TURF NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XXVI, 27 June 1903, Page 1780

TURF NOTES.

Dolores has joined Kos Heaton’s team. Durbar and Feri Huon have gone into C. Piper’s stable at Riecarton. The trotting pony Polly IT. was shipped to Sydney a few weeks back. Mr 11. JI. Hayr leaves on a visit to Sydney, Melbourne, and West Australia next week. Occidental was taken to Sydney by a recent boat, and his owner, W. Forbes, accompanied him. Fit and well Evening Wonder would run a good race in the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race with 10.9 on his back. Strathavon is being given a spell at his old quarters at Otahuhu, though he will rejoin Rae’s team at Green lane after a time. Tresham received 11.7 in the York Hurdle Race, run <m Juno Sth. nt the V.R.C. Birthday Meeting. Colonel Shilinski was awarded Kist. ’ - , Bnndook. half brother to Seahorse, has a number of yearlings representing him in the lists of entries for coming events hi Australia. The Nurses’ Flutter and Medical Mile were the names of two events at the Forbes iNew South Wales) Hospital races won by one horse. K.iinikn, Struyhird, Marine, Bylas, and The !‘ulla<k are Auckland horses that have Leci i .miniate I f<: the Gisborne Racing Chios .’.my n-irfirg Hunting has been going on this week in (he I’ukekohe district, where the L’akuranga Hounds are annually taken. A good time was experienced. News comes from Sydney that. Guardsvan IL. who was recently sent over from Auckland, broke down while doing the first sound gallop there. A bit of bad luck for the purchaser this. Wairiki is being, exorcised In tbe vicinity of Oneliunga, raid is in excellent condition and health at the present time. There are backers for the colt for the N.Z. Cup at hundreds tv six. It Is considered that six months will elapse before Cannungate is Jit to resume work again, from which it is evidently intended that he is to be given a good chance of making a complete recovery. Mark Thompson, who was recently disqualified by the A.J.C. stewards, has given notice of his intention to appeal against the two years' disqualification imposed on him on the 39th ultimo at Rand wick. ’l'he tracks arc heavy at hood jnarters just now, but still a iiorsos arc icing worked (here for coming- events-in which they are already engaged, and others In ulilch they arc likely to be placed later on. Really sonic one should see to it that horses should not bo allowed to compete in similar colours at ElloPslie, as was the case at the last meeting held there. Three in one race is coming it strong. Golden Rose Is in great heart just now. ami Is very playful at exercise. I don't know that Mr Lynch seriously contemplates rnlining the d a light‘- r <>f Kt. Lcger in the New Zealand Cup, but she is wintering well. Referring to the victory In the Princess Muy Handicap, of Australia, by Gossoon — Trieste, who was for a time favourite for the last Doncaster Handicap, a writer mentions that the six furlongs was covered in 1.14 J. The Gossoons have earned a name for unreliability' though they arc exceptionally brilliant.

Mr Dan O’Brien has nominated his bay yearling colt, by Grafton from Graffiti, for the V.R.C. Derby of 1904, and St. Logcr of 1905, and fur the same events the Hotchkiss — Formo colt, in Frank Macmanemln’s stable, has been also engaged. Mr 11. Hayr gave a birthday social, dinner and dance on Thursday night in the Federal Hall, at which 116 relatives and friends were present. A number of Mr Hayr’s sporting friends intend giving him a ’eturn. Mr E. A. Brodrib, who made a lot of money out of mining in Victoria, and lost most of it raving there, died in London recently. He paid 4000 guineas for Titan, the highest priced gelding known at that time, and must have lost a small fortune over that purchase alone. While Mr Byron Moore, the well known secretary of the Victoria Racing Club, was proceeding in a cab near to the racecourse, on June 9th, the driver of the vehicle fell off the seat, and was picked up dead. According to a Sydney exchange, he had suffered from heart disease. Mr John Marshall always treats his trainers and jockeys well. When they win they invariably get the best part o*f the stakes. Higgins, who rode Cannongate, was, I venture to say. the best paid horseman who figured at the North New Zealand Grand National meeting. The work of the new handicapper, Mr Menzies, for the Victoria Racing Club, is said to have been put to the test and stood it well. Two owners complained of the treatment of their horses, and one of them, Mr W. A. Filgatc..published some stronglyworded comments on his work before the meeting. Miner, one of the English-bred colts Imported to New South Wales by Mr 11. C. White, was running on well at the end of the A. J.C. Nursery Handicap at the recent meeting, but his stable companion, Green Mountain, shaped badly in the same event. Both were giving away several months in age to the Australian runners. On. May 23, 1803. or just a hundred years ago. it is recorded that a three miles trotting match took place on Sunbury Common between a horse and a mare, belonging to local gentlemen. The horse performed the journey in 9m, and the mare came home close behind him: b?th animals were celebrated 'trotters at that time. The Wellington Racing Club hove increased the value of each of their four classic races—tlie Wellesley Stakes and Wellington Stakes, which are run for in the spring of 1905. and the North Island Challenge Stakes and New Zealand St. Logcr Stakes in the autumn. J 906, each event being worth 400 sovs. The date of closing is June 30th. According to the London “Sportsman,’* Rock Sand, who won the Derby at Epsom does nut gallop until he is compelled to. In the Two Thousand Guineas he had at one part of ihe race to be driven, but when he got going he simply played with the field, winning very easily by a length and a half from Flotsam, with Rabelais two lengths away. This victory, which was his seventh out of eight starts, brought Reck Sanu’s winnings in stakes up to 12,27450v5. Lord Carbine dropped dead on 30th April, while exercising at Lamhourn. The colt was a four-year-old by Carbine out of Leap Frog. He was only out once r.s a two-year-old, then running unplaced to Torrent. Last year the colt won four out of ten races, including the Lewes Handicap at the August meeting, while he also captured the valuable Grand Prix d’Ostendp in July, beating nine opponents handsomely. The Feel Handicap, at Newmarket, on April 30, was run twice. There were 12 starters for the original race. Renzo winning by a head, with Set Fair second. Au objecti<»n having been made that the race was run the wrong distance, the stewaids of the Jockey Club ordered the race to be run again after the last race. The stewards lined tke judge £2O for going to the wrong winning post. On the. second occasion there were only live starters, aud Set Fair boat Renzo by a head. Tbe entries for the Caulfield Cup number IG3, and for the Melbourne Cup 169, therefore there are 27,547 different combinations, each of which may be the winning double. The principle of handicapping ts to equalise

the chances of all horses engaged In a race. If all possessed t-qual chances ix* the two cups, the legitimate odds against picking lhe double would be 27,546 to >. With th is word cf encouragement (says tbe writer “Javelin' punters ought to sail in confidently! One of the late Mr A. Buckland’s horses, Smike, was a most ungenerous horse on the racecourse, and frequently bolted off the course, yet on one occasion after he had changed hands he was yoked up by mistake and driven home from a race meeting In p. dog cart, containing a number of convivial souis, who thought they were driving their own horse, and though he had never been iu harness in his life, did not cause any damage; In fact, the oci upr.nts were all taken home safely, but when an hour or two later they became aware of the fact that they had been sitting behind tbe Bolter Smike, whose first time it was in harness, they shook hands with themselves over what they took to be a providential escape. Though tlie Hawke’s Bay acceptances, so far as the chief races, are not so satisfactory as could have been desired, owing to various causes, a number of horses having gone wrong, still there is material lift for interesting contests, if the runners experience ordinary luck. Meteoi’s weight in the hurdle lace, as previously stated in these columns, is 9.9, not 9.0, as was at first telegraphed. That event should be an interesting one, if Kahuwai, Meteor, and Merryboy are seen at their best. The big Steeplechase looks open. I have a fancy that The Gryphon will give a good account of himself, but Jack o’ Lantern. on his best form, would take a lot of beating. He, however, hurt himself at Wanganui, and may not be seen dressed at his best. Mr E. Knight, better known to sportsmen as “Teddy” Knight, passed through Auckland yesterday on his way to San Fiancisco. where he purposes remaining a week or two, going through America and on to South Africa, and probably to England, before returning to Sydney. Mr Knight, in addition to Laving been a prominent owner of racehorses In New South Wales fur many years, always took a great interest in shooting, and though not a success at the traps, could give points to many of the cracks In the open field. Mr Knight tiled hard to persuade Mr Gorrick, the New South Wales pigeon shot, io accompany him to America, but the notice was all too short. A number of Auckland sporting friends were present to wish Mr Knight hon voyage on the departure of the Sonoma. The following from the “Sydney Mail” is not without interest to New Zealanders:— Some time back Mr 11. C. White sent a Ha-vilah-bred filly named Brown Pearl to England to be mated with St. Simon, but failing to get a subscription to the champion sire he sent her to Orifiamb, and by last mail he learned that the mare had foaled a fine bay colt. Brown Pearl is by imported Yardley (11) —son of Sterling (12) —from the Oaks winner Fearlshell—a sister to Industry, the dam of Gaulus and The Grafter. She is by Musket from Pearl Ash (imp.), by Lord Clifden. Oriflamb is a half brother to no less a celebrity than Lord Rosebery’s Derby winner Ladas. He is by Bend Or (1) —grandson of Stockwell—from Illuminata (1), by Rcsierncian from Paraffin, by Blair Athol, son of Stockwell. Oriflamb was not r. performer of note, but at the stud he s’rod winners, among them Flambard, the winner of the Duchess of York Stakes. Rocksand, the winner of tbe two great classic events, 'he Two Thousand Guineas and Derby, and who bids fair to be the wearer of the Triple Crown, has proved a most consistent colt, for at 2 years old out of seven starts he only suffered defeat once, when ho ran third to Flotsam and Mead in the Middle Park Plate. A young stallion bred in England, and very closely related to Rocksand, Is the Cambria Park Stud Company’s Cyrenian, who possesses very similar strains of blood, as he is by St. Simon from Daisy Chain, by Springfield: and Rocksand is by Sainfoin, sou of Springfield, from Roquebine, daughter of St. Simon. Further than this, Cyrenian’s grandain, Chatelaine, is by a son of Ncwininster, in Cambuscan, and Rocksand’s grandam, St. Marguerite, is by a son of Newminstcr. in Hermit, and the pedigrees of both arc well balanced in Stockwell, Touchstone, and Irish Birdcatcher strains. The King is expected to nominate some of his horses for the World's Fair Handicap, and an American writer says that His Majesty, after instructing Marsh, his trainer, to report on the material iu hand, learned that there were already in sight enough good horses to make a redoubtable string a certainty, and that with the sen of Persimmon, the first horse that ever carried King Edward’s colours to victory in a Derby, he thought he could guarantee to win tbe World’s Fair Handicap. The information was highly gratifying to the Royal sportsman. According to Marsh, he expressed the liveliest satisfaction, and announced bls willingness to spend any amount of money se that on his first appearance in America as a candidate for turf honours be should make a worthy showing. Marsh was ordered to gradually get things in shape for the pro-

posed invasion, and to concentrate attention <>u the training of all promising youngsters now at Sandringham.” W. W. Naughton, the Sydney “Referee” correspondent. referring to this, says: “Worded as it is, and coming in the shape it does, the above sounds like the iridescent dream of a dilapidated dupe fiend. Still, there may be a glimmer of probability in it. If so, something with an official swing to it should be beard shortly.” A number of bookmakers are going from Australia to South Africa to see what prospects are like there. At Johannesburg the number of bookmakers licensed is limited by the authorities to fortyseven. They each pay £IOOO into a guarantee fund on entrance, and have to find guarantors for another £IOO9 before they are permitted to bet. Nearly all business is done on the nod. There is great difficulty for new men to get into the betting ring. They may be approved all right, but there is generally a hundred or more waiting their turn for some one of the limited number to drop out. Lots of men who are talking of going there to bet would have no chance of getting in as layers of the odds. Race-goers there only bet with licensed and guaranteed bookmakers, and settling is prompt all round. Since the lamentable death of Arthur Shrewsbury, it has transpired that be bequeathed £IOOO to the Nottingham Hospital. Referring to this act of goodness “Javelin” says:—The lace county has been singularly fortunate in possessing sporting representatives who in their prosperity have not forgotten the necessities of their poor and suffering fellows. “Billy” Nichol, the once famous Notts bookmaker & town councillor, was famed alike for his generosity and brusqueness. On one occasion lie was called upon by a member of a ladies’ committee for the relief of the poor of Nottingham, and after she had detailed her statistical facts, “Billy” blurted out, “All right, mum. Stick me down for 40,000 loaves of bread.” And, mind you, he wasn’t either a miller or a baker. The Victorian handicapper has an exalted opinion of Waiwera, or else a very poor one of the general run of hurdle and iross country horses in Australia, judging from his treatment of the son of Gipsy King in both the Grand National events to be decided at Flemington next month. No wonder Waiwera was promptly scratched, though it would have been little use taking him after the form he displayed at Ellerslie. It is rather remarkable that this gelding has never shown form anywhere like he has done at Wanganui, where he has run some good races, almost invariably, however, having the luck to meet horses not so good or as well as himself. The old fellow always appears outpaced in the early part of his races now. The treatment of Tresham, the Auckland representative, "would probably not have tempted that gelding’s owner to send him over, even had the son of Catesby been ready to take on ■the trip. Only good horses favourably treated can hope to have a show in Grand •National events in Victoria, as a general thing, for there the flower of the States is met with, and our best horses year in and year out are probably no better than the cracks that assemble there, though I question whether they have ever had the equal of Record Reign, who was undoubtedly the best hurdler the New Zealand turf has produced.

So’uo time ago the jockey Macnamaia, eli.sqiialif'Cd during ihe pleasure of the Auckland Racing Club for suspicious riding at their summer meeting, applied for a reinstatement, i*ut the stewards declined to alter their c< c sicn. Musiamara has exhausted his means, am*, there are several stables in which he could obtain immediate employment riding work, and seeing that he has been made to stand down for just on six mouths, it would be tempering justice with mercy were the stewards to relax their punishment to the extent of allowing Macnaiuara to go to work under a reputable trainer until such time as it shall please them to remove the ban from the lad altogether, so that he may be able to resume his occupation as a horseman. It would be far better in a majority of cases when disqualifiat.ns are imposed upon young lads if the clubs would permit of r.heir being allowed to continue in racing stables under certain conditions and restrictions., and

would not grant u renewal of Hcenscs until such riders had been on probation and teen satisfactorily reported to the authorities. Preventing lads by disqualification from resuming work to which they have been accustom el is not advisable in ail cases, for very often they cannot get work they are physically capable of performing, and have to be kept by others upon whom they arc a burden, or they get into idle ways and too often into bad* company. The question is one that I think might well be discussed at the Racing Conference.

Some years ago a number of first-class horses wore racing in England as well as In the colonies whose names contained but seven letters, and the fact was duly noted In the pa|>ers. A country correspondent writes me as follows:—“Speaking tn a gen tieman the other day. he said that if any one followed up racing, horses with seven letters in their names were the best to back. ‘1 ii prove it,’ he said, and proceeded with spe-*vus argument to prove his contention. ‘There’s Eclipse, the pillar of the tuif; The Barb, another corner-stone; Carbine, Lochiel, and Advance, about the three gicatvst horses ever foaled in New Zealand; Sceptre, the best mare In England; Wakeful, the best in Australia. Whv, man ft..ve, I could go on for a week showing the successes of sevens. Look back over the recc.ius oi classic races, ami the successful l.crsos with seven letters in their names will bo found in evidence often. I tell you following sevens is better than backing to any iidruate system; and it’s so plain that anyone can make money.’ ” There have certainly been a large number of good horses with but seven letters in their names during the past 20 years, and some good performers In this colony have been seen during the past t wo seasons; but the number of bad ’tins must have been very large, and it is any odds that backing the sevens would have been an expensive business all through.

The proprietor of a restaurant in a sporting centre was in constant trouble with servants, relates “Javelin.” Cooks, waiters, and even scullery maids, were continually wasting time talking “horse,” studying handicaps, and endeavouring to pick winners. Having occasion to advertise for a cook, he mentioned his grievance to one of the applicants, who said, “O, racing don’t trouble mo. I never go to a meeting, and don’t know one horse from another. You needn’t worry about me on that score, boss.” That being satisfactory, the man was engaged, and all went well for a week or so. One day the proprietor, being short handed, was taking some of the orders for meals himself, and going to the speaking tube which communicated with the kitchen, he called out “Calves’ head, one.” The voice of the new cook promptly came back, “D it. That’s just my usual luck. What was second and third?”

I notice that some of my confreres continue to inform their readers that Traducer was at one time so little thought of that his services could be obtained for the small sum of 5/. This is all moonshine. Traducerwas always highly thought of. and at the time he was supposed to be isolated and in a district serving Maori mares, ho was in reality being patronised by the best known breeders about Wanganui, whoso mares, though not all stud book mares, were nevertheless descended from the best imported stock, and nine out of every ton of his gets could well, either on the flat, over hurdles, or across country. Lt was the successes of bis stock In the South that gave him a name before he was secured by Mr L. Daniels and Mr J. Walker for the Aramoho Stud, and caused him to be so well patronised. I could mention scores of mares that visited Traducer while at Wanganui, and many were sent from long distances to visit him. so much was he in favour with breeders. It was later on in life that the son of The Libel was assessed at his true value, however, and was repurchased to return to Canterbury, where he ended his days. It would come to those who had to foot the bills as strange reading to.be told that * Traducov’s services were ever obtained by anyone for the matter of a few shillings. Wanganui breeders were never asked big prices for the services of any thoroughbred horses that I can remember standing in the district; but there wore a few sires that came after Traducer whoso owners charged more than the late Mr John Walker charged for Tra-

du err. Ravensworth, and other good sires that enthusiast had in his stud at old Aramoho during his long residence there. Recently I met Mr Clark, secretary to the Rotorua Jockey Club, and one of the stewards, from whom I learned that the club will endeavour to hold a two days’ meeting In the autumn at carnival time there, increasing the prizes very materially, giving on each day a decent stake. It is intended to put in sonic work on the course, as there seems little chance of the Government taking the ground at present for town extension purposes. The soil is so light that little can be done at short notice, bit the main thing is to keep the grass growing and solidify the track by the frequent use after heavy rains of a good roller, when no one would object to rave on it. The natives intend to do their share towards the next big carnival, from what I can hear, and so that there will not bo a recurrence of such u thing r.s war canoes being pitted against a racing canoe, are building five large war canoes of similar dimensions to be ready in time for the next big demonstration on the placid waters of the Lake, while the flotilla is otherwise to be increased aad Improved upon. A novelty will he a sailing race, the sails being made of raupo, as they were made before Ihe days of Captain Conk. If the Carnival Committee aud the racing powers. which are linked hand in baud, work matters judiciously, carnival week at Rotorua will be a time to look forward to ami to be remembered by all who have the good luck to sec it. There is no part ef the wcrld where the people can run such a show as can the people of the Wonderland of New Zealand, and as a matter of good, sound business the Government and the people who are deriving most profit from the tourist trade should subsidise both carnival and racing institutions liberally. If the next, race programme Is made as attractive as I anticipate, there Is sure to be a successful gathering and strong support from owners. Last meeting there was a lack in the number of the competing horses, but as related by me at the time, such serviceable horses as Numa, Green and Gold, Miss Lottie, and Meteor were amongst the numbers. , and these horses have all won sineo. in Town Hall society. A small group were standing under a verandah in Queen-street, when the subject of falling revenue from totallsator receipts at Auckland race meetings, and a supposed shortness of money, were subjects mentioned. A bookmaker who had had a bad National meeting, remarked that some of the successful punters had not even taken the trouble to call upon him for their winnings, while a good many unsuccessful ones hud evidently over-looked settling day. “During my experience.” said the bookmaker, “I have known customers to meet with accidents, and never wade in at all, .and I have even had an odd one or two to whom I was indebted, “pass in their cheques." In these days of fast trains and electric trams you never know what may happen.” Hardly had the words been uttered when a passenger, without being told, or assisted, but evidently of his own volition, stepped off a car going about a six miles an hour gait, lost his equilibrium. and performed a circus act on the asphaltum, while the car sped merrily on. There were several exclamations of horror, followed by sighs of relief, when the unwise, but unfortunate, man was seen on an even keel again; but there was one who eyed him critically and callously remarked “He’s not one o’ mine.” Apropos of this, a backer who had picked the winning double at midsummer time at the Auckland Racing Club’s big meeting, did not turn up . for over four months to collect his hundred. When he did, however, the peu.ciller cheerily met him with the remark: “Well, you’ve come at last. I’d been thinking for some time that we. should have to get a Stanley -or a Livingstone to go out and search for you.” “That’s all right,” came the reply. .“I did not need the money, and did not send for it, and I don’t forget that I kept you waiting once when I lost.” “Come and have a taste,” said the bookie. “You’re one of the few that are not first at the corner on settling morning—to receive.”

Befcrrliig to Wakeful’H uou appearance st the Kaudwlek autumn eaiupaisn, Hie “llpevial t’oniiuisxlouer’’ of thii lemdon “S|Mirtsmau'* thus wrote: —“Mr Macdonald having at last decided to give Wakeful a rest, when she pulled up shaky on one foreleg after her third race at the Flemington meetlug, did not semi her to Sydney, and be may now i»erhaps wish he had taken 6000 guineas for her when he bad the elmncv, as to my own knowledge, he had. She has won him something over £4OOO since then—stakes In Australia are comparatively small—but it wss always buying money to baek her. ami once or twice she was Is-aten unexpectedly. If she has done with racing now, wliat Is she worth as ft brood mare? Well, she has been desperately bard run and might l>e a failure, whereas Lord Clonmel, who has an own sister in blood to her, that never was trained, probably owns a gem. from the paddock point of view. I see. however, that Mr Macdonald does not for a moment admit that Wakeful has ended her racing career. She is simply "resting" for the next (Australian) spring meetings. Site was pretty well played out last year at the same period: otherwise, presumably. m C n'' OU d ~ot hnve be ‘‘ u offered for sale nti K™“" try at 3000 Kuimas. at which r h r W ? 8 bou « ht b r Mr Abe Ba Her. who. being 1„ s< )U t h Afrlca nll)lei . c( . ns ; ir rules, did not get his cable through until had^h» a t fter ,he ,‘' fr, ‘r wns made. The marc wun <l:,y won thc <-up with 9 < and her owner went back on his offer. What he thought of her when he made it, and why he subacquently refttaed twice the amount, viz.. 600) guineas, which bir Ernest <’assel would have given for her. delivered in Loudon, is not for me to aay; only this is plain- that Wakeful has missed lhe Sydney m<‘eting altogether this lime, waereas last year she won on each of the four days. However, she is such a wonder that 1 da.’esay we shall hear of her winning again in Hie spring.”

It used to be said, though somewhat irreverently- and perhaps with little tir.th. that it was at one time the practice to make a parson of the biggest fool of the family. In like manner the horse that had been raced out and had become of li‘tle us? on rhe flat was tried with a view to hurdleracing and steeplechasing, but less frequent ly with success than anticipated; indeed, it has been demonstrated over and over again that the powers of the thoroughbred must not be impaired when ho is put to et. her hurdle-racing or steeplechasing. To become a complete success he must be sound a a I all there from thc start, if high-class achievements are aimed at. Annually, useful horses are drawn from the hack ranks, after i.ciug developed hi races in which those that Lave not won a lace or races of certain value an* designated hack racers. The pioportion of winners <»f our leading jumping races that have begun their careers in this way is fairly large. The hack races very often take a lot of winning, but they are run over suitable distances for beginners and imseascned horses ami are very popular, and it is not to bo wondered at that good ones are always being mrned out from amongst the compc titors. We have only to look r.t the lists o’* winners of our leading crosscountry events for numerous examples, but it would appear from the entry lists for vari » is meetings this winter that the past season has been a singularly exceptional oue, so far only a few hack racers with pretensions to class having been developed. Still, there arc here and there some useful horses, and just now there arc a few that have been temporarily disabled from continuing their careers, which is bad luck for some of the clubs. The wonder to me is that now the various clubs are giving such good prizes during the winter and throughout the season for hmdleracing. more owners do not have their ycuug horses schooled for hurdle-racing. The riding fees are reckoned heavy by seme owners for hurdle events, and there are more wht» would lend their patronage to this kind of sport could the expenses be made lighter, particularly for hurdle races of small va'ue. In view of the fact that riding fees are double what is charged for riding cu the flat, some of the clubs who can afTo?d It and are desirous of encouraging this pai tieulai branch of sport might tlx the entry fees at a still lower figure than at present. Jumping

mces are very interesting to iacegoers, and after all accidents over liurdies aie comparatively few for the number of such events that are decided during the season. “Milroy” has the following Interesting reference to famous platers. Says that writer: The greatest selling plater In history is the celebrated Hampton. In the early part of his career he was a mere plater, but after falling into the hands of John Night! ngall, he developed Into the best stayer In England. For the Epsom trainer he won the Great Metropolitan, Good wood Stakes, Goodwool Cup, Doncaster Cup, Northumberland Plate, and the Epsom Gold Cup. In the race last mentioned he beat the French horse Verneuib who shortly afterwards won the Ascot Gold Cup and Stakes. Hampton was tried over hurdles, and proved himself an adept at the game. His best race !n this branch was for the Grand International Hurdle Race, In which he ran second to the greatest of English hurdlers, Chandos, who was Imported to tills country by the late Hon. H. K. Cox to take Yattendon’s place, but who died after two seasons at Fernhill. Chandos left a few mares behind him, among them Lady Granville, whose daughter Dona Is the dam of Dewey. Hampton was also schooled over fences, and though he never took part in a steeplechase, a gentleman rider who had ridden him declared positively that the grand old son or Lord CHfden would have added a Liverpool Grand National to his laurels had he been risked over that country, for he was a perfect fencer. Fancy a horse of Hampton s class taking part in a steeplechase! At the stud he sired three Derby winners in Merry Hampton (sire of Orzil), Ayrshire (sire of Avre Laddie), and Ladas, while his son Highland Thief was only beaten a neck for the coveted Blue Ribbon by St. Blalze in 1883. Among selling platers Hampton was a brilliant exception. Usually they start high in life and finish low In the social (racing) scale. The notorious Kangaroo began life with such a flourish of trumpets that a soft-brained scion of a noble English house gave 12,500 guineas for him. but the horse was never worth half the odd shillings in the guineas. He quickly came down from his high pedestal to the lowest class of selling plater, and thence he drifted into the shafts of a cab. thus ending his da vs in miserable drudgery. In our selling‘plate days we never had anything within miles of Hampton’s form. The best Australian selling plater within my knowledge, if he could be called such, was Cerise and Blue. This marvellous pony—she could easily go under 14.2—showed good form in the country, and Mark Ihonipson brought her to Sydney, with the view of winning the Hawkesbury Handicap and the Metropolitan, but she ran badly, aud finished up in a selling race, for which she started at 20 to 1 aud won easily. A little while after this Mr Oxenham bought her and won a double with her at RosehilJ, and later on she won the Sydney Cup and landed for the leviathan bookmaker a fortune in bets. Cerise and Blue was made of tough material. She ran through the V.R.C. autumn meeting in 18S6. when she ran second to the mighty Malua lb the Australian Cup, aud after a long journey in the train she was taken out of the horse box. and within an hour started for a handicap at Liverpool, which she wou. She should have won the Hawkesbury Handicap that year but Bricky Colley rode a bad race which wan fortunate for Mr Oxen-h-im for had Cerise and Blue been penalised. the Sydney Cup would have surely gone to the unlucky Silvermine.

A correspondent who has seen n good deal of racing in England and Australia writes to “Milrov” of the “Sydney Mail” to support the idea of restricting two-year-olds to races under selling conditions fiom October till tae A.J.C. summer meeting. He holds that owners will not risk a likely two-year-old in a selling race, ami therefore if this rule was in operation all over Australia, the best would not be run off their legs iu the first half of the season. Should the authorities at anv time move in this direction with a view of curtailing two-year-old racing, continues “Milroy,” my correspondent suggests that any surplus over the selling price should not go to the club, as hitherto, but should be divided between the owner of the winner and the owner of the second horse. Though opposed to the fid principle of selling races, by which the clubs calmly gathered in the surplus money over the selling price, a few owners aud trainers to whom I have spoken on the subject agree with the correspondent’s ideas. Under these conditions owners would have an opportunity of picking up the cost of a moderate and passing it on, and if there were good money In the market for the horse a fair share of It would go into bls poeket Instead of going towards swelling the profits >f the race club. Though the idea of the writer is a good one, the object would be defeated if the A.J.C. did move in the direction indicated unless the V.R.C. worked in harmony with it. There la little use in the A.J.C. framing regulations regarding two-year-olds while the big Melbourne clubs hang up luring baits for them. If the twc-year-old door is closed to the Sydney owners they will take their youngsters to Melbourne and run them off their legs there. Writing of selling races reminds one of many barefaced ramps and some amusing sequels In connection with them; In days gone by one could race a Carbine at some of the Melbourne suburban tracks without fear of losing him If the owner arranged with the racecourse proprietor not to claim the stake. I remember u first-class handicapper, a horse with, whom his party expected to win a Newmarket, a,lnning a little £25 selling race at a Melbourne proprietary meeting, new happily dead. The horse was entered to be sold for £25, and was promptly knocked down to the owner at the upset price, though there were ganflilers present who would have given £2OOO for him If there were any chance of him being sold. The Uttle dodge did not deceive the handicapper, as expected, for Instead of getting In somewhere

near the bunt In the Newmarket It was allotted Bst, much to the disgust of all concerned. According to an exchange a case on all fours with this was reported fiom New Orleans (U.S.) sane time back. A smart filly wen a selling race, but before any of the sharps around the ling made a bld the auctioneer disposed of bar in the following cool manner: He said, “Now, look here, gentlemen, there’s a filly by Great Tom out of one of the most no-account mares that was ever foaled. She’s entered to be sold at 300dol„ but if yon look at that off fore-leg you’ll see she’s likely to break down any time, and carrying more n 901 b breaks her heart. When 1 tb«nk of it, I don’t believe there’s anyone here can afford to keep a filly like this over :he water, so I’ll just knock her down to the owner, who, I daresay, will do his best for her.” A writer in the English “Live Stock Journal.” states that M. de Saussure’s account of a race meeting iu 1728 gives ua a good idea of the sport as It appeared to a stranger who could only describe what he saw and repeat wha’t his friends told him; also, perhaps, the fact that he did not know the English language well may also help to explain the mistakes he makes. He says: “Racehorses are of a particular breed. Their mothers are English and their sires Arab. Some of these horses are worth as much as £2OO. Their appearance is very elegant, supple, and slender. They must be fed with particular care, and differently from other horses, for they are very delicate. Races are held on large open spaces; a wide circuit is marked by posts sunk into the ground at certain distances. Two pillars are erected facing each other. On either of these is a seat where the judges sit, and from where they can well view the course, aud it is from between these pillars that the horses start, their heads not passing each other’s. It is also here that the races begin and end. The saddles are very small, and before the races commence they are weighed, so as to be all as nearly of the same weight as possible, and very light bridles are put on the horses’ heads. The jockeys that ride are quite young men of a same size. They wear little shirts and tight breeches of red, blue, green, or yellow cloth, and little raps of the same colour or of black velvet.

“At a certain signal the horses start and run two miles round the marked circuit. At the beginning the jockeys sometimes hold their horses back whilst they watch their rivf»s. but at the end of the race they press as much as possible, aud a race is often won by the skill of the rider. The horses run twice round the circuit This is termed a ’heat.’ You would hardly believe that most of these horses can run these four miles in ten or twelve minutes, and sometimes even less. They go so fast that when they pass before you, they seem to y like the bolt of a cross bow. They do not stretch themselves out much, but they throw their legs out with inconceivable speed and agility. When a race is over, the horses are covered with sweat and perspiration. The jockeys get off, throw a rug over them, and lead them about for about half an hour. Another race theat) is then run. and sometimes a third. The horse that has wou two heats out of three carries off the prize.” The writer referred to —he was a young man of two or three and twenty—formed a very high opinion of English horses. “One cannot help admiring them,” he says, "for they are excellent. When you travel on horseback in England it is always at a trot or a gallop, and Englishmen hardly know what it is to go at a foot’s pace. Naturally, in this way, you travel very rapidly. Soon after my arrival in England, wishing to ride to Guildford, which town is thirty miles distant from London, I went to a horse dealer and told him I wanted to hire a horse for two days. This man told me that if I had no business to keep me at Guildford I could easily return tlk* same day, and he offered me a sorry locking animal that did not look worth two crowns. I expostulated, but he told me to let the horse go, and that I was not to press and not to stop it, and that I might be assured I should be satisfied. In truth, I got to Guildford early in the day. stopped there l a few hours, and was back in London at seven in the evening. My horse never stopped going at a hand gallop both there and back, excepting on the stones and on the pavement, and there I had to let him walk, for it would have been impossible to go faster; but as soon as he was on the roads he started off at a gallop without a word from me, and required no persuasion either with the whip or the spurs. This little episode surprised mo. but I did not know then the worth of English horses.” I have for years past expressed the opinion that first class racehorses should not be given the big weights that have been allotted in the colonies in leading handicap races, In order to give the owners of the fourth raters encouragement to go on nominating, and trying to win such events. It would really be impossible for many that are so entered to go fast enough or to stay, long enough to win under any Impost, however light, while horses of more than average merit with medium weights and good ones with reasonable racing imposts remained in. Many years ago when racehorses were few in number, big weights were dealt out to the cracks of their time in our sister colonies, and they used to come to the front more often than the feather weight division, even though the minimum was a stone less than It is at the present time. Racing, however, saw a change as years rolled on, and the minimum was not only raised, but the maximum of the early days, or more properly speaking, the weights to which handicappers thought proper to go, were considerably reduced. Under much lower maximums adopted, it has been shown that to have continued the heavier Imposts on the best horses of their day would have proved wrong In practice. From the year

Carbine won the Melbourne Cup, carryin* 10.5, in record time, and the presence on the turf of so many doughty sons of Musket, or grandsons of that famous horse, we appear to have drifted back, to some extent, to the custom of earlier days; indeed, we have during the past few years in New Zealand seen our two, three, and £ OQ S year olds handicapped at weights so high as were never allotted in the history of racing In this colony iu Important races. In oue instance we had a champion of more mature years in Advance started in a cup race with the crusher of 11.3 on his back, a weight no horse ever carried successfully, or was ever started with In any long distance race of the importance of a Wanganui Cup, since racing commenced in the colonies. Only once within my knowledge was ever such a weight dealt out to a racehorse, and that was about thirty four years ago, when The Barb, another “black demon”—talked of by colonials at the time as the best horse in the world —received 1J.7 for the Melbourne Cup. At the time he had been actually retired to the scud and was announced at a fee of 10 guineas. He had about three years previously won the race carrying 6.11. Many regarded the impost of 11.7 as one given out of compliment to the horse, and though some persons would have been found backing their idol, and the sporting writers of the time were never tired of singing the praises of Mr Tait s wonderful little horse, still the majority of practical racing men and scribes looked upon the treatment of The Barb as excessive, and one writer said at such a weight he would have no earthly chance. Referring to the entries for the Melbourne Cup this year, the “Australasian” endorses my sentiments on the subject of handicapping so thoroughly that I have pleasure in quoting from its columns. Says the editor: ’ That there are also a great many that cannot possibly have a show’ in the list goes without saying. It is quite impossible to give the duffers a chance in such a race. The Melbourne Cup is the race of the year, and the public who support it in such a lavish way want to see the Carbines and Wakefuls of the day running in It. Were n handicapper to absolutely crush the good ones—some ox them have been given prohibitive weights In the last few years—he would soon become unpopular with his committee, as well as the public, aud judging bv their defeats this season, Wakeful, The Victory, aud Abundance do not require much crushing. It is all very well to say every horse should be given a chance. That theory may apply in second class races. If owners of good horses enter them for third class races, let them be crushed, but if owners of second rate suburban horses choose to soar after Melbourne Cups, the race should not be spoilt In their interests. They are in their wrong class, and cannot be considered when the handicapper has to work with a 6st Tib minimum, aud cannot divide the field into two lots, as is done with the Oakleigh Plate and other races. As usual, New South Wales owners have nominated freely, but New Zealand sportsmen hold aloof. They have their own Cup meeting In November. Mr Stead and other leading New Zealand sportsmen would like to get Wakeful and Abundance to Christchurch in November, to take part in a £SOO sweepstakes, with Achilles, Treadmill, and Machine Gun. Such an event would recall the days Mhen New Zealand had a Champion Race, which attracted Mormon and other cracks from Australia, but It is not likely Mr Macdonald and Mr Phillips will send their horses so far. There Is enough for them to do at Randwick and Flemington.” The subject of two-year-old racing has been receiving a good deal of attention of lata In the colonies as well as elsewhere. An exchange mentions that the Americans are beginning to realise the evil effects of racing two-year-olds, the dearth of entries for the valuable stakes provided by the leading elnbs for horses three years eld and over having thrust that fact pt eminently before them. “On the Continent,” says the “Horseman,” "the opposite nas been the

custom, with the result that lu France the number ot Orst-claas aged horses la very large, much larger in proportion than is the case across the Channel. On the face or It, thia would seem to prove the assertion that breeders la thia country and England are making too much use of the young horses. are “?“ e who take exception to this, but the weight of evidence appears to be against the too frequent racing ot colts, estheir two-year-old form. There is not quite the same comparison to be made between the racing of young fetters and f u “'? erß as there between the thoroughbreds raced In different countries, but in this connection it is interesting to note that the racing of colts has been quite generally abandoned by the leading breeders of the light harness horse. Several years ago yearling auu two-year-old stakes were to be frequeiMly found on the stake programme of the leading racing associations. Today there are practically no yearling races, and but very few two-year-old events, and ot the latter but one or two develop any general Interest on the part of either the breeders or the public. A few of the breeders of trotters went so far when the reaction against the racing of youngsters commenced, that they ceased entirely lu making entries in the Futurltys. This plan worked to the satisfaction ot the breeders so long as they were able to race their own horses, but when breeding operations became so large that the youngsters had to be disposed of at public sale, the breeders found that eolts which were not entered in the leading Futnritys failed to bring the price which their breeding would warrant, when compared with colts of at least no better breeding, which were liberally engaged. As a rule, however, the trottiug-bred youngsters are not raced to an extent that does them any material damage, and nowhere near as much as the two and three year elds on the running turf. The worst feature in connection with the racing of youngsters of either breed does not appear on the surface. In preparing the eolts for their stakes, there are many which are knocked out in their preparation of which the public hear and know nothing. This loss is felt later in the dearth of really good aged horses, able to stand a season’s campaign. The managers of the tracks over which the th»oughb:eds race are commencing to feel this state of affairs quite keenly, but, thanks to the conservativeuess of the breeder of the trailer, there Is not the same trouble confronting the managers of the light harness tracks.” Sir Joseph Hawley, one of the greatest turf men in the English calendar, srd probably the best judge of racing and racehorses in his time, was a strong opponent of early two-year-old racing. He won the Derby four times, but none of his winners were brilliant two-year-olds — In fact, three of them were next to useless at that age, but Blue Gown, his fourth Derby winner, won three races at a two-year-old late lu the season. The training' and racing of two-year-olds early In the season Sir Joseph denounced as a “crying Iniquity.” This was 30 years ago. What would le have said had he lived to the present day? About 30 years ago Sir Joseph wrote to the English Jockey Club In these terms: "The annual destruction of two-year-old material leaves us with less proportionate stock on band for three-year-old racing, and towards the end of the fourth year—when maturity can be said to have been reached — there is a dearth of flrst-class animals never before paralleled. To offer inducements which create animals especially adapted for early races, but very little good afterwards, seems to me suicidal. The Legislature says that it Is for the good of all that there should be a close time. They enjoin the owner of property to disregard his temporary pecuniary Interests, and to refrain from killing his own salmon and his own partridges within certain periods. Again, to use an analogy more like the present, they prevent child, father, and employer alike from unduly taxing youthful energy by overwork at an early age. What is this but interfering with private rights for public good? It is because Parliament is supposed, In its collective capacity, to be removed from the Influence of individual prejudice or in-

terest that all of us acquiesce In what la dona to restrain us for our good. No man Is a safe Judge of what Is best for his future interests when present quin comes In question." ® © ® TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH. (Hr Telegraph.—Special to "Graphic.’ ) CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. Canteen has resumed work at Wlngatnl. He looks wonderfully hearty after his spell. The obstacle which 1 feared would cut short the career of the Forbury Park Racing Club baa been surmounted. An agreement has been arrived at, under which the club will have the use of the course for a rent of £SO per day. It intends to race on three days next season—August 27, November 28, and March 23. Musketry, who was leased to a North Island breeder last season, is back at Rlcearton. If he Is not sold it is the intention of his owner, Mr J. B. Reid, to send him to another part of the colony next season. One of Mr Stead’s fillies, a daughter of Multiform and Suray, had the bad luck to injure herself the other day. It Is not expected that the Injury will affect her racing power. The yearling sister to Vladimir, and the yearling half sister by Lord Rosslyn to Pampero, have joined McGuinness’ stable at Wingatui. The former has been named ••Tsa,” and the latter “Puna.” Toney, who won a race at the North Otago Jockey Club’s meeting last week, is a son of Cajolery, the speedy son of Apremont and Flattery, who won the Dunedin Champagne Stakes and a number of jumping races. R. J. Marr, an Australian trainer, has taken up his quarters at the famous Russley estate. Marr is owner of the Lochiel stallion Lord Loch, of whose arrival at Christchurch I notified you a little while ago. Lady Rosslyn and Noblesse have ended their racing careers, and have left McGuinness’ stable for the Hon. G. McLean’s stud farm. The former is to visit Stepnlak, and the latter Lord Rosslyn. A colt by Musketry from the Cuirassier— Radiant mare Sequin, has joined Lewis’ stable at Rlccartom Zealous is being schooled over hurdles. She was given her first jump a few days ago, and acquitted, herself most creditably. Mr C. S. Fraser has succeeded Mr G. P. Wood as secretary to the South Canterbury Jockey Club. At the annual meeting of the club, held last night, the balance sheet showed the net receipts to have been £1920, and net expenditure £1743. The net profit was £177, as against a loss of £126 on the previous year. That loss was attributed to changing dates to suit the agricultural show. The club’s cash balance Is £l9B. CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. Catherine Gordon fell while being schooled one morning last week, and her rider, H. Donovan, received a nasty Shaking. Social Pest and Sultana were schooled over the big fences on Wednesday. The latter fenced capitally, but Social Pest, after jumping In a slovenly manner, came to grief at the post, and rails. The same morning Khaki and Wet Blanket were schooled over the hurdles. The former hit an obstacle, and cut one of bis legs, though not seriously. Bombardo, Slow Tom, Sultana, Social Pest, Khaki, Benzoin, Windwhistle, and Goldenmere are all doing strong work with a view of the Wellington meeting. W. McDonald, the local trainer, who has been on a visit to the North Island, has returned to Rlccarton. Cyelas Parva has resumed work. The Christchurch Hunt Club will hold a point to point steeplechase next Saturday for a cup presented by Mr G. G. Stead. I regret very much to have to chronicle a severe piece of bad luck which has befallen that plucky breeder, Mr J. B. Reid. Mr Reid had this season half a dozen exceptionally promising yearlings. Some of them caught cold, and as a precautioln Mr Reid dosed the lot. As a result all fell seriously 111, and two colts by Sant Ilario, one out of Marlin, and the other from Sequin, died. Unfortunately the Marlin colt was the pick of the lot. The Ashburton County Racing Club ended the season with a credit balance of £IOO 17/6. The stakes for the coming season will be the same as last year’s. Mr J. B. N. Grigg has been elected president of the N.Z. Metropolitan Trotting Club. Trotting has had a particularly good season. The report and balance sheet to be presented at Its annual meeting shows it has made a profit of no less than £2378 11/7. The year opened with a deficit of £lll7 12/4, and closed with a credit balance of £l2t>s 19/3. The receipts from the tote amounted to over £6OOO, and the gate receipts to £2316 7/. The sum of £6531 was distributed In stakes. The Hon. Geo. McLean has sold Vladimir to Mr L. C. Haslett. The price has not been disclosed. The son of Stepnlak will .n future be trained by Rutledge. Mr S. S. Myers, a member of the committee of the Dunedin J.C., is about to leave on a trip to Fiji and other Islands. He will be away fior- about two months. Mr Bullock', another member of the committee, leaves to-day (Tuesday) on a visit tn Hobart. .

Trouble la threatened between the Forbury Park Company and the fit. Kllda Borough Council. The latter body la demanding rent for a portion of the racecourse, which it declares encroaches on the roadway, and as the company refuse to pay. has instructed its clerk to remove the company’s boundary fence. ® ® ® HAWKE’S BAY JOCKEY CLUB’S WINTER MECT'.Nti. the foliowiug acceptances hare been recelvetl Id connection with the above meetIng, which opens on Wednesday next:— Trial Steeplechase Handicap ,f SOoovs, 2 miles.—Frost IL3, Light 10.13, The Gryphon 10.12, Hurricaue 10.9, Smithy 10.9, Eucharist 10.2, L'mslopagaus 9.9, Benedictine 9.7. Winter Handicap of lOOsovs, 1 mile and a furlong.—A.B.N. 10.9. la 10.4, Golden Dust 10.4, Tradewind 10.2, Menura 9.12, Eland 9.8, Minerve 9.7, Waimoe 9.7, Lios.-shoot 9.3, Heiuiuius 9.0, Kohupapa 9.0, Fireaway 9.0, Rapids 9.0. Hack Handicap Hurdle Race of GOsovs. If mile.—Rags 12.0, Oracle 10. £ Comfort 10.0, Ogie 9.10, Hinekura 9.10, In the Van 9.3, Walreka 9.3, Sloightea 9.0, Taluuc 9.0, Evening 9.0. Hawke’s Bay Hurdles of 200sovs, about 2 miles.—Merry Boy 10.0, Roeelot 9.12, Kahuwai 9.9, Meteor 9.0, Hurricaue 9.0, Mouruer 9.0, Cobra 9.0. Hunt Club Steelechase Handicap of 50sovs, about 2i miles.—Draga 11.11, Counterbine 11.7, Benedictine 11.7, Garnet 11.0, Gun Metal 11.0, The Gun 11.0, Hln’wal 11.0. Corinthian Stakes Handicap of 50sovs, li mile.—Hardwork 12.7, Mougonul 11.10, Musketoon 10.11, Andree 10.10, Borax 10.10, Recoil 10.9, Kim 10.0, Nadado 10.0, Sleepwell 10.0, Roka 10.0, Anadeja 10.0. The following are the weights for the Ladies’ Bracelet, 2 miles.—Borax 12.3, Repulse 12.3, Defoe 12.3. Creusot 11.12, Tigrisona 11.12. Apres 11.12. Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase of SOOsovs, 3J miles.—Pipi 10.3, Frost 9.13, Jack-o’-Lantern 9.11, The Gryphon 9.7, Light 9.7, Cronje 9.7.