TURF NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 4, 27 January 1909, Page 13

TURF NOTES.

Notus, the Hon. G. McLean’s cast-off, ie entered for the Australian Cup and Champion Race. No fewer than twenty-six horses are in work at Porirua now, and these include a large number of two-year-olds. The St. Hippo gelding Jolly Friar, who has only won a couple of races since going to Southland, is to be tried over . hurdles. An inquiry by the steward's of the Waikato Trotting Club into the running of the second and third horses in the Trial Handicap will be held at Hamilton at 3 p.m. next Thursday. The gelding Pleiades, half-brother to Haydn, has been leased by a patron of F. Mamanemin’s stable, and is to be shipped to Auckland shortly. It is understood he Is to be tried at the illegitimate game. Lyrist, who was eased in his work after the Feilding meeting, has now’ thrown off his soreness and is moving very freely. Stayboy, another Hawera trained house, is also reported to be galloping in good style. Poseidon is once again in training at Randwick. It is very doubtful whether he will stand another preparation. Lord Nolan is doing well, and he will be a hard nut for Signor to crack in the V.R.C. Champion Stakes. At the Foxton meeting, the experiment of the horses carrying their numbers affixed to their bridles was to be tried, as it is reckoned that this will make the judge’s task a much easier one in the case of a close finish. It was confidently expected by the stable that Sharpshooter would finish in front of Broadsword in the Wellington Stakes, but the latter is evidently not as good as expected, and was easily beaten by his Stable companion. One of the biggest blood stock sales ever recorded took place at the dispersal of the McGrathiana stud. Kentucky. Five hundred lots were sold without reserve. Prices ruled low, the average at the end of the third day being £4l. The Manawatu R.C. cleared nearly £lOO3 Over their summer meeting. The next Wanganui Cup will be. worth £O5O. It. will be run on March 4th. Thorina, the winner of the Perth Derby, is a half-sister to that fast sprinter Lord Carl yon. G. Stern tops the winning jockeys’ list for the past season in France, with 142 wins on 556 mounts. During the Christmas and New Year holidays no fewer than 26 meetings took place in the Dominion. Longner won four races out of six starts during the Woodville, Manawatu, and .Rangitjkei meetings. Dudu, the dam of Stratagem and Strategist, has got a fine colt foal by Terrapin (C la nran a 1 d—T eredina). A Southern writer says that California pulled up badly after the race he won at Hastings at New Year. Handicapper Henry s has a remarkably good memory, and finds it prove very useful at times, says a Southern exchange. The recent pony meeting at Miramar was, financially and otherwise, the most successful held tilts season by the W.P. and G.C. The programme for the Dunedin Cup meeting is the best issued by the D.J.r. since they made Wingatui their beadquarters. Satisfactory racing is not by any means entirely dependent upon the handicapper’s work. The contestants should have their heads loose as well. At the Morrlwa (N.S.W.) races Year’s Eve, George Stewart rode five out of the six winners, and dead-heated in the sixth for first place. In the opinion of a Southern writer Moton find Penates are both sure to be weir taken care of by the V.R.C. handicapper in the New ma rket Handl cap. At the sale of the Mangatarata yearling#, which was held at Hastings, rne top price, iGMgs, was paid fo r a colt by Waluku—• Primula, the dam of Probable. The statement which has appeared In print that Mr W. F. Mcßeth had received an offer of £l4OO for Crucinolla is purely Imaginary, says a Southern exchange. A hack sprinter at present on this coast

(says a southern writer) never seems to run prominently unless he is quoted at fives or sixes on the bookmakers’ boards. The Mana wain Club has decided to ex tend support to the movement of the Wanganui Club towards the appointment of stipendiary stewards, providing the system is adopted generally. The •’Australasian,’’ in a leading, article, confirms what was said some time ago with regard to the faking of scales. That paper admits that the scales at Flemington were tampered with. Some of the big Turf patrons in New Zea lain! (says a Wellington paper) set an extremely bad example to the small fry in the carping criticism they level at fearless paid officials. The single fiimsy tape used at the barrier on New Zealand courses is a trait article by contract with the webbing used at Flemington, and its method of ascent is altogether different. Dame Fortune has of late been niggardly in rewarding the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s turf efforts. So far this season, no event of any importance has been captured by bearers of the “all cerise.” . A Wellington scribe thinks that Gold Crest was never in better form in hi s life than at present, and* that if he attacked the New Zealand record of 46 l-5s for four furlongs be might bteak it. The pony meetings at Miramar are distinctly on the up grade (says a Wellington paper), and in the opinion of most people have come to stay, provided always there is no relaxation of vigilance. The promising Pereimmou filly I’erolina has not done at all well since her first and very promising efforts with the colours up, and may have to be thrown out of work, according to a Wellington exchange. Mr. C. O’Connor had an unenviable task on the opening day of the Wellington meeting, and had practically to break in both boys and horses at the barrier. By dealing with those under him with a firm hand, he soon got their confidence, and when this was done his duty was much lighter, and the dispatches were up to his best form. Osiris, the winner of the Mungaroa Welter on the second day of the Wellington meeting, has been disposed of by his present owner, and it is understood he is to be taken to Australia. The name of the purchaser and the price paid did not transpire. Two or three horses that ought to make useful jumping horses were seen out at the Wellington meeting, and probably as the season advances they will be found taking on the country. Bourasque, Osiris., Flingot, and Tauira are a quartet that might turn out useful. In a chat with E. Cutfs before the Wellington Cup, he informed me that Husbandman had nor done at all well since the Auckland meeting, and was suffering from a slight cold. It was only at the last minute it was definitely decided to run him, and although he finished up third, there was a lack of dash about his effort. The unlucky horse of the Wellington Cup was Artillerie. When they jumped off the daughter of Royal Artillery was badly interfered with, and knocked right back, and under the circumstances she put up a great performance in running where she did. Artillerie, although figuring amongst the acceptances for the big event on the second •day, was not produced to fulfil her engagement. Captain Greer has sold his English St. Leger winner, Wildfowler, to the French breeder. M. Halbronn, for, it is said, £5OOO. Wildfowler is now rising fifteen* and has sired many winners in Ireland. The present Duke of Devonshire has shown very little interest in racing so far, but there is a probability that we shall in the future see the straw jacket once more to the fore on the English courses. Mr Sol Joel does not intend to pay a retainer to any jockey next year. He will employ free lances. His usual jockey, Randall, has entered into a three years’ engagement with the Duke of Westminster. The agreement, between Mr J. B. Joel and Walter Griggs has been renewed. National Hunt officials at Home have already given proof that they intend to deal firmly with irregularities on the part of jockeys. If they go right through with this the sport will be all the better for it. In past years things have sometimes reached a very low level. A London correspondent, writing two months ago, said: ••Follow Wootton’’ will probably be the favourite “system’’ during The final two weeks of the season, and the worth of the tip has been fully illustrated by the Australian lad’s successful mounts. The inquiry into Penates’ running in the Telegraph Handicap ended in the committee accepting the owner’s explanation that the horse showed signs of soreness in h f s preliminary, and to this his backward running was attributable. The owner considered that the jockey had done his best. The proposed conference of various clubs under the jurisdiction of the Wanganui metropolitan body, which was to have been held at Palmerston on the 21st lust, has been postponed until some time in February. In a two-year-old race run In Adelaide recently persons were betting in the totalizator when the horses were passing the Winning post. The committee of the racing

club are to make ainula! inquiries into tht matter. 1 he 19iM Melbourne <’up winner. Acrasia. is to be next mated with the imported hors< Orzil. She arrived i n Sydney last week, accompanied by her San Francisco foal. The .'‘•arlmg foal by St. Ambrose is still in th Out of the £375*1 ptixe money won by Mr P. A. Connolly at the recent W.A.T.C, meeting, he donated £5O of it to the charitable institutions. It is seldom we hear of any New Zealand owners acting in a like manner. In-the opinion of a Southern Turf s«ilbe, at least one member of a judicial committee should be stationed near the fivefurlong post, ami another at straight entrance, as non-triers are invariably revealed thereabouts. To a comparatively insignificant organisation, the Lumsden Hark Raring Club, belongs the honour of being the first to appoint stipendiary stewards. Two have been chosen to act at their next meeting on February 2. The Manawatu Racing Club has impounded the stakes in the Grands’and Handicap, pending an appeal being heard from Mr W. < . \ incent, owner of Passive, which was disqualified for her rider being overweight on weighing in. .. . Ss,ys , th< ? Sydney correspondent of the “Australasian": The summer meetings were evidence of the poor quality of horses we have now. Really, the fields seen out for the Carrington Stakes and Tattersall’s Cup were no better than what we expect at the Saturday proprietary meetings. Says the Sydney “Referee’’: The exNew Zealander English made some amends for his defeat in the jumping events at the recent Tattersall’s Club races by creditin’* his owner with a dead-heat for the Burrungurroolong Plate, J_l mile, on the opening day of the liranna Picnic R.C. meeting. There were only three starters for the even?” *\* Connolly complained to the w.A.i.i. stewards on December 30lh that the jockey, Frank Bullock, had used abusive language towards him. Bullock was fined £o. The good-looking Great Scot, by Lochiel from bcoteh Mary, winner of the Australian < up and other important events, is now ® t , ud lfl duty at , in England, tits fee is 4b guineas. Cuni »‘ing, managing steward for the Wellington Pony Club, is not easily hoodwinked (says a Wellington Turf scribei, i) U( l when he scents tire, promptly gets out the extinguisher — the club’s retained jockey. Mauiapoto (says a Hawera exchange) is en f£’Se<l daily in useful road exorcise, but nothing has been definitely arranged relati\e to his future movements. Generally speaking, lie looks remarkably healthy, anil his legs seem sound. Scene: Turffontein racecourse, Johannesburg. Bookie (shouting): “Ten to one Momel Ipii to -iiie Mome!” Punter: “Yuss, book it ter me. Bookie (to clerlo: “Book it ter J.! 1 ?’ . Clerk: “What’s ’is name?” Bookie: ’ Don t know, don’t yer?” Clerk. “No-o-o!” Bookie: “Then draw’er ’is bloomin’ likeness.” According to American advices Mr J. E. .Madden has put a price of £10.600 on his colt Sir Martin, who is engaged in next years English Derby. It is said that Mr August Belmont and an English owner wanted an option on the colt, and it is understood that the latter was Mr Reid Walker, who purchased a couple of horses recently in America. Sir Martin has not yet been sold, but his owner will probablv send him to England in a few weeks’ time. The English Derby this vear appears to be simply a matter of health for Bayardo, and the taker of a fairly large wager recently appears to have the best of the deal. Extraordinary things happen at limes, however, as witness the victory of Signorinetta last year. Such an extraordinary unheaval of form is very rare, though, and the backer of Bayardo appears to be simply belting on the colt keeping his health and form. The arrangements made by the railway officials for conveying visitors to the Trentham course during the summer meeting were very primitive, and leave room for a Jot of improvement. The crowding at the gates on to the platform, and then again the rush to get into the train, was disgraceful, and a little improvement in the arrangements would have prevented a lot of unpleasantness. Sir George Clifford’s colt Broadsword got a very bad run in the Wellington Stakes, and when two furlongs were covered, was absolutely last. He put in a fine piece of work over the last furlongs finishing as straight as a die, and clearly proved his showing in the Auckland Royal Stakes to be all wrong. Broadsword lias lightened up a lot since the A.R.C. Summer Meeting, and is evidently dn need of a rest. The race programme Issued by the Wellington Racing Club is a big Improvement on that of the Auckland -Club, and could with advantage bo copied by the local authorities. A feature in the card is the table giving the wimjfrs of the Important races run on the same day at corresponding meetings previously. It is really time Aucklandmade a move in improving their book, which has practically been the sama from time immemorial. Approached recently with regard to the prospects of his getting a satisfactory r<s turn for Perle D’Or, the two-year-old sister to Golden Slipper, the Canterbury sports.man, Mr. G. D. Greenwood, gave a doubtful shake of the head, and added that he was not quite sure that he would not taka a couple of hundred guineas for the youngster that cost him ten times that amount. Mr. Donald Fraser recently disposed of a yearling colt by Advance from Lady Spec to a Queensland, owner, but the price has not transpired. The full brother to Ail vantage is black in colour, without a sign of a white mark on him, and In consequence he has been called Nigger Johnson. Tho stallion Advance is under offer to a Queensland breeder at 1000 guineas. In connection with a municipal election itn the Old Country, a candidate’s chairman was handed the following question: "What does the candidate think will win the Cambridgeshire?” Mr. White solemnly looked at the query, and as solemnly read

tlon -h. ll ’ ? j . ry ’‘“PorJaut qu.s'i.'i. lit leuuukeil. •‘l’lTHon.iiiy. | think M.ir.-ovil will win. but | woublu't bn b-otk Mire about it!” And Mar.-evil wou at a terr lona price. At Gikborne (s. l}e there is fc K.jod-lookliig yearling, full-biother to .’.mW T -'bent Ansru-st the youngster ould have been bought . h.-.tp’v enough, the Anstrttllnus how he .-..tHd K .i11., p , t | lß S I" Ex- hang., ting.,, bP . 5,-111 to burden. un<l from a bun>h*«<| ihenrhe T P L. rtv, ‘ - ,hn » eiuh win of I ink nu s apparently putting another eeidury on to the , nine of the younger StTk»s Od ?' e : " f ll,p "’ellington . take , Is a hardy-looking customer, with a u'oh '!: lsh Of *" ille event under Oti.e he never gave the rest of the field a ehanee, and when he bad such speedv customers as Aruiiet and Gipsv Belle to meet, it will be easily seen lie is no sioix-b. lheodore is by Merriwee 11he stock of which are running prominently at praupwti, from Heavenly Twin, an Auckland bred mare, by Castor—Vivaudiere. At the se<ond annual meeting of the Waikato Trotting Club, belli at Claudel.iuds on Saturday last feays the Waikato ■ Aigns 'i, though tire weather was tine the attendance was not what it should have been, and outside districts were but poorly represented. Considering the prizemoney that was offered, the fields were most disappointing, and it would really appear as though the only wav to ensure trotting fields in Waikato is to offer small prizes; past experience of various clubs would certainly point in this diieetiou. The faces, in most instances were devoid of excitement, being won easily. Three very popular wins were those of || Tristram, whose mare Wild Nell annexed a treble in good style: but otherwise the finishes aroused very little entliusiaem i Vdu ,? y . P?P el ' sa - vs .‘bat the Aucklandbi cd English, by Explosion—Letitia fcnce<l cleverly enough in the hurdles at’Svdmy rattersall’s meeting recently. aud bad he not been cased coming to rhe last obstacle may have just about landed his backers their money. The rider of the New Zealand gelding, who led throughout, appeared to be extra careful as he came to the last hurdle, which enabled Minister, ridden bv Cahill, who outjumped him badly to get alongside immediately after landing. The race was then practically over, as English, who appears to be one of those free gal lopers who do best when allowed to run their own races, failed to respond under pressure, and Minister beat him home by about hulf-a-length. The New Zealander, however, has plenty of pa<e. and should easily pay his way in hurdle races at the suburban courses. The Wellington Tony ami Gallowaj’ Club has taken a good hold in Wellington, and, under the management of Mr. J. Cuininings, an ex-Aucklander. the sport. Is carried out in an excellent manner. The second day of the club’s January meeting was sandwiched between the first and second day at Trent ham. and a large number <»f visitors to Wellington took the opportunity To journey to Miramar, and were well repaid for their trouble. The racing was first-clas-s, and tht* fields good, while the general conduct of the gathering was an example to numbers of totalisator cluh«. While the club is run on its present lines there is no fear of U going to the wall. The Wanganui Metropolitan Jockey Club has dismissed the appeal of the owner of Passive against the disqualification i imposed by the Manawatu Racing Club, on account of carrying excessive qvorweight at the recent meeting of tin* club. The stakes were impounded at the time, and will still he retained by the Manawatu Club till it is ascertained if tlie owner of Passive intends proceeding further in the matter. The case referred to occurred on the second day of the Manawatu Summer Meeting. Passive beat Sir Antrim by a neck in the Grandstand Handicap, one mile, but the whiner cat t ied more than 21b overweight, which had not. been declared, and the race was, in consequence, awarded to SSir Antrim. Complaining of the lack of proper accommodation at certain race meetings in the north of England, a turf correspondent concludes: - “Suppose our forefathers did ra. e here ami there in this hole and corner, at 'hat and that quagmire? Must we? Sup pose our forefathers were satisfied bv outrageous arrangement? Must we be? () H r forefathers knew little of gas and h«ss of electricity. Because of that shall we revert to and revive the farthing di )? ’The ".'.■ikest • sail! Sliiikesiwim-, ‘must go to the wall. And he said it a long while ago. As tor the little man (the little owner that N) liking lit t !»• meetings well, I have no liking lor him. Bluntly, the little owner is often a big thief. Sometimes lie is only a big fool. I niler whichevm* category he comes he is not wanted as an owner, for the fool falls into the hands of rogues.” A French .sporting writer says: Talking of. names reminds me that uo unnamed horse is allowed to run on French courses, why this should be permitted in England has always been a mystery to me. especially u the rase of horses that have been out countless times. Take the case of Marcovii •is an instance. Hail he been known under this name from the very first I have an idea his starting price for the Cambridgeshire would not have been quite as long a* it was. Why can’t owners at homo find names for their horses at once? If un«bl» to do so, there are heaps of sporting ficribefc only too glad to suggest appropriate one#, I hc sudden miming «>f a coli or filly 14 quently apt to lead the public nstl'AK Jpk to mention the space such words at ’*filbr by t’yilene- Sceptre’’ take up, and thft extra eash involved in wiring tlm name to one’s bookie. Why can’t Mr Bass cml brn* Pale Ale, or something, and have dune with If? Fine every owner five guineas each time he runs an unnamed horse, and this nuisance will soon stop. Mr. E. AtLficlJ, the owner of Master Douglas, Informed a Southern writer that the gelding’s mishap in the first hurdlej at Auckland was due to the large crowd of spectators congregated at the hist hurdle-. <>n this coast punters are content to remain In the paddock, In preference t<>

•trolling down <■> the Jumps. and Master (Jungian, unused to the exjH*neiice, turned this attention to the people, with disastrous results. Fortunately the gelding was not tiurt by the fall, but symptoms of soreness showing, his party deemed it prudent to Semich him for remaining engagement. •Says an exchange. T»uring the Rangi<tikel m< eting an offer of for Longue'-. v»ne of the best 'hacks on the coast at the present time. Mr Munekton fl*‘.pula ted tfor a week to « insider the offer, hud the ileal is apparently off, since the week Bias ela|kscd and iu» sale -reported Longner is another eramp!** of a horse growing into money. Bred by Mr r. Bull, of Peilding. Hie was sold lo his present owner for £5O, find he has won a lot of money with him. •A glance it Longuer’s pedigree leaves little room for wonder as to his galloping abilities, combintug ,-is he does the best running in the Dominion. He Is by The ■Officer from a Handsome Jack mare, graudkJam by old Ahtia, bred by the late Mr D. ISeott, and a not- d performer both on the flat and over obstacles.'* ho merits of the “all sorts and condiT!oiih’.‘ oi horses entered for English meetings is finally dealt with thus by a well known London turf critic: 1 sometimes read that had horses produce good races. Is their .almost inability to boat each other proof of merit or mediocrity? Is there, because of a close finish, any interest in ‘Watching a billiard match in which the cue■Jiolders are of s«» poor a type that a decent amateur would 'Wipe the floor" with the ■pair? I»ovs a dog breeder who knows his business permit the existence of the faulty specimens? In all other sports the rule is the survival of the fittest. On the Turf Special races are invented for the unfit or, say, the unworthy. It i.s by providing means of gambling on bad horses that too many meetings exist; and, of course, the more these meetings are tolerated the greater the number of bad horses." On jockeys and the amount of riding they ’flo, the English •Referee" writes: ‘How many miles does a jockey in good practice ride in the course of a season? Take .1 day at Newmarket. There may l»e seven races, in all of which he has a mount. •Some are five and six furlong events, but there are long-distance races also, and we iuay .average the rides at a mile each. That makes seven, and getting to Hie post makes fourteen. But this is not all. When we are Out .on the Heath.in the morning a fatniliiir sight is a jockey on his hack can .terlng over Hie ground to find the string with which he is connected. He rides ft couple of gallops, takes pari in a trial on Hie Limekilns perhaps, and then, remounting his hack, sets off again to the racecourse side tb ride another trial or two. He lias done what would pass for a good day's .Work, ridden a good many miles Before racing begins, you see, ami in the course o? the year morning work adds enormously to his total of distance covered. What leads me to (his reflection is reading that Mahci look a day off hist Monday. Did he escape from the e’erual saddle? Not at till. IL* went out -tiulitiug; he had been hunting previously, a *hort time before, and seizes every opportunity for a gallop with the hounds. That is the jockey’s Idea of -taking a holiday having a ride! I should imagine. Hiai a jocitey accustomed jo racitigmust find the drdhfary hunter a bit slow, though there are, of course, the fences -to be jumped an added excitement. Some jockeys hunt hard alk the winter. 'Evidently they by co means get tired of being on horseback." In my time (says a writer In the Engli.-»h ‘ Spotting Chronicle") there 'have been few Indies prominently connected with the Turf, though going a bit further back One finds them fairly common—common is 1 am afraid, the only word for it. One/ indeed, n plucky woman she must have been, went i.» 'the extent of riding tn a match al York. Hut I think the Turf is the better for its almost complete immunity from female participation active participation, that Is. 1 may be old-fashioned, but there is nothing quite so painful to me as to see women popping about, the ring trying (<> get the best »f the odds, a state - of affairs which is becoming more and more prevalent. Why not? some of my readers may ask. Well, as I said, I may be old fashioned, but racing, from the financial, and particularly the betting, point ->f view, has always seemed ;t » me to be a man's game, and not only a man's game, but one which should even be barred, if ii were practicable, which It Isn’t, to namby pamby .specimens of the mule kind. 1 'have been careful in the stipulation iCgardiug ‘lie fiuanei.il end of ■this great spoil; but concerning the social hide I am *ll for the ladies. Let them *-oine to all our meetings, as they do Io 'Ascoi, to Goodwood, to Newmarket, and to Ainlree; lei them come in multitudes and show their pretty frocks, and let the weather gods be kind to them; bu't for heaven's sajee let them confine their belting i ransael ions io a pair of gloves with (heir sweethearts, their husbands, or I heir brothers on the sweetly feminine sys‘iem of 'heads I win, tails you lose." Mr <’ L. Macdonald owns five sons and daughters of the brood mare Aurous. Says in English paper: There is no profission in the world so calculated to turn n sweet tempered man into a savage as that of tlie starter of racehorses. In a letter to Ihe “N.Z. Times," concerning his complaint io the Manawafti Racing 1 ltib of 1 he way his horses were handicapped by Mr llenr/R al their recent meeting, ,Mr L. J. Watt says: — “Early on I saw that the (eellug of Ihe meeting was with Mr ilenrys, and 1 (lid not see the use of prolonging the agony. Many of Mr Ilenrys’ statements appeared to me to be halftruths and to be begging the actual question. 1 must state that he committee of the Manawatu Racing Club were quite .willing to let me say anything I wanted to at the meeting, ami one member had told me beforehand We are none of us racing men, and not one of us could make a handicap,* and 1 really think he told the truth." Further, Mr Watt flays, before he left the meeting the chairman, Mr R. S ’Abraham, Raid Well, Mr Wait, we should nil feel ptensed now if you could ell US that you are satisfied with Mr Heiwys’ explanations" Mr Watt •Ml: “All I can •ay is that they are plausible,*’

Say-j a Southern piper: “Concerning the borata wilieh. he saw the Auckland Cup •meeting, Mr. J. Bu>rb»u. a well-known Syd viey trainer, said that he considered Ail Red and Husbandman by far the best conditioned. All Red was well up to weightcarrying, but Husbandman ho regarded as easily the best weight-forage horse competing mt the meeting. The colt could not have been himself when lie ran so badly tp (he Canterbury lEup. Bolwlkoff he could not regard as a really good .weightier age horse, from what he had seen of the horse 'himself, and from what he .would expect of a horse by Finland.* He would l»e a useful handicap horse, no doubt, but if, as stated, lie was a bad beginner, he would not be any certainty for a race tike the Epsom Handicap or the Doncaster Handicap. Master Soult was a sterling colt, hut looked a bit stale at Am-kland. Royal Soult was a great sprinter for his inches, but he could not believe that lie was as fast aS Soiilttine. Diabolo h** r<*garded as ■a moderate only, and the two-year-olds Broadsword and Elysian not likely ones •to furnish into Derby winners." In « race in England recently a w«*ll-fan-cied candidate in Diamond Wtulding was discpialiiied for carrying overweight after gaining ait easy victory. The case was a decidedly curious one, as the winner's jockey had originally declared lib overweight, and weighetl out at 7.4. but on re4timing ‘o scale after his victory could pot even draw 7.45. It subsequently transpired 'that, owing to Ids suffering from a severe cold, he had, after weighing out, thoughtlessly changed into thicker breeches, and had donned a muffler. Two pounds overweight are allowed by the rules, but in •this ease the extra clothing entailed a further excess of lib, ami there was no choice •but to disqualify Diamond Wedding in favour of the second horse. The Paris correspondent of the "Winning Post" .says that after the I’rix du Sagitta ire, fit Saint Cloud last month, Munster, the winner, was bought by ttie highest bid dec. Q'lie purchaser, whose name was not indicated, look the horse from the ring before he paid over the purchase price. He then discovered that the horse was it “roarer." with a metal tube in his throat. The buyer threw up his bargain and disappeared. As the sale brings in a certain profit io the racecourse company, it was like losing an eye to miss the money, and the stewards consequently summoned W. I’ratt, of Chantilly, the trainer of the horse. On the technical point that he had allowed the horse to be taken outside the ring by the buyer before the latter withurew from his -bargain, I’ratt was fined s<M)fr. Moreover, the horse is left on his hands. There were some extraordinary reversals of form in connection with the holiday racing this year (says the “Australasian”). Sydney has been even more remarkable for in and out ruuning than Melbourne perhaps, but the changes between Caulfield and Melbourne form were very puzzling. With nearly all the runners not much bettor than good suburban form, I suppose consistency was hardly to be expected., As a rule, you can only expect consistency from good horses and Iwo-year-olds. The young ones can gcnerajly be relied upon to do their best oi all occasions. At the special .meeting lieid by the committee of ~t.lie Auckland Racing Club last week to consider the disquaiifica'tions imposed .recently upon certain trainers, horses, and riders by the Avondale Jockey Club, .and .the appeals Lodged 'against those disquallfications, it was decided to endorse tin*. Avondale. Club's derision in the following cases: S. G. Lindsay (<»wner-trainer of Royal SouP). two years; Marie Ryan (rider of Royal Soult). two years; horse Royal •Soult, two years; G. W. Pell. 12 mouths; I’. Smith, six months; A. Julian, six months. It w;is decided to hear the -appeals of N. Cunningham, A. Whitaker, ami the owner of Lucio to-ntoi row. At a meeting of the stewards of the Waikato Trotting Club last week to consider a protest, entered by Mr Caul, owner of the third horse, against the first prize being awarded to Viilturene, the winner of the 'I rial Trot, on Saturday, it was deridril that the horse, not being registered in time, must be disqualified. The stewards ex pressed themselves very dissatisfied with the methods adopted by the owners of (lip first and second horses in this race, ami unanimously resolved to hold searching in quiry into the matter on January 28th. In • he meantime bookmakers were requested to hold all bets. Tlie Auckland Met rop<>iitaii Committee met l ist week The Hon. K Mi«chelsou presided. II was decided to remove the dis qualification on Cannoneer for racing at. an unregistered meeting at Oncwlivro. License.-, to train wore granted to A. Dixon. T. M. Morriss, W. F. O'Reilly, ami C. Rasmussen. The following clubs' programmes were pas sed: — Te Arolm Jockey Club. March 1 ami 2; Waihi Jockey Chib, March (J; Waimaim Raring Club. March 15; Tr Puke Jockey Club, February 11.. Tin* disqualifications by the Ngunguru Racing ( Inb of R. McCorquitulale, .1 W Anderton, ami the horse Highland Fling were endorsed, but the term was extended to life. The disqualification by the Thames Jockey Club of the horse ■Lucio for the Bruce Handicap was endorsed and the appeal of €'. Nicholson (owner) disinlsr- ed. The opening of the raring season 1908 9 was (says the *'lnditin Planters’ Gazette") signalised by a very notable innovation in the Indian Turf, namely, the appointment for I he first (inn* on the stewards’ list of a paid oflicial. Stipendiary stewards have for many years past, been recognised as a necessary addition to (ho Turf government in Australia, but the necessity for them has never been recognised in England. In IndiA, however, where tin* stewards at headquarters and elsewhere, but particular ly in the Presidency towns, are nmsily busy mon who have little time to devote to racing affairs, stipendiary stewards have long boon wanted, and it Is a decided step in lhe right; direction to find them now begintning to be employed. It is impossible to expect amateurs, if vye may so apply the term, to have either the time, and, in many cases, the necessary knowledge and experience, which the professional has. It is recognlsod that to obtain the right stamp of man with the necessary experience. Is an extremely dlflkult matter, but wo think the stewards have made a very wise selec-

tion. To be effective, however, stipendiary stewards must be fn the plural number upon (lie stewards' list, for one man is not sufli cient to do the work, for which those gon Ileim*n are engaged. Mr Buteler. as an advisory aid to the stewards of the Calcutta Turf Club, is the right man tn the right place, but there is so much detail In conne<*tiun with the duties of stewards of race meetings that one official alone is certainly nut enough to do the work as it ought to be none. In Australia the stipendiary steward is. we iM’lleve, and we gather from (he remarks of our colonial contemporaries, very often little more than a racecourse deteclive of a superior type, and, or course, in that rapacity he is extremely useful, and must always be so because he is able to watch carefully what happens in the race; mid also he is, in the colonies, stationed at fixed points upon the course, and asked t<» keep his eyes open to see what happens. It would be a very good thing if this were (lone in India, and the moral effect would be immense. The discovery recently made at Perth that the electric spur was .in use there (as has been pretty generally supposed) is sufli clent to <set racing authorities elsewhere thinking if such illegal means are not employed in other States. Some little time •ago a note of w r ariung was Sounded as to •lh“ probability- of •the dope and electric, spur being in use in the Common wealth, and now that one of >the agencies is known to have been employed in the West, w•• cannot be sure that some smart practitioner or other has not been getting his tine work in here also. r l'ue scale “faker," it is well kiiowui, practising his calling in all the States, and worked off his little joke on some, if not all. of the principal clubs; and if such a risk of discovery as that was accepted, 'it is quite fair to suppose That the readily adjusted electric spur is by no means a new appliance in the Commonwealth. Right through America, if we can believe what we read, the use of the electric spur is quite common, and is said to have been winked at by controllers of race meetings who were not too particular «is to wliat iueaus were employed to make the animal .operated upon g>* faster. 3’lieir excuse was that they had m» time for slow horses. The faked spur, however, like the faked scales, ought no longer to i»e possible on racecourses where wjjeawake officials are acting; and the West Australian discovery may, therefore, be said t L » have done the turf in these partg, some service. 1 Tifortunately <the iiraclitioner who so unexpectedly ealltnl <*ver/n^Mly*s attention to the use of the spur out here was fatally injured in the race, s<» that whether he received the electric shock instead of th** horse, or whether the horse got tin* shock suddenly and plunged in a way to unseat the rider who had set the battery in motion, •may never be known. Those who have seen the contrivance say that a battery—a small one, of course—is coueea.lrd under the jockey’s jacket, on>e .set of wires running down to the wrists ami others down tic* boots, connecting with the spurs. The rider easily controls the swircii, and can regulate it form his wrist, while, the wires are so arranged that t,he apparatus'can be disconnected at the. knee. But the. dope is what Australian racep.our.se. managers should be especially keen in excluding from •their Courses. Many, of those who keep the sport a Live make no secret of. their belief that the practice of doping does exist within Hie C’ommouwealth, and also that West Australia has not a monopoly of It.

WEI .J ( (NG TO N. Th u rs<lay. i’he sale of Waikaitae yearlings, held at Mr lan Dunvau’.s private stables, Thorndon Quay, yesh rday afternoon, was very large ly attended. It attracted a good deal of interest from sporting people, who included many visitors at present in Wellington for the races. Mr T. 11 I’yne, of Christchurch, who conducted the .sale, succeeded in effect ing a complete clearance of the 14 yearlings offered, the satisfactory total of 1715 guineas being realised. The highest-priced colt was secured for Victoria by Mr Harvey Patterson, who was not to be outbid for a brown colt by Kilvheran from Fan Tan, which was knocked down to him for 350 guineas, the bidding starting at 199 guineas. Following are the details of the sale:— ... Gus. Brown .filly, by Stepniak—Reel, Mr Harvey Patterson (Melbourne) 160 Brown colt, by Kilcherau—Prelude, Mr G. Hume (Wairarapa) 130 Brown colt, by St. Ambrose -Ekaterini Passeropoulu, Mr L. Lane (Wellington) 4o Brown colt, by Kilcherau -Fan Tan, Mr Harvey Patterson (Melbourne).. 35*.’ Bay cult, by Advance—Bouaette, Mr G. I‘ayne (Christchurch) 80 Brown filly, by Stepniak—Ranee Nuna, Mr J. B. Reid (Christchurch) 2'» Bay colt, by Kilchera-n-r-Bulbul, Mr W. Pine (Christchurch) 50 Bay colt, by Kilcherau— La Goria, Mr P. A. Herman (Christchurch) 50 Bay colt, by Kilcherau —Spun Gold. Mr G. Payne (Christchurch) 60 Brown filly, by St Ambrose, Mr G Payne (Christchurch) 119 Bay coll, by Conqueror - Lady Pricipal, Mr W. Pino (Christchurch) 130 Brown filly, by Merriwee—Lady Helen, Mr G. D. Greenwood (Chrlstchurcti) 270 Brown colt, by Kilcherau—Strathspey, Mr L. Lane (Wellington) 35 Bay filly, by Kilcherau or Conqueror, dam Lady. Maude, Mr M Vallance (Wairarapa) 59 Total nis