Turf Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume V, Issue 216, 13 September 1894, Page 6

Turf Topics.

By Reviewer.

Entries close to-day for Napier Park. Australian files report the death of Mr Miller, owner of C.B. The ponies Direct and Frisco passed the A.R.C. 14.2 standard on Tuesday last. Major Nelson George arrived by the Alameda yesterday. Mr A. Kidd’s Tasman—Rubina colt has been named Kingsman. Tellus is coming into favour on the other side for the Caulfield Cup. The touts swear by him. It is believed by Southerners that Mr Stead’s Maxim—Sapphire colt, Mannlicher, will not be seen at his best until the Autumn. Betting on the New Zealand Cup has been very limited locally. Royal Rose and Magazine have been supported to a fair extent. The Wellington Park foaling returns up to date show that the matrons of the establishment have produced five colts and six fillies. The Hawke’s Bay Hunt Club sports are booked to come off on the Hawke’s Bay Trotting Club’s course at Hastings on the 19th inst. Mentor was awarded first prize in the thoroughbred stallion class at the recent Royal Agricultural Society’s Melbourne show. Knight of the Garter was runner-up. Up to June 19 the produce of Sir Modred in America had won £7,008 in stakes, the New Zealand horse being second to Onondoga, by Leamington, with £7,457. Darebin, who has a good two-year-old running for him, had won £5,805. I understand that the racing mare Balm, which Mr Glasson purchased on the Australian side, will not be raced but will be mated with either Newbold’s son Megaphone or Harere, the son of Malua and Noma. The English bred colt Mostyn, who has been giving some trouble in his training, has dropped out of the Caulfield Cup. He remains in the Melbourne Cup, in which his recent penalty brings his weight to 7.6. The following lots were bought to the order of Australian buyers at the last Newmarket sales : — Yearling colt, by Salisbury — Impetuous (Mr Mackay); filly, by Prince Rudolph—The Lady; filly, by Hazlehatch — Galleon; and a filly by Bendigo The Dancer was in flying order for the County Purse run at the Hawkesbury (Sydney) Meeting on the 16th inst., but had to be content with second place. He had 8.5 to carry over the six furlongs, and in the coming Epsom Handicap of a mile he is weighted at 7.8. His chance cannot be a very good one. Last year’s operatious of the South Auckland Racing Club resulted in the small loss of £6 0s 2d. During the coming season the club will most likely only hold one day’s racing (between Christmas and New Year), at which the stakes will probably be limited to £l5O. Adam McMorran, who was disqualified for life for striking the rider of Jacob over the head while riding at the last W.R.C. Spring meeting, applied last week to the Wellington committee to have his disqualification removed. His application was very rightly refused.

The Spring Meeting of the Wellington Trotting Club will be held at Miramar Park on Oct. 10th. The seven events will carry 200 sovereigns in stake money, and the principal race will be the Wellington Trotting Club Handicap (saddle) of sosovs, two miles and three-quarters. Nominations close on September 22nd. The/sale of privileges in connection with the First Spring Meeting of the Auckland Racing Club resulted as follows Grandstand bar, £2O, Mr S. Tooman; lean-to bar, £2O, Mr J. Hawkins ; refreshment stalls, £2, Mrs Mclntosh ; cards, Mr Neylon ; stabling, /"i, Mr J. Lindsay.

The truth of the subjoined paragraph (from the Australasian) is made clearer to us with the close of every race meeting:—“ The book and the pencil can beat any system ; but a man who follows form and limits his investments to what he can afford may get enough amusement out of backing horses to console him for playing a game which is invariably a losing one.”

St. Leger’s third serving this season was devoted to Bragela, dam of the N.Z. Cup colt Grenadier. With the help of Doncaster’s son the mare should produce rattling good stock. There is at the present a male result of a similar mating developing on One Tree Hill, and on looks the colt is certainly a beauty. Some friendly chaffing between Lottie’s trainer and Dan McLeod resulted in Kean snapping up £4O to £lO re the mare’s chance in the Spring Handicap. The trainer was agreeable to go on at the price quoted but the penciller was ‘ ‘ not on.” When one remembers the small field opposed to Lottie and the dividend she is likely to pay (provided she wins) one cannot wonder at the bookmaker declining any more money at four to one.

The Canterbury correspondent of the Witness states that Mr Gollan was within an ace of purchasing Liberator before he won the Grand National Hurdle Race. Butler remarked to him on the course one morning : “I hear you gave £5OO for Norton ; you can have Liberator for the same, and then you have a chance of winning the double.” Mr Gollan refused to purchase, but he said to a friend at the time, “Were my leg all right I should have him.”

At a meeting of the committee of the South Auckland R.C. the following appointments were made, viz. :—lsaac Coates, Esq., President; W. H. Herries, Esq., Vice - President ; G. Edgecumbe, Treasurer. The question of appointing the starter and handicapper was held over till the next meeting. A committee was appointed to draft a programme to be submitted to a general committee meeting to be held on Monday, Sept. 17th. The secretary was instructed to write and ask the following gentlemen to act:—L. Cussen, Esq., as judge; A. Furze, Esq., clerk of the scales.

Paris’s recent mile in imin at Randwick shows he has his old dash left in him.

Gladstone, a one time brilliant performer (by Gang Forward—lrish Queen) goes to the stud in South Australia this season.

The A.J.C. Derby will be run on Tuesday next. That Bonnie Scotland may win will be a general wish throughout the island, and I gather that he stands a more than respectable chance of scoring.

The Idler (out of a St. Albans mare) showed a dash of speed when he recently defeated The Arab in a South Australian 5 furlong race cut out in 1 min The Arab was considered the crack sprinter of S. A. prior to this race.

Mostyn’s withdrawal from the Calfield Cup is due to a suspicious looking near fore leg, which the colt’s trainer is confident would not stand a winding up for the mile and a half race. He may be served by the longer time that lies before his Melbourne Cup engagement.

The list of principal winning Australian owners shows Mr J. D. Lewis, of Victoria, at the top of the tree with won in 5 races. Mr W. R. Wilson is second with for eleven wins, and Mr F. W. Purchas, the lucky owner of Portsea and Patron, is third, with £5165 for 14 wins. The sale of Mr Lopez’s trotting stallions can hardly be called a success, seeing that only one of the number, A. W. Auther, found a buyer at public auction. La Rue, the bay son of Campaign, was privately purchased by Mr Abbott, who certainly paid none too much for the horse at 4OOgs. The Motu Korea stndmasters report the foaling by Mystery of a handsome chestnut colt to Regel. Mated with a daughter of The Painter and Fortuna the Motu Korea sire has been given every opportunity of proving himself, and from the reports received of his initial effort I understand the youngster is a very likely one. The three thoroughbred stallions, Kalo, Eros, and Blairgowrie were shown at Potter’s Paddock on Saturday last prior to Mr Lopez’s sale of trotters. The trio found many admirers, Blairgowrie coming in for many favourable expressions. I saw Mr Walter’s stallion when he arrived from the other side, and although there may be a shade of fineness perceptible in him, there is no doubt he has wonderfully improved. He is to be limited to thirty mares this season, and the number booked to him up to date is twenty. Mutiny and Couranto are amongst the nominations for the Hurdle Race of 2|miles, and First Steeplechase, to be run at the A.J.C. meeting to be held on September 15, 18, 20 and 22. Waterbury is in both the First and Second Steeplechases, and Three Star figures in the Spring Stakes ijmiles, Craven Plate miles, Wycombe Stakes 1 mile and three furlongs, and the Randwick Plate 3 miles, so that Castor’s roan son is evidently to have his legs stretched before leaving the other side for the New Zealand Cup. Royal Rose, The Dancer, and Acone are also well engaged at the meeting. Handsome Jack, the four-year-old son of St. Leger and Radiant was put in the sale ring on Saturday last, but the i2Ogs offered naturally failed to fill the owner’s estimate. The colt was bred at Sylvia Park (1890 being his foaling date), and though he has never raced, he was proved to be a more than fairly promising horse during the autumn of 1893. As he was rather overgrown at that time a chance was given him to furnish, and looking at him now, one sees he has cei'tainly made the most of his time. After St. Leger’s son was withdrawn on Saturday an offer of roogs was made for Dishonour, the six-year-old son of Captivator—Maid of Honor, but a reserve of 2oogs blocked the deal. It is considered highly probable in Melbourne that the starting machine will be in force at the next Cup meeting. The machinery has slowly but steadily overcome opposition, and now the V.R.C. committee, the members of which laughed at the machine at one time, have invited patentees of any inventions they have not already seen to bring their gates before them and submit them to practical tests. The minor racing clubs have already agreed that all registered suburban clubs shall adopt the machine at an early date, and when they see the full benefit of starting by machinery they will probably consider the advantages to be derived from machine betting. Another member of George Wright’s string was slipped on the N.S. W. side on Saturday last, when Royal Rose, with 8.0 up, started in a field of 15 for the Hawkesbury Grand Handicap of 150 sovs, one mile and three furlongs. Ten to one was the public estimation of the King Cole colt’s chance, and the best he could get was third, Emin Pasha, the five-year-old son of Grandmaster carrying 6.12 to victory in 2min 2s|sec, the aged horse Magnus running second with 7.12/ The Hawkesbury race was a furlong longer than our Autumn Handicap, and if one remembers Royal Rose’s hard held victory in that race (with 21bs more than the N.S.W. event) in 2min I2sec, and then allows I4sec for the extra furlong (which would bring the Auckland colt’s ability well up to 2min 26sec) it looks as though his condition or that of the track had something to do with his defeat in a race that took 2min 25jsec. The wire tells us he came very fast at the finish and for the sake of his N.Z. Cup backers it is to be hoped he did. Mr G. S Budge announces in our advertising columns that his imported American standardbred trotting stallion, Albert Victor, will stand this season at the trotting track Epsom. This fine trotter’s pedigree shows great lines of racing blood, and whether he can foot it in a manner in keeping with his pedigree may be imagined from his performance in the Epsom Trot at Potter’s last season when he made such a holy show of the harnessed trotters opposed to him. On that occasion it will be remembered he caught all his horses in the first half mile, and had he been pushed throughout the two miles he would have put up a record that would have taken some beating locally. Albert Victor is by Albert W., the 2.20 son of Electioneer, who gave to the American tracks such clinkers as Sunol 2.8 J, Palo Alto 2.8 f, Orion and 137 trotters in the 2.30 list. Albert W. himself gave slippery ones when he sired Little Albert 2.10|, Flowing Tide 2.14 f, High Tide 2.174 and many other possessors of fast records. His dam was Victorine, by Echo —Victoria, by Geo. M. Patchen, Jun. — Victress. Particulars re terms may be obtained from Mr G. S. Budge, Valley Road, or Epsom.

It is said that Empire’s destination is Sydney. Cannon by Nordenfeldt —Sister Agnes is at work at Randwick after a lengthy spell. Since the Caulfield races Theodore and Malvolio has become a favourite double for the two big cups. A Plymouth (Eng.) bookmaker has had the fair sized fine of/400 and costs recorded against him for having kept a betting house. Musket’s dam Leita and her full sister Waitotara are expected to foal shortly to Cap-a pie, hews of whose death reached me last night. ♦The N.Z. Mail turf writer prophesies that a proposal for a New Zealand Turf Council will be carried at the meeting of conference delegates in November next. According to the correspondent of a Sydney daily paper ,the pony clubs of N.S.W. gave /■26,72 c in stakes for minature racing in the year closing 31st July last. An exchange states that a French speculator took a bet of 30,000d0l to 6odol that he could name the winners of the rrench Oaks, French Derby, Grand Steeplechase, and Grand Prix de Paris, and won the bet. The acceptors for the Sixth Biennial Stakes of a mile and quarter, to be fought out at the coming A.J.C. Spring Meeting include Mr Hordern’s pair, First Shot and Collarette, and Mr S. H. Gollan’s Bonnie Scotland. Mr S. Hordern’s V.R.O. Derby colt Carbonado (Hotchkiss — Onyx) Jhas been fired and turned out for a year's spell. Sydney racing experts were unanimous in prophesying big things for this nicely-bred one, who may yet verify the flattering future foretold for him. The associated clubs of Melbourne have respectfully declined to contribute £2 per meeting towards the salary of the V.R.C. stipendiary stewards as requested by the head Melbourne Club. The latter will now have to launch one of its thunberbolts or climb down. An effort was made at Manchester on July 16th to cover a 20 mile trot (in harness) inside of the hour by a prominent old country trotter, but the backers of the “ time " won, the horse losing by 111-s'thsec. The 1875 record of ten miles in 29mm 45sec was beaten by swo seconds, but the last two miles found out the trotter’s weakness. When Ultimatum won his pony race at Canterbury Park (Sydney) he carried top weight, 8.13, and took imin iB|sec over the six furlongs. The class was 14. I and the winner’s price was evens. At the same meeting he won a mile race (14 2 class) with 8.5 and 71b over in imin 47|sec. He went to the front after six furlongs had been covered and won comfortably. “ In the Lone Hand Handicap on Saturday last at Caulfield, some of the competitors, judging from the way in which they shaped evidently were conversant with the game of euchre. They did not go alone, but turned it down, with the laudable intention no doubt of trying to get a march in the next rubber.” (Neat method followed by Melbourne Sportsman to hint at stiff running.) ’ Recent advices from Sydney state that Nobleman (by The Australian Peer—Paradox) has quite recovered from his cold and dental troubles. This colt, who is an acceptor for the mile and a quarter Sixth Biennial Stakes (to be run at the forthcoming A.J C Spring Meeting) is a very speedy one judging from the accounts of his track work recorded in the Sydney papers. The Sydney correspondent of the Australasian has the following interesting par re G. Wright’s N.Z. Cup pair:—“A horse called Royal Rose, trained by George Wright, is one that I think may be expected to win a race. Last Saturday morning he was sent once round with King Orry and Oxide, when he travelled home in front of them in 2min 37|sec. On Tuesday he led Three Star, who is pretty well, and far from being a bad one, over seven furlongs in. imin 36|sec.” Yet Royal Rose could only get third in the Hawkesbury Handicap of a mile and three furlongs. I see by Sydney files that Sepoy, who went to New South Wales with Wright, was an acceptor at 7.6 (minimum weight) for a 13 hand pony race run at Lillie Bridge on the night of the 27th ult. Bearing in mind his win with 6.12 in our last Pony Cup, the distance (a mile) of which was covered in imin sisec against a clinking good field I shall be curious to hear how Endymion’s aged gon performed with 7.6 against thirteen hand company over five furlongs. The race would be fought out at night with the aid of the electric light.

A section of the English sporting press takes exception to what they term Lord Rosebery’s want of backbone in meeting the charge of the anti-gambling leaguers with the remark that he was perfectly justified in winning a /6000 stake with a racehorse “ because Oliver Cromwell owned an Arab steed.” His lordship’s critics contend that he should not have sheltered himself behind a joking retort, but should have boldly stated that he went in for racing and betting because such was his pleasure. And I must say I fail to see why a man, because he is a premier, should be expected to stand the bigoted censuring of any cluster of anti-gambling faddists. A sporting lawsuit was held in the Magistrate’sCourt at Nelson (writes the N.Z Mail} in which J. E. Pilbrow, of Masterton, and Robert McArtney, of Blenheim, sued J. A. Harley, of Nelson, for /33, being the net amount of stakes won by the horse Langley the Devil in the Hurdle Handicap of /40, run on the 30th January, 1893, at Richmond Park, Nelson. According to the report of the case it appears that in August, 1892, McArtney, then owner of Langley, hired out the horse to a Mr W. H. Demuth till August, 1893. In January 1893, Demuth entered Langley for a race at the Nelson meeting, but did not pay the nomination fees. Before the acceptances were made Demuth died. Mr Pilbrow, who had trained the horse, entered into an arrangement with McArtney, went to Nelson, and accepted Langley for the race in dispute, as well as for others. The horse won the race, but the stakes had not been paid over, four parties claiming them—the two plaintiffs, Mr Reilly (owner of Cloud), whose horse came in second in the race, and Messrs Aspinald and Salmond, solicitors in Demuth’s estate. After hearing evidence the Magistrate gave judgment for the whole amount claimed, and costs, 62s 6d.

A Sydney pony in the 13.0 and 14.0 class bears the name of Cremorne !

Recent reports re Melbourne and Caulfield Cup betting state that Havoc and Carnage have been backed for all the money in the Sydney and Melbourne markets at long prices for the two cups.

The N.Z. Mail states that if F. Potto’s claim for wages, etc., for training Rangipuhi had not been satisfied by the date specified the son of Feve and Mystery Girl would have been submitted to auction. Speculating as to what sort of a price Mr Marumaru’s horse would have fetched “ Gipsy King” writes that a Dunedin man was prepared to go to /700. At the annual meeting of the Pahiatua Jockey Club the following gentlemen were elected as officers President, Mr Tosswill; vice-president, Dr. Gault; judge, Mr Breeds; treasurer, Mr A. Stewart ; clerk of scales, Mr G. Bott.imley; starter, Mr Knight; handicapper, Mr Henry; committee, Messrs lorns, Pringle, Golderd, Vile, McCarthy, Knight, R. Smith, Quirk, Sullivan, Tidswell, Yuile; stewards, Messrs McCarthy, lorns, Vile, Sullivan, Bolton, Smith and Pringle. The three English-bred three-year-old fillies imported to Victoria by Mr Wm. McCulloch have been leased by Mr T. S. Hall, a Victorian owner, for racing purposes. The trio, who will be trained by “Ike” Foulsham, are Lady Belle, by Sir Bevys (English Derby) from Lady Beau, by Beau Brummel; Lady Bevys, by Sir Bevys, from Pugely, by Beaudesert; and Lady Heart, by Coracle (Hermit’s son), from Bright Eyes by Arbitrator. The first-named pair are bred on similar lines to Ladas. The A.J.C. Derby will be an interesting race this year (writes “Terlinga”). The Sydney people possess a most capable candidate in Nobleman, whose somewhat easy defeat by Bonnie Scotland was fully balanced later on by the splendid fight he made against Pilot Boy when only receiving 71b. This is the sort of form I like, and if Nobleman has done well since and runs kindly, he ought to win this Derby for Dr. Anderson. I belive it is settled that Bonnie Scotland will make the trip to Sydney. No doubt he is an exceptionally good colt. He won his race at Randwick in the face of an unkind run, but as P. Martin, his trainer, has been in New Zealand for some time, it may be that he will not be thoroughly wound up until later in the season. Cobbitty will apparently represent Messrs Lloyd and Leonard. He hardly looks a weight-carrier, but there is no doubt that this half-brother to Camoola can gallop. I would not take him to be the equal of Nobleman, however, and if Raynor sends this fine looking son of the Australian Peer fit to the post next month I think he will keep the A.J.C. Derby in New South Wales. The following complimentary reference to the late Tom Corrigan was made by a Benalla clergyman during the course of a sermon on “ The Duty of Human Life ” “ During the past week the newspapers had recorded the untimely and tragic death of one who appeared to have been a clever and popular jockey. The main thoroughfares of the city of Melbourne were densly lined with a sympathetic crowd gathered to witness the funeral procession, which took half an hour to pass a given point. This man’s death was not only the cause of deep regret in sporting circles, but in all sections of society among right-thinking people. And why ? Not because of his skilled and fearless horsemanship, nor his repeated brilliant successes on the turf, but rather because of his unimpeachable integrity and whole-souled devotion to the cause of right and the service of others. He was truly (to express it in a colonial way) ‘ a white man.’ And when it was remembered that by the sacrifices of principal he had it in his power to amass an immense fortune in a comparatively short time, such a life was fairly entitled to our admiration, whether it was lived on the turf or in the church.” The sporting editor of the Australasian does not favour pony racing. In account of his visit to the South Australian race meeting he remarks that the S A.J.C. having got rid of pony racing through the accident of betting being stopped, have taken all sorts of care “ that this burlesque on racing will never spring up again.” As it was his first experience of a race meeting without bookmakers calling the odds he was naturally curious as to the impression such novel circumstances would make on him, and after watching the proceedings closely he delivers himself as follows:—“I came to the conclusion that the public’s complacent acceptance of the new order of things is not to be wondered at. There is not the slightest difficulty about getting a bet. If you don’t care about being crushed at the windows (when there is a crush—there was none the other day I was there) you can entrust your money to a bookmaker at totalisator odds. The only drawback to the South Australian plan is that you must go to the trouble of studying all the figures on the machine before you can tell the favourite. This is a trifling matter which backers do not seem to object to.” The summer programme of the Egmont Racing Club will consist of Waimate Handicap, Bosovs, second horse to receive iosovs out of the stakes; First Handicap Hurdles, I2osovs, second 2osovs; First Hack Hurdles, 45SOVS, second ssovs; Egmont Cup, 300S0VS, second 4OSOVS, third iosovs; Hack Sires, ioosovs, second 15SOVS, third ssovs, nominator of sire 40S0VS and cup valued at ssovs, nominator of winner 4Osovs; Hawera Welter, 7osovs, second horse iosovs; First Hack Flat, sosovs, second iosovs. Second Day—Flying Handicap, ioosovs, 15SOVS out of stakes to go to second horse; Second Handicap Hurdles, ioosovs, second 2osovs; Second Hack Hurdles, 4OSOVS, second jsovs; Atkinson Memorial, 2oosovs, second 2osovs out of stakes, third iosovs out of stakes ; Second Hack Flat, sosovs, second iosovs; Normanby Stakes, 80 sovs, second iosovs; Produce Hack Handicap, 4osovs, second ssovs (for all horses having paid final acceptance in Hack Sires of 1895). The card for the Winter Meeting will be as follows :— Handicap Hurdles, Bosovs, 'iosovs out of stakes to second; Hack Hurdles, 4OSOVS, second ssovs ; Trial Steeple, 6osovs, second iosovs ; First Hack Flat, 4osovs, second iosovs; Egmont Steeple, 15osovs, second 2osovs; Second Hack Flat, 40 sovs, second ssovs ; Final Steeple, Bosovs, second iosovs. The total money for this year will be /1395, which means an increase of /195 compared with the figures tor last year. The Hack Sires for 1898 will be on the same conditions and for the same amount as that for 1897.

Fair Nell has presented Mousquetaire with a colt foal.

Ultimatum has had his name changed to Upshot.

It is stated that Matai (by St. Leger—Raupo) has become a roarer.

Apropos who missed to St. George, goes back to him.

Forward is a level favourite with Dreamland for the V.R.C. Deiby. Mr Rathbone’s mares, Comatose, Flatter, and Mrs Rawdon visit Apremont.

Brilliant (pedigree unknown) broke his neck by a fall at the North Canterbury Steeplechase Meeting. Mr Knight has been entrusted with the handicapping of the Auckland Trotting Club’s Spring Meeting.

A Southern writer states that Loyalty’s sire St. George will very likely go to the land of the Stars and Stripes with Artillery.

“Castor” writes that Fusillade’s hocks are giving him so much trouble that he will not be used for covering purposes this season. Realm has proved too unsound to train, and has been relegated to stud duty at Mr S. Hordern’s farm.

A Clan Stuart—Marion gelding in work at Newcastle is named Rosebery, after England’s sporting Prime Minister. Although not quite a turf topic, I may say the English cricketers leave London on the 21st inst. for Australia.

Snow and rain visitations have not improved the Southern courses, and locally we have nothing to be very cheerful over. The Riccarton correspondent of the Times writes that Cajolery and Merrie England are in the sale list. If the latter be not sold he will be put in work again. It is reported that Penrose, with the New Zealand Cup weight (7.6) up recently, did a more than fair trial over the distance at Kaikora North (H. 8. “ Gipsy King” hears that a court case will shortly occur over the ownership of the hack Tamarere (Robinson Crusoe — Duster). L. Holmes will be the plaintiff and Mr Utiku Marumaru defendant.

Foxtail, a Lone Hand Handicap contestant (who is also engaged in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups), broke a small blood vessel just before the race was run, and had to fall out of the fight, which was won by his stable companion. The Muff, who is in the Caulfield Cup at 7.2, won a five and a quarter furlong race at the Corrigan Benefit Meeting in imin Bsec, although he was in very indifferent condition. The Muff hails from Tasmania and is by Napoleon. The members of Sydney Tattersails are showing their disapproval of the A.J.C.’s action in admitting Bowes’s members to the paddock at Randwick by taking steps to obtain a court decision as to the legality of the A.J.C. imposing a bookmaking fee at all. John Porter, the famous Kingslerc (England) trainer, gives it as his opinion that neither Isinglass or Ladas would have had a chance with Ormonde. On the form displayed by the latter when he won the Two Thousand and Derby Porter argues that he could have given more than a stone to Isinglass or Ladas.

Lord Rosebery’s lucky number is set down as 7 because he was born on May 7th, the year of his birth was 1847, he is 47 years of age, the Derby was the 7th race run by Ladas, the horse was the 7th on the card, and there were only 7 horses running.

The owner of Utter (Mr Humphrey Oxenham) has a tabulated pedigree which traces her breeding back past the Darley Arabian to the Byerley Turk to the year 1679. For 215 years an unbroken record is shown of her antecedents. Utter is the subject of a mating competition which is at present being carried on by Sydney Referee. The last Sydney files show Brockleigh favourite for the Epsom Handicap at 10 to 1. Bungebah comes next at two points longer, and then follow Acmena. Response, and Stanmoor at 16’s. Paris is at the head of affairs for the Metrop. Stakes, and I should fancy a nice double could be had by linking the name of Acmena with the Metrop. favourite.

Dean Hole, who will probably arrange an Australian tour with the only Smythe, once delivered himself re racing as follows:—“Racing will not harm a man any more than a rubber of whist. I would subscribe to races and go to view them, over the flat or the fences, and rejoice to see working men on a Bank holiday enjoy the sport, if I could be assured that the best horse would win, that knaves and harlots would be warned off the course and that drunken men would be taken away and whipped.”, A controversy has been going on in the London sporting press as to the best method of boxing a nervous horse. Amongst the many plans set out the following has certainly the merit of simplicity : Lead the horse gently forward to the box, and when it declines to go further, get a couple of men and a waggon cover or tarpaulin, which they should spread out and quietly approach the back of the horse. He will prefer to enter the box than be touched by the taupaulin. That may be so, but on the other hand he may prefer to turn round on the tarpaulin holders. Quadrant in his old days would have been a nice horse to approach in this way I Mr W. A. Long has given notice to the A. J.C. that he will propose the striking out of Rule 77 and the substitution of the following :— •* The fee for riding to a winning jockey shall be 10 per cent, on the amount of the stake up to ioosovs, and thereafter 5 per cent, only on the amount of the stake in excess of ioosovs. To a losing jockey the fee for riding shall be fl ” The losing amount has aroused the ire of “ The Old ’Un,” the Sydney Referee writer, who points out that in many cases a jockey, to get down to riding weight, spends 14s in order to earn 20s, which means a return to him of 6s. The writer quoted makes the expenditure asunder:—Two Turkish baths Bs, racecourse ss, wear and tear, saddle, clothing, etc., is—total 14s.

Pumau is said to be under orders for Caulfield. “ Mazeppa” writes that P. McGrath intends sticking to riding this season. It is said that Mr P. Butler meditates an early visit to the Australian turf. I hear that T. Hodson, the jockey, is in the market for starting honours. Pinrose, Rosefeldt and Marino are doing a sound preparation for the N.Z. Cup. The British Lion colt Brittania was killed at Greymouth recently. Telephone, a half sister to Megaphone, broke down in Queensland recently and has been sent to the stud. Someone has been steadily backing Launceston and Loyalty in Melbourne for the two cups. Havoc and Carnage is the favourite pick. Couranto has been scratched for the first and second hurdle race of the A.J.C. Meeting, to be held on 15th, iBth, 20th. and 22nd insts. I saw Crazy Kate the other day, and judging from her looks she will never see Saturday’s starting post. R. Kingan, the coast jockey, was at Ellerslie track yesterday morning and remains in Auckland until the Spring meeting has been held. News of the death of Mr M. Dunack, owner of Rose of Australia and other horses, comes from Queensland. The saddles, horse clothing, etc., belonging to the late Tom Corrigan realised 16s 6d at public auction. An American starter was recently fined £2O for striking a mounted jockey at the starting post. Mr J. O. Evett will have to handicap the Wellington hack entries this year in addition to the better class nominations. The alterations made by the Wellington Club in connection with their programmes for the season will be found in the letter of the Review’s Wellington correspondent. Marechai Neil pulled up lame on Monday last and has not been seen on the track since.'' The Hunt Club horse, Nap, has also been a missing quantity of late so far as the track is concerned. This season’s American trotting record for a mile was put up at Michigan on July 14th, when Fantasy (by Chimes—Honora) covered the distance in 2min gsec. Mr P. Lorillard, the American sportsman, who captured the English Derby of 1881 with Iroquois, is selecting a team to make another descent on the English Turf. According to the London Sportsman the French pencillers were out by some /20,000, owing to London backers who “nodded” their bets on Matchbox for the Grand Prix, and then left unostentatiously for Merrie England before settling day. There should be a big fight at Randwick on Saturday next between Bonnie Scotland and Cobbity for the A.J.C. Derby and from an authentic source I incline to believe the second named colt will win. According to the Victorian correspondent of the Witness, Percy Martin names Saracen as the only New Zealander likely to pay Melbourne a visit. That N.Z. Cup backing of Saracen appears to be as mysterious as ever. The Victorian Trottiug Association has advised handicappers working in connection with it to in the future penalise horses that they may fancy are non-triers. This is surely a pretty large power to give a handicapper. A recent seven furlong gallop at Randwick between Three Star, The Dancer and Royal Rose, saw the first named win after running the last 5 furlongs in imin 6sec. The cable informs us that the Champion Breeders’ Foal Stakes of iooosovs, five furlongs, run at the Derby Meeting on the 4th inst., was won by Sir Tatton Sykes bay colt Raconteur (by St. Simon—Plaisenterie. Melbourne betting on the Victorian Spring events is rather slow just now, but what is doing shows Forward in favour for the Derby, Capstan for the Caulfield Cup, and Carnage for the big Flemington Handicap. The positions of handicapper and starter to the Auckland Trotting Club, filled by Mr Halstead last season, were not applied for by that gentleman when the committee dealt with them a few days ago. Sir William (by Sir Modred out of Vesper) who ran second to Malvolio in the Melbourne Cup of 1892, is advertised for sendee on the Sydney side at 3 guineas. Low price that for a stoutly bred proved galloper. The thoroughbred stallions Cap-a-pie and The Dauphin have gone the way of all horseflesh. A wire received last night from the Wanganui correspondent of the Review states that Cap-a-pie succumbed to paralysis, and that The Dauphin had to be destroyed through the horse breaking his leg. “ If the sports and bettors on horse races were as highly bred as the animals which run in the race the track would not be a reproach and a means of degradation and ruin.”—(An American parson’s opinion of thoroughbred horses as compared with “ scrubby” men.) An unlucky rider. P. Bolger, who rode Frolic in the Caulfield Grand National Hurdle Race, had his nose broken by his mount falling, and it was only a short time back that he left the hospital where he had been laid up with a broken jaw. “ Verax” writes that the Castor —Necklace colt which Mr S. Hordern purchased at the last Wellington Park sale for 1050 guineas looks all over a racer, shows plenty of quality, but has a tendency to be slack in the loins. Respecting Collarette he considers she is too light in the loins, and “ will never be a weight carrier, not having enough body.” In Tasmania the racing clubs are protesting against the imposition of a 5 P er cent, tax on totalisators, which is one of the new features of the government taxation scheme. A deputation from the T.R.C. recently interviewed the Treasurer, objecting to the tax, but he could hold out no hope of the impost being abandoned.

Goodwood is now the property of Mr V. Hairis. The catering at Ellerslie will be in the capable hands of Mr T. McEwin this season. Following on Mostyn’s scratching for the Caulfield Cup comes the news that the colt has been taken out of afi his S.A.J.C. spring engagements. The Auckland Trotting Club committee have elected officebearersforthepresentseasonasfollows: President, Mr J. D. Connelly ; vice-president and judge, Mr A. R. Harris; treasurer and starter, Mr S. C. Caulton ; handicapper, Mr W. Knight; stewards, Messrs Connelly, Abbott, Ralph, McEwin, Adams, Lumpkin, La wry, Harris, Tonks, Hunter, Coates, Bailey and Murchie ; clerk of scales, Mr F. W. Mark ; clerk of course, Mr T. Brown; pony measurers. Messrs Hunter, Adams and Caulton ; judges of trotting, Messrs Harris, Caulton, Bailey and Hunter. Ponies will be measured at Potter’s every Wednesday between 3 p.m. and half-past 4 p.m. Being out Epsom way last Saturday I dropped in to see “ old Jack ” Millison and found him confined to his house. La grippe claimed him as a temporary victim a week or so back, but I am glad to say the plucky veteran is fast shaking off his weakness. Three score and ten is given out as our limit, but with a heavier handicap than even that Millison is not yet beyond exercising bis horses. I wonder how many trainers retain nerve at Millison’s age? Not many I’ll be bound. After an interesting chat with Mr Millison I take the opportunity of inspecting the Hotchkiss—Queen Cole filly that fel 1 to Mr McClelland’s bid at the last Wellington Park sale of blood stock. This young lady is in the sale market I believe, and at the reasonable figure which I understand is required for her she should be a more than decent purchase. Since Millison has had the filly in hand she has lengthened and filled very much, and her condition shows that the veteran has done her full justice. Buyers on the lookout for a promising filly may be advised to inspect this youngster. Racing clubs in general will find the following par., by the Adelaide correspondent of the Australasian, of interest: —“In the local court this week a man named Thorp obtained a verdict for 10s against Mr S. R. Heseltine as secretary of the A.R.C., the amount representing the value of a totalisator ticket on the Steeplechase at the last Birthday meetrug. The club ran out of Blyth tickets, and in accordance with the usual practice issued tickets bearing the name of a scratched horse. After the race Thorp came to the secretary and demanded his money, on the plea that he had backed a scratched horse in error. Mr Heseltine, in terms rather more forcible than polite, dec i; ned to accede to the request, and an action for damages for slander and the value of the ticket was the result. The first charge was dismissed ; but the Cour<; ruled that as the racing clubs are ob i; ged to refund any money that maybe put on a scratched horse, and as there was nothing on the Specialist ticket to show that it had been substituted for Blyth, Thorp was entitled to receive his money back. This will make the clubs careful about having a sufficient supply of tickets in future.” The John Bull newspaper account of the Derby of 1822, won by the Duke of York’s colt Moses, concludes by remarking that the lower orders complimented H.R.H. by crying out “ God bless - you —mayycnrlive loirg and happy—we wish you joy.” Then its a million to a gooseberry that the “lower orders” must have had their--shekels on Moses. Commenting on this colt’s old time win “Dagonet” (MrG.R. Sims) remarks : H.8..H. the Duke was a bishop at the time. He was the Bishop of Osnaburgh, which is in Westphalia, where the hams come from, so we have a bishop and the Derby and Moses and Ham all mixed up together. Now that wehave found Oliver Cromwell horse racing, a bishop owning a runner for the Derby, and Moses winning the race, all consciences, Church of England, Nonconformist and Rabbinical ought to be satisfied. “Dagonet” then bursts into the following epic re the Premier’s plea:— O Nonconformity, whytihis face ? I own that I won the Epsom race But I don’t think that is the least disgrace— For so did Oliver Cromwell. I sat in the stand on the Derby Day, And I saw the bookies receive and pay And shouted the odds that they wished to lay— But so did Oliver Cromwell. I head a party that hates a peer And taxes whisky and taxes beer And snuffles and plays with an oily leer— But so did Oliver Cromwell. I don’t think much of my canting “ co.” But I daren’t be rude for they run the show ; I’m a bit of a humbug don’t you know— But so was Oliver Cromwell.