TURF NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue VIII, 21 February 1903, Page 500

TURF NOTES.

Australian Colours is to be shipped to England shortly to his owner. Auckland stay-at-home bookmakers lost money on the Taranaki meeting. Tauhel was in winning form at Gisborne as a hurd’er. Borax, a winner at Gisborne, is a lialfbruther to Boreas . A. Williams is breaking a shapely filly by Souit liom a Kingfisher mare. Mr R. Phillips recently tried to purchase Great Scot as a '<>mpanion for Abundance. The acceptances for the Waihi race meeting, which takes place next Saturday, give promise of a successful meeting. Minerva, the pony once owned by Mr J. Beckett, is in great form in Sydney just now. Mr Hyland, owner of Despatch, purchased a yearling by Sylvia Park for 35 guineas while iu New Plymouth. Coma, a Taranaki hack, was purchased for an Auckland sport on the morning of the second day’s races at Taranaki by auction fee 105 guineas. Another of Soult’s progeny, in Soultina, was returned a winner during the week. This was in the Flying Handicap at Gisborne. Pilgrim’s Progress, she of Abundance and so many good horses in Australia, 'is to be sold, together* with other horses in the same stud, next month. Much interest is being evinced in the coming match between the pacer Ribbonwood and the trotter Fritz, which is to take place at Easter in Christchurch.

Mr F. Leslie, a recent addition to the ranks of bookmakers in Auckland, left for Sydney on Monday, and intends returning in April.

The first four races of To Aroha fell to horses whose names commence with the letter M, viz., Meteor, Mocassin, Maid of Honor, and Millie. Arena and Seatonia won the next two on the list.

Wakeful was beaten last Saturday week in St. George’s Stakes, at V. for age by Footbolt, a son of Tininderbolt, who conceded the mare 31 bs in actual weight.

Belle Cole, the Taranaki pony, ran two good races at New Plymouth, and should have a say in the Welter Handicap at Egmont.

They bet at Johannesburg. Messrs -me Bailey and B. Curtis are reported to have won £30,000 over the success of their filly Lovematch in the Johannesburg Handicap.

The useful, but at the same time somewhat over-rated Vanguard gelding Convoy, has been turned out for a spell, and report says is broken down; let us hope not seriously.

Float. Mr E. J. Watt’s Captain Webb— Bonnie Idee filly, showed her best form in the Stewards’ Handicap at Taranaki, but she is evidently not very reliable, and is a decidedly fretful filly, and takes a lot out of herself before a race.

Romany Queen, half-sister to the Auckland (’up winner, St. Michael, who won the Trial Stakes at the Canterbury J.C. Meeting <»n Thursday, was offered fur sale by Mr G. G. Stead during the Wellington race week for 100 guineas.

Probably the biggest fencer In training on the West Coast of the North Island Is Awahuri, by Kalwliaka from a Mute mare, who won the Hack Hurdle Race on the second day of the Taranaki meeting.

Ilio Hotchkiss — Edith Cureton colt purchased at Wellington Park for Colonel Caulton Fox. was shipped by the Waiknre to Sydney, and will he sent on from Sydney-. to England soon after arrival by the Snevic.

A lady who is a kpon observer of racing was beard to remark the other day It was not a question on some of our courses of what could win. but of what was wanted to win. The lady in question says she likes a fair go for her half-crown.

At a recent race meeting in Australia the correct cards did not an ive in time, and the unusual experience of being without books had a depressing effect upon those present. One v, riter says it took all the enjoyment out of the meeting.

An owner signing himself ‘‘Sport” writes wishing to know whether the starting gate is to be used nt the Otahuhn Trotting Club’s coming meeting, or whether we are to have a repetition of the starting at the last meeting. .

Mars ran probably the best race of his life in the Autumn Handicap at Taranaki, in which he was set to give Queen’s Guard (who beat him) 111 b, or 61b more than he had been asked to give her in the Cup race, in which neither competed.

The Whistler, winner of the Final Hack Flutter at the Taranaki meeting, is a halfbrother by Howitzer to that fast horse, the defunct Kuku, who was voted champion hack on the- Taranaki coast a few seasons back.

Misgivings (prompted by the noise he made when galloping) about Maorilander’s premier nag Advance being able to travel a distance (says an Australian writer) have been completely allayed by his success in Wellington Cup, which he won with 10.4 up, traversing the 13 miles in 2.34 1-5— an Australasian record. Maid of Honour, who won the Te Arolia Cup. is probably about the best descendant of the Captiva tor horse Freedom racing. Her dam. Scotch Mist, was got by Day Dawn from Mr Hateley’s old Nut worth mare Brown. Bess, dam of Lochinvar, a good horse. Bidawee, Landseer, and other good performers. She ran without success last season, but has .won several good races this season. When Mr Thomson purchased the yearling full brother to Walriki at the Cambria and Glenora Park sale, it was believed by man. that at the price paid he had secured a colt well worth the 230 guineas paid for him: indeed he could have sold him again had he so desired at a substantial advance, something like 130 guineas. It was eal’v hard luck to lose him.

The Hclensville Jockey Club have received good nominations for their meeting, which takes place on February 25th. There are thirteen in the chief handicap, seventeen in the Flying, seventeen in the Maori race, twelve in the Maiden, nine in the Farmers’ Plate, and six in the Hurdle race.

Hippowai, notwithstanding that be makes a noise, managed to win over hurdles at Gisborne, and ran the mile and threequarters there in 3.274. His half-brother, Tanga rd, who ran in both hack events at Taranaki, makes a noise also, but it is more through the nostrils, and it is claimed that his wind is in no way affected.

Last year the Taranaki Jockey Club handled £11,187 at their second summer meeting, this year £9,541. The fees received from bookmakers would make up the deficiency of revenue. The’ meeting will leave the club with a fair profit. It is a mistake for the club to hold their only two meetings so close to each other. The dates will nrobably be altered in future.

Bagpipes, the aptly named winner of the Filly Stakes at Riccarton on Thursdav. is one' of the few representatives of Gipsy Grand that have won races. She is from the Lochiel mare Reel, and is one of Mr. Stead’s representatives. Lolah, who finished second, has run with little success so far in hack events.

Strathavon continued in winning vein at Taranaki, lie was lucky there to meet one of the weakest of fields in the (‘up. Battleaxe is still racing below his best form, but he was nevertheless capable of defeating the rest of the opposition, simply through staying on. for it is likely he would not have gained a place had the race been a mile and a-qnarter.

Westguard ran below her best form at the Taranaki meeting. It is understood that she was supported by her connections, but cud not get away well in her only engagement there. Whatever may have been amiss with the marc to prevent her starting at Wellington, she appears to bo all right again, and is looking well.

The Taranaki course was in fast condition on Thursday, especially, of the two days of the Summer Meeting there. Queen’s Guard ran the mile and a-quarter, by private watches, in 2.10 dead. Each of the Hurdle Races was run, from barrier to barrier, the open race with a short flying start, and the hack one with a long flying start, In 2.50. * s -- ..

Tsaritza, who won the Hornby Welter Handicap at the Canterbury Jockey tin b’s summer meeting, is a full sister to Petrovna, who has won five races since changing hands in November last. Tsaritza broke a blood vessel some time ago, and this kept would-be purchasers from securing the two fillies after the O.J.C. November meeting, when 500 guineas was asked for the pair.

Full Cry, who continues in winning form, and accounted for two races this week Is a decidedly useful gelding, and it was no disgrace for Formula to-lie beaten by the son of Reynaid and Vienne, who has breeding and appearance to recommend him. Full cry was sold ns a yearling at a sale of Mr J. A. Goodson’s blood stock in February, 1898, to Mr G. Syme, jun., for 6 guineas. ,

Black Reynard, who made a runaway race of the Second Hack Flat event on the Taranaki Club’s programme on Wednesday, is a son of Reynard, by Le Loup—Miss Kato, ironi the old Panic mare Brassoils, dam, amongst others, of La Dauphine, grand-dam of Nonette and I.a Gloria, dam of Vienne, the dam of Full Cry, and of Sappho, dam of Austerlitz. Black Reynard may win again during the coming week. i

~ Australian bookmaker made his first “rise” by breaking the bank of a threeup man. In more or less kindly thought of that, he attended the man’s funeral, which happened not long after the “threeup” Incident, and at the grave-side—this is his own story—he threw a pair of dice on the coffin. The dice turned up douceace, which, in Ikey’s narrative, signified “crabs” for the deceased.—“ Bulletin.”

The scratching of the last Melbourne Cup winner, The Victory, for the Australian’ (’up was a hard knock for early takers of doubles, according to the “Bulletin, ’ who hears that the crack’s special mission is the (’hampion Race, with a view to sending him to his owners in England—if he wins. Only recently it was reported that The Victory would not stand training again.

On his recent Ba nd wick form Purser is mentioned by a Sydney writer as a fairly good thing for the Newmarket Handicap. Ho can run out every inch of a mile strong, and is the class of nag required for rhe big Flemington sprint. At the Sydney Turf dun’s Meeting 10.9 in the AVelter Handicap seemed nothing to him, and more recently ho had 11.2 up, and, giving the crack Contest 181 b, beat him smartlv.

The betting transactions of a bookmaking member of Auckland Tattorsall’s Club having been called in question in Southern papers in connection with the Wellington Racing Club’s summer meeting, the member referred to at once handed in his books to the corimPtee in c-ruer for them o see whether th? comment we.? justified er not, and the committee, in 5 lev. of the charger, have been asked to investigate matters. Meanwii’lc, the bookmaker lias instructed his solicitors to take proceedings on his behalf.

Though I did not anticipate a victory, for General Symons in the Midsummer' Handicap at the C.J.C. meeting, I was not at all surprised that he had succeeded in winning that event. It will be remembered that I attributed his stopping in races at the last Wellington meeting to the fact that he chafed himself, not to any want of will on his part. He was meeting Fannie Chiel on Gibs better terms than they met in the Wellington Cup, in which Genera! Symons ran in the lead for about seven furlongs.

“Sentinel,” in the “Otago Witness,” reports that the stewards of the Tapanui Racing Club are extremely dissatisfied with the financial results of the last couple of meetings held by the club, aud Mr Quin, the secretary,, informed the writer that the club intended to disband and sell off all the buildings, staiting machines, and other appliances in use on the course. The For bury Park Racing Club should try and secure the club’s totalisator permit.

The Waikato “Argus” of a recent date states that serious allegations are being made against a Hamilton resident in connection with a sporting transaction on the second day of the Takapuna meeting. It is alleged that a friend, also from this district, gave him £l2 to invest on the totalisator on Lady Anne in the Hobson Handicap. Lady Anne won and paid £ll 3/6 dividend; but up to the present the man who was commissioned to purchase the tickets has been unable to account I'ok cither the £l2 invested or the dividend, amounting to £134. It is more than haeiy that the matter will be ventilated in the Police Court.

I am afraid that Mr Hyland has lost the services of his good little mare Despatch for some time. While competing on the first day of the Taranaki meeting she slipped when racing well in the front rank, and it is supposed must then have injured herself; but, little suspecting anything was wrong, she" was started a second time, and, toiling in the rear from the word “go,” was pulled up before three parts of the journey had been traversed, and it was with difficulty that she was got from the course to her stable quarters. It is her hip, or round bone that was hurt. This is bad luck, as the little mare was in good form.

Far and away the best hack racing at the Taranaki meeting was the three-year-old Sylvia Park gelding Kahnron, from the Foul Shot mare Secrecy, whose dam wafl got by the Traducer —Lady Grey horse Treason, who got lots of winners and was( a speedy, good staying horse himself, a winner of many races. Secrecy was a fast and good performer on the flat and over hurdles, and Kaharoa, who holds four unbeaten performances, should make a clinking good stick horse if he stands, for he Jias size and substance and pace, and JumjH iug should be no trouble to him.

A new poet and wire fence has been Erected between the racecourse and Mr Feach's properties at Ellerslie.

Bookmakers were offering 8 to 1 Float Slid 10 to 1 Tupara lu the Stewards’ Haulcap, at Taranaki, In which those horses finished first and second.

On Sunday J. Bae returned from New Plymouth with Mars, Stratharon, and The Needle. By the same boat the yearling Colt by Sylvia Park, purchased by Mr tlyland, was brought to Onehunga. Despatch, who met with Injuries on the first Bay of the Taranaki meeting, had to be left behind.

Okoarl was not started at the Taranaki meeting. The daughter of St. Leger and Musket Maid had not recovered sufficiently from Injuries received at Takapuna to start In the Flying with much prospect of Success with 10.2 on her back, us she had {lone no work lu the interval. Fnll Cry Won, carrying 7.3. Next day Full Cry won again, carrying 7.13, Okoarl (9.13) not being paid up for. The Dnbbo trotting enthusiast, Mr C. 11. Fitzgerald, has returned from a trip to New Zealand to Australia, and Informed •‘Martindale” that he saw the champion Blbbonwood, whom he describes as stand lug 13.2 in height, black in colour, and a compact, handsome colt. He thtnks Ribbonwood will give Fritz a battle for It In the coming match, but doubts If the colt can beat the Australian champion, although he is the fastest pacer In New Zealand. Mr Fitzgerald says that trotting has gone ahead by leaps and bounds during the past year in New Zealand, where It is very popular, and receives encouragement pf a kind that it does not get in this State. The starting gates on the Taranaki Jockey Club’s course waut a bit of fixing up. Many persons present were under the impression that Mr Chevaunes allowed the horses to get too close to the cords, seeing that in three events during the two days there was trouble, such as horses getting their heads Into the barriers. In conversation with several of the riders. I learned that the barriers were very slow In moving, hence the trouble. One start, viz., that for the First Hack Race, was completely spoilt through the vagaries of the Soult geidiug Sandy and the barrier combined.

The following item has local Interest:— So far as the horses In Tasmania are conceruec. It Is very evident that Mr Edgar Harris has In Chesterfield, by Chestermnn from Irma, very near If not the best In the Islanu, says an Australian writer. At the Tasmanian Turf Club meeting Chesterfield won the Launceston Cup with 9.5, and was also first past the post In the Tasmanian T.C. Handicap, with 10.5. In this race, however, his rider Wd the misfortune to lose a leather and iron, and on coming to scale, he was a few ounces under weight, which was a bit of very bad luck. Chesterfield’s dam. Irma, is the dam of Cygnet, and Is In the Cambria Park Stud.

The loss of their grandstand and other property by the Thames jockey Club through the ravages of fire on Saturday afternoon Is serious enough, though partially covered by insurance, but coming upon them as It has done, practically on the eve of their Autumn Meeting, Is doubly unfortunate, as It Is Impossible to replace the stand in time for the meeting. Given fine weather, little Inconvenience wili be felt should a temporary structure be erected, and the committee will no doubt make every effort to provide for the accommodation of their patrons. When the nominations go tn on Friday It Is to be hoped that there will be a good response from horse owners.

At a recent pony race-meeting at Richmond (Melb.), I saw, says “Elmore” in the •‘Bulletin,” at the back-of-the-course punters, who could not raise enough to go inside, put their “trays” (3d) or “zacks” (6d) on their “dead-birds.” They call this the “extreme.” They have a runner who, watching with a' telescope through a convenient crack In the fence, tells the scratchings, etc. Among this motley crowd of men. women and children (all punters) was an ex-mayor of a city near Melbourne. Sydney can parallel this with “the hill” outside Randwiek, and various points of

vantage overlooking other courses, where the •books” make wagers on the basis of penny postage-stamps and train-tickets.

The victory of Queen’s Guard over Mars in the Autumn Handicap at Taranaki was easily achieved, as the grey daughter of Vanguard had the measure of the son of Ingomar all down the straight, and did not even have to be ridden to beat him by a long neck; but yet reports would lead those who did not see the race to assume that the finish was a hard fought one. Queen’s Guard, who has won several times over a mile and a quarter, was handicapped at 7.5 In the Taranaki Cup. and Mars at 7.10. Neither started on the day. Mars was asked to meet the grey on Gibs worse terms next day over the shorter course, but while he ran a good race, the mare held him quite safe, as indicated by the result.

Australian Peer, who died the other week, says an Australian exchange, was a persistent opponent of the* more famous Abercorn during their 3 and 4 year-old careers. They* met over a dozen times, and Mr James White’s chestnut champion had practically nothing the better of the rivalry. Whenever they met lu a w.f.a. race one or other of them actually won, and in nearly every case the beaten battler finished second. Abercorn was first and the Peer came third, behind Niagara, in the A..T.C. Derby, but in the V.R.C Derby it was the Peer first, with Abercorn and Niagara running a dead-heat for second. Abercorn took both the Legers. In their other contests up to two miles honours were easy. Moreover, the Peer won a Sydney Cup, carrying 8.6 as a 3-year-oId; and although Abercorn outlasted his rival on the turf, he never managed to capture one of the big handicaps.

Through some mistake there was a flight of hurdles short in the race won by Lady Bell on the opening day of the Taranaki meeting, and, in addition to this, the leaders knocked the hurdles down, so that some of the horses had little Jumping to do. At Taranaki the hack racer Tikirawa, who is by Merrie England from a Cocksure mare, was handicapped at 131 b and 171 b respectively more weight than he carried into fourth place in one of the hack races at Wellington, but did not compete in either, as he got cast in bis box. the mishap occuning about two hours before the time of starting. Tikirawa, who has the reputation of being a good one on the track, was purchased last year for £l9, and sold again to his present owner for J£3o. His dam Is a well-known harness mare at Blenheim. It was thought that the injuries received by the gelding would cause him to bo absent from the hack races at Egmont, where he is not so highly assessed as at Taranaki.

“Prosperity has greatly increased the demand for good horses, and the supply is not equal to it,” says ••Harper’s Weekly.” “We are horse poor—not as some people are land poor, because they have too much land —but horse poor, because they have not enough horses. For years after the panic of 1893 thousands of people who wanted horses could not afford them. But with the return of prosperity the demand for good horses began to grow again, and breeders began to breed them again. But it takes at least five years to raise a horse that is ready for the market, and the breeders got behind. The demand has out ran the supply, and the price of good horses has increased very rapidly. There are about 13,500,000 horses in our land, of an estimated value of 604,000, OOOdol. The Improvement of that stock is a very Important matter, especially in these days, when Europe is horse poor, too, and ready to take from us any surplus supply of good horses that we may have.”

An exchange says that It is reported that a number of Sydney bookmakers intend to take advantage of the recent legal decisions which make it possible for bookmakers to ply their calling on New Zealand racecourses to make a descent upon the colony with bock and pencil. There is not much chance of this. There are not many courses upon which bookmakers can assemble without permission of the clubs, and the Sydney bookmakers would find it a bit of a task and rather an expensive business trying to educate New Zealand

race-goers outside the Auckland province to take straight out prices, so accustomed are they to totalizator odds. However, there are everywhere followers of the sport who prefer to take a straight out price about their fancy for a win, than to invest their money on the totallsator at uncertain odds, and take two chances of securing a return. The two dividend system should only be worked on races in which good fields are brought out. The heavy metal backers especially, don’t like the two dividend business at all, and stand off the machine.

Mr Justice Grantham, an English Judge, in summing up on a case recently, remarked that it was an interesting one from the fact that such a large proportion of the population indulged In horse-racing. There seemed no prospect that raving would ever be put down, and therefore it was all the more necessary that the members of the Jockey Club and the stewards of race meetings should be gentlemen beyond reproach. The position of the stewards appeared to him to be of more importance than they realised, and nothing should be done to low*er the position that they at present occupied, for they all knew that there was a great deal of rascality attendant upon horseracing. They all regretted that, but they knew very well if it was not for the character and conduct of the stewards this rascality would be much more rampant than it was at present. The position of the stewards was most difficult—he should almost say intolerable—and it was only by reason of their high integrity and character that racing was sanctioned as it was. They should be, like Caesar’s wife, above suspicion, and therefore thev should not do anything which would ba likely to lower their position.

That well-informed writer, “Warren Hill,” of the “London Sporting Life,” says: We now have the figures and the successful nicks brought daily into prominence, and the only point which I must still reck on my own left out is that neglected theory of breeding to type. In all other animals, from the show rabbit up to the verge of the racehorse, such as the hunter and steeplechaser, type is the goal breeders seek to reach, and not until breeders of the racehorse pay more attention to this rule can they ever make any certainty of what sort of animal they are likely to. get. Breeders to type /can always tell within a little, for the simple reason that their margin of extremes is never wide, and so long as breeders of racehorses persist in mating mares of one type with horses lacking one point in common, and put little, short-legged mares with long, loose-made horses, they need never expect the happy medium, with something resembling either sire or dam. Extreme opposite characters and types can never produce perfection, and in proof of it do we not have hundreds of beautiful mares of various types utter failures at the stud, no matter how the fetters of the figure or any other system are cast about them.

Scene: A metropolitan racecourse. Time, 3.45 p.m. Locality, the judge’s box. Event, the Cup race. Handicapper to the judge (peering anxiously through his race glasses the while): “He couldn’t have them better. They are standing beautifully.” The judge, who was looking in an opposite direction, and saw the horses being walked about some distance from the starting post, made no remark. “Why is he keeping them like that?” continued his brother official. The Judge: “Because they aren’t ready yet.” Handicapper: “What, not ready! Why. they’ve been In capital line for the last few minutes, indicating to the judge to look for himself. The Judge (taking in the situation): “Oh, yes, so they are. Don’t they look nice?” The next moment came the cry, “They’re off!” The handicapper, still gazing in the same direction, was astounded a few* seconds later to see half a dozen horses galloping past the stationary mass of beauty he had been taking for the horses lined up nt the post. It subsequently transpired that the young ladles attending the high school, an adjoining property, had been permitted to have a look at the great Cup race, and bad gone on to the course and seated themselves on some flights of hurdles, a little over two furlongs from the winning post, and looked for all the world ft nice little Cup, Oaks, or should 1 say hoax, field. The handicapper, who had been

gaxlng In the wrong direction, was really obscured from viewing the proper starting post in the position he had taken up. and had thus mistaken the school girls seated on hurdles for jockeys uu horses, but then we all know ft range things do tome to pass on our racecourses.

One of the grounds upon which Pay ten, the Sydney trainer, based his appeal lu favour of Sklen Dhu at Canterbury Park, that Santol got a flying start, draws atteu tiou to a very important question (says au Australian writer), and one of which officials should take note. It has been remarked day after day that horses who are fractious at the post invariably get a fly lug start, and as the start is everything over a short journey, none of the others have a fair chance. It seems an absurd thing that a trainer who has a horse that will not stand quietly should always be given a ten to one better chance than those trainers who take the pains to educate the horses to the barrier. Against this there is the argument that some horses cannot be made to face the machine quietly, but the answer to that is, the clubs should refuse their entry, as if it. Is found that a horse will not behave himself a little decently, the starter should at once order him buck to the paddock. It Is a common thing for these fractious brutes to be heavily backed especially at the pony meetings, and as the boy on top has but one idea —and that to get away—threats of fines, or a short term of suspension, do not act as deterrents. It sometimes happens that these fractious brutes when unbacked jump away and upset a good thing. As a rule, an owner has to submit to being fairly beaten, but it is very annoying when his horse coud win with anything like a fair start, to bo robbed by these breakaway animals, whose trainers, so far as one Is able to judge, make no attempt to educate them to the starting machine.

There Is no branch of racing lu the States better conducted than the pony and galloway meetings at Kensington, Rosebery Park, and Brighton, according to “Martindale.” In the “Town and Country Journal,” who adds: —Of course, the weekly meetings at Kensington stand out ahead of the others. Last Wednesday’s meeting was made memorable from the fact that the crack of the pony cracks, Minerva, by Metal from Georgina, scored a win tn the Kensington Handicap with the crushing weight of 10.10 on her back. She went out second favourite in r field of ten, and won cleverly from the bottom weight, Muscat. Only once before has this performance been boat en in the way of weight over the Kensington track. The performer was the champion of her day—Cinder Ellen, who carried 10.13. Good as Minerva is. I don’t think she is quite up to Cinder Ellen’s standard Afterwards, Cinder Ellen was sent to ludla, and is now in England. It is said that a purchaser is anxious to secure Minerva for South Africa. It has always been said that she Is a bit infirm. When well, she Is a rare good one. Amongst these ponies and galloways arc some of the best bred ones in the land, and very fast over short courses. What a lift those pony anl gal lowny meetings give to undersized thoroughbred stock Is shown by the fact that two of them -one a 13.2 and the other 14 hands —were sold the other day for fiOOsova. There are not many of our horses running at registered meetings for which such a sum could be obtained.

It may sound like romance, but the story Is one that I Rm assured Is absolutely correct. A few years ago a borseowner and a handicapper who had been drinking together got to words. The treatment of a hack engaged at one of the back-block meetings was the subject. The owner contended that his mare had not earned the 10.0 Impost allotted her, and the argument ended in a rough and tumble which went In favour of the owner, who, In the moment of his triumph, declared that his mare was bound to win In spite of the Id tontlon of the handicapper to stop her. She did win, too. and two stone more would probably not have stopped her. The narrator of this story says he once did a bit of handicapping himself out back. There were two rival clubs in the district, and the same handicapper had been appointed for both, but after the declaration of the weights for the first club’s meeting some interested owners, who were prominent members of the other, came to the conclusion that there must bo a change at once. My informant very reluctantly was

pressed Into service, for, to tell the truth, h»‘ dl<! not know a great deal about the lorn! Carbines. However, he thought matters over, and had the handicaps ail ready in his mind when, to his surprise, ou the day preceding the due date for the weights to appear, a document was presented to him for his signature. Sure enough, the handicaps had been made, and all that he was asked to do was to sign his name and take his cheque, which was attached. The hist part of the contract was attended to, but he sent the messenger back with the handicaps he had himself framed, and how ho arrived at his estimate of tlie weights the horses should carry is best told in his own words, “I found out the names of the intending riders, and as nearly as possible their weights, from friends who knew more of the Internal working of the local turf than I did, and fixed the weights so that none would require to waste or carry overweight. The riders, who were nearly all owners, were individually If not collectively satisfied, and the races came off in due course, the finishes being —. Well, as close as could be expected under the drcum stances. The ouce-popular Australian bookmaker, Joseph Thompson, who for about fourteen years past has been residing in England, paid us a flying visit last week (says ‘•Martindale'’ in the “Sydney Town and Country Journal," which paper publishes an excellent photograph of the leviathan). Mr Thompson arrived in Sydney on January 25, and left again for England on Saturday. He had previously spent a week in Melbourne. it must be slid that Mr Thompson wears well —in fact, Lie looks, if anything. better than when he left us in 1889. in such a short viUt, Mr Thompson was kept very busy seeing old friends, and they did rally round him. In Melbourne he was banqueted, and the members of the Sydney ring honoured him with a picnic last Thursday down the harbour. To an interviewer, Mr Thompson stated that he first made a book at a snee meeting held at Ararat, in Victoria, in 1557. He lias been nt the game ever since, and for quite 25 years was looked upon as rhe leader of the “ring” in Australia. Mr Thompson is one of a famous hand of brothers, all great, fine men, that took part in the American Civil War. Only two. Joseph and Barney, are now alive, rinn, Harry, and Jack having paid Nature’s d“bt. It would be a difficult matter to find a man that could give more Interesting details anti anecdotes of the Australian turf than Mr Joo Thompson. Not only was he a bookmaker upon a large scale, but also owned several good horses, and associated with one of the cleverest trainers of the day, Mr James Wilson, the founder of St. Albans, and contemporary with those noted men of their day. Messrs John Tait and Ette Do Mestre. There was no cud of great equine battles between the horses carrying the black and all black of Mr Do Mestre, John Tait's famous yellow it nd black, and. James Wilson’s black jacket and white cap. A most interesting hook could be written of their doings. Mr Joe Thompson will not give an opinion as to which was the better of that famous pair—The Barb or Fishhook: but he says: “I think that Fireworks was as good as either of them." He thinks that Carbine was a more brilliant horse than Abexcorn, but that Abercorn was a great stayer. This opinion, as also that iu respect of Fireworks, would be challenged by no < nd of people. It is often reported that Mr Thompson paid away to the representatives of the late Hon. J. White XIO9.OUU under the “verandah” on the morning of settling day lifter Chester’s famous double—V.K.C. Derby and Melbourne Cup. We get the truflx of it from the veteran bookmaker. He aays: “The biggest book I ever had iu Australia was in Chester’s year (IR77L Wc were betting heavy in Sydney, and 1 had a X4«».00<) book on the Derby and Cup—that is, taking iu the double and the two straight outs. Well, just before Woodlands Puked Chester hi the A.J.C. Derby, I laid Mr White personally £IO,OOO to £4OO the two Chesters, and a friend of his took from me £lo.<h» to £603 for the Melbourne Cup. I "saved’ Savanaka for half my book, and. of course, he should have won—ho proved that afterwards by the way he beat Chester in the Sydney Cup. There weie rumours about that I was shaky after Chester. 1 went to the bank first thing on settling morning and drew our a lot of money in £IOO notes. We used to assemble then hi Collins-street. outside th • old Exchange. Early as I got there, Mr White's friend was waiting for me, and I paid him £20,000, while another of Chester’s backers got £2,000." Here we have the truth of the whole affair. It was Mr Thompson that owned the famous trotting horse Sir William Don. who was tracked for £IOOO to trot against The Fool at Randwick, and when going out along the road died near the old toll gate, just the right side, by the war. to save the money. Amongst the racehorses Mr Thompson owned at various times Koniula. who won a Champion Race, Ninihlefoot. which was sold to Mr Walter Craig. and afterwards won a Melbourne Cup. King of the Ring, and Argus Scandal, also Rose d'Amour, Lapdog, Master Jolin, and Don Juan. The last-named horse was. in Mr Thompson’s opinion, the best be ever owned, and wot bought at Kirk's Bazaar for £SO by Mr Janies Wilson, who persuaded Mr Thompson to take him on the strength of his breeding. Mr Thomp nun is very strong on the point ihat we have too much racing in Australia, and has no doubt but that the starting gate has rente to stay In England. He also bolds the oplniofl that the Tod Rfoan style of riding will last, and that Sloan in absoiptely (be best horseman hr ever saw. On the subject of English and colonial horses, Mr Thompson’s opinion is that the English horse is the best not only for quality, but also speed, he having timed an ordinary animal to run fire furlongs in COser at Sundown Park. The opinion is held by our old Australian bookmaker that Isinglass was the best horse he had seen rarlag In England. Thus It will be seen that a chat With the ex-Australian is not only interesting, but instructive. Without a doubt, during his short stay he enjoyed himself

amongst his old pals of the Victorian and Tattersail’s Clubs, as did also his fellowvoyager, Mr Robert Topping, a popular English bookmaker, who made the trip in company with Mr Thompson, who, I hope, may yet make another flying trip to Australia before his last great settling day. © © © CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB’S MIDSUMMER MEETING. CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. The Summer Meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club opened to-day, the weather being overcast and rain falling at intervals though not heavily. The attendance was miserably poor. The total!sat or investments amounted to £3682, against £4128 for the corresponding day last year. The racing was interesting, the fields good, and the course in grand order. The results are: Trial Stakes.—Romany Queen, 1; Narcissus, 2; Cyclas Parva, 3. Nikola, Cerise and Blue, and Nell Gwynet were scratched, by a neck. Time, 1.44. Dividends, £3 16/6 and 14/. Iloinby Welter Handicap of lOOsovs, seven furlongs.—Tsaritsa, 9.12 (C. Jenkins), 1; Regulation. 9.3, 2; Somerled, 9.2. 3. Also started: Ayrdale, Clanburn, Catherine Gordon. Antigone, Covenant Maid, Ordnance, Cerise and Blue. Won comfortably by a length. Time, 1.30 3-5. Dividends, £3 18 6 and £1 16/. Filly Stakes of 150 s ovs, six furion vs.— Bagpipes. 7.7 (Jones), 1: Lolah 7.8. 2; Merrymaker. 6.12, 3. Ako started: Aherlow, Dirk. Rtepdancer, Baibotte, Leonore. Won by half a length, Merrymaker threequarters of a length away third. Time, 1.16 4-5. Dividends, £2 12/ and £1 12 G. TelegrapiT Stakes of HOsors, four furlongs. —Lady Brandt, 7.7 (Derrett). 1; Keflex, 7.7. 2: King Stork. 7.7. 3. Also started: Lucretia, Cannonito. Dede, Wimbledon. Waimara. Lady .Brandt went to the front at once, and was never reached, winning easily by three lengths. Time. 50 4-ss. Dividends, £2 9/6 awl £2 1 6. The winner was bought in for £sl. Midsummer Handicap of 200sovs. one mile and a-half.—General Svmons. 7.3 (Jones). 1: Cannie Cliiel. 8.8. 2: T adv Lillian. 8.9, 3. Also started: Ardnarff. C 1 bre, Scottish Minstrel. Clytie. Zealous. Won easily by two lengths, Lady Lillian Ireing a length and a-half away third. Clytie was fout th, Scottish Minstrel fifth, and ns sixth. Time, 2.3 S 4-5. Dividends, £lO 9/ and 18/6. Lyttelton Plato of llOsovs, six furlongs. —De la Bey, 7.13 (Hewitt), 1; Gladsome, 9.3. 2; Roscommon, 7.3, 3. Also started: Ardehattan. Won very easily by three lengths. Time, 1.16 4-5, Dividend, £2 17/. Craven Plate of ISOsovs, seven furlongs. —Windwhistlp, 7.8 CfeCluskey). 1; Welbeck. 8.9, 2; Pallas, 8.13. 3. Also start d: Terrapin. Muscovite, Secret Society, Cyclas Parva, Donna Rosa. Won by a clear length, Pallas being the same distance away third. Time. 1.29. Dividends. £3 17/ and £1 14/6. Halswell Welter of 50sovs, one mile and a-quarter.—Lavalette, 10.2 (Donovan),. 1; Narcissus. 10.4, 2; Ropu, 9.0, 3. Also staited: Fuawai, Speculate, First Shot, Khaki. Natalie. Won by a length, Ropu three lengths away third. Time, 2.14 1-5. Dividends, £1 18/ and £6 10/. CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. The Canterbury Jockey Club’s summer meeting was continued at Riccarton today. The weather was again dull and the attendance small. Results:— Middle Park Plate. six furlongs.— Achilles, 1; Machine Gun, 2; To-monow, 3. These were the only starters. Won comfortably by a length and a-half. Time, 1.14 4-5. Dividend. £1 6/. St. Albans’ Handicap.—Pallas. 1: Cannie Cliiel, 2; Terrapin, 3. Lady Lillian and Windwhistle were scratched. Won by two lengths. Timo, 1.42. Dividend. £3. Linwood Welter, one mile.—Welbeck, 1: Somerled, 2; Zealous, 3. Ardnarff and I’uawoi were scratched. Won bv three lengths. Time, 1.43 3-5. Dividends, £2 8/ and £2 17/6. Selling Race, 6 furlongs. — Dundas, 1; King Stork, 2; Goldenmere, 3. Cannonite and De la Roy were scratched. Won by three lengths. Time, I.IG 1-5. Dividends, £2 I'6 and £1 14/6. Flying Handicap. 5 "furlongs.—Tsaritza, 9.9 (Jenkins), 1; Windw’histle, 2; Muscovite 3. Also started: Lady I.llian, Ayrdale, Secret Society, Romany Lass, Cyclas Parva, Dona Rosa. Zealous, Cerise and Blue. Sophia. Won very easily by two lengths. Time 1.2 1.5. Dividends, £2 6/ and £2 6/. Post Handicap, one mile.—Terrapin, 8.8 (King). 1; Lotah 2; Lavalette 3. Also startid: Calibre. Bombardo (coupled with Lolah), Rtepdaneer, First Shot, Khaki. Won by half a length. Time 1.44. Dividends —£1 16/ and £2 8,*6. ® ® © TARANAKI J.C. SUMMER MEETING. NEW PLYMOUTH, Wednesday. The Taranaki Jockey Club’s summer meeting opened In excellent weather today. The attendance was fair, and the course In fast condition. The fields In the hack events were good, nnd some of the open races were interesting. The club permitted bookmakers to do business, and about a dozen paid a subscription for this privilege. The sum of £4714 was (passed through the totalisator. Float easily wen the Stewards’ Handicap from nine others, Tupara and Belle Cole filling the places behind Mr Watts’ mare; but The Needle. and Olngn were close up, the last named coming from a rear position, and looking dangerous to the turn, but his run was not maintained, and Float Increased her lead tn the finish, when she had a margin of four lengths over Tupara.. There

were fifteen starters in the First Hack Rate, which was won by two lengths by the Gold Key filly Matuku, who was receiving 28lbs from the top weight Coma, who finished second, Rustique, Kidbrook, Hera ng!, Pick well and Impati finishing next in order at interva’s. The pace was made very slow for the first six furlongs m the Hurdle Race. This was all in favour of Miss Drury, who fenced better than Eclair and Waftwera, and lasted long enough to win by a long neck in the run home. The hurdles were all down nt the finish of th© Hack Hurdle Race, which was run fast from end to end, and was cleverly won by Lady Bell from the top weight Awahuri, Lingard, who ran unkindly, struggling on Into third place, and finishing faster than the two leaders. Strathavon won the Taranaki Cup with ease by two clear lengths from Battleaxe, who lay a considerable distance behind the leading light weights Durable aud Heroism, for half the journey, and was finishing faster than anything over the lust two furlongs. The starting 4u six of the seven races by Mr Chevannes was excellent, but in the Second Hack Race, won by the light- weight Black Reynard, and in which a big outsider in Ngatoro second, returning a dividend of £2l 16/, the tw T o horses named got the best of a dismissal which was not a good one, for which Sandy, who finished third, was partly responsible. Full Cry easily beat the fast finishing The Needle in the Flving Handicap, in which Good Intent, ‘the favourite, was beaten before the straight was reached. D spatrh, who injured herself in the first ra e, was also started in the race, but pulled up very lame. NEW PLYMOUTH, Friday. The Taranaki Jockey Club’s Summer Meeting was concluded yesterday in fine weather, and there was a fair attendance. The sum of £4827 was passed through the totalisator during the afternoon, as a; aiust £5453 last year. The Grandstand Handicap, the opening event ou the card, was won, after a good race, by the Auckland gelding Landlot k, who had all the best of the finish with the ex-hack Anchorite. Tupara got his head in the tapes and interfered with Float aud the favourite, Westguard. The dividend (£6 14/) on the winner was a good one, but the ordeal of an enquiry into his running on the first day had to be gone through before the order to pay out was given. There wer* eleven starters for the Third Hack Flat Race, which was easily won by Kabaroa. a wellgrown three-year-old by Sylvia Park, wno was made favourite. Speakman, wh© was riding Rustique, was thrown at the start and rendered unconscious for a considerable time. The Auckland mare Miss Drury had more pace than her five opponents in the Second Handicap Hurdles, in which Eclair got rid of his rider when half a mile had been traversed; Waiwera finished close up second. Lady Bell was made favourite for the Second Hack Hurdle Race, but Awahmi fenced better than any of the four that opposed him, and won cleverly by four lengths from Lady Bell. Lingard made the running for about a cureuit, bat was then in trouble. Mars was the most fancied for the Autumn Handicap, and never looked better, but while he ran as good a race as ever he has done, Queen's Guard, who was receiving 111 b from the old horse, really beat him very easily by a long neck, Fakir being some lengths off. Battleaxe was outpaced, and gradually lost ground in the last quarter. After beating Prisoner, Sandy, and six others in the Fourth Hack Race, the stewards enquired into the running of the Castor gelding Kingman. It was shown that he was one of the last to get away on the first day, being partly turned round when the barrier wont up. In that race Black Reynard and Ngatoro got a big advantage, and were In front throughout, and the stewards, having satisfied themselves by taking evidence of officials and others, ordered the paying out of the dividends. £5 6/, on R’ngman, and £2 1/, on Prisoner. Queen’s Guard and Landlock, both of whom were penalised 51b for previous wins, were first and second favourites respectively for the Fat ewell Handicap. Both ran well, but a surprise was in store, as Full Cry, who had previously during the day run unplaced, lasted out the journey, and won cleverly from the Autumn Handicap winner, who was G.vided from Landlock by Tupara. the lastnamed two finishing neck and neck for second place, while Durable was close up, and Anchorite was left at the post and took no part in the race. The dividends on Full Cry were £l4 6/ inside and £9 4' outside. The Final Hack Flutter, to Hve the race its name, was won by The Whistler, who heat eleven others, and paid the best dividend of the day, £l7 17/ outside and £7 11/ inside. The second horse, Toledo, paid £4 15/ and £3 18'. © © ® DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB’S AUTUMN MEETING. DUNEDIN, Saturday. The following are the Dunedin Jockey Club weights, declared by Mr J. E. Ilenrys:

Publican’s Handicap, three-quarters of a mile.—St. Denis 9.5, Vladimir 9.5, Pallas 9.2, Tsaritsa 9.2, Blazer, 8.13, Goldspar 8.12, Petrovna 8.11, Red Gauntlet 8.11, Welbeck 8.10, Scylla 8.4, Golden Vein 8.3, Windwhistle 8.0, Dundas 7.9, Muscovite 7.8, Secret Society 6.9, Aherlow 6.9, Romany Lass 8.8, Donna Rosa tt7, Lolab 6.7, Noblesse ®.T, Cyclas Parva 6.7, Lady Dundas 8.7. Rockleigh 6.7, Duluwayo 6.7.

Hurdles, one mile and three quuricra.— Evening Wonder 13.5, Southerly Buster 10.7, Dartmoor 911, Wakaia 9.10, The Earl 9.7, Snider 9.0.

First Hack Race, one mile.—Lavalette 9.2, St Ronakl 9.0 ? Lolah 8.9, Tereeiet 8.8, Cyclas Parva 8.8, Flower of Ciutha 8.8, First Shot 8.0, Barbette 7.9, Steia*ufeldt 7.9, Covenant Maid 7.9, Martin O’Brien 7.8, Phaetonltis 7.7, Saladin 7.7, Natalie 7.7, Violin 7.0, Almanac 7.0, Koputai 6.7. Stewards’ Welter, seven furlongs.—Glenelg 10.13, Ardnaff 10.2, Lady Roslyn 9.13, Scottish Minstrel 9.7, Tugela 8.13, WUd West 8.12, Noblesse 8.12, Lavalette 8.11, Right Honourable 8.11, Battler 8.11, Transport 8.11, Clytie 8.11, St. Ronald 8.10. Beauclerc 8.10, Spinner 8.7, Catherine Gordon 8.4, Forward Guard 8.3, First Shot 8.0, Picket 8.0, Saladin 8.0. Dunedin Jockey Club Handicap, one mile.—Canteen 9.2, Orloff 9.2, Vladimir 8.12, Pallas 8.12, St. Michael 8.10, St. Denis 8.9, Welbeck 8-9. Tsaritsa 8.9, Lady Lillian 8.8, Siege Gun 8.8, Blazer 8.5, Scylla 8.5, Cannie Chiel 8.3, Petrovna 8.3, Red Gauntlet 8.3, Porirua 8.2, Golden Vein 82, Ghoorka 8.0, Glenelg 7.7, Dundas 7.7. General Symons 7.6, Terrapin 6.13, Ardnaff 6.10, Lady Roslyn 6.10, Sirius 6.8, Lavalette 6.7, Calibre 6.7, Clytie 6.7, Secret Society 6.7, Noblesse 6.7, Catherine Gordon 6.7, Buluwayo 6.7, Sarehedon 6.7. © © © WAITEKAL’RI RACES. ’FL • following weights have been declared for the Waitekauri races:— Maiden Handicap.—Evert 8.7, Lady Ruth 8.0, Muscatel 7.7, Crespin 7.4, Duchess 7.0, Dellicia 6.7, Louely 6.7, Shamrock 6.7, Ruby G. 7, Phoebe G. 7. Hurdles Handicap.—Waimana 11.0, Valedictory 10.0, Kingsman 9.12, Success 9.7, Cyclone 9.0, Victor 9.0, Bluecap 9.0. Cup, one mile and a quarter.—Hil’flower 9.0, Repetition 8.10, Kingsman 8.0, Valedictory 7.12, Bluecap 7.12, Success 7.7, Ding Dong 7.7, Swordfish 7.7, Reconstruction 7.0. Pony Race.—Bijou 8.5, Duchess 7.12, Ruby G.lO, Dellicia 6.10, Queen Log 6.7. Cross Handicap.—Hillflower 9.5, Repetition 8.12, Kingsman 8.2, Valedictory 7.12, Bluecap 7.9, Evert 7.9, Success 7.U, Ding Dong 7.0, Reconstruction 6.7. Members’ Welter.—Bluecap 10.5, Muscatel 10.0, Cyclone 9.12, Crespin 9.7, Duchess 9.7, Fishplate 9.0, Victor 9.0, Look Out 9.0. Trot Handicap.—Vulture scratch, Scamp 12s, Nicania 18s, Bobadii 20s, Betsy 355, Phoebe* 85s, Leßoy 355, Saucy Lass 355, Trixie 50s, Squib 455, Biddy 50s, Tim 50s, No Name 50s, Useful 555, Useless 555, Shamrock 555, Dot 555, Laddie 555.

DUNEDIN CUP. One mile and a-Ualf. St. Michael . .. 8 1.3 Glenelg . 7 9 Canteen .... . . 8 13 Gen. Symons . . 7 9 Orloff 18 . 7 9 ■Siege Gun .. .. 8 12 Dundas . 7 7 Cannie Chlel .. 8 5 Ardnaff . 6 It Lady Lillian .. 8 B Sirius . 6 10 Vladimir ... . .. 8 4 Lady Roslyn . . 8 9 Scylla .. 8 3 Nihilist . 6 8 Porirua . 8 8 Calibre . 6 7