Turf Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 100, 23 June 1892, Page 6

Turf Topics.

[By

“Sir Launcelot.”]

Mr. Gollan’s pair, Kimberley and Renata, are in Messrs. W C. Yuille & Co.’s private sale list. The vice-president of the Tahuna Park (Dunedin) Trotting Club set an example the other day to some of his confreres which they would do well to imitate. When a protest was being considered at Tahuna Park he refused to take part in the proceedings on the ground that he was an interested party, as he had a couple of pounds on one of the horses. Mr. Morris Jacobs, the popular Melbourne metallician, has of late had none too good luck with his raeers. He is a plucky purchaser, and never stops at a price when he really wants a horse. A few days before the Newmarket Handicap he gave 2,ooogns. for Winifred, believing that she had a big show in that race, but she was beaten out of place, and a week or so back she met with a serious accident. Alarnied at a noise outside the stable, she reared up, and in falling broke one of her legs. Winifred, who is by Goldsbrough out of Lady Hooton (dam of Sweet William), will, naturally, not rate again, but there is a probability of her being saved for breeding purposes.

The Taranaki correspondent of this journal advises our readers that Whalebone’s contemplated trip to Australia has been abandoned for the present.

James Kean’s brother, Joe Kean, has a good three-year-old colt in hand in Sydney named Honor Bright, who won the Turf Club Handicap at the Sydney T.C.’s races the other day. He is by Grandmaster out of Crystal, a half-sister to Onyx.

“ Mazeppa ” reports that Harry Goodman has in work at the Forbury Blizzard, the two-year-old Mistral, and a yearling by St. Clair—Lady Gertrude. The lastnamed is to be christened Huroclydon. “ Has it ever been known befoie in New Zealand,” says “ Mazeppa,” for three of one mare’s produce to be in one ownership and working at once ? ”

Splendor, who won the Payne Stakes at Newmarket for Mr. Stead and was sold by him to the Tocai (N.S.W.) studmaster, Mr. F. Reynolds, will come out well this season as a sire of winners. Among the latest successes gained by his stock there has to be recorded a victory at the Sydney Turf Club’s Meeting by his son Candour, by Splendor out of Colima (the dam of Vortex, well known here). At the Queensland Turf Club’s Meeting, about the same time, another son ol Splendor in the shape of King Olaf, who was well backed for the last Melbourne Cup, won the Queen’s Plate, w f.a., one mile, and Candour’s three-year-old sister Splendide took the Brisbane Cup of soosovs., two miles. She carried 8.2. King Olaf, who was favourite, finished fourth.

“ Robin Hood,” the English sporting correspondent of the A ustralasian, thus writes, under date April 29, as to Orme’s scratching for the Two Thousand Guineas :— “ Early on the 23rd inst. the bad news arrived from the training quarters of Orme that the crack had not been out at exercise with the rest of Porter’s team. Before the news became general, however, a smart ‘ bookie ’ had been * one too many ’ for a professional backer. The former managed to introduce the subject of the Guineas, and said he would throw away /400 if anyone would lay 1,000 to 400 on the favourite. The odds asked for were a bit over those last quoted, which had been 900 to 400. The backer therefore replied, ‘ No, but I will lay you 900 to 400 he wins.’ There was no hesitation then, you may be sure, for ‘ put it down ’ was at once the rejoinder of the bookie, who also succeeded in laying in the same quarter 500 to 400 against the same colt for the Derby. These bets had not been booked a couple of hours before 3t01,4t01, 5 to t, and ultimately 100 to 15 Orme, were on offer in all directions, and on the racecourse at Derby as much as 100 to 6 was offered before the day’s racing was over. These prices were for the Two Thousand Guineas, which was, it will be remembered, then within ten days of the date of its decision. For the Derby the colt declined from the 5 to 4 mentioned above to as much as 4 and sto I offered Whilst all this was going on, speculation was rife as to what was really the matter with the colt, Some had it that he had broken down, and others that he had been beaten in a trial, which it was said had taken place the evening previously. Later on it became known that the celebrated horse dentist, Mr. Loeffler, had been sent for, so it seemed the jaw trouble, a la Friar’s Balsam, was the seat of the mischief. Definite news, however, came to hand at last. In reply to telegrams sent them by the Press associations the Duke of Westminster wired that the colt had a sore throat, but that he knew no furtherdetails ; and John Porter, the trainer, said, ‘ Sore throat, hope not serious.’ Since then the colt has once been out taking walking exercise, and the hopes of his friends revived, and it was said the removal of a tooth by Mr. Loeffler had given him much relief. But cold weather has again set in, and on April 2" and yesterday it was deemed advisable to keep the colt in the stable. What was evidently inevitable was, therefore, no longer delayed, and the pen was put through his name tor the Guineas, exactly a week before the day set for the decision of the race.” When it became known that Orme’s case was hopeless as much as seven to 1 was offered on the field, and was actually taken about six of the probable starters. Those backed at the price were Scarborough, Polyglot, El Diablo, Persistive. Galeopsis, and St. Angelo. A day or two later Galeopsis became favourite, and Mr. W. Cooper’s The Lover (who has since won the Epsom Grand Prize) was backed down to 8 to 1.

And writing a little later, under date April 27, “ Hidalgo ” says :—Cheviot’s success has been one of the wonders of the Coast. He has outbred Sir Modred (so far as two-year-old performances are to be counted) just as badly as Sir Modred had outbred all other stallions in this State up to the opening of the San Francisco meeting, which has seventeen racing days. Of these, eight have gone into turf history, and nine remain. In the eight days referred to, the Cheviots have started in 21 races out of 40, and won 11 times, being three times second and four times third. Bernardo has won four times, Princess and Castanet each twice. The fact that the Cheviots won 11 races, while the old Hurrah (Newminster—Jovial) horse, Three Cheers, is nearest to him with five victories, three seconds, and three thirds, shows whether the sire of your Little Bernie is capable of imparting any pace to his progeny or not. And when I tell you that several of the best of his progeny have not yet faced the starter, and are not likely to do so prior to the Chicago meeting in the third week in June, you will be astonished. Princess won both of her races after a bad start, and mowed her horses down all in the last 300 yards of each race. Bernardo, on the other hand, is a horse that frets badly in the ruck, end does not fancy a waiting race; he prefers to go out on his own hook and make the pace to suit himself. He took imin. ijsec. to negotiate six furlongs the other day, leading all the way, but I caught the first half-mile in 48Jsec , and that sort of a pace;was too much for the field that opposed him, notwithstanding that he gave weight to everything in the race but Geraldine, and she an aged mare with only 71b. more than the little brown three-year-old had on him. Against this wonderful showing of the Cheviots there is Sir Modred with but one winner, two seconds, and three thirds.

According to “ Ribbleden,” of the Australasian, Whimbrel will in about a month or six weeks be on his way to India, having been purchased by Mr. Gregory. Whimbrel, adds “ Ribbleden,” “ is one of the cast-offs of Mr. D. O’Brien, who invariably sells his horses well. It is to be hoped that the horse will' have better luck in India than he has had in Australia.”

The same writer, in reviewing the entries for the V.R.C, Grand National Hurdles and Steeplechase, says :—“ Commotion will surely have to be renamed before he is permitted to grace Flemington with his presence.”

Shamrock, who won the Royal Stakes at Sydney on Queen’s Birthday, is by Marvellous (sire of Marvel) from Mavourneen, who runs back to the old importation Gulnare, by Young Gohanna. He was bred by Mr. R. Rouse, jun., and was one of a batch of four—Marvel, it is said, was one of the quartette —sold to a Queensland racing man for the trifling sum of fs° apiece. I. Foulsham, the Caulfield trainer, has in his stable a yearling filly by Lochiel out of Nonsense and he has named her Lochness. How about Mr. McKinnon s horse having the same name ? Surely owners can be compelled to exercise a little more originality. The yearling colt by Newminster out of Swiveller’s . dam Nightmare has been named Day Dream, which also is not original, but as the filly by Albany—Siesta is now in England this does not so much matter as naming a colt Lochness.

Full details to hand of the race for the Two Thousand Guineas show that the starters numbered 14, viz. :— Lord Bradford’s ch c Sir Hugo, by Wisdom—Manoeuvre (who afterwards won the Derby); Mr. Rose’s ch c Bona Vista, by Bend Or—Vista; Mr. H. Milner’s b c St. Angelo, by Clairvaux or Galopin—Agneta ; Prince Solfykoff’s blk c Curio, by Thurio—Light of Other Days ; Mr. Fairie’s br c Galeopsis, by Galopin—Agave ; Lord Alington’s ch c Goldfinch, by Ormonde—Thistle; Mr. R. H. Combe’s b c President, by Peter—Maid of Perth ; Mr. W. Cooper’s ch c The Lover, by Charibert— Loversall; Duke of Hamilton’s ch c Persistive, by Fitz James —Persistence; Mr. J. H. Houldsworth’s br c Dunure, by St. Simon —Sunrise; Sir R. Jardine’s br c Rouge Dragon, by Bend Or—Tiger Lily; Mr. B. Maple’s ch c Scarborough, by Saraband —Hackness; Colonel North’s b c El Diablo, by Robert the Devil— Tantrums; Mr. A. Taylor’s b c King Charles, by Exile ll.—Lady Charlie. The betting at the fall of the flag was 9 to 2 against El Diablo, 6 to 1 Scarborough, 100 to 15 St. Angelo, 9 to 1 Persistive, 10 to 1 each Bona Vista and Dunure, 100 to 7 Goldfinch and The Lover and 100 to 6 Galeopsis and Sir Hugo, so that it will be seen that the race was in the absence of Orme regai ded as a particularly open one. Turning into the straight for home St. Angelo appeared to have all the best of it, but he tired very much breasting the somewhat severe rise to the winning post, and Bona Vista overhauling him at every stride, went on and won by a length and a half. Curio came with a wetsail, and was beaten half a length for second money, and he in turn was only a head in front of Galeopsis. The time was imin. 54sec.’ and the stakes were of the value of Bona Vista was bred at Mentmore by Lord Rosebery, and was sold as a yearling to his present owner, Mr. Rose, for i,2sOgns. We have been accustomed as New Zealand sportsmen to “ gush ” over the successes at the stud of Sir Modred, but from latest accounts from America it would seem that as a father of equine kings and queens his brother Cheviot (who won the Canterbury Derby cf 1882 for the Hon. W. Robinson) bids fair to eclipse him. “Hidalgo,” the Australasian's American correspondent, remarks in this connection:—“ I wrote you some sixteen months ago about the sale of Cheviot to Charles Reed, of Gallatin, the man who subsequently bought St. Blaize for Now everybody is howling because Cheviot was allowed to leave California. Mr. Hearst (now dead) was offered the horse at and would not take him. Neither would Senator Stanford or Mr. Haggin, the latter of whom was well enough satisfied with Sir Modred; and had it not been for the death of Mr. Pickwick (son of Hermit) poor Cheviot would probably have gone a-begging at fl 5 the season as a service fee. But at the San Francisco meeting he is the only sire that is ‘in it.’ In four days’ sport (22 races in all) the Cheviots were 7 times first, 5 times second, and 3 times third, a showing not made by any other sire on the ground. Of these Bernardo was the only three-year-old, winning twice at six furlongs and once at a mile, which latter race he won, pulling up, in imin. 43sec., on a heavy track, carrying Bst. 71b. He was so small as a yearling that he was gelded, and as a two-year-old he was unable to run into any better than the fourth place. This spring Mrs. Hearst was desirous of selling all the two-year-olds, so Dan McCarty wanted to buy the Cheviots only, and did not even want Bernardo at that. But Mr. Stump said ‘ all or none,’ so Bernardo was lumped into the bargain at To-day would not buy him, for he has smothered Geraldine twice, and he was in 1889 and 1890 the best six-furlong horse in America by a large majority. Of the remaining four Cheviots that have won one race each, the best to my liking is a large colt called Adolph. He won at five furlongs on April 17 on a heavy track, and carried 8.11 to victory in imin. jsec., wnich is by long odds the best two-year-old race of the season so far as I have been able to hear. The other three are Castanet, Mezzotint and Princess, and Hike the latter better than the other two. Still she and Mezzotint both won by rushing through their horses in the straight, after getting off very indifferently at the start. Princess carried 7.7, and covered a half-mile in 48Jsec., after being seventh horse away from the flag in a field of 11 ; and I do not know of a faster race ever being run in America thus early in the season. A year ago everybody was‘talking about the ‘ flashy Cheviots,’ and cursing them for lacking stamina. They will not have much longer to wait to see if these Cheviots will train on, for Bernardo, Merced, Vernon, and Osric are now three years old, and will probably give some account of themselves at a later period in the campaign.”

The bad health of Tom Cannon, the English jockey, will prevent his riding at all this season. H. Raynor, the Sydney trainer, has got sick of Scots Grey, and he sold him the other day to Mr. P. McCarthy of Morpeth, N.S. W. for 300 guineas, which is 400 guineas less than he paid for him last year. Tommy Tittlemouse, who will be remembered as being Fred Archer’s last mount, broke down badly at Catterick Bridge racesat the end of May, and had to be shot. He was ten years old, and had run in innumerable races with a fair proportion of success. According to advices received by their friends in Melbourne, the Victorian pencillers. Messrs. J. Wall and S. Allen, have not found bookmaking in America a very profitable game. Betting in the States is conducted on different lines to what it is in Australia, and a bookmaker who has been used to the Colonial system is consequently somewhat at a disadvantage. La Fleche was only opposed by the following halfdozen in the One Thousand Guineas:—Mr. A. James’ b f The Smew, by St. Simon—Golden Eye; Mr. H. Milner’s ch f Adoration, by Hermit—Devotion ; Mr. N. Fenwick’s b f Gauntlet, by Galopin—Hors de Combat; Colonel North’s b f Lady Hermit, by Hermit or Galopin —Velindra; Mr. C. D. Rose’s b f by HamptonOrphan Agnes ; and Prince Soltykoffs br f Shining Star, by Thurio—Meteor. Odds of 2 to 1 were laid on La Fleche, who won easily by a length, three-quarters of a length dividing The Smew and Adoration. The Teddington Plate and the Ferry Plate at the Hurst Park Club (English) Spring Meeting were won by Sea Salt, a grey colt by Pepper and Salt from Miss Mostyn, by Uncas from Lady Mostyn, by Lord Clifden from the American-bred mare Annette. Sea Salt’s dam, Miss Mostyn, is now in the Morphettville stud, South Australia, having, with other mares, been imported from England by Sir Thomas Elder in 1889. When Sir Thomas Elder bought Miss Mostyn she had Sea Salt at foot and was in foal to Clairvaux, to whom after her arrival in Australia she threw a colt, which is alive and well at Morphettville. Clairvaux was purchased for America, but died on the voyage. E. Power, who is one of Victoria’s premier jockeys, has, I observe, taken a penchant for coursing of late, and at the Victoria Coursing Club’s meeting on June 9 and IO he won the Dawson Whisky Trophy for 32 all ages at 3 gns. each (winner and the Dawson Whisky Trophy, value 50 gns.) with his white and black dog Teuton, by Rent Charge—Castanet. Power, I may mention, rode in this Colony for Mr. J. W. Mallock in 1878-79, winning on such well-known horses as Foul Play and Nonsense’s brother Nemo. The Vasco di Gama horse, Pretender, with 6. 9 . was unplaced in the Selling Race, five furlongs, at Moonee Valley, Melbourne, on the 4th inst. At the same meetiiig Butcher Boy (9 J2) was unplaced behind Linwood (9.6) in the Federal Hurdle Race, one mile and a half. Natator’s son, Whiteman, who now runs in the name of Mr. F. J. Plant, was steered to victory by the Wanganui lad, J. Camerdn, in the Commonwealth Steeplechase of 200 sovs., two miles. He carried 10.5 and started at the nice price of 10 to lin a field of 17. Old Chemist was unplaced under 11.12. and Ihumata (9.9) occupied a similar position behind Fly (7.6) in the Alphington Handicap for ponies, eight furlongs and a half. In this last race, according to the Australasian, “ the performance of the notorious Pretender, who was shod all round in thick shoes, was watched with some curiosity. Pretender opened favourite, but at the close he gracefully retired in favour of Bronzewing, who is said to be a stable companion, and was eventually beaten a head by Fly. An inquiry was held; but in reality nothing was done, the stewards merely expressing the opinjon that they were not satisfied with Pretender’s running. There was some dissension among the stewards ; and one of them was so disgusted with the lame and impotent conclusion arrived at by his fellow stewards, that he at once declined to further act in the capacity of a steward at Moonee Valley.” The latest intelligence from England anent the supEosed poisoning of Orme is that the colt’s owner, the hike of Westminster, caused the following advertisement to be inserted in the papers:—“ One Thousand Pounds Reward.—Poisoning of Orme.—Whereas, on the 21st April last, at Kingsclere Stable, in the county of Hants, the racehorse Orme, the property of His Grace the Duke of Westminster, was wilfully poisoned, the above reward will be paid by the Duke of Westminster to any person who shall within one month from this date furnish such information as shall lead to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons guilty of the said crime.—lnformation to be iumished to Messrs. Lewis and Lewis, Ely-place, Holborn, E.C.” Of course as soon as the Duke’s statements about poison were made public, John Porter was interviewed on all sides. He said he thought the Duke had been too hasty in forming his conclusion, as it was merely a matter of suspicion, and that Mr. Williams, the “ vet.,” could not say more, nor would Professor Loeffler, the horse dentist. This latter gentleman, indeed, quite contradicted the Duke, and said the colt’s illness is “simply and solely due to a decayed tooth.” He then goes on to say that one of the horse’s teeth was badly decayed, giving a most offensive smell, thus showing decomposed matter. The edges of this tooth were badly jagged, and the dentist’s theory is that these edges cut the tongue, and the poisonous matter from the tooth getting into the wound set up inflammation, causing swelling and blisters under the tongue. These had to be lanced. It seems that Mr. Loeffler got out portions of this tooth and filed down others, but gave it as his opinion that the bad tooth could not finally be got rid of for some time yet. His own words were as follow :— “ As I said, I removed part of the tooth, the part which was projecting, and I filed down the rest; but lam soiry to say—that this trouble is likely to be recurrent, and here you will find the proof that the horse was not poisoned, for in a month or two or more he will again be affected in the same way.”

The Queensland horse, Realm, who is nominated - for the Melbourne Cup, changed hands the other day for 750 guineas.

Red Cross, with 7.11 and Cusdin in the saddle, was unplaced behind Hogmanay (7- 2 ) i n the Disposal Stakes, five furlongs and a half, run at Mentone (Melbourne) on the 6th inst. Alcinous (7.6) was beaten out of a place in the Mentone Handicap, 9 furlongs, which was won by Enticement (7.0) and Whimbrel, who is leaving Victoria for India shortly, was second with 9.9. All the events for which entries were received by the Victoria Racing Club on the 6th inst. show a falling off, excepting the Derby of 1893, for which 119 are entered as against 117 last year. The figures are Melbourne Cup, 135; Champion Stakes, 56; Maribyinong Plate, 84; Normanby Stakes, 66; Ascot Vale Stakes, 83; Derby 119; Oaks, 50; St. I.eger, 99; and Sires’ Produce Stakes, 130. Last year the number of entries was : — Melbourne Cup, 164; Champagne Stakes, 67 ; Maribyrnong Plate, 94; Normbanby Stakes, 75; Ascot Vale Stakes 99; Derby, 117; Oaks, 61; St. Leger, 100; and Sires’ Produce Stakes, 133.

The 40 to 1 at which Sir Hugo, the winner of the English Derby, started, has during the 113 races for the “blue riband” been exceeded only four times. The first time was in 1817 when Azor started at 50 to I and beat a dozen, and that was also the price about Spaniel when he beat 22 others in 1831. Hermit’s starting price in 1867 was 1000 to 15, and Doncaster’s six years later was 45 to 1. Twice prior to this year the winner’s starting price was 40 to I, viz.: Phosphorus in 1837 and Cataractus in 1862, the latter being victorious in the largest field that ever started for the Derby—34. The odds-on favourites that have got home were Sir Thomas in 1788, Skyscraper in 1789, John Bull in 1792, Lord Lyon in iBb6, Ormonde in 1886, Ayrshire in 1888, Donovan in 1889, and Common in 1891. Of these eight the hottest favourite was Ormonde at 85 to 40 on.

Among the 56 entries for the V.R.C. Champion Stakes is the Canterbury Champagne winner, Vogengang. Mr. Gollan has Tirailleur, Sternchaser, Culloden, Mosquetaire, (the high-priced son of Nordenfeldt and Frailty) and Leontine engaged, and Mr. A. R. Blackwood has entered the Nordenfeldt—Albatross colt, Elswick (late Aidershot). Mr. W. R. Wilson’s quartette are Strathmore, Zalinski, La Tosca and Steadfast. A pair of past celebrities in Megaphone and Melos are entered, but Marvel has not been nominated, and it is said that he will take up stud duties at Hobartville during the coming season. Mr. Hordern has entered the Nordenfeldt— Sister Agnes colt, Cannon. The leading racing clubs of New South Wales have had to act in a similar manner to the V.R.C., and copyright their entries and weights. This was brought about by someone making an attempt recently to publish a racebook which was to have been sold for half the price charged for the legitimate article. A strike with his men and a break in the machinery, however, prevented the issue, it is said. Consequently on June 6th the A.J.C. and Sydney T.C. put their weights under the Copyright Act. This has put the runners of the private totalisators in great trouble, as they all issued cards. The cause of “ Augur’s ” death was pneumonia which followed upon influenza he contracted at the Adelaide races about two years ago. His fiftieth birthday was celebrated a week before his death. From the obituary notice of the deceased sporting writer which appeared in the Australasian of June 11, I make the following extracts :—“ All his compeers looked up to him, none of them grudged him his success or his fame. Mr. Chapman, in fulfilment of his duties, saw nearly every important racecourse in Australasia. He was as well known at Rand wick as at Flemington ; he never missed his annual trip to Tasmania; a visit from him was regularly asked for by racing men in Adelaide; he not long ago spent a fortnight among the turfites of Brisbane, most of whom he had previously met elsewhere ; and he once went to New Zealand. Besides knowing all that was to be known or remembered about the racing stock of Australia, and having the shape of every animal he had seen photographed on his brain, he had singular facility in making friends among sporting men; and the long chronicle of namesappearing ‘ Under the Elms,’ or‘Under the Figs ’ at Randwick, showed how wide was his circle of acquaintance. And the wideness of his acquaintance was the means of enabling him to .make everything he wrote extremely interesting. His determination was to have straightforward racing; so that, while he ever had a eulogistic word for the men who kept their honour on the turf, he was quick to detect and expose the craftsmen who practised wrong-doing as a fine art, or connive at its practice by others. * * * Mr. Chapman’s work, considering how apt the misdoings of the wicked were to kindle his wrath, was singularly free from prejudice. His friendships, on the other hand, were strong. * * * Mr. Chapman first showed symptoms of breaking down abont 18 months ago. The proprietors of The Australasian, when he mooted the idea of taking a special holiday, at once granted him unconditional leave of absence, leaving him free to write or not as he pleased, and making no change either formally or substantially in his status in the office. His friends pressed on him the desirability of taking a long trip by sea or land, as he was then troubled with bronchitis, which a change of air would drive away, but he deemed it best to stay with his family in Melbourne. In time the bronchitis and the ailments associated with it took leave, but the illness so reduced his strength that he made up his mind that his hardworking days were over, and he resigned his editorial office at the beginning of • the present year, not having resumed editorial duty since his leave began. So has ended the career of an able and indefatigable sporting journalist. Mr. Chapman’s society was much courted among sportsmen. He was a talented storyteller, and his powers of improvisation came out strong when ‘ playing on the old banjo,’ an instrument that he manipulated with great skill. He was, in consequence, always received with a joyous welcome in the social circle, and that circle will lament most sadly and most sincerely the disappearance of ‘ Augur.’ ”

J. B. Williamson took Shillelagh to Napier on Thursday to compete in the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase.

After a little difference about “ terms,” Mr. S. Powell has accepted the position of starter at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meetings during the ensuing season.

As T. Weldon rode Sir Hugo in the Two Thousand, it is fair to presume that he had the mount on him when he won the Derby.

The weights for the Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup are due on Monday next, and with the handicap for the N.Z. Cup out on the Ist prox. we may expect to see some lively betting over .these big Spring prizes. The New Zealand Times is an authority for the statement that “ Mr. H. Redwood is about to take unto himr self a wife, the intended being a Blenheim lady. The wedding, it is stated, will come off in about a fortnight’s time, and the happy pair will probably make Nelson their home.”

The ex-New Zealander Kapohas so far recovered from the injuries he received by being staked in a hurdle race at Aspendale Park, Melbourne, that he has resumed work. Another New Zealander, Sovereign, who injured his stifle, is also able to resume operations on the training ground. The Auckland gentlemen, who at a “conference of citizens ” the other day, took upon themselves to adopt a certain resolution have some compeers in Newcastle, N.S.W., for the Anglican Synod there recently decided by resolution “ that gambling on horse-racing is highly injurious to the moral state”—whatever the “moral state ” may be.

The Sporting Standard's correspondent at Caulfield furnishes the following particulars of the doings of Percy Martin’s team there :—“ Martin’s team has been lessened by the absence of Medjidie, who has gone lame again, and had to be thrown out of work. Tirailleur is in work again, and has put on a lot of beef during his spell. Kimberley, Namoa, Sternchaser, Culloden, the Woodnymph colt and Renata have done various serviceable tasks, but none of them have been fully extended.” Another ex-New Zealand trainer’s operations thuscome in for notice from the same scribe:—“Rudings has received a further addition to his team in The Hawk and and Corrina, the latter a New Zealand-bred mare, that has recently returned from India. Alcinous, Red Rose, Red Cross have done lots of good work, a ‘go ’ over a mile between the first-named pair on June 4th, resulting in a victory for Red Rose.” Corrina, I may remark, is by Apremont out of Malice’s daughter, Mignon. Mr. “Patsy” Butler is fairly in harness again. He has taken the stables at Riccarton known as “ Enfield,” and which some years back belonged to Mr. S. Nosworthy. He has in hand Au Re voir, by St. George— Farewell, a N.Z. Cup candidate ; the hurdler and steeplechaser, Christmas; a three-year-old gelding by Master Agnes—Blood Royal mare; a yearling filly by General Thornton; a filly of the same age by Lochiel—Miss Russley ; a three-year-old gelding by Master Agnes out of a Traducer mare ; and Crown Jewel, who earned Mr. Butler more than one big stake during the season now closing. Missile, who has also done Butler good service, is being treated to a spell. The nominations for the Grand National Steeplechase and Grand National Hurdle Race received on Friday night by the Secretary of the CJC. are not quite so numerous as I expected they would be. Still, 27 is not a bad record for the Steeplechase, but I fancied there would have been more than 24 in the Grand National Hurdle Race. The North Island is very strongly represented in both events. An old hurdle hero in the shape of Torrent is in the Hurdle Race, as also are such new aspirants to hurdle honours as Queen of Trumps, Bay King, Captain Webb and Retina. The weights for the Grand National Hurdle Race and Grand National Steeplechase are due on the 13th prox. Some colts sired by the unbeaten Ormonde are now en route for England. Senor Salvador Juan Boucau, the owner of Ormonde has, according to latest advices, shipped Facundo, a yearling son of the Two Thousand, Derby and Leger winner. The colt will in all probability be trained at Kingsclere by John Porter. The only engagement at present made for him in England is in the City of London Breeders’ Foal Plate (of 1500 sovs.) at the Kempton Park Second Summer Meeting 1894. He was bred to English time. The produce of several other mares served by Ormonde will in due course find their way to England and be seen on the racecourse. Ormonde is said to be in the pink of condition himself, and the mares put to him are all in foal. The Sydney Referee points out that the recent proclamation by the New Zealand Government, forbidding the importation of horses from New South Wales for twelve months, on account of the prevalence of glanders in that Colony, will prevent Mr. O’Brien bringing home Freedom, Florrie and Freeman. The journal in question doubts whether the Government have considered what the order means, and considers the proclamation absurd, as the disease which it wishes to guard against is unknown in New South Wales, excepting in that some of the circus horses that came from America were suffering from it.

It is not often a country racing club comes out in such a strongfinancialcondition as does the Ashburton (Canterbury) Racing Club at the close of its operations for the present season. At the annual meeting of its members the other day the balance-sheet showed receipts from all sources for the year to have amounted to 4s 4d, leaving a balance of £lO6 5s nd. in hand and a further sum of ;£Boo on fixed deposit with the Bank of New Zealand. The report showed that the stakes had been increased, the course improved and fees reduced, and recommended that a new grandstand should be erected at once, and that the programmes should be made more popular with horse-owners and the general public. From past experience I can say that the Ashburton Racing Club is a thoroughly legitimate and well managed institution which deserves all the success it has achieved.

The committee of Auckland Tattersall’s Club have decided to add a billiard table to their establishment. The name of Sir Tatton has to be added to the list of nominations for the United Hunt Club s Bracelet Handicap, which appears in another column. “ Old Turfite,” a contributor to this journal since its initiation, is, I regret to say, seriously ill, suffering from a paralytic stroke. H. Goodman and Stewart Waddell, the well-known Dunedin trainers, are working their way North on a holiday trip, and after assisting at the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s Steeplechase Meeting, will probably come up to Auckland. La Mode, who won the C.J.C. Welcome Stakes of 1880. and is by Albany out of Mermaid (dam of Lurline, Le Loup, Lure, &c.) is in the private sale list in Sydney. She is in foal to Cranbrook, who won the Newmarket Handicap of 1888. Messrs. M. and C. Hobbs will take over Palliser, Little Arthur, and Lady Zetland to Australia in the course of the next few days—not a bad trio either to take there. Little Arthur has been over there before, but though several times well backed by his connections, he generally met with bad luck. By the Te Anau on Tuesday, the well-known lightweight, Davis, was sent over to Sydney by his old master, Tames Kean. He will enter the service of Joseph Kean at Randwick, James Kean having no work for him here at present. Another light-weight, Creamer, went by the same boat to the New South Wales capital, and so did Adam Byers. Creamer, I believe, will go into Mr. S. Hordern’s establishment. Cuirassier, in charge of Mr. Richard Duder, came back from Melbourne via the South on Monday. He was accompanied by the old steeplechase mare Belle, who, from what I saw of her when landed, is a mere bag of bones. I had a look over Cuirassier as he walked up the wharf, and he struck me as not having filled out as much as might have been expected. He and Belle were at once taken to the North Snore. A special meeting of the stewards and committee of the Auckland Racing Club was held on Monday afternoon, when a letter was read from the Hon. E. Mitchelson, resigning Jiis position as a committee man and steward of the A.R.C., and making certain comments on the actions of the A.R.C. It was decided to accept Mr. Mitchelson’s resignation, and another meeting was convened for Friday to frame a reply to his letter. There seems to be a bit of confusion as to who really purchased Baccarat; but I hear on most reliable authority that the real owner is Mr. J. Hands of the Ponsonby Club Hotel, where the horse is at present located. The Auckland correspondent of the Weekly Press and Referee, however, gravely announces that he has been bought by Mr. Mitchelson. Never, surely ? Mr. D. H. Stewart, the successor to Mr. W. Crowther in the well-known livery stable opposite the Auckland Library, will run a coach every Saturday to the place where thePakuranga Hounds meet, leaving the stable at II a.m. This will be a great convenience to those who intend participating in the meet, as they can send their mounts on in advance. A kindly correspondent points out to me that in my obituary notice of Wally Cliftord last week I left out two important mounts of his, viz., those on Trump Card in the Dunedin Derby of 1878 and on the same colt at the same D.J.C. Autumn meeting, when he created such great excitement by putting down Templeton at weight for age. I may say I had both these records in my scrap-book of the season’s racing, but missed them in going through. There can be no mistaking the popularity of the United (Wellington) Hunt Club’s Annual Steeplechases if the list of nominations appearing in another column is to be to taken as any criterion. There are no less than 19 in the Open Hurdles, 24 in the United Hunt Club Steeplechase, 23 in the Ladies Bracelet, 24 in the Open Steeplechase, and 14 in the Open Welter Handicap. This is indeed a capital entry. The weights are due on the 1 ith prox. The weights for the Victoria Racing Club’s Grand National Hurdle Race and Steeplechase are to hand. The former commences with 11.12 on Knight of the Garter and the New Zealander, Satyr, and then comes Redleap at 11.10. Kimberley has 11.5; Pygmalion, ll.o; Commotion, 108; Mikado 11., 10.6; Tayforth, 9.9; Butcher Boy, 9.8; and Captain Webb, 9-S« Sir Wilfred is top weight in the G.N. Steeplechase with 12.12, and Busaco is next at 12.10. Freeman has 12.5 ; Titokowaru, 11.12; Jack’s the Lad, 11.5 ; Chemist, li.O; Rob Roy, 10.9; Little Arthur, 10.8; and Commotion, 10.7. I had the pleasure yesterday morning of looking over a full sister to Carbine. This was the brood mare Lady Walmsley, whom Mr. Dan O’Brien has sent from Sydney to be quartered at Wellington Park. I was very much pleased with the mare whom I had never seen before. She is a bay in colour with near white hind fetlock; is beautifully lengthy,, and shows a lot of quality. She bears unmistakable evidence of being in foal to Remus, who won several races for Mr. S. G. Cook (owner of The Admiral and The Captain) in Australia. Lady Walmsley, who. so far as I know, never sported silk, was Mersey’s first foal in this colony, and is thus three years older than Carbine. She was foaled in 1882 ; Mersey missed in 1883; in 1884 she produced Lady Mersey (dam of Thame) and in 1885 Carbine saw the light. Lady Walmsley passed into the possession of Mr. Allan McLean, who afterwards accepted an offer for her purchase by a Queensland studmaster. Later on she came down to Melbourne for sale and Mr. O’Brien then snapped her up. Remus, to whom she is in foal, is by the Two Thousand Guineas winner, Gang Forward out ofßomula, by New Warrior (imp)—Agitation (imp) by Ambrose (son of Touchstone)—Ava, by Lanercost. Romula won the Launceston Champion Cup and ran second to The Pearl for the Melbourne Cup of 1871.

At Alexandra Park (London), on May 2, the two-mile English trotting record was lowered to 5 min. 11 i-sth sec. by Mr. H. O’Kane’s General Scott. The ground was very heavy, but even allowing for that, the time does not look much alongside Yankee performances. It was intended that Chance should have gone down to Napier on Thursday, but owing to some misunderstanding in the instructions given the horse was taken to Onehunga instead of the Queen-street wharf. After Shilelagh had been shipped the boat was kept half-an-hour waiting for Chance and Captain Russell (the latter of whom was to be taken down with a view to competing at the Hawke’s Bay Trotting Club’s Meeting), but as’they did not put in an appearance she proceeded on her voyage. Mr. Mack then declined the contest for the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase with Chance, but took both him and Captain Russell down on Monday by the s.s. “Gairloch.” Chance will run in the Napier Park Steeplechase. There was a bit of speculation on the chance of Orme seeing the post for the Derby after he was scratched for the Two Thousand. In London on May 10th, there was a sort of revival of his prospects for the Derby as 20 to 1 was asked for to win, and even money was laid and offered again on the Duke of Westminster’s colt seeing the post. A bet of 850 to 400 was on the same day booked about La Fleche for the Derby.

The Mostyn Two-year-old Plate of 393 sovs., five furlongs, which was run on the first day of the Chester (Eng.) Meeting, fell to Lord Rosslyn(s colt Hampton Rose, by Hampton —Rsoewreath. This colt is closely related to a horse and a mare well known in Auckland. His sire, Hampton, was by Lord Clifden—Lady Langden, by Kettledrum —Haricot, and his dam, Rosewreath, is by Thurio—Red Rag, by Lord Lyon—Rouge Rose. Now, Feve was by Lord Clifden out of Haricot, and the N.Z. Stud Co.’s mare Rosette (dam of Escutcheon, Musk Rose, Rose Argent, &c.) was a full sister to Red Rag.

There were some slight errors in the list of entries for the Melbourne Cup as cabled. The correct number is 135, and the following amendments have to be made in the list as published in this journal of the 9th inst.: —For Cherry, read Cherrygirl; for Knight, Silver Knight ; for David, Daniel; for Terembrom, Terebone; and for Eros, Eurus; while Polly and Mohia should read as one name, Polly Mohr.

A special supplement with this issue of the Sporting Review announces that Mr.. H. Ellison, of Auckland, is about to issue a “ New Zealand Centaur’s Guide.” It will contain a true and correct record of every horse entered for the New Zealand Cup, giving his or her full performances up to date, with pedigree, sex, age. weight and owner’s name ; also a list of the nominations for the Derbies, Guineas, and all leading classical events for the forthcoming racing season ; athletic records of every description, and a host of other information of great value to every sporting man. The book will be published immediately after the declaration of the weights for the N.Z. Cup (which are due on July Ist.) and should meet with a ready sale.

The “Royal Ascot” Meeting was in progress at the end of last week. The Gold Vase, value 200 sovs., given bv Her Majesty the Queen, and run over a course of two miles, was won by “Mr. Abington” with Matragon, the five-year-old son of Bend Or and Tiger Lily , the three-year-old Thessalian was second, and the City and Suburban Handicap winner, Clarence, third. The Alexandra Plate fell to the Duke of Westminster by the aid of Blue Green, a son of Caeruleus (brother to Blue Gown) and Angelica, Lord Penryhn’s Brocken was second, and the Hon. J. Lowther’s Hounsditch third.

George Wright intended to have left for Sydney by the Te Anau on Tuesday, but at the last moment was Erevented, owing to one of the youngsters in his stable eing attacked by influenza. He wanted to see the Victoria Grand National Hurdle Race and Steeplechase decided, and was a good deal disappointed at not being able to get over to Melbourne in time. He may leave here later on though, and will then bring back the St. Leger—Necklace filly, Miss Letty, who has been in training in Sydney for some time past. She has not won a race over there, but has run second in two big events when the stable money was on. It will hardly be credited that a son of Musket—a rarity without the bounds of Australasia—has been unearthed in Demerar a, British Guiana, but such is the case. The horse referred to is St. Bruno, who is by Musket from Monaco, by Rosicrucian, and was sold as a yearling for 920 guineas. St. Bruno was once the property of the famous jockey, Fred Archer.