TURF GOSSIP

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue XXI, 21 November 1903, Page 16

TURF GOSSIP

. TURF NOTES. T l ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. J.M., Auckland.—lsonomy was ridden by T. Cannon. -Mark Ryaa is In great form this season. Inchcape won a small double at To Arena for H. Frank vn Monday. Nonet te’s success on Monday was the mes* p< pular one ef the day. Out of 45 Derby events run in Canterbury, fillies hare won ten times. Some of the wins that were recorded at Ellerslie came in the nick of rim-. The steeplechase fences at Caulfield have been raised to four feet. The date of the dispersal of the Sylvia Park Slud has been fixed for December 31<t. The West Australian Turf Club made a profit of £1“OO on its spring meeting. Most trainers at Ellerslie would welcome the hegyy rain experienced sine? Monday at headquarters. The chief race at the Te Aroha meeting fell to Sugarcane, a son of Freedom and an Ingomar tv are. Scots Grey is the only grey colt that has won the Canterbury Derby sin e It wart founded in 1.860. The biggest dividend paid by any of L. 11. Hewitt’s mounts at Ricca non was £*l lb/. Syivi.i Park-bred stock won £I6S3 at the A.ltd'. Spring Meeting out of £3‘»7»j given , in stakes. Ft ’> reported that Sir Rupert Clarke has sold Free States, and the horse is to be f-ut to the stud. Glasgow burst a blood vessel while runring in the Publicans’ llanui-cap on Wednesday at Ellerslie. Nominations for the Thames Meeting h> Id on R ».\i ig Day and the day following are due on Friday. ■ The Australasian” says that Wakeful ; » s to th' stud next season, and her first mate will be Grafton. S Lindsay goes South to the Waitara. jnd Feilding inertings next week. His aim is nearly all right again. Abundance was backed for the Melbourne < up ou the morning of the race for XatDO, end started at 4 to one, first favourite. General Symons and Uinetanra were probobly the smallest am! lightest horses that took part in the New Zealand Cup. The top pri - * at the recent yearling sales at Dt»i«<-aster. England, was lluOgs for a vt-lt by Melton from Simeua. Lori Cardigan’s win in th? Melbourne <’np has put I’ositano at the head uf the list of winning Australian sires. R. Derrett. L. 11. Hewitt, and G. Price w<-r? three leading horsemen who did not have a meant in the New Zealand Cup. On arrival in India the English-bred raeeh :-se Friar Tuck was insured by the liit Tiiational Horse Agency for £2500. A profit of about £lOOO was made over the V. AT.C. Spring Meeting. This is some £2vo more than last year, but the stakes were £2W less. Alba Rose, who was sold at the break-up of Mrs Le.curd’s stud a short time back, w. ii a half-mil • bark flutter at the Waver-Joy-Waitotara meeting. Several performers that were supposed t be waiting on Saturday at Ellerslie, failed to materialise on Monday, when they u«*re expected to do so. The course at Alexandra Park will not !»r greatly improved for trotting on Saturday by the rain we have had, unless the weather clears up quickly. It was reported that an offer of lubdgs was refused for the three-year-old colt Roseai on the morning preceding the decirtco of the New Zealand Cup. Mr G. Adams (‘Tattersall”) has donated £IOO to the Tasmanian Racing Club iH. hart) as a prise for a race at th? Hummer Meeting. Fighting Ma~. by Go»o from Florrte, has b.-. n purchased for West Australia. Fighting Mae Is a full brother to Caledonia, now racing iu South Africa. The three placed two-year olds iu the Nursery Handicap on Wednesday, iu Gwenlad. Kilmarnock. and Promotion, were bred at Cambria I’ark. Eighteen colts and 14 fillies have won the Marlbyrnong Plate to date, and once the care resulted In a dead heat between a colt (Welcome Jack* and a filly (Lavinla).

The jockeys riding- in the Jackson Stakes at V.'averley cu Monday got into hot water with the starter, who fined the winning rider £5 and the other riders £2 each. Rosea). the C.J.C. Derby winner, is with* out a number, and Canteen, the New Zealand Cup winner, is also a numberless horse, but both belong to excellent colonial families. The liloot! of Musket is to be found in the pedigrees of each of the placed horses in tin- New Zealand <'up. In most long races the fighting blood of old Musket is present. The Waverley-Waitotara Cup was won by Maureen, by St. Conan—Juliet, a grey snare half-sister to Queen’s Guard, who has been racing without success for some considerable time. Whenever Nonet te and Rosella met in handicap races previously there was never such a difference as 2S!bs between the pair, as was the case in the Ascot Handicap at Ellerslie oa Wednesday. Sydney Willis, the well known South AustraUau Jockey, who rode Avalon in the Caulfield Cup. was killed at Tort Adelaide when riding The Bird in the Welter i I an dies p. W. Laue and O. Madden are running a great race fur first place among the English jockeys this year. When the last mail left. Lane had ridden 115 winners ai.d Madden 113. Very few grey horses have run for the New Zealand Cup. but Scots Grey, in ISB3, Tirailleur’s year, got second, and he. like Caiitecn. was bred by Mr T. Motrin at Wellington J’ark, News has been received that Gaulcon has r» turn' d to the Randwick training tracks, so that his racing career would not appear to be over yet, despite his troublesome leg. Redeemer, the. ex-Australian hurdler, has proved himself a champion in South Africa, and was at last advices weighted at over 15.0. It is intended to send him A kv. pri< e would bo accepted for one of rhe horses iha: was made favourite for one of the events at Ellerslie during.the weep. The owner does not think so much of him as the public. ~ Australian papers are giving publicity -to rhv absurd rumour that was circulated some time ago in New* Zealand, that Advance WuTild be raced over hurdles. Advance’s r-icing days, it is hoped, are over. The Brigadier filly Gweniad is the first of Gwendoline’s progeny, and that young mare is the fir&t daughter of Soule to go to th? stud. Sh? has therefore made a good star;. Gwendoiiuc was bred by Mr A. E. Brice. When the barrier was released in th? A> <t Handicap on Wednesday, SoultfiSh wh*ppod round and started off in the opposite direction. He probably felt he had had enough, and thus shirked another expected hard race. The starting machine at Flemington is 100 slow in dying up and recently acted as a rival io the local dentists. Koopan a stat ter in one of the races, was caught in the barrier and had one of his teeth pulled out at the late meeting. l*ony races evidently find favour with the Vice-regal party in Sydney, as His Excellency Sir Harry Rawson, Lady Rawson, and Miss Rawson have arranged to be present at the Kensington I’ony meeting to be held on December 23rd. The English Jockey Club are trying to discourage owners from running good two year olds early in the season. They propose to make £2OO the maximum stake for two year olds until the beginning of June. The following were the successful jockeys at the A.R.C. spring meeting at Ellerslie: —Cress (4). Ryan <4). Burns (21, Mr A. C. Selby (2>. Wilson. Bird. Fergus, Gallagher. Gray, Noble, Julian. Speakman, Deeiey, one each; and Taylor (3). The Waitara annual meeting takes place on Thursday next. There are very fair fields, and several Auckland bred horses are set down to compete. Mark Ryan has engagements at the meeting, and will ride Alba Rose In the Leppertou Stakes. Mr Fred Duval, the well known theatrical agent, is reported to have won .£llOO over Canteen in the N.Z. Cup and doubles with Machine Gun in the Stewards* Handicap. Fred is very popular, and his friends will be pleased at his good fortune. The victory of Rosea 1 in the Canterbury I>erby made the 45th Anniversary of the race, which was established in imiO, when Mr W. Harris won with the St. Anbyn inarc Ada, the shortest named one that ever scored. Only on two occasions has the C.J.C. Derby been run faster than Roseal ran the distance 4

J. Stewart, nirh whom Gatelock fell on Monday, ba J to get some stitches put in his eya as a result- Gatelock is a wild goer, and went through every hurdle on the opening day, cutting one down completely to the bottom batten. Stepuiak was nine years old when the first winner of the C.J.C. Welcome Stakes by him claimed attention. Multiform is the same age, and has made a similar start iu that race with Qcdden Lily, who Haims Corolla, dam of Gold Medallist, as his first representative. In a chat with Mr McDonald. Wakeful’s owner, on the morning of the Melbourne Cup, he informed “Martindale,” of the “Sydney News,” that the champion mare’s joint was big. but the fire appeared to be go ! ng out of It, and he hoped to be able to start her iu the race. St. Ursula died at Takapunn last week. The game sister to St. Paul was on a visit to Cuirassier. Her loss is a severe one to her owner and breeder, Mr W. Percival. She was a good performer, and would likely have been a good brood mare. The dust on the Rlcearton road on New Zealand Cup day was simply dreadful, according to a returned visitor- All the same, there has never been such a procession of cycles on that road, or on any other in Now Zealand, since that means of locomotion was introduced into this colony. The lion. J. D. Ormond’s horses did not race well on the hard going at Iticcarton. The running of Menura in the C.J.C. Metropolitan Handicap, in which that mare was third, was the best exhibition of form of any of the bearers of the cerise jacket during the first and second days. Joe Gallagher has worked some improvement in Onowa. the big bay son of Cufrassicr and Jadestone, nut that colt will want lots more time, and it may pay to give it to him. Two years hence 1 should like this colt for jumping honours., since he is not destined to earn classic honours. Mr D. Hyland’s circus horses did not show winning form at Ellerslie on His Majesty’s Birthday. The grey,. Hostage, is said to be from a half sister to Lout Hand, and is a very fine type of his race, l olly, who ran in the steeplechase, fenced in the most perfect manner, but lacked speed. It is reported that after St. Dennis b at Walriki at Oamani, Gainsford, the rider of Mr Bradley’s colt, said to McComb, “Thanks, you have won me the Now Zealand Cup.” Some people arc now found declaring ihat iu his next ride against Wairiki. McComb caused that horse to lose the Cup event. General Symons, by winning the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Metropol..an Handicap, in 2.34, lowered the colonial record held by Advance, when that horse won the Wellington Cup. by one fifth of a scccud. Ho carries 7.7. whereas Advance carried 1 0.4. For a little horse, the General did well, however. The Phoebus Apollo filly Muthema was not seen ar her best in the Welcome Stakes at Ellerslie on Saturday. This filly was sore, but she ran very gamely all the same, and made her effort iu the home stretch when called upon. Many thought she had failed to get iuto a place, but that position was gained by a narrow margin. The railing off of part of the grandstand for members, their wives and friends, may be all right from a club point of view, but a good deal of inconvenience was experienced by visitors to the members’ luncheon aitd tea rooms, owing to the way in which the partitioning was done, and there was a good deal of complaining. Sv.-agsman’s running at the Otahuhu Hack meeting hardly prepared people for his win in the I‘residcnt’s Handicap on Saturday at Ellerslie. The son of Ben Godfrey can race when in form. Geordie, who finished second, did not run with the same grit when it came to business, but had been responsible for most of the early work. Noucrtc gave Canteeu 19ILs and beat him over a mile and a-half at Ashburton last spring shortly before the N.Z. Cup, but just f;fiied to give 341 bs to the three-year-ol« Welbeck, the race being run in 2m 35 3-ss. Then the weights were: Welbeck 7.7, Nonette 9.13. Welbeck (7.4) finished in front » f Canteen (7.9) in the New Zealand Cup afterwards. Nonette (9.9) was a starter, hut was lame and not at his best. Nonette’s three-year-old performances stand out before those of Walriki, taken altogether, and it was no doubt on account of his sterling performances under weight that he was assessed so highly in the N.Z. Cup.

Australian Star, who is owned by Mr Spencer Golian. ran unplaced in the September Handicap at Alexandra Park last mouth, in which, according to the London ‘'Sportsman,” he had “no earthly chance with the weight allotted to him, although he runs better at Alexandra Park than anywhere else.” The American jockey, E. Anus, is back In ImlLt. says the Sydney “Referee,” and at the Poona last mouth won the International Stakes c-n Yankee Boy. He is now connected with J. D. Scott’s stable, hiving taken Raiushaw's place, a change that caused a good deal of comment in Poona racing circles*. That good cross-country horse Brokerage. broke his nrar hind leg while running in a paddock near his owner’s residence. Randwick, and had to l>e destroyed. Brokerage. who was by The Broker from Hermitage, was owned by Mr W. Alldrit. a well known I»ookmaker. and was an occupant of W. Gullum’s stable. The following foalings are reported from Glenlora Park: Durus, by Armourer from Confidante, colt to Soult: Sunrise, bv Ramarama—Awutea. colt to Souk; Lady Emmeline. by Somaus — Fanny Fisher, filly to h° U L’ Wellington Park: Lady Cureton, by Goldsborough from Miugera, colt to Mcnschikoff. - ree< ? rds registered at Kiccarton during the progress of the C.J.C. pnng Meeting. The .first, over two iniies, by Canteen, 3.27 1-5, j a the N.Z. Cup, is a colonial one, and that of General Symons, hi —34 for mile in the Metropolitan Handicap; while Red Gauntlet’s mile in 1.40 in the Jockey Club Handicap is a New Zealand one. Curts. Sir G. Clifford’s trainer, does not appear to have had either Treadmill or Quarryman at their best at the C.J.C. Spring Meeting. Windwbistle was probably fitter than when she raced at Wanganui, nut the three-year-olds were no better for their Northern trip, and are evidently a pair of difficult ones to train. When the American colt Africander recently made his record of 2.58 for 12 mile he carried 8.1. and Heno (whom he beat by a head) 9.0. The first six furlongs were run by Ueno in 1.14 2-5, mile in 1.40 2-5, mile and a quarter in 2.5 1-5. and mile and a half in 2.31 4-5. Africander was two lengths behind at that stage, but got up in time to score by the narrow margin alreadv mentioned. Annoyed about sums up the feelings of a large army of little punters who had intended backing Mr Bray’s pony in the Welter Handicap on the last day of the Auckland Racing dub’s Spring Meeting, waen the little daughter to Regel and Torment won so handsomely and paid the nice dividend of £24 S'. but did not carry any of their money. Her owner onlv had £2 S’ an £ :lfte T h er indifferent running in the ace / in which she started baaiv the first uay. it was a risk to go so much. Yet one investor had £4 on. Seaton Delaval claimed no fewer than six winners during the three da vs of the rikiot : S T n F meetin £- in „ Bean Seaton, JiCi tJ H twk o ) ’ Idas ’ Non, ‘tte. Sonoma, a ’ had three in Avalanche, Ma.y.ina. and Austerlitz; Regd had two in -respm and Annoyed: Gossoon had SpalWuil twicc - to represent him; . a i£t°hb d . star - who ais ° "° u P c X, :hklss claims Onewa. Brigadier Gweniad, Simmer. Kilmarnock. St. Lever Ropa. St. Hippo Miss Lottie, Ben Godfrey ow.-igsman, and Sou -wester Dingo. There is no gainsaying the fact that this it-kT' ? wo . nderful y ear for fast harness wirk 1.1 America. The most startling per“f." ’ was that of Prince K'luing.who paced a mik in l. al . This is a clean clip of two seconds from Dan Patchs mark of 1.59. Alert paced his phenomenal mile at the Empire City track at Yonkers. New York, on September 23. Weather and track were perfect, and. in common with all this season's record smashers. Alert travelled behind a thoroughbred speedmaker harnessed to a sulky equipped with a wind shield. The Prince paced the first quarter in 29Js. and shot past the half in 58s. Then the crowd realised that it was witnessing the fastest mile ever travelled by a harness horse, and cheers and shouts of “Come on" arose from the grandstand and along the lawn. Without a break or a tremor Prince Alert flashed by the three-quarter pole in 1.26 J. and, maintaining a great rate of speed, went under the wire in 1.51-w; “Referee.” . . *"■

Those who predicted that the Canterbury Jackey Club Spring Meeting would suffer through the Wellington R.C. Spring Meeting coming l>efore that gathering made a mistake. Ou the other hand, it may well be contended that the opposite was the ease. The Wellington Spring Meeting tended to work up the Interest in the big Southern fixture. Seeing a crowd in the vicinity of the watch tower or look-ont. placed at the turn for home In the Ellerslie straight, where some of the stewards of the A.R.C. took up their quartet's during each of the first and second days of the spring meeting. and noticing the little stand was fully occupied, someone asked. "Are they al! stewards down there?” "on, no.” remarked a wi£, "just a few stewards and their body guard.” Mr Ilenrys must have concluded that Canteen won the New Zealand Cup very easily when he asked that horse to carry 9.3 In the Metropolitan Handicap, or 201 b more than in the Cup. General Symons who w6n that event, however, was raised 81b over his handicap in the Cup. in which race he finished fifth, and was handicapped within Ulb of Canteen for the Jockey Club Handicap, over a mile. Nordenfeldt sires and Nordenfeldt mares are upholding the prestige of the defunct "bulldog.” as that sire was called. Cruciform. Wairlkl. and Nonette are from Nordenfeldt mares, while Achilles is by Medallion, son of Nordenfeldt. The name of Robinson Crusoe, full brother to The Onyx, dam of Nordenfeldt. has been prominent in the pedigrees of winners this season, both in New Zealand and Australia. That a son of old Vivandiero should win an important stake like the New Zealand Cup is due to that good old matron, who has been so prolific. Her first born. Sen of a Gun. got second in Manton’s year, just 15 years ago, in 1888, and he. like Canteen, was a fancy coloured one, a red roan, whereas Canteen is a grey. Several of Vivandiere’s progeny have competed, including Three Star and Tauhei, full brother and sister respectively to Canteen. Stepney, winner of the Te Aroha Handicap and Hack Handicap, and who finished second in the Maiden Plate the same day. was first known as Ding-Dong. He is a son of Stepniak and a Perkin Warbeck mare named Faith, whose only other foal to a thoroughbred horse was a useful gelding by Betrayer, known as Melton. Faith bred Ohio, * Kentucky Maud, Plodder, and other trotting race winners, but had the blood of Perkin Warbeck, Golden Grape, and Sleight of Hand in her veins. Asteroid, who ran second in the Hack Race to Roseal at the Wanganui Spring Meeting on the second day. and after finishing second in a minor event on the opening day of the Napier Park meeting beat Tradewind in the chief handicap on the second day. won the principal race at the Tarat ahi-Carterton meeting on Monday. Asteroid is a wiry little daughter of Apremont and Planet, by Castor from Victoria, who was a favourite in her time with Auckland racegoers. McCombe. who was disqualified by the Canterbury Jockey Club, is generally recognised as one of the best horsemen in the South Island, but has frequently incurred the displeasure of stewards at meetings. It is a pity, for he is old enough to set a good example to younger riders. During his career he has won numerous races, including the C.J.C. Derby. Canterbury Cup and Oaks, Otago Cup, Forbury and Dunedin J.C. Handicap each once, the Dunedin. Cup, Birthday Handicap and Timaru Cup twice, but until he won the New Zealand Cup on Canteen had never won that event before. Rosalind, the most prolific mare in the New Zealand Stud Book, holds an unequalled record, I should say. She is still alive. Was foaled in 1876. and is therefore twenty seven years old. Had her first foal at 4 years old in 1880. and her last in 1002. Roseal was her eighteenth foal, and a period of nineteen years has elapsed since Black Rose, her second born, won the Canterbury Derby. To breed two Derby winners at an interval of nineteen years is an

unhenrd of thing, so far as ray knowledge of stud Ikk»k and turf history goes. Can anyone give a parallel case, and mentiou another mare that has bred eleven colts and eight fillies, all of which, with one exception, have raced?” That is Rosalind's record. □ hat Treadmill should be defeated In the Canterbury Derby did dol appear to be accepted as probable at Riccarton ou Monday, judging by the support awarded to Sir Geo. Clifford’s colt; but thia colt has several times disappointed the public as well as caused them surprise, and Sea Lion’s Indifferent running after Wanganui, bis defeat by his staMe companion at Hawke’s Bay. led shrewd judges to regard Treadmill with suspicion, and be is evidently not the champion over a distance that so many anticipated he would prove, and the chances are he Is not by any means an every-day sort, though just when at his l»est be may prove a tough customer to dispose of. A few years ago England had a small invasion of American trainers and jockeys, and their methods were al! the rage. One by one they have either returned to their own side of the Atlantic, or migrated to the Continent. There are but few now left, and the number of trainers is to be further reduced by the departure of J. Huggins and W. Duke,’of whom the first-named is going back heme at the end of the season, with no present intention of returning, and the last has accepted a very large retainer to take charge of Mr Vanderbilt’s racing stud in I- ranee. An American exchange says:—“E. E. Smathers. who recently purchased Major Delmar, gave 40,000 dollars for him. This is said to be the highest price ever paid for a gelding. Smathera is one of New Yorks rich men with a taste for horse flesh. His agent bid for Lou Dillon when she was being sold at auction in the spring, but stopped when the 10.4JM) dollars mark was reached. 1 believe. Billings, the Chicago millionaire, bought her. aud felt more than repaid when she trotted a mile in two minutes. Smathers, no doubt, saw in Delmar a rival to game Lou Dillon, and that is why he gave big money for the gelding.” At th? N.Z. Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Meeting, which concluded on Friday, the large sum of £29,879 was invested on the totallsators during the three days, as against *£23,635 last year. This club Is much more prosperous man most racing institutions. Some splendid performances were recorded during the meeting. Mr J. A. Buckland's St. Simon, by St. Louis, won the Champion Handicap of 309sovs, two miles, in 4m 50s. paying a dividend of £2 18/. Vasco won the Irwell aud Swift Handicaps. paying dividends of £S 10/ aud £8 18 . Royal Money won the Innovation Handicap, Novice the Hornby Handicap. Verax the Sockburn Handicap, and old Monte Carlo the Final Handicap, in which he covered a mile in 2m 21 3-ss, and paid a dividend of £l2 14/. F. Macmancmin trained four winners of five races at the spring meeting of the Auckland Racing Club. They were his old favourite. Nonetto. Delania (who won twice). Marine and Sonoma, and the last pair finished second twice, in addition to winning. J. Gallagher trained Rose Ila, Beau Seaton, and Onewa. J. Thorpe Kilmarnock and Ropa: .J. B. Williamson Spalpeen (who won twice): while R. Hannon had Star (who wen twice): French turned out Gwenind and Austerlitz: and Mitchell, Wright, Smith. K. Heaton. Ring. Rae, Weal, and Munro each trained a whiner. In rhe Birthday Handicap at Ellerslie on Monday Mr Friedlander’s Ropa was asked to carry 11 lbs over his weight for age, while Nonette was awarded 81bs over scale we’ght. On public form it was making Ropa pretty good to make him out 31bs better than Mr Ryan’s horse. Idas had 31bs under her weight for age. and Bonheur. who has revet won a race, or really run one good race yet when form is analysed, was given 7.11. or 41bs over her scale weight, being thus assessed at within 41bs of as good as her brother. She did not ran. Guineas form was not good—not nearly so good as many people assumed; it was certainly very bad so far as everything that finished behind Ropa was concerned, and not much to boast of so far as he was

concerned. Racing on Monday disclosed these facts. Wairiki carried 7.12 when he the Birthday Handicap last year, after wiuniug the Guineas. Ropa, who is a gelding. was expected tt have a chance car-yiug 81b more, but failed badly. According to an exchange, the jockey George Odom will earn about 50 OOOdol. (£10,000) in America this gasoil. Captain Brown pays him a retaining fee of 12,000 dol. a year. This amount is increased by an additional fee of 2SdoL for winning, and lOdol. for losing mounts. Alex. Shields and E. R. Thomas have second call on his services for 5000dol. with the usual fees. If he wins any of the Important handicaps he is to receive 3000dol. for each event. His revenue from outside mounts will easily tot up 25,’MXMloL His earning* this season will exceed by 15.Q00d01. any of his rivals. The following description by an English writer of the famous Ally Pretty Polly.who recently add-sd the Middle Park Plate to her numerous victories, will interest sporting folk:—“Pretty Polly’s appearance is quite in accord with her performances. She is. Indeed, a l»eautiful Ally, massive and big everywhere, and yet with extraordinary quality. Probably the filly will always run big, but it must be understood that she has l*one enough to carry her big frame, and, as far as w? can judg»*. there is no fear of her breaking down. Her head is small and blood-like, and her forehand most graceful; while her quarters are of the massive order, and she carries a very big barrel. She is, however, beautifully turned, and is especially good from her croup to her hocks, and in looking at her it is hard to realise that she is only two years old. Most of the good Gallinul/s show their best form at about a mile aud a quarter.’’ It came as a surprise when it became known that Sir George Clifford’s three-year-old colt Treadmill defeated the Auckland colt Wairiki iu the Canterbury Cup, and people are now wondering how it came about. There are numerous suggestions, of course. One is that Wairiki had nothing to make a pace for him: another, that he got too big a doing in the N.Z. Cup. Others are that Treadmill was a long way better for his Derby race, and may not have fretted at the post as he did before that event. Others are of opinion that a change of riders may have altered matters, as Pine rode him in the Derby and McCluskey in the Canterbury Cup. Then there is another suggestion as to the difference in weights. These things cannot always be summed up by the book. In the N.Z. Cup Wairiki gave Rosea 1 v3lbs and beat, him over two miles in an extremely fast race. Roseal two days later beat Treadmill at level weights under a higher scale, in which men were riding both. In the Canterbury Cup, two miles and a quarter, which was not run at such a solid pace as the N.Z. Cup, Wairiki failed to give ±2lbs to Treadmill. Query: Was Treadmill himself when Rosea 1 beat him, or was he beaten for pace by that colt? After he won the St. Eeger very easily from several indifferent three-year-olds (none of the French horses ran. and Zinfandel was not entered), says “Terlinga" in the “Australasian,” admirers of Rock Sand were confident that he would beat Sceptre in the Jockey Club Stakes. They argued that Rock Sand was not himself when Ard Patrick and Sceptre beat him in the Eclipse Stakes, and that in the final Ten Thousand Pounder Sceptre would have to allow Rock Sand a special breeding allowance of 91b, as well as ordinary weight for age. Well, the race for th° Jockey Club Stakes took place on October 1. and the details arc given in the “Asian.” Sceptre carried 10.0 to Rock Sands’ 8.10. and the cabled report says she won in a canter by four lengths. The betting was very close, 5 to 4 being laid on Rock Sand, and 11 to 10 taken about Sceptre. It is very plain now that Sceptre and Ard Patrick are :» long way ahead of this season’s three-year-olds, and although the best of his year—excepting, perhaps. Zinfpndel— Rock Sand cannot be a wonder. I see by the same “Asian” that Kano, by Trenton, was only beaten a head in the Prince Edward Handicap, of £2OOO, run on September 26. Kano just previously won the Royal Borough Handicap of £SOO at Ayr. There may yet be time for Trenton to sire a good horse in England, but so far his

career in the Old Country has been very dtea An experiment of more than ordinary Interest has been In course of development in the United States during the last four or five years, says an exchange. This consists in nothing less than speyiftg fillies to see if their racing capabilities can be improved. Three fillies in Messrs Clay and Wuodford’s Runnymedc stud have been unsexed. and they have shown up to good advantage on the turf. A number of pro tnineut breeders are so impressed with the apparent success of the experiment that they are having tLeir filly foals operated upon. It is also claimed that the form is rendered much more consistent than that of others of the same sex. but entire, and It is thought That the operation will bring the unsexed animals on a racing equalitv with colts. However, the object, if it has something to commend itself to the racing man. has much t«» condemn its application in the interests of a country. In this connection I may add that a breeder in New Zealand operated on a number of fillies a few years ago. and they all diet? rhe risk is always one that owners will not care to undertake. and veterinarians cannot always be found tv act. The following story is toM iu a Queenslaud paper: - XX. have a!! heai.l of horses and jockeys being 'tied up.’ but it is a de elded novelty to liud that even puuters can be blocked from •trying,' ] t happened this " i,y ?? a po!,v ln -'ting once bekl on Charters Towers. A pony named, say. Afandvhn. was known to be a certainty whenever lie spun, and the gratification of half adozeii of the leading punters was great when the director uf Mandolin, a penriller by the way. approached them each under the seal of strict seereev an.l remarked: Mandolins m two races on Saturday; he's oead iu the •'.rot. aud wi.i win th.- second- **’ him go in the first, hut bung it in quick in the second when I nod: here’* a fiver, put it < n < r n - and have ? bit o:i yourself. Mandolin appeared in the first r-iee and. cio-nim- a: *1 to 4. was «tcadilv backed down t•> •; to 4 on. Not bv the nunt?*“» though: they backed ‘the next best.’ and smiled as reflected her.- *thc mugs’ were •failing in’ over Mandolin. At length th* ponies faced the starter, .-ml Mandolin led from end to end. Iho •director* collected about a cc-ntur/ from the books, scratched Aland <:■; .mptif.»r rhe second event, and then wonr round to lii-s commissioner fi tends for the return of his fivers. ‘You re .• beautifi ’ take-down.* th°y indignantly remarked. ‘!»on’t bo cross.’ he coolly replied: ‘if 1 hadn’t tied yon punters up I couldn’t have g .t a tenner about him; i’ grieved me, but it had to bo dene.’ ” The appearance of Nonet re at th- post for the A.R.<’. Birthday Handicap mast have surprised mow people after the reports published a week before to the effect that signs of soreness were present in his case. This was perfectly true, and much regret was generally expressed at the nows, but his condition was not so serious as to cause him to bo stopped in his work altogether, and as a matter of fart I mentioned that he was still being worked on rhe tan. 1 confess I did not think for a moment that he would bo a starter at the A.R.C. meet ing. bur rain fell during the early hours of Monday morning, and took The sting out of rhe ground, and the gallant chestnut was sent, to the post wearing a bandage on the foreleg that caused his reii:— nr nf just a year ago. 11. started well backed, but there were <• vc*\»i ih.i. carried more money. What a good one can do under unfavourable conditions when opposed to Weak opposition was never bett r exemplified. for he simply wore them all down one by one. and received a great ovation when h•* returned to scale, a cheer being also given for Mark Ryan, his rider; and I fancy most people were pleased to see his owner. Mr J. T. Ryan, have a turn of hi- k. Nonet to Trotted lam • when pulled up and returning to scale. People may question the policy of running him. but with the chance of the ground continuing to bn hard up to the midsummer meeting of the A.R.C. it was well to tak? the risk as matters turned out. for such an easy task may not be presented later on in the season, when the cracks are assembled at the headquarters of racing iu th? North Island. Th • victory of Nonette goes tc show how mediocre the lot we hara at Ellerslie are.

Circumstance* alter runes any* ••Martindale'* In the “Town and <'«.uutry Journal. ’’ Had Sweet Nell won the Derby, Dewis was t* have been presented with a goldmounted whip by Miss Nellie Stewart at the Princes* Theatre. This would no doubt have been done before the audience with the lights nil on. Sweet Nell did nut, however, win, and the presentation was made In private In & room In the theatre by the popular actress, who, in doing so, said to Richardson, that she admired the way in which he had always ridden to win—never doing anything else. Straight going was the only royal road to tmccess. Boys and girls had many temptations. “Yen. In your tailing,’’ continued Miss Stewart, “are subject to them; hut these arc the occasions when you should most of all resolve to keep straight. Doing right paid best in the long run.” After a glass of wine, Sir Rupert Clark said to Richardson: “Remember Miss Slewart’s words. Ride to win evdry time; ride fairly, and always to reach the post first.” “Y s, sir,” said the jockey, and in response to a question from an actress who had backed Sw< et Nell- they all did for the Derby—“ Why didn't you let. Sweet Nell catch you up?” sc. id. “Because I had to follow my instructions, and did.” The disqualifications Imposed by the Canterbury Jockey Club on the jockeys McCoomb and Cameron, whose riding in the New Zealand Cup was called in question, are the subject of some discussion amongst follower* of racing. The stewards of race meetings are endowed with much discretionary power under the rules. Under Rule 14 they have power to punish at their discretion any jockey subject to their control, with line or suspension from riding, and under rule 92 it is provided that if in running for any race one horse shall jostle .or cross another, su«-b horse, and every horse belonging to the same owner, or in which he shall have a share, running in the same race, may be disqualified from winning the race, whether such jostle or cross happened by the swerving of the horse or by foul and careless riding of the jockey, or otherwise, and when one horse crosses the track ef another, it may be disqualified unless it be two clear lengths or more before the horse whose track it crosses, and if such cross or jostle shall be proved to have happened through the foul riding of the jockey, he shall be subject to such punishment as the stewards may think fit to inflict. Evidently the stewards of the Canterbury Jockey Club had evidence which satisfied them that the riding of McCombe was intentionally wrong, and that Cameron was also at fault, and it is satisfactory i< know that they did not •consider the result of the race had been affected, and consequently saw no reason to deprive the owner of the horse that finished in front from receiving the stake. At one time a cross,whether by accident or fey design, meant disqualification to horse and rider, hut this was going too far, for rules should never be framed which will permit of a manifest injustice being dune to ar. owner. Where, in the opinion of the *lewards, the result <»f a race has not been affected, even though it were made clear -to them the jockey had intended it should be, an owner should jw»t be made to suffer for the sin of his servant, though the servant very properly should be punished. Home owners there are who are not particular if their riders take unfair advantages of others, so long as they win. but the number of such let us hope is few’, while it is certain that we have many owners who would never countenance such conduct. and would be the first to have ditch riders punished. Foul riding must be put a stop to. We are told that McCombe intends appealing against the action of the <?iub. It may not be a fact that he rode in contravention of the rules, and be may have the right to appeal, but if the evidence establishes that his acts during the race were in transgressing them, the stewards have not exceeded their powers, and an appeal would be of no avail. The following, on Derby and Cup winners at the stud, is from the “Australasian”:—•■The owner of Archer, who won the first Melbourne Cup, is still hale and hearty, but very few of the actors, human or equine, in that race are above the earth. None of those early (.’up winners did much <?ood at the stud. Archer’s name has quite chopped out, and The Barb and Tim Whif-

(icr. who had good chances, must be classed failures. The best stallion among the winwen: of the Melbourne Cup was Chester, who got ra/'di-Tscs y«-ar after year, and in one season had such colts as Abercorn, Carlyon. and Cranbrook running for him. Str inge to ray, none of Chester’s sons approached him In value as a sire, and that this would l*e so is a T. B. Merry prophecy that has been fulfilled. XVe were under the impression that this tip was a happy effort on the part of the author of ’Breeding by the Figure System? but on looking the matter up wo found the prophecy was made in one of ‘Hidalgo’s’ letters to ‘The Australasian.’ A successful tip was given by Bruce Lowe when he wrote that Malua was not unlikely to turn out a better sire than St. Albans, bls father. St. Albans got two or three batches of good horses in Tasmania. In Victoria, even though some of his successful mates were sent over to him, he was not nearly the success his son was. Shoot Anchor, a near relative of Malua’s, was a Melbourne Cup winner, who did well during his brief life at the stud. MartiniHenry and The Assyrian got a number of winners, but nothing great, Grand Flaneur sired two winners of the big race in Patron and Bravo; but, next to Chester, we suppose, Carbine was the greatest stud success of all the horses who have followed Archer as Cup winners. His stuiL career has been patchy, perhaps, and h<f cannot be said to have been an unqualified success in England; but La Carabine, Wallace, and Amberite stand to his credit in Australia, and Wallace is doing famously for him at the stud. Panic and Trenton could only run si’cond for the Cup, but they did wonders at the stud afterwards. Dagworth, who was placed twice, did nut live to get an opportunity tv assist in carrying on the grand old Ya t tendon line. Richmond, the second to Wollomai in 1875. is known as much for the prowess of his stock as for his own deeds on the turf. Progress, the second to Grand Flaneur in this and other races, was a failure in after life. Commotion, the grand old warrior of his time—he was second and third under very heavy weights—was crippled in a race, and his stud career was bri *f. Golds bro ugh, third under a big weight, was probably the best sire of marcs we have had, and will always be remembered as the father of Frailty. His name will never drop out of the 'Australian Stud Book.' Sweetmeat was a good horse, twice placed in a Melbourne Cup, who is seldom mentioned now, and there are plenty of other good performers in connection with the rare who did not achieve distinction at the stud. Many of them, no doubt, had very little chance. They had •not the good fortune to get opportunities. Mr W. McCulloch, who is naturally proud of his importation. Pilgrim's Progress, still thinks he would have done much better if it had been his luck to belong to Mr W. R. Wilson. The contention is sound. From 1872 there was never a year that some good ones did not come from St. Albans. It was a wonderful place for rearing racehorses, and never better than at the time it was sold, and lost to Victoria as a stud farm. A Derby winner who missed the Melbourne Cup was Fireworks. He turned out a firstclass sire, and so did Angler, the sire of Robinson Crusoe. Lapidist is only remembered now through bis daughter Ruby. Wellington did well, and so did Da rebln, but Navigator and Trident will only be looked back to as racehorses. Nordeufeldt did so well in New Zealand at the stud that Mr Hordern gave 5690 guineas for him, and had the bad luck (if Mr Hordern can be said to be. capable of having bad luck) to find him a comparative failure in Australia. Dreadnought, with the best opportunities, was not an unqualified success in New Zealand, and Strathmore got so few foals that be was not judged worth keeping. Camoola killed himself in a wire fence before he had much chance of doing his share towards disproving the Bruce Low’ theory that members of the 9 family do not make sires. Carnage is buried (as far as we are concerned) in Germany, and Newhaven is not getting much chance in England, because he aiiff his stock are barred from the ‘Stud Book.’ The Derby winners after this cannot be pronounced upon yet. As far as Australia goes, the Derby and Melbourne Cup are unsurpassed as tests of the merits of our racehorses. We can only look back to one, or perhaps two, Derby winners and say they were bad. Occasionally a Toryboy

may win the Melbourne Cup, but very seldom. The niout sV'cesttful breeder uf recent times would never breed from a horse that had nut proved hinaaelf first-class, and we think we have shown that a large percentage uf Moraes that have distinguished themselves in the ‘Derby and Cup' (it was ‘Cup and Derby’ in the old days) have kept up their reputation on going to the stud. Others have only failed for the lark of opportunity.” The following are the winning payments made Id connection with the A.R.C. spring meeting:— Mr H. Friedlander—lst Guineas, £425: 2nd Welcome, £35; Ist Mus* ket. £165; 2nd Musket, £25; 2nd Maiden Hurdles, £10; 2nd Nursery, £lO £670 Messrs L. D. and N. A. Nathan—--Ist Welcome, £200; Ist Maiden, £9O; Ist Ascot, £2OO 499 Mr J. T. Ryan—2nd Guineas, £SO; Ist Birthday. £335 385 Mr Geo. Wright—lst City 250 Mr W. L. Thomson—lst Shorts, £9O; Ist Flying. £9O; 2nd Epsom, £lO.. 190 Mr L. Marshall —Ist Manukau Hurdles. £9O; Ist Penrose Hurdles, £9»>: 2nd (dead heat) Publicans’, £5 185 Mr F. W. Arnold—lst Nursery, £9O; Ist Publicans’, £9O 180 Mr F. L. Armitage—lst Onehunga Steeplechase, £115; 2nd Harkaway Steeplechase, £lO 125 Mr L. Coleman—2nd Onehunga Steeplechase, £25; Ist Harkaway Steeplechase, £9O 115 Mr N. Banks—lst Hunt Cup St< eplechase. £6O; Ist Hunt Hurdles. £4O 100 Mr T. Wytie—2nd Pony, £ls; Ist Pony. £BO 95 Mr W. C. Ring—lst Spring 90 Mr H. Weal —Ist Maiden Hurdles.. 90 Mr T. G. Bray—lst Welter 90 Mr J. McGuire—lst President's 90 Messrs Kae and Muir —Ist Epsom.. 90 Mr A. Hansen —lst Pony. £cu; 3rd Pony, £5 85 Mr T. McKay—2nd Birthday, £SO; 3rd Ascot. £ls 65 Mr E. J. Rae—3rd City. £10; 2nd Ascot, £35 45 Mr J. Harrison—2nd City 40 Mr J. Hasel—3rd Welcome, £ls; 3rd Birthday. £ls 80 Mr G. Marshall—2nd President’s, £1O; 2nd Maiden, £10; 2nd Welter, £lO 30 Mr T. W. Armitage—3rd Guineas. x 25 Mr J. McCracken—2nd Manukau Hurdles, £10; 2nd Penrose Hurdles, £10.... 20 Mr M. J. Whitelaw—2nd Pony 15 Mr R. Hannon —2nd Shorts, £10; 3rd Pony, £5 15 Mr A. McMillan —3rd Onehunga Steeplechase 10 Mr Wm. Lovett—2nd Spring 10 Mr Ernest Alison—3rd Musket 10 Mr Bullock-Webster —2nd Hunt Cup Steeplechase 10 Mr A. Hughes—2nd Flying 10 Mr E. Muir—2nd Hunt Hurdles.... 10 Mr W. Ryan—Dead heat for 2nd Publicans’ 5 Total £3.670 © ® ® AUCKLAND RACING CLUB’S SPRING MEETING. THIRD DAY. Wet weather was experienced for the eonelnding day of the Auckland Racing Club’s spring meeting. showers falling throughout the morning, and preventing many from attending, consequently public patronage was not up to the average at spring meetings held at Ellerslie. The business commenced with the Maiden Hurdle Race, for which Vai Rosa was a better favourite than any other of the four runners. It was a slow run race, and Crespin and Vai Rosa drew right away from the others, Coma having stopped at the back of the course. Vai Rosa looked all over a winner a chain from the winning post, where he caught Crespin, but Howard made the mistake of stopping

his exertions, aud Crespin. vigorously ridden, beat him on the post. Howard \us called before the stewards, and the stewards accepted his explanation that the horse unexpectedly stopped with him. Vai Rosa has the reputation of being a weak finisher, aud it was probably this that influenced the stewards in overlooking the slip. The Hunt Club Cup was contested by a field of four, the ancient Mangere being one of the runners, aud be was racing well to the double the second time round, when he struck heavily and lost his position, from which point he was beaten. Star waited on Riot aud Boxer until coming down the hill the last time, and then headed the pair, and won with something in hand by ten lengths. Nonette was made a better favourite than Putty for the Ascot Handicap, but the race proved a good thing for Resells, who came at the turn for home, and from thence out had matters her own way. Nonette ran well to the distance, but was not ridden out from that stage, or might possibly have finished in second place. The Needle, who fell on the second day in the City Handicap, and Putty, who was interfered with in that race, filled the second and third places. There was a demonstration against Ilosella as she returned to scale. Weight of money was behind Mr H. Friedlander’s combination. Kilmarnock and Bigin, in the Nursery Handicap, the next best supported being Walrakau, Romola and Promotion. Brigadier’s daughter Gweniad, iu receipt of 301 b from Kilmarnock, never gave that colt or anything else a look iu after the first half furlong was traversed, and won nearly all out by quite two lengths from Kilmarnock, Promotion, Conclusion, and Itomola being close up. After an interesting race Dingo got home in the Harkaway Steeplechase from Marine with little to spare, but Nor’-west was running prominently, and would no doubt have finished bandy, when he slipped and fell at the foot of the hill. Had Cordon Rouge not swerved at the distance, inste ad of making a dead heat for second place in the Publicans’ Handicap, with Cygnet, he might have finished on terms with Austerlitz, the winner of that event. He started a strong favourite. There were seventen ruunrs in the Welter Handicap, for which Bastion was made a decided favourite; Bonheur, Maro and St. Olga being the only other three that carried investments running into three figures. The pony Annyode was in front all the way, and though Geo idle tired hard to catch her. and ran gamely enough, he failed. Lady Bell finished strongly, and got within a neck of Geordic, who was a length behind the winner, who had no more to spare. The fine dividends of £24 13/ and £6 2/ were returned. Lady Bell would have returned nearly double the last named amount had she squeezed into second place. Tip and Major were the most fancied of the Hunt Club Hurdles candidates, but Tip fell early, and Major was beaten in the home stretch by Star, who had a certain amount of luck on his side, as Khama appeared to have a chance of footing it home with him when he fell at the last obstacle. The sum of £7540 was handled at the totalisators, as against £615, showing a decrease on the corresponding day of last year of £925, the grand total for the three days reaching £25,557, as against £24,817 last year, the total increase being £740. MAIDEN HURDLES of lOOsovs, second horse lOsovs out of stake. Seven flights of hurdles. Over a mile and threequarters. 90—Mr H. Weal’s b g Crespin. aged, by Regel—Tamora, 10.6 (Fergus) 1 135--Mr H. Friedlander’s br h Vai Rosa, 6yrs, by Seaton Delaval— Vieux Rose, 10.10 (Howard) 2 131—Messrs Colbeck and Williamson’s br g Irish, 4yrs, by Eton— Asthore, 9.7 (Burns) 3 Also started: 45 Tuni, 42 Coma, 29 Pukerimu. Tuni led Crespin half the journey, Crespin going to the front all down the track. Over the last hurdle Vai Rosa, under pressure, caught him and was nearly a length in front when the field was approaching the judge’s box. Howard, however, relaxed his efforts, and Vai Rosa slackened down, Crespin snatching victory by a short head. Time, 3.32. Dividends, £4 14/6.

HUNT CLUB HANDICAP of TObots, Three and a half miles. 61 Mr Norman Banka’ br g Star, by Fabulous, 11.7 (A. C. Selby) 1 *0 —Mr Bullock Webster's b g Blot, 12.7 (Gordon) 2 49—Mr F. D. Selby's b g Boxer, 11.0 (Owner) 3 Also ran: 42 Mangere, 11.7. Flower of Gold and Perseverance were scratched. Star and Mangere led for three parts of the run, when Blot and Boxer went to the front, Star waiting on them until going roand the bill for the last time, when he came to the front, and won by ten lengths from Riot, who beat Boxer by four lengths. Time, 8.535. Dividend, £3 8/. ASCOT HANDICAP of 25Osovs. second horse 25sovs, and third losovs out of the stake. For three year-olds and upwards. Over a mile and a quarter. 210—Messrs L. D. and N. A. Nathan's eh m Rosella, aged, by Seaton Delaval—Hole, 8.5 (Gallagher).... 1 loti- Mr E. J. Rae's b g The Neialle, aged, by Brigadier—Dressmaker, 7.12 (Bird) 2 297 —Mr T. McKay's eh g Putty, syrs. by St. Leger—Ellerslie, 8.0 (Julian) 3 Also started: 351 Nonette. 204 Dolores, 05 St. Olga, 62 Jewellery. 110 Soultflsh. Jewellery, Dolores and St. Olga went to the front from the start, and at the seventh furlong St. Olga led Dolores and The Needle, Rosella, Nonette and I’utty bringing up the rear. In that order they ran along the back of the track. St. Olga led into the straight, with Jewellery Ip the second place, and Rosella closing up. In the home run Rosella won easily by three lengths from The Needle, Nonette being close up to Putty. Time, 2.18. Dividends, £4 14/6 and £2 2/6. ■NURSERY HANDICAP of lOOsovs. Four furlong*?. 89-F. IV. Arnold's br f Gweniad, by Brigadier - Gwendoline, 2yrs, 7.8 IGraj’l 1 204—H Friedlander's blk e Kilmarnock, by Simmer—Kilmorey, 9.10 (Speakman 2 124 —J. Warner’s b c Promotion, by Soult - Princess Alice, 6.10 (Cress) .... 3 Also ran:—Romola, 8.2 (Deely); 151, Walrakau, 8.0 (Lindsay); 13, Rambler, 8.0 (Bird;; 13, E'.iin, 8.0 (Dixon); 76, Love Link, 8.0 (Julian); 87, Conclusion, 7.12 (Satman); 16. Vaimaugu, 7.10 (Cotton); 21, Cabaret, 7.10 (Barr); 31, Grenade, 7.0 (Rae). Love Link was first to move from a good Start, but Gweniad shot to the front and led into the straight by three lengths, and keeping close to the rails won by two lengths from Kilmarnock, who beat Promotion half a length for third place. Conclusion and Romola being right up fourth and fifth. Ttae. 52 3-5. Dividends. £7 6/6 and <l. Kilmarnock and Eljin were coupled. HARKAWAY STEEPLECHASE of lOOsovs. About 3 miles. 103—L. Coleman’s ch L Dingo, by Sou’wester —Betty, aged, 10.5 (Noble) 1 75--F. L. Armitage’s b g Marine, by Cruiser, aged, 11.2 (Wilson) 2 59- A. McMillan's br g The Pullack, by Strenuous —Olga, aged,lo.2 (Butler) 3 Also ran: 158, Nor’-west, 11.11 (Fergus); 9, Polly, 9.7 (Stokes). Dingo and Polij went to the front, and going a’ong at a good pace led Nor'-west, The Pullack, and Marine along the back and over the hill, where Nor’-west took command; and he and Dingo were together ever the water, Polly being third; but at the atone wall she swerved jumping the wing and losing her place, The Pullack going on third, Marine next. In this order they went to the hill, where Marine closed on the leading pair and joined them at the top fence, and Marine came down the hill with Dingo, Nor -west slipping and dislodging bls rider. A good race home resulted in Dingo winning by two lengths. The Pullack easing up third, Polly also easing up fourth. Time, 6.37. Dividend, £3 10/6. PUBLICANS’ HANDICAP of lOOsovs. Six furlongs. 62—F. W. Arnolds i> n Austerlitz, by Soult- - Sappho, 4 yrs, 8.4 (Taylor) 1 109—L. Marshall’s br f Cygnet, by Cydnus—lrma, 4yrs, 8.7 (Julian) .... t 409—W. Ryan’s blk c Cordon Rouge, by Soult—Lady Emmeline, 3yrs, 8.3 (Lindsay) ~ t

Also ran: 104, Marshal Soult, 8.10 (O’Connolo; 1.38, \4aipuua, 8.2 (Bird); 112, Orange and Blue, 7.9 (Barr); 108, Camille, 7.7 (Cotton); 22. The Middy, 7.0 (batman); 78, Glasgow, 7.U (Cress); 47, Merry Suuit, 6.10 (Deely); 32, Mary Seaton, 6.7 (Pinker); 24, Bf nuiuiana, 6.7 (Dickson).

The Middy led Glasgow and Cygnet after they had sillied into their strides, and continued in trout til! half-way up the straight, when he was passed by cygnet and then by Cordon Rouge, who led at the distance but swerved right across the course. Austerlitz with a late run shot through and won by two lengths, Cygnet and Cordon Rouge dead-heating i n second, Camiiie close up fourth. Time, 1.20. Dividends, £l3 11/, £1 5/6, and 6/6. WELTER HANDICAP of lOOsovs, one mile. 85—T. G. Bray’s b m Annoyed, by Reg«*l —Torment, syrs, 8.6 (Cress) 1 47— G. Marshall's br h Geordie, by Seaton Delaval —Casablanca, 4yrs, 9.7 (Heaps) 2 28—J. McCracken’s br m Lady Bell, by Bebel—Cocksure mare, aged, 9.0 (Jeliings) 3 Also start<‘d: (120) Miss Lottie, 9.10 (Ring); (113) St. Olga, 9.10 (Chaab); (133) Maro, 9.9 (George); (141) Bonheur, 9.8 (Ryan); (59) Despatch, 9.4 (Barr); (43) Defender, 9.4 (Snodgrass); (34) Lavadel, 8.11 (Speakman); (33) Maroon and Goid, 8.11) (Wilson); (95) The Doctor, 8.3 (Deeley); (25) Jack Brown, 8.0 (Mooney); (202) Bastion, 8.0 (Smith); (2G) Bialrcarrig, 8.0 (Porter); (39) Cavalry, 8.0 (Taylor); (16) Redeemed 8.0 (Stewart). Annoyed, St. Olga, Miss Lottie and Geordie was the order as they ran along the back and over the cutting, where Geordie got into second place, and Miss Lottie, Bastion, and Despatch were most prominent of the others. Annoyed led all up the straight, and ridden right out, beat Geordie by less than a length, a neck away coming Lady Bell, who finished fast, Despatch heading the rest of the field, which was strung out. Time, 1.485. Dividends, £24 13/ and £6 2/. HUNT CLUB HURDLES of 50sovs. Two miles. 65—N. Banks’ br g Star, by Fabulous —Unknown, 6yrs, 11.5 (A. C. Selby) 1 105—E. Muir's b g Major, by Flintlock —Unknown, aged, 11.9 (Parker).. 2 92—J. Hannon’s br g Fencer, by Grapeshot—Vivat, aged, 11.10 (G. Paul) 3 Also started: (89) Khama. 11.10 (Crowther); (130) Tip, 11.10 (Tonks): (46) Lockard, 10.0 (Deeblp); (11) Cyclone, 10.0 (F. Selby). Fencer, Major and Tip cut out the work, the last named falling before entering the straight, Fencer, Major and Lockard passing the stands, and going out of the straight in the order named. Khama and Star closing up. Going through the cutting Khama went up to Major, and Fencer fell back beaten, and Star drew on the leaders. At the turn for homo, Khama headed Major( and Star got on terms with Khama, who fell at the last hurdle, Star winning by four lengths from Major. Fencer a long way off, third. Time. 4.12 J. Dividends, £5 11/6 and £1 3/. ® ® ® C.J.C. SPRING MEETING. CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. Racing was coirtirned yesterday at Riccarton in glorious weather and in the presence of a large attendance. The racing was of ar> interesting character. A field of 10 for a hurdle race was something of a novelty at Riccarton, and the race provided ar excellent contest and a good medium for spe uiation. Catherine Gordon was the absolnt? favourite, and she won by a narrow margin at the finish, after Slow Tom had made a : l the running. The latter, who is short of work, failed to see the journey out. Roller, who was sweating profusely, finished well and ran into third place. Scottish Minstrel, who was well backed, ran hopelessly badly, and Smithy telso performed indifferently. The Nursery Handicap brought another fine field to the post, but Mr Stead’s representative, Silkworm (by Seaton Delaval— Moth), again spoilt the betting. The colt

made no mistake, being first Into the straight, and won very easily at the finish from Ansa aud Alb uf era. Forest Ranger ran well of the others. Thia made the 1 aidhurst stable’s fifth win out uf elx starts. The whole 18 on the earn faced the starter for the Avon Welter, Roscommon (who usd Hewitt s ae.*’Jces». I ivori-i, and Juniper being best backed. Muskburn set a very Bond pace fauni the jump, and was 10 lengths out I y bimselt after running three furlongs, but in the ru.i home he tired to nothing, and D.'iu-Djiu Goid Crown, and Livonia, who were always in the leading division, fungal out the finish. The old son of Dudu, who was suited by the going, won comfortably by a length. Juniper and Roscommon both ran well, but Count of Ivnm.ir's per* • mance was no* Bandmaster failed to run up to his parly’s expectations.

AU acceptors again started in the Jockey Chib Handicap. Watt s bracket, Float and Melodeon, being the popular I'an. y. The race needs little description, for at the end of a furlong Red Gauntlet was in front, a position which he had no dilliculty whatever in nnuntaiiiing to the finish, Float running second, whilst the consistent Canute Chiel tilled third £ .ace. The Dunedin horse galloped very differently to his previous displays at the meeting, and ran a must impressive nine with the greatest ease in 1.4 U. Float ran well, but the held were quite carried off th ir legs by the Dunedin sprinter. The Canterbury Cup was generally voted to be a good thing for Wairiki, and collateral form pointed strongly in this direction. Treadmill was not without his admirers, but Mars was almost friendless. In the race itself Treadmill made all the ruuning, but the favourite was never further than a length away. Mars was in hopeless trouble after running a mile and a quarter, and the ether two came on together to the straight. TicadmiU was actually first into the run home, but Wairiki came at him, and a great finish home found the lightweight outstay ing the favourite and winning all out by a length. The win was a very popular one, and the horse and his connections were accorded a royal reception on v< turning to scale. Time, B. 50&. Dividend, £3 8/. The Oaks produced anothsr pretty contest, Gladsome winning handily at the finish from Idea and giving Holmes his first winning mount since his disqualification. Bugpipes was favourite, but Mr Stead’s representative failed to stay the journey out. Idea was i •actions at the post, but ran a good race, j»nd is evidently more than useful. Brave Heart, Sir Geo. Clifford’s filly, is another taking one, but is hardly ready yet lor a strorg mile and a-half. The time recorded w.°s 3-5. Dividend, £3 2/6. Whuesile scratchings reduced the Electric Plate to r field of four, and Mr Stead's two fiyiug ma chines monopolised the betting. They never left the issue in the faintest dmiht. Golden Lily running home a comfortable winner by four lengths in front of hk stable companion. Time, 49 2-5. Dividend £1 2/. In the Ashley Handicap, with which tjie day's proceedings closed, St. Denis and Westguard divided favouritism, but, favoured by a light weight, and with the services of Hewitt, Blazer made no race of it at the bvsluess end of the journey The victory of the old sprinter was well received. Time, 1.6 1-5. Dividends, £7 6/ and £1 6/6. CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. The C.J.C. meeting was brought to a close to-day in dull weather. The attendance was only fair. The going, after a night’s rain, was a little slow, but the racing was of an interesting nature. Proceedings opened with the Port Cooper Hurdle Race, for which Defiance was made favourite for some unknown reason, Slow Tom, Wonderful and Smithy being next in demand. It was a good race to the last fence, where four at five of the nine starters all appeared to have a chance. Defiance came to his knees after jumping the

last fence, and Scottish Minstrel, who ran more kindly than on the third day, drew out on the flat aud won with very little to spare from Catherine Gurdon, ‘who beat Wonderful by the shortest of heads for second place. In the Creasy Welter, Westguard and Gold Crown were the popular fancies, but in the race Itself Hewitt took Lee-Enfield to the front, and was out by himself all the way. Crown Imperial began well, but faded right out of the contest at the turn into the straight. There was a great finish for second place between Ths Mohican, Bandmaster and Westguard, heads only separating them In that order. Blazer and Livonia ran well, but Gold Crown was never prominent. Ailsa on paper looked the best of good things for the Pioneer Handicap, but Malakoff was also well backed, though it was difficult to see how he could have a chance on his previous running. The start was a straggling one. Malakoff and Prince Loris were first Into the straight proper, but both died away in the run home, and Alisa falling tu see it out, Zetland, an Ashburton-bred filly, by Obligate—Lady Zetland, just, beat Forest Ranger. Dividends. £8 7/6 and £3 18/.

The Jubilee Cup was reduced to the semblance of a match between Achilles and Rod Gauntlet, but the Porirua champion won with ridiculous ease at the finish. The stable has now won the event three years ou of the four during which it has been contested. Time, 1.44. Dividend, £1 0/6.

Favoured by her light weight Idea got well away in the Ranfurly Handicap, and stopped there to the finish. Her forward running In the Oaks brought her some friends, but she was considerably down Ip the betting. Vetrovna was favourite, antf ran well, but could not catch the light weight. Ghoorka, with Hewitt up, just struggled into second place in the front of Petrovna. Canteen was very fractious at the post, and was ultimately left, taking no part iu the race. Dividends, £7 7/ and £1 10/. The Randolph Handicap provided th? best race of the meeting. Machine Gun, despite his heavy impost, was made favour ite, but Gold Spur was out in the van at the turn into the straight proper, with Red Gauntlet handy. The three came on together from opposite the stand, and in the last stride Machine Gun just shot out far enough to win by half a head from Rod Gauntlet. Gold Spur a head away third. Red Gauniet’s rider broke a stirrup, and but tor this mishap the Dunedin colt would probably have won. Time, 1.20. Dividends, £1 17/ and £2 9/6. Ordnance won the selling race, the Seymour Handicap, fairly comfortably. The Fendalton Handicap was reduced, so far as betting was concerned, to a match between Cannie Chfe! and Rosea 1. but the latter was never prominent, save momentarily when turning for home. Cannie Chiel (with Dewitt up) was out in front, and won easily ail the way. The two Dunedir. representatives, Sychem and Juniper, ran well, and filled second and third places Wairiki was a starter, but was never prominent in the race. Time, 2.10 1-5. Dividends, £3 15/6 and £8 8/6. © © © OTAHUHU TROTTING CLUB’S SPRING MEETING. The Otahuhu Trotting Club opened the trotting season on Saturday at Alexandra Park. There was a good attendance, and a capital afternoons sport was provided,; the lacing on the whole being very interesting and the track in first class orden« The newly appointed secretary, Mr Fred. Yonge, proved himself the right man !•» the right place, and deserves a word of praise for the successful manner in which the general arrangements were carried out. Mr George Cutts, starter, got his fields' away in good time, and the public were able to return home at a reasonable hour. Speculation was fairly brisk throughout the day, the sum of £2330 10/ being passed through the machine, being £lOBB 10/ in excess of the amount handled on the open-

lax day last year, when there was oue race leas. Red Leaf, Le Rosier aud Black Diamond finished in the order named iu the Maiden Trot, the other starters beiug Nat Gould. Carbolic, Adelaide, Kiteonetea, AlbertorfowM, Cleve and Miss Vola, and the dividends, £1 9/ and 9/. The Suburban Trot was won by Imperator, with Belladonna second and Sir Robert third. Little Ben and Snip also starting. The dividend was £2 14/. Annoyed beat Lady Lottie, Orange and Bine, Sentinel. Little Mal»el, and Freda in the Spring Pony ilandlcao. the dividends being 16/ on each the tirlv and second ponies. Le Rosier. Mctoreaa, and Folly 11. filled the places in the Harness Trot, the dividends being 15/ and 14/ respectively on Le Rosier and Mooress. The other starters were Lusitania, Hamid Abdallah. and Miss Huon. The Pony Trot fell to Miss Munro, who paid a dividend of 18/, Eric being second. Seacole third, and Nell <Jwynne, the only other starter, last. Miss Huon won the Electric Trot, beating Mabel. Talhoa, Nat Gould. Miss Munro and St. John, the dividends being £2 11/ and 11/. In the Tramway Handicap Solitary returned her supporters a dividend of £6 3/. while Sentinel and Garnet, who ran a dead heat for second place, paid 19/ and 12/ rcpectively. Orange and Blue, Lady Lottie, Cuisine, and Sonltbnsb also tan. Typewriter won the November Handicap, beating Waitekauri. Colenso, Duke <’., Rushlight, Empress. Sir Robert. and Baxter being the other runners. Typewriter paid a dividend of £2 6’. and Waitekauri £1 16/. The meeting will be concluded on Wednesday. ® ® ® TAKAPI NA JOCKEY CLUB. The following handicaps have boon declared by Mr Knight:— Maiden Hurdles of TOsovs, distance. It miles and 100 yards.—Vai Rosa 11.5. Crespin 11.1. Perseverance 10.7. Tahae 10.3, Tuui 9.12, Pullaek 9.10. Coma 9.7, Major 9.5. Pulling Billy 9.5, Sly Miss 9.3. Fencer 9.2, Seabrook 9.2, Irish 9.2. Pukerimu 9.0. Locii Lomond 9.0, Ambition 9.0. Lochard 9.0. Melrose Handicap of GOsovs, distance five furlongs.—Cyrus 8.12. Ngatoro 7.12. To Aloha 7.1 J, Simple Simon 7.10. Hurrah 7.8. Maukn 7.7. Coronation 7.7. Woodmount 7.7. Liberator 7.5, Jean 7.5, Silica 7.5, Sugarcane 7.4, Lady Hmm 7.4, Gohlen Sand 7.3, Better Days <.(>, Ysh-the 7.0, Loch Lomond 7.0, Frankton 7.0, Ben Blair 6.10, Bonomiami 6.10, Redeemed 6.7, Daffodil 6.7. First I‘ony Handicap of GOsovs, distance 6, furlongs.—Avalanche 9.9, Annoyed 9.7, Forth 9.2, Sonoma 9.2. Girton Girl 9.<h Stcpaway 8.11, Shrewsbury 8.2, Vulpine 7.12, Lady Lottie 7.12, Whaiwai 7.10, Sally Horner 7.5, Lady Desborougli 7.4. Sweet Marie 7.0, Kyra 7.0, Sentinel 7.0, Cuisine 6.12, Victorlne 6.7, Little Mabel 6.7. St. Andrew's Handicap of 200sovs; 11 mile.—ldas 8.11, Golden Rose 8.11, Romeo 8.8, Putty 8.3, R opa srJ, Muskerdale 8.0. Dolores 7.8, Despatch 7.0, Military 7.0. 8011heur 7.0, Maro 6.12. Matamataharakiki 6.10, Souitfish 6.9, Bastion 6.9, Doctor 6.5, Jack Brown 6.7. Trial Handicap of GOsovs: 1 mil'.— Geordi? 9.7, Noteorini 9.7, Cyrus S 3. Bobs 7.7, Sly Miss 7.4, Wellcast 7.4. Tan 7.0, Cyclone 6.10, Maoriland 6.10, Kobina G. 7, Curagno 6.7, Frenchman 6.7. Cambria Handicap of lOOsovs; 4 furlongs. —Gweniad B.S, Romola 8.5. Lovelink 8.0, Conclusion -7.9, Wairakau 7.7, Cuirassier— Jadestone colt 7.7, St.-Paulo 7.7, Akarana, 7.7, I’roka 7.7, Promotion 7.3, Cabaret 7.2, Soult — -Lady Emmeline filly 7.2, King Paul 7.0. Elgin 7.0, Lualla 7.0. First Hurdles of lOOsovs; 2 miles.—Spalpeen 12.0, Fp to Date 10.7, Princess of Thule 10.5. Rufus 10.2. Vai Rosa 9.11, Inchcape 9.8, Crespin 9.4. Dingo 9.2, Irish 9.0, Vanquish 9.0, Chancellor 9.0, Coma 9.0. ‘ SECOND DAY, DECEMBER 2. Cheltenham Handicap of lOOsovs: 5 furlongs.—Numa 9.5, Austerlitz 9.0, Marshal Soult 8.12. Green and Gold 8.10, Delania 8.8. Cygnet 8.8, Noteorini 8.5, St. Olga 5.4, Cordon Rouge 8.4, Black and Gold 8.2, Geordie 7.12, Military 7.7, Grey Seaton 7.6, Solo 7.4, Vivandel 7.4, Lady Bobs 7.4, Mary Soult 6.12. Iliilflower 6.12, Bloodstone G. 12, Bastion 6.10, Crecy 6.10. Maoriland 6.10, Daffodil 6.7, Mary Heaton 6.7. Handicap Steeplechase of lOOsovs; about 3 miles. — Nor-west 11.11, Marine 11.0, Dingo 11.0. Inchrape 9.13, Puffing Billy 9.12, Pullack 9.10. Tuni 9.7, Boxer 9.7, Leona 9.7, Perseverance 9.7. @ © © turf talk from the SOUTH. V - £ (By Telegraph.—Special to *‘Graphle.’3 CIIRISTCHURCII, Friday. Up to Wednesday evening the sum of £60.223 had been put through ~the tote at the Canterbury Jockey Club's Spring Meeting. On the eorrespo’nding day last year £53,331 was handled, and to exceed last ycai’a grand total of £69,888 it will only Ik? necessary to put £9,<565 through the machine on Saturday. Sir Geo. Clifford made no secret of his delight when Tieadmll won the Canterbury Cup. It has always been his ambition to win races of this character, and he doesn’t gratify it as often ns the public would like. Hence the demonstration of popular approval on Wednesday when Treadmill stalled off.Wairiki’s final effort. Evidently his exertions in the New Zealand Cup did Waiiiki no good, while the race for the Derby improved Treadmill considerably. After the horses passed the post, 3.49 2-5 wns hoisted ns the official time, nnd we were engaged pondering on the fact that

a marvellous record had been established when the figures were palled down and 3.59 2 5 hoisted Instead. As 1 told you in a former wire, theie was a very large gathering at the sale <rf the Elderslle yearlings on Thursday, but prices were not high, and more than one bargain was picked up. The reserve of 300 guineas on the Stepniak—Faraway Ally was not reached at auction, and was only paid by Mr Stead after the sale. Mr Stead secured what was generally regarded as the pick of the youngsters sold In Mr J. B. Reid’s colt by Stepulnk—Hermosa, a first foal, that can scarcely help galloping fast. Among the exhibits at the Ashburton Show were Lady Zetland's hoofs, which Mr Gates has had polished and mounted. The South Canterbury Jockey Chib contemplates spending £340 on improvements to the course. Among those present at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting was Mr 11. E. Beddington, the English racing man. who in his time has taken moie than one horse Home to England, and has been responsible for the importation to New Zealand of Melton and San Francisco. Machine Gun’s half-sister. Corselet, by Cuirassier—Rubina, has foaled n filly to Pilgrim's Progiess, whom she revisits. Comsa. by Medallion—lris, has foaled a colt to Finland, and visits Pilgrim’s Progress. and Throneway. by Perkin Warbeck ll.—Peggy, has also visited Pilgrim’s Progress. Ringman. Melwood, Shrapnel, Float, Field Battery, Albufera. and Melodeon did noi wait for the fourth day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting, but left for the North Island by the Rotomahana on Monday night. CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday. The yearlings knocked down to Mr Nolan on Thursday were purchased on behalf of Mr 11. Friedlander. Among the horses which did not start at hist week s meeting were Melwood, Field Battery. Cruciform. Sea Lion, Boris, and Pa His. The last named had been amiss for some days before the meeting, and although his trainer persevered with him he was unable to get him to the post. Ho will require a long rest. Melwood may be all right again before long, but Field Battery, who also went wrong a day before the meeting, will need a lengthy spell. Cruciform’s trouble is not serious. Boris caught a cold, and Sea Lion was withdrawn because his connections thought he was badly treated by the handicapper. Lady Lillian’s half brother. Zetland, is a smart little colt. When he won the Pioneer Cup on Saturday, he had the remains of a cohl on him. Lavalette, who was knocked down to Mr R. P. Mayne at last week's sale, was bought on behalf of a West Coast racing man. Purdey. the two-year-old son of Musketry and Fatigue, was shipped North to his new owner on Friday. Muskburn, who cut out a strong pace in the Avon Welter Handicap on Wednesday, has changed hands, having been purchased for £2OO by a patron of Taggart’s stable. W. Holmes had only just risen from a sick bed when he rode Gladsome to victory in the Oaks. The bookmakers report that last week’s meeting was one of the worst on record for barkers. Some heavy punters suffered severely. Thunderer, tho brother to Kelburn, though not a winner at the meeting, may be worth following later on. ® ® ® ENGLISH RACING. (From Our Special Correspondent.) October 2. The racing at Manchester on Saturday last was quite unworthy of the traditions of the venue. In the Prince Edward Handicap. the first of the series of important autumn handicaps, the twelve starters were hardly the class one would expect to find left in a £2OOO race. Inaugurated in 1894. this handicap has never quite achieved that popularity and success to which it is entitled. It has Dot as yet been won by a really first class horse, and some very mediocre animals have gained the prize. Wet Paint, .the winner, should have his named changed to Wet Blanket, for. after dropping his connections on several occasions. he was put over sticks to give him pluck, but still did not improve on the flat, and last Saturday was running loose. By St. Frusquin—Red Enamel, he was bred by the King, who, after several unsuccessful appearances in public, presented the gelding to Lord Marcus Beresford. His last successful debut was in a hurdle race at Kempton Park on Boxing Day. Good going ami poor sport characterised the October meeting at Newmarket, which started last Tuesday. On the second day, however, things livened up a bit. The Groat Eastern Handicap of SOOsovs.. run over the Bretby Stakes course, six furlongs, brought out a field of a dozen. Chacornav. the favourite, won by a length from Salute iby Carbine), 3yrs, 7.11, with Ba I lan trie. 4yrs, 7.11. three-quarters of a length further away. Time. 1.10 3-5. That good sportsman, Mr Douglas Baird, scored on the same day in the Hopeful Stakes, for two-year-olds, of 25sovs each, 10ft.. ami 200sovs added, with Mousqueton, who is by Carbine out of Musa. It was only a small field of six, but included the speedy filly Vergin, 8.10, owned by Mrs Langtry. She was made favourite at oto

4. Muusquetou figuring at 100 to 12. The Carblue colt, who had ou a previous occasion showed his superiority in a fair class field, carried 9.5, and piloted by 11. Aylin, snatched the verdict by a head from Hands Down, 9.2, with the filly by Isinglass—Sweet Duchess third, on sufferance, two lengths away. The Visitors’ Handicap, five furlongs, run at Newmarket last Tuesday, provided as fine a piece of bungling as has been seen on a race course for some time. The circumstances associated with the race could only be described as pantomimic, and, of course, since the event there has been the usual amount of rubbish, both written and said, about the uselessness and inadequacy of the starting gate. In the race in question there were fourteen runners, of whom Lord Stanley's Mixed Powder ruled as favourite at 4 to 1. After a short delay •’Off” was shouted from the stands and paddock., and barring the remark that it was not a particularly happy effort on the part of Mr Owen, the starter, every one was . busy following events in the struggle. Goldrush, an H to 1 chance, was always heading her field, and after stalling off a late challenge on the part of Lu Uruguaya. finished half a length in front with Mimicry third. As far as the majority of the spectators were concerned the race was over, and being the last event on the card, the crowd began to think of catching their train. Presently it leaked out that two or three horses had broken through the tapes on rhe near side of the course, and the man with the advance flag had failed to show rhe recall signal. The stewards promptly ordered the race to be run over again. Six of the competitors were withdrawn for the second venture. These included Ardeer. Broadway. Clairetta. Rrownist, Arabi, and rhe favourite. Mixed Powder. All bets stood of course. After a tedious delav, the tapes were readjusted, and through the drizzling rain the horses were seen to be in running, but up went the recall flag clearly visible this time. Three of the jockeys, failing to notice it. ran the full course. These were Goldrush. Exaltation and Mimicry. The finish was most ridiculous. Jarvis on Exaltation, in blissful ignorance of the situation, and amidst the ironical cheers of the crowd, rode his mount clean home, the rider of Mimicry was trying his utmost to stop bis mount, but in vain, whilst Goldrush mereiv cantered past. Another delay, and then the eight remaining horses w u-o sent on their journey, despatched this time by the flag alone. Goldrush looked all over a winner till the Dip was reached, when he cried “enough,*' and uid r osco, the fri-endless one of the crowd, forged ahead and won comfortably. Fosco and Fiasco in very truth! The great width of the Newmarket course is considered to be the cause of the unsuccessful working of the “gate,” but if so they had better have the flag for the Cambridgeshire, for things would be a great deal more serious if such a contretemps were to happen in that event. Thursday's card at Newmarket was not an imposing one except for the Jockey Club Stakes, which provided a chance of Rock Sand meeting that popular idol, Sceptre. The field was small, attracting only five runners, thus once again demonstrating the fact that big money does not mean a big field. Worth £7SUO to the winner, the second received ISOGsovs and the third 1000 sovs, while the nominator of the winner came in for 400sovs'and of the second 200 sovs. The conditions were weight for age, and distance the last mile and three-quar-ters of the Caesarewitch course. Of the two cracks. Rock Sand commanded the stronger following, finally closing at 11 to 10 on. Sceptre finished up at 5 to 4, her nearest attendant in the market being Cappa White at 20’s. William Rufus stood at 50’s, and Cheers 100 to 1 offered. The race needs very little description. At the initial attempt the field were despatched in line, Cappa White being shortly after sent along to make the pace, attended by Rock Sand nnd William Rufus, Sceptre bringing up the rear. In this order the flat was reached, but six furlongs from home the daughter of Persimmon and Ornament drew into third place.with Cheers last. At the Bushes Cappa White was beaten, and Hardy took Sceptre to the front, followed by Rock Sand, but, shaking him off with consummate ease, she won In easy fashion by four lengths from the Derby winner, with Cappa White two lengths behind. Time. 3.10. Sceptre carried lOst, and conceded 151bs to Kock Saud. She is the first mare to win

the Jockey Club Stakes, and Is well worthy, to figure with such winners as Isinglass, her sire (l*<*rsii»uno«), and Flying Fox. and her stud value if she never faces the starter again must be considerable. Her dam. Ornament, is by Bend Or out of Lilly Agnes (dam of Ormcnde), by Macaroni.