TURF GOSSIP

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIV, Issue 22, 3 June 1905, Page 18

TURF GOSSIP

TURF FIXTURES.

June 2 and 3—Dunedin J.C. V.intel June 3 and 5-Otaki Maori R.C. Winter ’ June 3,7, and 10 —Auckland R.C. Great Northern Steeplechase June 21 and 22 —Hawkes Bay J.C. Winter June 28 and 20—Napier Bark R C, ’Winter July G and 7—Gisborne lt.C. Winter July 11 and 14—Wellington R.C. Winter

TURF NOTES.

Bonomiami is to lie indulged in a spell of a couple of months. ■ ■ >■ Frank Ross has taken over the stables recently vacated by John Cliaafe, senr. Haydn was the outsider of the fielu that starte din the Ha’iiditiip Hurdles at Takapuna. Irish lias incurred a 51b penalty for the Great Northern Hurdles, which brings his weight up to 10.1. I*. Johnston, the well known trainer and hors, man, arrived. from New Plymouth yesterday on a visit to Auckland. Eclair s withdrawal from the Great Northern Steeplechase was due to that gelding badly striking himself while being schooled. Sonoma, Butty, and Inniskillen each scored a double success at the recent Takapuna meeting. Hautapu was scratched for all engagements at a quarter to five p in. on Friday. Mark Ryan performed the hat trick at •in'l T a , k ’“P uu “ meeting -three rides Boxes have been engaged at J. Gainsford s. Green lam-, for G. Irwin (3), M. Heebie (3), and 11. French (2.1. Tie Guard, who injured his shoulder whi-e lie fell at Wanganui, was sore at the time, but much better next day. Reckless and Nadador were scratched for ali engagements- at the A'.H.C. winter meeting at 11.30 a.in. on Monday. Idas changed, hands during the week. Mr W. Curtis disposing of her Io a resident of Mercury Bay. The price paid did not transpire. Morelin, who claims engagements at the A.lt.C. Winter Meeting, was brought' up from Gisborne by the Taimie last Thursday. Clarence O'Neill gave several effective d’splays of horsemanship over hurdles and ■ oClrtry at the Wanganui meeting a la SI iar. Evening ami Jaek-o’ Lantern are liotli by the Musket horse Wonderland. Evening’s dam. Vesper, is a half-sister to Jack o’ Lantern. The racehorse Admiral Cerveras was brought from Napier on Sunday by the s.s. Mouua t o fulfil ' Ids' engagements at the A.lt.C. Winter Meeting. The Wailii Jeu-key club arc endeavouring to get a title to their course, and if successful intend to go in for extensive alterations. . . . s There arc rumours afloat -that one of the candidates in' the Hurdle Race last Saturday-was got.at in the box the night before the' ni'eettng. Tin- coiirse-watelicrs lire’stifl v waiting to see Borneo tried over the hurdles, but there does not seem much probability of their curiosity being , I-'.. Murfilt. well known in connection with ilk- training ’ of--trotting horses, li ft for Elthmn last week, to take charge of Mr F. Lambert s team. • -J Had Sonltfish lien sni-ei-sjifid in the Umpire Hnmlicap at Tak.-i)>uft'n. koiitrf Wave a dividend of- about ’ThNr:- was only .£8 invested on lus cliaiiee. Him-moa. Lndo, Tiini, and Alni)’’ ICegan went over the steeplechase ednrse on Sntiiidiiy morning, anil jumped well. Rolf. Kmiukii. Numa, and Mo’rehn were taken over tin- schooling hurdles also.’ To Aloha’s defeat In Hie Roval-Handieap Inst Sntnfilay cost tier connections a fair ► inn. Tin- mare got chopped ont at the field afterwards. * ’ Mr W. Knight. Hu- well known handicapper. left for Wellington last Monday, where lie joins the s.s. Gothic for Ixuidon. There is very little proliabllHy of Mr Knight returning again to the eolonlea.

Seaton Delaval, St. Leger, ami Fraternite had two winning representatives each at the recent Takapuua meeting; amt Soult, Tdsman, Eton, Castor, Keynarrl, amt BrookIn conversation with J. McHugh, who has IVairlki under his care, he informed me that Mr Bradley s champion is making n great recovery. lie is exercised daily, and there seems to lie no doubt but that he will be able to do stud duties. Waiiiki’s tut! sister, Lady Bose. lias gone into J. Gainsford’s charger The same trainer Ims also a . rising two year old liy Cyreniau - -Tikaii and a five-year old- gelding by. Howitzer placed in Ids care to prepare for forthcoming engagements. Sir Hector was backed with confidence by his connections in the I’upuke Handicap at Takapuua, .but getting chopped out at the start he never seemed’to get properly on Ids logs, and finished amongst the also started. M. Ryan heads the list of winning horsemen at the recent Tnkaptinii meeting with three wiirs;’ j. McCluskie. Howard, ami Brown had two each; and li. Wilson,- McLeod, Phillips. Griffin, and W. Wilson one each. Cuiragno made a very good showing for his first attempt over hurdles last Saturday, and there seems everv probability of his making a return’ at ’ tile illegitimate game for the money already expended upon Le Bean, who tvas made a warm favourits for the Maiden Hurdios at Takapuua. looked very light before he went but. He never -seemed to . be-aide to pace it with tliep leaders. He may show improved form There, were strong inquiries last Saturday from the South for the eoniMnation Tnur.pery and Creusot. and Cretisot and Crciisot for the Great Northern Hurdles and Steeplechase,’ and both’, were biuki-d to win a fair amount <>f money. Amongst tile riders who had a mount in the Royal Handicap last Saturday was the old-timer. Harry Hiekton.- It is some veins sim<- Hiekton was seen in the saddle.’ ami had his mount managed to have got Home liist it -is pretty safe to say the victory would have been a very popular one. The list of winning trainers at the recent Takapuua meeting was headed by F. Maennwienmi with three -suei'esses; !’.■ Williams, 1-. Steiining. and C, Weal had two apieee; and F. Hoss. J. B. Williamson, D. Moraghan, R. Hannon, ami J. Twohill one At Ellerslie on Saturday afternoon Lingard. Irish. Terence, ami Lamliet did a round of the Steeplechase fences, going over the hIU. . The quartette .all jumped will for maidens. Mora and Hvlas e;i<li Hill a., round of the. schooling fences separately, both fencing in good style. Gladstone was sent out favourite for the Britannia Handicap last Wedm-sdnv at Takapuua, but. although the colt was well placid as they .crossed the top stretch tiie weight evidently troubli-d him. ami he’fail-c-ij to make a' tight of it, eventuiillv linis'iing out of a place. . Levant..aml Defoe, Creusot and Rose Madder, Cavalry ami Full Cry were brought from New Plymouth last Saturday morning by t!«- Itarawa. Miss King. Trumpery. Waitar--re. Exiiioor, and Chnidry are expected to leave New Plyir.cnth on Monday night. Guelder Rose, who fell on the first day of the Wanganui meeting, was htaviiv supported. It was feared that he had put his shoulder out. The extent of his injuries cannot he known for some lime, but it will bi* a long lime before he races again, if at all. rutty, who .won both the big handicaps at the rt'cent Takapuna meeting, was luekv iii getting through on the rails on both <ccashots.. His hahpiii.t-in x proclivities stood him ’in; good Mtead.ami dt was simply by his hugging , % th<; rails. |h.at he managed to squeeze Home. Had he come on t h'e outside lt» is almost <*erlaind»is victories would have beeii turned into defeats. 'lite price paid by Takaroa when h<«‘ won The I’upuke Handicap last Wednesday was a Idt of a surprise to the Ellerslie' coursewatchers, who expected to see him start

nearly favourite. The eon of Castor wag ridden l.y Gritttn, a late employee of K. J. • Mason, and he scored his first winning rid. On Monday Diamond Drill amt Newtown ■ were sent separately a rauml «f the schooling hurdles, both jumping J- t ll. Haydn -and Fp-to-DiiU- wi re-given ,a tniT ovar th. country, Rolilfe over the hill. The jsalr I gave a good exhibition of fencing, although ' Cp-to-Date seemed a bit shifty at some of the jumps. The committee of the Pakurnngn* Hunt Club have arranged the following mixtures, and the-hounds will' meet as iiunler'-—May 31. Creamery, Papatoitoi;.June 5, Papatoi- . toi Railway Station: June 8. Mnngere Pound; June 14. i’akuranga Forge; June 17, Green Mount; June 21, Scotch Church, Otaliuhn: June 24. Sylvia Park; June 28, Monument, Otahuhu. The Whangarei Jockey Club intend. ,t.o make their course thoroughly up to date, and are spending a fair sum of niuiiey to achieve that Horscnwiiers need, not have any fear about ■’ taking good horses to I'onipi-ta there in future,-as, when com- , pleteil. the racing track is expected to equal any of the metropolitan courses. The acceptances received last Friday for the minor events on the opening day of the A.R.C. Winter Meeting augur well for a - successful' ineetiiig. In the .Maiden Welter no less, than 26 have paid- up, w-hlle the Cornwall Handicap claims 16 acceptors. The other events have .also filled except tonally well. and. taken altogether, the prospects of-a successful fathering look exceedingly bright, the only tiling now required being tine weather. . On Thursday- inor-ning,- nt-Ellerslie. Lin-gin-d jumped the steepleelias- fences in the centre of -the course.- Merryfire went a iomul of. the same obstacles-,, going over the hill; In the afternoon Ladv Jluiie was galloped-over two miles over’hurdles on the course proper. The mare which fenced in good style, had, Andy Regan as :i < ompanion over Th-e- early stages, and (’mmialipn. oyer jjie last, ipile and a-half. formed attractively.' - - Some’ of the English writers say that . Rhnnncul.iis was tile -.ihlncky‘Tiorse “of the Liverpool Grand National, find would probably have won if he had been ridden by a jockey , who luul some aequaintanee with the course. Others reckon that Phil May would have scon <1 iVnly for’ gbttinjf rid of his rider at the second' Ins’t fence. Sub- 5 sequently Phil Mjty was sold'for SIX) gain- . bought' r Spem er Golliin. The run put in by Hoiioro when lie won ' tin- Roy:il Handicap last’ Sa'tmMay was . little. Short of miraculous. When the field had gone .a furlong, lie was last but op 6, ami musx li-lye been fully twenty lengths liqlund th- leader, null from rtieli -on his' riiler .Was bard at Jilin, ami ca'tilii'iig his field one |iy one. he. got on terms with Millie, who was theii .in the lead, a short distance from the post; ami hattleiT it right oi't. eventually winning hr a neck. ’ It was a great victory for ifgreat sprintVisitiiig peiwillers during -the progress . of tlie.-VVangannhiiiiretiiig and after it.was over laid seme-iveiy long puces about var- : ions l ombiuatioß's for. tiie ;Great ,NorUu-rn. H-m-dle double. ■ The two Inuiski-Ji us, 500 to 10. the two Waiiart res 300 to 1. Cavalry and Defoe .200 to 3. I'.-ivnhy ami Haydn 51M) to 4. the’two. Creusots. before the meeting 750 to V 5, after the niteting 500 to 4, s<)o to 6, and other amounts.- Really very little business iv.-is, done,- howi veiviiimh -less than last year. The lioi-srs niost-tinquireil for were Cavalry ’ and Miss King for the Hurdles and Imimkilien, Defoe,' mid Kiate're for ‘tlfe'''Stccpliet i hase. = '- An Anierivaiioexeliange says:- Only a .few years ago- >t«*was not. thought good form to drive; a-itpacer *on the Ne'w York Sp.cedway. Now r-many of the-most prominent rbaditesi .'use - them, if not exclusively, - iiim-h of'the time. Mr BlMings, for instance, has five that, have all btaten 2.05 on one or more occasions. Offers of 5003d01. are icport'id to-hnvc Hc-en made for Nathan Strauss. '2.05J. 'anrD I.ocanda 2.08 J., - but more money was asked for both. Samuel McMillan. Jain s A. Murpliv. Nathan Stmuss. Dr. GiH. and .1. 1,. Dodge are' among those.who use the pacer for speeiliug- i>urpos<s. -v.. The following m-e ;tlio..pi'icr s on offer aboutthe Great -Northern Hurdles ami Steeple16 to Iv. Gavalry mid Kiatcre. ■ 20 toJiSr. oftv.alr.v ami ißniskille.n. 33 tjCTiy. Cavalry ami Up-to-Date. ti-iiktiidiv.'Gavalrv ami Defoe. 50 to 1 v. Cnvalrv ami Nor'-wcst. ' “‘2O til r 'lr’Hniisttilb'ii and (iiniskiHi-n. to.IAV lunwkiUen_ami Kiatcre. 50 ttt-1 -v, -1 insiskilli-jkanil Nor'-weW. 5U Hol v.-l'iirnbiy mtil.Hil.vdn.J 25 to-1 and, K-latere. 50 to 1 v. Trim ll ’ - There are not many riien oyer, fifty who take’kindly to steeplechase riding, Imt an Irish paper of ’March 18th remarks;—“The ’ veti-ran. Mr 11. BeitSlqy, who is now ill his fifty, third .ygar. .rode aj-apital race j ester-

day on his own horse. Lively Lad. when he -beat*' Captiiiu Staepcole on Asiatic’s Silver'in* the Regulation Plate -at Rablcy.i? There was tremendous cheering when the winner returned to the scales.” Ihe.Begulat cm Plate referred to was a three miles feteepiechfise; Mr IL Beasley.- it may l»e mentioned; 'won the Grand National of 1891 on Come Away, his brother Tom steering Einpresk! Wood broofc. and Frigate, the victors in 1880. 1881. and 1889 respective* V P. Johnson’s visit to Auckland during the week was for the purpose of riding Kiatere in his engagement in the Takapuna Steeplechase. and also in the Great Northern event; but on his arrival hero lie found that owing to a misunderstanding another rider (McGregor) hail been engaged for the horse. From the explanations given it appears that Johnson’s notification signifying his willingness to accept the mount never reached the horse’s connections, and in order to avoid being left McGregor’s services were secured. On the matter being put-before the two horsemen concerned, an agreement was arrived at by which McGregor was* to have the mount at Takapuna and Johnson to ride him in Ills Great Northern engagement, and this being satis-t’ory-to al! parties- Johnson, will have the mount in the latter event. * Experience is a dear school, but many refuse to learn in any other. An obstinate Portuguese, who lived near the town of Picta.-iir Mendocino County. America, had a sick horse- about three weeks ago. and * iromurfted' a veterinary as to th * animal’s t'rohble. He was told- that his hors*? had the glanders, that it was past curing. a fid that he had better sltoot the-animal. Above «if, ho was warned to be very careful, or ■he would get the• disc::s • himself.. The Portuguese was positive his horse did not have the guilders. and. to convince a friend, took a drink out of the horse’s bucket, after watering th? animal. Seventeen’days afterward • the Portuguese* died Tn terrible agony, having contracted the disease by drinking from the bucket. ’ From America comes-word that Direct. 2.055, ■ the “little black rascal” of the American turf dosseik years ago. and since famous as a sire, dropped dead at East View Farm, New York, oa March 15th. rupture of* tiff-heart being the cause. He was foaled- lit- 1885. at Pleasanton. Cal.; and as a three, year old took a trotting record of 2.20, which he retltice<l to 2.18 the following year. He- was subsequently shifted-to the- jrace; mid - been in > the sensat’on of the day. his race record of 2.0*1 to high wheels being a world’s record. Sixty three of his get have records in standard tint?, the .best known of these being the pacers Directly. 2.031. King Direct. 2.051, and the unbeaten Direct Hal, 2.01|. » The Great Northern seems to bear a more open appearance at present titan does the Hurdle Race. inniskilien. after his performance at Takapuna, met with strong support with several in the Hurdle Race, but not a few good judges incline to the belief that Kiatere will turn the tables on him at Eilersfie. basing their contention on the fact that the race should ’do Kiatere an immense amount of good. Nor’-west has also come irto favour as a result of his showing last Wednesday; but for some unexplainable reason I> foe has not met with ns solid support as one would have expected - after his forward running -* in. the Wanganui Steeplechase. •Up-to-Date • has the confidence of his connections. and his owner has supported him .for large amounts with all the fancied .candidates in- the Hurdle Race. Kiatere. Defoe, and InniskiHen 'appear to me to be a likely trio to furnish the wijiier. ’* . The practice of rtutnittg unnamed horses in races is common in England, and referring to this a writer in “Hors? and Hound” says: ”1 note that on the first day of the flat racing season no I?ss than seven unnamed animals were started. Owners are better than they used to bo about this matter, but surely the stewards of the Jockey Club could easily insist on no'animal start ing without a name. Let them be entered to any extent unnamed. as this firevents good names being given to foals and yearlings which afterwards prove worthless; hut by the time a horse is ready to run for a race something is known of Its merits, and. if good, an appropriate name can be found, whilst it

of no uss anything does. In evorj’ other country hut this no unnamed horse is allowed to start, and .not in st°eplechas!ug here; so surely Lord* Dhih.un • ami the other stewards can stop a troublesome tiling, that should Hive been prohibited years ago.” t v •• The following are the principal , wagers booked during the- week on the Great Northern double':— 9uo t<» 10 Borneo and Haydn, 750 to 5' Borneo and Creusot,’ 300 to Romeo and Creusot, 1000> td' 11’ Creusot and Creusot. 300 to 2 Inniskilien ami Kiatere, 050 to 6 Princess of Thule and Prill- 1 cess of Thule. 500 to 5 Hautapu and Kiatere. 300 to 14 Hautapu and t’reusot. 300 to 3 Miss King and Kiatere. (Ph) to 6 Miss King and Haydn. 200 to 1 Miss King and Reckless. 500 to 5 Haydn and Kiatere. 2<M) to 2 Haydn and I’p-to-Date, 500 to 5 Haydn and Haydn. 500 to 24 Tupara ami t’reusot. GOO to 4 Irish and Inniskilien. 500 to 5 Irish and Vp-to-Date, 500 to 5 Cavalry and The Guard. 600 to 4 Cavalry and Creusot. 500 to 5 Cavalry and Miss King. 600 to 4 Cav-alry-and Tupara. 200 to 4 Cavalry ami Kiatere, 500 to 5 Trumpery ami Haydn, 300 to 2 Trumpery and Creusot, 300 to 3 Trumpery and inniskilien. 300 to 2 Trumpery ami Defoe. 300 to <> Trumpery and Hp-to-Date. 800 tn 3 Trumpery and Nor’-west, 200 to 2 Lcvitnt and Kiatere. 200 to 1 Levant and Creusot. 200 to 2 Waitarere and The Guard. 300 to 2 Inspan and inniskilien, 300 to 2 Hakaria and Vp-to-Date, 900 to 3 Evermore and. Evermore.

• Matters in connection, with the Great Northern events have undergone a considerable’ change timing the week. In the Hurdles Cavalry, by reason of his victory in the Century Hurdles at Wanganui, is now a warm favourite, ami only a very short price is tn be had about any -combination with which he is coupled. Miss King has also been well supported, but Trumpery is practically friendless, although the polled Ilers have ail laid their full books with her, and all-the fancied* horsey in the Steeple<;has?; cousetjueut ly there* is very 111 tie lik.elihpod of her lengthening in the quotations. Lady I lune displayed much better form in a schooling gallop <>:t Thursday than she showed in her previous essays, and there’has been a disposition to support h r from the right quarter. Inniskilien has also found solid support; but outside of these oiere are no inquires for any of the others. Taking the recent public form as a guide. Cavalry stands out- as looking to have- the best chance -»th«-Hurdle Race; but perhaps It would he as well not to take too much notice of Trumpery’s running at Wanganui; while Miss King and Waitarere are also spoken of as likely to improve on their running there.

At the annual meeting of the Taranaki Jockey Chfb, held on the 19th inst.. the balance-sheet’showed a loss of £261 2/4 on the season’s transactions. Considerable

difficulty was experienced ill getting a gentleman to take the position of president? several gentlemen (including Mr (). Samuel, who at present holds the position) declining nomination. In order to bring matters td a head. Mr F. Watson suggested that in view of the turn things had taken the best way out of the difficulty would be to wijw the club imt altogether. Mr Samuel; in replyimr. said that it was hardly right, in view of the small attendance of members present,’ ti» spring snub a resolution on t-lic club without notice. Au tile course of his remarks Ire said .tha| the chib was one of the few metropolitan ’bodies., and had a high stamlhig- at the" present time. Eventually .the meeting ndj.utH’ned to June 2ml. in order to get a full attewlauee. It would.''as Mr Sanritel 4>e a thousand* pities-if it was decided* to.wiml the elnfr up, amb it is- to be hoped for the sake of-the spoit tn-general that Mr Samuel will be prevailed upon to ag;rhr accept Hie position of president. Mr Samuel is one of the recognised authorities on racing laws in New Zealand, mid his opinions on all matters pertaining to tae sport are greatly valued,' and ’it would i,e a stigma on tin* sporting coinniiinityof Taranaki if they allowed Mr Samuel to driven from the position which he has- s< honourably filled as preshtent of the Taranaki Jockey Club.

-'“Rapier.' in the “S. and D. News.” pens the following: Moifaa stories abound just now. Some of them may be true, and those which lack that virtue are not th? •least iiiterekting. They are told, as a rub-, for the purpose of explaining wlij- Moifaa. after being bowght -by Hu* King, ran a much worse hoi sc in this year’s Grand

National than in that of last year, when he won in grand style. The differ me in the form displayed is certain y imnicu^t-; It requires a lot of explaining away so as to get at the heart of the mystery, if rtscli a feat be possible. After reaching N-w--markvt from Epsom—where he could not have <lone worse if he had remained under tiie i-JBiige of a trainer who knew him thoroughly- Moifaa. so the story goes, w■•nt off his feed, and Marsh had to give him liberal doses of stout witli eggs bealvu up in it? Another story, is to the effect that lfts .arrival ai headquarters Moifaa had dune, little or no fast work: and. Indeed. it is obvious now that his mane’llous improvement there, as iHlegcd bysome of the resident touts, apocryphal. The QTitics did not know exactly what to sav about him in the paddock at Ain tie?, fine writes, in a leading organ, that Moifa.i “looked worse than ever, and was light and tucked up. and sadly lacking in lurscle.’ Almost in the next column another authority says: “To look at, Moifaa was better than last year; he seemed hard and clean, but more substantial than he was then. . . .lie carried a good b.’oom to-day.” When these fine judges of horses de go out of their way to say something, their unanimity is wonderful.*

The English writer. “Ranger,” says: A particularly foo.ish remark that one constantly hears from men who have missed a race meeting U have made it myself) is.

“1 wish I’d been there! 1 should have had a good day.” Such an one 1 met the other evening after Hurst Park. “I wish I’d been down!” he said, “I should have had a dash on .Jollybird. Just fancy! Five to one in a field of four. Mason up. horse at his best—won the other day: but I was busy and missed it. Couldn’t be beat, mv dear fellow!” Now. if my friend had been down, supposing that he were behind the scenes, what would lie have heard about his good thing that couldn’t be beat? In the first place he would have learned that Mason was up against his wi.l. that the jockey .had tried to get off in order to ride One Away; he would then have discovered that One Away was supposed to be merely walking over—that the horse had been ga.lh>ped so that*defeat seemed impossilde; that Williamson had been secured, that the prospective certainty had been sent by special train to Hurst I’aik. that some of those more closely connected with J<»llv= bird had backed On? Away, and that the result was considered altogether inexplicable; for Jo lybird won ten lengths. O:«c Away never in the rare, a distance behind at the finish. This is merely a typical case. No man who has not l»eeii to a meeting can ever know what he might or might nor have done had he been racing. A few ni li pursue the even tenor of their ways regal dicss of whom they meet and what they hear, but these nre very few indeed, exceptions that scarcely count.

The question of the light of an owner to scratch his horse when It suits him lias often been a subject of much controversy, ami the following suppositious dialogue from the pen of the English writer “Ranger” affords interesting reading:—Last week in discussing the Lincolnshire Handicap, and considering what would win. observed that “the market (at the time <>r writing, for changes may occur) loudlv replies Hackler s Pride.” Changes did occur while the lasi issue was being printed, and Hackler’s Pride went out. A mvsterloiis .whisper had reached me to the effect that she might not run. but as she seemed to be doing good work it was hard to be ievc that, she would not be sent. Of course, the scratching occasioned much bitterness*. Ono can imagine an argument on the subject between an owner and one of the people who rush in where angels fear to tiuvid-—we will. not. say about the scratching of Hackler’s Pride, but in similar circumstances :- I*.: I call it cruel! You enter the he is apparently being trained for the rae«*. you see him shorten in price day by day. know «tbat the public are backing him, and, almost on the eve of tin* meeting, strike him out! A.: Did 1 ask (he public Io back tiiiq. or want them to do so? Not at all. I assure yoi)! They backed -it on their own responsibility, and they mus lake the eon sequences. I entered because at the time I Intended to run. then I found what seemed to me good reason for changing my mind, and I scratched the hors*. R.: You might have found your reasons

a ittlv earlier. Leaving the horse In CJ people to infer that it would run al any rate. \ How du you know wbeu mv reasons uc2.ui to influence me? And as for “ieadhtg people to infer.” I cannot help their ii.'ft renevs. Suppose 1 tr’ed the horse and found he was not good enough Or. suppose he began to show symptoms <»f nnboumlness, ami I was afiaid of breaking him down by continuing his preparation? B : Or suppose that you found the pin* getting shower and shorter, and vuu de cnurd to taJte It? B.: \ es. suppose that, if you like! Sup pose that 1 did not care about taking 4 lo 1 when outsiders had got 109 to 8? Why should tiny they hav<* the cream of Hie n.arktt and imagine that I slmlt he con tent with the skim milk? if I cannot ge a fair price about my horse whv should run him fur the benefit of people 1 don t know the public—who have got liln ral prices? ** * t There is a good deal to be said for both bilks it appears.

I suppose nobody can thoroughly under* stand the <|urstiou of betting ex< e|»t those who have been foolish enough to bet. Mr J. Holt Schooling, for instance. Is really a clever man. but in his article, “is Betting Foolish?” be does not quite gel the hang of the thing. It is. to begin with, absurd to argue that hotting is foolish because Mr Schooling, “looking down into the arena after a race,” once saw a young man go up to a bookmakor, ask for his winnings, and reecive a blow on the head from the welshing layer of odds; whereupon the young fellow. h,i If-sfu uncil and liefplrss/ “presently slunk away." That such a riling could luivc happened in a crowded ring is, I will i:ot say incredible, as Mr Schooling declares he saw it. but a most extraordi* nary occurrence. I cannot uiulrrstaiid the young man not finding some bystanders to bark him up. A racecourse crowd Is not particularly tender to welshers. even when they do not use violence, and one who committed such an assault would hi fortynine cases out of fifty find himself hi an extremely awkward p»edi**amrnt. Bui th? incident Is so wholly exceptional that it (locs not come into- the nriEiunent as t»* the folly or otherwise of helthig. and Me Schooling could reanliy find s» many unanswerable arguments against the practice that to drag in this story is absurd. Mr Schooling is right in a way ii» his argument that odds are. as a rule, htiquitonsly short, 1-ut all the same ho dors not really seem to understand the point at issue. “The principle of t.iking gcoil ente that the odds shall always be*agaiiist the barker is invariably acted upon by bookmakers.” Im says. Of ciHirsc it is, and equally of course is (hr barker's constant desire to get more than the legitimate odds. “The bookmaker seeks so to arrange his book that Hie rhanrrs i.i his favour are coiisiderahly hi Excess of the chances against him.” Once

more, of course! Could the bookmaker be exported to arrange his book on the revrrso principle that the < han res against him were considerably in excess of the chanceain his favour? Mr Schooling Is here narrowly approaching nonsense, and hr getn quite there when he asserts that this excess ’’occurs in each race that is run.” tut assertion which, how'ever. hr contradicti in the very next sentence by admitting that “sometimes, on a particular rare a bookmaker loses.” Mr Schooling quote* the odds against the runners in Inst year’* Derby, and appears to suppose that these odds, which were, as he calls it, “given” by the bookmakers against each horse, were the only odds al which they were ever backed. Gnuveriiant started at 7 to 4. hut thousands of his admirers who “operated * before the day of the rare got rights and. tens - against him. and hi many rases, no doubt, .“laid off,” so (hat they won in spite of his defeat. SI. Amant was a 5 to 1 chance, but early barkers were able to take twice the odds. A barker, indeed, frequently gets inaiiv poiu.ts the best of th* price. ’

r The Bureau of Animal Industry . <»f th* United States Department of Agriciilt tirC Is about to inaugurate a series of experiments for the purpose of asci vtainlng th* value- of the-Aim rlrnn trotter as a sourea of heavy harness horses. Last whitee CongrrsH appropriated 25.000 -Bureau of Animal litdustry, and the trial •noted above will he held In connect witli the Colorado Experiment Slntion. In ■aiinouftcing the trial. D. E. .Salmon, chiei of th? hiire.-ui. says: “There is no I‘et* ter opportunity lo he found in horsebi'ced

Inc than tn produce a type of heavy hn’'horse from the trotter, ami the re coni of trotting bred horses in the shov Fings during recent years seems to indicate Its possibility.** The statement is one with winch nil students of breeding will agree. European Governments and piivate individuals have experimented with the h.ivkn-y. the French ami German coach horse. and have developed about all the good ih’-re is in those particular breeds. It would be foily for this Government to attempt to improve on the fixed breeds alnady lu-ted. the more so as there is a big field in -ontiection with the American trvlter that has never been thoroughly <2«-velo;n <i. The average breeder of tne trotter m his ha»tc to get speed has neglected breeding for size ami appearance, although more attention has been paid to these points in recent years than was the ease when every breeder was “speed mad.' Morr limit once it has been pointed out that proper selection of tue trotter won’t! result ie securing a fixed type- ’• he American trotter is a versatile animal, und *ne has succeeded in spite of neglect, because of his sheer merit. This is particularly true in the show ring. The breeders have paid little attention to ‘bis phase of the breeding question, but the dealers, mere wise to the demand of the Lour, have mad*- selections which have won over all competitors. At first it was the fad to so disguise the trotter that he was mistaken for a hackney', but nt last his success was so pronounced that it was tumid to he futile to disguise rhe fact that many of the blue ribbon high-steppers were not only trotting bred but discarded racehorses, showing under assumed names'. After the dea’ers so completely demonstrated the fact that the trotter is *he shew horse par excellence, a few breeders rclmnantly accepted the conditions, but still there has been little If any attcnipt tn breed a type of show horses. More attention has been paid to the selection of breed mares in recent years, yet the show horses have been developed from the speed discards. Now that the Government has taken up the question, it is possible breeders will be educated to the point where they will find it advisable to develop a breed of heavy harness trotting bred horses of show ring calibre for which there is go much demand at the present lime. The venture of the Colorado Experiment Station will be watched with interest, more especially by those who realise that there Is a vat and profitable field ahead for those breeders who will profit by .-e experiment.

TAKAPI NA JOCKEY CLUB S WINTER MEETING. The concluding day s racing of the Takapuna J.C. Winter Meeting was held yesterday at Tukapumt. The weather was iovtiy. ami there was a large attendance, and speculation throughout the afternoon wasbiisk.the sum of £5925 passing through the machines under Messrs W. Blomfield am* Co., of which amount £714 was invested on (he double machine, backers of the winning combination (Putty and Iniiiskillen) receiving the good dividend of £49 8/. Mr W. J. Ralph officiated as judge, ami Mr C. O’Connor as starter, the latter gentleman performing in his best style. The raving right through was interesting, and some splendid finishes were witnessed, notably lit the Steeplechase, in which Inniskiiien succeeded in putting up a time record for the race. The meeting was well conducted by the secretary (Mr R. Wyuyard) and the* officials, everything passing off without a hitch. Particulars of the racing are as follow: Sir Hector was made favourite for the opening event of the day. from which J.um-tta and Motiti were withdrawn. The Face needs very litfe description, as Takalea shot to rhe trout before they had gone u furlong, ami he was never afterwards headed, lasting long enough tv win by a length and a half from Kola Nip, who e.-.me fast in the run home, and beat Lady Clements half a length for second honours. The favourite got away badly, and was never afterwards prominent. Inniskiiien and Lady Huue dropped out of the Hurdle Race, and punters went atrong.y for Hakaria. he being barked down to odds on. Fleramosca showed the way for a couple »»f fences, when he came* down, and Lady Clare took up the running, but she was \m \v in the lead on sufferance, as passing the stand the lasl time the favourlie took charge and never afterwards gave his supporters any anxiety, eventually winning by three lengths from Irish, who was two lengths in front of Ludo. Sonoma and Sally Homer wound up equal favouiftes for the Pony Race, for sshlrh the seven acceptors carded went to the post. Forth was quickest on his feet, r.nd he piloted the field to the turn for home, where Sonmna challenged, and soon taking Forth’s measure, went on ami won by a !ei>gth from Sally Horner, who heat Orange and Blue in the run home by half a length for second honours. To Ar »ha was tin* only defection from the Britahfiln Handicap. and Gladstone was made the medium of solid support, with Certainly in the }M»siii«»>» of se<«Md favourite Durable was first to show prominent, ami joined by Certainty, the pair showed the way past the stand, half a length in front Putty, with Gladstone close up. Going ah ng the back Durable dropped back, ami Certainty was left in command. tw-» lengths In front of Putty, then follower! Zniieka and Gladstone. Passing tin* mile post Certainty was still In the lead, und she was first to turn for home, and at th* distance it looked as if she would prevail. but Putty, getting through qi> the Inside, gradually wore her down.* and won a Kood race by half a length, with Zulieka a length further back third; Gladstone was fourth. v Considerable Interest was evinced in the devision of tho Steepleebaßr. three or four Great t’ortiiorn candidates being engaged. Haydn, Kanaka, ami Ilyins declined their engagements, leaving a good field of nine, and <>f these K Intern whs the popular fancy. The rave produced an exciting con-

test. Reckless made play for the first time around. Iniiiskillen Iwing second, with Kiatere and Dingo at tire head of the others. Aa they came over the water the second time Iniiiskillen was in front, with Dingo. Kinterr. Reckless ;*nd Nor’-west as his nearest attendants. Dingo showed th’ way up the hill the last time, but as the./ came down over the water hiniskiiirn ami Kiatere were together. a couple of lengths ia front of Dingo iml Nor' west. Kiatere rook a slight lead as they raced along the hack, ami he was th st to turn for home. As they caiue to the last fence Inniskiiien ranged alongside Kiatere. ami N»»r’-west also putting in a claim, a great finish to the post was witnessed. Inniskilleii staying the longest ami winning by a length, the judg“ being unable to separate Kiatere and Nor’-west. Dingo was fourth. Miss Lottie failed to come out for the \ ietoria Handicap, ami Te Arolia was made a slightly better favourite than Alba Rose. Backers were, however, astray in their calculations, as Lfb-iator. Millie and Lovelink. shooting out In front when the barrier lifted, practically had the race to themselves. Millie getting the best of the struggle in the last half furlong, and beating h-r stable companion. Liberator, by half a length, with Lovell nk a length further hack, third. Golden Sauds was withdrawn from the Melter Handicap, the concluding event of the day. , Zniieka was sorted out as the most likely to scoie. ami she was made a warm favourite. <’alle Iris being the on’y other to be barked with any spirit. Rookby. Loch Fyne. and f’alle Iris were first to iM.ome prominent. the former taking charge as they went along the back, and lie was first to enter the straight, where \olette put in a claim, but was unable to quite get up. being beaten by a short head, with the favourite a length a wav third, ami Idas fourth. Pupuke Handicap of 50sovs. five furlongs — Mr_ M’. Lovett s Takaroa. 7.9. 1: Kola Nip. ».P. 2: Lady Clements. 7.8. 3. Scratched. Lmietta ami Motiti. Takaroa s’hot to the front when a furlong had been* covered. and was never hea<le<l. winning bv a length ami a half. Time, I.G‘. Dividends, £lo 14/ and ±*4 Id t 5. Hurdles, of IPPsovs. 1} miles.—Mr W. Foss’ Hakaria. 10.12. 1: Irish. 11.0, 2; Ludo. 9.10. 3. Scratched: Iniiiskillen and Lady Hune. Hakaria took charge afte? passing the stand the second time, and was never afterwards troubled, winning by throe lengths. Fitramosca fell, but his rider was- unhurt. Time, 2.231. Dividend, £1 15/6. Pony Handicap of six furlongs.—Mr T. M’yllie’s Sonoma. 9.12. 1; Sally Horner. 7.5, 2; Orange and Blue. 8.19. 3. AH started. Forth led to the turn for home, but Sonoma came througn. and going on. won bv a length. Time, 1.20. Dividends. £3 4/ and £1 2/. Britannia Handicap. Putty 1. Certainty -• Zulirka 3. Scratched—-Te Aroha. Dividends — ££B 6 and £1 66. Handicap Steeplechase of 250sovs. second horse to receive 40sovs. and third horse Ibsovs out of the stake, about three miles and a half.—Mr H. Waldron’s hr g Inniskil]en. syrs. by Fraternite — Nightingale. 10.3, including 51b penalty i Howard). 1; Kiatere. aged, 11.10. ami Nor'-west. aged. 9.7, dead hear. 2. Also started: Papatit, aged, 11.5; Re<kless. aged. 10.4: Dingo, aged. 1012: Irish. syis. 9.12: Evermore, aged. 9.9: Kowhai. aged. 9.7. Time. 7.27 4.5. Dividends: Iniiiskillen, £4; Kiatere, 8'; Nor’wvsu £1 13,6.

WINNERS OF THE TAKAPT’NA STEEPLECHASE. Time. (Since 1896.) m . s. I.B96—Harper’s Don. McKinnon. 12.6 8 45 1897— Byers Miss Nelson. 11.0 S 3 1898 — Byers’ Miss Nelson, 12.5.... 8 20 1899— <’haaf<‘’s N<»r ? -west.’ 12.8.... 8 8 4-5 1909—Ross’ Voltigeur 11.. 10.12.... 8 0 1-5 194)1—4’haafe’s Nor’West. 12.5.... 7 35 3-5 1902— Beckert’s Rufus. 10.10 8 IT 1903— Daebie’s Prim ess Thule. 19.12 7 52 ■?994—(‘la'-k’s Papatn. 19.2. and Coleman s Dingo. 10.9. dead 7 35 1995—Waldron s Iniiiskillen. 10.3.. 7 27 4-5 Victoria Handicap of lOOsovs, second horse to receive lOsovs out of the stake, six furlongs.—Mr J. Hannon’s ch m Millie aged, by Tasman-Duchess, 7.4 (Brown). 1’; Liberator. syrs. 7.8. 2: Lovelink. 3vrs. 7.4 3 Also started: Hohoro. 10.4; Alba Rose. 8.1: Te An,ha. 7.12: Certainty. 7.9 Time 1.18. Dividends. £8 14/6 and £1 19/. Welter Handicap of 79snvs. second horse t.M reive 19SOVS out of the stake; lowest E Morrison’s br !• ’o I**’ 1 **’ h ~ , 8,0,,kbv - s (Brown). 1. lolerte. Gyrs. .10. 2; Zuleika. B.S 3 A.><> startup Sir fJl’ead. 8.10; Idas. 8.6; J r,s - • lo : Soultflsh. 7.10; i. f ,rh Fvup • ’- 4T - By his Victory in the Takapnna Steenle--ohas.. yest..rday Inuiskilh-,. has in. i.rrZd a ■■lb peualo for tire i.reat Northern SteepleruTnp\'v‘, io 1 rlhgs ~is in that © © @ Al I’KLAND RACING ( LI B’S GREAT NORTHERN STEEPLECHASE MEETING. ACCEPTANCES. The fo’!«»wing acceptances were rerefT* ed Inst night by Mr Percival for events of the first day*# programme: MAIDEN STEEPLECHASE of lOOsovfl. About two mi lea am] a half. at lb st lb Defoe It 3 TJngard 9 9 Rolf 19 7 Diamond Drill 9 9 Major 10 3 Merryfirr 9 7 Lmlu 19 9 Terence 9 7

MAIDEN WELTER HANDICAP of 100 sovs. Seven furlongs. st lb st ;b Nervine 10 12 Si- Hector .... 9 5 Noteoriui 10 lo *Takeroa 9 5 Seabird 1 » 6 Pnkekohe 9 4 Golden Sands 10 6 Kloudyke 9 3 Southern Cross l:> .7 Lady Clements 9 3 •Roekby 10 0 Soultmaid .... 9 3 Airgun 9 12 Mauku 9 2 Wbakabihi ... 9 11 Luneta 9 9 Simple Simon 9 lo Cyrano 9 9 Leo Delaval... 9 !) Star of South 9 9 Discoverer .... 9 6 Royal 5he11.... 9 0 Albueia 9 6 Stepmar 9 0 St. Harp 9 6 Lcch Fyne.... 9 0 ♦lncluding 51b penalty. MAIDEN HURDLE RACE OF lOOsovs. One mile and three-quarters. st lb st lb Newtown 11 2 Hinemoa 9 5 Lady II tine.... 19 19 Cnrr:i*.'i:o 9 5 Fieramosca ... 19 9 Yolette 9 2 Major 19 5 Lady Ciare ... 9 0 R<df 10 3 Mora 9 0 ♦(.’’in’ouwealth 9 8 Kereieu 9 9 Coronation ... 9 6 Morehu 9 0 •Including 51b penalty. CORNWALL HANDICAP of 300sovx. One mile. st lb * st lb Romeo 11 10 Waikato 10 0 Paritutu 11 9 Res? Madder 9 10 Durable 11 2 Gcordie 9 G ♦Chivalry .... 10 11 Lovelink 9 5 Full Ury 10 19 Sir Gilead .... 9 3 Exmoor 10 5 Calle Iris .... 9 3 Delania 10 3 Ad. Cerveras 9 2 Zuleika 10 0 Sonltflsh 9 0 ♦lncluding 51b penalty. FONY HANDICAP of lOOsovs. Seven furlongs. st lb st ’b Sonoma 9 12 Storyteller .... 7 3 Fashionable .. 9 5 Pipiwharauroa 7 0 Forth 9 3 Dr. Quest .... 6 10 Orange & Blue 8 12 Little Mabe! 6 10 Sally Horner 7 t LADIES’ BRACELET of lOOsovs. One mite and a half. st. Ib. st. Ib. Seatonia ...». 11 2 Golden Sands.. 11 0 Irish 11 2 9r Godfrey... 10 6 Mocassin 11 2 Pearl Necklet 10 6 Trumpery .... 11 2 Cyrano 10 6 Uom’onwealth 11 2Lycia 10 6 The Auckland Racing Club commence their winter meeting at Ellerslie next Saturday, when one of the principal events of the gathering, the Great Northern Hurdle Race, will be decided. The winter racing as a rule is one of the most popular fixtures held by the club, principally on account of the number of jumping events on the programme. The acceptances received for the various events are probably the largest the club have ever received, and a most successful day’s racing ought to eventuate. The opening event on the programme, the Maiden Steeplechase, has eight engaged. and probably Defoe and Major wi.l fight out the finish. The Maiden Welter has twenty-six acceptors, the bulk of which seem likely to go to the post. Noteoriui and Rook by are rhe pair 1 have most fancy for. The Great Northern Hurdle Race looks like attracting a field of thirteen, the probable staiters being as follows: — Haydn 11.5. Prim-ess of Thule 11.4. Creusot 11.4. Trumpery 11.2. Waiwera 11.9, Hakaria 10.8 (including 51h penalty). Levant 10.6. Miss King 10.3. Cavalry W.3 (including s’.b penalty). Irish 19.1 (including 51b penalty). Lady Hune 9.10. Inniskillen 9.10. Waitarere 9.7. To anticipate the judge, I will place them: Cavalry 1, Miss King 2. Waitarere 3. The Maiden Hurdle Race has fourteen engaged, and piobably Common wealth and Rolf will be the safest pair to trust. For the Cornwall Handicap sixteen have paid up. and Chivalry and Durable read a likely pair to supply the winner. • The Pony Handicap should go to Sonoma. The concluding event of the day. the Ladies’ Bracelet, may find Pearl Neckht home in the van. The fir*t race is timed to start at 12 noon sharp. © © © WANGANUI J.C. WINTER MEETING. WANGANUI, Wednesday. The Wanganui Joekey Club’s Winter Meeting commenced in unusually cold weather. There had been very little rain since the heavy downpour of Monday, and the course was in excellent condition, though a trifle slow. The attendance was well up to the average, and -speculation fell only a little short of last year, the figures standing at £9232 as against £9547. The fields were good, and the racing was of an interesting character. The public appeared to appreciate the change in the course sclected for the Steeplechase, as the horses were in full view throughout. The obstacles, though more difficult, were all made on good ground. The jumping all through was very good, though The Guard ami Victor}', two accomplished jumpers, fell, and

Slow Tnin's rider wai thtugb that gelding did not actually come down. The Guard aad Victory were each going well enough when (hey came down, but too early tQ tell whether they had much chance. Slow Tom was racing so well when two miles had been traversed that he might have proved hard te beat. Evening, however, was allowed to get too commanding a lead in the first mile, and she won comfortably enough after leading over every fence. Old Pipl was running in secund place at the end of the first round, ami the position was not takeu from him until entering the straight. wh> re Defoe came through ami l >‘at him, and got within two lengths of the easing-up Eveuing, who led Pipl four lengths. Waitarere in jumping several «»f the fences got up high, but lu the last mile ami a-lmlf put in better work and ran a good race for a beginner. Na•lador. Tupara. Cairo, and Kaimop finished at intervals in the order named. Crensot was so far behind his field in the first round when he ran off the hencoop that no line could lie taken of his capabilities. Pushful, who won the May Hurdles Handicap, has seldom shaped so well, aim the distance suited him. Miss King, who locks as though a race or two may do her good. eauM* well at the business end. and would have been served by extra distance. Inspau will race better as he goes on. The race was ruu at a sound pace throughout, and Mi*** King’s exhibition of form was good. Chivalry won the Borough Handicap comfortably front Solution, although a too solid opposition was not presented from all quarters. St. Claimer and Jolly Friar fought out a good battle in the Electric Hark Race. Sir Geraiut being quite two lengths away, unable tu" reach the leaders, though he carried hi» weight well. Sleepwell and Guelder Rose were the favourites in the Kaitoke Hack Hurdles, but Guelder Rose and Needlework fell, aud Vaiima. ridden in Sloan style by O’Neill, looked to win easily, but only by a head from Taxpayer, who made nearly all the running. Auratus had a rather easy two lengths’ win at the finish of th - Conuolly Handicap from Paritutu ao* »’ ’gulation. who were separated by ah. . -ngth and were just clear of Full Ciy. - tuna. Spoil, and Variation. The Pun.a Hack Race resulted in an interesting finish. Iseuit coming in the straight and beating the outsider. Benmore. and another outsider in Kuroki, Mani, the favourite, never being prominent after the first half of the journey. The Leader also being beaten off. Borough Handicap, six furlongs.—Chivalry. 9.6. 1; Solution. 8.10. 2; 8.4. X Scratched: Spoil, Hamua. ami Purdey. Won all the way. Time, 1.16. Dividends, £3 8/6 and £3 0/6.

Steeplechase, three miles.—Eveniqg. 10.0, 1; Defoe. 9.7. 2; Plpi. 10.4. 3. Won all th® way. Scratched: Moccasin and The Guard. Victory fell, and Slow Tom lost his rider. Dividends, £8 7/6 and £3 11/6. Time. 6.11. Electric Hack, five furlongs.—St. Claimer 7.19. 1; Jolly Friar, 7.3. 2; Sir Geiaint. 8.2, 3. Maui. Blessbok. Fair Jess and Hurrah were scratched. A good race. Won by half a length. Time. 1.3 4-5. Dividends, £5 14/ and £ 2 6/6. May Hurdles.—Pushful 1, Miss King 2. Raema 3. Kaitoke Hack Hurdle Race of 80s<»vs: 1} mile.—Mr J. Harles’ b m Vaiima. aged, by Vanguard—Ultima. 9.3 (<’. O’Neill), 1; Taxpayer. 4yrs. 9.2. 2; (’ommonwealth. aged, 9.0. 3. Also started: Sleepwell. Geuider Rose. Needlework, Katoa. Queen Bess, and Kobatu. Time, 3.22. Dividends, £5 12/6 and £2 4/6. Connolly Handicap of 300sovs; 1 mile and a distance.—Mr J. Dalton’s br g Auratus, 4yrs, by Gold Reef—Pursestring. 8.1 (W. Young), 1: Paritutu, 8.12. 2; Regulation, 8.6. 3. Also started: Ghoorka. Asteroid, Full Cry. Shrapnel Shell, Spoil, Noneen, Haiuua, Ngatarua. Variation. St. Lyra, and Flamen. Time. 1.59. Dividends, £6 11/6 and £2 12/. Purua Hack Flat Handicap of lOOsovs: 1 mile.—Mr J. E. Palmer’s br g Iseuit. 4yrs, by Westmere—Wapiti marc. 7.9. carried 7.11 (W. Young). 1; Benmoie, 7.8, 2; Kuroki, <l. 3. Also started: The Leader. Maui, Blessbok. Grenade, Benair, Makikihi. Royal Flush. Letherin. Silveriene, Immolation, Amaryllis. Bourasque. Barca. Moa. Wild Duck. Time, 1.47. Dividends, £6 7/6 and £8 4/. WANGANUI, Thursday. The Wanganui Jockey Chib’s Winter Meeting was concluded in fine weather, ami the racing, on the whole, was more interesting than on the first day. Speculation was good, and the fields were larger than in most previous years. The sum of £17.292 was put through the totallsators during the two days.an increase of £2161 on last year, when the second day was a worst on record for wet. The Winter Oats Handicap proved an easy win for Solution, and Full Cry, who came outside his field, just beat Regulation, the favourite, for second place. Slow Tom was a strong favourite for the Grandstand Stp»*ple<-hase. and might have won had he been ridden by a more experienced horseman, as lie was kept too far back. Eurus was going well when he fell; Duffer and Sunmos also came down. The finish between the placed horses. Jack o’ Lantern (the winner), old Cairo, and Slow Tom. was close, one half length separating them. The hitherto disappointing Handsome Jack marc Amaryllis created a big surprise by winning the Balgownle Hack Handicap easily from Iseuit, Letherin, Silveriene, and

14 others. St. Joe. the second top weight, made most of the running. Mr Donnelly’s Trumpery was made a strong favourite for the Ceuiury Hurdles, and probably ran the best race of her career, her jumping being excellent: but she was being ridden when half the journey was over, and so was Miss King, to catch Cavalry. Mr Champion’s horse, who made a faulty jump at the last obstacle, won by about three lengths, ami Miss King fairly outstayed Trumpery and beat her over the last quarter and finished strongly. Raeina fell and brought down Waitarere. and the rest were lien ten off. Raeina was killed by the fall. Commonwealth cleverly defeated Valima. Kohatu, and four others in the Rata Hack Hurdle Race. Eurns gained a narrow victory over Nadador in the Final Steeplechase, in which Lurcher gave a good exhibition of jumping, and was only beaten in the run home after a pretty race. Jolly Friar won the Farewell Hack Handicap in good style from two heavily-backed ones in Pretty Maid and Geraint, and nine others. ' Results:— Winter Oats.—Solution. 8.1. 1: Full Cry, 7.7. *2: Regulation. 8.9. 3. Scratched: Ngatarua. A good race and a close finish. Dividends—£4 11 6 and £3 0/6. Grandstand Ufpeplethase.*—Jack o’Lantern." 11.3. 1; Cairo. 9.7, 2: Slow Toni. 11.13, 3. All started. Won easily. Eurus and Duffer fell. Dividends, £5 11/ and £4 10/. Balgownie Hack. — Amaryllis. 7.2. 1; Isenlt, 8.8. 2; Lctherin. 7.5. 3. AU started. Won by a bare length, after a good race. Time. 2.0 3-5. Dividends, £29 9 6 and £1 17./. Century Hurdles. —Cavalry 1. Miss King 2. Trumpery 3. Scratched — Inspan. Midia. Bagpipes. Needlework. . Waitarere and Raeina both fell. Rata Hack Hurdles Handicap of SOsovs; 1 mile and 5 furlongs.—6s, J. O’Driscoll’s Com mon wealth. 9.2 (Cochranei. 1: 136, Valima. 10.2. 2: 23. Kohatu. 9.0, 3. Also started: Taxpayer. Throstle. Queen Bess, and Westward. Won by a length. Time, 3.7 3-5. Totalisator. 476. Dividends. £4 18/6 and 15.6. Final Steeplechase Handicap of lOOsovs: 2 miles. —177, D. Rutherford’s Eurus, 9.9 (O’Connell). 1: 228. Nadador, 9.9. 2: 251, Lurcher. 9.12. 3. Also started: Victory. Rapanui, Duffer, and Cairo. Eurus took the lead at the back of the course, and in tiie run to the post stalled off Nadador and won by a head. Time. 4.2 3-5. Totalisator, 1182. Dividends. £4 2.6 and £1 1/. Farewell Hack Handicap of 60sovs: 6 furlongs.—lBs, J. Cotter’s Jolly Friar, 7.9 (D. Price). 1: 293. Pretty Maid. 8.4. 2: 389. Sir Geraint, 9.3. 3. Also started: Blesbok, Isenlt. Gawain, Royal Flush, Sedgmoor, Hinupai. Opaeae, Fontenoy and Wild Duck. Sedgmoor was quickest away, and led by two lengths to the three-furlongs, where Jolly Friar. Sir Geraint, and Pretty Maid put in their claims. Jolly Friar came away at the entrance to the straight, and coming on full of running, won easily by three lengths. Time. 1.18. Totalisator, 1650. Dividends. £6 2/6 and £1 5/6.

© © & NORTH OTAGO JOCKEY CLUB. OAMARU. this day. The weather is tine and there is a good attendance for the winter meeting of the North Otago Jockey Club. The course is In excellent order. Results were as follows: — Winter Handicap.—Radium 1, Paparoa 2. Guard of Honour 3. Won by a length and a half. Time, 1.19 4-5. Dividends, £7 18/ and 14/. ’Handicap Trot. —D.C’.L. 1. Wai motu 2, Alice Palm 3. Scratched: Otamo. Little Frank. Won by nine lengths. Time. 5.32 3-5. Dividends, £2 16, and £2 12/. * © © © TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH. CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. The North Otago Jockey Chib’s Autumn Meeting on Wednesday ami Thursday was perhaps the most successful gathering ever held by that club. The weather on both days was fine, the attendance was estimated to be the largest on record, the fields in most of the events* were numerous, and the racing was exceedingly interesting. Speculation was much brisker than usual, the totalisator receipts l»eiiig nearly £7OO in excess of the turnover at the corresponding meeting last year. Machine Gun will leave for Sydney on Friday. He will be accompanied by Hewitt, who will ride him In his engagements on the other side.

The Riccarton contingent which took pari in the Wanganui meeting were only moderately successful. However. I don’t think their failure cost local backers much. The Sou It— Anna colt which Mr R. Allen and Mr Hobbs bought at Auckland last summer Is showing promise at Riccarton. The stallion St. Ambrose, who is still located at Mr J. B. Reid’s st ml farm. Is sure to be well patronised by local breeders next season. He is getting down and filling out into a fine-looking horse. Since his disqualification Lewis has decided to abandon the turf. lie will probably take up farming. The balance-sheet to be presented at the annual meeting of members of the Canterbury J.C. on' June Ist shows that the receipts for the year were £40.942. ami that the credit balance on the profit and loss account was £2320. Among the liabilities is a sum of £8517 due to the bank, but this and the club’s other liabilities are fully covered by assets. The receipts from ail sources except the totalisator showed an expansion. There will lie no ballot for the election of stewards or committee. Notus, a rising three-year-old belonging to the Hon. G. McLean, is developing into a fine-looking colt at Wingatui. (Special to the “Graphic”). CH RISTCIIU RCII, M onday. D. Roberts has completed the purchase of J. J. Lewis’s property, and will take up his resilience here as soon as Lewis moves out, and owing to Lewis’s disqualification his patrons have had to make fresh arrangements for the training of their horses. Calibre has already been shifted to M. Hobbs’ stables. The following Riccarton-trained horses are leaving for Dunedin to-day to fulfil their respective engagements at the Dunedin Jockey Club’s Winter Meeting:—Royal Crown. Leeside, The Guesser, Huku. Canute Chiel. Blythemaid, and Secret Society. In addition to the foregoing, Riccarton will be represented by Calibre and Black Diamond. Slow Tom and Victory returned from Wanganui on Sunday. The latter resumed his journey to Ashburton on Monday. Prince Loris and Guard of Honor did not return to Riccarton after the North Otago meeting, but remained at Oamaru. Convoy and Phaetonitis arrived at Riccarton last week, and have taken up their quarters at D. Moraghan’s. Convoy- looks all the better for his recent exertions, but his companion is looking very jolly, and he will have to be pushed along if he is to be got ready in time to run at the Hawke’s Bay meeting. Machine Gun and Sandy will take their departure for Sydney on either Thursday or Friday—whichever day the steamer sails. They will be accompanied by D. Price and Hewitt.

Convoy was given his first schooling at Riccarton ou Monday morning, in company with Narcissus. He jumped the small hurdles at the top of the course, fencing in a style which indicated that he is no novice at the business. All going well, the son of Vanguard should be a finished fencer at Grand National time.

The Conqueror gelding Methuen was amiss last week with an attack of inflammation of the bowels. He has now recovered.

The Canterbury Jockey Club has endorsed the disqualification imposed on L. G. King and J. J. Lewis by the Christchurch Racing Club.

The Forbury Park Racing Club was favoured with beautiful weather for its Autumn Meeting on Saturday. The attendance was large, and racing, in spite of the heavy track, really interesting. Eleven bookmakers each paid a seven-guinea fee to bet in the paddock, and 15 paid a threeguinea fee to bet outside. The Canterburybred Cuirasettit won the Trial Handicap easily, and the Casket horse Casque easily defeated the Wanganui-bred Apprentice in the principal event, the St. Kilda Handicap. The latter, however, made some amends for his defeat by subsequently annexing the Welter Handicap, a victory to which Derrett’s accomplished horsemanship largely contributed. Rubrette. who was beaten by a head, had previously finished a dead heat with Small Shot in the Hack Race. The Castor —Bangle horse Regiment won the Musselburg Handicap with a little to snare.

Mr J. Buckley has not kept his first trainer very long. He is replacing (’la ridge with H. Goodman. All Goodman’s many friends will hope that his appointment turns over a new page in his career. At a sale of horses during the North Otago meeting, Bill Perkins found a new owner at 12Jgs; Toney was sold at 29gs: a Double Event —Quiver filly went at Illgs; a Musketry—Jeannie Deans filly at 20gs;

and a Stepnlak Belle ('lair yearling colt at llgs. Malakoff* was submitted at a reserve of 50gs. hut was passed at 30gs. Carlo aid a couple of others were also passed. Pipi was short of a gallop or two when he left Dunedin, and in the circumstances be ran creditably at Wanganui. L. Hewitt was not allowed to ride at the North Otago meeting until 3 o’clock on the afternoon of the first day Hie exact time at which his disqualification expired. From Otago conies news of the death of the, Euroclydon mare Happy Home. Flower o’ Ulutha journeyed up from Dunedin to run at the North Otago meeting, but went amiss ami was unable to start. I like the chances of Cnnnie Cliiel and Calibre iu the Birthday Handicap at Dunedin. Vladimir is taking things easily. He is to be entered for the New Zealand ('up. Sandy was taken to Oamaru for the North Otago meeting, but struck himself and was unable to start. The following business has been done locally during the week:—Auckland National Hurdles and Steeples: 1009 to 14 against Trumiwry and Creusot. 1000 to 11V. Lady Hunc and Creusot. 750 to 6 Creusot and Creusot. 7<M> to 20 Cavalry and Kiatere. (KM) to 9 Levant and Defoe. Goo to 4 Miss King and Miss King. 500 to 20 Cavalry and Inniskillen. 500 to 14 Trumpery and Defoe. 500 to 124 Lady Hune and Inniskillen. 500 to 7 Inspan and Inniskillen. 400 to 12 Trumpery and Inniskillen. 300 to 10 Inniskillen and InniskiHeii. © © © THE ENGLISH DERBY. LONDON, May 25. Lord Rosebery’s colt Cicero has shortened to even money for the Derby. The French-bred colt .lardy, owned by M. Edmond Blanc, is quoted at 5 to 2. and Mr do Wend-Fenton's Vedas at G to 5. Outside the three colts named 100 to 3 is offered.