TURF NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIII, Issue XXII, 26 November 1904, Page 17

TURF NOTES.

Mr Hugo Friedlander is on a short visit to Auckinml.

rutty and Alba Rose arc now in T. Williams’ stable at Ellerslie.

Car! Rosa looks like piovuig to be the best of the local two-year-olds.

Mr E. il. Hankens has been appointed starter to the Thames Jockey Club.

Comfort was withdrawn from the Auckland Steeplechase on Saturday.

The Victorian Raring Club made a profit of £7197 -•ver -the recent spring mooting.

Mnngamahaki changed hands during the week, and is to go into Frank Ross’ charge.

The hurdler Major is now an inmate of Frank MacManemin's stable.

P. Conway has taken Revealer in hand again after a lengthy spell.

Loiah has been scratched for all engage meets at the A.R.C. Summer Meeting.

Strathavon greatly disappointed Ills connections at the recent A.R.C. Meeting. He is now an inmate of J. Rae’s stable.

No horse that has won a New Zealand Cup has yet succeeded iu siring a winner of that event.

Nnuiinations for ail events nt the Otahuhu Trotting Club’s Spring Meeting close on Friday, 18th inst., at 9 p.ui.

Tip pulled up very lame after the Hunt Club Hurdles on the last day of the A.R.C. Meeting.

The vetoriaary surgeon ’attending Walriki Is now confident of saving him for the stud.

Anything in the Cup coupled with Savoury in the Railway Handicap Is at a very short price iu the local market.

Annoyed scorns Io have lost all form and her display in the Ascot Handicap last Saturday was dlstlhct’y disappointing.

A number of horses are In training nt Arata pit and Te Kopuru, In view of the Summer Meeting of the Northern Walroa Racing Club.

The Southern starting price merchants arc reported to have had a nasty knock over the victory of a local horse at the recent A.R.C. Mooting.

The Australian-bred Compassion won a galloway race in Natal (South Africa) the other day, and paid a dividend of £315 18/ —a Natal record.

C. Weal received an addition to his string during the week, the gelding Blueskin being placed in his hands to prepare for forthcoming engagements.

The champion southern pony Manjess will, iu ait probability figure amongst the nominations fur the pony events at the A.R.C. Summer Mooting.

The acceptances received for the Takapuna Jockey Club’s spring meeting are well up tu the average, and a successful meeting ought to result.

Capita! nominations have been received fur the Thames Jockey Club’s Rummer meeting, and the gathering promises to be a successful one.

A lot of people were waiting for Alba Rose at. the recent A.R.C. meeting, but she was not started* 0:1 either day of the gathering-

Tlakaraia and Lnvado! were schooled over the schooling hurdles on Tu sdiy morning nt Ellerslie, the former showing to most advantage.

Honours amongst flu* trcine-s wore very evenly divided at the A.T? C. Rpring Meeting, not less than nineteen of them turning out a winner.

M iro, who was passed In nt the sale of raeol’orses last week, has since boon gold privately. nnd h* Is now an inmate of John Thorpe’s stable.

Private information received In Auckland states that Mr G. G Stead intends fetching n large team for the A.R.C. Summer Meeting.

Mr E. D O’Rourke, the well known local sportsman, intends leaving on a visit to England Carly next year. His visit Ib likely to bo a lengthy one.

Sub»unrlno*s poor showing nt the recent ’A.R.C. Mooting is nut down by his connections tn the fort that bo seemed unablq to •ct on the right handed -course.

Needlework (late Escape) is to be tried over hurd.es, ami he was given his first lesson on Tuesday morning at Ellerslie. Hu shaped well for a begiuucr.

It was intended to ship raratutu, I’arkshot, and Loch Erne to New Plymouth last Sunday, but owing to the boisterous weather prevailing, it was deemed advisable by their owners not to make the trip.

Akarana is not likely to be a competitor at the Takapuna Jockey Chili’s spring meeting. He has not yet shaken off the cold ho contracted at the Avondale meeting.

The Needle showed a glimpse of bls old form In the Ascot Handicap last Saturday week, and he was out making the pace for the greater part of the journey. The List couple of furlongs found out him out.

Perseverance was the disappointment of the Hunt Club events last Saturday week, lie began to tail off very early, and never seemed to be able to muster up sufficient pace to get with his field.

The publication of weights for the Auckland Cup and Railway Handicap did not lead to much business, the only doubles backed for any money being Mahutonpu and Savoury, and Cruciform and Savoury.

At Wellington Park. Jennie has foaled a colt to Bluejacket. Jennie is the last of the Wellington Park Co.’s mares to foal, the total foallugs of the. season being 34— sixteen colts and eighteen fillies.

Wellcast scored a victory at his first attempt over hurdles. The livid he beat was not first class, but still Wellcast’s showing must have been gratifying to his connections.

One of the surprises on the concluding day of the A.R.C. Meeting was the price paid by raratutu, when he won the Welter. On previous running, he ought to have been favourite.

A large number of Auckland sports journeyed to Te Aroha to assist at the Te Aroha Jockey Club's Spring Meeting, Which was held on Saturday ami Monday, the 19th and 21st.

The shortest, price paid by a winner of the New Zealand Cup was the £2 2’ paid on the totalisator when Tirailleur won in 1889, and the longest price was the £l9 12/6 paid by Rosefeldt in 1893.

Grand Rapids is the first favourite for the New Zealand Cup who has scored in the race since Tirant. d’Eau won in 1898. and makes the second occasion on which a favourite has landed the race since 1890.

A Sydney paper says Hint a brother to the New Zealand champion Achilles (Medallion —Nereid) is adjudged by an expert to be the. finest foul of the season on the Va terson.

Koss Heaton has had an addition to his string, in the shape of a filly by Gihatd out of an Anterort mare. The* filly, which is owned by Mr J. Lynch, of Coromandel, is a nice shapely one and ought to prove useful.

A box has been engaged at. C. WaiTon’s. Ellerslie, for Mahutongii, and ho was brought to Auckland from the South on Sunday. It is evidently intended to give him plenty of time to get accustomed to the Ellerslie course.

The first blow in connection with the next Melbourne Cnp was struck last week, when a backer accepted £lno to 1 about Murillo. When laying the wager. Oxenham s manager tersely remarked, ‘ You <1 serve to win. old man,” a sentiment that will be shared by most followers of the game.

A Sydney writer says that the New Zealand pony Vulpine Is evidently not n stayer. She was made an odds-on favourite in a compaialively poor Held for th* Fourteen ’t’lirec Handicap at Rosebery Park, but while she led into the straight. Bernie beat her decisively nt tile finish.

Tn the Bishop of Sheffield's mdnlon. expressed nt Barnsley Parish Church hist month, “ev'iw girl born In Doncaster during the next generation or two . . . . is to be called ‘Polly.’ ” and ho ‘‘ls nnt sure Hint doting mothers will not call them ‘Pretty Polly.’ ” Word from M<dbournc states that Wairlki is said to be getting on .very we’L

Ilia owner, Mr Bradley. Intends to take him back to New Zealand If he recovers, and put him to the aftud. Mr Bradley wna asked to put a price on the New Zrakinder before the Cup, mid lie named £suo«i. He states that oven now he Would not take less than £2UUO for him.

It is a pity Capt. Wilkin, of fI.M s. Clio, could not get a better mount in the Hunt Chib events than Flower of Gold. The captaiu dearly showed that he was no novice at the game, nnd his pluck In mounting again after a heavy fall at the nod wall was loudly applauded by the onlookers.

Sir George Clifford, chairman of the Racing Conference, Las appointed Mr O. Samuels, of Taranaki, to act as chairman in the appeal lodged by the owner of Petrovna against the d 'vision of the Canterbury Jockey Club in the Petrovna-Bagpipes case. Mr Sa muds will select and appoint the judges, and fix the place ami time for hearing the appeal.

A start has been made by C. Hill, the caretaker of the Ellerslie racecourse, with tiie new grass gallop, which the committee decided to lay down in place of the plough track, which was practically useless, and was seldom used by the trainers. When the new track is completed it should prove a great boon, especially iu preparing two year olds early in the season.

Ry an error in transmission Machine Gun’s weight in the Railway Handicap appeared in some of the Southern papers ns 10.0. lie was fminEdhitdy sorted out as the pick of the handicap, and was supported in numerous doubles. What the takets remarked when the correct weight was telegraphed to an inquirer Is not recorded.

Mr Sargent, in his pamphlet, “Sport: A National Benefactor,’’ states that £47,<>oo,ooo Is permanently vested in England in various forms of sport, and that orer £46,000,000 is annually expended directly or indirectly on sport, the greater portion of which enormous sum goen Into the workingmen’s pockets.

At the t’.J.C. meeting Chivalry, 10.9, was made favourite in the (.Tessy Welter Handicap, won by Gulden V’ein. 10.6, ami in which Ability, 8.6, and Crichton. 8.8, were* second and third. This w:is the sun of Conqueror's first defeat. His strength is in beginning very quick, hut a good two-year-old would likely enough beat him over his own distance at even weights.

Nlghlfall’s weight in the Auckland Cup is the highest weight a th rec-yen r-o d lias been asked to carry in any two mile event in New Zealand. St. Hippo, who put up a number of brilliant performances as n Hirce-.vcar-old In the spring of the year, winning the H.B. Guineas, Spring Handicap, and Now Zealand Cup. was weighted at 8.9, which weight ho won under.

Grand Rapids, who was sold last week by Mr Stead, was shipped to Australia from Chrlsi'liureli yesterday. The purchaser was Mr S. Griffiths, ami the price 50) guineas. Mr Griffiths resold him to Mr J. Wren, the owner of Murmur, at a substantial advanve. Mr Griffiths Is now in treaty with Mr Stead lor the purchase of Machine Gun far South Africa.

Nir Knight’s handicaps for the principal event of the Takapunn Jockey Club’s Meeting give evidence of being well thought out. Marshall Soult and Scotty, who are at the head of the list, meet at exactly the same difference. Uh. ns they did when they ran a dead heat on the opening day of Hie A.R.C. Spring Meeting. Of thus • lower down the list. Durable. Avalanche. Goordio. and Akarana all read w«‘Il, but taken nil round, the handicap Is a good one, and a big acceptance resulted.

After the recent accidents In Hie two year old events at the A.R.C. Spring Meeting. the stewards of the Club held a mooting, at which the evidence of a number of trainers and jockeys was taken, in order to see if nny light could be thrown upon the cause of the accidents. After a lengthy hearing, a sub-committee was appoint'd to draw up a report, which will be presented 10 the committee of the Club at their first meeting.

Sivimnier, a good looking sort of a gelding by Cmiuon, imule hacks of Ills in the Hunt Club Hurdles nt the A.R.C. Meeting. He was nicely handled by Mr W. Gordon. Swimmer starlet! in the Maiden Hurdb'S, earlier in the day, finishing third, but had ho been made mure use of in the earli r stages of the rnCo. there is very l!tt:o doubt but that he would have troubled the winner. Swimmer looks like turning out useful. When the last mail loft England the prominent jockey. W. Lane, w.as doing as well as could bp expected. Ho was unconscious for a week after his fall, and an operation which a few year# ago was unheard of was performed, tills being to make an incision in the spine with a view to drawing ufi’ matter li> order to relieve Hie brain. This had the effect dcslrod, for the paralysis, which had previously affected the left side, dlsapp A are<l.

In view of the >MM<r approach of the. Tnkapuirn Jockey epilog Meeting, tue> i/uik or inc work at Eneranc i» neing done leit-haudcu.

> Two or. three jMmfeg disappointed their connections on the second aim third nays, of tne A.K.V. hjirhig Jne«*uug. Ihe u«u trouble uf waiting too )vii£ again.

Mother .was well barked by the stable support era on each occasion she started al the A.R.C. Spring Meeting, b.ut in no attempt did she display anything near her track form.

l>ady 11 tine was well backed by her connections in the. Welter Handicap at the A.R.C/ Meeting, but after making a bold showing till well in the home stretch she died away tu nothing and finished out of a place.

After wring the trouble Mr O'Conner had In 'despatching the Held with the hag in the Juvenile Handicap at ‘the A.K.C. Meting. 1 don’t think many racegoers wi:l be found advocating doing away with the barrier.

Zuleika was the unlucky horse of the Welter Handicap at the A.K.C. Meeting. Had she got anything like a decent run, it is almost any odds who would have been returned the winner instead of Para tutu.

Terence, who was'an acceptor for the Hunt Club Hurdles, was on the course ready to start, but owing to there being a doubt as to his eligibility to take part in the race it was wisely decided by his connect ions not to run him.

Submarine and Hoome.rang returned to Napier on Tuesday by the Mokoia. Boomerang, who contracted a cold after winning Hie Welcome Stakes, and which prevented his being seen out again at lhe meeting, has almost entirely recovered, and be looked very little the worse for his sickness.

Frank Ma<*maiiemiu*s stable started no less than three contestants in the Publicans’ Handicap on the last day of the A.K.C. . Meting, and each of thp three was supported by its owner. One. of the trio Delnnla managed, to make, a •bad heal of it with Lady Annie, giving her supporters a fair return for the money Invested.

In the Ascot Handicap on the concluding day of the A.K.C. Meeting, Romeo was ridden a waiting race behind, and. was not asked, a question till well in the straight, when he <*ame through . and won ridiculously easy. This explodes, the popular impression that has generally prevail'd- that Romeo was a horse, that would have Io be allowed to run along in front to show his best form.

'rhe New Zealand Trolling Association have issued a circular to affiliated c’ubs dealing with trainers’ and jockeys’ licenses and the registration of horses. This course has had. to be taken owing to the fart that several licenses have been tampered with, nud lu future all holders of licenses wall be compelled to sign their names in a book kept for the purpose, before being allowed Io take part ia a meeting. The paraf graph relating to registration of horses s one that is also to he strictly enforced, aud owners will do well to make inquiries from the secretary of the Club before nominating at their meeting.

Occasionally a* Trainer is found who gots • way from the beaten path and adopts some system of training different from the regulation jogging and workouts (says an American exchange). Millard Sanders gave Lon Dillon much of her work early hi the season under saddle, his boy up, and as a contrast there Is a thoroughbred, that is a winner, too, that gets his work In harness. His name is Alan-a-Dale, ami he put in two winning races recently after being gut ready in harness.

- After giving Hi** matter duo consideration, the owners of Gladstone have decided to appeal against the decision of the A.K.C. stewards in dismissing their protest against Boris beiug declared the winner ot the Auckland Guineas, on the grounds that his rider weighed In without his breastplate, ns required to do. under Rale 103. The case will have to be heard first by the Commit-

tea ot lhe Auckland Racing Cljjb, and Jf_ th< ir deviaijU* ** ,KI l favourable, it will then', haw to-'l* ta*ou to- the liacdwg G.irference, wiio Win set up a special bench to boar tiif rase.

t'omplaiuts are voiced all over Australasia regarding the rMing of a large number of The jockeys who are put up in races; and the reeent meeting at Ellerslie proved no exception; Quite u number of races were thrown away -by the Inability Of lhe riders to give their motnits the slightest 'Resistance when It was required-, and with at om half n dozen exceptions the exhibition of horsemanship given was of the crudest description.

As there is very little to occupy their attention at present. two of our leading trainers have taken to dreaming winners, and on Friday morning, on the course, both related their dream’s to different parties, and ns lhe news spread, it was found they had boll: dreamt the same ware had won the St.Andrew's Handicap at the Takapuna Spring Meeting. In case any of my readers place any reliance in these midnight visions, 1 win state that the one that appeared to lhe dreamers cf> the winner was Do'.ores.

Ibe Mation Stakes, a two-year-old'race was run at Morris Park <New Yorki last month. This event is a divided stake, toils and geldings competing’ In One division, and iillies only in the other. It is run over a straight six furlongs, and the colts and geldings’ division, worth 12.725 dels., was won by Bedouin, a 20 Io 1 ' liam e, who ran the distance in 1.0. ’That was a good performance, but Sandria, in accounting for the fillies’ division (value 13,245d015.i. did much better, as. with 7.7 on lier back, she ran the six furlongs In 1.81, constituting a world's record.

tn commenting on the Cup Carnival just, concluded, the -'Age" says: "It cannot he said that the Jockey ship, either on the flat or over jumps, was such as could be desired. There was unpardonable clumsiness on the part of some of. .the seven rid-, ers. in the Derby which might well have been llio subject of official Investigation. The race was run on the opening day of the meeting, and the stewards might have taken advantage of the early opportunity they _were afforded to impress upon the boys wh.-.t is required of them when they, are in the saddle.”

An English paper says that ibe sporting fraternity at West Hartlepool intend to oppose strongly the carrying into effect ot a new by-law, passed at a meeting ot the Town Co.iimil. gfohlbitlng belting an the stands and increasing the maxlmnm penalty for street betting to £5O. Some HOOP signatures have been obtained to a petition to be- forwntded to the Home Office praying that the by-law referred to may bx> refused confirmation. Steps, are also being taken to oppose the return of retiring members of the Council who voted for the by-law amt any others whose position on this question may be considered doubtful. About 3<)(> of the 'signatories of the pelWon have promised £1 each to ensure the furtherance of the cause they represent.

By the time the midsummer meeting of ibe Auckland Racing Club comes round there will have been added to the main grand stand on their valuable property at Ellerslie a dining-room for the stewards of the elull, a contract having been let during the past week to Mr Roas, bulkier, who has undertaken Io have the work i,n--ishc-d in time. This course has been adopted in order to make more room for members. The addition to tire betiding will be a continuation tn liny . w'.t'a the present dining-rooms. Tiie executive of the A.lt.c. are keeping well abreast of the times.

The Auckland Trotting Club are out with their progriimnif for their Summer Meeting. which is fixed for December 27 and 31 and January .7. Ttw programme is east on very liberal lines, the principal events being the Auckland Trotting Cup of 2(k)sovs, the Great Northern Trotting Handicap of 125 BOTH, Summer Cup of UMsovs. President's Trot, of WOsovs, Pony Cup of 11.5sovs,Christmas llaiidlenp of 7<>sovs, and New Year Handicap of 75sovs. Altogether the bill of

provided audu. liberal iespouse from owners’eugtrt to,result Nomluatmuiv do net go In tin Friday, the into Decemlier,

In framing big handicap for the Auckland Cup Mr Evett had to deal aclth twenty of the nurses Mr Henry, had tn the Sew Zealand Cup. Three ot the niimncr, Achilles, Bnluwayo, und Gbomka, cacli'recdxcd 41b less than Mr Hem ys gave inbui. The two first-named were amongst the firs', that were supported extensively for ire New Zealand cup. Sir Pertivnl mid General Average have the saire weight, 07, in both. Mr Evett has thought It. nee. ssary to put un extra 21Mb on Mahutongu, more on Nlgbjfall, 2411 i more on Grand Kapids, lUfir more on Golden Knight. ISlb more ou Martian, 111 b more on Melodeon. 101 b more on Secret Society, 01b more on Borneo, gib more on Gladstone, 7tb each more on UruoiiH and Akunina, 51b mere on Float, 31b more on-Cruciform, and 2lt> each more ou Heroism and Solution.

Seaton Delava) headed, the list of winning sires at the recent A.K.C. Meeting, with 5 wins; then foFow Soult (3), St. Hippo, St. Leger, LcOlaiitls, ami Castor, 2 each; and Stepnlak, Alerriwve. Strowau, Sylvia Park. Lord of the Isl. s. Gilead, Medallion, Cuirassier, lugornar, ami Cannon one each. Frank Macmaneniln was the most successful trainer with 4 wins; R. Hall had iliree; G. Absolnm and I'. Jones 2; and Thorpe, Prosser, Quin.lvan. Ross, French, Inzer, Stohr, Tvvohill, Hannon, Kean, Conway, Butler, George. Mr Tonks, and Mr Smith .on;: each. J. Pinker is at the head of winning jockeys, with 4 wins; F. Davis and T. Taylor, 3 each: C. Cress, M. Ityaii, and Gray 2 each; and MeMorrnn. IV. lioss, Scrats,Hovvmd, Julian, Fergus, Butler, Mr Deeble, Mr Tonks, ami Mr IV. Gordon cue each.

There has recently been exhibited in England a ''thinking horse,” for whom it is claimed that be can not only think, but. is able to express his thoughts by signs ami actions which leave no doubt respecting that which he means to indicate.' What a good thing It is, says an exchange —for some people—that colonial racehorses are not similarly gifted! Imagine what a sensation would be caused at an inquiry liva defeated neddy in answer to the question, '’Were you pulled?” opening bls mouth, winking one eye, and sawing his' head from side to side with affirmativegesture. Or, If, when asked "Who pulled yon?” he Indicated bls jockey standing apprehensively by, with three nods of the head! A clever, trainer, however, wouldlie able to teach such a sagacious nniir.nl to elose both eyes nnd solemnly shake bls bend, in. which, ease-the'press ami public' would be informed that “lhe explanatlonwas. accepted!”

It is seldom that such an impost :is 9.T0. the weight apportioned to Achil’es in the Auckland Cup, is' carried to victory in- a two-mlle contest in which the weights iui\ down as low at? 6.7, and rarely are horses oven of the highest credentials’sei the task' of racing under. more. Contracts of that sort are not often taken on. In Achilles’, case it represents 51b over welght-for-age. Cruciform has Sib over tiers, and is consequently set to do more, and in fact .mor? than any of her age and sex has* ever b?on asked. Grand Rapids, on the same basis, is actually placed within' 21b of Cruciform., and is made out 21b better than Achille*!.' Martian is made out to lit 121 b superior to Achilles and 81b better than Cruciform, for. he has 161 b over his weigh t-fcr-age. this is the first time a four-year old has ever been asked to carry so much • over bis scale weight. Then we come to Nightfall, n three-year-old filly, very probably a good ope, but without a single higb-v!as> performance opposite her mime. She is made out 161 b better than Achilles. and l?lb barter than Cruciform, and lias been asked Io ca

irry 20ib over her weivhr-fc’-age. Can ny parallel case be mentioned?

It would have been surprising if the err'ck three yenr’oM filly Fr’tty Polly had gone through her career without defeat: and her long snoression of wins came to an end in the Prix du Coasiel Municip >1 nt Paris last month This event is a mile and a half weight for are rac'*. with penalties and allowances. The value of the stake last year, when La Camargo carried 9.12 to the front, was £4478, and it would

ppubably. Im‘ -womewteve about -Abe JW* rbte tteie. Tratte w>«s.- FrtnKra brought lier weight up-to 9.h, ores-a Stat favourite -at & 40 a on i» a. field .of, eight, wlillo’thcevcwtnal winner, -a three year oM 11a need. Presto 11.. 9.5. started at 06 to ,L .He led from -start to tiuish, and beat J’retty Polly by Jwo mid a halflengths. with Zinfandel, another English rejwraentatlre, ia third place. However, there Is" some excuse for Pretty I’ofly, as,' owing to heavy weather, she was detained at -Folkestone, and oply reached France). the day before the race. Perhaps if site, had been taken over a few days earlier the result wouM have lleeii different.

• A New -¥ork writer rentalks that there is little doubt but that one ot the growing evils of the American Turf in the Eash,- at all events—ls the growing' tendency to train horses In their publie races. Tunning- them unfit until they come round; instead ot conditioning them in work, and running them when expelt-knowledge -4gcldea they are on edge. A few years ago a man of standing would have been ashamed to start hts horses out of condition,' today several have even arrived at the point of defending the practice. This, idea was first Introduced as a stable practice by a stable which ten years or more ago was conspicuous by Us heavy wagers made and by the manipulation of -the selling- 1 ace surroundings. It was strongly vetoed at the time, adversely commented upon, and ils devotees to some extent ostracised by representative - American racing men. 4L'lme works ebanges, however, the virus spread., and to-day even-some of the representative ineti mo heard championing the practice as “all right. 1 ’ '•

Julian, who was bred by Mr C. H. Fitzgeraid, at Gera iff! no, has been tlistluguishing herself in Sydney, ami this is what the “Stock and Station Journal” says about her: “When Julian attempted the great task of winning the Flying Handicap from 16 seconds behind, she made a gallant finish, and gained second place. It is estimated that she put her mile liy in •Jniln 2 Dec- great going considering that the track was a trifle heavy In spots as a result of the" recent abundant "rains. In the Epping Handicap she was - again ■ second, and it Is assumed that she did the mile and a half in about Smln 31see, or about tlsec faster than the time put up by Lightfoot, when that mare won the 1J mile race at Kensington on Marclp lb last; There can be no doubt about the sterling nuality of Mr Beckett’s black daughter of Hiion Junr. and Julia (Imp), and- AVifeou drives her with splendid judgment.” The owner regards this mare as the fastest trotting marc in Australia, and is prepared to back hte-oplnion for s»»y stake within the next three months.

b or some days before the Melbourne Cup, and while Cup business was in acting under orders, many hundreds of cards and lists were, before being despatchid from Mr Oxenham’s Pitt st wet establishment to their destination, marked "Aerasia wlll-rnn well,” or “Aerasia has a real good chance.” Since the. Cup scores of telegrams and letters have been received thanking Mr Oxeuhaui, and congratulating him on his mare’s victory. When the news of Acrasin’s victory was made publie from the portico of Tattersall’s Club, a loud cheer lor Aerasia went up. followed by three cheers for “Oxy,” which testified to the popularity of her owner. Since Aerasia won the tup, there have been various conjectures as to how Mr Oxenham’s mare got Her name. The name is derived from a character in Spenser’s “Faerie Queene,” Aerasia being represented as a lovely and 1 ‘harming woman, whose dwelling is the Bower of Bliss, which Is situated on an island floating In a Jake or gulf, ami Is adorned with everything In Nature that can delight the senses.

The “Special -Commissioner” ears that a recent instance of the late development of some of Trenton’s stock is furnished liy the Blow filly, whom young Sam Darling trained during the first half of 1903 for her breeder. Mr Clsreuee WUson. She was then all legs and ivjugs, and so bnckwmd that one- of the trainer's patrons who saw her emit er with the rest, of the string said. ••You’ll be clever indeed if you ever win a race with that!” Even Mr Clarence Wilson, who should know the’ Trentons . better than most people, had not patience to

ge on with her, and against the wish of Ms trainer seat tec. up for sale. Whereupon young Darling, who always ted faith iw the filly. went and bought her hhuself fqg So_guiueM. So very baekwanT. however*, was she that he could get no semblance of- form out of her- as a two-year-old, and 4ven as a three-year-old she. made, such slow progress that he began lo fear she would not win until next year. Al last, however, he has been rewarded ky winning a ulce race with her at Folkestone, aud she will protebly gain further distinction over long courses.

It was Hawley Smart who smartly* and truly said: “There is no profession where a reputation may be so quickly gained—and lost- as iu that of prophecy.’’ “Ami it might be added,” said a London paper, •‘that Ln no other profession may a character be so easily manufactured, as far as racing prophecy is concerned, at least.” And, by the way, 1 have often wondered (says “Boondl”> why the many clever gents in Australia who “live on their wits” have never started the business of'turf tipster, which is pursued with so much profit by so many hundreds of sharpers in England. Nothing can be easier or surer than the lines on which the English turf 'titter runs his little game. If there are 10 horses In a race, he tips TO over and over to the many mugs who patronise him—one fo each mug, of course. One of the IO must win, and then the cunning joker advertises he tipped “Plum Duff” (or whatever he saw) for the Plate, aud can give the names of those who won by following his advice. Orte noted fraud used to head his ad.: “No fee till I send you a winner, then send me the odds to a half"cfOwir.** Of course, he keeps an account of his patrons’ addresses and what he sent them, and If the one who. got the winner does not hurry up with the fee, the prophet waits on him and presses his claim,; generally wttir success. At the gates of the various English courses hundreds of prophets oiler sealed envelopes coiituiiuii& “all the’ wianefs”. to. the race patron , for 6d a packet; and t hey manage to make a good thing of it, although all they know about the matter Is the names of the horses running, which they acquire by the expenditure of Id for a sporting paper. Ours is a fairly clean turf after all, aud t»y dealing, with the really honest ringmen, no one who.hacks his fancy will ever have to chase after his winniugs.

The times or the various races at Riccarton during the recent C.J.C. Jubilee Meeting were all very fast, showing what can be done there by very moderate horses after nor’-west weather, when the course is at its best. When ti pony like Miretta —a moderate when mentioned Ln the same class as some we have—could cut out six furlongs in 1..15*2-ssec on it, and when a moderate hurdler like Magnificent could run once round the course and a distance, or more than 150 yards over a mile and a-ha If, over hurdles, in 2.59 2-5, one can Imagine what lire track was like. On that day Savoury, who is evidently a useful colL put up a seven-furlong record of 1.26 3-5 in the Members’ Handicap, the speedy but nonstaying Solution being second after making the pace. Golden Vein, too, ran six furlongs winning easily in 1.15, and Terrapin won easily at a mile and a quarter in 2.8. Outside about seven or eight of the runners at the C.J.C. meeting, not including the two-year-olds, there were just as ordinary a - lot of horses running there as are seen on other racecourses in the colony, but people are apt to magnify the deeds of moderates when they sec that fast times have gone down to their credit. A lot of the horses that were running at the C.J.C. meeting were seen a long Way below their best form, there can be no doubt.

The following is a list of the winning payments made over the A.R.C. spring meeting: Mr R. Hannon, £370; Mr V. James, £295; Mr A. Leuna rd. £255; Mr B. Armitage, £245; Mr E. J. Watt, £200; Mr J. Roulston, £150; Mr I». Stewart, £145; Mr A. Hughes. £145; Messrs R. and R. J Rider, £100; Mr J. Geoige, £100; Mr Walter Davies,’ £9O; Mrs M. Ross, £9O; Mr E. V. Ralph, £9O: Mr M. Deeble, £9O; Mr F. Slohr, £9O: Mr E. Alison, £9O; Mr A. H. Lloyd, £9O; Messrs J. and H. Hussey, £80; Mr 11. Toiiks, £6O; Mr W. L. Thomson, £5O; Mr F. McGovern. £5O; Mr J.- B. Williamson, £45; Mr J. E. Thoipe. £45; Mr H. J. R. Smith, £4O; Messrs Simmelhag and Jackson, £35; Mr VV. Handley, £25; Mr Norman Banks. £2O; Mr D. Leslie, £l5: Mr L. Coleman. £l5; Mr H. J. Saunders, £l5; Mr J. E. Paul, £l5; Mr A. LCidlbw, £10; Mr A. Bray, £10; Mr S. Stevens, £10; Mr 11. Mosman, £10; Mrs T. (‘ottofi, £10; Mr D. Leslie. £5; Mr T. Wylie. £5: Mr T. G. Smith. £5; Mr E. Cecil. £5; Messrs McMillan anil Smart, -£5. Total. £3220.

In addition to (ho above (he amount of the Auckland Guineas (the decision of which is still in abeyance) has to be added, which wLI bring the total amount distributed to £3720.

The defeat of Achilles In the Jubilee Cup by Cruciform did nnt come as a surprise to people at a distance, who had before them the fact that he had been beaten- ear Iler at the C.J.C. meeting over four furlongs by Machine Gun. aud a few days before had left the training track with what the veterinary put down as a kidney trouble, or, as It might be belter understood by some, lame-back. Evidently the public, aud poswlbly the connections of the son of Medallion, did not regard the ailment as one likely to prevent this well-known flyer from giving a reproduction of bls best form. For one good horse to be beaten over four furlongs by another good one counts for little, as that is not a racing distance, and luck lu getting away in (tie first few strides, ns shown by experience, will make all the difference between a pair of good ones: the same, in r lesser degree. In n six-furlong or mile, or even a longer race run out from end to end. Cruciform we all know is a sterling mare when al her test, and Mie was evidently very well last. week, but we have to remember Uml she lias been dvfcat-

V different -dfstaitces. In . Hewjr Zealand HF well as iu Australia. and when it is remembered that ahc was followed home hi the nbi Ice Cup by Red Gauntlet, who carried 9.7 to her 8.11, and was five Lengths •xway. R»»iJ Achilles war carrying 9.2 and was five lengths further back. It may be said that the mare had nothing to du, and that Achilles was a long way below, his true form; Indeed, he only Just beat Signalman, who is a very moderate colt ami was carrylug a penalty over the weight-fur-age allowance.

Mr Hubert Barry, iu “Sport In Russia, Siberia, and Finland,” gives a quaint account of the methods of the Russian veterinary surgeon. One of Mr Barry’s horses lihd got cramp or colic from drinking icycold water while he was heated. “The horse-doctor from a neighbouring village was fetched, aud after looking very wise, he began Uy cutting a small piece from each hind hoof: he then took a little blood from the horse’s ear, and a little from tho stump of the tail, and mixed all these ingredients Into a. pill, which, under the wondering gaze of the assembled crowd, he pretended to administer to the patient; but 1 saw plainly that the horse swallowed none of it. This done, be culled for some hot coffee, which he had put on the fire when he arrived, aud also for a bottle of vodka (spirits);, he took a pretty good pull at the latter ‘to see that it was strong enough,’ and then, mixing the coffee and spirits, gave the dose to the horse. The effect was immediate, for the horse rallied, and in a few moments was walking about and eating.” When the doctor came for his fee, Mr Barry asked him why he went through tlic farce with the hoof scraping, blood, aud soot pill, to which the man replied that if the peasants knew what the real cure was there would soon be au end of his horse-doctoring business.

The French colt Presto 11., who beat Pretty Polly in Paris last month, won four races out of five starts last season, and also lias been successful this year. Still, on form he has no claim to be placed in the front rank of the French threc-year-olds. Ou the 16th of March he ran at MaisonsLafittc in the Handicap Optional, one mile, which he won with 8.8 on his back. At the same course on the 29th of March he won the Prix Perplexe, seven furlongs, and on the 12th of April at the same place he was defeated in the Prix Malgache, 1A mite, by Escrimear, who beat him home a length and a-ha If. At the Paris Spring Meeting at Longchatnps on the 12th of May, Presto It. won lhe one and a-half mile, Prix des Gailes. At Maisons-Lafitte on May 27th ho secured the Prix King Lud, 1J mile. He next appeared in public at the Paris Summer Meeting, where he won the Prix de Makeret. one mile, Uzln being the only other competitor. His record for the present season, prior to his defeat of Pretty Polly, closes with a placed performance to Gouvernant at Maisons-Lafitte on Sunday. July 17, when he ran in the Prix de President de la Kepubllque, of 4000sovs, 1 mile furlongs. Gouvernant, 8.3, beat Hebron, 9.5, a neck. Presto 11., 8.3, being a poor third, and he was said to have been totally outclassed. Rueil, the sire of Presto 11.. ran in the Derby’ of 1892, and subsequently re-crossed the Channel and won the Grand I’rix de Faris.

According to the “Australasian.” the record year with a Melbourne Cup meeting was 1888. when the Exhibition was oh. and “the boom” at its height. Mr Byron Mooic Is satisfied, says the paper mentioned, that there were 143,000 at Flemington to see the Cup that year, and he doubts if any attendance before or since has exceeded 100,000. The admission money in 1888 was £33,394; in 1887 it was £20,851; and in 1903, £20,925. There was not much differences in the attendances of 1887 and 1903, it will be seen. In 1887, the added money was £9775; iu ISSB. £11,200; aud in 1903, £14.700. Tho owners’ payments iu 1888 were £6074; in 1903, £3383. The owneis were thus eased to the extent of £2231, and their stakes increased by £3500. The profit made in 1888 was over £25,000, and 1903 only £6OOO. In addition to the admission fees being £13,000 less, there was the additional stake money. Then Ju 1888 the receipts fiom carriage gates, bookmakers, aud caterers was £4004. Last year it was only £1369. Again, tho sixpence which the club received from the Railway Department on each ticket issued in 1888 was £2883. This source of revenue Is done away with. So are (he selling races, which used to yield a profit —lt was £330 in 1888, and there is no longer a public holiday throughout Victoria on Cup Day. In spite of all this, the V.R.C. give owners £4925 inoic in added money than they did in 1887.

When a child, Robert Peck showed a deeply-rooted passion for horse* At the early age of seven he frequent!,* accompanied his father .ou to the Wold for the purpose of seeing thoroughbreds at exercise. Songstress, (he Oaks winner of 1852. was one of tho earliest fancies of this Juvenile critic. During the same year he was greatly impressed by the manner in which West Australian did his woik, and Robert Feck’s first prophecy was made in connection with this famous Itqrke. One morning John Scott was on Iho Wold in. company with the late Lord Derby. It was exercise lime, and Scott called “Bob” to the. carriage In order to ask some question. Lord jivrby was pleased -by the Itoy’s confident yet quiet manner, and half chad!ugly asked him what wuiild win tho Derby. “West Australian, my loid,” the youngsi er replied. “The little ’un is not a bad Judge,” said Scott, on hearing his choice. Two years later Lord Derby proved that be had not forgotien the youthful prophet. He was down at Mallon In the spring of *54, cuitfideiit that the Derby would nt last fall Io the black and white cap.

“Now this year I can toll you what will win tho Derby,” he said to Robert. “Dervish will win.’’. The youngster replied that he preferred

Acrobat Although DerVlah Started at 5 td 2. hr was not successful, and accocdiug to the Great Yorkshire and. Doncaster Stakes form,. Acrobat was-much the better animal of the two.

Gentlemen riders are norat alt times any too scrupulous, and are often guilty when opportunity arises of “Miuoeztng” an opponent a bit. One of this sort, who as an accomplished horeriitaii, and an old hand ought certainly tn have known better, once did this to one cf mrr very finest cross* country jockeys, and as a matter of fact to such an extent that he all but had him over the raiis. icoords au English writer. The professional momentarily lost his temper at being su foully treated, aud quick as thought he up with his whip and gave the amateur a tremendous cut over the shoulders. No sooner was this dune than (ho jockey knew it was wrong, ami that his action would not be justified by those in power. To the aggressor’s utter astonishment and delight, however, the one who was hit with the whip made no complaint after the race, either to him or to the stewards. Some time afterwards they again rode together in a race at another meeting, aud this time, by pure accident, it was tho “gentleman” jockey who was pressed for room by bls previous assailant. On pulling up the aggrieved one rode up to the crack jockey and said. “You deliberately rode al me, and bumped me. and I shall report you to the stewards. I have not forgotten, mind you, your behaviour at Meeting.” This meant almost to a certainty r.n enforced time of Idleness for the professional, who, on emerging from the weighing-roomz was as a consequence looking very glum and down in the mouth. “Hullo, old man. What’s up with you?” was his first greeting on getting Into the paddock. Looking up, the jockey saw a highly-respected bookmaker. also an owner of horses for whom he had often ridden. He took this gentleman on one side ami explained the situation, staling that, he expected every minute to be called before the stewards, adding that he was quite certain that, having used the whip in his temper would prove fatal to him. “Well,” said the good-hearted and genial bowk maker. *T am glad I have seen you, aud as fur being warned off. 1 dou’t think you will be called before the stewards or hear any more about it,” nn«l before his astonished hearer could answer he moved quickly away and entered the weighing-room. The “bookie” went straight up to the swell rider, and said quietly, but in a tone that brooked no denial, “1 wl ;li to have a word with you, sir.” “Now, s?ir,” he went on, when they had moved to a corner of the room, “you are aware you owe me a big sum of money, and that It has been owing me for a long time; but I have never ‘screamed’ about it. Well, £ hear you ate going to prefer a charge agalust. for foul riding, which I cannot prevent, but if you do, I shall ask you for

imiuedlaic payment of my account. fnfilnS which I shall not allow you to cuter tha paddock, ring, or eudraiurv uutll you do pay mo. and you will have to re ma I u outside as a defaulter.” That jockey was not called before the stewards, neither has ho ever heard a a ord more of tho affair from that day to this.

It would be Interesting to leant whnt precisely is the connection, says ,4Vigilant,” of the I.omloii “Sportsman.” Im*— tween religion and hoi sc racing, and why it Is that some p<H»p?c ward to invest racing with a send-religious character, while at a later period tho progress uf unhealthy asceticism exercise<i a powerful influence against racing and other forms of mundane amusement, this feeling heng still muliH tained by the Nonconformist Conscience. There can be n<> doubt that the Romans encouraged lacing iu Britain, for traces of racecourses belonging to the period of their occupation have been frequently discovered. but the early Church was in strong opposition. The opinion of Augustine mid other Fathers with regard to attendance nt the spent aclvs, whether of theatre or ciicus, is well known; those who performed In thorn wore rigidly excluded from Church fellowship, and sometimes even those who merely frequented them. Thus the first Council of Arles, In its fourth canon, declared that those members of the Church who drove chariots at the public games should, so long as they' continued in that employment, be denied Communion. In spile of these fulmina(ions, however, love of sport gradually prevailed. and ultimately hi Germany and e’sewhero tho old local races appear to have been admit ted to a recognised place among the ceremonies peculiar to certain Christian festivals. At a veiy much earlier period, however, racing had been given a semi-religious character, as appears hr more than one passage of the Iliad, notrbly where the chariot race In connection with the funeral of Patroclus Is vividly described. There was betting, too; for one of tho spectators Invited another to wager for a bowl or a tripod on the result, aud that was while the horses were running. There was a religious savour about (be Olympic games, and chariot tacos were introduced into the programme at a very early date. To this was added racing for ridden horses in the Thirty-third O’ympiad, and later on came mule races, loosehorse races, and special laces for underaged horses. Moreover, those who meant to take part in these races had to enter their names and send their horses to Ellas nt least thirty days before the celebration of the games commenced, and during that month the charlotoeis and riders, as well ag the horses, went through a prescribed <curse of training. (The Duke of Richmond, by-thp-way, might In similar fashion collect the probable starters for the

Goodwood Cup a month before the rooe, •nd give them the benefit of the superb goinr in the park. No trace of objection to racing is to be found in Greek or Latin literature, and to such an extent was the sport ultimately Indulged in In Greece, that the Boeotians termed one of the months of their year llipiMMlrmnius (Horserace month), it was not until the asceticism of the early Christianity began to prevail that any sort of opposition to racing or other harmless amuseinems warn raised. Hero 1 may mention that, thanks to the munificence of Lady Mctix, Dr. Wallis Burge of the British Museum, has been able to publish the superb volumes entitled "The Book of Varadise; being the Ills—lories and sayings of the Monks and Ascetics of the Egyptian Desert, by Palladios, Hieronymus, and others.” This is an English translation, together with the Syriac Texts, and the general gist of it all is that at the time under notice—the 'fourth century tiic proper thing to do was to hate “the world ami all that belongeth thereto.” ® ® ®

THE A.R.C. SUMMER HANDICAP.

(BY REPEATER.) Mr Evett’s handicaps for the principal events at the A.R.C. summer meeting appealed yesterday some hours before they were actually due. With Aehilles engaged in the Auckland Cup there was no doubt as to what would head the handicap, and in letting him off with 9.10 Mr Evett has given him a racehorse’s chance. At the C.J.C. mooting Achilles’ form was not of a very high order, but this was to a certain extent accounted for by the fact that a few days before the meeting he was found to be stiff ei lug from kidney troubles. Cruciform, '.)/•), is one of the picks of the handicap, and if Mr Stead is to win the Cup, I think it will have to be by her aid. Martian and Grand Rapids, 9.9 and 9.8, are harshly treated. The former, who is not yet four yeais old, is entitled to a 71b allowance, so virtually he is at the top of the handicap, as the 71b allowance added on would bring his weight to 10.2. Grand Rapids, within 21bs of Achilles and 11b of Cruciform, is flattered to an extent that will hardly be appreciated by his new owner. Mahntonga, 8.12, Jias been given n i>lt more than he has earned, and taking a line with Grand Rapids alone, is badly treated. Nightfall, 8.10, has been simply murdered, and she is the blot of the handicap. A thiee-year-old filly, she is asked to carry the highest weight ever carried by a threc-year-old in any cup yet decided, and she would need to bo the best of her ago ever scon on a colonial course to carry it successfully. Melodeon, 8.8, Js also awarded five or six pounds more than ho has earned, and on recent running should be held safely by one or two above him. <Solden Knight, 8.7. is another who has been harshly treated, and with a solitary maideu plate to his credit, will need to Improve \vond« •rfully to have a chance. Romeo, 5.7. will probably prove the best of the local horses, although he has been weighted up to liis very best performances. Loch Erne and Scotty, S 3, me given very little chaiiro. Uranus. 7.9, is an unknown quantity, and Mr Evitt has taken no liberty with him. Ghoorka, 7.9. is a proved stayer, and may have an outside chance; but more to my liking is Starshnof, 7.8, who has been given a great chance, and should he get to the post lit and well, will stand in need of a lot of beating. Gladstone, 7.6, is badly treated, and Mr Evett has evidently taken no notice of his recent running. In the Ascot Handicap, at a difference of a stone, Romeo simply mad** a hack of him, and lie is now ask« d to meet him on only a pound worse terms. Of those lower down the list. Float mid Heroism look the most favourably treated. To sum the matter up, 1 will take Achilles, Cruciform, Romeo, Starshoot and Float as those the winner will likely come from. The Railway Handicap does not give one the opinion of being well thought out, and on recent running if ever a race looked a moral this does for Savomy.

In the Auckland Steeplechase Mr Evett has evidently taken no notice of Up-fo-Date’s showing in the Onehunga Steeplecliaae, aud in comparison with him the others appear to have very little chance.