TURF NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue XXVI, 25 June 1904, Page 17

TURF NOTES.

ranatn airt Iltppewal were shipped to Hawke’s Bay on Saturday. Muaket’a stack won more money in Auk* tralla thaa iu New Zealand. Medallion returned to Gtsrttortre X>n? .Tuesday by the a.s. Waikare. Eight out of 25 horses handicapped for the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase have accepted. The Phoebus Apollo —Miss Gladys coir purchased by Mr Bing remains at Ellerslie for a time, Grafton. Posit ado. Wallace, and Ilaut Brien are the leading sires iu Australia for this season. Wellington buyers have been much in evidence of late in securing flesh blood stock fur their district. It Is said t« he likely that Plain Rill will be entered for the New Zea <4 id Grand National meeting. Haydn was slightly Interfered with by the falling of Slow Tom in the A.R.C. Winter Steeplechase* F. Davis has been retained to do choice of riding for Mr K. J. Watt's horses during the coming season. Kremlin Is likely to figure In the list of nominations for the New Zealand Grand National Hurdle Handicap. Mr 11. Friedlander returned to Canterbury last week, but is expected in Auck-* land iu about a month s time. It is uot improbable that we may ere long see the Castor—Vivaudiere gelding Bacchus back with us in Auckland from Fiji. S. Hodge, who has returned from Fiji, has taken up his residence near Ellerslie, w here he intends starting as a trainer. J. Pinker, the light weight rider, got his collarbone broken wrestling with another lad. Mr C. Weal’s many friends will regret to learn that he lost bis eldest son. a bright little lad. on Wednesday night last, from rheumatic fever. The Takapuna Jockey Club’s course was used on Saturday for rhe first time for a trotting meeting. It should be admirably suited for the purpose. The Hawke’s Ray Jockey Club's Winter Meeting will be held on Juno 22 and 23, and rhe Napier Park meeting- on June 2S and 29. The weights Haydn has received for the V.R.C. Grand National events are not likely to tempt his owners to send him to Australia. He has since been withdrawn. The two-year-old colt by Cyrenlan—Windmill, which was one of the lots sold after the Messrs Friedlander’s sale, has gone Into J. Chaafe’s, sen., stable. St rat ha von has been enjoying a good spell at Otaimhu, and is in robust healthy condition, and gallops about his paddock like at two-year-old. Mr Simmelhag, who purchased the Phoebus Apollo—Miss Gladys coining two-year-old for 255g5, has re-sold the half-brother to Gladsome to Mr King. The Melbourne “Sporting Judge” has now the Melbourne “Sportsman” incorporated with it. The Melbourne “Sportsman” was started about 14 years ago. Vi lor to winning the Oaks Pretty Polly had won ten consecutive races. She is expected to beat the best of the cults in the St. Leger in September. The luternatiounl Puny Stakes is looked upon ns the Puny Derby of India. The Australian pony Florrle has been sent there to try and capture that event. Mauku. three quarter brother. by Cuirassier, to Cnnnongate, Is now being schooled over hurdles, after which he will be retired from training for a few mouths. The following names have been claimed: For the Phoebus Apollo—-Chrysolite colt, Wlieelarra: for the Hotchkiss'—Lady Augustus coh, I’ikaka: and for the n • • -U’.*U< - Janet colt, Takare.

Th* stewards of the Northern Wairca Tracing Chib have appointed a committee to inspect sevem 1 sites for a new racecourse up Dargavllle way. There are a number of horses set down to compete ar the Hawke’s Hay winter meetings during this and next week that hare not so far carried silk. W. Smith has shifted bis team from T. Taylor’s, where he has lieen quartered for some time, and he is now located at W. Bowuian’s, opposite the Haip of Erin. Mr F. Williams has sold Albert Victor to Mr B. Kdwanls. of Christchurch. The price said to have been paid for the son of Albert W. and Victoriue is -P.O guineas. The threc-ycar olds In England had, according to our correspondent, been beating each other in a most perplexing manner since the «i>euing uf this season. Oblivion was supported for the New Zealand Cup to win £»<K> during the week at hundreds to two and. a-ha if. This horse ran unplaced in the last Melbourne Cup, carrying 7.2. K. Jam. the hunter-chaser. Is expected to put in an appealance at future meets of the Fakurauga Hunt Club, having been purchased from Mr E. J. Watts’ Hastings representative. The Takapuna course would be a most suitable one on which to hold trotting meetings. could the Auckland Trotting <Tub arrange, to hold their meetings thvie as a regular thing. At the Otaki Maori meeting on the first day over £.*loo more was pat through the totalizators than nt FHerslie on the opening day, and over £3OOU more than at Dunedin on the same day. A coming two-year-old filly from that good pony Lena. and a gelding of the same age from Cobweb, have been brought In by F. Stennlng and put into winter quarters. They are both by Sou It. Tahufu, by Tasman —Lady Moth, after a Tong spelt has again been taken in hand by F. Stcnnlng. This brother to Ifohoro went amiss in a most unaccountable manner, but it is hoped has outgrown bls trouble. The stud horse Cuirassier was sold on las? week to Mr McNicol, of the Waikato. The brother to Trenton has not been looking better than at the present time for several years past, and looks good for some seasons yet, Someone has reported that Onewa Is not of the right class to have a chance in the New Zealand Cup. This colt was last week backed for the race to win several thousands at hundreds to two and a-half and three. Some riders and drivers at the Auckland Trotting Club's meeting found their horses did not act so readily on the left handed going as they have been accustomed to train and race the other way round. The Southern horses were quite at homo, as they are taevd ou left-handed tracks. Cavalry was once written out by a confrere as the worst horse in training at Ellerslie. The sou of Light Artillery had been unlucky in meeting with accidents, but bids fair to do well at hurdle racing with a little more practice. A syndicate of local sports invest'd b>’ ou every horse that started on the first day of the Auckland Trotting C’.ub’s mooting. The capital invested was £33. and tlv dividends received came to £IS 19 . the syndicate losing £l4 1 on Cue day’s transact ions. (’. Weal trained throe winners. F. Macmauemin. It. Hannon, J. Rae two each, and Manning. Irwin, J. George, Malone. Thorpe, Morraghan. French. Crowther, Goodwin. Hickey, William. Hall. Butler, and Brough oue each, at the A.lt.C. Winter meeting. A jockey named Shields, who has boon riding in France with great success this season for Leigh’s stable, has had his license withdrawn by the Societe d’Encouragentent, after a long and patient inquiry. No reason is known as to the cause of this step. Roseshoot had a swelled hind leg when ho ran al fcJlbTslie. When runuing in the Century Hurdle Race at Wanganui he got galloped on, and it was thought that the cut had been poisoned, as there was considerable swelling in the injured part. A dose of physic and a short rest should put this fine horse right. With ordinary luck ho will prove himself the best hurdle hors a at present in commission in New Zealand.

IVnbenr. by Keaton IHar.il -Charrnf* (full filter to Nonet <r». changed hands yesterday. Mr Cunrk-k. of Fahm-ratoii North. •*etng the imrchassr. Bouheur haa been a Lit of a disappoint inent so far. but n rhanf.* <»f oct'se Bay work an Improvement In tiM. Mr T. King. caterer to the Auckland M'ul Suburban Racing Clubs hcreaboutM. who baa hid loag expert-nre hi the work, has accepted the catering for the Wet I’tigtou Racing Club. Mr King. who ha* been on a visit South, returned from Wetliugtou on Tuesday. The Hawke's Bay Jockey Club’s Winter Meeting comes up for decision commencing to-day. and the fields are sufficiently good to produce some fair racing. Evening should nut well in the Steepb*chase. and Midi.i and Evening look as welt as any of those engaged in the llurd’e Race. Successful sins at (he A.R.C. winter meeting wore Seaton Delaval. Hippocantpns. auil Cuirassier, two each; Holvhkia*. Castor, St. l.eger. Rego!. St rowan, Sylvia. Park, Musk a peer. Cruiser. Medallion. Light. Artillery. Soult. Fabulous, flowttxer. Quilt. Mystical, Ingomar, and Stepniak. uno each. i Ijtdy I.ovcrule, the dam of Kt. who won this year’s Derby, Is bred on similar fines to the Oatuaru stallion Obllgado. Her sire. M uncast er (sen of Doncaster) Is out of a sister to Obllgado's grand-Jam, and St. Ament's grand-dam. NclHe, waf got by Hermit, who Is also responsible fur The paternity of Obllgado’s dam. Obligadw should nick well with Si» Simon marea. One of the proposed alterations to (he rules of racing Is to delete the word *'knuw< ingly” from Rulo 143, sub-section Vl<\ When this question comes before the R*c« ing Conference next month wo may export', a gw>d deal of discussion on the point.Some delegates will want to know lor wi*H object it was placed in the rule. The totalizator turnover for the season of 1903-4 by the Auckland Racing Club doe* not constitute a record for the chib. Though In excess by £179 of last year, it is £SUt abort of the year 1901-2. when the highest figures were reached. The sum handled this year is £156.393 for four meetings a large amount. During the year ended April 30 last, the gross iceeipts of the Western Australian Turf Club, amounted to £34.387, as against £.3ii,715 for the previous year. The profit on the year s operations amounted to £14,626. against £13.141 for the preview* year. During the 12 months £27.987 wiw expended on improvements ;o the icursr> and buildings. It Is a rare thing nowadays to see young horses by thoroughbred sires performing In trotting races, but on Saturday the defunct Tasman had a representative in the Maiden Handicap at the Auckland Trotting Club's meeting. Winners nut ot "thoroughbred laarea got by horses with American blood were conspicuous. The following Is n list of the winning horsemen at the winter meeting of tho A.R.C.:—M. Ryan. J. Buchanan, J. McGregor. two; Abbot. Lind, Watt. J. Stewart, W. Stewart. Jackson, Howie, Manning. G'Conncl. Cress. George. Wilson. Delaney. Quinton, Mr Selby, Mr Decide, and Me Paul. When money is hung up. ns the totalTsntor money has been ov* r the protest lodged against Kin (ere, ■winner of the I’akuranga Stt epleclms*?. it is astonishing wb.it a lot of people one meets who want to bo informed ns (•» the probable result, i.e.. the disposal of (he pools. People wlv» never, or I shoo’d say. hardly ever. bet. are those who are amongst the most anxious to know. It is a mistake for clubs who have (<• erect gorse fences for their meetings to construct them long before the time, as the gorse becomes* brittle, and horses get their legs full of the prickles, which pierce and break oil'. Sovetal horses got scores of gorse pricks at Wanganui, and swelled leg* followed. Live gorse does not break in this way. The new owner of Gladstone has backed that <n»h to win the New Zealand Cup for n fair stake. Gladstone is such a brainless sort that he is not the most likely of the young horses to ripen out into a Now Zealand Cup winner In a few months. ](*» may improve in his manners with ago. but his disposition is in striking contrast to that of his younger half brother by Phoebus Apollo. Steadfast, the once w.ll known black gelding, by Nordenfeldt Nellie Moore,was sold in a Perth saleyard ou May 7 to :ui Afghan, fdr £3. The latter was quite indignant when he discovered the saddle and bridle were not included in the sale. Steadfast was sold as a yearling to the New Zealand sportsman. Mr S. IL Gollan. by 1h» Sylvia Park Stud Company, for 1t»3o.;-. and was subsctpie.ir.lv ptr. zb.uCd ny the i ite Mr \Y. G. Wil ut. Hegel, who has been burled in obscurity In the Northern Wniroa. was lately priced, and it is said that £•I5»» was asked for him. The deeds of Regulation. AU Aka, Regalia IL. and a few oilier winners have brought the aged son of St. Leger Into prominence from a financial stand point, ami in a district where there are good mares he would not he longer looked upon as a neglected sire.

The New Zealand Trotting Association Lfeve Issue*! an alphabetical list of all horaea reg itU vied undvr the rules from Aug net, JW*W, to Aug list, )9ii& It ••ontains viiwxrds of 2buu muues, and Is published at Ihr Jew price of (wo shillings, and should be of great value to all who take an Internet in trotting/ secretaries of racing chibs. aim) vwiirrn In particular. 1 have to thauk the secretary for a copy. • Ford, the New Zealand cross-count* 7 jockey, who gut a very heavy fall while schooling Rlaekfrack«*r at Rand wick -ast .Wednesday, Is at Hi an inmate of St. *»’invent *a Hospital, buffering from the eFrrts •ff OQiivusidon of the brain and a badly sprained right shoulder. Although he-has •♦cl bv<i» Jung in Sydney, Ford lias already made himself very popular, judging by the frequent* daily inquiries for him, and the numerous visitors to Lis bedside. Thus an exchange: A noteworthy fact ibai see jus iq haw escaped general notice is that Sir George Clifford's name is now •abpvnl from the list of offitdals connected iwith the <*anlerbnry Jockey Club. This is perhaps sis well, seeing that Sir George is the head of Ihe Having Conference. In lime we may see the secretary of the Racing Conference acting in that capacity only, as there is ample work to engage the sole attention «»f one man in the management of • oiiference business. On some American racecourses the mini- »•« rs un racing saddle Huths are much huger (han we are accustomed to see in this colony. The numbered Huths were first used •••>» colonial racecourses, and have answered jlhelr intended purpose well, but if the vlubs when getting (heir cloths made, would have them cut a little deeper, so that lhe numbers would show a little lower .over the horses’ libs, it would be an im•provoincnt for which racegoers generally .would be thankful. The “Chosen” are by no means in the majority among the registered riiigmen in the Eastern Slates. Christians outnumber the Jews l:i Sydney TattersaH’s and lhe Chib by nearly four to one. Indeed (says a Melbourne writer), there are only two residential Jewish bookmaking members of the former Hub. of Hie. 109 registered to be in the paddock at Flemington by the V.R.C., only 29 are Jews, while among the 126 registered to _be( <>n the hill the llebrewb number 26. At Limerick recently, says an English paper, an exhibition wn.s given of a new .invention to be used in connection with the starting gate, which thoroughly satisfied all who saw it. It is the invention of Major Kenny, and is of extremely simple construction. It may be placed at almost any distance in advance of a gate, with which it I« connected by a wive, and in the event of horses breaking through the ma chi no. the .starter presses n small lever with his foot, which is enough to cause a flag to be hoisfcwm! wherever the new contrivance may be placed. A Southern firm of penHHvrs some time before the Great Northern Steeplechase meeting issued a price list, as is their wont, over the hurdle and steeplechase double. •They, had a idt < f hick over it too. Through a mistake <d their jointer the name of Aka Aka was pin in the wrong line in the place of a much more fancied candidate, who, coup UM “with horses in the Steeplechase, was at :i short pi ice. Soon after circulating th. iv cards they wore besieged with .wires to b< <.k doubles with the horse that had lieen |u»t in the square intended for Aka Aka: consequently Aka Aka was not 'inquired for, ami an almost complete skinner was the result. They lun • •IT dead boats 'n most parts of the world, but here in New Zealand wo Lave no time for such sporting events, and owners arc compelled to divide whether 11i« 3* wish it «.r n«>(. Programmes are usually well tilled without additions to lhe list *of events. Fancy running off the two dead heats we had on Saturday last at Elleislie. The rub* used to he to run such events off alt* r Ihe last race. To have done this would have neces»dtated running them in the .lark, tin the last day of the Calcutta March meeting there wen* two dead heats, ’ll)** running *»ff of one was postponed to the following Monday, but the other was run <dT the same night. 1! was run in Cimmerian darkness amidst the orchesliation of thunder, lightning ami rain, which called forth inomorioH of the weird scene in Macbeth. According to a local paper the judge in order to sec the horses pass the

post was forced to leave his Imx and tak* up a position om tHe trtfek.~-The. last rice at Kller*He was only a Hreuauetancc compared with the one under notice. Authorities differ as to how the naiue Moccasin should be spelt. Webster, the grammarian, and Bui well- Webster, previous owner of the gelding, aie at one, ami they are no doubt in a majority: but nevertheless there are authorities for spelling the name Mocassin. Some do not include the word iu their dictionaries at all, while one eminent man allows it to be given both ways In his Thesaurus. The name has been spelt differently by secretaries of various clubs in their correct cards dining the time the son of Hippocampus has been racing. In. Canada any one pronouncing the word Mocassin would be laughed at. It is an ill wind that blows no one good. The Auckland Racing Club will make a very good profit over the Pakuranga Steeplechase, and so will a number of persons who lost no time in gathering tickets that were thrown away after that event; indeed several claim to have done very well, as such tickets had a sterling value of a pound apiece on the Wednesday morning when the A.R.C. stewards publicly announced their decision. Quite a number of city lads went out to the scene on a visit of discovery by an early train, but stableboys and ethers at Ellerslie bad by that time pretty well cleared up all the pieces of pasteboard oi the course, for which Mr Fharles Bill, the caretaker, owes them his thanks. Mr E. M. Betts, member of the A. committee, who was a visitor at the late autumn meeting of the South Australian J.t’.—a chiel among us, taking notes on the totalisator—is evidently not an admirer of the machine as a medium of wagering, says the (Correspondent of the Sydney “Mail*” for ho “questions whether it is to be preferred to the ringmen.” Rut granted lhe tote, his main objection to it, as worked at Eagle Farm, are the unpopularity with big backers of the system of paying dividends on first and second horses and the “open’* tote, that is one which shows investors how the money is being placed mi • ach horse, lie prefers a “blind’ 7 <»r partly I liad one. which would show vhe total amount ns jt is being invested, hut not until after lhe machine is shut down after each nice the amount on each horse. The Governmental Prize, mn at Vienna, is a race value lOOOsovs, for four-year-ohi colts and upwards, over a distance of a mile and a half. The Austrian Government, by giving the lOOOsovs of the prize, secure the first claim to the winner for another 500sovs, the second Haim, under the same conditions, falling to the Hungarian Government. but the owner has the right to use his horse on the flat, if the winner is a four-year-old, kill the end of next year, but if the winner is a live-year-ohl or upwards, till the end of this season. The Government claims only horses of perfect constitution, without fault, to be used to breed half-breeds. A Governmental Prize with the same conditions, but the first claim seemed by the Hungarian Government. is to bo found at lhe Budapest autumn meeting. The winner of the last Governmental Prize at Vienna was Monte Christo, a four-year-old son of Matchbox out of See Mee. He was claimed by the Austrian Government. Judging from the many letters the manager of the Motto Farm Stud has received from owners of brood mares in different parts of the State, Sir Foote may safely be regarded as a coming sire of Australia (says the Referee). The last letter io come to hand is from a well-known Riverinn sportsinan, who sent his marc to Sir Foote, and he expresses himself more than pleased with the result of the union. The youngster. he says, is u perfect beauty, and appears to possess ail the qualities of his sire. One Riverina'sportsman, in particular, after inspecting the foal, thoroughly agreed with the owner of the mare that had boon served that the youngster was absolutely the best In point of quality he has over scon, and he agreed in the conviction that Sir Foote was sure to make a name for himself at the stud. The youngster referred to is by Sir Foote out of Antonia, and has been named “Surefoot.” At Chester races (Eng.) one day last month a curious sight was seen. A brougham was observed being dragged across the Roodee without a horse by a mob of 500 people. The brougham was hoisted over the rails on to the course,

turning a somersault, righted on to its wheels again, dragged on rose-the course, hoisted over the other rails, righted on to Rs wheels again, and sent belter skelter down the banks of the Dee into the river. Jt was said to have been occupied by bookmakers who had not liquidated their liabilities, and be this as It may, it is a fact that theie was un Individual iu the carriage throughout the whole of itg exciting transit from the ring to the river. By the time the vehicle had got into midstream this individual, apparently none the worse, managed to get out, swim ashore, and escape. The value of the "Two Thousand Guineas” to the winner, Ft. Amant, was 530 J sovs, or SOOsovs more than Rock Sand earned, and'ilsbsovs more than was placed to the ci edit of Sceptre in 1902. Handicapper’s race in 1901 was of similar value to St. Amani’s, though, with" this exception, the race had not been so valuable* for a period of twenty-three years. But if the record was not broken iu the matter of value, it was in lhe time occupied to run the race. Sceptre created a time recoid two years ago of Imiu ;i9sec, but St. Amant covered the Rowley Mile in Imin B 8 4-ssee. When his sire, St. Frusquln, won the “Two Thousand” in 1896 he started at 100 to 12 on in a field of seven, occupied Imin 43 3-sse<‘, and won 425050v5. St. Amant, says an »-xchange, considerably improved upon these figures. Including his Two Thousand Guineas victory', St. Amant had won four races, lost thiee, and earned in stakes 10,05350v5. Since then he has put the Derby to his credit. Some people seem to think that the stewards of the Canterbury Jockey Club should have accepted the decision of the appeal judges in the Gladsome-ConvOy case when called upon to consider the claim of Mr Jt-ffß. owner of Petrovna, for the stake won Kv Mr steads Bagpipes, as the two cases, >1 is assumed, are based upon precisely the «uue_ groniKls, though one arose in* the North Island and the other In the South In the one ease Jones rode Bagpipes for Ml Stead, in whose employ he was and had been an apprentice for a considers Ide ‘i’ rl ‘ e .“Uier ease rode Gladsome for Mi .1. B. Held with the consent of Mr Steads trainer. Under the rules the stewards were bciUKi to consider the objection , ana give a decision on the merits. It was not for them to say the ■ind‘ Ih".? ?!' fonrs wilh Rome other c «se, and that they were m duty borind to tak<? as a precedent the ruling of judges who with - such a They had to go into lhe merits of the case just as though it was the first case that had Volving an interpretation of the rules Thev nave done so. It remains now for the conwho?ho. JU » < h" S ’ f* I '' ‘ °'“ t *’ f Appeal, to snv }ight or not C luter Pm«l lhe rules J’Y , »° rina . n hloo<l kopps cora ’ng out well, and has been to the fore in manv races during the season which Is drawing to a Hose, and there was never a horse Imported 1«» cur sister colonies against which a greater prejudice existed than that great sire. Fisherman was indeed pwt down as a failure for some years after his stock were racing. There was an impression in England until the French-bred Gladiateur won the Derby that English horses were invincible. The successes of Gladiatcur, Fille del'Air, Mortemcr Dollar, and other French horses on English soil took some of lhe conceit out of the British, and the defeats of some of our best horses in Franee—notably Blair Athol, who had to succumb to Vermont, a French-bred horse -—were very galling. There have been many to record since. Fisherman was one of England's successful representatives in his lime, for he went to France and gave a laste of his quality by winning the Emperor's ITize. Jt has often been said that the Grand Prix de I’aris has brought out more stayers in France than any other race, The disiauce is three furlongs longer than the Derby course, and it is pleasing to learn that a son of Fiying Fox has succeeded in winning this year, for It is a triumph in which England shares, for Flying Fox is an English thoroughbred, and wen amongst other races the Blue Riband of the Turf when he was sold for a large sum io his present owner for stud purposes. It was no doubt disappointing to mostpeople (hat Haydn lost his feet and camo down in the Great Northern -Steeplechase, hut subsequent running in the Winter Steeplechase, over a. course some two or

three furlongs shorter, showed pretty co«* clusively Haydn had too stiff « task set him to win. Though be was to all appearances quite out of the race than a mile from home, when he slipped nnd fell on the Hat, he might poasibly have closed up some of thr ground, for he Is sueh a genuine stayer. I huve never regarded him as master of a lot of weight, nor do I think him a particularly good horse over the bill at Ellerslie, his action being greatly against him, and particularly in heavy geing. Still he was the best horse that figured over the country, and there was« nothing racing over the hurdles that could have given him an ounce iu weight and tn. beating in. the condition of the course, and over a long journey. Haydn is one of the useful all-round sort, and hla heart must be a big one, but.be has not earned the Impost of 12.5 placed on him in the V.R.('. Grand National, a country that would suit him nicely. To have a chance with. fhgX impost the aveiage class of Australian ’chasers would have to be below the class hi this country. Haydn’s good jumping, gameness, and staying, and condition have helped him through in races which he might never have won had he met as reliable fencers as fit as himself. He would get a long way in the Grand National Hurdle Race with 10.9 ou his back, with plenty of hurdles to jump, and three miles to travel, but so many good flat horses are annually tried for this particular business that there is always a lisk of running up against a good one or two. J-ast year Waiwcra was set to give a horse like Marmont somewhere about 3st. Over at the five-furlong post before the start for the Farewell Handicap at the A.R.C. Winter Meeting a number of the unlookers were striking matches, the light from which could be plainly seen from thestands. The judge, Mr Lusk, Jiad a Hose thing to decide, and informed me that he could not pick the horses out by their colours uutil they were within J(m) yards vf Jiim. A man, who was standing near the corner of the main stand, on being told that a dead heat had been run, remarked, “A dead heat! Now’, how could he tell without a candle?” We can always find people ready to dispute the findings of the judge, even those who are not favourably positioned to see, but Mr Lusk's .decisions, are almost invariably accepted without demur. By .force of. habit a lot of people after every race come along the running ground and are soon congregated near the judge's box to give the winners a welcome,, and on rare occasions the losers a hostile reception; and it sometimes occurs that when a close thing has to be decided they start clamouring by calling out the names of the particular horses they have their money on. That practice is less common than it was. and during the meeting just over there was nothing of that sort of thing. When Mark Ryan came trotting Sergius towards the Raddling paddock, however, before any numbers bad been hoisted, a good many of those on the course started calling out “No, no,” and they raid many more were under the impression that Sergius had been beaten. From the press stahd it looked as if Woodmount had won by over half » length, but from other angles Sergius looked to have won, and Mark Ryan says he Thought he had got home by a neck; hence his reason for trotting back smartly. “The man in the box” Is the one to tell, and Mr Lusk gives his decisions promptly and enjoys the confidence of the public aud owners. The fact that our steeplechases are usually won by horses of stamina and good material is one of the strongest arguments for the encouragement of this particular Hass of race, and to lovers of good horses, horses that are not mere “leather-flapping” weeds, horses that can go four miles and jump a score or more fences, and carry something more tiian catch weights, the achievements of so many - at our w’inter meeting that had put up excellent performances were very gratifying. Seeing, alse, that they had either graduated from, or had considerable experience in, the hunting field, their running was doubly Steeplechasing is indeed popular, nowhere more so than at Ellerslie. We w'aut to keep it so, and not allow it to be brought into disrepute by people who would farm such events between them. Occasionally this has been done, and, the public have not been slow to learn what has been, going «»n behind the scenes. If at times they have become suspicious, they have had cause, no doubt, and it is not surprising that they should somtdimes suspect own-

. without real cause, A most unfortunate thing it was that any unpleasantHess should have occurred over the Pakurauga Steeplechase, in which the four starters were ridden by gentlemen rider*, but soon after. Kiatero won an objection was lodged against that gelding on the ground that be was not qualified to atart as he had not been hunted and given a certificate this year. The* stewards held an inquiry on the course, and decided to further consider the matter on Monday, when they had before them the owners «nd riders of.the various horses, so as to fully Investigate as to the qualifications of each of the runners —a matter that would hare been quite unnecessary if they had insisted upon seeing certificates before the race. Evidence was taken on Monday, and the stewards decided to further adjourn the hearing until Tuesday. when it was decided In effect that neither Kiaterc, Taranaki, nor Star were qualified under the conditions of the race and rules, und that Tunl, who fell, not having completed the course, the money invested on each of the starters he returned. The f-jlt text of the finding of the stewards Is published tn this issue. It Is h most extraordinary position of affaire That all the owners, mid one of them a master of hounds, should have been racing their horses be iieving that they wore properly qualified, and that there was no one to raise the question until Kin ter e had wou. There are lots ot lessons to be learned from lhe slipshod way in which the racing of these hunters has been allowed. AU the riders had certificates, but the horses nad not. It was the business of the chib, as well as the owners, to see that they had everything in order. Under the circumstances the stewards have done th? best thing they could.to make amends for the mistakes made, but it is very unfortunate for a-large number of backers of beaten horses that they destroyed or threw r.way their tickets and consequently cannot ger 1 heir money back. The club will profit conafderaMy over the affair, as they will save the price of the stake, £SO. and probably considerably more than that amount •Brough tickets being lost. Mr Crowther, who entered the protest, it Is said did not do so willingly, but was prompted Ug so by an official desirous of seeing the rules strictly carried out, only to find that his cwn 1 sc, Taranaki, was not properly qi a* HHed, s he had supposed. It is probably i he f. st time in the history of racing in the colony when such a thing has happened. Taranaki was properly qualifie 1 for the Ladles’ Bracelet he won on the first day, the wording and conditions differing from those for the Pakuranga Steeplechase. In the Bracelet, horses that were qualified last season were eligible. In the Pakuranga Steeplechase ft was necessary to have a certificate for this year. A knot of trainers “talking horse” the nt her day at Randwick exchanged some Interesting opinions and reminiscences on the subject nearest to their heart — the noble horse. Roaring was discussed at length, and the consensus of opinion was that the trouble was not inherited but acquired— colds. Influenza, and overwork being the principal factors towards throat diseases. The idea that narrow gullets and defective jawbones were brought about hr roaring was scouted. Experts generally agree that a horse with narrow jaws set back into his neck cannot stay a distance, sis this formation affects his breathing, but Harry Raynor mentioned Melos as « brllf!d nt exception to this rule and proof of the truth of the old saw that “horses run in all shapes.’’ There never was a truer stayer than Melos, yet his gulLt was to narrow and pinched that it was a task cf the greatest difficulty to physic him. Despite this defect, which, hi the opinion of ninety-nine horsemen out of one hun.*”ed. bars a horse from getting a distance. Me:cs was at his best over three miles. He was out in the two best seasons known in Australia, and ran only in first-class races against such smashers as Abercorn. Carbine, Dreadnought. Manton, and Megaphone, and he held his own with credit. With reasonable luck he would have added one of the three great cups io his list ot wins, which were all under w.f.a. conditions. Melos was not anything like as brilliant a horse as Carbine, but he was a more genuine stayer. He needed a strong pacemaker To get anything Hkp good results. H Melos went out to make his own running, a horse like Carbine would smother him at the finish, but. when a smasher like Dreadnought went out in the Charnel »n Race to cut down Carbine Melos was seen at his best, and outstayed the pair of them Three times during his career Melos beat Carbine at w.f.a. over a mile and a quarter, two miles mid a quarter, and three miles, M«d though be met Abercorn many times over various distances he never managed to defeat Chester’s best son. How Melos lost the Melbourne Cup of 1889 is not so much of a mystery as many suppose. Aft?r running Abercorn to a head, and boating Carbine in Ihe Melbourne Stakes, it certainly looked like “sharping” the bookmakers to take 3 to 1 about him in the Cup with Bst 121 bon bls baefc. He was meeting Carbine on 161 b better terms, but the latter, who ran second, beat the GoldsBrough, horse, who probably travelled over 100 yards more ground than any horse in the race. Dreadnought beat Melos tn the Australian Cup by a nose, and two jumps after they passed the post Melos was half a length in front of the Chester horse. Melos was singularly unlucky in that race hy being shut in among a lot of beaten iiorses when they turned for home, but when he got out how did he finish! When < .’a rhino beat him by a head in the Sydney Cup It would have been £IOOO to an orange on his gelling the stakes bad Mr Gannon protested, for. in that bumping finish, Carbine was undoubtedly the. aggressor.

The history of the English turf goes to show (says “Augur.” ot the “Sporting Life*’) that certain horses have been only remarkable over certain courses, but, ns a rule, the thorough, long distance runner has distinguished himself over every sort of ground. Some of the Northamptonshire Stakes and Chester Cup winners have not done ns well elsewhere. The groat, goodlooking brown or black horse Leamington,

Man almost invinrlble at Chester. winning the Cup twice In three years, but he failed ralher ingjoriously uu trther courses. Schism twat : hiiu very easily fur the Ascot Vase, when they laid 5 to 2 uu him. and he was actually nowhere in the Goodwood Cup. won that year by Promised Land. To his credit though as a younger horse, he had won the Goodwood Stakes, but he was never so much nt home there as ho was at Chester. Pageant was another almost invincible on the Koodee, and the odd part has always been that, contrary to the general supposition that little horses ate the better to get mu nd turns, and one may say on-the bend from start to finish, tho big, long-striding horses have always done the best for the Chester Cup. Wells, who rode Leamington in his second Cup victory, when he heat 32. did not think him the l>est he had ridden over that course, lie once expressed his opinion to me that Asteroid was the best he had ever won a. Chester Cup upon. It was true he was carrying 9.4, but here was a horse who could do just as well over Ascot or Goodwood, ami all courses seemed alike to him. This was old Tom Jennings’ idea of a truly , great horse; he should be as good over one distance as another, the same over f»l! courses, and with no excuses wanting for hard ground oi soft. His general quotation, Mouarque, was certainly a marvel of .such conditions, as ho won over half a mile to chop all his opponents down, -and his best exploit of four miles was over the somewhat cramped course at Chantilly, with up bill and down. Then he won at Newmarket, and again at Goodwood. Fisherman was the same, nil apparently groat, lumbering horse, but so handy that Wells could do what he liked on him at Chantilly, when fp won thft Empeior’s Prize there, and he was equally good ftt Ascot, where he won two gold Cups in successive years. A very idle horse he was, shamming distress, so Wells always said; but a reminder with the spurs made him dash away, and ho would fairly smother his opponents at the finish. The Australians certainly got the very backbone of stoutness when they took Fisherman. Such thoughts as the above occur to one on the eve of a Northampton Stakes, and I well remembmer another perfect racer, who came off very distinguished in this particular event. This was Dollar, the winner In 1864. Nothing could be more racing-like than this son of The Flying Dutchman, but quite the opposite to such horses as Leamington, Asteroid or Fisherman, as he was nothing like as big or powerful. Little Kitchener rode him in a snaffle bridle, and t am sure he could have twisted him about with a pack thread. When fairly in his stride, it was like- the poetry of motion to see Dollar, and he was as game as a fighting cock within his distance, which was three miles. At four miles I saw him spun out. 1 know that the inhabitants of Chantilly would, not. believe for a moment that Kitchener and Dollar could be beaten at Northampton, as the little man, who was quietness itself, especially on a mount he liked, was certain to handle him so welt round the turns, and so it came off, and the blood-like Dollar proved himself to be a source of stoutness, indeed, for our French neighbours, as their winners of our Ascot Cup and Alexandra Plate last year, were the descendants in male line of this exquisite son of The Flying Dutchman and Payment. ® ® ® THE PAKURANGA STEEPLECHASE INQUIRY, The adjourned inquiry by the stewards of the Auckland Racing Club into the protest lodged against the stake in the Pakuranga Steeplechase, run at the club's winter metding on Saturday last, going to Mr S. Darragh’s Kiatere {winner) on the ground that the horse had not qualified in accordance with the conditions laid down for hunters’ races, was ?omplotcl yesterday afternoon. A large amount of evidence was heard, and after a 1 uigthy deliberation the following resolutions wore adopted:—“l. That the horse Kiatere be disqualified as regards the Pakuranga Sr -epicchase on the grounds {a) that his owner is is not a member of a recognised hunt club, and (b) that, no certificate in respect of this horse, within the meaning of rule 165, section 6, of the Rules of Racing, and rule 21 of the rules of the New Zealand Hunt Club Association, has been issued. 2. That the stewards accept Mr Darragh’s explanation that he was unaware of the requirement as to membership when entering and starting his horse. 3. That as to each of the horses Star and I'aranaki ur «.ua;ificf i icn certificate, within the meaning of rule 165. section (I. of the itules <■! Racing, and ruhi 21 of the rules of the Now Zealand Hunt Club Association, having been issued, neither of the said horses was entitled to start in the Pakuranga Steeplechase, and they arc respectively disqualified. 4. That holders of totalisator tickets for money Invested on the. horses Kiatere, Taranaki, and Star respectively shall he entitled to a refund, of their investments in full, and that holders of tolaiisator tickets for money invested on the horse Tuui shall also bo entitled to a refund of their investments in full.” The stewards had undec consideration the. running of Star, and passed the following resolution: — “That the stewards having received a certificate from a duly qualified veterinary surgeon to the off oct that the hex so star had received a serious injury upon bis knee «»n the Wednesday previous to the rare, and that such injury prevented him from running a true they do not think It. necessary to make further dioti in tao mutter” ® ® ®

AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB S WINTER MEETING.

The opening day of (he Auckland Trotling Chib’s winter meeting was held last Saturday on (he Takapuna- Jockey Club s course. The tra<*k after (ho recent rains was heavy and holding, but was In a far belter condition than, would bo imagined.

fur which state of affairs the raretake* (Mr Fancbef Is entitled to a warm word of piaise. Mr A. R Harris officiated as judge, and the meeting was well conducted by the-officials, headed by Mr C. F. Mark, the secretury, and the club Is to be congratulated on the excellent day’s sport provided. The racing was in most of the events exciting, ami Mi Edwards, the handicapper. is entitled to a lot of praise for his efforts to bring tho competitors together. The starting ot Mr O’Connor as usual left nothing to be desired. Speculation was fairly brisk, the sum of £2918 10/ being passed through the machines in 10/ tickets, an amount which must be considered more than satisfactory. Albertorlous was made favourite for the opening event of the programme, the Malden Trot, for which nine faced the starter. The favourite was quickly into his stride, and settling down to an even gait, never gave the rest <»f the field chance, winning easily at the finish hy six lengths. Seven out of the eight acceptors faced the banier for the Oak Handicap, an event for gallopers. Sally Horner was sorted out as the most likely to s g re, and again backers made no error, as after Sweet Marte. Kyra and Lady Lottie had made most of the running, the favourite went to the front, and was never afterwaids seriously troubled, winning at the finish by two lengths. The good field of thirteen lim'd up for the Winter Handicap Trot, Rushlight, who was on the limit, being most iu favour with backers; Autocrat and Rebel Boy finding most support of the others. The favourite was iu the lead for about three parts of the journey, when he tired, and began breaking badly, and was passed by Belladonna and Autocrat, the last named taking charga at the distance, and lasting long enough to win all out by the best part of a length fiom Tfc Whiti, who came very fast at the finish, with Belladonna three lengths further back third. There, was .again thirteen starters for the next event, the Middle Class Trot. My Lady wa? made a sllgbt'.y better favourite* than Countess, while Pleasanton was also well backed. Pleasanton was responsible for the pace HU entering the straight, where he got. up and Countess passed him. and trotting steadily the marc managed to keep Pleasanton (who got going again quickly) at bay, and won an exciting lace by. half a lengthOnly half of the acceptors in the Ladies’ Bracelet rolled out, and Belladonna was made an even money favourite* Eric was iu front for about a mile, when lie was caught and passed by Belladonna and George, and although George made a great effort, to get on terms, the favourite’ had no difficulty In winning by a couple of- lengths. _ . The seraich4ng pen was freely used in the Ffying Handicap, there being Rix withdrawals, leaving seven to go to the post, of which Garnet was made favourite. Garnet was one of the first to begin, but Pahwaihi immediately rushed to the ' r ? n ’r and although Lady Lottie and Garnet challenged him iu the run homo, the ex-polo pony staved the longest, and won after an exciting finish l»y half a length from l*ady Lottie, who was a head in front of Garnet. For the concluding event, the Electric. Trot 12 went to the post. Kiddie Gee being made a warm favourite. Kiddie Geo was in front when half the journey was covered, and never gave the opposition a chance, winning easily by twelve lengths. MAIDEN TROT HANDICAP of2ssovs; second ssovs. One mile and a-ha If. j Dickson’s Albertorlous, b h. 3yrs, by Albert Victor—Dulce, 30s (Baker)..., 1 W. A. Scott’s Donizetti, 19s 2 Mrs W. Greenwood’s b h Pleasanton, 28s 3 Also ran: Mutnmel Childe, scr; Lance, 15s; Bellcar, 18s; Nul, 245; Mack, 255; Huanul, 31s. Won easily by six lengths. Time, 4.23 2-3. Dividends, £1 4/ and £1 3/. OATS HANDICAP of 40sovs; second ssovS. Six and a-ha If furlongs. H. Bernard’s Sally Horner, b m, Gyrs, by Hornpipe—Antcros mare, 9.8 (Deeley) 1 M. K. Finlayson’s Lady Lottie, 9.0 .... 2 M. Whitelaw’s Sweet Marie, 9.0 ; 3 Annoyed, 12.10; Whawhai, 9.7; Kyra, 9.7; Signal,* 9.0, also started. Won by tw<» lengths. Time, 1.33 4-5. Dividends, £1 5/ and 36/. WINTER HANDICAP TROT of GOsovs; second, lOsovs. Two miles. E. G. Sandali’s gr h Autocrat (Price).. 1 To Whiti - Belladonna. ... 3 Also started: Fichu. Rosalind, Duke C., Harold Abdallah. Rebel Boy, Old Judge. K.D., Colenso. Miss Hnon. Rushlight. Won by a length. Time, 5.33 2-5. Dividends, £1 18/ and £2 G/.

MIDDLE CLASS TROT of 35sora; second, s*o vs. One mile and a-balf. T. Exley’s Counter (Baker/ 1 Pleasanton 2! Fibre 4 Also started: Young Salisbury. Empress, Utile Beu, My !<ady. Ploke, Snip. Buss Irvington. Bert. George. Mark. V\. >o by half h length. Time. 4.21 3-5. XL 16/ and 15Z. LADIES* BRACELET HANDICAP. Bracelet, value 2t>*ovs: second bracelet. lih*»vs; third bracelet, ssuvs. One mile and ahalf. Miss Dickson's b in Rvlladonns (Mr Baker) < George 2 Krle 5 Also started: K.D.. Invicta. Won i»y two lengths. Time. 4.1 S 2-5. Dividend; £1 FLYING HANDICAP of 30sovs; secoad KsoyM. Ftv»v furlongs. J. McDonald** I'ahwaihi (T. Cotton, juri.l < Lady Lottie X Garnet 5 Also started: Fashionable, Whawhat. Lady French. Sentinel. Won by half a imigth. Time, 1.12. Dividends. £3 7/ and FSLECTRIC TROT HANDICAP of IDsovi; second. 5 so vs. One mile. R. J. Munro’s Kiddie Gee (Edwards/.. V Muiumel Chihla n Victor C g Also started: Waitekauri, Isabel. Co Leu so. Rushlight. Bryn, Belicar Cnanless. Kert. Fibre. Won easily. Timo, 2.39. Dividends, £1 3/ and XL !♦/. © & (S) HAWKES BAY JOCKEY CLUB* WINTER MEETING. NAPIER, Friday. The following acceptances have been received for the Hawkv't* Bay Jockey Club’a Winter Meeting: — HAWKE’S BAY STEEPLECHASE of 250 soys. About three rnllcs.

Trial Steeplechase of SOsovs, about two miles. Sabreur 10.4, Towhatu l(».3, TauiWha 9.11, Rhyl 9.11, Dismal 9.7. Winter Hack Handicap or TOsovs, one* mile.--Trent 9.8, Taluiie 9.8, Ice 9.7. Gohl Trip 9.7, Mourn 9.5, Quilted 9.5, Rungarawn 9.3. British Navy 9.0, Albol Brusc 9.0, Seascape 9.0, Post Hasle 9.0* Ladies’ Bracelet of 75sovs, one* mile and n-half. — Kalpelipeti 11.13, Tyrone 11.12, Dick Turpin 11.11, Optimist 11.6, Rags) 11.3, Bandmaster 11.2. Pearl Diver 10.1 L Joe Chamberlain 10.10, Mahitl 10.7, Golden Comb 10.7. Hack Handicap Hurdles of GO-ovs. oiu* •nile and three-quart ere.- Or! ink 11:::. VaIhna 10.9, la 10.5, Warwick 9.1 b, Ontario 9.5, Taluue 9.3, No Shot 9.0, Hawke’s Bay Hurdles of 150kovs, one mile and th ice-quart ere. Media 10.8, Evening 10.3. Levant. 10.2, Aroha 9.13. Mourner 9.13, Roller 9.12. Guesser 9.10. Defoe 9.3, Crcusot 9.0, Rags 9.0, Sumnos 9.0. Hunt Club’s Steeplechase, of 50sovs,about two miles and a-half. - Nadador 11.8, Gun Metal 11.7, La Belle 11.0, Erebus 11.0* Vagrant 11.0. Corinthian Stake.* Handicap of iiOsovFq once round. — Faria 11.5, Freeland 11.5. Craflsman 11.3, Alas 11.2,Peail Diver 10.13, Gohl Trip 10.12, Joo Chamberlain 10.1£ Quilled to.ll. Good Spec JO. 11, Fantakmu 10.11, Valkyrie 10.10. 'i'orioise 10.9, 1 tongara wa 10.9, Sleep well 10.7, Seascape 1U.7, Hindoo 10.7,

1’npatn ... Kt. lb. . . 10 l» Victory .... .. nit Iflclnh* . ... . . 10 8 Towhat a .. livening ... in 0 Kftppili . . . Htockman . .. !> T Mourner ., ... i) 13 .. l» T