Turf Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 197, 3 May 1894, Page 7

Turf Topics.

By

Reviewer.

/450 has been refused for Pom Pbm.

Percy White has decided to make his headquarters at Hastings. The jumper The Layman fell in the Hurdle Race at Epsom (Vic.) and broke his neck. The Australian Jockey Club have voted to Rowley Longford, the jockey, in addition to from the Distressed Jockeys’ Fund.

A cash fielder was ejected from the Woodville Racing Club’s meeting for betting against the Club’s rules.

A jockey named Robert Heath met his death at Melbourne lately while riding Baltimore (who fell) in the Hurdle Race at Ascot.

That once powerful body, the Australian Bookmakers’ Association, is likely to soon fall through, owing to the resignation of some of the prominent members.

An Australian stable boy admitted in a court that he had committed perjury : “ Oh, it wasn’t true what I said before ; only the boss told me to swear it, you know.” Major George’s cast-off mare Coalscuttle was instructed last week in her first attempt at the jumping game. She did not shape any too well; Viceroy and Red Rose accompanied her. Meltonian, while doing a gallop at Flemington, swerved and ran into a post and and injured his near shoulder so badly tnat it is expected he will not be seen on the track again for some considerable time.

I regret to have to mention that some “ sneak ” got away with certain valuables belonging to some of the jockeys at the Hunt Club meeting last Saturday. In one case I believe the thief was mean enough to take a shirt, collar and studs.

Mr E. D. Halstead had considerable trouble in getting his fields away last Saturday, but when he did drop the flag all the horses seemed to get away on very even terms.

I fancy that old veteran Jack Chaafe had bad luck in not winning the Pony Handicap at the Hunt Club meeting with Brown Mantle, as had not the little mare got interfered with when coming up the straight I think the judge’s verdict would have been different.

The Sydney Bulletin says that “ The explanation of Titan’s vagaries was inside of him, as with many another horse who gets a character for ‘■roguery.* That Titan didn’t die before he was worked back into form speaks 'highly for Scobie’s careful treatment of him.” Out-of Z 2164 passed through the machine on Saturday last, the odd money only amounted to Z 5 12s, made up as follows : Maiden Plate ss, Hurdles 15s, Benefit Handicap nil. Pony Race los, Steeplechase 3s, Pony Hurdles 445, and Shorts Handicap 375. Says the Sydney Bulletin : “Ata recent Victorian race meeting, bookmakers refused to bet on the ground that there were not enough ‘ triers,’ and no'backers for the stiff ’uns. One is apt to forget that the ‘books’ want what the public want —large fields and active competition among owners. In fact the blasphemous Hebrew is, for business reasons, in favour of turf morality—and

The totalisator tax in connection with the Garrett Benefit Meeting amounted to 9s 3d.

The bay yearling Bluecap, by Abercom from Blue and White, has gone into Tom Payten’s stable.

A cross-country jockey named F. J. Doyle, arrived in Melbourne from London lately, where he intends to reside permanently.

The sum of was passed through the totalisators at the Pakuranga Hunt Club meeting on Saturday.

Dunlop, the Melbourne Cup winner of 1887, took first prize in the blood stallion class at the Gundagai (Victoria) Show recently. Pansy’s performance in the Hunt Club Hurdles was a very meritorious one, the official time for the if miles being registered at 3min 3 lusecs. His Excellency the Governor has kindly donated the sum of 3s, through the Pakuranga Hunt Club, to the Garrett Benefit Fund.

The Ballarrat sportsman, Mr’Martin Loughlin, who has been seriously ill for some time past, is now on the improve. Kingston, out of 129 starts, on the American turf, was unplaced only four times. He is also the second largest winner in point of money.

Backing is going on well on the other side for the next Melbourne Derby and Cup double. Those favoured for the Derby are Dreamland, Dryden, Cobbitty and Forward.

Mr Dave Stewart, the owner of Tingara, threw in for a good stake over his mare’s win in the Shorts Handicap last Saturday. I trust it will often be in my power to chronicle the same good luck for this popular Thames sportsman.

I am pleased to know that Mr John Lennard, the owner of Acacia, had a couple of tickets on her when she won the Benefit Handicap at the Hunt Club Meeting, paying the nice dividend of 4s.

Mr Rathbone struck a very appropriate name when he hit upon “ Sparkle ” for his Fusilade— Radiance colt. Appropriate naming is a virtue to which the majority of owners are strangers, and I congratulate Mr Rathbone upon his excellent choice.

I was glad to see Mr N. Dickey, the Paeroa sportsman, have a slice of luck at the Hunt Club meeting, when his mare Virgin appropriated the Pony Race of six furlongs, last Saturday, paying a dividend of/’ij 2s, and I only hope he had a few tickets on the machine.

From Sydney I learn that the New South Wales Pony and Galloway Association will confer with the Australian Jockey Club in reference to the desirability of limiting the number of race meetings held within the Metropolitan district, and bringing them all under the control of one body. In the course of an able article on the flying start question “Hidalgo,” the well-informed U.S.A, turf scribe, remarks, “I regard the flying start as an abomination that is spoiling from 300 to 500 good colts annually without any correlevant benefit to such as are not spoiled by the crazy breakaway process. I would rather see slower races run and see some good horses left over from one season to another.”

The nominations for the North New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase and Hurdles are very satisfactory. In the Hurdles the number totals up to 25, Comprising such good performers as Couranto, Despised, Kapua, Gondolier and Liberator; while in the Steeplechase, out of the 24 entered, the following cracks appear amongst the list : Couranto, Despised, Mutiny and Gondolier. The weights for both events will be due on the 6th inst.

The expeditious way in which Messrs Adams and Andrews worked the totalisators at the Pakuranga Hunt Club meeting, on Saturday last, gave entire satisfaction to the general public. One incident occurred in connection with the Benefit Handicap, in which one investor tore up his ticket on the winner Acacia, but afterwards collected the pieces and put them together as well as he could under the circumstances, and on presenting the same to the totalisator proprietors the investor was paid bis money without any hesitation. A proposition to take a string of Australian horses to compete in America and England has been made by Mr Bruce Lowe, a gentleman well known in sport in the U.S.A. His idea is that several owners of race horses in Australia should form a syndicate, secure good representative Antidodean bred horses, and bring them to America to contest against those of American breeding. California would be the debarking point, being the nearest. It is twenty-six days’ sail from Sydney to San Francisco, and the plan provides that the horses shall be shipped about October, that is, in the Spring of the Australian year. Arrived in ’Frisco they would be wintered there and prepared to start at the Spring meeting of the following year. Commenting upon the above the New York Spirit of the Times has the following:—The scheme of international races suggested by Mr C. Bruce Lowe certainly has some novel features. The plan is attractive, and, if properly carried out, would no doubt boom racing wonderfully. Its success, however, would depend very largely upon the interest developed in Australia in the subject. If the Australians took enough interest in the matter to send over some of their very best horses, such for instance as Carnage, winner of the Derby, then the scheme would at once of its own weight take on an international aspect, and would unquestionably arouse a tremendous amount of interest both in this country and in Australia. But if our Antipodean friends were content to send us only such horses as might be easily missed from Australia, but which might have a sales value, it is doubtful if any great amount of enthusiasm could be aroused in this country. So called international matches of any sort fall very flat unless they are international in fact as well as in name, and are backed up by public sentiment and national pride. If our Australian friends will send over representative horses it may be depended upon that American turfmen will extend to them every possible courtesy and attention, and no doubt a Tammany or a Salvator will be forthcoming to battle for the reputation and honour of America.

The cause of Titan’s death, heart disease, explain’s that sensational gelding’s erratic running. Boulanger will only be allowed to serve thirty mares next season. His fee will be 10 guineas.

Mons Meg, by Martini-Henri from Malacca, is said to be in foal to the Derby winner Donovan. English files bring news of the death of “ Boris ” (Mr E. H. Bromhead) of the London Referee, of inflammation of the lungs. “ Buff and Black,” who originated the rumour that Rangipuhi had changed contradicts the same in the last issue of his journal.

Dr Hasbrouck, one of Sir Modred’s get, has the good record of having won 12 races out of the 21 in which he ran.

The yearling colt by Maxim—Miss Kate, has had bestowed upon him the well thought of name of Maximus.

The Sydney steeplechaser Albert, whom P. Nolan, the once Aucklander, has had many a mount on, has been turned out for a spell. Penance’s owner, Mr W. T. Jones, is spoken of in Victoria as a likely candidate for a seat on the V.R.C. Committee at the next annual election. Rumour says’ that Vogengang is to be tried over the little sticks with a view to the Grand National Hurdle Race to be run at Riccarton in August next. Mr Morrin informs me that out of 28 foals at Wellington Park he has weaned 24. Frailty has a filly to Castor, Ouida a beautiful colt to Cuirassier, Cissy a colt to Castor. “Terlinga,” of the Australasian, writes: — “ More reductions in stakes. I hear that the next Grand National Steeplechase at Caulfield will be dropped from to/750.” The opinion of a prominent American turf writer respecting the flying start is that it promotes a tendency to prevent truly run races, and to ruin the tempers of horses. An entry of twenty-five for the Grand Nationa Hurdle Race and 24 for the Great Northern Steeplechase looks well for the success ot the A.R.C. Winter Meeting at Ellerslie on June 6th and 9th. Mr H. Oxenham, the leviathan Australian bookmaker, has a book open on the next Caulfield Cup, and a 000 one on the Melbourne Cup, in addition to the usual double betting. The uncertainty of horseflesh. A yearling colt by Trenton —Girofle, would not be sold under looogns ; yet his half-brother, when recently offered at a Brisbane saleyard, could not realise more than two guineas. The Yeoman says that Guncotton has been leased from Donald Fraser by Mr Surman, of Bulls, also the Natator—Speculation colt. They will be trained by T. Ross, who, until lately, had charge of Marama, Huia, etc. At the end of the racing season in America Sir Modred all but headed the list of winning sires, 554 of his representative having won nearly in stakes. His principal progeny were Sir Excess, Comanche, Dr. Hasbrouck, and Gloaming.

The Sydney Referee writer advises his readers that the best colts to back for the next V.R.C. Derby are Dreamland, Moorite, Bonnie Scotland and Cobbitty. The best pair he takes to be Dreamland and Moorite.

I have to acknowledge from Mr A. G. Brett, secretary of the Egmont Racing Club, a neat little card containing a list of the weights for the Handicap Hurdles, Hack Hurdles, Trial Steeplechase, Egmont Steeplechase and both Hack races on the flat, the acceptances for which will be due on May 4th. Racing in and around Sydney has assumed such alarming proportions that the associated clubs have communicated with the A.J.C., requesting a conference with a view of minimising racing in the metropolitan district. The application has received consent.

Apropos of the reduction by the V.R.C. in the xVlelbourneCup money to the Australasian raises the question whether it would not have been better to ha ve cut the stakes down or £ 3000, and have reverted to the old plan of making the race a sweepstake. Either of these sums (with a sweep added) would have, the journal quoted considers, constituted a prize worthy of the greatest race in the Southern hemisphere.

The connections of a certain horse had to be cautioned at a recent N.S.W. Meeting; and the warning was conveyed by the President of the Club in the following vigbrious terms :— “ Look here, you blackguards, my stewards have told me to give you a caution, and let me tell you, that if I had my way, it would be a long time before you had a chance of pulling a horse I ” Long distance races are being urged in the States, and in support of their establishment it is urged that, sprint races provide a concession to the bookmakers and a prolific source of turf scandals. Australia is pointed to as a country where long distance racing has had a most beneficial effect both as regards breeding and the morale of the turf.

Ladas, the favourite for the English Derby, is thus described :—“ln colour a bay, without white save for a birthmark under the saddle, Ladas stands within a shade of i6hds, and is a colt of exceptional length and quality. With the best of shoulders and plenty of heart room, scarcely a fault can be found with his conformation, except that he has somewhat rounded joints, which might prove a source of trouble in the event of the ground being hard in the spring.”

“ Verax’s ” opinion of the starting machine :— “At the outset I will admit that the machine gets the horses into line better than a starter. I contend, however, that horses should not be started from a mark or a straight line. As I have said before they should be taken back and started from a walk when they are all on the move. This gives every horse a better chance of getting on his legs quickly ~ . Another objection to the machine is that the middle division get very little chance because they are wedged in fast between the horses on the rails and on the outside. It was the middle division that fell back on Saturday for the simple reason that the horses on the outside cut across to join those on the rails and the middle lot were hemmed in.”

The filly by Trenton from Polly has been named Orienta. Heart of Oak is taking things quietly, and is vastly improved in looks. The nominations for the New Zealand Cup will be due on Ist June. J The Napier Park Racing Club have decided not to hold a winter meeting. A pair that will shortly be placed on the market -Leolantis and Fabulous. Chester is in the market if a buyer is about. Sixty guineas will buy the son of Opawa. Crazy Kate goes to Egmont to compete in the Steeplechase. On Friday next Mr W. Knight will issue the weights for the Takapuna Jockey Club’s Winter meeting. Our Wanganui correspondent wires that the Kai Iwi Lady appeal will be heard on the loth inst. Captain Russell has presented the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club with a portrait of the late Sam Powell. Triton (by St. Leger—Naiad) will not race any more. He has proved a disappointment on the turf, says the Hawke’s Bay Telegraph, and. so will be utilised in future at the hunts. Capt. Russell says there are too many thoroughbred stallions in his district, and that a man who has a really good one cannot get a fair profit 6n him.

Egmont Winter races come off this day week. Anticipations by “Reviewer” and the Wanganui correspondent of the Review will be found in another column.

St. Hippo will have half-a-dozen mares put to him next season. The serving will be open to the public, and the fee has not yet been determined.

It is to be hoped sportsmen will make a point of attending the athletic meeting to be held on the Domain next Saturday in aid of the Garrett fund.

Mr McKay has three youngsters by Retrenchment out of Abyss that are to be taken in hand shortly. Next year the mare will be put to Mr Walters’ stallion Blairgowrie.

A wire from the Wanganui correspondent of the Review states that the famous Dandy— Straightshot protest will be settled on Fiiday night, and that rumour says it is almost a certainty Strayshot will get it. The nominations and acceptances in connection with the Wanganui Jockey Club’s Winter Meeting will be found in the “ Weights ” column of the Review. In the accceptances there are eleven in the Flying Handicap, thirteen in the Winter Oats and nine in the Handicap Steeplechase.

In selecting a St. Simon stallion to strengthen his St. Albans Stud, Mr W. R. Wilson picked upon Bill of Portland, by St. Simon from Electric Light. The latter’s pedigree shows she is by Isonomy’s sire, Sterling, from Beachy Head, by Moslem’s sire Knight of St. Patrick, from Beechnut by Nutwith. Bill of Portland will be shipped for Victoria in June next.

In connection with the Egmont Winter Race Meeting, to be held on the 10th instant, the Northern Steamship Company advertise that the s.s. » “ Gairloch ” will leave Auckland for the meeting on Thursday next, the 7th instant, carrying excursionists to the races. The through return fare (rail and steamer and available for fourteen days) will be £2 10s.

News from the Papakura stud states that Mr Walters has two good youngsters in hand. One is a brown colt by Hotchkiss out of Hipporina, upon whom he has bestowed the name of Armour. Another is a black colt by Hippocampus out of Rosarina, the first colt this mare has had in her last five, which were all fillies. He is called Fisherboy, and is wonderfully like his sire. The pair are being broken in. “In the opinion of Lord William Beresford,” says the Sporting Times, “ the best horse ever known in India was Metal. It would be singular indeed, looking at the name, if Metallic were to prove herself the best mare. She can go fast and stay, and as she moves well on hard ground, we prophesy even now that the next year’s Viceroy’s Cup will find its way to Lucknow. Metal and Metallic are in no way related, except that Metal is by Stirling, and the dam of Metallic is also by that sire. We cannot call to mind a mare quite of Metallic’s class that went to India. Metallic is by Sweetbread from Bell Metal by Stirling.”

Details are given in a late number of the Sporting and Dramatic News of an American device for electrifying sluggish and roguish horses. It is, to quote the News, “ A whip with a battery hidden in the hollow handle, the effect of which is to make the horse swerve, as no one can be much surprised to hear. Another notion is to place batteries in the jockey’s boots. In the seams of the legs of the breeches tinsel wires are sewed that lead to the foot, and are there connected with other wires which are run through the bottom of the boot and in a groove along the soles. The under strap attached to the spur is lined with a thin sheet of copper which, when the spur is adjusted comes in close and constant contact with the wire on the bottom of the boot. Two wires depend from the battery, provided at the end with little steel spring clasps, and these are fastened on to the wire in the seams. From both poles of the battery in the wooden case two insulated wires, twisted together, extend up underneath the coat to the shoulder and down the sleeve to just above the elbow, where they terminate in a spring, to which is attached a garter. When the garter is adjusted around the arm it brings the spring directly on the inside of the arm, and by pressing his arm to his body the jockey is able to connect the two poles and send a shock of electricity down through the wires in trousers and boots through the spurs and into the horse. The shock continues as long as the jockey keeps his arm pressed to his side, and is ended the instant he raises his arm, thus breaking the electric current. Seven races are said to have, been won on horses thus ‘ shocked’ into the display of unprecedented form, but a considerable number were lost because the rapid action of riding dislocated the delicate wires and threw the out of gear." V.fflgS

Blairgowrie is wonderfully well, and is greatly improved in appearance. An Australian paper in giving a list of r ® cor< J jumps instances Brian Boni’s 37ft over a hurdle a jEUngiora. Merganser will, says Sydney Truth, be a candidate for the next Cup. Which—the Melbourne or the Sydney Cup ? The rival Victorian trotters, Osterley and Mystery, have been bought by the one owner, who intends to mate them. Spinfeldt will, writes the N.Z. Mail, be hacked over hunting country to see if he is likely to prove any good over the sticks. Owing to some unexplained reason we have received no telegrams respecting the Wellington Meeting held yesterday. Our Wellington representative wires that the ZBOO odd at stake in the Wanganui Dandy case will be paid on the second horse, to whom the stakes will, he declares, be awarded. Pansy must have slipped over her mile and three-quarters at Ellerslie last Saturday. The official time was 3min 33>sec, but 3mm 25sec was a good sight nearer the mark. The Duke of Westminster has been lucky enough to get an own brother to Ormonde from Lily Agnes, although that renowned matron is now at the advanced age of 24. No doubt considerable surprise was felt by the public last Saturday at the delay which took place in starting the second event ot the Garrett Meeting. The club officials were waiting for the Governor, whose late arrival at the course delayed the programme the whole day. Prioress, who was withdrawn from the Thompson Handicap at Wellington, had no difficulty in annexing the opening event at the meeting, the Railway Handicap. She carried 7.10, and won easily, lunning the six furlongs in imin ißsec. The colt by Castor from Nymph, who was sold very cheaply, writes “ Buff and Black,” at the last blood stock sale of Mr Douglas’, Hawke’s Bay, which I attended, has been taken up by Mr D. Knight, of Hawera. He is a handsome colt, and there were others besides myself who wondered at him being sold for 49 guineas. For the law to be consistent, Mr Justice Richmond considers that the legislature, if it discourages systematic betting, should decree that disputes connected with racing should not be made the subject of litigation in law courts. He thinks cups and plates, equally with bets, ought ' not to be recoverable at law. Some long lived ones. Matchem begat Halandaise, winner of the 1878 St. Leger, when he was 26 years of age ', the great Sampson died at 32; Thunderbolt (by Stockwell) died at 31 ; Competitor (the last of the Eclipses) died at 30 ; and the American trotting sire Volunteer gave up this life at the advanced age of 34. The history of celebrated Australian racers from the day of Jorrocks, who was the equine hero of the first decade of racing in Australia, is being published by Sydney Truth. Jorrocks, who was bred near Mudgee, N.S.W., in 1833, was quite the Eclipse of his day. He was by Whisker from Matilda, by Steeltrap from Vesta, by the Arabian Model from Caraboo, by old Hector.

Writes Truth'. “The void created in the " Auckland Racing world by the sad demise of Mr Robert Garrett will be hard to fill. There is not one dissentient voice to the fact of Mr Garrett’s having been the beau ideal of a thorough sportsman fn every good sense of the word. Sympathy is felt and expressed by all who knew him—sympathy for his sad ending and for the bereaved. The A.R.U., too, have lost a good man and true, and they will be fortunate indeed if they can replace him with another as worthy.” In referring to the decline of the Australian Bookmakers’Association Truth remarks: “The A.B.A. cannot cause a suspension of business on any course, for there is a sufficiency of bookmakers outside its ranks to supply all requirements; a fact that will be hailed with pleasure by the public in general and horseowners and course proprietors in particular. So far as regards social functions, picnics, etc., the A.B.A. may be as vigorous as ever, but for business results we are afraid that under present conditions it has outlived the sphere ot its usefulness.”

Comparing the position of the American trainer with the English trainer the New York Spirit of the Times remarks The position a first-class trainer occupies in England is one of absolute luxury and ease. In England it is no uncommon thing for a trainer to be in the employ of three generations of the same family,' and there are in England to-day young trainers who are in the same position that their grandfathers were sixty or seventy years ago. These are the employers and owners who are the real backbone of horseracing in England. They race because they are hereditary lovers of the race-horse. The trainer of a first-class stable is looked up to and respected over there in a way that is never dreamed of here (America.)” In recording the retirement'from the English turf of the Duke of Beaufort, the Spirit of the Times remarks: “ The Duke of Beaufort became actively interested in racing in 1857 when he won the sixth Biennial, and the July Stakes with Gin, by Orlando, winning a handsome sum in bets over the latter victory at odds of 12 to 1. . •• . • The best known horses that have ever raced in the Duke’s colours since his first success in 1857 are Siberia, winner of the One Thousand in 1865; Scottish Queen, who won the same event in 1869; Ceylon, who won the Grand Prix de Paris in 1866; Vauban and Petronel, winners of the Two Thousand respectfully in 1867 and 1880, and Reve d’Or, winner of the One Thousand and Oaks in 1887. The honors of the Derby or St. Leger have never fallen to the Duke’s lot, his nearest approach to success in either of these classic events being Vauban’s third to Hermit and Marksman in 1867. Son of a Gun, by Petronel, was one of the best performers in the stable last year, winning the North Derby at Newcastle, the Ebor St. Leger, and the Newmarket Derby. . . . The retirement of so distinguished a sup- - porter of the turf, and of such a thorough sportsman, has naturally excited widespread regret in England, where the Duke’s character and services to thoroughbred interests are well and; favourably known.”

“ Spectator’s ” tip for the Thompson Handicap is Purepo. The success which Mr Halstead achieved with the starter’s flag at the Garrett Meeting ought to commend that gentleman to favour at Ellerslie. “Castor” reports that the steeplechaser Matariki, who was doing splendid work in Mr Butler’s hands, has broken down. << Marauder, by Bonnie Carlisle, who was bred in New Zealand, leaves for India in a few days.’ —Sportsman. Respecting Hermit’s win in the English Derby of 1867 it is said that the stable won about 65,000 dollars. Plaintiff’s costs in the Hayes v. Australasian case amounted to according to Melbourne Sportsman. Defendant’s exceed £ 1500. “ Terlinga ” writes that Mr W. R. Wilson of the St. Albans Stud is under promise to pay a visit to Auckland after the next Melbourne Cup. Commenting upon the Australian starting machines the Calcutta Sporting News says: — “ The starting machine will not, we opine, ever find it way outside Australia, as neither in England nor in this country is the custom of a standing start followed.” The ill luck which followed Plunger Jubilee Benzon appears to have turned. I notice from Australian files that he is reported to have made a wealthy marriage which has enabled him to send out £20,000 for investment in West Australian mines—which looks as though he is going to follow the old plunging game. Respecting the weighting in connection with the Wellington meeting, the Riccarton raconteur of the Press writes his opinion that he is sure “ Mr Evett has overrated horses on two or three occasions.” And 1 know some owners who would say ‘‘hear hear,” without the provisos “ two or three ” occasions. Writing of Dreamland, “ Asmodeus ” remarks that he is bred on the ideal lines of a prospective Derby winner, and that “ in this respect he holds an advantage over Forward and Moorite, whose parental connections are more suggestive of brilliancy in to pace than a transcendent family prestige on the score of stamina.” Writes the Auckland correspondent of the Canterbury Times : — “ By all accounts there is a nice little history attaching to the surprise victory on the part of Peggy in the Huia Handicap at Potter’s Paddock on Saturday last. The mare had, previously in the afternoon, won the principal trotting event, and that all the straps were not supposed to be tight when she contested the second race, the dividend of £29 5s is pretty clear evidence.” A plucky loser. When Hermit won the Derby of 1867 he rained the Marquis of Hastings, who, even in the first bitterness of his loss, bore himself as a man and a gentleman. Going up to the horse as he stood outside the weighing room door, it is said he regarded him critically and not unkindly, and when the last wretched shred of hope was taken away with the uttering, by the clerk of the scales of the magic words, “All right,” he quietly patted the horse’s neck, without displaying a vestige of emotion. On some one referring to this incident later, he replied : “ Yes. I said nothing—perhaps showed nothing, but God knows what I felt.” A crusade against turf gambling has been commenced by the Rev. Alex. Marshall, a Victorian clergyman, concerning which the Referee sarcastically points out that there is no doubt there is too much inferior racing, and that there are also tod many inferior parsons who preach inferior sermons. “It would be satisfactory to most racing men if inferior racing were suppressed ; it would also be satisfactory to churchgoers if inferior parsons with their inferior sermons were suppressed. ’ ’ Which is rather rough on the reverend agitator 1 In writing of the visit to New Zealand of Mr F. R. Rowe, who bought The Idler from Mr H Mossman, the Referee remarks :—“ Whilst in New Zealand Mr Rowe, met Mr D. Rutherford, owner of the champion jumpers, Kulnine and Norton. Mr Rutherford informed him that he intended to enter the two horses for the V R.C. Grand National Meeting, and would try to sell them over here, as they were too heavily weighted in New Zealand. As giving an idea of the weights Norton is called upon to carry, Mr Rowe mentions the gelding is usually ridden in a saddle weighing 4st.”

Concerning racing, here is what the Rev. A. Marshall, a Victorian divine who has inaugurated a crusade against turf gambling, has to say :— “ The bulk of racing is a sink of iniquity, not a shadow of doubt about it. The outsider, if he goes on betting race after race, is sure to lose in the end. The number of jockeys who are quite honest is singularly sma ll .. The robbery is so great that those who profess to run honestly are not believed, and those who do so are regarded as fools— ‘ mugs ’is the expressive phrase used on the turf. ’ ’ Which looks as though the worthy gentleman only regards the turf from the seamy point of view. There are black sheep on the tarf, just as there are black sheep in the clergy. To purify the turf the rev. gentleman advocates the introduction- of the “ tote,” which, by the way, may account for the purity of the New Zealand turf.

Sprint racing in America is strongly attacked in a recent number of the Spirit of the Times by “ Hidalgo.” In support of his argument mention is made by the same journal of the review of the races run in the States last year. About 12,000 recorded races were run in 1893. Of these 135 were at three furlongs, 789 at half a mile, 1,404 at four and a half furlongs, 2,714 at five furlongs, 850 at five and a half furlongs, 2,157 at six furlongs, 528 at six and a half furlongs, 990 at seven furlongs, 205 at seven and a half furlongs and 1,114 at a mile. The following comprise very nearly all the races at distances over a mile : — Mile and twenty yards, 16 ; mile and fifty yards, 24 ; mile and seventy yards, 48 ; mile ana a sixteenth, 335 ; mile and a furlong, 218 ; mile and three-sixteenths, 11 ; mile and a quarter, 147 ; mile and three-eighths, 12, and a mile and a half, 45. From this it will be seen that races at a mile and under were more than 90 per cent, of the entire number of races run, and races at six furlongs and under were about 66 per cent, of the total number run,

The annual general meeting of members of the Canterbury Jockey Club will be held on 10th mst.

The Canterbury jumper, Clarence, pulled up lame after do-ng a strong gallop at Riccarton last week.

Matariki, the steeplechaser, while being trained in Mr P. Butler’s stable has broken down. Report says that he was a beautiful fencer with lots of pare.

It was remarked at the start for the Shorts, the last race at the Garrett meeting, that St. Kilda displayed no anxiety to come up with her field when there was a probability of the flag dropping. The starter had to use some very plain speech to the jockey before a start was effected

In advocating the establishment of long distance races in America, “ Hidalgo ” says he wants to live to see the day that it is a misdemeanour punishable by fine and imprisonment to run a tour-year-old (or upward) horse less than a mile. A bay filly by Brutus, dam Bessie, dropped in America this season, was perfect to the hocks and knees. The near fore and hind legs, however, were double from the knee and hock, making it six-legged. The youngster was chloroformed and presented to the Stanford University, where its skeleton will be placed in the museum.

“ Freelance ” in the Sportsman writes thus : — “Vakeel vice Titan deceased is now a pretty strong order for the Adelaide Cup, and, however much Mr John Crozier may sympathise with Mr Donald Wallace in the loss of the gelding (who would, I think, all going well, have annexed the eight hundred sovereigns and the gold cup appertaining thereto), he can scarcely be much chagrined by the road being now partially paved for Vakeel by Titan’s “ unavoidable ” absence.” “It may not be generally known that T. Connop, the light-weight horseman, who last week rode Mr Stead’s filly Bluefire to victory in the C.J.C. Challenge Stakes, was at one time a newsEaper runner in Auckland. Connop shows every kelihood of steering a good course, and though removed from parental control he remains a most dutiful son.”—Sydney Truth.

An American turf writer remarks : — “ The Australian mare Candid was recently beaten in a mile race at San Francisco, which took imin 44|sec to traverse.” A ’Friscan writer commenting upon this mare remarks, “ The race shows how good a mare the Australian Candid is. She is a grand-looking specimen of the thoroughbred, and it must be remembered has given weight away every time she has started, as although credited with being a four-year-old, she is in reality but a month or two over three years, foaling time in Australia being in November.” Candid is a full sister to Candour, who failed to win a Park Stakes in Sydney with 6.7 up. Writing of the Australian racer, Stromboli, now in America, “ Hidalgo ” writes: —“ He is the sensational horse of Western America just at the present time of writing. In the last two races he ran he won in imin i3|sec for six furlongs and imin fora mile, and both on a dead slow track. He gave weight to every horse in the race but Nomad, who carried 115 Tb, and shut up like a jack-knife at six furlongs, when the big brown fellow collared him. I have been trying to get P. J. Dwyer to buy him. They only want io,ooodols for him, and that is no money at all for him if he will stand up for two races more. So far the big fellow has shown no signs of lameness, and it is to be regretted that he is not in either the Brooklyn or Suburban Handicaps, each a ten furlongs,” The writer quoted gives it as his opinion that there is not a horse in America that can beat him two miles at weight for age, unless it be Clifford or Tammany.

Those who believe in prophetic predictions may be interested in knowing, writes “The Admiral,” that Madame Heller, whose telepathy in an hypnotic state caused so much wonderment at the City Hall last week, declares that Carnage will win the next Melbourne Cup. Mr Heller claims that during a four years’ sojourn in Australia Madame has picked the winner three out of four for this very race. I have a recollection that when Madame Baldwin was round here some three years ago she went right through the colony predicting in her clairvoyant state that July or Trenton would account for the Autumn Handicap shortly after to be decided in Christchurch. This was before the days of the totalisator, and when big “ books” used to be made. Both horses proved to be “ milkers,” and it was subsequently understood that the Baldwins had been instructed to give the “ tip” by a bookmaker who profited largely by it. Here are the American performances, as given in the Spirit of the Times, of the Australian Stromboli, who recently suffered an important defeat in the land of the Stars and Stripes:— “ Stromboli has appeared in public in all eleven times since December 9, of which he has won three races and has been placed second twice. On December 9, carrying 1091 b, he was last to Nomad and a good field, beaten a mile in 1.43, on a fair track, having run well for six furlongs. December 12, he ran fifth, a mile, in moderate company in 1.46 J. He moved up from the rear, and led into the stretch, then began to stop. His best price was 4to 1. December 19 he beat a field of nine indifferent class horses, carrying 1221 b, seven furlongs, in 1.29|; December 23, never prominent at mile and a quarter, carrying 1001 b ; December 25, second to Glee Boy, a mile, carrying 1131 b, in 1.47 f ; January 10, winner at six furlongs in 1.13 J, carrying 1051 b (opening betting 20, post betting 8); January 13, won at a mile, carrying 1101 b, in 1.41|; February 15, beaten at six furlongs in 1.16 J, carrying 1221 b ; March I, carrying 1191 b, second to Gascon, a mile, in 1.43;?-; March 10, never prominent in a mile and a furlong, run in 1.584, the mile in 1.44|; March 17, won mile and a sixteenth, carrying 1161 b, in 1.48, Royal Flush having gone the mile in 1.41|.

The World’s Trio people have been doing good business during the week at the Opera House. The show is a variety one, and a very good one too. Chas. Fanning is the leading light and he shines with great success.

Public Notice.—Mr George J. Warner is no longer in the employ of the undersigned, and has no authority to collect any moneys or transact business on their behalf. Scott Feinting Co., High Street and Vulcan Lane, Auckland.— [Advt.J