three wagers and book them about other horses while they have been struggling with this one. After all, the name has a redeeming feature, whether you finish up with keke, klkl or keikei, for if the mare has twenty or more foals, which is, of course, highly improbable, the name will cut up excellently into sections and form so many combinations that those who may be entrusted with the responsibility of naming her offspring will have no difficulty. Here, for instance, are a few that can be used—Ma, Mat, Mata, Mat am, Mata ma, Matamat, Matamata, Matamatah, Matamatalyi, Matamatahar, Matamatahara, and, should the latest version be correct, Matamataharake,Matamataharakel, and Matamataharakeike. Then, dropping the letter M, we could have Ata, Atarna, Atamata, Atamatahara, and so on, and, then, commencing with. T, Tama, Tamata, Tamataha, Tamatahara, and so on, following on with H, and then starting on combinations such as Matake, Matakehara, and endless more. The possibility of Matamataharakeike! being mated with, a sire, or sires, with Maori names as long or nearly as lengthy as her own, and having to compile tabulated pedigrees of future possible classic winners from her is too dreadful for contemplation just now, but I quite expect that someone will suggest that the first foal the daughter of St. Leger and Bellona has should have the dam’s name spelt backwards bestowed upon it; in fact, lekiekarahatamatam should be at once claimed from the chairman of the Racing Conference.

That Mr W. Paul would be successful in his appeal against the decision of the Otahuhu Trotting Club, In disqualifying his mare Cora for inconsistent running at that club’s spring meeting, was only what might have been expected by those who were aware of the nature of the evidence. The strange part of the whole business is that the stewards should have disqualified the mare on the evidence, but stranger still that, having thought it the proper thing to disqualify the mare and deprive her owner of the stake, they did hot include him In the disqualification, seeing

that he rode her lu both her engagements. Clearly they thus admitted that they were sattsued tuat it was only XUe mate that was to biuiue, aud not her rider. That tho two performances were glaringly incousl»» teat admits of uo doubt whatever. Mr Paul himself acknowledged this, aud it was patent to everyone ou the course. The mure, who uu injured leg, could nut be induced to trot on the opening day after striking herself, and did not show what she was capable of, whereas in her next essay she went well ail the way*. Mr Paul, who is an amateur so far as the management and riding of trotting horses is concerned, tried Cora to be a fair mare before the meeting, invested a few pounds on her, and told some of his friends he thought she must have a good chance, but being disappointed at her performance on the first day, and fearing a possible repetition of misfortune, did not support her, and was the cause of many friends not supporting her on the second day when she won. It is admittedly very hard for stewards to judge when trotting horses axe being raced dishonestly, but it will never do to disqualify horses for inconsistency alone. There should be some proof against or very strong grounds of suspicion against the riders or drivers before taking that step. Many an innocent owner or rider and a section of the public have suffered through such mistakes. All racing is more or less inconsistent—trotting, in which so many crossbred horses take part, and over which accomplished horsemen are not always in control, especially so. The percentage of trotting horses we have in Auckland that cau be depended upon to trot two laces alike even on one day or during the same week is very small. The happenings in races make all the difference in results. Few of our trotters are well trained; few will stand training as good-bred ones do. One race or one trot too much may knock a horse out or put him back, while another will be Improved seconds with each go in private or public. There- is a lot In knowing how to handle trotting horses and how to boot and shoe them. The stewards of a trotting meeting, if possible, should be practical and know horses and their peculiarities, as well as to learn all they can about the class of owners and trainers with whom they have to deal. The Otahuhu Trotting Club are given credit for trying to do what is right by all, but that they erred Id disqualifying Cora, many of the best friends of sport amongst their patrons are agreed. If inconsistency were to be made' a ground for disqualification it Would-be of no use owners of many unplaced horses dreaming of starting them again at a meeting with any Idea of trying to win, even though during an interval of a few days they might have discovered some method of booting, shoeing, weighting, or gearing their horses so as to cause them to show form they had not previously succeeded in getting them to show. It is to be hoped that the Otahuhu Trotting Club will not be any the less alert because their decision in the case has not been upheld. © ® ®

TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB’S SUMMER MEETING. THIRD DAY. The throe days’ Summer Meeting of the Takapuna Jockey Club was concluded in fine weather on Saturday last, and there was a falx* attendance of the public, the course was faster* than on either the first or second days of the meeting, and three of the fields were large. Speculation was less keen than usual, both with the layers of the odds on the hill and at the totalizators. No actual favourite, as indicated by the totalisator figures, succeeded in getting nearer than second place, but several second favourites won and others finished second, while tw r o of the winners started at outside prices. These were Evermore, In the Hurdle Race, and Vulpine, in the Pony Race, the firstnamed returning a dividend of £l7 14/ and the lastnamed £8 10/.

Dclanla was made favourite for the Marine Handicap, but her stable companions, Bonheur and Te Aroha, both beat her. aa also did Simple Simon, after a good race. The Waikato gelding Numa easily accounted for the opposition in the Borough Handicap, Delia Rose, the favourite, finishing second, and Hillflower, the outsider of the race, third. Despatch, who appeared fresh and well, easily beat Jewellery, Formula, Putty and Wellcast in the chief race of the day, the Summer Handicap, in which backers received a dividend of £3 8/. The Hippocampus gelding Evermore, who was little fancied for the Hurdle Race, served by his light Impost, outstayed and outpaced the field, though Princess of Thule was finishing strongly at the business end, when Inchcape, the favourite, retired from the contest, and was bleeding at the nose when he returned to scale. Vulpine, who had earlier in the day run well in the Borough Handicap, cleverly beat twelve others in the Pony Handicap, including the more fancied one in Girton Girl, who finished well, Avalanche, the favourite, Forth, and St. Loanda, and the top-weight, Orange and Blue. The Taranaki gelding Full Cry, after a capital race, beat Formula by a narrow margin in the Devonport Handicap, and Dingo, w’ho ran well in the hands of Noble In each of his essays at the meeting, got home in the Steeplechase, each of the other three runners making mistakes, Nor’-west by falling in the first round, while Princess of Thule came to grief in the second. Evermore lost a lot of ground the second time over the hill. Paul Seaton ran about up to his best form, winning the concluding race, the Welter Handicap, handily from the well-backed Zuleika, Legion of Honor, an outsider, and nine others, amongst whom was the favourite, Bacchus, who cut up badly. The various officials got through their work satisfactorily, the starting showing improvement. The catering, in Mr King’s hands, left nothing w’anting. The sum of £7175 was passed through the totalisators, bringing the total for the three days to £25,092. ® ® ®