TURF NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIV, Issue 24, 17 June 1905, Page 18

TURF NOTES.

fceveuty-two nominations have been reCeiv* d for tiie New Zealand Cup. Regulation's name appears amongst the nominations for the hurdle events at the Wellington Winter Meeting. < reusot was the biggest outsider of tiie field that started in the Great Northern Um divs. Creusot finished fourth. There is every probability that Mr A. ( hampion will take his horses, Full Cry and Cavalry, to Australia at an early date. Messrs McLean. Price, and ('leave are mentioned as being likely candidates for seats on the A.R.C. Committee at next election. Ihe Auckland horses Apologue. Scotty., Ri.mvo anil Gladstone figure amongst the m. imitations for the New Zealand Cup. Evidently an attempt is to be made to. get another race out of Nonettv. as his name appears in the New Zealand Cup entries. Kremlin's party weie evidently not satiswith Mr Evett's treatment of their horse, and he was not seen out at the A.R.C. winter meeting. Ten nee. the full brother to Norton, was ■old by auction at the N Z. Lean ami Mercantile Co.'s yards on Friday for l<»gs, the purchaser being Mr W. Austin. At the annual meeting of the Taranaki Jockey club Mr James Paul was elected president. Mr Oliver Samuel, the retiring president, was elected a iife member. The racehorses Waitarere. Exmoor. Chivalry. Defoe. Levant. Cyrano. Durable, Paritutu. Waiwera. Commonwealth. Miss King, and Trumpery were shipped South by tin- Rarawa on Sunday. A few of the local; penciliers escaped laying the winning Great Northern combination, Irish ami Kiatere. The majority, however, were strudi. but not for very large amounts. Newtown. Lady Hum*, ami Inniskillen weie withdrawn from their engagements on the concluding day of the A. R.C. Winter Meeting immediately on the appearance of the weights. Moifaa's time. 5.19 4-5. f or the Great Northern Steeplechase in IMH. still stands as a record • for the race, the next best luing Muscatel, 8.22. ami then comes Klatt re's performance on Wednesday, x,26. Mr John Todd, of Otahuhn. owner of Strnthavon. received a wire at the latter end of last week from John Rae. stating that he had arrived in Western Australia, landing his team in good condition. Mr W. Lyons, owner of l’p to Date, coupled his horse with all the fancied cnndi.latt s in the Hurdle Race. but although he invested £l5O in various doubles, h • ‘H l not succeed in getting a leg in with any of them. Moc<assin pulled up very lame after competing in the Ladies' Bracelet at El h rsli • last Saturday, ami it was with great difficulty that he was got back to his stable. It is nor very probable that he will be seen out for some time. 'I he following Auckland horses appear amongst the nominations for tin* Wellington It o ing ("aib's Winter Meeting: Kremlin. Inniskillen Kiatere. NW- west. Numa. Lady Hune. Newtown, Waikato, ami DoA Sydn.y .-able m <sage states that th--N■ u Zealand horses Maniopoto ami Machine Gan have been nominated for the Epsom Hamli ap. Mahutonga. Golden Knight, am! Mani«>pot<* figure ’ among the entries far the Metnqmlitan Handicap. Although Irish was one of the outsiders hi the Gr at Northern Hurdle Race. his 'i* torj did not benefit the local pencillets mm h. and flu* majorinty of them had to carry Ids name forward. coup)-<1 with most of ihe fancied horses in tbe Steeph*chn*«». Inniskillen bring the worst. I p-to Date was shipped back to Sydney by the Mararoa on Sunday. Providing the weight is satisfactory, the horse will fulfil bls engagement in the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase. Mr W. Lyons, the •wner of the horse, goea over by the same ■tenuer.

The nominations received for the Wellington Racing ('tub's Winter Meeting are probably the best ever received by the dub. The entries in th - hack hurdle events total 39. which. I think, are the largest received in New Zealand for this class’ of Creusot. Rose Madder. ami Trumpery were not asked to fulfil their engagements on the concluding day of the A.K.C. Meeting, and they were shipped home, via Taranaki, the former pair on Thursday, and Trumpery on Sunday. Mr Evitt and Mr Hcnrys seem to have a difference of opinion as to the relative merits of CrvUsot and Trumpery. Mr Evitt calls on Trumpery to ennevdo Creusot 51b. but Mr llenrys takes the other view of it. and makes Creusot give Trumpery a pound. Papatu was shipped bark to Gisborne last Saturday. The (’rackshot gelding lias liven lame off ami on for some time past, but’he was'kept going In the hope that the lameness would wear off. However, after giving him every chance, it was finally decided io give him a spell of about twelve months, during which time h* will probably do duty between the shafts of his owner's buggy. When Irish came down at the double, during the running of the Great Northern St» eplevhase. by some means or other, he was badly staked in one of his flanks. How tin* accident happened, no one seems to know, but the horse was in a very bad way when he got back to his stable, anti his owner has had an anxious time with him. He is not yet considered out of danger. A different rider was found for Defoe in the Great Northern Steeplechase. Stewart .being put up in place of Telford, who rode the horse in his engagement on the Saturday. The change evidently had a ht nefivial effect, as the half brother to Moifaa fenced splendidly until’ he fell ’ on top of the hill the last time around, and never offend to turn bis head at anything. • • It has iwen a popular opinion that ('’reuse! ami Waiwera were both unable to art w hen the going was ar all heavy, but their performances on Wednesday, when they ran first ami second In the Remuvra Hurdles. in mml up to (heir knees, goes a long way to disprove this. Certainly they were both leniently treated as regards weight, but still they got through* their task in good style. Mr Evitt was evidently of the opinion that had he stood up Nor'-west would have won the Great Northern Steeple-, as in framing his handicaps for the concluding day of the meeting, he raised Mr Selby s horse sevetecn pounds, while the winner. Kiatere, was only asked to carrj ten pounds extra. Mr Evitt's opinion I»reved the correct one. as Nor-'west, notwithstanding his im-reas <1 weight w«:i the Winter Steeplechase in a canter (hie of th? most popular victories seen at Ellerslie for some time was that of Nor'-west* in tin* Tally Ho Steeplechase. When it was sc n that the «dd veteran had got over the last fence in safety the cheering commenced, ami aft« r Im* had passed the winning post, and was retaining to scab*, the enthusiasm shown v. as wonderful. I venture to say that tnere was mt a prouder man in New Zealand on Wednesday than Mr Selby. the <»\uer of th * horse. There is often a lot of lin'd amongst the early risers touting the work at EHvrslie. One morning last we.*k a fog enveloped the course, making it difficult to see. and every one was on the alert on the off dhanve of clocking a gallop. Among the number pres nt on this particular occasion was a veteran tout. who. probably, is one of the oldest at the game in the colony, ami who is up to every point. Gazing intently at the six furhnig post, -he suddenly saw something White Hit by. ami immediately clicked his watch. The vision <lisappear«.'H in the fog for a few moments, and then r<-appvar<‘«l at th** five furlong post, w h<*re the fog was not quite so thb-k. when tn the disgust of tie* ’’Ohl Resident.*• what he took tn be the white shirt of a ix.y on a horse, turned out to be a seagull. Mr Stead's remarks at the annual meeting <»f the Canterbury Jockey Club regarding tin* raising of the minimum weight in hamli* aps should imvt with th,* approval • *f all h>»rsvowners throughout New Zealand. I'here is not the slight«*st doubt that matters as they are nt present ar.* anything but satisfactory. Take Am k land, for Instance; then* is not a meeting goes by but what one sees Imrs.s handicapped at tin* minimum weight. Ost 71b. carrying from seven to twelve poumls overw,-ight in fact. I think | ani pretty safe in saying that we have only two. or nt the outside thro,*, boys in ’ Auckland bolding Hceuses that can ride at that meight. The matter Is clearly one for

the Racing Conference to take up. and it is to be hoped In the best inter,tits of the sport that something will"be done in the direction indicated. Th<* scene at the grave of the late Mr John lliggerson. the veteran jockey, who was interred in the Sutherland cemetery, N.S.W., last week, was marked by a number of pathetic incidents. The officiating clergyman, in delivering an eulogy of the deceased, appealed to the crowd of mourners to carry their minds back as far as they could, and say whether Mr Higgersou had ever committed a dishonourable act. With one accord, the answ<*r came. Just as the body was about to be lowered into the grave, a venerable old gentleman placed on the coffin the colours the deceased had worn when he rode V<*no an<l Tarragon to victory in the early fifties. The nld gentleman proved to be Mr S. Lovell, who owned the abovenamed horses, and who had come a long way to be present at th? funeral. The pathetic character of the incident greatly affected many of the mourners present. The market showed that it was little supposed that Mamia would brat Jack o’ Lantern in the Hurstburne Stakes at Stockbridge in 1886, for the betting was 6 to 1 on Jack o* Lantern, and 10 to I ’'bar one." Mamia was the property of Tom Jennings, jun.. and he said to his friend Tom Cannon before the race—*T can't tell you how to ride her. Do what you think best. On paper Jack o' Lantern is sure tn beat you." Tom Cannon pondered for a moment. "If you can't win on paper, the thing is together a false run race,'’ he presently observed. "You know they can beat you at five furlongs; see if you van beat them at two.*’ It came off. for when Mamia challenged Jack o' Lantern. wh<» had cut out the work at a slow pave, she had him in trouble opIKisite the stand, and won by three quarters of a length. Racing men. ns a rule, are proverbial grumblers. esp<*vially when handicapping is concerned, and it is not always wise to take any noti<-e of their complaints, but there are exceptional cases that come under one's notice that call for explanation. Take, for instance, the case of I.ady Hune. This marc runs third in the Great Northern Hurdle Race, carrying 9.10, being beaten pretty comfortably by the winner. Irish., who voiiceded her 51b. Mr Evitt in making his handicaps for the second day «»f the meeting, raises Irish to l(i.8 ami Lady Hune to 10.3. making them meet on exactly the same terms as when Irish heat her in the Northern. Neither of the pair ran in the hurdle race on the Wednesday, bur when Mr Evitt comes to assess the weights for the concluding day of the meeting.- lie handicaps them at even weights, in. 7. How Mr Evitt arrives at this conclusion is not quite clear, but probably, if asked for an* explanation, be would be able to furnish one. Men who are accustomed to ride racehorses in their gallops are. of course, familiar with the movement achieved when a horse, while striding out. “changes his legs." Some do this very quickly. and it docs not secnr to appreciably affect their sped: while others-cannot' do it so cleverly, and do not always give their rider a pleasant •feel.'' Tin* other morning a young nobleman vislHul a ar.Huyn's . stables to l«Hik at. some horses; and to “ride.out.*-' lb* greater fancied his own ability as a jockey (entirely without reason), and told the lad after the first canter that he had ridden with great success—in India. Then he essayed to perform in a long gallop, and was gasping horribly before it was over. "Well, and how did the horse go with you, sir?" asked the trainei* politely, as he watched the patrician trying to get his wind. "G —go with me?" replied the nobleman, somewhat hysterically; "why. he went very badly. Ih* was always changing his legs." 'G’reat Scott! I wish he ‘could' change th m." said the trainer, devoutly, "for at present he hasn't got a sound one nt cither end." The decisions arrive*! at by the A.R.C. stewards last Saturday, in connection with the boring by Ni-wtown ami Dr. Quest, in their respective races, has been th,* subje< t of a lot of comment in sporting circles. Both cases wer<* exactly similar, so pravti«-al,y the one decision covered the other. Tn the Maiden Hurdle Race. Newtown and Commonwealth had the finish «»f the rac** to themselves, nothing elese being within half a dozen lengths of them, when N**wtown undoubtedly came out p.nd badly interfered with ('oinuionwealth. who. however, managed to beat him by a very narrow margin. After rh<* race everyone looked for an inquiry, expecting the stewards to decide whether Newtown's rid *r, Howard, wilfuily caused the interference, or otherwise: hut nohody. for a minute, expected the decision arrived at. How the officials <*aine to the conclusion they did is a matter for wonderment.. as. if the interference was accidental (which, by their decision, they admitted it wasi, then'no injustice would have been doue . to anyone (c<*nsidering that only the winner of the rare was interfered with) had they decided to let th • judge's placings stand. On the other hand, by distancing Newtown, they did a grave injustice both to the owner of th,* horse ami the public who supported

him. The stewards of a racing club are at all times to be on. thdtr efforts to stamp out foul riding, but when they de,*ide that only a*-videntai interfert n«-e took place, then it is a matter of regret that when such interference does no one any injury, that the owner of the horse ami the general public should be allowed to suffer. The above rewarks in the Newtown case apply equally to that of Dr. Quest. An English writer says:--Perhaps no jo«"key of our time ever made more, prodigious efforts to baulk the onward progress of Naruie developments than Fred. Webb. After he settled down at Newmarket, his long walks became a fre<pieut topic of conversation. From Newmarket to Cambridge ami back was his usual stroll, and at no lounging pace did he travel either. For some time he had Fred. Jeffery as a companion, ami subsequently the late 1-r«*,l. Barrett used to accompany him on ins “our and home" journeys. As often as not, however. Fred pursu, *1 his walk alone, which, of course, on S,l ii Ov< ‘ as *“ ,,s increased it monotony. Had p<Mir Fred. Archer adopted this method of wasting—the only natural method, after all said and done—he might have been alive now. ,lis •• > Pl>>-enti<-eship with good Matthew Dawson, and he it was who really tanjrht Fred. Archer the art of race ritling. and the late great jockey could not lune modelled his seat in the saddle on better lines. wlfVbt 1 ‘>" 1 ■? s l ,l,ll<ii ' l reach, and rode Wh.., 1 1 iIS :<S llis 1,:, " ,1s !,1 “ l legs. TV hat a tremendous linls h that was between the two Freds— Weld, and Ar.l'. r—on Hampton and Glendale resi.eett'elj for the Northumberland Plate. * AfU-r pulling up and turning round to return to the paddock Archer said. ‘ I think did , ' ’" < .’. , .‘ !l I ’’V d •' »e< k" ’ I think von * did answered the elder joekev. but the next instant Archer .-aught siL-ht of tno •X’tnb. r board, and said -No. vou ve bcaien my 1 red. I shouldn't have thought it.” Ao more did hundreds of the spectators who were nearest the winning post.

t'lub Mr a G ,> ’r’ "‘f f'-Vrbury Joekev the annual ' meet® g or that strong reference to the t.g-^' i, lm^d a t,le th ‘* and'attrithe bookmakers, who were'dargel/'p^'ron 0 "'Lek.','?' 'V- -ivm. hy them .e ba.k.is, There is no doubt Mr Stead IS on the right track in the matter b..r 1 hardly think he has hit the rail on the right head when he puts it down to the credit system, for there are quite a number of totahsator proprietors who at■ow ful.y two-thirds of those who bet on the nod with book-makers to lu> t on credit on the machine. So it can hardly be the. credit betting that is the cause of the decrease in the receipts. Personally. I am of the opinion that tile cause of the fail-ing-off will have to be looked for in. quite another quarter than that indicated by Mr stead, and that is the introduction of the one-two dividend scheme For a short time after this system came into force the totalisator turnover Increased, but it was only for a time. fn most of the leading coiit’-es there has been a decided falling-off of bite. When cue comes to consider the fractions that must accumulate under the system now in vogue the percentage deducted will out in the majority of cases to be considerably more than the anthorisul ten per cent., ami this, it has to be borne in mind, comes out of the pockets of th*' investing public. Then, again, the dividends returned under the one-two scheme are such as to make it practically impossible for an ordinary bettor (unless In* has a phenomenal run of luck) to win any money, so that taking all things into consideration a backer naturally keeps away from the machine and invests with rhe* bookmakt r in order to get a larger return for his investment. In the olden days, under the one dividend, the peiicillers did very little s.p. lotting, as it was no good lo* them, the straight out business being far the best, and it is only since tin* introduction «>f the present system that tluy have so largely adopted the style <»f betting which is now in vogue. Take, again, the double machine, which has lately been introduced on a number of courses: it is «»n!y a matter <*f time when the bookmakers will lay clients wagers to.b<* decided by the amount paid by that instrument. No. I think if the racing clubs wish to regain their turnover of a few years ago their only chance is to do away with the present style and revert to tin* one-dividend svstem.

That good all-round sportsman, Mr Geo. Hodgson, writes something interesting in connection with the life of the late Mr Geo. Miil<*ast**r. tin* ('umlx rland trainer. Mulcaster started as a trainer in the seventies, at Easton I’ark. in Suff* lk. where he had charge of the then Duke <»f Hamilton's stml of steepk < has**rs. wl!i* lf included the crack racing hunter, of th** day. The Bear. This horse had been so highly tried that the t raltier. had assiu;»*<l his imide master -that success on a certain <>c<-asioii was only a question of-The Bear standing up, but the good thing, with Marsh (i.iow the King's trainer) riding, failed to materialise. t<» the disgust of th** owner ami discomfiture' of the trainer, who was satisfied the form was wrong and proved it to be so in a subsequent trial at home. On the horse's 'next appearance in public Muhaster's confidehce was not shaken, though the result, with the same jockey up, was as disastrous as be-

fore. Again was The Rear taken home and tested so well that the Duke sarcastically remarked that a horse of such excellence should not be kept at Easton. but at Newmarket, and instructed Mulcaster to send him to Blanton, who trained his Grace’s flat racers, and who will be remembered as the trainer and part owner of Robert the Devil. The bear was therefore sent to Newmarket, and arrived there in Blanton's temporary absence. ‘’What is that?” inquired the genial Charles at evening stables. “The Bear, sir.” replied the lad who had brought him from Easton. •'Then jroii can take him home."' said Blanton, "for I don’t want any hunters in my stable.” The Bear was then returnci to Mulcaster, who begged to be allowed to ride him himself on his next public appearance, ami the request being granted, the private form of the horse and Mulcaster’s judgment were vindicated by a win. The horse's previous failures, however, had created some soreness. and after Mulcaster had justified himself he resigned his post and went to Burgh-by-Sands. in Cumberland, where he commenced as a public trainer ami achieved many successes. This resignation was Marsh's opportunity, for the latter took over the Duke's horses and started that career as a trainer which has carried him to the top of his profession. The connection between the Duke of Hamilton ami Mulcaster was happily not severed, for there were frequently three or four of h!s Grace’s horses at Burgh, and probably one of the proudest days of •‘Ohl George's” life was at Sandown Park in April. 1899. when, on the same afternoon, he won the Mammoth Hunters' Steeplechase with the Duke of Hamilton’s Weatherwitch ami the International Steeplechase with Mr Rutherford’s M. r. ‘‘Vigilant” in the London ‘'Sportsman” pens the following:—There are some good judges who think that Nutbush was absolutely the fastest animal for half a mile that the Turf has ever known. Her first ■appearance in public was for a race in which she was entered to be sold for £6<M). Her weight was 4st Hill*. She was not backed, ami ran accordingly. Clearly she was being got ready for the Portland Plate at Doncaster to which at that period two-year-olds were admitted, ami in a field of 30 she started second favourite at S t,o 1. Two-year-olds were first and third, but she .was not one of them, and in all likelihood di<l not get off. After this she won four races •‘off the reel." it was in the autumn of her three-year-old career, however, that she achieved her great fame. “I think I have stopped her this time." said Admiral Rous, when he put lost 4ll» on her three-year-old back, ami im\de her give nearly Bst to old horses in a handicap at Newmarket: but he had not. Eordham got well away with her. ami won by a length from Lord Stamford's Lava, who was carrying 341 b less. Earlier in the day Lava had won a good race. Nut bush began her brilliant career that autumn by beating Lord Stamford’s celebrated filly. Little Lady, in a match for and so good was,the match considered that the betting was even. Next day. in a handicap for which she carried Bst 121 b. she won easily, giving Little Lady 81b more than she had done in the match. A few days later she gave 161 b to the fiytiig Hesper. and beat him easily. Little Lady.’this time in receipt of 121 b. not lieing placed. What a good thing the match must have been’. Lord Stamford then had a certain amount of revenge, as Nutbush, in trying to give Blackrock, who was a smart two-year-old. 3st. was beaten by a head. Blackrock, we may remark, having not long before beaten a field of good horses. Nutbush having made light of lost 41b. as stated above. Mr George Payne, determined to see whether it was possible to get to the length of her tether when opposed to a horse of her own age. matched Gabardine, with whom he had won four races that season, against her for £2>M). Nutbush to carry list 41b and Gabardine Gst. The result was the same as in the other races. Nutbush, with Eordham on her back, scoring a clever victory. This made six victories out of seven races, and the seventh as good as a victory. The match she won against Gabardine was her last appoaranc? in public. At rhe stud she was not directly a success, but her daughter, Hazledean. distinguished herself as dam of Kermesse, who was the best animal Lord Rosebery ever owned. ‘The chief cause why hoys <ln not get on and become jockeys is that th’*y nave no ambition." So writes •'Danny Maher iu the May ••Badminton.” ••To be a* good jockey you want a lot of ambition,” lie adds. “Boys get into grooves. Fur the first few weeks w hen they go into a stable they are perhaps keen to make a success, to grow into jockevs. Nothing particular happens, they most* likely have no sensible friend to advise them and keep them up to the mark, as 1 had an uncle to aid vise ami help me, and so they go on from week to week ami month and never advance themselves. Ambition is the first necessity." Maher thinks Rock Sand the best horse be was ever on. though it must not. be forgotten that he has ridden Pretty Polly—the only occasion on which she was beaten —in France. To his mind, however. Rock Sand must surely be one of the gainest horses that ever stood on four legs. He did a tremendous lot of work, and always had a bad lot of legs to do it on. “It was rheumatics, we suppose, that ho Buffered from. He always had that hubbley sort of action when he lit st came out. but he soon warmed up. and his races speak for themselves. In most of them he had to make his own running: but in his last race, the Jockey Club Stakes, the boys had an idea that he was not nearly ready, so they went on at a strong pace, thinking that they could run him out of It: but really that just suited me. as I was able to wait—the very thing 1 wanted to do.” “I never hit Rock Sand." adds Maher, •'though 1 have hajj to cluck at him, and cree or twice have just ‘tipped’ him with my whip. Before I hit a horse I always try what ‘tipping* him—flicking at him a bit. you know —will do. and many horses. If you keep on tipping them, will go better

than if yon hit them. They curl up if they are hit hard, ami take the tipping ma strung hint that they must du their Maher thinks the English style '•pretty, ami ail right when you are going slow.” But short stirrups are wanted for racetiding. “Archer won a tremendous lot of laces, I know the says). and very likely another Archer, if there were one who rode as well ami in the same style, would win a lot now; but nothing would ever induce me to change. You have better balance ami latter control your horse—a great inany people think you haven't, but you have. Riding short you get a sort of levelag • against your irons, and that gives you more power.” ‘•Rapier." in the ‘’Sporting and Dramatic News. says:—A fiiend. who knows mure of Moifaa than anyone else, very kindly sends me the following most interesting letter, it will be gathered that the writeT is connected with the colonies: “As you were not at the Liverpool. I am sending you a line re Moifaa. before the last Grand National is quite forgotten. Of course. I wished to see the two importations first and second—nothing less! Seahorse IL looked hard as mils. Moifaa, despite reduced mane ami tail, looked very light iu bis clothes, but bright in his coat. As th his preparation, and the jockey, all sorts of rumours flew. In answer to my query a shrewd Newmarket man. who had backed Moifaa at Sandown, said. The old horse lias that chance’ (here he snapped his lingers). *He has been bolting three mornings a week.' He stripped the lightest horse I remember to have been: ami the Maoris train them light occasionally! The course was fast and the fences easier than last year (eflTect of outcry). Moifaa lav well up as previously, faltered 59 yard's or so before the water, jumped it clean, landed heavily, and was stone cold at the road where last year he led on the Inside with the race apparently well won. “The poor o’.d chap, though weak as a rat, went to Becher’s, where he fell sheer exhaustion. Returning he was as dry as a bone, with coat on end like a dead animal. The -beautiful bloom’ was gone. The Natators are a very curious family indeed. Had Hickey. Page. and his late owner not known them well, the horse would not have won the 1994 Liverpool. Moifaa. who is a great, affectionate baby, has been a pct all his life. No doubt he went to Newmarket as a mother’s bov to school, and fretted badly. I can imagine him missing Pagels gentle hands and voice on the downs, his lad in the stable, the terrier, the cat. ami old Jerry, the Irish hunter. A flat lace stable is no place for a ’chaser. If the hot stable does not make him a roarer meanwhile. I hope we shall not see a mistake made in a new direction next year. If one is made, the following year. I expert he will be well, and something just pop up and brat him. St. Hubert was said to have run the hurdle race in recoid fbue. which It was not by a long way. Rchord Reign carried 12s't 12io in the New Zealand Grand National Hurdles, and won in 4niin 46ser. In addition the latter ran on a course measured .’•ft from the’ rails, and over innumerable hurdles, wheicas at Liverpool the course is measured in the centre, for some unknown reason, and the hurdles are easily knocked down. I thought Seahorse hail won the Liverpool a mile from home (with Phil May second), when h * took out the roots of two fences, without, however falHng.” Rapier writes as follows:— There may be some people who approve of half-mile races started from a stand, hut if so I have not come across any of them. Very much on the contrary. 1 hear them universally condemned. Something jumps off ami consequently wins, a better animal dwells a moment when the barrier flies up. is humped or crossed, ami consequently loses before he starts galloping: for there is no time to make up for a mishap. “Pitch and toss is a game at which you can get a much safer line than half-mile races started with the machine.” a backer of what should have been a good thing bitterly remarked to me the other day. when, as the webs were raised, his horse was knocked sideways by its neighbour. We all know, of course, that many two-year-olds tire in the last Ahi yards of a five-furlong race: but if it be thought undesirable to allow immature animals to gallop so far in the early months of the season, infinitely better than this* 889 yards scrambles would be the postponement of two-year-old racing till June or July, or, as in France, till August. The object of racing is to ascertain which is the best horse: in many <»f these half-mile scurries the only thing you find out is which has had the luck of the start, ami when you know this you have not made any marked progress towards the fulfilment of the professed purpose of the sport, the improvement 'of the thoroughbred. While talking of starts, by the way. it Is frequently, or at any rate not seldom, the case that the starter Is blamed for what is really the fault of the horses, or of the jockeys, or of both. I rode down to see a start at Newmarket some time since, and wat<*hcd a big field jump off in an almost absolute line. One horse was just moving up to tak> his place when the starter let them go. ami in three or four strides ho was a good length in front: a couple of others struck the ground and were in close pursuit: two or three more began slowly and were a considerable distance* in the roar when a hundred yards or so had been <*overcd. A better start, however, there could not have been. 1 returned to the enclosure and found a man—he had not backed the winner. I presently learnt, ami, indeed, bad suspected furiously denouncing the starter, tin* authorities who allowed hint to fill that ottice, and all sorts of other people Incidentally. Be had never seen such a burlestpie. The winner, he assured me—it 'was not the one away first—got off six or eight lengths to the good, something else was turned right round, and half a dozen were left altogether. These catastrophes. he declared, lie had distinctly seen through his glasses, ami In* was quite angry with me for saying that my own impression

of the start formed in the only place where it was possible to form it accurately — was entirely different. It is a daily <»cenrrvnee for horses that strike th* ground quickly to he describe*! as having gut away, and for slow bcgiuiiers to be set down as loqK-lessly left. © ® @

AUCKLAND RACING CLUBS WINTER MEETING.

SECOND DAY. 1 he weather broke tine In the morning for Steeplechase day. but as time wore on dark clouds bnnked up in the north-east, and after the first couple of raves were decided tin* rain began to fall ami continued without intermission all the afternoon, making the course and surroundings in a very sloppy state and greatly interfering with the day’s sport. Considering the unfavourable weather conditions, the attendance was quite up to expectations, but speculation was the reverse of brisk, ami a shrink age has to be recorthni in comparison with the amount handled last year, the totals being: 1!M»4. £ll.-Th; 1905. £l»s::t> a deficiency of £1721. Mr R. R. Lusk ofliciated as judge, and Mr O’Connor as starter, the Litter gentleman being as successful in his despatches as usual. Tin* meeting was conducted in first-class style by the secretary. Mr W. Percival, ami the various officials. Although the last race was considerably after the advertised time of starting, this was to a great extent due to the rain. The catering of Mr T. Klug, as usual, gave the greatest satisfaction. After the first two races had been decided the field saddled up for the big event of the gathering, the Great Northern Steeplechase. for which the whole ten carded went to the post. The various candidates <-ame in for a lot of criticism as they paraded iu the enclosure, and the field was generally voted a good average lot of steeplechasers. Kiatcre hold his position as favourite right up to flag-fall, but Iniitskillen was also well supported. The raee was robbed of a lot of interest through the number of falls that occurred. Waitarerc, who was running well forward, was the first to come to grief, falling at the first fenee of the double, which also brought down Miss King ami Irish. The next fence, the sod wall, saw Up-to-Date hit hard and fall, and a couple of fences fuither on Nor'wvst. who was then in second position ami going well, came down. The mishap to Nor’-west left the result of the race between Kia tore and Haydn, the only others left being Defoe and Kanaka, and they were t«»<» far bark 1<» look dangerous. Defoe fell on top of th** hill, so out of the ten that went to the post only three finished the journey. Kiaterc eventually winning by two lengths from Haydn, while old Kanaka, who broke ilbw’ii badly in the race, got third position fully a furlong behind Haydn. Inniskillrn was the biggest disappoint nn*nt of the race, ami was pulled up when half the journey had been covered.his chance then bring a hopeless one. Kiaterc. tin* winner, is by Castor from Victoria, and is owned by Mr S. Darragb. of Tauranga. A lot of the credit of his victory is due Io the condition in which he was turned out Ly his trainer. A. Ball. P. Johnson, who rode him. must also he given credit for riding an excellent race o nthe winner. Kiatero’s success gives Johnson his fourth winning ride in the event, his previous ones being: Jenny in 18!»u. Muscatel in 1898. ami Dummy in 1899. Previous winners of the Time, m. h. 1885—Mr W. Profit’s Macaroni, 1'2.•» 9 19 1886 Mr Dudvr’s Belle. 11.2 9 2*> 1887 Mr Maloney’s Silvio. 11.2 .... 9 8 188 S Mr Keith's Allegro. 9.0 8 44 1889 —Mr Kean’s Don. 9.0 8 54 189 U Mr Barnard's Jenny. 10.0.... 8 <55 1891 —Mr J. Mnit land’s Parnell. 9.11 9 164 1892- Mr J. B. Williamson's Shillelagh. 10.1 S 44 1893 -Mr T. Wylie’s Despised. 9.7.. 9 56* 1894 Mr R. P.urkc’s Bomliardier. 10.0 9 _ 2 1595 Mr P. Butler’s Liberator. 11.12 8 57 1896 Mr C. Archibald’s Levanter. 10.0 8 57 1897- Mr J. Rae’s Levanter. 12.1.... 8 57 IS9B -Mr F. Watson's Muscatel. 10.3 8 22 1.89!) Mr F. Watson’s Dummy. 11.11 K 34 1900 -Mr F. Ross’ Vo’.ligeur IL. 9.9 9 5| 1901 Mrs A. Elliiigham's Moifaa, 10.7 8 19? 1902 Mr J. 11. Prosser’s The Guard, U. 3 8 34 1903- Messrs Mncmanemhi ami Davies’ Haydn. 11.6 0 I 1904— Mr W. Morgan's Moccasin, HU) 8 1905 Mr S. Darragh's Kiatcre, 11.0 8 26 ORAKEI HURDLE RACE of lOOsovs; secund horse lOsovs. H miles. 297—A. Ludlow’s b g Newtown, aged, by Muskapeer—Ladybird. 11.12 110—A. Poyzvr's ch g Morehu. 9.0 (Stewart) - 45—S. G. Lindsay's b m Yolettc. 9.0 (Phillips) •’ Also started: 103. Southern Cross, 10.0: 96. Coronation. 9.6: 196, Lady Clare, 9.0; 15, Morn. 9.0: 33, To Papa, 9.0. Lady Clare was quickest on her feet, and showed the way to th? first fence, followed by Te Papa, Newtown, and Moi chu. Once’over To Papa set out to make the running, but at the hurdle al tin* mile ami a half post she struck, and came down, bringing with her Lady Clare, while Southern Cross and Morn, who wen* further behind, also fell over the same obstacle. Then** mishaps left Morehu hi the lead, and In* showed the way past the stand three lengths’ll) front of Coronation, who was a similar <listanc<* In flout of Nl»wtown. with Yolette, the only other horse left in the raee, a considerable distance behind. There was no alteration in tin* positions, as they raced to the fence at six furlong post, where Coronation struck heavily ami foil. leaving Morehu ami Newtown to fight out the race, Yolette be-

ing hopelessly in the rear Morehu was irdulged with the lead till they vauie to the Lest fence. where Newtown took charge, and going on won under a strong pull by .i length freiu Morehu. who was lengths in front of Yolettc. Time. 3to Dividends. £2 O.'G and £1 1(1/6. None of the rid**rs whose mounts fell were injured RAN Fl RLY WELTER HANDICAP of ;t«iOs<»vs; soeoml ItKovs. One mile. 159 Mr P. Bolton's St. Harp. 9.3 (Gray) 1 194 Mr p. J. Buxton's Pearl Necklet. 9.0 (Quinn) 2 17’J Mr ' A. Telfer's Nervine. 10.7 (Moherlcy) 3 Als<» started: 143. Gulden Samis; 136, Scalded; 85, Cuiragnu; 92, Leo Delaval; 171, Cyrano. When the field came in sight Cuiragno was in the lend, followed by Seabird. St. Harp, ami Pearl Necklet, with Cyrano last Cuiragno showed the way along the back and through Ihe cutting.’ but crossing the lop stretch Seabird took charge, the order then being: Seabird, Cuiragno. St. Harp, with Pearl Necklet at the head of the others. Seabird was still in the lead nx they entered the straight, but a little further on St. Harp was in front. At the lawn rails he had a length's advantage. Nervine her** put in Itis claim, ami the two were fighting out the issue when Pearl Necklet cam** with a late run. and although she passed Nervine she could nut beat St. Harp, who won all out by a neck, with Nervine h similar distance away third. Leo Delaval and Seabird were together fourth, and Golden Sands last. Time. 1.5 » 3-5. Divld 'uds, £4 17/G and £1 6/6. GREAT NORTHERN STEEPLECHASE HANDICAP of 75*)sovs; second lOOsovs, and third si>sovs. Distance, 34 miles. L9I Mr S. Darragh's b g Kia I orc, aged, 11.0 (Johnson) 1 217 Messrs Macmanemiii ami Davis’ bg Haydn, aged. 11.12 (Fergus) .... 2 107- Mrs M. Ross* blk g Kanaka, aged, 9.9 (Wilson) 3 Also started: 223. Up-to-Date; 236. limiskillen: 91. Miss King; 151, Defoe: 308. Nor’west; 139, Irish; 282, Waitarerc. Mi O Connor did net keep them waiting the field moving away tu a beautiful start. As they came to the first relive :nmsktl'e 1, Kanaka. <nd Defoe were on terms, ami then came Irish, Nor-West. Kiatcre, and Waitarerc. Haydn, Up-to-Date, ami -V.ss King last. Once over the fence Defue showed out in front, fol owed by Innlskillen. Kanaka. Irish. Nor'-West and Kaiterc, and iu this order they raved up the I*lll. At .he top 1 nniskilien was on terms with Defoe, and the pair jumped the fence togvthet, closely attended by Nor’-Wcst. Kaitere, ami Kanaka. As they came down tin* lit!! both I miiskilleii and Defoe lost their places, and th? order at the water was Kaitere. Nor’-WesV. Kanaka, and Irish all close together, with Waitarerc handy. Jumping the old water Waliareia* took charge, and he piloted th? field along the back, five lengths in front of Kaitere. N’or'-West. Irish, and Defoe, with Haydn and Up-to-Date close handy Waitarerc still showed the way as tbej breasted the hill at the top, and with the exception that the leading division go| closer to him as they came to the double, there was no material alteration in th? position. The first fence of the double proved fatal to Waitarerc. ami it also brought down Irish and Miss King. Th:* mishap to Waitarerc left Kaitere in command. and he was first to jump the sod wall. Then <:uue Nor' West. Haydn. I’p-to-Date. Defoe, ami. Kanaka. I p-to-Dato struck the sod wall, and came down, but the others got over safely, and they raced in the above order to the old water jump. Going along the back. Kaitere was still showing the way three lengths in front of Nor'-West, with Haydn close up. and Defoe ami Kaitere toiling away iu the rear. ’I he hurdle at the six-furlong post btougnt Nor’-Wcst to grief, and it was then scon • hat the finish of the race must be between Kaitere ami Haydn, the only other pair left in. Defoe ami Kanaka, being a long way behind. Kaitere had still three lengths advantage of Haydn :is they went up the hill the last time, am! h«» maitnained his advantage as they wont over the hill ami come into the straight for home. As they straightened up the run to the post. Haydn made a desperate effort to get on terms, hut II <>f no avail, as Kaitere managed to keep him at bay. winning a good race by •three lengths. Kanaka was a furlong away third. Defoe having fallen on top of the hill. Time. Smlii 2Gs<<*. Dividends. 14 and £2 14/6. Inniskillen was pulled up the second Huh* round. THE REMUERA HURDLE RAUF. (lIANDK’M’) <»f 2t>Usovs: second horse to reccivv 25sovs. and third horse lOsovs out of the stake. Over eight flights oi btirdlcs. Two miles. Mr t H. Lowry's hr g Ureusot, Gy is, by Torpedo A Egypt ilia. 109 (Limb.... 1 Mr J. O’Driscoll’s Walwera. 10 4 (Johnston) Mr A. <’hampious Cavalry. 10 9 (O'ConAlso started: Trumpery, 11.9; Hakuria. H‘.s: Levant, 10.3. Cavalry. Levant and Hakaria were quick* est to the first hurdle, Levant taking-ch.-uge after they jumped the fence, nml she made play, the positions of the others being Cavalry. Hakaria. Walwera, Ureusot mill Trumpery, and this was the order at they raced across the top stretch. At tht hurdle at the mile ami a half post Cavalry struck hard ami lost his position, Hakaria running into second place. As tluy passed the stand Levant was still in charge, thera being no material alteration in the position of the others. Along the back Cavalry was with I Lika ria in second position, just in front of Walwera and Creusot. Crosslnf the top stretch Creusot took charge ami lie was first to turn for home, mid getting over the last hmdle safely had no difficulty in stalling off the opposition, mid winning by two lengths from Walwera. who beat Cavalry three lengths for second honours; Trumpery was fourth. Thue, 4.4. Dividend, £4 18/6.

THE I'IUX'K OF WALES’ HANDICAP of ;u«kovs: w..»ud hors* to rewire 50 aud third hors* -Josovs out of the stake. Seven furlongs. Mr J Monk's l.r g Exmoor. 3jts. by Giaftou l.a Vivandiere. I<> •> tJeiikius) 1 Mr I*. McNamara's Admiral Cerveras, t».o I \ Oting) - Mr T. 11. Lowrv's I* m Rose Madder, 4j-rs ’.>.7 iF. Davisi 3 Also started: Romeo. 11.11: Ditralde. 11. d; Fnl'. <‘iv. 111. x: Geordte. 10.5; lamdlork, 10.3: Waikato, ».W; Sir Gilead. 9.10: I.Hwrator. 9.7: Alba Rose. Noteorini. 9.5; W dinount. 9.4: Cal e Iris. 9.2: Soiilttish, 1M»; Al’»u *ra. 9.0. N.:»*»tiiii w»< first to find his feet. but v ;>< immediately displaced by Liberator, wh.» in turn was supplanted by Exmoor, ami thr form *r sbnwrt! the way through the < utiing. two lengths in front of Noteorini. then came Admiral Cerveras and Rose Madder. with the rest of the field bum-bed. This enter was maintained as tl»« y «-rc<s m! the top stretch and tinned for” home. At the distance Exmoor was p.di g easily in front, ami although Admiral Cerveras and Rose Madder both made dost* rate efforts to get on terms, it was of no avail, as Exmoor had no difficulty in keeping th-m off. and wining easily by a couple of lengths from Admiral Cerveras, w ho was a similar distance in float of R«»sr Madder: Calle Ills was fourth. Sir Gilead fifth, and I«audo!ck last. Time, 1.35. Dividends. £2 19 6 and £2 5 6. THE TAI.I.Y-ild STEEPLECHASE Hl ANDI’ ’AP) of ISftsovs: second horse to receive l.xsovs. and third hnrse lOsovs out of the stake. About three miles. >!r F. P. Selby’s b g Nor’-west. aged. hv Son’-west er—Betty. 10.0 ♦ W. Wilson) 1 M: 1.. Coleman’s Dingo. 10.0 (Phillips).. 2 Mr T. Wylie’s Major, 10.0 (J. Wilson*.. 3 Also ran: Ilylas, 10.0; Kveimorc, 9.10; Terence. 9.7. Nor’-west and Dingo were first to break the Hue. and they jumped the sod wail together. At the water the whole field could have been covered with the prov« rbia’ sheet, but oner over thr field spread out a bit. Nor -west. Terence, and Dingo conipt ising the leading division, and they were alternately in the lead as they went along tho back ami up thr hill, with Ilyins, Evermore, anti Major close together .some distance hack. There was no materi.il alteration in the positions as they came into th- course aud jumped the double, but after .leftring the old water jump Nor’wist showed out three lengths in front of Dingo, while Major made a forward move. Going up the hill the last time Nor -west h. id his advantage, and after jumping the htst fence on the hill, he drew out. and getting over the last two obstacles In safety, thr old veteran won in great stjlc bv half a dozen lengths from Dingo, who was four lengths in front of Major, the others coming in at intervals. Time. 6.3 T. IM Vide ml. £4 9/. on returning to scale Nor’-west met with a gnat reception, both horse aud rider bring loudly cheered, in fact, such a demonstration has not hwi witnessed at Ellerslie since Wairiki won the Derby in 1903. THE P«»NY WELTER HANDICAP of l<Kh*«>vs: second horse to receive losovs, and third horse ssovs out of the stake. Six furlongs. Mr J B. WiWiaiwson’s hr g Dr. Quest. .-,yr>. by Sou’:t —Nvlsoiina. 9.5 (Towers) 1 3d; 11. Barr’s hr m Orange and Blue, 1V.7 i Barr* 2 Mr J. 11. Hussey’s hr h Fashionable. 11.11 *JuHan) 3 Also stnited: Souoma. 11.7: Forth. It*. 11; G4rs«»n. Girl. 10.3: Sally Horner. 9.5: Gil- • adi:. 9.5: Little Mabel. 9.3: Huriburi., 9 <»: Leona. 9.0: Miss Cniiassirr. 9.0: Ngah* r«. 9.0; Storyteller. 9.0. The ra«-»'- was run in semi-darkness, and Im yt.-ntl the actual leaders it was impossible t<» distinguish the competitors. Wh«-n the harrier lifted Gilendit whipped around, and was left. Dr. Quest and Orange an! Hire were first to find their feet, and they mad • j lay three lengths in Dent of Salty Horner and Sonoma. with Little Mabel ar the head of the others. Dr. Quest took charge as they crossed the top stretch, and he was first Io turn for home, just in front of Orange am! Blue. Holding his own In the rni to the post. Dr. Quest at last succeeded hi breaking his maiden, winning by the best part of three lengths from

Orange and Blue, who was half a length in fr»»nt uf Fashionable; Little Mabel was vb.se up fourth. Time, 1.23. Dividends. £7 16 and £2 13 . THIRD DAY. Tile Auckland Racing Club brought their Winter Meeting to a close at Ellerslie on Saturday afternoon. The weather was iierfevt. ami there was a g<»od attendance. The principal events of the day were the York Welter and the Winter Ste<*plechase. The f* rmvr attracted the gotnl field of 2*» runners. aud was wou after a goml race by the Wrilin~ton-owned Exmoor. The Winter Steeplechase only brought out five contestants, and the race was generally looked upon as a duel between Haydn and Nor’west, who practically monopolised the l»etting. the other three starters only being sii| ported hi a very half-hearted manner. The betting was a true indication of the race, as when it came to the business part of the contest there were only the two with any « han<-e. and victory eventually • rested with the resurrected veteran Nor’-west,who was one of the leaders throughout, and won at the finish with plenty in hand. Nor‘w«st’s victory was a very popular one. Mr R. B. Lusk officiated as judge, Mr A. Kohn as timckt'eper, and Mr C. CTConuor as starter. the latter gentleman getting thr* ugh his arduous duties in his wellkm w n style. The catering in the hands of Mr T. King left no r»>oin for «*omplaint. and the Im ml under Bandmaster Impey enlivened pro**eediiigs during the aftern*M»u with a choice programme. Notwithstanding the iM-aiitifu! weather and the large fields which took part in most of the events, sjieculatiou was slow, and a shrinkage on last year’s am*nut has t«» be not***!, the totals being—--19f»4. JEIU.N27: 19<*5. -CW.195. Those figures make the amount handled at the gathering X2N.574. a decrease of £IHNS on last year’s t* tai. The meeting was satisfactorily «-on-dn<-tvd by the secretary (Mr W. Percival) apd the various officials, and with the decision of the Ladies' Bracelet th*' curtain was rung <lown on im-ai raving for the season l9»»4-«»5. TAMAKI STEEPLECHASE of Wbovs; se«.*on*i l«)sovs. Distance. 2A miles. 85—Mr IL <’. Tonks’ Ling:ird. 9.7 • W. Wilson* 1 55—Mr IL Cotter’s Great Scott. 9.12 »M rG rvgor * 2 37.. Mr D. J. Willet’s Rolf. 9.10 (Wilson) 3 Also started: 141 Major. Rolf was first to break the line, and he showed the way up the hill, with Major. Lingnrd and Great Scott following. Rolf was still acting as pa«*eni:iker as they came down into the course, but at the sod wall the field were all together, and they came to the double in line. Great Scott outjumped the others at th*? lasr fence »>f the double. ami was in front as they went to rhe old waterjump. but once over Lingnrd was in the lead, and joined by Major, rhe pair raetd together along the back and up the hill. At the top I.ingard was three lengths ahead of Major, who. however, had reduced the gap and was almost on terms as they eame to the sod wall into the ctMirse. where Major made a faulty jump ami eame down, leaving Lingard to go on ten lengths In front of Great S<*ott. The latter made a great effort to get on terms, but Lingiird kept him at bay. and struggled home by Three lengths, with Rolf twenty lengths away third. Time. 4.56 3-5. Dividend. £3 YORK WEI.TER HANDICAP of 25rtsovs; second hnrse 4’*s«»vs. Distance, one mile. 352- Mr J. Monk’s Eximw.r. 11. i) (Jenkins) 1 97 Mr A. IL Lloyd’s Sir Gilead. 9.lft Gl Mr F. L. Armitage's Lv*-ta’ 9.7 • Ryan) 3 Also started:- I**9. Paritutu: Gl». Romeo; 61. Full Cry: s**. G<>ordie: 214. Putty: 50. Jew «dl. iy: 377. Dvlania: 47. Zulc-ika ; inti. Admiral Orxeras: 43. Akarana; 157. Fashionable: 239. Waikato. Scratched: Uhivalrv. When the field •ame into sight Romeo and Jewellery were showing prominently, but a little further on Waikato tonk charge, < b»sely att» nded by Fashionable aud Seabird. the others, with the exception <»f Au-F'«<y»-d. being bnin he*!- Waikato showed the way along the back, and across th? top stretch, Exmoor running up into sc-

cond position, and then came Admiral Cerveras. with Full Cry at the bead of the others. Exmoor took teh lead as they turutd for home, and at the distance was g*»h*g easily in front of Full Cry, Sir Gilead. Lycla, Calle tris, who all issued strong challengers half way along the lawn rails, and Exmoor hnd to l*e hard ridden to win by a head from Sir Gib ad. who was a huigth in front *»f Lycla. Calle Iris being fourth, and Full Cry fifth, the last horses being Annoyed and Jewellery. Time, 1.48 1-5. Dividends, £4 2/6 and £5. WINTER STEEPLECHASE of 25Osovs, second 35sovs. and third lasovs. Distance, about 3 miles. 391—Mr F. P. Selby’s Nor’-West, 111. 12 <W. Wilson) I —Messrs Macnianemiu and Davis’ Haydn, 11.1 ft (Fergus) 2 84 —Mr L. Coleman’s Dingo, 10.4 (Phi lips) 3 Also started: 112. Ludo, and 37, Evermore. • Nor’-west was quickest to the first fence. After getting over. Dingo and Evermore joined with him. the trin being in line at the water three lengths in front of Haydn, with Ludo last; and in this order the}’ raced to the old water. There was wo alteration in the position as they raced along the back, but ascending the hill Nor’west had a slight advantage of Dingo, with Evermore and Haydn following, and they eame down into the course with the posiTions unaltere*!. At the double Nor’-west. Dingo. Haydn, and Evermore were all of a heap, but Nor’-west got in the lead again with Dingo in second place, and the pair won* on terms as they went along Hip back, with Haydn close up. Breasting the hill the last time Haydn supplanted Dingo, aud he was within a couple of lengths of Nor’west when the top of the bill was reached. Coming down the hill for home Haydn made his effort, but although he was hard ridden right to the finish it was of no avail, as Nor-west, jumping the remaining obstacles in great style, came on and won with the greatest ease by three lengths. Haydn beat Dingo by 3«» lengths for second honours. Evermore was fourth, aud Ludo last. Time, 6.30. Dividend. £2 116. THE CAMPBELL HURDLE RACE (HANDICAP* of 20Hsovs: second horse to rt‘cvive :iss*»vs and third horse 15sovs out of the stake. Over seven flights of hurdles. One mile and three-quarters. Mr A. Champion’s b h Cavalry, 6yrs, by Light Artillery — Sunningdale, 10.12 (O’Connell) 1 Mr F. Stenning's br g Cuiragno. 4yrs, 9.6 »M*-<’abe» 3 Mr J. IL Prosser s blk h Waitarere, 4yrs. lft.3 3 Also started: Miss King. 10.7: Levant, 10.6: Waiwera. 10.5: Lady Clare, 9.3. Levant hung a bit when the barrier lifted and lost a lot of ground. Cavalry was first to make play, and he showed the way over the first fence, the order then being: Cavalry. Cuiragno. Lady Clare, Waitarere, Waiwera, and Levant. Cavalry, setting a solid pace, was still in the lend as they passed the stand. 1-ady Clare -lying second, and then came Levant, Cuiragno, and Waitarpre. Cavalry was still bowling along in front as they went along the back and across th** top stretch. Cuiragno running .nto second position, with Levant and Waitarere following in that order. Cuiragno was almost oi. terms with Cavalry as they turned for home, and there was practically nothing between them as they jumped the last fem-e. ami a good finish home resulted —Cavalry staying the longest and winning by a length and a-half. with Waitarere seven or eight lengths away third. Levant was fourth, and Miss King last. Time. 3.33. Dividends. £4 14/ and £ll 5 . THE FITZROY WELTER HANDICAP of HMisovs: second horse to receive Iftsovs out of the stake. Minimum weight. 9st. Six furlongs. Mr A. Telfer’s br g Nervine, 3yrs. by Phoebus Ap<dl<»—Eve. 10.9 (Mobbprlev) 1 Mr J. Koulstou’s Pukekohe, 9.11 (T. Mr D. J. Wallace’s b m I-e« Delaval. 9.5 (Barr) 3 Also started: Noteorini, 10.7; Takaro. 9.11: Whakahihi. 9.9: Luneta, 9.7: Albuera. 9.6; Sir Hector. 9.6: Leri<la. 9.4: Royal Shell, 9.0: Stepmar. 9J»: Soultmaid, 9.0: Loch Awe, 9.0; St. Cyril, 9.0: Te Papa, 9.0; Simple Simon. 9.8. Albuera was first to commence, but when they settled down Stepmar was in the lead

a conple of lengths In front of Nervine iM Pukekohe. with Luneta at the head of the others. Stepmar showed the way across the top stretch, but as they turned for home Nervine took charge, ami hr led to the distance, where Pukek«>he Hiallengt'd, and Leo I»t lava I also putting in a <*laim a g«M*«l race resulted in Nervine winning by half a length from Pukekohe. wh«> was a length in front off Leo ]>elnvnl. Luneta was fourth, Lerida fifth, mid Whakahrtii last. Time, 1.23 2-5. Dividends, £9 4 and £1 19/. THE FAREWELL HANDICAP of WOaevs; sei-oml horse tn receive l»»sors out «»f the stake. Minimum weight, 9st. Five furlongs. Mr F. Williams’ b g M’aitati. 3yrs, by Lord Roslyn --Jennie, 9.1<» <M*-Cluskit) 1 Mr E. V. Ralph’s b g Waikato. 10-0 (Howard) 2 Mr 11. Burch’s «-ii g Discoverer, 9.0 • White) 3 Also started: Ilohoro, 12.6; Bln* k and Gold. U*.9: Landkn-k, 10.7: Liberat«»r. I<*.4; Te Arnha. 1<».3; Desdemona. 10.3: Gw»niad. 10.2: Ta>velink, 10.0; WoodHiount. 10.0; Kola Nip, 9.6; Klotidyke. 9.3: Merry S»»nlt, 9.0. Laudlock and Black and Gohl gave a lot nf trouble at the post, but after a bit of delay Mr O’Connor succeeded in getting them away in line. Lamllork was quickest *m his feet, but Klondyke immediately rushed to the front, and he show< d the way across the top stretch just in front of Black and Gold. Waitati, Discoverer, «nd Desdemona. As they turned for home Waitati and Dis«-overer were t*»gether. and at the distance this pair were fighting out the finish, when Waikato eame fast ««n the outside, and although he passed Discoverer, he could not reach Waitati, who won by half a length, with Discoverer three parts of a length away third. Hohoro was fourth, and Tjimllm'k last. Timo, 1.8 3-5. Dividends, £2 18/ and £2 7 Y». THE LADIES’ BRACELET of r<t¥ovs: a bracelet of the value of 4»»sovs for the first horse, and a bracelet <»f the value of Iftsovs for the second. Gentlemen riders. A trophy value ssovs to the rider of the winner. One mile. Mrs O’Driseoll’s b g syrs. by St. Leger—Cantinicre. 11.0 Mr O’DriseolL jnn.) 1 Miss Wallace’s b m L***» Delaval. 11.0 •Mr G. Paul* 2 Miss McDonald’s b f Pearl Ne*kkt, 10.10 (Mr 11. Tonks) 3 Also started: Landht. 11.0; Ngahere. 11.0; Loch I'ynv. 11.0; Southern Cross, 11.1); Sir Hectnr, 10.10. When the field came in sight they were all together, with the exception of' Landlet. who hung a bit when the barrier lifted. As they passed the seven-furlong post Southern Cross took charge, and lie showed the way along the back a length in front uf Commonwealth, who was just in front of Pearl Necklet and Sir Hector. Crossing the top stretch I'ommonwealtli went to the front and Lt<» Delaval also made a forward move. Common wealth was first to turn for home, and drawing out in the run to the post, he w«m with the greatest of ease by fully half a lengths from Leo Delaval, who was two lengths in front of I’earl Necklet. Time, 1.51. Dividends, £2 13.6 and £2 5/.

HAWKE'S BAY JOCKEY CLUB’S WINTER MEETING.

NAPIER, Thursday.

The following weights have been declared for events at the Hawke’s Bav Jiakey Club’s Winter Meeting:— June Steeiilechase of SOsnvs. about two miles ami a-half. - Jack o’ Lantern 12.3, M**«* asin 11.9. Phaetnnitis 11.8. Pipi 11.3, <’oinf*»rt 1n.9. Torpiiia 10.7. Nadador 10-i Lurcher 1«».5. Dnffer 9.13. Springlmk 9.13, Suitm*>s 9.9. Moeraki 9.9. Roer 9.9, St Rene 9.7. Putupaerehe 9.7. Kohatu 9.7 Mephisto 9.7. Reah 9.7. Natella 9.7.

Wintu- Hack Handicap of Gftsovs. one mile. --Ituokhy 10.9. Provost Marshal 10.5, Pantaloon 9.13. Rarest 9.13. Beninore 9.12, Hatley 9.9. Bcimir 9.8. Minister 9.5. Shanks 9.3. Tiromai 9.2. Pearl Diver 9.2.' Paikea 9.0. Rnsegrove 9.0. Gold wing 9.0, Cosnta 9.0. Tane 9.0.

Latlies* Bracelet of 75snvs. on<* mile and a half. —Admiral Cerveras 12.7. Cransot 12.«». F'n eland 11.11. Comfort 11.10. Shackle 11.9, Benefactor 11.9, St. Lyra 10.8, Order

11.8. Ttitnngnrrbu 11.7. Tyrone 11.6. Dirk Turpin 11.2. Spark 11.0. I'erita 11.0. M<m*casin 11.0. Golden Stream 1*».7, Cinque 10.7, Borax 10.7. Onyx 10.7. Quenon 10.7. Hawke's Bay Hurdles nf 15* Iso vs. two miles.—Ureusot 11.5. Trumpery 11.4. Convoy 11.0. Evening 19.13. Cavalry 10.13, Princess »»f Thule 10.11. Torpitia 10.8. ML** King 10.5. Pushful 10.0, Arolia 9.13. Ilakaria 9.12. Tupara 9.12. liispaii 9.9. Mltlia 9.8. Rosepho 9.8. Lurcher 9.7. Handsome Rose 9.6. Sleepwell 9.0. B.*igpi|»es 9.0. Duffer 9.0, Katerina 9.0, Needlework 9.0. Cavill 9.0, Raema 9.0. Scurry Hack Handicap of 50sov«*. five furlongs.— Banzai 10.0. Matakokiri 10.5. Jolly Friar 10.4. lllpporofla 10.1, Eone 9.13. <la lahad 9.13. Captain Shannon 9.13. Baltic 9.13, Hatley 9.11. Cinque 9.5. Tiromat 9.4. Signora 9.3. Claremont 9.0. Funtenoy 9.0. Waihvke 9.0. Rtservoir 9-0, luidy Gold 9.0. White Squall 9.0. Heretaunga Handicap of soaovg, once round. — Full Cry 10.9. Submarine 10.8, Shrapnel 10.8, Douche 10.3. Gohl Dust 9.13, Admiral Cerveras 9.13. Rose Madder 9.13, The I.eader 9.9. Ziska 9.9. Ballyneety 9.7. Lyrist 9.5. Faro 9.4. Tyrone 9.3. Will o’ the Wisp 9.3, Optimist 9.3. St. Lyra 9.3, Assayer 9.3. Electric Light 9.0. Hawke's Bay Steeplechase of 2509WVS, about three miles.—Jack o’ Lantern 11.0, Princess of Thule 11.2. Moccasin 11.1, rhaetonitis 10.13. Evening 10.13. Papain 10.9. Trumpery 10.9. Pipi 10.8. rrennet 10.7. Eclair 10.3, Comfort 9.13. Miss King 9.13. Victory 9.11. Tu&plita 9.11. Eurus 9.11. Tupara 9.10. Nadador 9.9. Lurcher 9.8. Sleepwell 9.7. Duffer 9.7. Siminas 9.7. Roer 9.7, Putupaenreho 9.7, Kaimoe 9.7, Athol Maid (dea.b 9.7. Whakatu Hark Hurdles of (kteovs, one mile and three-quarters. — Bounce 11.0. Talune 10.13. Sleepwell 10.12. Wildcat 10.6, Vivacity 10.4, Dick Turpin 9.13. Catspnw 9.13. Kattrina 99. Needlework 9.8. Hir.etapuariki 9.7. Taura 9.7. Lady’s Link 9.7. Daredevil 9.7. Miiiervp 9.5. Moeraki 9.4. Outer 9.4. Baltic 9.3. South Star 9.0. Florio 9.0. Golden Comb 9.0. Tapairu 9.u. Cable 9.0. Matapiro 9.0, Aeghia 9.*X Natella 9.0, Cosmea 9.0. © © ©

DINEDIN WINTER MEETING

DUNEDIN. Wednesday. The weather is tine for the postponed winter meeting. The course is heavy. The attendance is poor. Results: — Hurdles.—Noxious Weed L Wonderful LL Won by three lengths. Timo. 3.42. _ Dividend. £- 4.. Si’, verst ream Hack. —Bill Perkins 1. Cavatina 2. Black Diamond 3. Scratched— Cuirusettia and Gypsobel. Won by a length. Cavatina beat Black Diamond by a nose for second place. Time 1.8. Dividends — £2*) 16. and £1 18/. Invermay Handicap.—Red Start 1, Donna Rosa 2, Jolly Ib*g?r 3. Scratched: Heirloom. Won comfortably by a length. Time, 1.22 4-5. Dividends. £2 8- and £1 1«» . DUNEDIN. Saturday. -The weather was warm and tine for the second day of the D.J.C. meeting. postponed from Monday, but the course was heavy ami holding, though much better than was expected. The attendance was only moderate. and speculation was therefore sonvwhat slack. The amount put through was £3*151 10 , making £7519 for the meeting, as compared with £9448 10/ last year. The following are Hie results: — Provincial Handicap. one mile. — Crichton 1. Calibre 2. Beau Seaton 3. Time 1.5] 1-5. Dividend £5 14 . Riccarton Hack Handicap. 6 furlongs. Red and Black 1. Bill Perkins 2. Becky 3. Time 1.23 1-5. Dividends. £4 IS and £3 12 . Wairougoa Handicap. 6 furlongs. — Ro’naroff 1. Petrovna 2. Ailsa 3. Also started: Red Gauntlet. Regiment. Bluestone. Time 1.21 2-5. Dividend. £lu I<T. Farewell Handicap, one mile.—Casque 1, Rubrette 2. Koputai 3. Time 1.52. Dividends — £2 10 and £3 2/. © © ©