Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 405, 28 April 1898, Page 8

Sporting Topics.

The stewards of the Wanganui Jockey Club have altered the date of receiving acceptances for the Flying Handicap, the Wanganui Steeplechase, the First Handic ip Hurdles, and the Suburban Sieeplechase from last Tuesday, the 26th'inst., to Tuesday, May 17th. • . v ' . The intelligence that Sylvia Park had been scratched for the Thompson Handicap caused a, little dismay among those who pin their faith in whispered good things. It was freely stated the horse was in the pink of condition, never better in his life, etc., but his scratching indicates something to the contrary. It wBl be observed by our advertising, column 8 that intending visitors to the Egmont' Hack Winter Meeting may leave Onehunga on Monday next, by tbe Gairloch for New Plymouth, at 1 p.m.. The through return fare by rail and steamer is fixed at £2 10s. f

Although a steady and persevering trainer, young Alick Caulton has not had the best of luck with his charges, and he has determined to go back to the East Coast. His training establishment at the corner of Vincent Street and Green Lane is therefore for sale, as well as the whole of Caulton’s string of horses. The property in Green Lane is eminently suited for training pur poses, the stables- and dwelling-house being situated in the centre of a very nice paddock of land. The sale is advertised to be held at Green Lane at 11 o’clock on Saturday morning. The chief attraction for horsey men will be Porangi Potae, one of Castor’s best daughters. That she did not win at the late meeting was more because of her bad luck than want of form, for she showed just previously what a good one she is by winning five races out of six at Hamilton, Te Aroha, and Paeroa. There ought to be a lot of races in her yet, and when her career on the turf is done she should become a valuable brood mare. A couple of other mares, The Sharper, and three youngsters are also on the list for sale. Two important races demand the attention of owners and trainers to-morrow (Friday). Nominations should then be sent in to Mr W. Percival for the Grand National Handicap Hurdle Race and for the Great Northern Steeplechase Handicap. A number of promising ’chasers and hurdlers have made their appearance since the last North New Zealand National Meeting, and it is confidently expected that the entries for these rich prizes will be 6f excellent quality as well as many innumber. ' . i The starling Machine evidently does not “catch on” in Conservative England. The latest news, however, is to the effect that the Earl of Durham, in a letter to the newspapers, urges the owners and trainers of horses to give the Australian starting»machine an impartial trial. At his first attempt on the English turf New-, haven has registered a good performance. He carried 8 8 into second place in the City and Suburban Handicap, run over one mile and a quarter. He was beaten two lengths by Bay Ronald, a horse from whom much was expected on his form shown as a two-year-old Newhaven’s form against the pick of the English handicap horses augurs well for his future in the Old Country. It is stated that in the City and Suburban Newhaven got off very badly, and that he made up a lot of ground from the distance, just defeating Craftsman for second place in the last stride. It is publicly notified that the well-known steeplechase horse Levanter will be submitted to public auction, at the Durham Yards, at noon on Friday. Levanter’s successful career across ''country is familiar to every race goer in New Zealand, and his recent performance at Ellerslie with 12st 121 b up shows that he is as good as ever he was. If he does not realise a good price then it will become manifest that people do not want good cross-country horses. It is now the Hon. Mr Mossman’s intention to establish his head training quarters in Auckland. He, with Mr Inder, has been on the look-out for a suitable establishment, but so far they have not succeeded. Lady Harriet, Antares, and several / others of Mr Mossman’s string are under the ■charge of Mr H. Franks. The proverbial fondness of Australians for waggering on jumping races was demonstrated at Onkaparinga, when £4298 10s was invested on the Steeplechase, with 14 starters, and £3827 10s on the Hurdle Race, for which 17 started, as against £3612 on the Cup, with a field of 15. To-morrow (Friday) Mr Knight is expected to „make known the handicaps for the Birthday Handicap, the First Handicap Hurdles, and the Handicap Steeplechase, to be run at the Winter Meeting of the Takapuna Jockey Club. It will be noted by advertisement that the four-year-old brown gelding Retreat, by Tetford — Success, will be sold on Friday at noon at the Haymarket by Messrs. Alfred Buckland and Sons. Retreat won the Maiden and Welter Handicaps at the Paeroa meeting. Entries for the Winter Meeting of the Canterbury Trotting Club, to be held on May 19 and 24, close on Saturday next, the 30th inst. The nominations should be sent to the secretary, Mr A. J- Rattray, Cashel-street, Christchurch. As the Club offers very substantial stake money, there is not much fear of a shortage in entries. A reference to our advertising columns will supply full details of the programme. Next Wednesday, May 4th, nominations for the hack meeting of the Otaki Maori Racing Club should be sent in to the secretary, Mr Hema R. Te Ao. The programme is an attractive one to owners, as all the events are liberally endowed. The principal race on the first day is the Otaki Cup of 120 sovs, the distance being one mile and three furlongs; while on the second day the Ranfurly Stakes of 100 sovs, one mile and a quarter, is the race of the day. All the other races have stakes of 50 sovs or over, so that owners ought not to be backward in making entries.-. Joseph Carter, a famous jockey thirty years ago, was present at Randwick at the late A J.C.' Carter won the Australian Cup in 1869 on Gasworks, and the V.R.C. St. Leger ot Gasworks and Lamplighter in 1869 and 1870. The following are the drawers of placed horses n Tattersall’s consultation on the Sydney Cup : — First, Mrs J. O’Brien, Hursiville, New South Wales, £1512; second, Dr. F. R. Palmer, Minlatio, Bouth Australia, £567 ; third, Moire and Levy, Tattersall’s Club, Sydney, £378. The Gisborne Racing Club is evidently in high favor with the clerk of the weather. The club has a fiHg which has braved the breezes at a number of meetings, but never once has it been sprinkled with rain. Glorious weather again favored the recent Autumn Meeting, and the attendance on each day of the meeting was good, and the spart -was well managed by the officers of the club. - ' 7

Daimio is now on his way back to Australia in the steamer Star of Victoria. The owner of Battalion when asked to put a price on him the other day named £l,OOO. Bobadil is quoted at 6 to 4 for the Victorian Derby. He promises to be the hottest winter favorite ever known for that event. Pilatus (Chester —Etna) dropped dead at Flemington on April 19th. As a yearling he cost Mr W. R. Wilson l,ooogs, but he was not a good investment, only winning two races in that gentleman’s colors. It was a singular feature of the V.A.T.C. Easter Handicap (writes “Javelin”) that Sunbury would have won if Moon lyong hadn’t been in the road. In the Steeplechase the success of Underwood over timber was equally remarkable. During the week it was currently reported that Levanter had been sold for £350 to a well-known owner, who intended to take the clever crosscountry horse over to Australia. ’Rumor, however was only partly correct, because although it is true that Levanter was sold, it was under certain conditions. It is to be presumed that the vendor was notable to satisfactorily oomply with the conditions, as it is now understood that the sale is off. At £350 Levanter certainly does not appear to be a dear horse, and he should be able to win a race or two yet, notwithstanding the high opinion held of him by the handicappers. The Gisborne meeting was not allowed to pass off without a protest. In the First Hack Handicap, six furlongs, Pani (9.4) could only get third to King Wai (8.8). In the Second Hack Handicap the grey son of Merlin, at a difference of 51b in the weights between the pair, defeated his previous conqueror; whereat the owner of King Wai waxed wroth and protested against Pani for inconsistency, but evidence was adduced that Pani had “ struck himself ” in the first event, and the protest was dismissed. Punters seem to have been pretty successful in spotting winners at the recent Autumn Meeting of the Gisborne Racing Club, as in most events the favorites won, and the dividends were consequently small. Curiously enough, one of the best dividends paid was in the Grandstand Handicap, in which there were only two starters, namely, Pinepinetekura and Moetai. There were only six investors on the machine, and five of these favored Moetai, but the solitary supporter of Pinepinetekura was rewarded with a dividend of £5 Bs. The winner was a long way better backed in Auckland than at Gisborne, and the Auckland bookies do not now pronounce the names of Pinepinetekura or Opou, another winner, with pleasant emphasis or without the use of an adjective. The reinstatement of John D. Lewis and his mare Trance is now in order (states the Breeder and Sportsman). The mare was under lease to Dan Halliday, her trainer, and Mr Lewis had naught to say as to her management. Dan Honig and his horses were reinstated and the trainer indefinitely suspended; and the case was a much more, flagrant one. As to the mare Trance being ruled off in Queensland, there is no Turf Congress law which any horse shall be debarred because they are disqualified in another country, and we challenge the officials to produce anything to the contrary. Besides, under the rules of the Australian Jockey Club, when an animal is ruled off for any cause and it passes into the hands of those that are in good standing with the Jockey Club, satisfactory proof being given that the sale is bona fide, the disqualified animal or animals are reinstated. It is not a case of can be reinstated, but they are. Such action was taken in the case of the great Marvel and many others ruled off for alleged fraud. Mr Lewis a reputable turfman, owning a good enough horse to win Australia’s greatest race, the Melbourne Cup, and why he should be suspended and his good mare, debarred from racing because someone else does wrong, or is said to have done wrong, is a mystery. One might just as well say that the P.C.J.C should be held accountable in our courts of law for the misdeeds of every man owning, training, or riding a race horse in California. The property of Mr Lewis, by the action of the P.C.J.C officials, is rendered practically worthless and he is kept, from earning any money through the alleged mis-doing of Dan Halliday, a man practically unknown to Trance’s owner, but highly recommended to Mr L in Australia by Halliday’s former employers. [Our contemporary is not strictly right in its fact. The removal of the disqualification of Marvel was an exceptional casej. It may now be presumed that we have heard the last of the Steeplechase and all its unsavory surroundir gs run at Ellerslie on Faster Tuesday. As stated last week, a claim had been put in for the stakes by Mr Adam Byers, the nominator of Miss Nelson, on the ground that the mare had been interfered with by both Magpie and Levanter, who finished first and second, and a special meeting of the stewards was held on Monday to consider the matter, those present Messrs A. Buckland, J. Dickey, D. M’Leod, C. Hesketh, C. D. Pitt, and A. Whittaker, the club’s solicitor. The representatives of,the Press were not present at the deliberations, but it appears that the letter claiming the stakes was first read, and then another one from Mr Hanna, solicitor, on behalf of Mr Byers. In this letter Mr Hanna explained that Mr Byers had been disappointed in his expectation that he would be able to call fresh evidence to prove that there had been conspiracy on the part of two riders. The people on whom he had depended now refused to come forward, and under the circumstances Mr Byers had no option but to depend on the evidence that had already been given. After deliberating for a short time the following resolution was carried : “ That as no further exidence had been brought forward to substantiate the complaint made in Mr Byers’ letter, the stewards decline to interfere with their previous decision.” Another resolution was carried that the stakes be paid over to Magpie, and as Levanter did not participate in Rae’s disqualification the second money will be paid over to the nominator of tbe gelding

A Sydr ey paper states that Vedette was .one of the most brilliant horses seen out at the recent meeting there is little room for doubt, and only for undue leniency on the part of his trainer he would have made a great bid for/the Doncaster. The late secretary of the Victorian Club, Melbourne, Mr Thomas Hay'on, has issued a book in England called “Sporting Reminiscences.” The work is well spoken of, but “ Javelin” in the Leader points out several funny mistakes. For instance, the writer confesses that he cannot recall the name of any of The Marquis’ progeny that approached first-class form. It seems almost incredible that he should have forgotten such an equine giant as Newminster, a veritable smasher on the turf, and sire of Newhaven. The manufacture of this huge piece of mechanism (the electric clock at Flemington) was not undertaken without considerable trouble. Mr Gaunt, the maker, who, by the way. presented it to the club, tdd me that the clock itself was simple,enough to make, but his difficul'y was to get material for the hands which would stand the sudden jar each time a quarter se.-ond was recorded ; but, after many failures, he at last hit upon the idea that the quills of the peacock’s feathers would stand the strain. He tried .them, and found them answer admirably. Few people, when watching the chronograph, ever dream of what the hands are made - —Mr Thos. Haydon, in “Sporting Reminiscences.” In reference to the wrongful entry of Ilex in the Sockburn Handicap at the recent meeting at Riccarton, the Canterbury Times has the following !—A certain angry individual has written to a daily contemporary complaining of the secretary of the Canterbury Jockey Club in accepting the e, try of Ilex for the Sockburn Handicap, decided at the club’s autumn meeting. As a supporter of Ilex, the correspondent in question has some cause for complaint. The club may possibly endeavor to place the responsibility regarding entries upon the owners of horse'', but there can be very little doubt that it is its duty to satisfy itself before the decision of a race that all horses are eligible to start. That Ilex was not. eligible to compete in the Sockburn Handicap appears to have been known by some people before the race, and that the circumstances did not receive the consideration of the authorities, was due either to carelessness or ignoraneb. A very curious case was heard before the law courts in Paris las-t month. The Steeplechase Society had taken over the old racecourse at Acheres, laid out originally by M. Oller, and transformed it into an exercise ground for cro-s--country horses who have been banished from Chantilly. A certain M. Judge, the owner of a steeplechase horse, Listener, sued the Steeplechase Society for the value of his horse, who had been injured while jumping at Acheres by a nail which had been used in making up a fei.ee and had not been properly clinched. No negligence was braught home to the defendants, but nevertheless they were condemned to pay M. Judge the sum of £lOO, representing the value of the horse. Naturally an appeal has been lodged against the judgment, which is another proof that when racing questions come under t' e notice of legal tribunals the most able forensic luminaries are apt to floun er. The late Mr Tatterfall obtained his record price at the late “ Abington” Baird’s sale for the three-vear-old Meddler—who had won his three engagements as a two-year-old, but was disqualified for the rest by his nominator’s death—was run up to 14,500g5, and secured at that price by an American breeder. Among other great sales with which Mr Edmund Tattersall’s name will always be associated was that of the Queen’s thorough-bred stud at Hampton Court. His health did not admit of his selling in person many of the lots in the r Dowager Duchess of Montrose’s catalogue in 1897; but that, was a remarkable auction, for thirty mares, nineteen yearlings, and three stallions made over 42,000g5. Many other big sales were conducted by Mr Tattersall, and it may be added that among the yearlings sold by him between 1858 and 1893 were nine future Derby winners—Thormanby, sold to Mr J. Merry, Hermit to Mr Chaplin,'Pretender to Sir Robert Jardin, Doncaster to Mr J. Merry, Galopin to Prince Batthyany, Sefton to Mr Stirling Crawford, Shotover to the Duke of Westminster, Merry Hampton to Mr G. A. Baird, and Sainfoin to Sir James Miller. Here is another version of Vedette’s victory in the Final Handicap at Randwick from the pen of that good judge, “ Milroy : ” —Vedette’s D incaster backers must have been on anything but good terms with themselves when they saw him make that wonderful run at the finish of the Final Handicap on Saturday. In this race he proved the correctness of the estimate formed of him by his Maoriland admirers, and had he been worked up properly for the Doncaster he would have given it a great shake. After he ran in that race and the Flying Handicap his trainer moved him along between Monday and Saturday. He kept him right up to the collar, and even galloped him a fast mile on the morning of the race. This treatment agre; d with and improved the son of Vanguard to such an extent that he put in a run on Saturday remindful of Marvel and Carbine. In the Final Handicap he was ridden by M. Hanis, who tells me the horse was pulling him out of the saddle at the turn, and he was only waiting until they turned for home before dashing up on the outside and smothering the opposition, but just as he was preparing for the paralysing act Blanche Florence fell in front of him and interfered with him very much. The accident threw the horse out of his stride and caused the postponement of the run until they got to the Leger stand. Meanwhile The Chief had all the others silenced, and his rider, T. Johnson, thought it was all over and steadied his horse just as Vedette challenged, and thereby the race was completely thrown away, but if Blanche Florence had kept her legs Johnson would not have any reason to be so crestfallen to day.

It is reported in Sydney that Essex, who was last week purchased by a West Australian sportsman, has again changed hands, and is now the property of MrW. R. Wilson, who, it is believed, — will send the colt to England with Aurum. The Arab pony stallion Sirocco, who was imported to Sydney by Mr James Tulloch, died while in quarantine. Sirocco was never beaten, and was sold for 7,000R5. In dealing with the much discussed respective merits of English and Australian jockeys generally, and admitting that “ there is frequently too much of the butcher boy about the latter,” Mr Haydon, in his new bo >k, “ Sporting "Reminiscences,” is of opinion that “Tom Hales was in his day fit to take his place alongside the' \ English Archers, Loates, Woods, Webbs, and Watts.” It may prove of interest to the read rs of the Review to_ know that the Er glish Derby has been decided upon 118 occasions, and out. of these chestnuts have wun 29 events, and 12 of these have been scored since 1860. Out of the same number of St. eger events chestnuts have won 24 limes, bays have won 66, browns 25, whilst one event each has been scored by blacks, greys, and roans. ’ • The English jockey, George Barrett, whose death we recently chronicled at the age of thirty-' five years, was from 1885 to 1893 pretty well at the top of the tree in his profession. During the nine j ears me: tioned Barrett rode no less than 1075 winners, yet he never topped the list at the end of a season ; four times he was second, and third place he filled five times. ' . ' Hussar, who was seen out at Waipukurau, will no doubt, be seen out in the Bracelet at Hastings in June (writes our Hawke’s Bay correspondent),', and should, if he -progresses favorably in the meantime, be worth watching in that event. Tirea, who made his debut a couple of months ago at the Woodville meeting, is a nice cut of a horse, and has the appearance of one who would do well s.t the illegitimate game; I have been informed that he can negotiate obstacles all right, so that he, also, may be worth keeping an optic upon Merloolas put in great work at the A.J,.C. meeting, but for all that his owners had a rather exaggerated notion of his value when they put a reserve of 4.000 gs on him at auction. It was stated that an offer of 1,400 gs had been received for him, and 2,000 gs was supposed to ha.ve been bid when the bay gelding was submitted.- There is no doubt that Merloolas is a rattling good -, animal, but as bis form is thoroughly exposed, and it has yei to be proved that he is equal to winning w.f.a. races, 4,000 is a big price for a gelding, who is sure to be at the top of the list in most handicaps f m some time to come.

The experience of Auckland metallicians is that Gisborne punters are very deadly. Whatever they come at seems to turn 1 o gold with a — monotonous regularity that completely fails to satisfy the odds r erchants, who, on Thursday last, bitterly reflected on what they termed . : “ Gisborne dry hash.” Pinepinetekura was not backed for a 'hilling in the first race which he did not win, but., when he was on the job in, the Autumn Handicap, he was backed for pounds, shillings, and pence. A morning paper announces the fact that Snapper was second and Garrison third. How cruel it is for the printer’s devil to - divide poor Snapper Garrison in this way. We may next expect to find him running a dead-heat with himself. In the only two other races, in which Gisborne punters speculated on Thursday, namely, in the First Hurdles won by Opou and the Publicans’ Purse won by Unique, they scored heavily, but all the other events they let - religiously alone, According te Sydney papers Vedette was very lucky to beat The Chief in the Final Handicap at Randwick. The Referee remarks : —lf ever a man had reason to be thoroughly disgusted with his luck R. Wootten is that individual. He did not land a particularly good stake when The Chief won on Monday, but on Safurdy he stood to win £1,500 over the bay gelding for the Final Handicap. And what a good thing it looked. . too, with The Chief cantering along in front at:, the distance. That, unfortunately, was responsible for the mischief, as Johnson when he looked round could not see anything hear him likely to be troublesome, and took matters so easy that • when Vedette put in his brilliant run he hadn’t time to get his mount going again before tho winning post was reached. In fact, so little did Johnson apprehend danger it is doubtful whether he saw Vedette at. all until about , three strides from the finish- It was extremely hard luck, and a similar case might not occur again in < twenty years. The turf obituary notices of recent date from New South Wales contain the names of two famous brood mares, viz., Melody and Ghinnie Ghinnie. The former as the dam of The Broker, Melos, Melodious (d.m of Meli and Wallace), Minuet (riam of Elton), and other good.ones, was a great favorite with her owner, Mr Frank Reynolds, of the famous focal Stud,N S.W. Singular to say the ancient daughter of The Barb and Sweetheart never threw a bad one to Goldsborough. The Broker, in the early’Bo’s was a high-class horse, whilst every racing man knows what a champion Melos ■ was._ Melodious, too, could gallop a bit. ; The loss is a severe one to Tocal, but Mr Reynolds has fortunately retained several of the old mare’s fillies for stud purposes. ~ Ghinnie Ghinnie was a great pet with her owner, Mr Jas. Lee, of Larras Lake. The daughter of Barbarian was very fast on the turf, and scored some big wins. At the stud she produced some really good animals, such as Regina, V.R. (Oaks winner), Crichton (now in America), Tridentson, Rangitsinghi, and others. The Southdown Steeplechase, which, it was cabled, Mr Gollan’s Norton had won, was ran at Plumpton. Mr Gollan himself had the mount, and Norton carried 12.3. He started at odds on in a field of eight, and won easily.'

Mr Gollan’s The Possible started in the Maiden Hurdle Race at Gatwick on March 8, but fell. Mr Clibborn has stated that the A.J.C. might increase, but they certainly would not decrease, -the prizes for two-year-old races. Mrs Langtry, who races in England under the name of Mr Jersey, may ship her stable to this country, states an American exchange, next year and trv her luck on the tracks in and about New York. Mrs Langtry has planned a great season on the English tracks for the presentiyear. With reference to the ungracious remarks which have been applied to Daimio, Mr Haydon asks : —“ Is there anyone in England game enough to emulate the sportsmanlike spirit of my friend Gibson, and send a Cloister or a Lamb to compete for a Grand National in Melbourne ? I trow not.” Mr Haydon further says that it is wasted energy and enthusiasm to send Australian steeplechasers Home with the idea of winning, because they have to learn the business over again; . they resemble first class hunt&rs, not ’chasers according to the English model. Mr Haydon’s book, which will be found especially interesting -to Australian readers, is dedicated “To John Adrian Louis, Earl of Hopetoun, P.C., G.C.M.G., etc.,” and is published by Bliss, Sands, and Co , London. Mr Sands has visited Australia once or twice—twice, I think —partly on business and partly on pleasure; in fact, during his stay in 7 Melbourne he.attained to the “ proud ” position of a horse owner, but the enterprise turned out profitless. “ Arawa,” writing concerning the Wairsrapa races, remarks :—“ Ruamahanga proved the hero of the meeting by winning the Easter Handicap like a racehorse, and he showed his undoubted gameness by a tremendous finish under the whip in the Stewards’ Handicap and beating Australina by a bare head. King’s Bowman, with 9.6 in the Autumn Handicap of five, furlongs, was facile princeps, winning ridiculously easily in the fast time of Imin 2 4-ssec. Sir Agnes ran a good race in the Open Welter, and appears to run better under a heavy scale of weights than otherwise. Australina was seen toadvantage on the second day, running a really close second in the Stewards’ Handicap and winning the Farewell Handicap, beating King’s Bowman, Sir Agnes, Coin, and Thunder. Among the hurdlers Master Jack showed considerable improvement. He won the First Hurdles in good style, and ran second in the Second Hurdles with 12lb more than he carried the first day. Persimmon is also improving, and bids fair to become a very efficient hurdler. In the - hack class Sylph, who is now fit, showed her undoubted pace by winning a double, and Cavendish did likewise. Canet ran consistently by winning on the first day and running close up in a good field on the second. Te Kohi made amends for previous disappointments by winning the High-weight Handicap, carrying 10.7, in good style, lhe mare stalled off the efforts of Sherwood and Rebounding Lock in a -very game manner.

The i ondon correspondent of the Wellington Post writes, under date 12th March : —“ Dame Fortune smiled on Mr Gollan once again jester;Z day afternoon at Windsor, for his Australian jumper Ebor carried off the Berkshire Handicap Steeplechase Plate of £2OO. For this two-mile race Ebor, who was piloted by Hickey, and carried the steadier of 12.9, w'as opposed by four others, and started favorite at 5 to 4 against. The race was exciting. In the run home Summer Lightning challenged the favorite, but Ebor held his own and won by a head. Mr Spencer Gollan’s New Zealand-bred ’chaser, Norton, had a successful outing at Lingfield Park on Friday last, when, with his owner up, he captured the Park Steeplechase, of three miles, and so repeated the victory he gained in this same race 12 months ago. On Friday Norton, with 12.12 in the . saddle, was only opposed by Wilhelmsbad (11.6), and 6 to 1 was laid on the son of Ascot and Romp. Mr Gollan indulged Norton’s solitary x opponent with a lengths’ lead until two miles had been compassed, and then allowed his mount to go to the front. Wilhelmsbad caved in half a mile from home, and Norton won by a distance. Referring to this success the Sportsman's ‘ Special Commissioner’ remarks : ‘Mr Spencer Gollan .must find it pleasant wor]< enough riding old Norton over our fences. He won on his old favorite at Lingfield, and set some people thinking that the Grand National might not, after all, be beyond the horse’s capacity ; but I think Nor ton would never show dash enough to get to the finish of that race anywhere in the front rank. Mr Gollan has done well with him, however, and with Ebor, but I cannot think why he does pot import young, unschooled ones that would have nothing to unlearn in the way of jumping. Some of hie importations have proved white elephants, being unable to stand another preparation, and not well enough known for people to ' secure them as stallions. Yet there is one of them, Mosquetaire, who might easily make an absolutely first-rate stallion, and I happen to know that Mr Gollan wants to place the horse on nominal terms at any good stud, just to give him a chance.” “ Sentinel,” in the Hawera Star, writes : —“ I notice that some sporting writers regret that the Egmont Racing Club has cut the usual steeplechase meeting out of the programme. This is not so, as although there is no steeplechase fixture in this season’s programme, one will follow early next season —about October or N ovember. At this gathering there will be some events set down for hunters only, and as hunting promises to be quite as successful as last year, there should be large fields taking part in the restricted races The fact of the Egmont Racing Club substituting a hack meeting at the back end of this season . does not mean that the club is agoing to neglect the interests of owners of ’chasers. It should not be forgotten that nominations for the Great Northern Champagne Stakes and Royal Stakes, to be run at Ellerslie in ’99 and 1900, are due with Mr Percival to-morrow, Friday. x .

Prince Barcaldine, this year’s winner of the Lincolnshire Handicap, was sold at the disposal of the late Colonel North’s stud, to Captain Machell, for 2000 guineas. He ran nine times last season, and won twice, viz., the Cleveland Handicap Plate, 440 sovs, with 7.7, at Doncaster; and t he Longest Reign Handicap, 359, at Windsor; while on four occasions he ran third. High Treasurer, who ran second, also won twice in 1897, but he was out on twelve occasions; while the third horse, Ravensdale, during the same term, ran but once, and was then third. Mr S. Hordern, although one of the richest horse owners in Sydney, does not appear to be a particularly popular one. It is not so long since his colors on The Skipper were howled at, and recently his colors on Gunbearer, who ran in the Nursery Handicap at Randwick, were similarly treated. No better than 3to 1 was going at any time about Gunbearer, but the public agreed to take that price, and he started at 5 to 2 a firm favorite. What Cleat’s instructions were is only known to the stewards, but a section of the onlooders highly disapproved of the way he kept hold of the gelding’s head coming down the straight. Gunbearer ran close up behind the placed horses, Spark winning a good race frcm Lady Mostyn and Jenny Moore. As Gunbearer weighed in there was some hooting, and perhaps this demonstration had an effect in prompting the stewards to open an enquiry. Whether or not, the parties concerned were called up, and after a lengthy sitting it was announced that deal had been disqualified for six months for unsatisfactory riding. The popular opinion was that it was highly unsatisfactory; the stewards, who had all the facts before them, considered that the case could be fully met by fastening the blame upon the jockey, who thus is saddled with the full responsibility of Gunbearer’s performance. My own opinion (writes “Umpire” in the Sydney Referee} is that Gunbearer c mid have won, differently handled, and it is to be regretted that a horse owned by such a prominent man as Mr Hordern should have performed in a way which necessitated action. The stewards, who are the persons entrusted with the duty of assessing the responsibility, have fixed it definitely upon the jockey, and so settled it. Smith has a considerable reputation as a racingwriter, and is credited with knowing as much as is good for any mortal to know about horses. Even in his younger days he was somewhat of an authority, having early learned to keep his mouth shut and look knowing —two qualities that go a long way towards making, a reputation. Once, however, he was perilously near exposure, his native wit alone saving him. He tells the story himself. “ Old John Driscoll had got a horse down from the country, and one afternoon, when I was out at his place, took me into the box to have a look at him. Of course, 1 was enthusiastic over the improvement he had worked in the nag, and was running my hand over the b, ute, in a professional way, when Jim said, ‘ Feel his brisket,’ and I went cold all over. Couldn’t, for the life of me, think at that moment what part of the horse that was. The rug had been thrown loosely on, so 1 passed my hand under the rug and over his withers, when Jim said, ‘ No, his brisket! Feel.his brisket.’ I said ‘Yes, yes,’ but I knew I was lost, and then I had an inspiration. I iau my hand down under the girth and pinched hard once, twice! I was out of that box like lightning, for the brute kicked like , and Jim didn’s ask me to go in again. I was saved. But you bet your boots I got hold of a 1 Book on the Horse’ when I got home.” One severe consequence of Rae’s disqualification is the disbandment of his excellent string of horses. Waiorongomai, who won the Autumn Handicap in the nomination of E. J. Rae, has been taken back by her owner, Mr McNicol. It is only since Waiorongomai has been in Rae’s hands that we have recognised what a good mare she is. Waiuku’s third victory in the Thompson Handicap was not generally anticipated, or he would not have paid a dividend of £7 3s. Yet students of, racing ought not to have neglected the big brown. We knew that there was very little difference between Waiuku and St. Paul, and that if the latter had gone to Wellington he would have been well backed' with all the 10.7 he was to carry. Then again Waiuku had previously shown a liking for the Hutt course, and on thd “ horses for courses ” principal Waiuku was worth a bet.