TURF NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue XII, 19 March 1904, Page 17

TURF NOTES.

Coronation, the full-brother to Record Reign, is to be added to the list. Mr. G. Cutts has resigned his office as starter to the Thames Jockey Club. The Hawera light weight. Gomer, has joined Woods’ stable at Napier Park. Mons. Misonne rode work at Ellerslie last Wednesday morning. Starters for country race meetings about Auckland are badly wanted. Old Mars is still working away at Ellerslie, and must be the oldest horse working on the tracks there. Dolores will be schooled for hurdle me Ing at Cambridge by Quinton, who Is ia Mr. B. Hannon's employ. Louira. who carried top weight in a hack race at Wanganui may do better in open company at Napier under a lighter scale. Mr T. Brophy, who owned Goitzer, Frank, and a few other useful horses in Fiji, is again on a visit to Auckland from Suva. Conversing with one of his parents. I was Informed that a popular West Coast light-weight had £9O owing to him for riding fees. At the Oakland (San Francisco) track a few weeks ba.'-k a mare named Double Six ran five and a half furlongs in Imin 5-isec. The card programmes of the autumn meeting of the Mauawatu Racing Club are very neatly got up. The chief prize is worth £250. Mr B. Ar mirage returned to Auckland last we<-k from r’. - Tnrc::<.■-"« district, after a successful trip, extending over a mouth. The death of Mr C. D. O’Halloran, a prominent Victorian racing man and courser, was announced during the last week in February. Albert Victor has changed hands. Mr. P. Williams having purchased him fiom his recent owner for £S»j& He remains iu George Duncan's care. The change of name from Kid brook to Shy ‘Uu has been disallowed by the chair man of the Racing Conference, and very properly too, most people will say. Wanganui, the trotter, who won a few races at the different trotting meetings about Auckland, was shipped to Melbourne about a fortnight ago. The pacer Rebel Boy. who was made a warm favourite for the Summer Tret at the recent Otahuhu meeting, broke down badly during the ‘running of that race. The sum of £2113 was passed through the t( talisators at South Auckland in IU7 tickets. This it* said to be a record for the club. The pony Signal was purchased by Mr. T. Bray after the South Auckland Racing Clubs meeting. and has gone into W, Smith's bauds at Greeulane. The Napier Talk Racing Club should have a recoid meeting on the 16th and 17th, n« the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club bare given up the dates they so long raced on. and one meeting in March is probably enough fur the people there to support properly.

The Wanganui lady who races under the assumed name of “ Mr. Laum<ston ” left Wellington for South Africa, taking with her the pumper Fakir. Belfast was entered, but when the weights appeared his name was missing from the St. Patrick’s Handicap for Oh i Demur i. He was awarded 6.10 hi that event. Mr. J. Dalgleish acted as starter fur the South Auckland Racing Club. and. with the exception of the Flying Handicap, despatch, all bis efforts were successful. Marshal Souit is back nt Papakura in 11. French’s charge, and it expected that he will do better at his old home. lie has been an expensive purchase to his present owner. W. Smith has had Do Wot and the pony Signal placed in his charge to prepare for their forthcoming engagements. Smith is getting a big string together, and has dow seven horses in bis stables. Ttcliua is a very promising colt, the most valuable, 1 should say. of the Gisborue owned horscs. and so likely to improve that be may win a race at Napier I’ark, where he is nicely treated. The Poverty Bay Hunt Club have decided upon winding up their affaits, and the hounds will go to the Hawke s Ray Hunt Club. Hunters' races will now be discontinued by the Gisborne clubs. Golden Rose was shipped to Coromandel last week. She is to be turned out nt her owner's (Mr. John Lynch) place, and is to be given a good spell. Heaton, her trainer, is confident that she will see the post again. Kaharoa. the Sylvia Park gelding that ran so well in hack company last season, got one of his feet injured going to Wanganui, and his owner would not risk racing him there. He will, however, be seen out shortly. Mr. Roulston has sent Vp-to-Date to Ellerslie to finish his preparation for the Easter meeting. lie was accompanied by bis four-year-old half-brother by Hotchkiss, who it is understood will not race till the A.R.C. June meeting. Some of the polo ponies seen out during the past week look over the standard height. Appearances are deceptive, but it is certain that iiwre than one for which certificates are held would not pass the Auckland Racing Club's official measurer. Aka Aka and his brother Tahae were schooled over hyrdles last Wednesday at Ellerslie. Frances Lorejoy and Native Rose, Vai Rosa and Lo»*haid. and Ambition were also given schooling work. On Thursday Lingard was triveii a turn over the steeplechase country. Tyrone is said to be a gelding that comes on and goes off very quickly. He managed to get his name in the winning list at Danneyirte. hut at Gisborne when supported. and made favourite ia each of his four essays, lie did not race well, and he looked well too. “ Tartar ’’ Julian had a bit of luck at Rotorua, whore he won the first hurdle race on Tokomaru, in which the two best horses fell. At the South Auckland meeting be again rode an outsider, when all rode off save cue. ns at Rotorua, and " Tartar ’’ scored again. On past form Millie is well in in the two handicaps in which she is eng.-.ged at ObineDiuri. and whatever she may accomplish against horses she has not already met. <h< should hold safe those she has already defeated when she has met them on very much mote unfavourable terms. There is a De Wet nominated at Horn whenc.a. a five-year obi by Catesby fy<»ni Ada, which ran twice last season. W% have one In Au. kiand of the -ame age wiv started once List sc-asnn Pt n snmll meet ing. and has run at Waiuku an l Tn ik.. this year. The name of the An I.lane one will have to be changed. Achilles, Gboorka, Watrikl. Trendtnl!! srarslioot. Black and Gold* St.’ Lion. Mtlddeon. Bouheur, Ail i lb* e. Thun derer, Onewa, and the unnamed Hotchkis — St. Laura colt were the 14 left in ikFifth Century Stakes after dedaintion n the last forfeit in January. A mcethu between Achilles, Walriki and Stnrsboo of the above lot Is thought probable.

Number 4 was a remarkably one on the first dkjr of the Wanganui Jfi' - key Chib's nntutnn meeting. Fob t*ry, llutana. and Pharos were unmitrred on the »-ard. Oie» rumber 4. Btarsbaat. wt>n next day. bat three number 3‘b uuevewied in Levant. Lissa, and Merofia. Hackers wf Naa. 3 cii»d a all through would bate done we IL Olds of six t * four were laid nn M i -hlue Gun against ArfiiHe- In Auckland for the Jackson Stakes at Wanganui. In Wsnfanut Artclll s had most frle.t is. Acinih s Uss always been vot-M a first-cd.iss <vdt. * him than Machine Gun. yet people were numerous who exj .v «i the three y» ar aid to give the fv’.t year Id 1H» awd a year. In the Juvenile Handicap at the W:tn<nnui Jockey Club's nutumn n»c»»tinu. a thr<’--y ar-o!d untried filly. Phemle. vas handicapped at the same weight .’S the unfr'r«i two-year-olds. I»ut though she bent tbowi. finishing fourth, she could not beat thro ■ that had previously rok'ttrs in public. and profited by experience so gained ia getting away. The Katikati ra es wer? b. I last Saturday week. Mr K Worth's Sterling l»- at Mr J. Gr.’v's Lalalh Rt-okli and four others in the Maiden Plate, hut the tables were turned in the Forced Handicap, us between this pair later on when two ot'icrr weie defeated. in the interval Laitah Ruokh had run sccon 1 to Mr Dixon’s Valedictory in the Katikati Cup. in which lb. re were five runners, and V:iledi< tory ran >• w. i in the Hurdle Handicap iuunvdiat.-lv afterwards, beating Reality and tw*> others. Talking of world's records reminds me. says W. Naughton tn the “Refere''.” t'nst one was broken at the Oe.kiand ru< e track on Saturday Inst, when John A. Scon, with p.’lbs tip. was home frst In the Adam Andrews’ Stake. The distance was six and a half furlongs, and Scott, wlw carried U3lh ran it in 1.184- This is a tenth of a secund faster than the record put up by the mare, •lane Holly, at Washington Park, Chicago, last summer. At many of the Southern meetings for hacks only more money is given in prtz -s, find the meetings are more successful, Chan some mcetinga in the North and many meetings in the South Island where sc ed racehorses only are allowed to compete. The term haek should be drcpp.»d. Winners of hack races At one time were half-bred, dow nearly every wxuner of iaees so designated has a pedigree ac long as yuur aim. The rule recently passed by the SoutH Australian Jockey Club, and reported in these columns, giving power to itself pud other clubs racing under its rules tn declare a meeting off if. in the opinion of the committee. those interested in horses have entered into a conspiracy to refuse to Dominate. or baviug entered agree t<> scratch their rvpn sentatives. has caused a stir among owners and trainers in the southern State, and n memorial signed by a larcre number of them has been presented to the club, asking for a repeal of the obnoxious rule. It is proposed to establish a Stud R<»ok for South Africa, and tin- matter was discussed at a conference held in Bloemfontein Book Association was re< ommendv l. and it was finally agreed ’ that the estimated <-ost of carrying on the Stud Rn»k is X|iar> per annum, ami that, as the estimated revenue by means of - ript? .< will .ly amount to £IOCO the Governments of tinrrspeciv-.- colonies be appron* hod. and asked to subscribe towards the balance required in the following pr< portions: <’anColony £l”d«». Transvaal £SO\ Or.tnge River Cokuiv £5O”. Natal C5OO. Rinded t £200“ Visitors to the Wanganui Jockey Club’a autumn meeting speak highly of the v. v tn which Mr. F. Moffatt, se retaiy, carries «>nt the duties of his office, find a w-.rd of praise is due to the staff under him and other officials, who lay themselves out l-i see that meetings arc rm. on up t«» dale lines. The club will require (0 pror«-#HI without delay to get their m w stand built, for In such weather as that experi-.-ared Lu r week a great want of a< •oniimub’tion is felt. It is fortunate that the club have the necessary fu. -Is to -i • : like to race their hotses at Wanganui, the on.sr is such a favourable one in al! wen rbers. To th se who nm not we” un in ways and inana™-ni*'iit uf the ti - lior-e. the rig c>.i ..f up-to ■: . vrb» n prcperiy fixed fb; r.o iux. nr; t >pi more than cm : u.s. H-ovevev says tin 1 said "f it ail. tL- < '.<r< ;’ul p:u «nr of the «ni . .!< W. ku«- • ■ «< aii of those ••fix : z-” in ’!.•• d?v> Sir Wii’.j.i’.t I>on w .s r.s , t > > \\ h r was wii.Mtivrt'i \ >i.d--r f.. til.- i f- ■ borf? t *» tr»t a mile w< nld bo thought noth ing of new. 7’hc latest Ainei i -an impr >v.n ‘fit i>. I read, a sulky without ~ ’fl'll is tl.•-tight th.it this new invent u wo rorolnfb’-. 1 ’-o trotth g. A I.< \i: named George W. St. (’’air i< r ■ ' ’o for it. and is making a’’ effort to have ! * Invetuicn patented. '1 he Idea .f a Milkj without shafts is novel. The - :!ky is at ii< bed to H e hors by u •. .. Ki arched over the latter’s back on which tin rider guides ami coutrols the horse.

The singular accident which befcl the >odjt Lady Jsahell in a blacksmith's shop at Faeroa, whereby she got so badly cut about, having her nose almost completely severed and her cheek cut, reminds me of < case that occurred many years ago in a blacksmith s shop at Marton, when a horse, after having a shoe put on its hind foot, started kicking violently, as if trying to get rid of the shoe, in doing so, extraordinary and impossible as it may seem, the pastern Joint gave way, and the horse, whh-b. If I remember right, was owned by Sir William Fox, had to be destroyed. Though country clubs In Auckland do not give so much money in stakes, or such of them as have permits do not put so much fconey through their totalisators. the attendances compare favourably with the small country meetings in southern parts. The most prosperous country meetings are to be found us a general rule where there is good land, where cattle fatten and nick well, or where sheep are carried to the acre, and acres are not required to the sheep, where saw mills and flax mills are in full swing, and where crops yield a good harvest. In poor parts of the country the tot a lisa tor returns are invariably small. Mons. Misonne paid a visit to Wellington Park during the week. Of the sires there he was most impressed with Menschikoff. With the brood mares and foals he was pleased, and having visited the French Haras declares that none of them come up to Wellington I’ark in the matter of arrangements and completeness. He was charmed with the surrounding country at Mount Wellington and will carry back with him to France the most pleasurable recollections of his visit. The view from Mount Eden obtained during one of his morning rides—for he takes plenty of exercise in the saddle, was about the best he had seen in all his travels since having his native country, seven months ago. Weights for t lie Easter Handicap and Brighton llur<ll«s of the Auckland Racing ‘’hib s autumn meeting do not appear until Monday. This is a mistake. Weights for the more important handicaps should be out earlier, as also weights for the ihinur events, which do not appear until five days before the meeting commences. Owners at a distance are really asked to send their horses to the meeting before seeing their handicaps, ami this is what few care to do. There was no necessity to take nominations as far ahead as three weeks. The idea in delaying the appearance of the weights was. I understand, so that the form at Hawke's Bay could he known, but since this was arranged the Hawkes Bay Jockey Club’s autumn meeting was put off. and there are few horses engaged at Napier Park and Auckland as well. The riding of V. Cotton at the Wanganui meeting and at other Southern meetings has been very favourably t-omin* nted upon. His win on jewellery was a double record. It was his first over a mile and a half, ami the first Jewellery has registered over so long a distance. W. Young, a very capable light weight, was seen tn advantage also at Wanganui. This lad had a hard horse to ride in the Wanganui Cup in Heroism. Very few of our young horsemen ride long distance races w« 11. It is pleasing to sec- light weights coming on to take the places of older horsemen who. from increasing weight, growing In disfavour, and from various cans. s. drop out of the ranks. There is always a demand for light weight riders, ami those who behave themselves properly deserve to succeed. Thus a writer in the Sydney “Referee**: It seems almost incredible that in these advan< ed days of rat ing anyone <on!d lie found with such a small amount of brains as to imagine the possibility of successfully “ringing in” a well known racehorse in one of the principal ra« ing centres. Such a person has seemingly been found, in a man named Joo Cox. who, it is alleged, after purehiisiiig the Autonomy gelding Autocrat from Sydney for a Brisbane sportsman, took him on lease to the central districts of Queensland, ami altered his name to Primo, with the attached pedigree of “Merlin — psyche," won a race or two there and then came on to Brisbane, and had the

audacity to run him ns Primo in a Trial Handicap at Albion Park, which be won. It did not take long for Frimu’s identity to leak out. and the stewards of the Jockey Club, after possessing themselves of the above fads, wrote the horst* aud Mr. Vox off the register for the term of their natural lives. There is very little doubt hut that the disqualification will be endorsed by the Q.T.C. committee.

The method of buying polo ponies wholesale in Texas 2U years ago was curious and simple, says a Home paper. It was apparently the way in which the San Antonio dealers always sold their animals when the purchaser required a number. . Around the town are dozens of "corrals.*’ fenced enclosures, into which the horses for sale were driven. The intending buyers spent one day going round these enclosures to inspect the animals, ami the next day began buying. This they did by offering a certain price per head for a given number of a corralful of horses, the pick resting with them, not the seller.. A small enclosure was hired, and the ponies, which were bought in •‘bunches*’ of half a dozen or so. were driven thither as soon as a bargain was struck. In this wav the two purchasers bought all the ponies they wanted, seventy-eight head, by the afternoon of the fourth day. the average price being between £4 and £5. As much as £lb was given, however, for some very fast ponies, which were already broken ‘to saddle.

Why was Canteen made such a favourite for th? Wanganui Cup*? This was a question raired on the evening after the race in a company of some dozen or more sporting folk. One suggested that it was because he had proved staying ability in the *L W ea - an< l Uup. Another referred to the comments that had appeared on his running in the Dunedin Cup. and expressed lus opinion strongly that a section of the people who help to sweii the totalisator po.ds had been deluded into the belief that the grey had been in reserve for the Wanganui Cup, when one of those present—an Aucklander—endorsed this view, but at the same time informing there present that Mr Moss had sent him a substantial amount, which hud been invested for him on his horse in the Dunedin Cup. a refutation of the silly report that waiting tactics had been adopted. Mr Moss has a horse who has become stale and soured by racing, and it may be the spring before bo will run decently again, if indeed he ever shews the form he did in the New Zealand Cup. Canteen would be put to hurdle racing if he belonged to some people I know. Ho is just the sort to win a Grand National Hurdle race. My visits Io Wanganui in the autumn are invariably of a pleasant character. There one met with so many friends, and so many ohl associations are recalled: still, a touch of sadness comes when one misses ohl familiar faces, and in recent years between the meeting the great scythe-bearer has cerricd off prominent men in the world of sport that could ill be spared. How they do drop out. A few months ago Dr. Connolly. long time steward of the club, died on bis way to England, and a few weeks since Mr. Hearn, of the film of Hearn and Kennedy, well-known racing men, passed away, and just,on the eve of the meeting last week Dr Saunders, also an official and an owner, was called away. Dr. Saunders came tu the colony as a young collegian, being second master at the Wanganui College for a . l n England he had gained distinction in .swimming ami athletic pursuits, and did a great deal in the furtherance of sport. He was for some time the loading amateur there, and he married a Wanganui lady. Miss today, sister to Mrs Abbott, whose father bred racehorses in the early days The doctor had identified himself for twenty-five years with ihe Wanganui Jockey Chib, aud was a comparatively young man. and will be missed by friends and residents of the town, in which he had an extensive practice. Just before the Wanganui meeting Achilles galloped five furlongs in 60 4-5 seconds with a flying start, and another gallop he registered was six furlongs with a flying start in Imin lusec. Machine Gun registeied a similar gallop over the six furlongs, ami another over five furlongs he ran in Imin 1 l usec. On the day the Jack-

son Stakes was decided the ground bore evidence of having been cut up on the previous day, and the rain had made It heavy, yet the winner, Achilles, was able 1d cover the distance In Imin 17 l usec comfortably. while Machine Gun, who was ridden out. was beaten a nose for third place by Exmoor in Imin 18 2-ssee. The wet day and the course were against all four runneis, but Machine Gnu on account of his wind ailment was the one most likely to be troubled, and he was carrying 121 b over his weight-forage, while Achilles had 51b over. Exmoor and Chryseis each had their scale allotment. Exmoor has shown himself to be a useful gelding on several occasions, run well on soft going. There is no doubt that Chryseis is a good two-year-old, and on the improve, and it is quite possible that the platings concerned would have been the same had the going been good.

A huge jump was achieved by Mr Spencer Gollan's Moifaa while running in the open Steeplechase at Hurst Park on Saturday (says the “I.S. and D. News” of January 23i. This horse is what an admirer termed a “pretty considerably hard puller*’; he wants a good man on his back to steer him in the way be should go; am! he is a line, bold fencer. At the first ditch he seemed to take off almost as soon as he got inside the wings, and even so. he landed over with a scramble, but without a fall. “It was a beautiful Sep.’ " said Arthur Nightingall, who rode him. “but 1 shall bo glad when ho settles down a little more and jumps like a respactab.e citizen.” The effect of such a brilliant acrobatic display was to tire Moifaa. who finished nowhere. Short odds were laid on Lord Gerald Grosvenor’s Hidden Love. though he could only run second to Mr “Bob’’ Sievier’s Bobsie—a sterling competitor whom it is a pleasure to see galloping on as if the fox were* gasping in the next field fcr him. and hounds were running from scent to view.

While the members of a well known citv sporting club were busy “adjusting the averages of fortune*’ over the Epsom meeting on Wednesday. February 17. says the “Australasian,” they received a shock quite

as sever? as any experienced by a Russian battleship during the Tort Arthur go. A sporting horse attached to the humble afternoon milk cart, hearing that Independence Avas a certain starter, rushed down the right-of-way to the back entrance of the club, it is. believed? "to get a bit on.*’ The milk cart in his rear, however, frustrated his intentions. The members, bearing the cannonade at the back door, and always on the alert for the expected, made for the ether door almost to a man. The half-fur-long sprint down Royal Lane (they were nil on it) is said to have been a record one. When they learned the simple truth, the stampede back was almost as quick as the departure. The reasons for leaving, without saying “good-bye.” embraced every variety but the rifrht one.

It is a curious fact that against some stallions there appears to be a fatality tu Ervdand. although their stock does wonders in all other parts of the world (writes the “Special Commissioner’’). A most notable instance of thia is furnished by the now defunct Prince Charlie horse Lovhiel. who was foaled in New Zealand to English time, his dam, Nellie Moore, having been taken out there in foal, and he proved a very great racehorse over all distances. At the stud, however, he gained even greater fame, and for a good many years past he has been at the top of the tree, or near the top. among the winning sires at the Anti-j-odt s. Yet. without exception, such of his stock as were brought to England proved woefully disappointing. Survivor and Oban may be named, and the thought of them awakens bitter memories, yet each was a good horse in his own country, and Oban lias shown over hurdles and across country that he can go right enough when he is so inclined. Another Lochiel that came to England was Amiable, but she was too nervous and h’frh-strung to stand any work, and she did no good here, though she could gallop like the wind. Then there was Old do. another Lochiel, who certainly won a race, but was always more or less of a wreck when in training here. Major Edwards has Wallaby, a Lochiel four-year-old colt, in training, but he shows no promise of doing any better than the others.

At country meeting* kn Auckland it occasionally happens that burses are started as many as three times a day. Half mile aud five furlong dashes, with intervals of alujut 40 minutes between, will not hurt fit horses. I heard a man recently talking of the cruelty of this sort of thing. It is absurd to suppose that our horses are all so soft. Some, it is true, will not saddle up tw*ice in an afternoon, but others again would rattle over short courses half a dozen times a day if required, without suffering any injury. In the days of beat racing, it so happened that before a horse won twice it had had to run eight miles over strong hurd.es, 3ft Din high. This was at BangitiKei, and some of the race-goers of the time who were present remember the event well. Not only did the horses run eight inUes, but they carried water weights, 12.0. 1 don’t think anyone will claim that they travelled as fast, say, as Spalpeen or Waiwera, but it is certain they did not receive the same care or such a long course of training. There used to be quite as proficient jumping horses in the oid days us can be lound now. They were much slower, and the courses were not what they are now.

Had Cnnnie Chiel been as fit to race at Wanganui as he was at Christmas time and later ch at Wellington, many think ho would most likely have won the Wanganui Cup. At Wellington he gave Ghoorka 14ib in the Cup aud 16!b in the Racing Club Handicap. At Manawatu he beat Cannie Chiel over a mile and at a diffeieuce of Plb, but next day, at a mile and a-quar-ter, Cannie Chiel beat him easily at a difference of 31b. Convoy ran both times. Cannie Chiel is probably seen to best advantage at a mile and a-quarter. We have probably seen the best of him, however, and Ghoorka, like most of the Lochicls, may improve w T itli age. No great merit, however, can be attached to his running at any time, though be out-stayed Romeo, who will still improve, in the Cup. Jewellery’s winning a< hi. vem. :»ts since sh left Auckland on her Tai-m 'iki-Wanganui-El-mont trip should not be too highly assessed. Like most of her sex, she is better suited in the autumn than in the summer, and it must be allowed was favourably weighted through ordinary handicap horses. Ghoorka has invariably been raced to the front, but at Wanganui was reserved for a finish in both his races, and may likely race better that way.

The V.A.T.C. lost about £1350 on’their last autumn meeting, and although stakes have been .slightly reduced, the loss will not be less this year. Referring to the diminished attendan res. the “Australasian*’ says:—“Last Saturday the takings were £2W less than on the corresponding day last year. Th? weather was threatening in the morning, but from noon onwards it was fine, and there was nothing to stop people from going to Caulfield. We do not knew how the V.R.C. got on at Flemington on New Year’s Day, but presume they fared badly. The V.R.C., however, had to contend against the first day of a test match. All the suburban clubs are complaining. and it would seem that for the time being racing is not popular in Victoria. For that matter, the dubs in South Australia are not doing well, but in New South Wales all the dubs are getting good gates, and record attendances were noted in connection with the Tasmanian and West Australian Cup meetings. Why the dearth of interest in Victoria? Is it overracing, or are people pinched for money? Th? sudden falling-off in attendances can hardly due to over-racing. No one will deny that wre have too much racing around Melbourne, but there is not as much as there was a year ago. Racing is an expensive amusement, and the public •can see an afternoon’s cycling for less than a tenth of the money it costs to see a race meeting from the best seats. There is no variation in the cost of racing to spectators. The charge for the grandstand enclosure is the same at Aspendale Park as at Flemington. And still the tariff is cheap in comparison to what a man has to pay in England if he wants to see racing in comfort. When the A.J.C. secured a record attendance at Ramlwiek last Derby Day it was put down to the great interest

taken in the match between Wakeful and Cruciform. Possibly no horse running in Victoria Just now has any particular following for its own sake.

A good story was told me the other day by a friend of a steward of a well-to-do racing club whose brother stewards have the fullest confidence iu his judgment. Some tew years ago the committee of the club iu question had to elect which metropolitan head they would submit their decisions to. Wellington was the neatest, aud one of the stewards suggested that they should place themselves under the jurisdiction of the Wellington Metropolitan Racing Club. The steward first referred to at once took exception to this proposal, remarking that there was hardly a committeeman of the Wellington Racing Club who knew anything of racing laws aud usages, and he for one would not agree. Asked which metropolitan club he would advise he replied, why Canterbury, to be sure. The members of the Canterbury Jockey Club are all gentlemen who are versed in racing. It was unanimously agreed that the Canterbury Jockey Club should be accepted as their head. And now comes the point in this little story. The country club have passed quite a number of disqualifications, anti their decisions have been referred on to Mie Canterbury Jockey Club one by one for endorsement, but each time they have been sent back disallowed. “ And it was I who championed the Canterbury Jockey Club.” said the steward, in telling the story. “We haven't ever won a heat, and every time our rulings are set at naught.’’ A brother steward wants to know why the combined intelligence of our club is never accepted. There are several country stewards now who think they should have the soveieign right to determine all objections raised on their courses without reference to metropolitan heads thereafter.

It is pretty certain that the winning of the English Derby with Running Rein is about one of the cleverest turf frauds ever perpetrated. There are very few left now jvho remember the actual facts of the Case. One of them is Mr. John Kent, who in a recent letter to the London ” Sportsman ” says:—l question veiy much whether anyone living knows the particulars of this remarkable affair so well as I do, as 1 had the charge of the principal witness. Lord George Beutinck wrote me a letter, and sent it by a man to Good wood, stating that the bearer was an important witness in the coming trial and I was to employ him. but not let it be known who he was or his business. I wrote his lordship that it was impossible for me to employ him in the stable with fifty or sixty lads about. 1 could not help it being known that the man was in his business. His lordship replied that as I appeared to be well up in the case, he left it all to me to do the best in my power, regardless of every expense. Accordingly, as his lordship had three breeding establishments, one at Danebury, one at Bonehill, and one at Doncaster, and he said the man was used to travel with horses, I sent an answer by him to Danebury, and then at ranged with the manager of the paddocks there to send something to Bonehill, and then to take another horse or mare to Doncaster, all of which 1 arranged for him, and then to retrace fits journeys. His time was fully •ccupled to this wonderful trial, when his evidence decided the case, as he was one of the men that led the two animals to be exchanged, one a yearling, and the other a two-year-olid. They met at a livery stable in London, where the exchange took place. A committee of the jockey club, consisting of the Dukes of Bedford. Beaufort. Rutland, and Viscount Enfield, afterwards Earl or Strafford, with others, raised a subscription for Lord George, to present him with a testimonial. The sum amounted to nearly £3OOO, which bis lordship would not accept, but prefect cd giving it to a fund for deserving, but needy, decayed trainers aud jockeys. Hence the origin of the “Bentinck Benevolent Fund.” What would not the Running Rein party have given this “ said man ” as a bribe to keep away from the trial!

The racing laws of some countries arc more strict in som** respects than in others, but there is probably no part of the world where the sport is carried on where rules and regulations for the conduct thereof are not based upon the English code so long in existence. Tiny are so altered to suit the varied conditions under which racing is being conducted. Amendments are occasionally made, but not often by the English Jockey Club but in this colony where we have the totalisator. numerous alterations have been made from time to time, and anvone who gives time and study to the code wo are at present racing under must see that it can be improved still further. The rules for the guidance of our racing I<<.-is’ators, owners, and all engaged or interested in the sport, arc not so hard and fast as to permit of serious injustice being inflicted upon innocent persons. Interpreted by level headed, fair minded men. notwithstanding ambiguities that exist there can only bo one construction, one conclusion, after reading them, and that is that the framers aim at nothing that would savour of being oppressive. Recently we had a case where an owner sought to take a race away from another owner because his horse had been ridden by a lad for whom no license bad been obtained. The owner was quite ignorant of the fact and the traiuer too. The rider had nothing whatever against him, and was nn eligible candidate to have a license, had it been applied for. It would have been quite a different matter had the rider been a disqualified one. who had been refused or had had Ills license taken away for wrong doing. and whose suspension or disqnnllflrntion had been duly given publicity of. Allowing such a horseman to ride would be nn Inexcusable act. If the farts were known to the owner, and oven if he did so unknowingly, It would be against racing usage

and commouaense to give the stakes to a horse ridden by a disqualified person, micli person being one undergoing punishment for some serious offence. An unlicensed apprentice is not in file same sense a disqualified person. The intention of the rule • aud it is not a too liberal construction to place upon it—is clear.y to prevent owners from employing riders who are not considered desiralde by the racing authorities by whom their qualifications are gone into at the time of issuing licenses. Ihe case of Benefactor, ridden by an unlicensed jockey when he won the Pahiatua Cup, has been settled this week in favour of the owner. Mr F. Martin, a decision that will meet with much satisfaction from racegoers generally, who know aud appreciate the quality of straight going owners. Mr Martin's horse does not win out of his turn and it would have been a stroke of hard , luck for him to have been deprived of the stake for so comparatively light an Owners may be ever so conversant with the rules, but they cannot always know that riders they are putting up are not licensed. The old system of producing licenses at scale was found to be one of inconvenience to the jockeys, and yet there should be some method for them to make themselves 'known to the clerks of scales. • • • WAIHI J.C. MEETING. WAHI I. Saturday. The Waihi Jockey Club's annual meeting passed off very successfully to-day. L’he weather was fine, and there was a larg-* attendance. The sum of £545 was put through the tote, of which £164 was on th'* Cup. The racing was good and the fields well up to the average. Mr R. Newdick was judge, and Mr E. B. Walker starter. Following are the results: — Handicap Maiden Race, seven furlongs. — Mrs Ross’ Better Days (Ross). 7.11. I: Evert. 7.11, 2; Pukehou. 8.6. 3. Ste rling and Omati also ran. Ross took his mount to the front as the straight was reached. and though challenged by Evert aud Pukenou. Better Days passed the judge first. Evert being a good second the rest of the_ ileal being in close attendance. Time, 1.35 2-5. Dividend. £3 7/. Waihi Cup. on? mile and a quarter.— Mr Armitage's Idassa (Satmau). 7-2. _1; Matamatabarakeke. 7.6, 2: Noteorini. 7.4. 3. Woodfield, Soultfisii, and Frances Lovejoy also started. A splendid start was effected. Frances Lovejoy lead for about the first five or six furlongs; Idassa aud Matamatabarakeke then came up with a rush, raced together round the turn, and up the straight. Idassa gradually forged ahead, and passed the judge’s box about a length ahead of Matamatabarakeke. Noteopiui bein ga good third. Time, 1.6 2-5. Dividends, £1 and 17/. Flving Handicap, six furlongs.—Mr Armitage's Lady Bobs (Batman). 7.5. 1; Corporal. 8.10, 2; Kidbrook. 8.4. 3. These were the only starters. Lady Bobs won in a canter, with Corporal second aud Kidbrook. Time, 1.21. Dividend. 1”/. Handicap .Hurdles, one mile and a half.— Mr J. Reginald's Hippowai (Burns*. 10. in. 1; Mr McKenzie’s Frances Lovejoy, 10.8. 2; Mr N. Banks’ Star. 10.10. 3. Rolf and Valedictory also started. Valedictory ran off at the* first jump, but the others all fenced well. Frances Lovejoy led for about the first mile, when Hippowai assumed first place, maintaining it to the finish, and passing the judge’s box several lengths ahead of Frances Lovejoy, with Rolf close up. Time. 2.58. Dividend, 19/. Hack Race, one mile.—Mr J. Gray’s Lal.ah Rookh (Marchant?. 7.0. 1: Pukehou. 8.7, 2; Evert, 7.11, 3. Omati, Better Days. Sterling, aud Rob Roy also ran. A great race ensued between Lallah Rookh. Pukrhoti. Evert, and Better Days, the former just winning. Time, 1.51 3-5. Dividend, 19/. McCurdy Memorial Stakes, seven furlongs.—Mr McKenzie’s Corporal (Buckland). 7.4. 1: Woodfield. 8.3. 2; Soultfisii, 7.12, 3. The dividend was £23 8/. In connection with the protest mad? against Corporal, the winner of the Me- « urdy Stakes, by the owner of the second horse, on the grounds of Inconsistent running, the stewards disqualified the horse, owner and jockey (Buckland) for one month, and awarded the stakes to Woodfield. on which th * dividend was 13/. There were only two tickets on Corporal. The decision of the stewards was received with cheers, aud was evidently very popular. The owner of Corporal appealed to have the stakes impounded, but this was not agreed to. I understand the first six furlongs of this race was run faster than the six furlong race won by Lady Bobs. Corporal coming second. The hookies laid Woodfield freely, and I understand lost considerably over the stewards' decision. ® ® ® PUKEKOHE RACING CLUB’S MEETING. The following handicaps have been declared for the Pukekohe Racing Club's meeting on March 26:— Handicap Hurdles, one mile and a half. - Muriwai 12.0. Billy the Boy 11.0, Dau 10.0. Pilot 10.0. Speedwell 9.0. Rally 9.0. Maiden Plate, six furlongs.—Billy the Roy 11.0, Forge 10.7. Syren 9.12, Stopper 9.0. Kia Ora 8.12, Swift 8.10. Testator 8.7. Fukekohe Cup. one milt* and a quarter. Muriwai 11.7, The Frenchman 117. Lady Desborongh 11.0. Grlzette 10.11, Sir Alberton 10.0, Midnight 9.7. Miss Leo 9.5, Rally S.O.

Pony Handicap, six furlongs. Grlzrtte 11.0, Squib 10.0. Venus 9 12. Midnight 9.12. Commotion 9.10, Good-bye 9.4, Testator 8.7, Rita 8.0.

Flying Handicap, five ful longs. — Lady Desborongh 9.12. The Frenchman 9.12. Grizctte 9.10, Billy the Roy 9.0. Midnight 8.7. Commotion 8.7, Forge 8.0.

Railway Plate, six furlongs.- Muriwai 10.5, The Frenchman 10.5. Grizctte 10.3. Lady Desborongh 10.3, Billy th? Roy 9.7, Midnight 9.0, Good-bye b. 12, Miss Leo 8.5» Forge 8.0.