TURF NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXV, Issue 14, 7 October 1905, Page 18

TURF NOTES.

Ly-eia is slightly amiss, and is to be MrcatVd io a short spvil. Mr H. Johnson lias been appointed handitapper Jo the Otahuhu Trotting Club. Dividend has been amiss since ,E«llup. - Maniapot<i is rapidly recovering from a Cold contracted in Sydney. The weights for the (’ity Handicap and M annkau Hurdles are due on October 13. . At -Cambria Park, r.nncesvoiid' by Sir Lancelot—-Spruce, has foaled a colt to Eton,'. The three year «»hl Bengoia, by Jen Godfrey Prestissimo, was operated upon during the wc.?k. Mr S. Bradley has claimed the name of Blucktish for his 4 year old horse, by Swordlish IL—Botfly. 1 King 'Paul has left Frank charge, and be is now bark in his old quarters ar J Cha ifc.. Jun.’s. The withdrawal of Scotty from the N.Z. Lup leaves Auckland without a representative in the big Southern two mile race. IhqiitrieM have already ben made for accommodation for Sir George Clifford’s Ilyrjcs for the A.ILC. Summer Meeting. I' kt L hs “ l iw ‘iuiries from Bathurst. J'jS. n.. as to tin- whereabouts of John Kean If Kean will rail the first time he is Ju town, I will give him particulars. •'"■■■ji'atioiis Ived for the Otahuhu Haring Club’s annual meeting on Vrlober 11 constitute a record for the Chib, lhe weights are due early next week. Charlie Weal paid a visit to the Waikato during .hr week, and brought back with Joni Lorn Erne and Polyrasie. The pair •re t«> g<» into active work at: once. Tiie Hawke’s Bay spoilsman. Mr E. J. has ’‘”>ninatrd both his volts. King Billy and Boomerang, for th** principal •''»'* at IhejVß-C si'i'ftig meeting. One hundred to Gor 7 would have been nccepti’d for a goad stake about Mnhutonga for the Melbourne Cup. but Hit* best price available was KMi to 8. at which price there whs very Hille money on offer. Before (hr Avomlah* Jockey Club’s •pring meeting Axahin.ehe was under offer Io a buyer who intruded her for the Islands. Luckily for Mr Hansen, however »u deal resulted .’ The boisterous weather during th* oast jortnrghl has made (hr tracks at Ellerslie Aery heavy and (raining operations in'conreqnenue. have been decidt’dlv slow there bring practically nothing Io report. Ihr stewards of (he Otahuhu Trolling J Jun met last Thursday, when the following appoint iiK'iiis were made: Judge. Mr Jt. L. Absolum: starter, .Mr c. fKlhmuor; find utnrlal measurer for ponies. Mr Selbv. After Hie running of the Kingsla’nd Handicap. on the second day of the Avondale Meeting. Trephine was handed over‘to J. <>aiiisford, nhd hr is now an inmate of .that .iralner’s stable. ' Ibe Iwo year old Aiisere. by Cyreninn - J’ikau, who has been suffering frdm Hie inti m nza. ami also from an accident, has recovered snflieientl.v |o enable Gahisford to put him into work again. I have tif acknowledge receipt of Mr IL BlaiMr’s Sporting Guide for season 1!M»58 The guide. whi‘*h was got up by Hie'* Brett Printing Co.. Ltd., is a handy* little t>ook, and contains a lot of useful information to sportsmen. After bis disappointing displays at the Fecenl Avondale Meeting. Coronalion. the full brother to Record Reign. was shlp2 rd bark to his owner’s place nt Puk»ohe. where It Is understood lie u 111 b<‘ given a '.engthy spell.

Elspeth, by Soult 1 tdy Emmeline who was taki n to Brisbane a short time ago. along with a . number of others owned by the lion. IL Mossman, recently won a ronple of races. In tier last essay site carried 9.7, and won easily. Matters in collection with the New Zealand Cup have been very quiet during (he week, and not. a line worth chronicling has been booked. Mahntongh is still favourite at G to 1. with 7 to 1 on offer against Noctiiiform, 8 to 1 Nightfall, and 10 to 1 Achilles. By winning tin* BrunsovK Hurdle Have on the second -day of the Wanganui Spring Meeting, Waiwvra scored his first success since he won Hie Eltham Hurdles at. the Egmont Racing Club’s Summer Meeting. Since then something like 25 defeats have been registered against him. F. Davis is the only horseman who has succeeded in .steering the winner of the Wanganui Guineas on more than one occasion. His mount on King Bi.ly on Thursday, when b*‘ woii, brings his total for the rare to three successes, tin* previous ones b‘ing St. Mark i*i 1899 and Renown in 1909. For some reason unexplained even to the owner the nomination of Grand Rapids and two other horses to the same owner have been refused by the V.-H.C. for the October Stakes and other events at the same meeting. The horse's nomination for the Melbourne Cup has not been interfered with. the Avondale. Jockey Chib authorities ) verified the omission of the first two dav.’ of their spring meeting in regaid to the posting of the overweights carried in tiie various races, ami on Saturday, the concluding day. they wire posted in a conspicuous place, a proceeding which was greatly appreciated by the public. Tin* horses pirchased hy Mr Geo. Wright at tnt* spring sales in Sydney, and -vhieh were brought over to Auckland in the Zealamlia last Sunday were: B g. Ironmould. Gyrs. by Metal Hopabov.t: <h g, 2 years;, by Beauchamp—Grace; b g. 4 years, by M«*tal Adelia: and b g. 4 years, by Far Nieme—stewardess. The following fonlings are annoync <1 from Wellington Park: Crescent, bv (factor !»ungawerewero, colt Io Hotchkiss; Harpist by Hotchkiss—Lyrelimis. <mJb to Seaton Delaval: Culralba. by Cuirassier -Albatross, filly to MensHiikoff; Go’d nshine. bv St.’- Leger Polish, filly to Hotchkiss; Auhl Reekie, by Cuirassier—Coalscuttle, colt to Bluejacket. The Victoria Amateur’ Turf Ciub intend following the example of the. V.R.C.. ami to refuse future nominations for Mr Wren s horses. -It is believed that his nominations for the Caulfield ami Melbourne Cups will he allowed to stand. Similar action Is likely to be taken by the Sydney and Ade laide Clubs, ami it is understood that Mr Wren has decided to dispose of his horse. Although the nominations recfived for the Auckland Cup are a decided falling off in the point <>f numbers on previous years, on looking through the list one is struck by the absence of tin* usual quantity of leather flappers, who could not win with The pioverbial po«‘ag<* stamp on their hacks. Wit ii a tew exceptions the whole of the horses rominat<*d must be given a reaso’iahlc chance of winning. No less ihaii five horses aoeountvd for i •loub.e at tin* ' rec(*nt Avondale meeting,. Banana accounted for the Hurdles ahi Steeplechase* on the* opening dav: Marisa won two pony races: Millie won the Flying the first day. and the Mt. Albert llami’icap Ihe second day: Avalanche won rhe Plumplon Han. Heap ami Grandstand Handicap; ami Waikato the Welter nm i Publicans’ Handicap. General Average was to have hern shipped south last Sunday to fulfil l.is engag<>ments al Wanganui, but Hie big son of Hot<*likis«s was badly galloped on while con testing the Electric Hamlieap on the con eluding day of the Avondale Meeting, and was unable to be shipped. This is har<i ,uck for his owner, as the horse was w»ll forward in condition, and he contider.tA’ expected to run prominently at Wanganui. • t In* j-ont i actor, fry rhe-new fence around the Ellerslie ra<*e<*ourse is making good proxrvss with the wc.ik. ami file end or next week oinjlit to very nearly eoinplete il- I I’c fence is a splendid one. and is a great improvement on the old one it is ;replacing. but | venture to suggest that unless a rail Is pm mamnd it on U*e inside th** whole distance. Instead of onlv In n-o H Of the St.-Hid. as at present ' eontempHted. thele Is every probability of i xer mis aeelden' bap, if u ► trike It while vorkiiiK on tile training rra<*ks. *• There still seems to hr an nlr of mvstrrv Hhout the movements of Mabulon.a.' According to Hit* <Ml>l<*d reports from Australia. there is evidently a rommLsLm in the market to support the horse for the big

Flemington event. A we k or so ago about wa • secured about his chance, and ns there are efforts being made .to gel a further sum. it is only reasonable to suppose that thps<‘ who are making the efforts are not doing so without having something to go upon. I‘robaldy Hie form of Mr Stead’s horses at Handwick has <*ausod Mahutonga’s owner to seriously consider a trip to Melbourne. J. Thorpe heads the list of winning trainers at the recent Avondale meeting with four wins. H. Hannon comes next with three; then follow French. MorragHan, Scott. Howe, ami Barr with two each; ami Pearson, Williams, Twohill, Clarkin. Williamson. Simpson, and Snff oite’each. B. Deeley is an easy first amongst the jockeys, with seven winning mounts: Biown had four. P. Johnston and Speakman two. ami Ju.ian, W. Wilson, M. Ryan, Marchant, Barr, Towers, Gray, O’Connel, and V. Cotton one each. Soult was the most successful sir** with five winners. Cyrriiian is next with thr«*e. A tisii alian. Tasman and St. Hippo two, and Auric. Si. Lrger. Seaton Delaval, Reynard, Brookby. Leolantis. Linstock. Saracen, Rangatira. and Sir Lancelot one each. As a rule It is not altogether advisable to take* notice of every growl that is made against, handicappers in general, but in so:.i(* cases there are reasonable grounds for complaint. One case in particular is that of the mare* Jean. Jean started on thirteen occasions last year, and managed t*> win three of her engagements, two ar. Waihi and one at Paeroa, but in each ease the* fields >h<* defcateel w(*-i* of a very rnodeiate* characttr, yet she is invariably placeel at the* top of the* handicap, and asked to give* weight to horses with far Lett *r performances, of course, handicappers may have? a bt*tler knowledge of the mare than her public perform -inees suggest. but still until she shows something decidedly butter than she has hitherto done, her owner is certainly entitled to more le*niunt. treatment. In referring to high jumps in the* hunting field, an ISngiish paper says that pelha,)S .' r, unk Bari h i t, huntsman to Lord Fitzwilliam, has rhe credit of making one ot the biggest jumps that have* been nieasu"**d. I't was on- the Derbyshire* side of the country, at Nastine. mar Chesterfield, ami he was riding Whhnbrel. a thoroughbreil mare standing 15 hands 1 inch. Loid !• ilzwilliain s hunters were* all trained in .Irt-laiul. so when a ; >ig Irish bank wit’., a stiff laid hedge on 1 lie top of It presented itself. Bartlett went at it without hesitation. 1 hough it was out of plough. But the Ijiare instead of jumping on to the bank, new. the lot. and I hough she peeked badiv on landing, she did not fall. The height of the fence was 7ft 4ln, and the farmer realised a nice little sum In charging a small fee to people who went to see it. Thus ’’Ranger”: -Last week I commented on the apparent fact that M. Edmond Blanc had entered nothing for the Derby of 1907. r< ' n< owners were represented. MM. Ephnissi and St. Alary, according to that “Calendar.” but several French entries .-‘must he added,’ the last “Calendar” states, including, for the Derby, four of M. Blanc’s. These are three voung Flying Foxes. Myran. an own brother to .Tardy, a son of Airs, and Graces, sons of Framboise HI. and Fiuaude ami Ouadi-Halfa, by Persimmon— Yester!lug. M. Blanc has also five in the Oaks. These entries were duly made in Paris, it is said, but for some unknown reason did not arrive at Old Burlington street. Another very curious paragraph in the "Calendar” informs ns that “the entries of the Duke of Westminster’s horses in the Derby and Oaks (of 1907) must be omitted, as they were made by a person who was not. duly authorised in aceorihiuee with the rules.” Eight other entries, at Ascot and Goodwood, are likewise void. This is really amazing. Either one has authority to enter or one has not—it is very simple! I simply cannot understand how a blunder can have been made in dealing with such valuable horses as those which comi? from Eaton. However, the bearers of the yellow jacket are out of it. Says tfhe Eng ash writer, “Vigilant’ : There appeared in the “Daily T.elegyaph” on Wednesday an article headed “Decline of the Bookmaker.” This sets forth what we have been contending for years, viz., that there is not the betting there used tn be. and that, save in the grotesquely distorted pages of Mr John Hawke, bookmaking is not attended hy huge profits. If there is the enormous amount of betting Mr Hawke says there is, am! millions of people are impoverished by it, when* is the money? Fortunes left by even the most leviathan of bookmakers have so far been absolutely insignificant as compared with the wealth we see accumulated in other walks of life. We know of only one bookmaker who left as much as £190,090 behind him, and he <*ombined hookmakin.; with money lemling. The “Daily Tidegraph’’ gives a true’picture of the betting ring as it is now ami tin* nature of the business that is done in it. Betting is now so dost* I liar if t he bookmaker is not a very shrewd man the backer will beat him. In <mr young days such a tiling as a man making a good liv’ng by backing horses was never dreamt of. The tit st professional backer we ever knew was Mr ‘’Charley” Rayner, who wys at one time light-weight jockey to the Duke of Bodford. For years he had the game to himself. £IOOO won on Lord Stamford’s Walloon when that horse carried off the Champagne Stakes at Don-

caster being his start. At cue time he was w<n th from twenty to thirty- thousand poniuls. AH; at onee ; .be sermed to go out, ami no one knew in what way the imMiejr went.* Probably it was through reversing the process and laying against something that he did not fanuy. or Hiougjit was “safe.” It was doing this, over Muscovite that knocked “Lifeboat” Shully out. Tho professional backers are now repotted to be richer than -the bookmakers. - We do not see bookmakers nowadays wiimlug Derbi(*s ami St. Legeis,*- but it was uomnoii enough i» the ott time. Mr John Corlett, in his weekly contribution to the t.oihlon "Sportiiij; Tinies.” lonches upon the Inee.ling of some English trotters, .ainl his cnninonts should lie of interest to Inee.lers of trotters and admirers of tiie thoroughbred. The latter has ever tnen recognised as the only 'linproving factor in light breeds, hut the horse used as .Hi Improver is invariably selected' for its action and conformation rather than a gre.it * ,l,f ~‘ >'ord. Therefore, the crack raeiiig stalhoiis are seldom ust'il to improve thetrotter, it being an article of faith wilh trotting men that a good- racing shape'is not a good trotting shajn*. The horse Mr Corlett writes <>f (I'ommon) is one of tiie !5,V e . sf , galloping shapes, a winner of the I riple Crown,” and highly infused wit h tiie fashionable racing strains. Mr Corlett’s story runs:—“We were once presented with a bottle of exceptionally fine liqueur brnndv ot the year 1821 or thereabouts. A friend who was staying with us found that brtrndy (to wliich he was quite welcome), but we must confess that we felt somewhat augend when we found he had consumed half of it with soda-water. To our remonstrance he replied. *My dear John. Hie better the ‘ brandy, tin* better tiie soda ami brandy * From Um I moment the tight wits over, as it was utterly impossirde to answer an argnim ni: of ilmt deserija imi. This incident, came to our mind when Mr Winans wrote us I list be had sent a trotting mare to t’omii'on. and the result wan the best animal lie had ever bred. The better- the sJre.thc better the trotter. This young trotter, though he has not been more than half a dozen times in harness, can already go at a faster rate than 20 miles an hour. At tile recent show at Ashford Mr Winans took, llrst. and second prizes with t wo-youngsters-both by Common. One of these was Zalotoy (which ■is Bnssian for- Itiddenl. by Common, dam < iiba. by Shi.rl.rook. out of an Exmor pony mare. The other was- Lubeznie tßusslan for Beloved), by Common, dam a . hunter mare. This animal won the Dewar Challenge Shield. The crack of the- Surronden trot ters is Gosudar,-by t 'miiiuon, .dam Chequite. No wonder that Mr Winans's trotters are of such a high order, as in a general way the services of a horse like Common would not be available for trotting or half-bred marts. It must have been as a great favour that the late Sir J. -B. Maple allowed Mr Wiuans to send mares of this elraracter to so famous a horse.” Most people will be of opinion (savs an English scribe) that we can gain but' little enlightenment now from a glance at the pedigree of the Derby vvinuer of one hundred years ago. Cardinal. Beaufort.' who defeated fourteen oppolrents in IStto. was the property of J.urd Egremont. who had won with llaimii.al the previous year, and was destined to win yet a third Derby.with Election, two years biter. , Here surely Is some sort of resemblance to Lord Rosebery s position, for be, too. has won three Derides, l.y t'icero's victory in Mav last. Cardinal Beaufort was a bay colt of No. 11 family, by Golianua 24 out of Colibri. by Woodpecker (1). her dam, Camilla, ity Tretitham (5). Golianua was. I.y Mercury I) (son of Eclipse ,12) out of a daughter of Herod 2ti ami Maiden, Ivy Matebem t 4). An interesting feature of tiie pt-digree is presented Ivy Hie obvions fact that the No. 11 line was "nicked.” Tile paternal grandsire of Eclipse was. as most of ns know. Squirt 11. and Sptletta, dam of Eclipse, was Ity Reguhis 11. whose granddam, Sister to Old Country Wench was. in fact, the dam ot Squirt. Then wo get'Squirt 11 again at the foot of Gohannn’s pedigree, for Maiden, by Matchcm <4l, already referred to, was out of Pratt's Old Mare Ivy Squirt 11. Thus Gohanna was well equipped for a return of the No. 11 blood, whether a good colt or a good filly was wanted, ami when wo note that his son. Cardinal 'Beaufort, the 1805 Derby winner, was not merely Out of a No. 11 mare, but that she (Poilbri) in longed to Unit line through Sister to Rcgultts. Iter granddam. it is al once apparent that Cardinal Beaufort: was very cleverly bred to the No. 11 blood, coming to him' no fewer than four times through Sister to Old Country Wench. This Is a clear Indication that scientific mating was Well understoivd in those days, though, of course, we have a great advantage over our grandfathers in having so many more results mi which to base our Judgment. This year's winner. Cicero, mi the actual ngures, comes ovit the hist, and he is a member ■ of the No. tl) family, which still holds its pride of place as a producer of classic winners in England ami France combined. On live other hand. .lardy comes i.f tiie No. 5 family, which lias added to its distinction in recent years Ivy tiie production of Galtee - and Ard Patrick. Moreover, there is in .lardy such i.dense inbreeding' to tialopin. in addition to Hie Speimhim lino of Vidette, together with two dashes of Volley (sister to Voltlguer). that t he • French < <di may possibly lie a really .phenomenal one. ’ Then we-have Vedas, who Is not only by- Florizel 11. out of a Rosicrm-lau more. ,*i combination which hitherto lias proved singularly successful, but lie comes «.f the Agues

branch of the No. 16 family, and that. too. with a Biair Athol cross iu it to nick with thv Hampton in Vcrdlta 11. (Florizel H.’s dam). Now, Sceptre ami Zinfandel have proved to dcim»tistral iun how well persimmon (brother to Florizel II.) has suited mares of the Agnes family, ami. though own brothers, may in some cases need to he •very differently mated.’ I see no particular reason why if should ‘bo so in this case. Al any i‘ate, we have a 'combination of Florizel H.’s own peculiar and well-proved affinity. Rosicrucian and Agnes blood, which has been equally well proved in mating with Persimmon. Add to that the Hampton on Blair Athol, and it is easy to show that Vedas, on the maxim that blood will tell, must need a very great deal of beating. Says the “Sporting and Dramatic News”: —-A short time since il looked as if Cyliene would be easily at the list of winning sires. Cicero. it ’wiw assumed. had the Eclipse Stakes as good as w.oii. the Leger would follow, and that would make some £ISJMH) to add to the (close om £l4,<»()<> I’yllene's offspring had already won. Then, too, Swt et Mary would pick up £IU<K) in the Rous Memorial at Goodwood. and, counting these unhatched chickens as fledged, there would be Cyliene with over £36.<M)() to his credit! Only, now we. know better. Cicero .was beaten in the Eclipse. £9285. and he is not at. all likely to win the Leger. so that t’yllene drops into third place behind Isinglass, £19,0K1, who moved up £1655 at Goodwood by the aid of Admirable Crichton mid Cherry Lass, with Galliiiule second. £14,302. neither his position nor Cyllcnc’s having been altered last week. Gemma ami Stadl holder helped Florizel 11.. the King's horse, with £13,051, following close on Cyllenc with £13,934: and if Victorious hail done what was confidently expected of her, there would have been very little in it between these two. Isinglass should now bold his own, for he is £SOOO ahead of his follower. Cherry Lass will very likely add the Leger to his score, and Admirable Crichton will probably win again. Gallinulv has Pretty Polly (perhaps) and I’lalunie (probably) to swell Ids total: but he js too far-behind to pick up. The Jockey Club Stakes will make au appreciable difference, but there seems little prospect of this valuable race falling to an Isinglass, a Galiinule, a Cyliene, or a Florizel. - ..St. Simon would be sadly down in the list had not St. Denis credited him with £74.35 out of £11.242. That places him in advance of his son, Persimmon, for whose reputation Colonia will doubtless do good service. The disappearance of Zinfandel is il serious loss to his Majesty’s representative. but there are few valuable races that such a horse as Zinfandel can win. Lally draws attention io Amphioii. who, however, has not much else of which his friends can boast. Half-a-dozen of his platers have won soi/fe £ISOO between them. Misselthrush has a rising aspect. Thrush and &ong Thrush arc credits to him, but of course the- sire that has come most suddenly to the front is Count Schomberg, though Black Arrow’s Good wood exhibition will make softie- people pause and inquire where the -temper came from? My impression is. however, “that Count Schomberg himself was a good-tempered animal. Ladas has not done very brilliantly. Gorges being " hif? 'c'liief claim this year. None of the St. ' Aiigeibs, Right a ways, or Ayrshire# stand out. except that'Melayr has tine speed. - ' As regar<ls''bwncrs.’ I lit re is little pros.pect of Colonel “ 14 iill Walker, with £20,119 to the end of last week, being caught by any Englishman, he. as just noted, having Cherry Lass’ and ColoiiiH to swell the total: but M. Blanc may win the Leger and the Jockey Club Stakes. Vai d’Or. Jardy, and Gouvernant being iu the latter race. Even then, however. I do not suppose he would quite catch the present leader. Mr S. Jorl Is second, having had £14,910 to his credit up to the end of last week, a total which not improbably Divorce Court or imperial ’ 11. will increase oh the day these notes are published. The successes of Lord Derby arc cordially welcomed by all (except those who arc pecuniarily interested in the beaten horses), for everyone must be glad to see an owner who races as he does plentifully rewarded. I do not think anyone, ventures to sneer at amateur trainers nowadays, but It may be remarked that in the table of the “Principal. Winning. Trainers” Mr George Lambloii comes second. .Mr I*. I*. Gilpin sixth, with the two Majors. John Edwards and Charles Beatty, well up. Elsey had (up to last Saturday) 46 winning horses In his stable, with'79 races down to them. W. T- Robinson being an indifferent second with 19 winners’of 36 races, ami Mr George Lambton third with 18 winners of 27. The o’.d time English jockey. 11. Custanrr. is slowly recovering from his serious Illness. Writing of Distance. au English paper says: When Cuslaime won his first Dei by for the Scotch ironmaster. Mr Merry, he got £IOO by way of douricr: £IOO and a long lecture from Mr Norman Buchanan—a friend of Mr Merry’s—ln the jockeys’ room al Stockbridge, wherein he hoped that so much money .would not turn the lad’s head or tempt him Io go wrong. That success of Thm mauhy’s was rather ’ remarkable, and may bear repetition hero. Here arc Custanec’s own words;— "It was net. definitely decided that I was to ride Thornifinby until ij»e last moment. Il may not be generally known, but Mr ■ Merry was one of the most suspicious owners possible I had ridden Tlmimnnby tn most of his work, and Mr Matthew Dawson certainly thought that I was going io have the mount In the race. On the morn Dig of the Derby, May 23. 1860. when I first saw. Mr Dawson, he to'.d me he. was very much surprised to learn that a jockey named J. Sharpe had arrived ft om Russia to Ude Tlmriitanby. Mr Merry, or his friend,- Norman Buchanan. for him. had s< ut Ta as Parker, the lighting man. who was employed al Russlcy. to keep the louts away, ovei f» Brussels to meet Sharpt*. •‘Paiker wa? 16 bring him to Epsom, and see that hr was the proper w<‘lght. which was (hen Xs I 7U»*Tor colts. Epsom was reached about six -o'clock on the morning of th *’* .Derby, and Tub's had to utke Sharpe out wasting, as he was not to be

trusted by himself, for fear of getting drunk —a nice sort of jockey to send io* Russia for. Sharpe put on a pair of blue spectacles, ami went out sweating on th•• rmad near Ashtead. Parker and he met Sha;-|w’s. brother. E. Sharpe, and Sam Rogers also wastitig. Kogers remarked: “ ‘Ted, I believe that Is your brother. Jack!’ But Ted. who had not seen him for years, and did not know be w.'s in England, replied: - -Not It: he’s iu Russia.’ "However. there the brother was. :i« they afterward? discovered. When Sharpe and ids mentor arrived home from wasting, poor old 'Pass the was anything hut t young man at the tim<) was tired out. as he had been travelling two days two nights. Desirous of refreshing himse’f Im 1 -f« bis charge Shame, and went to have a bath. Shaipe asked Mrs Nesbitt, the wif • of Squ’re Heathcote’s butler, with whom they were staying, f»r some brandy. clarlng hr fe'.t faint. She took him about Jia If a pint in a <! •canter up to his room. “Jack thereupon made ’. imse'if verv comfortable, ami win i; Tuss returned for him to g.» to the course. pugi.’.ist found out that he bad made a mistake In lea the jockey, and forgetting to give stibt. orders, that be was not to have anything to drink. ‘'On going to the scales to weigh. I wr.’ told to pu4 '»n tbe white rap and secure colours. Mr Mainweriug. tbe clerk of the scales, wanted to know which horse h • was to put my name to, btu. Mr Merry told hjm he had not decided yet. As there was hardly au hour bcfoie putting the numbers up there was no hurry. “When xve arrived in the paddock. M.' Merry and Matthew Dawson had rather a warm argument about who wer<» to be the respective jockeys. It ended in Shaipe and myself being tool to change caps, am! I donned, the .black one. ami rode Thormanby. Sharpe, on the back of Northern Light, had orders to make running for me. but ’•>«* was never iu the first ten. I never rr»\ !y quite made out what became of him. Once I .beard him calling out for me to go and take his place when he was hemmed in on the ialls soon after passing the mile post, but as I was very well placed and lengths in front of him at the time, I. of course, did not lake any notice.” <© © © Notes From Our Travelling Correspondent. (By Telvgi a ph.—Special to "Graphic.”) WANGANUI, this day. Inconsistent running will always be witnessed. but much of it can be explained away as a general rule, ami save that an odd runner or two -each day at Wanganui did not appear to In* on serious business bent, there- whs not much to cavil at. indeed. a lot of the racing w r as remarkable for the consistency of the actors ami condition ami quality in scuh cases was generally conspicuous. Inconsistency is oftpit. noticeable in horses im/the’-spring that', are not forward enough to* reproduce S‘»li<l. races inside of twenty four hours, and theie will always be the wa’sters who require longer, intervals. There are others tlbit are usually • improved •by racing, and .some of the winners on the first: day. as well as losers, were mm-h better for their liisf day’s exertion. The form shown by the gets of Merriwee ami Multiform in particular, was most favourably commented upou diy the . visitors. . I’eople will have their own ideas as to which are the better of the New Zealand Cup camlidales that took part at the meeting, but there are several that may run well if their owners elect to go on with them, and ieport says that one at least has been hcavilv supported. Immediately after the Wanganui spring meeting., the contractors. Messrs Russell and Bigneil. who have Io build the new grandstand on the Wanganui course, put the wortT of pulling down the old buildings In hand, and they may be <’ % pemled upon to have the job well forward in a very short time. A new stand has long been wanted at Wanganui, find the club are doing the right thing in spending their money in the direction Indicated. The Hawke’s Bay colts. King Billy ami Boomciang. will bo hard to dispose of in t’he Hawke's Bay Guineas, ami anything Io heat King Billy will have to bo pretty good, and Mr Watts’ bonny pair of colts will likely do with the Aimklaml t hreo-yea rold.s tn November what they did last ant umn when they ran first ami second in the Champagne Stakes, that Is, should they not go South. Sir Geo. Clifford had not made up hl# mind on' Friday vAliat he would semi to Hawke's Bay. On the form of his horse# nt Wanganui their prospects of success at the Hawke's Bay Metropolitan Chib's meeting do'not appear vei v good, ami I fancy their owner expected liettcr of them. King Billy and Bootucrang wer<» in great form. Probably the lightest fleshed horse racing in New Zealand is Benmore, by Caske*. who wears a wasted, attenuated appearance at any time. ID* looked unusually light Rl the Wanganui meeting, and did not mu well. Ohl Blazer, owned by Benmore*# owner. Jackson, is now being used as a hack by that mentor. © © © Auckland Racing; Club's Spring; and Summer Meeting;®. NOMINATIONS FOR PRINCIPAL I - HANDICAPS. The following Is a list of the nominations roeeiVe'd. in connect ion with the spring ami summer meetings of the Am-k’aml Racing Clubi—

* SPRING MEETING. City Handicap, one mile ami a quarter.— Jewellery, King Billy, Boomerang. Znleika. Scotty. Delania, Waipnna. Gladstone, Wai kato. Lamlhiek, Grenade, Putty, .Geordic, Auralus, Apologue, Heroism, Lovrlink. Manuk.-iu lltinlle Race. — t'uiraguo, liiulsklllen. JJakarla, Cavalry, Lorh Fynv. Vexation. Lady Claie. Birthday !lamli<jip.--J,cwel!ery. King Billy. Boomerang. Zutrika, Scotty. <llatlsione. Waikato, ijreiiade. Putty. Auratus, \poiogtic. Trephin'e. Piihipuhi, Heroism, Sir Gilead. Master DeLival. SI MM ER MEETING. Auckland Cup. two miles.—Melodeon. Jewellery. Boomerang. - Zuleika. Scotty, Wainioa. Mahnto'ig.a, Gladstone. Achilles, Ghoorka. Fl.i men. Gold Crown. Pulty. Master De*a\al. Gvnrdie. Apologue. Tiepliinc. Puhlpuhi. Quarry ir.au. Gay Spark. Parhut u. Alexeis. Mobility. Sir Tristram. Lyrist, Heroism. Rose Madder. General Average. Sir GEead. Buhiwayo. Aimisllce. Railway Handicap, six furlongs.—Ailsa. King Billy. Starshuot, Boomerang. Lad;.* Annie. Ilohora. Mom forni, Foremost. Gladstone, Si. Bill. Kola Nip. Landlock, Boris. Marguerite, Achilles. Exmoor. Carl Rosa, Annette. Dnrdauus. Alba Rose. Waitati. Austerlitz. Noteoiiiti. Avalanche. Puhlpuhi. Canticle. Euclid. To-morrow. Stronghold. Glenuwlet. Sir Tristram. Mobility. Medallist. Certainty, General Average, Jngleneuk, Gaucho. Summer (’up. one mile and a quarter.— Ailsa. Riviera. Pearl Necklet, Melodeon. Buomeiang. Starshoot. King Billy. Jewellery. Lady Annie. Zuieika, Monoform. Foremost, Scotty. Delaula. Mahutonga, Waipnna. Loch Erne. Gladstone. Lycia, Land1< ck. Achilles, FJamen. Exmoor. Ghoorka, Gold Crown. Waikato. Putty. Master Deluval. Geordic. Apologue. Avalanche. Piihipuhi. Canticle. Euclid. Quarrymau. Claiichattim. Gay Spark, Alexeis. Pari tutu. Mobility. Sir Tristiam. Lyrist. Heroism, (’ertalnty. Rose Madder. General Average, Loveiink. Armistice, Gaucho. Auckland Racing Club Handicap, one mile and a half. — Riviera. Mchaleon, Boomerang, Starshoot. King Billy. Jewellery, Zuleika. Moiioform. Scotty. Mahutonga, Loch Erne. Gladstone. Armistice, Lycia. Achillea. I’lamen. Ghoorka. Gold Crown, Waikato. Putty. Master Delava!. Apologue, Qt.arryman. G.-»y Spark. Alexeis. Paritutu, Mobility. Sir ’i'ristram. Lyrist. Rose Madder, Sir Gilead. Buhiwayo. Summer Steeple or. llautapu. Iniiisklileu. Wnlraka, Dingo, llakaria. Swimmer. Kiatere. Comfort. Nor’-west. Pharos, Brigham, Luch Fyne, Vexation, Punccss of Thule.

Pakuranga Hunt Club Sports.

The annual hunt spurts of the Pakuraugx Hum Club look place un Saturday last al Alexandra Park. The weather was fine amt the attendance large. AJthuugh the field* iu the vuxieua events were not as good a* rxiß'ctcd. the racing whm fajrly imeresllng, and an enjoyable afternoon resulted. Mr il. T. Gorric <»rticlated as judg.e, and Mr . E. 11. Ilauklirs. as liomuaiv starter, the latter gent>lll:l n’> efforts being higblv ’su.- ■ cCssful 'l'he meeting was- well <*ouducte.L by the joint secretaries. Mr It. P. Kinloch . and H. L< wis. ami the various officials, <• wry thing passing off without a hitch, lit the absrtice of the totalizator speculation was carried out per medium of the bookmakers. and business was brisk on the dlf ferenl events. Racing commenced with the Farmers’ Flat Race, for which five went to the post. Kaßanga-a bring withdrawn. I'he betting was < ven money Can injure r, 2 to 1 Tua Kltua and I'ukerimu. Piikeiimu was rrspouslble for the running for about a inlie. when Tua Kitua. getting through next the rails, got In front and going on won easily by a length and a half from i’ukerimu. who whs a neck in front of Terence. 'l'he four acceptors carded came out for the Hunters’ Hurdle Race. Nothing but Aesop mps backed with any splilt. ami he was a warm favourite at 6 to 4 011. Aesop was always in the lead, and although Bryan o’Lynu joined him hAif u mile from home, and st.nyFd with him till they entered the. straight, it was only 011 sufferance, as Aesop drew out in the run to the post, winning at the finish by a couple of lengths. Clvde was dozen lengths awn* third. Fhlander. Nr w Boy. Lucy Godfrey am} Gazette dropped out of the Open Flat Race, ami punters went solidly for Joan, and she was backed down to 2 <0 I on, while 2 Io 1 was on offer about Lord Seaton. 3 to 6 to I the otheis. lilueskla was in the lead as they raced along the hack, ami he -was first to turn for bom*: where Lord Seaton put In his claim, am* quickly settling l he leader, was never afterwards troubled, winning iu a canter by four lengths from B’ueskiu. who was a hqigth ?u front of T’e Papa. The favourite was early in Double, and could not pace it with th*' lenders. Boxer. Ngurii. Bachelor, a ml Cannouc!**' saddled up for (Id* Hunters’ Steeplechase. Ngaru ami Bachelor meeting with must Htipporl. their price at Hag fa.l being 6 t<» 4. with 2 to 1 to be had against Boxer, mid 4 to I Cannoneer. The rare was a chapter of accidents Ngaru and Bachelor wete the first ♦<:» misbehave themselves, running off at the serum’ fence. This left Cannonrriu change, and he was In front till three

feucr** from borne, where he fell when going well, leaving Boxer to canter home an easy whim r from Ngaru, who was got going again. These were the only two to flnish. Pnkeiinin. Terence and Matopha went to tli«‘ post for the Farmers’ Hurdle Race, Fukeriinu being, a 2 to 1 on favourite. Ftikvriinu took command after they had gon<? three furlongs, and never gave the other pair a look-in winning pulling up by six lengths from Terence. Matepha pulled up. The concluding event of the day, the ladies' Bracelet, brought out Ngaru, Lancet, Bryan’o’Lynu and Lockie, and the last named was backed down to 6 to 4 on, Ngaru being nexl r In demand at G to 4 against. Things, however, did not pan out as anticipated, ns tin* favourite proved to be as slow ns a man, and was distanced before half the Journey had been covered. Lancet made the running, followed by Ngaru. till they turned for home, where Ngaru was given his head, and quickly smothering the leader had no difficulty in winning by a couple of lengths. Bryan o’l.ynn was third. ©© © , OtaJiuhu Racing Club. Mr 11. Johnson has declared the following handicaps for the Otahuhu Racing Chib’s annual meeting,, which takes place on October 11th:— Maiden Plate, 7 furlongs.—Celerity <8.12, Fortification 8.4, Matahuru 8.4, Lady Clements 8.4. Blueskin 7.12, Keieru 7.10, Cannon Io r 7.10. Waimangti 7.10, Uhlander 7.10, Te Papa 7.7. Om.tli 7.7, Takapu 7.7. Fabannie 7.4. Captain Jack 7.0. The Dunce 7.0, Gipsy 7.9, Lucy Godfrey G. 7. Hurdle Race, one mile and a half.— llineinoa 11.7. Major 11.0. Boxer 9.10, Cannonier 9.5, Sir Alberton 9.5. Aesop 9.5, Te Papa 9.0, Mozart 9.0, Kakino 9.0, Bachelor 9.9. Dash Trot, 1 mile.—Specialist scratch. Baxter 7s, Harold Abdallah Bs. Sir Robert 10s, Colvnso 12s, Macquairie 18s, Monganui 21s, Andy Brown 225. Seacole 225. Farewell 225. Next Time 225, Prince Tuxie 225, Woollen Boy 225. Miss Munro 225. Miss lola 245, Lame Tommy 245, Sandfly 265, Adelaide 265. Otahuhu Cup, one mile and a quarter.— Fir Gilead 9.9. Calle Iris 8.10. King Paul 8.8, Seatonia 8.2. Sergius 7.8. Soultfish 7.4. Celerity 7.4. Uhlander 7.0. Kola Nip 6.7, Little Mabel G. 7. Pony Race. 5 furlongs.—Hineman 8.12, Inspiration 8.12. Gladys Rose 8.7, Solitary 8.7, Hurihnri 7.G, Conspiress 7.0, Galvanic 7.0, Slnewsbury 6.10, Lucy Godfrey 6.7, Wee Tot tie 6.7. Labour Day Trot, one mile and a half.— Logan scratch. Lady Love 3s. Duke C. ss, Harold Abdallah 7s, Vanforth 7s. Le Rosier 7s. Sir Robert 10s, McQuarrie 21s, Monganui 2Gs. Seacole 275, Miss Munro 275, Lame Tommy 275, Rose Dawn 275. History 275, Andy Brown 275, Porangi 335. Rail war Handicap, 6 furlongs.—Sir Gilead 9.4. Calle iris 9.0, Desdemona 8.10, Seablid 8.9. Jean 8.3, Seatonia 8.3. Sergius 8.0, Lucrree 8.0, Lunetta 8.0, Takqfoa 7.12, Celerity 7.8, K lonely ke 7.4, Kola Nip la.dy Clements 7.4. Soultfish 7.2, Blueskin 6.12. llurfhuri 6.12. Takapu 6.12, Takipo 6.12, Walmangu G. 12. The Dunce 6.12. Fabannle G. 12, Royal Shell G. 12. Gipsv 6 10 Little Mabel 6.7. ’’ ’ © © © Otaki Racing Club's Spring Meeting. WELLINGTON, Sunday. The following handicaps have been declared by Mr J. 11. Pollock for the Otaki Maori Racing Club’s Spring Meeting: — n - Fly .!" s , II « ll,lic «l’. « furlongs. — kremlin >'•>. Regulation 5.13, Marguerite 8.1, Wind 7.1.3, Kudu 7.8. Seagull 7.4, Tikarawa 7.4, Mussel! Delaniere 7.0, Blesbok 6.12, Lady s Link 6.7. Te lliwi Memorial Hack Handicap. 1 mile ~ 8.13. Pretty Maid 8.13, St. Wjmfred 7.13, Dalkey 7.11, Victoria J® 1 ’..,, * Pipatawa 7.5, ■ Bourasque 6.13,' r lot ilia 6.7. * Demonstration Handicap, 1 mile. — Gold i. 9,5 ’ Krpni,in *>.3, Regulation 8.11, Mi a n k w'f' l 8 fi- N » !l,! >rna 8.4. Shrapnel Shell 8.1. Hydrant 7.11, Rapids 7.11, Seagull ® <’<mti»gent 6.7, Capulet 6.. lalinm Prelude 6.7. Lovelink 6.7. r Irsi Hack Hurdle Handicap. li mile.— I,"'”, 1 .'?:, "l 2, Repulse 11.2, Wind 10.13, Baltic 10.8, Numa 10.8, Monarque 0.11. Moetoropuku ll.lt. Corona (late Katarina) 9.0. Swop 9.9, lady Clare. 9.3. Flanagan 9.3, Soul It Star 9.3, lamlmwie 9.0, Nitrate 9 0 Flying Cloud 9.0. Lerlda 9.0. ’ stewards’ Hack Handicap, 6 furlongs.— ItKrSl V “Tn . S S ' St - '"'‘"ifrt'tl 8.6, J alkej 8.4 Marseillaise 8.2. Koroiniko 7.12, llipporangl 7.9, Waikakaho 7.7, Lualla 7.2 Kaiuku 7.2. Flotilla 7.0. Weller Hack Handicap, 7 furlongs. KuTolu lo.it. Monarque 9.5. Apitl 8.13. Papatawa 8.13, Matareke 8.11. Bourasque 8.11, Himhowie 8.7, Fireball 8.7, Marie © © »3 Blenheim Spring Meeting. BLENHEIM, this day. lite following are the acceptances for the Blenheim R.C. Spring Meeting:— Hurdles. - Valkyrie 10.13, Moetoropuku 10,2. Black Squall 9.10, Waimata 9.3, Error IM). Blenheim Handicap. Shrapnel Shell 9.6, Ngatarua 9.3, Royal Blue 8.3. White Ribbon 7. b». Coxswain 7.8, Sir Pereivale 7.5, Lavin la- 6.12. Spring Hack. — Fancy work 8.12. Tlwba 8.9, First View 7.7, Marstbue 7.2, The Voucher 7.9. Welter Handicap.—Fancy work 9.12, St. Louis 8.9, Waimata 8.5, Waiwest B.U.

Flying Handicap. — Narcotic 9.0, Royal Blue 8.12, White Ribbon 8.5, Coxswain 8.5, Rose Fetal 7.13. Tlwba 7.10, Repulse 7.8, The Voucher 6.12. Electric Hack. —Rose Fetal 9.5, Sir Percivalc 9.5. St. Louis 8.4. Kaiuku 7.10, Barley 7.7, Error 7.7. Onetea 7.7. Trots.—Black Rose and Fiery Cross are the only withdrawals. © © © Wanganui Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting. FIRST DAY. WANG AN 11, Thursday. The Wanganui Jockey Club’s spring commenced in weather of a somewhat u inJv character, ami inclined to be shower v but the sun was shining throughout. The course was holding, but the fields were good, and tin* racing of an injeresting character, ami there was a fair attendance to witness it. Speculation was less keen than usual, and £5862 was passed through the tot a lisa tor on the seven events. St. Joe was made favourite for the Spring Handicap, but all chance he had was spoilt through. getting away badly with Armistice and Bowman, ami Goal Crown alwavs holding a prominent place, won easily at the finish by a length from Lass o’Gowrie. Whakakehi, St. Joe, and Armistice following. Jenkins rode the winner and made a runaway race of the Maiden Hack Race with Multiform’s daughter Petticoat, who Is from Antelope’s sister Bloomer; A.P.A.. by Addington, ran second, and Glenullin third. The nice field of six went to the post for Hie Wanganui Guineas. In which Marguerite, owned by J. 11. Prosser, was favourite. But public form was borne out, and Mr Watts’ King Billy beat his stable compa inion Boomerang easily by a length, after getting worst away. Marguerite led, witli Boomerang, into the straight, and finished a length away third, with Sir Geo. Clifford's pair, Claiichattan and Gay Spark, some distance back, and the Tlon. J. D. Ormond’s Mobility last. King Billy and Boomerang are both very well. It is probable that St. Lyra might have won the Okehu Hurdle Race had she not dislodged her rider half a mile from home. She continued on and slightly hampered Comfort at the last hurdle, and this gave Valima a winning chance, which was converted. Kuioki, the strongest looking of the hack racers, put down Aorangi, a decided favourite. by half a length, with Aureole, an improving gelding, well up. as also was Captain Shannon, Loiret, Silverline, and Grenade. Clairmont was prominent for six furlongs. Catspaw. ridden by O’Neil. Was in front all the way in the Gouvilie Hack Hurdle Race, in which llowio, a rank outsider, who finished welT. got second, paying a dividend of £2O odd. La ml o’Cakes. Sleopnell, Cassiopea, and Wild Duck came down. D. Watt. Sleepwell’s rider, being rather severely hurt. Jolly Friar and Black Reynard were the favourite selections for the Flying Handicap, in which Glenowlet got away badly, and after Aural us and Jolly Filar led for sosnio distance. Multifid dr<?w out in front, ami gave nothing a chance in the last three furlongs, winning easily from Black Reynard by a length and a half, Regulation and Jolly Friar next, Melodeon finishing fast fifth. Solution next. Spring Handicap.—Gold Crown. 8.12, 1; 1. o’Gowrie, 7.12, 2; Whakawehi, 7.12. 3. Scratched: I‘aritutu. Won by a length. Time, 1.47 2-5. Dividends, £3 17/ and £1 6/. Maiden.—Petticoat 1, A.P.A. 2. Glenullen 3. Scratched: Jet de More. Ebb Tide, Rosalinda, Clementine, Clifton, Tautorii, Gay Spark, ami Seaman. Won with ridiculous ease. Time, 1.18 4-5. Dividends. £2 10/ and £1 4/. Wanganui Guineas.—King Billy 1. Boomerang 2. Marguerite 3. Glenowlet ami Makaroff w’ere scratched. Won by a length. Time, 1.47 4-f>. Dividend £3 2/. Handicap Hurdles. — Valima 1, Comfort 2. Kohunui 3. All started. St. Lyra’s rider fell off at the second last jump, when leading. Time 3.52 3-5. Dividends £9 11/ and £1 3/. Gonville Hack Hurdle Rare <»f 75sovs. one mile ami live furlongs.—Mr A. Wilson’s br li Catspaw, Gyrs. by Sou’-wester—Katie Ferguson. 9.9 (<’. O’Neill), 1: Hokio, 9.9, 2; Bounce. 10.11, 3. Also started: Sleppwell.. 19.Io: Valkyrie, 10.10; (’assiopea, 10.9; Wild Cat. 10.7: Numa, 9.10; Throstle. 9.6: St. Amelia. 9.4; Flanagan. 9.3; Land o’ Cakes, 9.0; Wild Duck. 9.0: Ellady. 9.9. Time, 3.14. Dividends, £2 19/ ami £2O 4/. Putiki Hack Handicap of 89sovs. one mile. —Messrs Lind and Smith's ch g Kuroki, Gyrs. by Fiske—Satellite, 8.11 (T. Wilson). 1: Aorangi. 7.12. 2; Aureole, 7.12. 3. Also starte<l: Amaryllis. 9.0; Beniuore, 8.7; Captain Shannon, 8.5: Silverlene, 8.2; Grenade. 8.2; Barca, 8.2: Lolrrt, 7.19; Tupono, 7.6: Lady Warwi<*k, 7.6; Clairmont, 7.5: St. CyiT.ss. 7.0: Mereshot, 7.0: Rosalinda. 7.0. Time, 1.48. DiVidends, £5 15/ mid 17/. Flying Handicap of 150sovs. six furlongs. — Mr D. O’Brien’s hr c Multifid. 3yrs, by Multifid—lTerlot, 7.6 (D. Price). 1: Black Reynard. 8.6. 2; Regulation. 8.7. 3. Also started: Krmnlin. 9.6: Solution. 8.13; Auratus, 8.13; Jolly Friar, 8.3; Melodeon. 7.12; Glenowlet, 7.12: Prelude. 7.6; Blessbok. G. 9. Time, 1.18. Dividends, £7 10/ and SECOND DAY. WANGANUI, Friday. The Wanganui Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting was concluded to-dny in fine w eaIher. and the course was in faster condition than on the opening day. though its surface was conaiclarably broken and the going much slower than in dry wen-

ther. The racing was interesting, and the fields good, a number of decided favourites proved successful, and several first day winners prevailed, but there were also a number of surprises, and a few good dividends were paid. The totallsator investments showed a great deal of Improvement, £6738 being handled, bringing the total for the two days up to £18,583, £6OG less than the Spring Meeting of last year. The Wanganui Guineas winner King Billy had a very easy win in the Owen Handicap from Glenowlet, Margueite, Jolly Friar, Multifid, and Prelude, Multifid finishing last. Mr. O’Brien’s Grafton colt Grenade ran with better luck than on Thursday, ami Aorangi, who shared favouritism with Mr. John Ormond’s Marseillaise, had no c hance wih him in the Motoua Hack Handicap, Mereshot being third, Captain Shannon, Lady Warwick, and Glenullin being well up. A dividend of £l2 Ils was paid. Several horses were very evenly backed for the Brunswick Hurdle Race, but Wai wera effected a surprise by beating the field, Pushful, the actual favourite, being beaten in the run home from the last hurdle. Waiwera backers received a dividend of £8 10s. Waiwera was ridden by Frank Lind each day. Catspaw, who won the Hack Hurdles Race on the first day, and Bounce, who was third, were the best backed in the Aramoho Hurdle Handicap, and finishe<l first and second. Catspaw led throughout. Asteroid, who was well supported by her connections, won the Wanganui Stakes in a handy manner from Armistice by than a length. Melodeon hung at the bar rier, or he would certainly have taken second place, and caused Asteroid to travel faster. Flamen ran well, and finished fourth, Whakawehi fifth, and Ghoorka. who, with Shrapnel, Shell, forced the pace, was sixth. Petticoat, ridden by Cannont, and Sedgmoor. ridden by Jenkins, were favourites for the Railway Hack Handicap. Multiform’s daughter easily led her field, and won by several lengths from Truce and Lady Warwick, who were neck and neck for second and third places. Boomerang looked a good thing for the Marangai Handicap after King Billy’s display, but Faritutu had a strong following too. Mr. Watts' colt came out of the ruck after going half a mile, and only had to be kept moving to win by a length from King’s Birthday, who was the outsider of the party, and stayed long enough to beat Faritutu by a length, Gold Crown being the last to finish. The management of the meeting was satisfactorily carried out by Mr. Moffatt and staff, and the stewards and officials. Mr. Chavannes effected better starts than on the opening day. Owen Handicap.—King Billy, 8.7, 1; Glenowlet, 7.11, 2; Marguerite. 7.10, 3. Scratched: Ballarat. Won easily by a couple of lengths. Time, 1.3 1-5. Dividends, i’2 5/ and 19/. Moutoa Hack. -Grenade, 8.0, 1; Aorangi, 8.5, 2; Mereshot, 7.0, 3. Scratched: Devonia. Won by a couple of lengths. Time, Dividends, £l2 11/ and £1 1/. Brunswick Handicap Hurdles.—Waiwera 10.9, 1; Pushful, 11.4, 2; Midia, 9.8. 3. All started. Won by three lengths: Pushful the same distance ahead of Midia. Time. 3.23 4-5. Dividends. £8 1/ and £1 4/. Aroinoho Hack Hurdles. — Catspaw 1, Bounce 2. Flanagan 3. Scratched: Cassiopea. and Ellady. Won by three lengths. Wild Cat and St. Amelia fell. Time, 3.3. Wanganui Handicap of 259sovs. One mile and a-quarter.—Messrs. Bennett and Beatson’s b g Asteroid, 6yrs. by Apremont —Planet, Bst 21b (W. Price), 1 : Armistice 7.8, 2 ; Melodeon 7.9., 3. Also started : Ghoorka Bst 61b, Cannie Chiel «st lib, Shrapnel Shell 7st 131 b, Whakawehi 7st 131 b, St. Joe, 7st 4Jb, Flamen 7st, Silverlene 6st 71b. Time, 2m. 14 l-ss. Dividends. £ll 15s and £3 2s. Railway Hack Handicap of TOsovs. Five furlongs.—Mr. F. Higgott’s br "g Petticoat. 3yrs, by Multiform—Bloomer,. Bst 121 b. (Carmont). 1; Truce, Bst 91b, 2: Lady Warwick, 7st 41b, 3. Also started : Sedgemoor Sst 121 b, Marseillaise Bst 101 b, Captain Shannon Sst 51b. Devonia 7st. Queen of the West, 7st. Jet de More, 7st, Snip 7st, Bine Diamond 7st, Kareroa 7st. Time, Im. 5 4-ss. Dividends, £1 19s and £2 7s. Marangai Handicap of lOOsovs. One mile. —Mr. E. J. Watt’s blk c Boomerang. 3yrs, by Merriwee—Mousquet.erie, 7sr JOlb (G. Price), 1 ; King’s Birthday. 6«t 71b, 2: Paritutu, Sst 131 b. 3. Also started: Gold Crown Ost 81b, Auratus Sst 71b. Contingent fist 91b. Bowman 6st 91b. Time, Im. 475. Dividends, £2 Is and £7 Rs. © © © TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH. CHRISTCHURCH, this day. At length the weather gives promise of becoming settled. Three days of bright noi’-west weather early in the present week followed by six hours of raiu on Thursday night, then the weather cleared and yesterday was beautifully fine. The Geraldine Racing Club benefited by the change, and it opened its spring meeting on Thursday in bright sunny weather and continued it

yesterday under delightful conditions. The racing throughout was interesting, and the meeting was reminiscent of the palmy flays of the club, when the Geraldine Cup used to throw so much light on the New Zealaud Cup. Seevml Cup candidates weiM to the post for this year’s rave. Calibre, who looked wonderfully blight and well* was made favourite, though his owner was content to let him run for the stake, and invested a modest sov. on Ability. The latter ran poorly ami Calibre finishing with great determination, stalled off a persistent effort by Clanburn, and won with nothing to spaer by a head, with De la Rey a neck away third. Al! three placed horses are on the improve and will be heart! of again before long. The racing on Thursday was marred by a sad accident to Mr B. R. MacDonald, the well-known amateur rider. Mr MacDonald was riding his own horse, Agitator, in the First Hunters’ Hurdle Race. H-is mount, who is an unusually safe conveyance over big fences, blundered right into the last oksta.de, but on falling rolled right over his rider, who was picked up unconscious, a state in which he remained for the most of the afternoon. This accident cleared the way for laicky Star, a gelding by Pinfire. who won by a length and a half from Agitator’s stable companion, Early Van, ridden by Mr MacDonald's brother. The bright clear atmosphere was all in favour ot the lead-winded King’s Guest, who carried too many guns for his opponents In the Squatters’ Handicap, winning comfortably from the Saracen gelding Jolly Roger and Step-Aside. The starters for the laidies' Bracelet included Stratnairn, but the old son of Blairgowrie is now quite a light of other days, and he was easily headed by No. 9, a gelding by Perkin Warlieck IL Tessera was made a strong favourite for the Flying Handicap, but though she ran well she just failed to concede twenty pounds to Makaroff, who has at last done something consistent with his high-breeding. Antigone, who was most in demand for the Squatters’ Handicap, was never prominent, and Black Diamond, ridden by Hewitt, won with a trifle to spare from Veneer, a result which was due largely to his rider’s efforts. Yesterday Guirteen. who had refused in the First Bunters' Hurdle Race, walked over for the Second Hunter's Hurdle Race, and Diamond followed up bis first day’s success by boating Ability and Veneer in the High Weight Handicap. The last-named came out again in the principal event., the Spring Handicap, which he won. being followed home by Step-Aside and Clanburn. Mr Stead returned to Christchurch on Thursday, and his horses got back yesterday. The latter were accotnpa’hied by Machine Gun and the brood mares who are on a visit to Multiform. Ail the horses look particularly well. There is evidently not much amiss with Noctuiform. The death is announced of the stallion Benzoin. The son of Friars who was imported from England by Mr Stead, was a smart horse over short courses, as witness his victory in the Stewards’ Handl<*ap, and would have been a smarter one if he had not been troubled by unsightly knees. At the stud lie had began well with that speedy filly ingleneuk. In the face of his omission from the minor big handicaps to be decided at <’.J.< . Spring Meeting Scotty’s withdrawal from the New Zealand Cup. caused no surprise was shipped for the north on Wednesday to fulfil his engagement in the Hawkes’ Bay Guineas. AT THE STUD. Equivalent, by Gratton— KquipuHe. will visit Multiform. Gipsy Gb-i, by G>l>sy Grand—Marion, will visit Royal Tres Belle, by Hotehklas—Formo, will visit Pilgrim’s Progress, Busy ’. ,y t moat—Tell Tale, has foaled a Ally to b inland. Seashell, by Clminsbot—Nautilus, a Ally to Saul Ilario and visits St. Ambrose. Lolah, by Musketry—Dudu, also visits St. Ambrose. th** Mr G. Palmer now owns Behkent. tne dam of Isolt. The daughter *» f M 1 "’ 1 " in foal to multiform aud has a yi.uling nuy by Royal Artillery. (By Telegraph.—Special to •Gr.ipliic.’) CITRISTCIIURCH, Monday. The weather is jfily becoming more settled. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday were beautiful days, and though <m hmiday night the wind changed to tile South, it brought no rain -with it. The tracks at Riceailon are showing the effects of the tine weather. The outside ot the course proper has been thrown open once or twice lately, and the two year olds have been galloped on it. Owing to tlie bad weather, the local youngsters are backward, but several (notably tile Stepulak Arline colt aud Kirriemuir) can gallop. The former’s stable companion, the colt by Stepnlak" Gitanella, has a iempi’r. He "wont to market’’ on Saturday morning, and jumped a fence, wiHiout, however, injuring himself or his rider. On Saturday the local juvenile brigade was reinforced by Seal Rock. Bcresina. and St. Regis, from Yuldhurst. AU three youngsters look well. J. McLuskey,who went up to Auckland to ride at Hie Avondale Meeting, has returned to Rieenrton. I told you on Saturday that Hewitt rode Black Diamond to victory on the first day

ef the Geraldine Meeting. He was also on the sou of Kettector when he won the second day. Hewitt only reached Lyttelton on Thursday morning, and catching the express, arrived at Geraldine jwt in time to take the mount on lUavk Diamond, lie left on Monday for Hastings to ride Cuuieforni in the liawke’e Bay Guineas. On latest advices, Mr B. K. MacDonald, who was seriously' injured when Agitator fell in the First Hunters’ Hurdle Knee ot Geraldine, was still in a very precarious condition. .. . General Surprise is expressed- here that Mr Stead is not represented in any of I lie principal handicaps to he decided at the Auckland Itaeiug Club's Slimmer Meeting. stepaside Is on tile improve, lie ran green hi both his eKorts at Geraldine last week. When lie is more seasoned lie ought to win a fairly good race. •lolly Koger met with some interference In tin- Shorts Handicap, run on I lie second dav of the Geraldine Meeting, otherwise be might have beaten Grandstand. Fridav was one of Calibre's “oft" days, and tlie son of Light Artillery refused to try a yard in the Spring Handicap at Gernldine. Makaroff is said to be faint hearted, and Ids rider sat very still in both his races at Geraldine, I fancy that the son of Stepiiiak will develop more courage as he becomes seasoned. Veneer, after letting his backers down in both the welter handicaps at Geraldine, surprised thorn by winning the Spring Handicap. The son of Quilt can be made bi tter, but nothing like as good as MahuGolden Knight is not to be seen in public before ire starts for tire New Zealand Cup. He will be ridden by J. McCoinbe. The following business has been done during the week: —New Zealand Cup — 500 to 7i against Blythemaid, 400 to 40 against Mahutonga, 300 to 00 against Nightfall, 300 to IS against Paritulu. 300 to 15 against Ghoorka, 200 to 25 against. Noctulform. New Zealand Cup and Stewards — 1900 to 23 against Nightfall and Machine Gun, 1100 to S against Achilles and Chivalry', 1000 to 10 against Nightfall and Chivalry, 1000 to (» against Melodeon and Crichton, 1000 to 2 against Mystification and (’nineform. 900 to 3, Ghoorka & Apollodoris, 900 to 2 against Armistice and Machine Gun, to 4 against Nightfall and Petrovna, sou to 1 against Black Reynard and Jolly Friar, fioo to *1 against Melodeon and Vladimir, 5(M> to 5 against Nightfall and Porcelain, 500 to 5 against Noctulform and Machine Gnu. 500 to 3 against Achilles and Machine Gun, 500 to 3 against Buluwayo and Sir Tristram. 500 to 1 against. Jeanne d’Ar<- and Mobility, 500 to 1 against Mahutonga and Canticle. St. Denis has been fired and turned out for a lengthy spell. J. McGuire, the Dunedin horseman, who was badly injured while riding „at Plumpton Park last season, has recovered sufficiently to resume his profession. He was in the saddle at the Ashburton and Geraldine Meetings.