TURF NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIII, Issue XVI, 15 October 1904, Page 18

TURF NOTES.

Wiißlmill, the dam of Spalpeen, has visited Soult. C Cooper is to ride Canteen in the Melbourne Cup. Mr H. Brush has been appointed judge by the V.lt.C, At Cambria Park. Bequest, by Dreadnought—Legacy, has foaled a coll to Eton. ’Thirty-three now members were elected by the Wellington Raring Club last week. At Wellington Park. Sister Francis, by Seaton Delaval—Agatha, has foaled a filly to Hotchkiss. J. Lowe, who took Canteen to Australia, has entered Mr W. J. Crick's employ as private trainer. During last week Rongoa and Maroon and Gold were schooled over the small hurdles, both shaping well. The Wellington Rating Club will use Robertson's double totalisators for their Spring Meeting. The horses Irish and Hippowa! were brought back from their unsuccessful trip to Wanganui by the Rarawa last Tuesday. Last Wednesday morning, at Ellerslie, Welleast and Geologist were schooled over the hurdles, both jumping well. Mr U. Shannon handicapped for the second day of the Marlborough meeting, Mr Henrys being engaged at Hawke's Bay at the time. Sally Horner, who has been indulged in a spell r ince last June, is again in work at Ellerslie. She is still an inmate of K. Heaton's stable. It was hard luck for J. B. Williamson to make the journey to Wanganui with Irish anti then bump up against a mare like Trumpery. Convoy seems to have been backed for the New Zealand Cup all over the colony last week; £l2OO was secured about his chance in Auckland alone. In the interests of owners the Canterbury Jockey Club wisely deferred the issuing of the weights for the Stewards’ Handicap to a later date than usual. D. Moraghan, who has found Gisborne a happy hunting ground for some time past, has not nominated a single hors? for the Poverty Bay Club’s Spring Meeting. Returned visitors from the Wanganui Meeting pick Trumpery, who won the two hark hurdle events out as a marc likely to win high honours over big country. Bellman, who has been off the scene for some time, figures amongst the nominations for the jumping events at the A.R.C. Spring and Summer Meetings. Golden Lily's time, 1.42 1-5, for the Hawke's Bay Guineas has only been beaten on one occasion, when Menschikoff won in 1901 in 1.411. •‘The Australasian’’ says that Hewitt is far and away the best jockey New Zealand Jias sent t<» Australia since W. Clifford was over with Lochiel. G. Absohnn has had an addition to his string, a pony by Seaton Delaval Roxana going into his hands to be prepared for future engagements. Seobie, who has had charge of Emir slime he was a yearling, still holds to the belief that he is one of the best horses Australasia lias produced. At Cambria Park, Miss Annie, by Seaton Delaval First Love, has foaled a rolt to (’yrrnlan. and Guinevere, by Sir Lancelot •—Orient ale, filly to Elon. Aesop, while being schooled over the hurdles lasi Wednesday, struck one heavily and came down, his rider (Selby) escaping with a shaking. The horse was unhurt. Mr J. (’hadwick will handicap for the second day 6f the Napier Park meeting, and Mr Hyde will act ns starter, after which the appointments for the year will be made. . , ,

Mr C. F. Mark, the secretary of the A.T.C.. notifies that all ponies engaged at Ihe club’s Spring Meeting must lie measured before being allowed to start.

The following foalings are announced at the Hon. IL Mosman's Favona Park Stud:

The Witch, brown colt to Soult: Maratea. bay filly to llcngist; Dunoon, chestnut filly to llcngist.

V. Cotton, the Auckland light-weight, is still keeping up his reputation. At the recent Hawke’s Bay molding hr was at lhe head of winning horsemen with four wins to his credit.

The Otahuhu Racing Club have received splendid acceptances for the annual meet-

ing, which takes place to-morrow (Wednesday), October 12th, and a good day's sport ought to result.

Gweniad. who has shown herself to he possessed of a rare dash of pace, has been leased by her owner. Mr F. W. Arnold, to Frank Ross, and is now being trained at Avondale.

Golden Rose, who has been mated with Mensrhlkoff, is in work nt Ellerslie, and although there are grave doubts about her standing a preparation, an effort is to be made to get a race out of her.

The Auckland Trotting Club's acceptances for their Spring Meeting.which opens next Saturday, 15 th October, are above the average, and a successful meeting can be confident ly ex p cct ed.

Rongoa, who was purchased a short lime ago from Mr Donald McKinnon on behalf of a Southern sportsman, was shipped South on Saturday by the Ta hi nr, and will go into W. Clark’s hands.

On the first day Mr 11. D. Luekie. longtime secretary to the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club, and recently returned from England, was present at the Spring Meeting of that club, looking very well.

The two Auckland representatives at the Hawke’s Bay meeting both succeeded in earning a winning bracket. Le Beau accounting for the Flaxmere Handicap and Alba Rose for the Final Handicap.

Sir George Clifford and Mr Oliver Samuel met during the progress of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club's meeting, and spent several evenings burning lhe midnight oil in working on the revision of the rules of racing.

Wairiki’s absence from the training track* has not had the effect of sending him bark in the Cup betting in Melbourne. A local sport wired to Melbourne asking his price, on Thursday. The best offer available was 100 to 16.

It was fully intended to give Up-to-Date a turn over the steeplechase fences on Saturday, but owing to the heavy state of the ground it was considered advisable to postpone th<‘ task till the track gets a bit more solid.

It is intended to put St. Olga to Eton, s.o we shall not see much more of the daughter of St. Leger on the racecourse. Our local starters will not be sorry to sec the last of her, as hr has caused them a lot of trouble at the post latterly.

There seems little doubt, from the accounts in the Sydney papers, that Nightfall would have won the Members’ Handicap on the last day of the Australian Jockey <’tub's meeting lint for being interfered with when Optimist fell. The ex-Aucklander Fromm ion, who was purchased last autumn by a Wellington sportsman, has succeeded in giving his new owner his first return for the money expended upon him. the Telegraph Handicap at the Marlborough meeting falling to his share. The Trenton mare Valmy days, with 8.7, started a 9 to 4 favourite for the Great Ebor Handicap. mile, last month, but was beaten half a length by the 5 year old War Wo f, 7.2. The winner's price was 6 I<> 1. Palmy days is the best of Trenton's progeny at present racing in England. Messrs <?. G. Stead. G. I*. Donnellv, E. J. Watt, T. 11. Lowry. 11. Friedlander, and G. E. Richardson are owners who were not present at the Hawke’s Bay meeting, which would have been a poor one indeed without their horses. It is fortunate that Ihe Hawke's Bay Club has so many good patrons. Messrs Watt and Donnelly have not returned from their Continental trips, but Mr Lowry’s absence is accounted for

from illness which has confined him to his home for over a fortnight.

Nothing definite has been decided as to who will have the mount on Walrikt la the Melbourne'Cup, but <it in understood Mr Bradley has had the offer of the services of three of the leading Australian horsemen, Barden, Huxley, and Parker. Mr Bradley will decide the question when he arrives in Australia.

Mr Percy Martin, who was for a long time trainer to Mr S. H. Gollan. acts as judge for the Hawke's Bay and Napier Park Racing Chibs. At the 11.8. Spring Meeting he had one particularly close thing to decide when ’Tyrone in the last stride got his nose level with that of Blazer in the Welter.

Mr G. G. Stead was second on the winning owners’ list at the Australian Jockey Club's Spring Meeting with £1499. A Melbourne writer says the Victoria Racing Club would not begrudge the same amount »>f prize money for the sake of seeing Mr :Stead and his horses at Flemington in November.

If a pet name had to be suggested for Jim Seobie, the Derby Demon would fit pretty well. Three Sydney Derbies, three Victorian Derbies, and three South Australian Derbies in four years constitute a pretty good record. It’s a wonder (says “Jav’lin’’) the teetotallers don’t run Seobie for Parliament as the champion Blue Ribhonite!

Immediately after the race for the Meml»ers’ Handicap at the recent A.J.C. Spring Meeting, Mr A. Moss, the New Zealand bookmaker, laid 500 to 20 against Nightfall for the New Zealand Cup. The majority of lhe Australian writers cannot see boxy Mr Stead's filly is to be beaten In the N.Z. Cup—that is,. provided she is Mr Stead s elect.

Amongst the visitors at the Ilawke’u Bay Jockey Club’s meeting was Mr J. Nicholson,who trained - Wellington for some ♦»f his winning engagements in Australia, and Dunlop when that horse scored in the Melbourne Cup and other races. Nicholson would settle in New Zealand if he could got a few horses to train, and he comes highly recommended.

People will be canieil away by the time horses run races in, and are apt to magnify them accordingly. The race for the Hawke's Bay Guineas was started without a barrier, and the runners were well into their stildes when they raced from the mile post. It is doubtful whether the race would have been run under 1.44 from a barrier.

The young Merriwees made a favourable impression in ruuning for the Hasting* Btakes, and Mr Watt will be delighted at the news that his pair ran first and second. Both are inbred to Musket,and King Billy's dam (Indian Queen) was a brilliant fiily who won the same race and afterwards sprung a surprise on MenscblkofT in the Welcome Stakes, which was Menschikoff * first essay.

Mr Witty, having asked the Government whether it will consider the advisableness of giving a premium out of the moneys secured from the totalisator to owners whose stallions are serving approved mares if the fees demanded are lower than those usually charged, and so bring our position somewhat into line with the eonditions prevailing in England in connection with The King’s premium, has received the encouraging reply “that the question will be considered.”

At the monthly meeting of the A.R.C. Committee on Thursday the following programmes were passed:—Kawakawa. VVaihl, Takapuna, Kamo, Galatea, and VVhangarei. Gentlemen riders’ certificate* were issued to Messrs W. C. Flexman and R. Fergusson. Trainers’ licenses were granted to Messrs W. Bird, W. A. Scoit. and Edwin Kelly; and jockeys’ Ikumses to A. Langdon, A. McLeod. C. E. Hart. W. Sharp, R. T. Barratt, W. B. Ross, G. Henderson, and R. White.

Obi Blazer stayed out a mile in moderate company in the Welter on the first clay of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Meeting, and it was hard luck to lose by a head, seeing that he was presenting weight to all the runners; still, Tyrone's win was overdue, and Mr Douglas’ success was popular. On the second day, meeting Tyrone on 8!b better terms, and over a furlong shorter course, he beat that gelding by a fair margin, and also defeated Float at level weights.

A statement has appeared in print to the effect that Geologist, who won the Publicans’ Purse at the recent Avondale Meeting, was resold by lhe gentleman who purchased him in 1902 to his old owner, and that he won in his original owner’s colours. This is not a fact, as the gentleman who secured him in 1902 is still his owner, and has leased him with a purchasing clause to the gentleman whoso name he has raced in for the past twelve months, and whose lease has still some time to run.

In Christ church and Wellington and locally the New Zealand Cup is a dead letter amongst pencillers, as backers are in doubt which of Mr Stead's horses to follow, and many have narrowed the big race down to this owner’s stable —a thing they have done before with persistent regularity. Mr Stead has, indeed, supplied more winter send spring favourites for the New Zealand <’up than all the other owners put together.

but has not won the race since L.ochie! broke the riu< lu 1887. and then not a penny was invested by or on behalf of that owner on hia horse. It was all public uioney he carried.

There have been no really first class three-year-olds out ho far. Had there been, some of the handicap horses in which horses of that age have failed to get into the first three would have resulted differently. Such colts us Maxim, St. Hippo, Tirailleur, Manton and Seahorse would carry the class seen at recent meetings. In present form a mare of the clas of Armistice could present the best of the three-year-olds with weight, ami the ex-hack Mahutonga would have no difficulty in giving over 141 b to the best of them at a mile or beyond.

In conversation with a gentleman well acquainted with the Flemington training tracks, he stated that Canteen’s gallop of 11 furlongs on the sand in 2.25 J, which was cabled last week would be a miraculous one. Before Lochlel won the Australian Cup of 1889 he was credited with running a similar journey hi 2.29, and on the strength of that he was backed down to a very short price. Canteen is evidently getting back to his form of last spring, ami he will be a hard horse for the best of them to beat in the Melbourne Cup.

At the last Avondale Meeting a certain horse was not allowed to start owing to his name being on the forfeit list for an amount due by his owner to one of the leading Southern clubs. The amount owing. It is stated, was telegraphed by the owner of the horse to the secretary of the club early in August, and it was clea »y bls duty to see that the horse’s name was removed from the defaulters’ list. The owner interested has instructed

his solicitor to apply for compensation from the club, failing which the matter is likely to bo ventilated in the law courts.

A lot of uneasiness has been felt by backers of Wairiki for the Melbourne Cup owing to h!s absence from the training tracks at Flemington. From an outside source, I.learn that Mr S. Bradley, the owner of the crack, received a cable during the week from J. McHugh stating that the horse had struck himself while exercising, but that the injury was a very slight one. and was giving him no cause for anxiety. That it is not considered serious is evidenced in the fact that Mr S- Bradley left last week for Melbourne to assist at the big Flemington gathering. A New York paper remarks that the Hawthorne (Chicago) management recently promulgated an order that entries would not tie ieceived Ln the names of married women. It had become quite the vogue of late for such entries to be made, and among the seven or eight assumed lady owners were Mrs Hildreth, Mrs C. E. Durnell. and Mrs R. Bradley. All complied with the rule except Mrs Durnelk entries being since made in the names of husbands instead of wives. But Mrs Durneli, iat her

than comply with the innovation, decider’ to sell her horses, and they were disposed of in the paddock.

In conversation with Mr ,1. Beckett, the well known penciller, who has just, returned from a trip to Sydney, being present at the A.J.C. Spring Meeting, he informed me that, in his opinion, the Australian form was a long way behind that of New Zealand, and that none of their top-notchers were in the same class as Achilles or Wairiki. Mr Beckett is very confident that Wairiki is nearly a stone better horse that Lord Cardigan over two miles, and. provided he gets to the post tit and well, expects to see. Mr Bradley s crack win the Melbourne Cup comfortably, that is as far as the Australian competitors fire concerned.

A number of racing clubs In the Taranaki, Wanganui, Wellington, and Hawke’s Bay districts, also the Canterbury and a few other Southern racing clubs, employ private defectives to inform them of the presence of persons I hey wish to keep off their racecourses, and, fearing prosecutions, quite a number against whom cases have been previously brought only attend meetings at which these clubs have do power or desire to interfere. It is no uncommon thing to see men kept without the gates at one' meeting and a few miles away at another following the game without let or hindrance.

It wm generally supposed lu the South that Sir George Clifford would be represented by Stronghold only in the Wanganui Guineas, as when Signalman left Canter bury he had a cold. It was evident that Stronghold was the one upon which the stable placed most reliance, as Hewitt had the mount on that horse. Signalman ran like a stayer lust autumn, but some of the Southern t rack-watchers were not sanguine of him turning out well this spring. Even owners and trainers and riders do not always gauge the merits of horses they are intimately acquainted with. Sir George Clifford’s colts finished differently to what was expected of them. Owing to the place lately occupied by Frank Ross at Avondale changing hands, Frank has shifted his quarters temporarily t<» H. Howe’s, at Kohimaramara, where he intends staying till after the A.R.C. Spring Meeting, when lie will remove his headquarters to Paerua, when* he has received the appointment of caretaker of the Ohinemuri Jockey Club’s course. The duties pertaining to the office will not prevent Ross from still continuing his profession as a trainer, and he will take the string of horses at present under his charge with him. An amusing incident occurred at a recent Alexandra Park (Eng.) meeting, where .1. Dillon, the rider of Capressi, who ran second in the Manor We.ter. was found to be considerably more than two pounds overweight, with the inevitable resuit that the marc was disqualified and lost her place money. As less than half an hour before the boy hail weighed out correctly, and as owing to his hot ride he came in bathed in perspiration, the officials wore quite al a loss to account for the discrepancy. till the youngster admitted that just before mounting hi* had felt very thirsty ami had polished off a bottle of iced ginger beer. Had the horse won. there would probably have been a lot <<’ grumbling about the matter; as it was, people only laughed. According to a London exchange, the stewards of the Hungarian Jockey Club, agreeing with the stewards of the Austrian Club, propose to give a reward of SOsovs to each trainer in England who will be the employer of apprentices, native Hungarians or Austrians, giving it whenever one or other of these boys is able to win three races in England within one year. The example of little Janek, who, employed by W. Waugh, was last year one of the most powerful and capable apprentices in England, may. with regard to this offer, induce English trainers to discover some talented jockey among Austrian Huu • garian boys. Three-year-olds I hat have been racing this spring in New Zealand will want to improve for any one of the batch to win a decent handicap race during the spring. So far quite a number of those that have been racing in the class and other events have shown that (hey cannot hold (heir own in moderate handicap company, even with a liberal allowance in weight. Signalman represented the best form of his age at Wanganui and at Hastings, yet in handicap laces at these places he never flattered his friends. A certain amount of consistency was noticeable in the running of some of the three-year-olds, and Signalman must have improved a little on Wanganui form, where Sir George Clifford quite expected Stronghold to prove his master. It will be remembered that nearly 12 mouths ago the jockey Snodgrass while riding Scatouin in the Hauraki Handicap at the Thames Jockey Club’s Summer Meeting met with injuries which result'd in his death. Under the Racing Conference Accident Insurance Fund, which is practically a fund for insuring horse owners under the Employers’ Liability Act, the iad’s mother, of whom he was the sole support, should have been entitled to a reasonable amount for tlie loss sustaiifed by her son’s untimely dentil, but so far. no satthunont has been arrived at, the amount offered by (he trustees of the fund being considered totally inadequate to meet the case. It s.-etns a pity that there is not. a specified amount stated in the rules payable at death, which should apply to all cases, as it is any tiling but pleasant for relatives of a deceased person to have to fight for the value of the life lost. It is to he hoped that a speedy settlement, satisfactory to all parties, will be arrived at.

Vcrdiana, who is an own sister to Volodyovski, the Derby winner of 1901. had given little promise of lu iug able to win a race like the Prince of Wales’ Stakes at York on August 23rd, and she practically found uo market recognition, most of the money be'ng for Renaissance and Galantine. What chance the last-named possess d and h was n good one on the ••book” was destroyed by her breaking « blood vessel in the course uf the contest, aud Renaissance was left to battle out (he finish with Verdiana. for whom, by the way. a couple ot pounds extra were put up fur the services of Maher. The Auiwan horseman got her home by a length, and in doing so won the race for the thin! successive year, he having steered Cinquefoil a twelvemonth ago, ami Skyscraper in. 1902. Vcrdiana started nt 100 to 8 in a field of ten. It is a remarkable fact that both in Europe and Australasia some of the must famous racehorses bred of late years have been bred from mares sent to a sire, and not in studs where a sire was kepi. Galtee More, Ard Patrick, and Pretty Polly were so bred in Ireland, as were Lord Cardigan amt Abundance not io mention many others - in Australasia. This, perhaps, may be accounted for (says an exchange) by the fact that where a studmnster keeps a sire uf his own ho is likely to mat<* all his mares with him. without respect to what lines they an* bred on a fatal mistake (hat has cost many a breeder lots of money. Of course. It sometimes happens that a studniastcr may, perhaps, more ly chance than good judgment, secure a sire that will nick with nearly every mare in such breeder’s stud, as happened with St. Albans al Calstock and Chester at Kirkham. But those wen.* among the exceptions that go to prove the rule. Ami, personally, I incline to the belief that the sin* whoso service is available to the public stands a much better chance of becoming famous al the stud than do those sires whose services are limited to one owner’s mares. Much interest was taken in (tie Hawke’s Bay Guineas candidates, anil a very good race resulted. The liilb penalty about stopped Signalman from winning, and Golden Lily all out beat Sir George Clifford's colt a length. Submarine was finishing quite as well as the winner, aud was another length further away. From the fact that Signalman and Submarine were disposed of in tlio King Edward Handicap the first with 8.3 on his back (not a prohibitive weight) and tills last mentioned with (5.7 it would appear that the Guineas candidates do not at present represent first-class form. Good three-year-olds would win under such imposts and in (lie same company. Signalman, though a heavy galloper, may show superiority over those of his age he met. wherever longer journeys than six furlongs arc under discussion and reasonable weights are being carried, but he is a bad one at the post, and that may mean that he is rot: quite as fit. as he may be got later on. Stronghold does not appear to Ju* nearly so robust as he was, but may do better later. Horses that arc fit to win classic, or weight-for-age races arc not always class enough to win in even second-class handicap company. Boris does not stay, ami Sir Pereivale and Aberration—the last-mentioned an improving sort are not out of the ordinary. Though Mr Stead has four horses in the New Zealand Cup still, it is not known what that owner’s intentions are in regard to what he may start, and it is quite likely (lie Southern owner has not made up his mind, so much depends on how the members of his team train on, so many other engagements have Io be considered, and even now it cannot be known what some of liis representatives may be capable of doing a month hence. The Yaldhurst stable was never stronger numerically or in belter average excellence. Judging from Nightfall’s running in Australia, in engagements in which she met the Derby candidate Sylvanite and Demas, it would not appear that that tiliy represents the best Derby form, and it is not improbable that we have better in the colony,ami possibly Mr Stead may have a belter Derby representative in one of his colts. It would he idle to speculate as to which races will be selected for individual members of the team, but it would not surprise me to find the yellow jacket carried by two representatives in each of the more important events, such as the

Welcome Stakes, (he Derby, Oaks, New Zealand Cup, Canterbury Cup. Jubilee Cuy, Steward** Handicap, and poaslniy other events, and with Cruciform, Machine Guii, Grand Rapids, Martian, Golden Knight, (Iranua. Nightfall, Golden Lily, Rubia, l.ady Lyouora, several t w<» year-olds, and others tn commission Mr stead has can dl.dates that he can have to represent him in a majority of the races at (he Spring Meeting of the C.J.C. Without the iiuinlnatlons of (hut owner and Sir George Clifford, Gw C.J.C. spi Ing Meeting would be shorn of a lot of interest. Some time hack Mr G. Faithful, of luverlochy, the breeder of Sylvanite, wrote as follows tn an exchange: In 1887 I purchased Golddust at the yearling sales on account of her inbreeding to Frailty, and for that reason only, as she was lame in the fetk.ek, aud did not iouk much like racing. 1 tried to train her, hut could not, and then turned her out on grass for nearly two years. After looking through t lie pedigrees of a number of horses advertised, I considered Grafton the most suitable fur Golddust, uh his pedigree combined the Galopin Musket strains, inasmuch as Quiver v. ;‘.s eloscTy related to Musket, a strain of whom, uf course, is in Golddust. The inbreeding to Frailty I considered to be most valuable for this cross on account of lier Fisherman blood, especially when supplemented by that in Golddust’s gramidt’.m. If you loo’; further back you will observe that Sylvanite has seven strains of Touchstone and live of B’ncklock on the dam’s side, and two of Touchstone and seven of Blacklock in the sire. There may be many theories why Syivnuite should bo a good horse (now that he has proved it), but the above were my reasons for ending tiis dam to Grafton i.e., to cross three stout strains of Flshcrnuui and one of Musket with Galopiu ami one of Musket’s relative, < Jul ver. I sold Golddust. carrying {Sylvanite, lo Mr James Thompson. The Napier Stakes is an event in which interest centres. It is to be decided to-mor-row (Wednesday). Penalties and sexual aud inaidrn allowances to I hreo-yeai-olds and two-year-olds are such that the range in weight Is from 9.0 on Signalman, to G. 4 on several two-year-o ds. The conditions of tlie race seem very clear, and the evident intention of the club was when framing those conditions that penalties should be calculated upon every winning achievement, that is of I wo-year-<»’.ds of last season ami of two ami throe-year-olds of this season. A prominent racing authoiity has advised (he secretary that penalties can only be calculated from the commencement of August, 1901 giving Ids opinion that rule 3(f of (ho Rules of Racing must be read in conjunct ion if this interpretation is correct. I lien Beau Seaton, who was a winner Inst s<*ason. and Solution escape a penalty. Had Silkworm, Boris, and other loading two-year-old stake wintiers been engaged, they would not have had any extra poundage on that account. This seems absurd. Ono would have supposed that bail it been intended that penalties should commence from August Ist. 1904, and not sooner, then it would have boon so provided, but this was not dotio* The question to determine is what weight, must Beau Seaton carry? Under the special provisions of this race, must rule 3(5 of the. Rules of Racing be allowed to override the special provisions under which nominal ions were taken. In quite a number of cases of bankruptcy the ph a is put foiward. ’ Losses by backing horses.” Cases of this kind are continually cropping up. Quite a number of people thoroughly believe those statements, amt it is by such means that the turf has gained a bad name, while all who indulge in racing art* classed as rogues and vagabonds. In police court eases we can road of certain individuals c’.almlng to bo jockeys or trainers (hat aie positively unknown to racing men. If some of those who make such slat omen ts were crossexamined it would in many cases leak out i hat they never had any connect ion with th-* turf whatever. Commenting upon a recent ease which was tried in England. ’’.Merlin,” in the London ’ Referee,” says: “I have never heard of a iegal defaulter’s betting aecounl in detail being -jdaeod befoie His Majesty’s Judges or magistrates. And that is so. But. I know of a solitary Instance where one of The gentry who cry, ‘Please. a‘r, betting did it,’ scheduled his employer for a considerable amount of pilferings, treating them ns a debt. Ills

txplauatloii of the 'unpleasant position’ Was gelling into the hands of bookmakers, and, an innocent lauib before these shearers, being shorn of his al!, everything. Including a lot that wasn’t hls’n. •Blaming’ barking horses with the wicked bookie* was a supposed equivalent to making a clean breast of it, with forgiveness to follow. But the actual sufiTeier to whose luvnry he helped himself was the wrong man for the tale, since be happened to have several irons in the fire besides the concern out of which his malinger took heavy toll, and one of them a big bookmaking business. Luder cross-examina-tion the culprit, who was, of course, unable in recollect details and naturally had lost his books or never kept any, gave the names of the men who fleeced him as the cause of all bis soriow and troubles. Respectable, responsible fielders these alleged monsters were, ami well known to my friend. The latter, interviewing them, was shown their books with all dealings in which the poor victim was concerned. He bad been n remarkably clever, fortunate backer, this Strayer from honesty’s narrow path, a good winner on the balance, with specially nice turns on each of two weeks recent before the one in which exposure In his employment overtook him. Tn the final account he had lost well, as they say in the ring, but made no offer to settle with his betting creditors, and if bp had dropped ten times as much he wouldn’t have been a penny the poorer, because what be lost he did nof pay. ‘lf you go befoi» the court and plead losses by betting.’ said the lenient master, ‘you go also before the criminal court for embezzling my money. Instead of being robbed, you have been robbing the bookmakers, ns you drew when you won. and owed when yon lost.’ This, if you think the matter over, would he about the programme for a feHow who made a habit of helping himself.”

English visitors have come to Trouville (writes the London ••Sportsman’s” Continental correspondent). Perhaps they have been attracted by the fact that the authorities have shown a certain tolerance as far as betting is concerned, although the days are far when then* was a brisk market every evening after dinner at the Casino, ami many a Derby wager was made on Hie faith of the form shown by a two-year-old. A'l sorts of insinuations have been made as to the independence of those who sit In judgment, hut the French magistracy is not inclined to uphold the Betting A<t of June. 1891. in al! its integrity. A num accused of having made a het for a fiJond was acquitted on producing Hie letter from bls correspondent, a provincial gendarme. who declared that the excitement consequent on Turf speculation was Hie only relief he could find for the relit f of a useless ami unoccupied existence. A decision in the Court of Appeal, places 1 lie onus probahdi on the prosecution where the accused person Is brought to the bar for having offered to bet with nil-comers. and having taken any commission from the winnings. Both these offences are against the law. but the police have for the future to prove that the person making the bet or accepting the odds was a complete stranger to Hie layer. It has been laid down that persons known to each other can make wagers among themselves wit limit any fear of prosecution. so that the law of IS9I would seem only to hamper ready-money transactions. Mr James Lowther, whose death was recorded a few days ago. was one of the •blest of the active members of the English Jockey Club, to which he was elected in 1X77. Born in Leeds in TMO, Mr Lowther had all the Yorkshlreman’s innate love of the thoroughbred, but although he bred horses and raced bulges for a great number of years, it is said that hr never made a bet in his life. As a turf legislator Mr Lowther was well known, ami his speeches on racing affairs were for years a special feature of the old fashioned Gimcrnck Club dinner at York. Mr Lowther owned »i‘VfMl aristocratically-bred mares, sin h as Clarissima (dam of King Monmouth); Pr«»cella. by Maacroni; ami Queen Charlotte, by Adventurer; ami among his winning horses were Antonina, Clarice, Sub Rosa. Easingion. Thuringian. Queen. Koya! Charter, St. Helena, Yule Tide. King Monmouth, and 11 mindsdil «•!>: hut his colours — dark blue, yellow hoops, and red cap - were never carried to vb-tory in a classic race. His best representatives were King Monmouth ami Houndsditeh. King Monmouth, by King I.ad. won six of the seven races he started in as a two-year-old. and subsequently hr carried off Hie Gieat Yorkshire Stakes, Great Yorkshire Handicap, Duchy Cup. Dovuridge Cup. Denby Cup. and Great Tom Stakes; ami with IToundsditch, Uy Peter, he won (hr Ascot Stakes and other good races. During recent years Mr Lowther’s name had dropped out of tin* list of winning owners. Probably his most successful year was IHS9. when’he won II races, of the value of £7282. Mr Lowther. Who resided at Wilton Castle. Redcar, had the true interests of the turf at heart, and It was mainly tn him and to Lord Durham that racing men looked for the rrfoim of the abuses to which horseracing is ur.-v---tlarly liable. ' 1 ’’

Nlxtecn years ago Lord Marcus Beresford Mlaiied to try John Day for the Grand International Hurdle Rare at Croydon, lie did not, however, want the result of the spin to be known all over the town before he had a chance to hark the horse nt a decent price. For some thne the touts bad been on the qul vivo for (ixls trial. Lord Marcus, however, determined to outwit them. One night his lordship, accompanied by a little man who could ride— one of his old regiment caught the last train to Epsom. After waiting about the stables Some hours, the visitors, t ••get her with J. .Tones, mounted their horses and rode over to Sandown Park. ]t was a moonlight tdght, and each horseman look a separate route. They had not. been there long before the morning began to break, and pre tarn tl<ms for Hip trial were mmle. Lord (arcus mounted JTihn Day; the 7th Huspsrs man wna put on 11 Zingaro; ami Jones

rode Woodstock. Everything went well, and John Day won the trial. His lordship derided not to return to Epsom, but travelled by train to London. Before the morning had far advanced, however, some of the touts missed the object of their careful attention. To guess the reason of his absence, and the place of trial as San«l<iwn, was the work of a few minutes only. Quickly they proceeded to the place mentioned, but to their mortification they only met the horses walking home. Enraged at the manner in which they had been baffled, many of them began to wish themselves divert unnatural shapes and sizes; lint one, smarter than the rest, began to look the horses carefuly over, ami soon decided in his own mind that John Day was not altogether right. A second scrutiny convinced him that the affair was serious, and before the stables were reached he saw that the horse had split his pastern joint. He did not lose much time in wiring the news to Loudon, ami as none of the party connected with the trial were aware of the accident, I.ord Marcus was first made acquainted with this useful hint by one of the very people whom he W’as congratulating himself upon outwitting. But for this incident, John Day would undoubtedly have won the race at Croydon. Unfortunately for the stable they did not possess a second string capable of “doing the trick.”

At the recent Randwick races at least one individual gave some of lhe bookmakers a lively time, being fortunate enough to “back the programme.” This feat seldom falls to the lot of the average backer, hut when it does the lucky person generally gets excited, and falls a prey to the ever-watchful racecourse thief. The person referred to is employed by a large city firm of builders and contractors. He was early at the races, and his stroke of luck opened by the acceptance of short odds against Mechlin in the first race. The horse won, ami he collected his winnings. The win gave him encouragement. and he

“punted” heavily with success. He hacked each consecutive winner, and at Hip end of. Hip day was “in” between £6<M) ami £7'.M), but be only drew £ltM) in notes for his immediate requirements, leaving Ihe balance to be collected on “settling day.” In all, lie bad about' £l3O in his possession. The roll of notes was placed in Hie righthand trouser pocket, about £ls in sovereigns in the left, and a quantity of silver in the hip pocket. To avoid the crowd by the race trams, the barker made his way towards the entrance to Centennial Park for Hie purpose of catching a Congee tram to town. He remembered bring hustled in a small crowd at the tram stopping-place, and on reaching Dariinghurst discovered that hr had been relieved of the £IOO in notes. It is evident that his lurk was noticed on lhe course. and that lie was followed by pickpockets, to whom he fell a prey.

Recent American sporting files contain a lengthy account of a race meeting held at Yokohama, Japan, Ik June last, ami the report shows that the dwellers in Hie land of the chrysanthemum are taking as kindly to (he pleasun's of the turf as they have to Western civilisation generally. Since the

first race meeting was held in Yokohama In 1867, considerable progress lias been made in turf matters, and its popularity has increased, especially among the aristocracy of that country, ami tin* better class of the foreign population residing there. The Mikado is a patron of the sport, at win. i* he is usually present, and which, according to the American scribe, “is managed by gentlemen of honour ami integrity, ami without prejudice or favouritism.” He also remarks that “the members of the Nippon Rare Club are true sportsmen. They believe in fair ami honest ratting. Nothing suspicious could bo detected

at this meeting. Anyone who would attempt any fraud would be a persona non grata in Japan.” The Nippon racecourse—the only one. by the way. in Japan—is situated close to th<* city of Yokohama, upon a high elevation, alike commanding and beautiful. In shape, the track is an irregular oval. IM) feet wide, and a mile round on the natural turf. The horses are started “on Hie move.” and the riders, as in

• dher countries, are always on the look-out for an advantage. The jockeys, however, do not come up to the American standard of horsemanship; they are generally overweight. ride rough as a rule, and lack the ability io assist their mounts at the critical stage of a contest. The tola lisa tor or “pari-mutuel” system of wagering is in vogue, ami the club retains S per cent., of the Investments- a particularly good thing for the dub, (‘specially as speculation is always brisk. The Yokohama meeting had n very strong Australian flavour, inasmuch u« all the horses engaged about 60 all told —were said to be Australian bred, and on the card for lhe four days’ racing were the Champagne Cup. Colonial Stakes. Grand I’rix. Newcomers’ I’late, Melbourne Cup, Cosiuopolffan Cup. Adelaide Cup, Queensland Stakes, Emperors Prize, Brisbane Cup. and Yokohama Derby—all races for Australian-bred horses. These events were hitersjM*rse<l with Dices for small horses, the ponies -numbering about 60 being im» ported from China, and the events in that branch of the game savoured strongly of the breeding place of the contestants, for the Peking Cup. Nankin Stakes, Man<-hu-rinii Stakes, and Mongolian Plate figured on the card.

’lhe racehorses .whom the American writer describes as fairly good, “and one or two in the lot will rank with our Amorh*an ordinary racehorses,” are pur<*hased by the

club, and are assigned to the members by ballot. The Yankee, however, has his ey<* open tn business for “the States.” and hopes “that the club will import its next subscript ion horses from among our good American horses for Its fall mid future meetings.” Though the horses that have left these shores for Japan Included nothing of any note, po far ns racing Is concerned, the Japanese must have been greatly Impressed with their quality, judg-

Ing by the fact that a number of Australian sires and brood mares have recently been purchased by the Government of that country to form the nucleus of a national stud farm, and having already opened up a market no effort should be spared by Australians to prevent the trade from drifting into other hands. The writer aforementioned remarks that ••there is quite a strong sentiment In favour of Importing the next lot from the United States,” and hopes the Idea will be carried out; but adds, “The cost will lie considerably more, though the improvement in the quality of the horses will more than compensate for the difference.” If, as he says, “one or two of the lot would rank with the ordinary American racehorses,” the quality of the latter can hardly be called high-class, and inasmuch as there is no record of even a third-class racehorse having left Australia for Japan, until the last couple of shipments of blood stock that have been secured by the Commissioners from that country the Australian horses in Japan are, probably, half-bred remounts, and cannot be accepted as even mediocre specimens of the thoroughbreds raised in the Commonwealth. The Japanese Commissioners who recently purchased thoroughbred stock in this State have attended several of the race meetings in the metropolitan district, and should be able to form a pretty accurate idea of the quality of the Australian racehorse. Now that a trade in blood horses has been opened up with Japan, horse-breeders in this State should use every legitimate means for the extension of that branch of business, inasmuch as in the matter of number and quality they should be able to more than hold their own in competition with the Americans. ® ® ® HAWKES BAY J.C. SPRING MEETING. The Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club's spring meeting opened in spleudid weather, but the attendance was not so large as could have been expected. Lady Plunket and a number of friends came from Wellington as the guests of Sir William Russell. The course was beautifully green, but not fast. The racing, particularly in the King Edward Handicap, was interesting. Cavlll, who jumped best, won the Hack Hurdle Race easier than he would have done had Repulse been kept closer up. Perdita, a three-year-old filly by The Officer, and owned by the Hon. J. D. Ormond, just scrambled home in front of a moderate lot of maiden candidates of varying ages, Sinima, a useful cut of a filly by St. Leger fiom Simonin, who has a nervous trouble being unfit to do herself justice. There were eight runners for the King Edward Handicap, Armistice being the*’one that looked most seasoned. Shrapnel stripped like one that racing will Improve, and the same can be said of Fleka, and also of Freeland. Signalman, like his relatives <’annie t’hiel and Windwhistle, looked deep of barrel, and not quite at his best, and was very fretful and contrary at the post. Mahutoiiga, as usual, sweated most profusely, and seemed soft ami in anything but a thoroughly trained condition. It is said ho had done little work for a week before the race. Submarine stripped well. Ho is a taking colt, and it is a pity that he is thick winded. He ran well till half way up the straight, and so did Shrapnel, but, while there was not a great deal between thorn and the three placed horses, Mahutonga. Madrigal, and Armistice, the latter of whom made nearly all the running, Mahutonga, who got home by about half a length, certainly gave the impression of being the one of all the starters likely to be most benefited by time and further training, for it can be said he has never yet home the appearance of a thoroughly trained one. It is problematic whether he

can be ready to ruu ent a sound two miles !u the New Zealand Cup. He may wis again In the interval with hjrfc however.

Cavalry had nothing to beat in the Opes Hurdle Race, for Comfort was not at hia best, and befog HMSound, may uot see many more races. Aiolxa, the favourite, was not at his best, and Rhyl may show better over femes. Cavalry’s time for the two miles wax 3.56), and he paid his supporters a dividend of £3 17/. The contest for the Hastings Stakes wag spoilt by an unsatisfactory mix-up at the tapes, Malakoff running hack ami being left, while Delaware and Al argue rite were chopped out at the start, and the field was soon in straggling order. Mr E. J. Watt's stable supplied the first and second in the Merriwee colt King Billy and Boomerang, both inbred to Musket. They appeared to knew the course, and King Billy, whose dam (Indian Queen, by Stepniak) won the rave and later on went to Riecarton and beat Mensehikoff in the Welcome Stakes, drew away from the start and won in an impressive manner. Though, on conformation, some may prefer Boomerang, who may stay and race better as time advances, 1 think victory rested with the right one. Under more favourable circumstances Mr Stead’s colt Delaware, by Seaton Delava 1 from Stepniak's sister Stepfeldt, might have been well up to the winner, ami so mi gilt Marguerite, by Stepniak from Uugueirnt, who finished well. The time fnr the four furlongs was 50 2-ssec, and the dividend £3 19/. The ancient Blazer led up to the very, last stride in the Welter Handicap, carrying top weight, hut the useful-looking but often disappointing Tyrone got up and beat him. Optimist, another moderate, was only, just beaten for second place. The others running were chiefly of the second-rate hacks. Time, 1.44. Dividends, £4 6/ and £1 12/. Maori land, who was very well and was served by a light, impost, outlasted a useful sort of gelding called Aberration, a three-year-old by The Possible, ami won the Hark Handicap, six others starting. Te Hanke and Galhihad were several lengths off. 'Time, 1.17 1-5. Dividends, £7 9/ and 17/. With a little better luck in running, Beau Seaton, whom Holmes had in tine form to the eye, might have won the Flying Handicap. which went to Wet Reef, with the hack I’atuna close up third. A false start was ihade, during which Paris and The Stake covered the best part of a circuit before being pulled up. Float and Hlnetaura ran fairly well, the first-mentioned in a rogue’s badge. Time, 1.11 1-5. Dividends. £6 1/ and £3 1/. SECOND DAY. The Hawke's Bay Jockey Club’s spring meeting was concluded in fine weather, the course being faster than on the opening day. The attendance was fair, and the fields of good average size. Douche, a daughter of Jot d’Kau and Cartouche. led almost throughout the Ngatarawa Hack Handicap, and beat the faster finishing De Beau. Bandmaster, and seven others. Time, 1.51 2-5. Dividends, £6 2/ and £4 14/. Blazer led all the way and had a little to spare from Float and Tyrone in the October Handicap, in which Shrapnel was being ridden hard when half the journey was traversed. Time. 1.29 3-5. Dividends, £2 6/ and 10/. A field of seven went out for the Hawke's Bay Guineas, and a moving and fairly even start was effected. Signalman going to the front along the back stretch, and remaining there until Golden Idly came at him, and wore him down in the home run. the 151bs difference In their weights tolling its tale. The filly had all her work ent out. and had to be ridden to win by a length, while Submarine,

who was finishing otroßCly, enme from tuither back, and was barely n length behind Sigualniau. Borla made a good run coming Into tbe straight, but he could not sustHht it, and la evidently not a stayer, while Stronghold, Abberatlou, and Sir I*erclvale were wed beaten before the end of nix furlongs was reached. Signalman ran like a stayer, mid would have won without his penalty, and may prove the best of the lot for Derby honouis, but It Is questionable whether any one of the starters represents decent Derby form. Submarine is perhaps the most Improving, but ids wind may cause trouble. Both he and Signalman were beaten off iu the King Edward Handicap, in which good Ihree-year-olds with their weights should have carried them more prominently. The time was 1.42 1-5, and the dividends £2 12/ and £1 10/. The weight stopped both Catherine Gordon and Cavalry in the Te Mahanga Handicap Hurdle Race, in which Arolia Just beat Taniwba. Time. 3.24 2-5. Dividend. £3. Boomerang was served up warm for the Juvenile. Handicap, hut Medallist, a gelding by The Officer from Target, and Probable, a son of The Possible, were always in front, and the Hon. J. Ft. Ormond's gelding won, Boomerang, who galloped on Probable's heels, being a close third. Moral, by The Possible from Fair Nell, began green, but finished belter than anything in the race. Time, 49 4-0. Dividends, £8 11/ and £t 13/. At the end of a mile, when The Stake had run himself out, tn the Spring Handicap, Armistice went to the front, and won with something to spare. Louisa beating The Stake on tile post for second place. The Stake eatried Tibs overweight. Time, 2.12. Dividend, £2. The Waikato gelding Le Beau put down a much fancied candidate In Tc Hauke In the Flaxmere Hack Handicap. and eight others. Time, 1.17 3-5. Dividends, £8 0/ and £1 1/. The AOckland-bred filly- Alba Rose scored lu the Final Handicap, after a good race with Wet Reef. Forest Ranger and Replete, there being five other runners. Time, 1.9 4-5. Dividends, £2 17/ and £1 6/. Financially the meeting will come out Very well.