Sporting and Dramatic REVIEW AND LICENSED VICTUALLERS’ GAZETTE. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WEEKLY STANDARD. Thursday, May 25, 1899. Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 461, 25 May 1899, Page 10

Sporting and Dramatic REVIEW AND LICENSED VICTUALLERS’ GAZETTE. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WEEKLY STANDARD. Thursday, May 25, 1899. Sporting Topics.

A jockey named Neville won three races, at Rosebery Park (Sydney), and repeated the performance by winning three races at Kensington next day. .

Mr W. O. Rutherford was the most successful owner at the Christchurch meeting, winning, three races, two with Lapidary and one with Camel.

Osculator’s foals are highly spoken of in Australia. A fine colt by the New Zealand-bred sire out of My Change was killed recently by ajkick. j The Australian jockey, W. Delaney, had a mount on an unknown gelding by Derringer in a selling race at Alexander last month, but finished out of a place. ' '

An exchange remarks that “ Fortunatus has at last won a race in India.” If the records' are looked up it will be found that Eryingpan’s soil, has won a number of races in India.

Stgrshot is coining on when flat racing is nearly over, but Murray Hobbs should win a race with, her at Dunedin. He. has had a trying time with Starsbot, all. through the season, and neither Hermosa, Bizarre, Bloomer, or Lady Dundashave returned him much during the season justclosing. Dundas has been the only horse in the. stable that has won a really good stake.

The D.J.C. has been served with a writ of summons over its tenancy of the Forbury, in which there is a claim for putting the buildings, etc., in proper order. The weights for the following races to ba run at Ellerslie on Saturday, June 3, are due to-day ; "Winter Welter, Maiden Steeplechase, Pony Hurdles, and Maiden Hurdle s. Mr Dan O’Brien was again among the unlucky owners at the Christchurch meeting. Malatua, who had been showing really good form in his training, failed to run up to expectations in the principal race. Peerage performed a little better in his race, and got second. A well-bred Australian horse, The Faithful» by Niagara—Faith, was sold in Sydney recently for £4 05s. During the season, three years ago, he won six races out of seventeen starts, and in one event at Canterbury Park he cut out the six furlongs in Imin yet now he is valued at less than a fiver.

It is likely that a proposition will be made to extend the North New Zealand Grand National Meeting to three days next year. An argument that will be used in favor of that proposition is that a three days’ programme is likely to attract more horses from the South than a two days’ programme.

The filly Valedictory, by Cuirassier —Valentine> and the filly by St. Hippo —Liquidation, both in the charge of Mr J. Bae, have been suffering from influenza, a prevailing epidemic at Ellerslie, but both recovered under the care of their trainer without quite going off their feed. Both youngsters are now doing very well. Lapidary ran twice at the North Canterbury Meeting on May 4, and got second to Female Franchise in the Winter Oats, one mile. Female Franchise carried 8.12 and Lapidary 7.9. He was unplaced in the Flying, five furlongs, with 7.6. It is strange how a horse can improve so much in a fortnight, and at the end of that period come out and beat better horses.

An old-time jockey and trainer, in the person of W. Lang, died suddenly in Melbourne recently. He was a very old colonist, coming over from Tasmania in 1834. He trained Nimblefoot, winner of the Melbourne and Australian Cup’s, He won the Derby in 1863 with Oriflamme. The only horse of note Mr Lang has had of late years is Bosella. Who really does own Splinter ? Or shall we ask who are the owners of the various chips the gelding is said to be split into ? We are already told of five reputed owners of hairs in Splinter’s tail. Perhaps it will be a case of the ten little niggers over again—“ four got swallowed up and then there was one.” Then the man who has most chips will own Splinter. Mr W. Knight, the well-known handicapper, was a sufferer from a nasty accident last week. He was crossing Queen Street with the intention of going to be photographed at Mr F. W. Edwards’ studio for the Sporting Bevie w, when his toe caught in the tram line, and he fell heavily to the ground. Mr Knight was severely shaken, and much bruised, but happily he was well enough to be about town on Friday, and on Saturday he was enjoying the racing at Takapuna. We learn from an exchange that the Lower Valley Jockey Club intend making further improvements to their course property. At a meeting of stewards the other day it was resolved to borrow £6OO for the purpose of paying off the balance of purchase money (£456) and fenc ’ in the inside of the course, and lay off a grass training track. The number of horses now being trained at Martinborough has been the cause of the club deciding to make proper provision for them, and the new grass track will be greatly appreciated.

The English-bred colt, Benzoin, by Friars Balsam out of a Bendigo mare, imported by Mr G. G. Stead, came out and won his first race, the Maiden Handicap, at the Christchurch meeting. Benzoin is a fashionable looking animal, and after his racing career is over he should meet with some success at the stud. He is now the property of Murray Hobbs, but will be offered for sale along with several of Hobbs’ team shortly.

Lapidary, who won two races at the Christchurch Bacing Club’s meeting, and paid dividends of £42 6s and £lO 4s, is a five-year old gelding by Ahua—Trinket. He is the property of Mr W. O. Butherford, who, with Mr D. Butherford, owns some large sheep stations in the Amuri County. All the horses belonging to the Butherfords are trained at Amuri, and most of them are by that once brilliant steeplechaser, Ahua. Social Pest, Female Franchise, Lapidary, Jib, Jewel, and Pensioner all claim Ahua as their sire.

At the North Canterbury meeting, on May 4, Paladin (7.10) won the big handicap, one mile and a quarter, followed home by Bangefinder (6.10), and Starshot (8.13); Skirmisher (8.12) was fourth, and Huku (7.4) last. At the Christchurch meeting, on May 17, Huku (7.3) won the big handicap, one mile and a quarter, easily, and beat Starshot (8.9), Skirmisher (8.12), Paladin (8.8), and Bangefinder (6.10). Our Canterbury correspondent refrains from passing any comment, but adds: “ Perhaps some of your readers can solve this rather intricate puzzle; I can’t.”

The conditions of the next New Zealand Cup appear in our advertising columns. The added money is 1500 sovs, second horse to receive 200 sove, and the third horse 100 sovs from the stake. The entrance fee is 2 sovs, and the weights are due on or about July 1, and those owners satisfied with the adjustment will be required to pay 3 sovs for first acceptance on August 4, 7 sovs on general entry day, and 10 sovs on a day to be named shortly before the race, the cost of g >ing tot he post in all being 22 sovs. The date of entry is June 5. There are no Multiforms to be frightened of this year, and it is probable that the entry will be a big one.

Mr Haselden, the S.M. who heard the charge against the Wellington police officers, said he thought the most efficacious way of stopping tote betting would be to limit the profits of the totalisator to five per cent. On Wednesday next, May 31, acceptances are due for the following races to be run at the North New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase Meeting: Maiden Steeplechase, 2 sovs : Winter Welter Handicap, 2 sovs; Maiden Hurdles, 2 sovs; and the Pony Hurdles, Isr v. Particulars of the Wellesley Stakes and the Wellington Stakes to be run at the summer meet ing of the Wellington Bacing Club in 1901 appear in our advertising columns. The added money in both races is 300 sovs, and entries close on Monday, January 26. No money is required at the time of entry.

Splinter did not get off scot free in his tumble on Saturday. He cut one of his knees slightly, and on Sunday was very stiff. His stiffness is not to be wondered at, for he came an awful purler. The gelding has been receiving careful attention, and it is to be hoped that he will be fit and well for the Grand National Meeting. To-morrow (Friday), May 26, Messrs Churton and Co. will offer by public auction the privileges in connection with the North New Zealand Grand National Meeting of the Auckland Bacing Club. There is always a big attendance at the last meeting of the season at Ellerslie, so Messrs Churton and Co. should have no difficulty in disposing of the various rights with very satisfactory results to t he Club and the purchasers.

There has been very little training work at Ellerslie this week in the way of jumping. Most of the horses have been doing steady work, but nothing of a serious nature has been attempted. The New Plymouth jumper, Kaitoa, has been over the jumps, and he pleased lookers-on very well, for he fenced in taking style, and showed a bit of pace, too. Splinter has been resting in Frank Macmanemin’s paddock On Saturday afternoon there will be some jumping work done, and on Monday we may expect serious work to be commenced.

The inside and outside dividends at Takapuna on Saturday did not show a unanimity of opinion in every race. Take the case of St. Ursula. Inside, St. Paul’s sister returned her backers £2O 17s, but punters on the outside only received £9 4s. Somebody must have whipped the cat when the dividends in this race were declared. In the Maiden Hurdles the inside division rallied on Verdi much more than did his outside supporters, while in the Maiden Steeplechase the inside tote paid Crusado’s backers £3 13s more than his outside adherents received.

We are in receipt of the annual report of the committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club for the year ending April 30. The report is of a satisfactory nature, notwithstanding the fact that the expenditure exceeds the receipts by £1093 15s 4d. This deficit, however, is satisfactorily accounted for by the item of £1,384 19s lid, the cost of permanent improvements to the grand stand and course. The committee explains that under ordinary circumstances the revenue would have been sufficiently elastic to have cut this expenditure out of current receipts, but the torrents of rain on the last day of the November meeting had the effect of causing the receipts to fall £lOOO below expectations. Notwithstanding this loss the receipts were practically equal to those of the previous year and the season, if it had been favoured by fine weather, would have been a record one. The report will be submitted to the annual meeting of the Club to be held to-day.

Our readers will be interested to note in our business columns an advertisement from the secretary of the Australian Jockey Club, setting forth the conditions of four important races to be run at Band wick, and the owners of now y earings would do well to read Mr Clibborn’s notification By advertising in Auckland, Mr Ciibborn shows that, as secretary of one of the most important clubs in Australia, that be has recognised the fact that this Province is a nursery for thoroughbreds of first-class calibre. This season’s now yearlings are probably the beet we have seen for some time, and we shall feel surprised if Mr Clibborn’s invitation is not responded to by the Hon. H. Mossman, Mr Dan McLeod, Mr G. G. Stead, and possibly others. The events requiring attention are the December Stakes, to be run at the Summer Meeting of 1899 ; • the Champagne Stakes, to be run at the Autumn Meeting of 1900; the A.J.O. Derby, to be run at the Spring Meeting of 1900, and the St. Leger of 1901. Nominations for these events may be sent to the secretary of the 0.J.0., Christchurch, A. 8.0., Auckland, V.8.C., Melbourne, 5.A.J.0., Adelaide, and A.J.0., Sydney. Owners should take particular notice of the fact that entries should be in the hands of the officials mentioned on June 5. The New Zealand entries should be in the hands of the secretaries of the Christchurch or Auckland Clubs by noon, and the final hour of closing in Sydney is 4 o’clock. Writing from San Francisco to a Sydney friendj the well-known trainer, W. J. Miller, has something to say about the racing he has seen there. He saw the California Derby run, and was not greatly impressed, the field being a poor one. He adds that the racing is not nearly up to Australian standard, and was especially struck by the number of bad riders, ‘ the worst he ever saw,” To quote his own words : “I saw about two that could ride decently. All ride a la Tod Sloan, and they run their races from end to end. They don’t forget to use the whip, and some of them nearly fall off when it comes to a finish. People here who know the game say they have good riders and horses, but they have gone East, which is no doubt correct. The track they are racing on at Oaklands resembles the Flemington sand track, but is faster. Gray’s machine is in use, but they do not work it as we do, the horses being on the move all the time, and sometimes the starts are very bad. The jockeys have not the same latitude here as in Australia, being kept to themselves after they go to get ready.”

A match is talked of in England between the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase winner Manifesto and Gentle Ida, for £2,000 a-side, four miles of country, at Sandown park. The Prince of Wales was represented in the last Liverpool Grand National by a horse bearing the name of Ambush, who finished seventh. Just fancy Ambush representing Boyalty. Mr O. Gilbert, owner (or late owner?) of Merloolas, states that he never was in c jmmunication with Mr T. Uphill for the purchase of the gelding, who is as sound as ever he was, and has not been examined by a vet. on behalf of Mr Uphill, or any one else (says the. News of Sydney). The question is, who’s the liai ? The Australian-bred colt Essex, who is in the same stable as Survivor, ran in the Hampton Mid. weight Handicap, at Warwick, last month There was a field of a dozen, and he finished fourth, carrying 7st. 61b., to Bst. carried by Lady Flash, the winner. At Newmarket, in order to assist the public identifying the horses running at the meeting, the stewards have given instructions for the distribu tion of badges bearing numbers corresponding with those on the card, such badges to be strapped to the arm of the lad riding or leading the horse about the paddock. Mr Dan. McLeod very soon got back the £5O he paid for Crusado at the Bell Block meeting. The Crui«er gelding jumped his fences on aturday very kindly, and after getting over the water jump the second time he spurted away and got too big a lead. Voltigeur 11. made a game effort to catch him, but he was not quite ready for a severe race yesterday. Crusado again won at Takapuna Thus the “ Special Commissioner ” of the Sportsman : —“ The surprise occasioned by the victory of Breemount’s Pride in the big steeple chase at Manchester would not have been so great had it been known that the mare had a pipe put in her throat about a fortnight previously, with the result that her roaring infirmity, bad though it was, was almost entirely relieved. The operation is not a dangerous one, and in this instance enabled the mare to score a victory which greatly enhance her value for stud purposes.”

The close of the jumping season in England does not seem to have been regretted. One scribe says :—“Boping—open, obvious, and frequently inartistic roping—has become quite a recognised part of the game. No one is surprised. No one takes offical notice. No one thinks that one rider or one owner or one stable is worse than another. Sometimes a horse is out, sometimes it is not; those who are on when it is out, and win, consider themselves clever. Those who are on when it is not out, and they have betted at the wrong time and lost their money, howl a bit about dishonesty, forgetting to balance up affairs.” Bobert Peck, at one time a famous English trainer, in his autobiography, says : —“ When a boy it was my great delight to go out on the wold and watch the cracks of the day go through their morning tasks. One of the horses that first took my fancy was Songstress, who won the Oaks in 1852. That same year 1 used to watch West Australian doing his gallops, and I was wonderfully taken with him. One morning, when John Scott (the ‘ Wizard of the North ’) came out to s :e the horses at ex rcise, he was accompanied by a quiet looking gentleman. John Scott saw me, and called me to him. The gentleman smiled at me and said : ‘ Well, and what is g ing to win the Derby ? ’ ‘ West Australian, sir,' I answered, without a moment’s hesitation. ‘ The youngster is not a bad judge!’ said John Scott. Afterwards I found that the quiet-looking gentleman was none other than the great Lord Derby.” Horses whose right to be considered thoroughbreds is questioned by sticklers for blue blood seem to be having a good time of it lately. Forest, winner of the V. 8.0. Newmarket Handicap, is objected to as a descendant from a mare of doubtful pedigree; Amoureux. winner of the Thompson Handicap at Wellington, has to manage without a number ; Newhaven, winner of the City and Suburban, is in similar disgrace ; and new we hear that the Brocklesby Stakes, the first two-year-old race of importance in the English season, was won by Hulcot, a son of Crafton and Queen of the Biding, the latter being a halfbred mare, and consquently not figuring in the Stud Book. The special commissioner of the London Sportsman says: “In Hulcot we now find a Brocklesby winner whose pedigree will be vainly sought for in the Stud Book. Surely M ssrs Weatherby should do something forthwith to redress the anomaly which permits the stock of Foxhall,with his three admitted stains, to appear in the Stud Book, while refusing admission to such as Hulcot, Clorane, and many others bred in England or Ireland against whom it can only be alleged that a link in their pedigree is missing. The obviously sensible course is to follow on the lines suggested in the preface to Vol. 18, and relegate all animals of questionable pedigree to an appendix, if only to preserve the record ; but Messrs Weatherby, so far as I understand them, do not propose in future to go on with any such idea, and, by way of a change, American animals with pedigrees, certified by the New York Jockey Club, have already in certain instances been refused admission to the Stud Book or its appendix, notwithstanding the preface to Vol. 18, which, Messrs Weatherby now states, does not apply to the future ! Thus, what with all the Lexington, Foxhall, and other American blood already admitted on one hand, and the exclusion of our Cloranes, Hespers, Galloping Queens, etc., on the other, topped up by a sudden change of front to the Americans, Messrs Weatherby appear to have got themselves into the position of the gentleman in the song who ‘ dunno where he are.’ ” I understand that the matter is alreedy exercising the serious attention of the New York Jockey Club, for the sale value of American bloodstock in England or Europe is cut down by at least 50 per cent, if the Stud Book is to be closed to it.

Irish Twist has been tried over fences and it is said will be taken to Hastings. The stallion Phaeton was recently sold privately by Mr Gates, of Tinwald, Ashburton, for a very satisfactory figure.

£5OOO is said to be the sum Mr G. G. Stead received for Multiform, whose new owner is Sir Edgar Vincent. Mr G. G. Fitzgerald, the owner of Jib, who won at the Christchurch Autumn Meeting, bought the horse for £l4. The Forbury Park Company is proceeding against the Dunedin Jockey Club, claiming £l5OO damages from that body for not keeping the Forbury course in a proper state of repair. The grandstand on the Feilding Bacecourse was destroyed by fire on Monday night. No one seems to know how the fire originated. Luckily for the club the stand was insured for £5OO.

One of the pregeny of the Australian-bred sire Kirkham has at last won a race in England, Sea Fog, who is by Kirkham, having won the Second Welter Handicap at the Newmarket Craven meeting

Cuitine fairly revelled in the mud on Saturday. She went to the front very soon after the start, and got such a break on the others that they had no possible chance of catching her, though Lena ran a very good race considering her heavy impost.

Mr Dick Hannon, the owner of Bellman, was present at the North Shore on Saturday looking as if be had just come out of hospital. On enquiry, he told us that he had a bit of a smash up when riding a young horse. Miss Emmy has been relegated to the stud. Messrs Nathan tried the mare over hurdles, and it will be remembered she gave Jack Bae a very nasty fall a few weeks past. Mies Emmy is a very handsome mare, and should prove a valuable addition to the Sylvia Park breeding establishment.

Altair very soon follows his stable companion. Multiform, to the Old Country. The Castor— Cissy colt leaves New Zealand on Friday next by the s.s. Wakanui. Altair will thus reach England within a fortnight of Multiform’s arrival. The new owner’s name has not yet been published nor has the price realised been divulged. Though the Bellman people pretended to have no fear of the result of the Hurdle Bace on Saturday, we fancy that Splinter was just a little bit dreaded. Had the latter stood up a fine race would have been seen, for both he and Nor’West were, like the winner, in rare good trim. Nor’-West lost a lot of ground by the smash, and was probably a bit upset into the bargain.

Partan Jeannie’s win in the Boyal Handicap would naturally lead one to suppose that the owners’ fellow countrymen had backed the mare. Coming from the course to the wharf the question was put by a gentleman, who received the answer, “No good back Plartan Jeannie, she only win one lace a year.” The Celestials evidently folio w form very closely.

Auld Beekie was a trifle lucky to win the Maiden Plate at Takapuna on Saturday. Snider had the inside running going along the back, but her rider did not keep to the rails, and consequently Jack Ohaafe ran upon the inside,and his mount lasted long enough to get home by the best part of a length. Snider was coming very fast at the finish, and with the inside berth she must have won.

The “ man in the box” had a couple close finishes to decide at Takapuna on Saturday. The first was when Debtor and St. Ursula ran home for the Birthday Handicap very nearly level, and the second was the splendid finish between Partan Jeannie, St. Elmo, and Bed Lancer for the Boyal Handicap. Some people were of opinion that Doctor was first home in the Birthday Handicap, and did not hesitate to say so, but the judge is the only man able to give a certain decision, and most racegoers were satisfied with the decision in either race.

Hawfinch, who won the London Cup of £lOOO for Mr Horatio Bottomley, is a four-year-old by Goldfinch—Chalk Hill Blue. Mr Bottomley paid a big price for the colt last year, and expected to win the Derby with him. He was bad.y trained, however, and never did anything much in his three-year-old days. He was well backed for the Lincolnshire Handicap in March last, but ran badly as the betting on the day implied he would« His win at the resuscitated Alexandra Park meeting must have been very welcome to his owner. This is how the troubles of a disputed or unsatisfactory start is dealt with by New South Wales stewards : —Feu de-Joie and Kalingo, who were well backed for the Flying Handicap at Warwick Farm on May 13, got left at the Jpost (writes the Sydney Evening News). There was some dispute when the horses returned to the weighing enclosure as to whether the starter had sent the field away, and the hoisting of the weight flag was delayed. Mr Hegarty, the starter, however, stated that he sent the horses off in the usual way, and backers of the favorite were placed out of their suspense. It is an unusual occurence now-a-days for “ triers” to get left. At the Christchurch Basing Club’s Autumn Meeting a well known jockey (C. Stratford) got himself into rather serious trouble. He presented himself to weigh out to ride Speculator in one of the races, but the clerk of the scales expressed the opinion that he was not in a fit condition to ride, and it certainly appears that the official was quite right, as Stratford indulged in language of an unsavory description and as a consequence he was disqualified for two years. The punishment certainly appears to be severe, but the clerk of the scales and the stewards are to be commended for the action taken. If Stratford was in an unfit condition to ride, then his presence in a race was a menace to the lives of sober jockeys as well as his own. Let us hope that the lesson will benefit jockeys generally.

Tod Sloan, the now famous American jockey’ is only 26 years of age.

A yearling sister of The Grafter and Gaulus is being educated by Ike Earnshaw, of Randwick.

Messrs Rutherford and Chapman, two wellknown Christchurch sportsmen, were present at Takapuna yesterday.

The officials of the Auckland Racing Club yesterday received an intimation from Lord Ranfurly that he would avail himself of the opportunity of being present at the June meeting. Holacauste, the Erench colt that has been in such favor for the English Derby, run next Wednesday, was beaten in a race at Paris last month. The race was for three-year-olds, and his defeat has caused Holacauste tc decline in favor.

At the Takapuna meeting yesterday Recon- •' struction broke down badly, having jarred or partially dislocated the elbow of the near fore-leg. The injury was evidently a bad one, as the ho2se could not be removed from the course without difficulty

The Napier people are having a series of steeplechase obstacles erected inside their plough gallop. They will in no way interfere with training operations for other classes of horses, and it is intended that they shall occupy a permanent position on the club grounds. The Sydney jockey, W. Delaney, now in England, did not make a promising start in the Old Country. His first n ount was in the Anchor Stakes, on April 1 at Alexandra Park, on an unnamed horse by Derringer from Frivoli. The horse finished nearly last.

Fata-Morgana (Cranbrook —Sierra), Mr H. C. White’s two-year old foaled to English time, bad a run in the Flying Handicap at Warwick Farm on May 13 (states the Sydney Referee). She showed a fair turn of speed for a few furlongs, but, as was only to be expected, died away at the finish. Whether she will prove any good is, of course, problematical, but, for the sake of the owner’s experiment, it is to be hoped she does, as in such case, ske will be given a chance on the English turf. The Chaafe stable had a fine innings at the Takapuna Meeting. On the first day Auld Reekie, St. Ursula, and Partan Jeannie held up the honor of the stable, and yesterday St. Bimo and Nor’-West completed the tale of victory. Cannongate ran an excellent race in the Welter Handicap, and some lookers-on thought he was going to add another victory to the credit of the veteran trainer.

Drum Major ran a really good race yesterday at Takapuna. The youngster, in the hands of Barns, won as he liked, and though we cannot approve of the owners’ policy in racing a young horse so frequently, we recognise that Drum Major is a sterling horse, and that at five years old he will be able to hold his own with the best jumping horses in Australasia.

Regalia paid a thumping dividend yesterday—£sB 2s inside and £6B 9s outside her supporters received. Merry Maid was a runner in the same race. One was nominated by Mr Handley and the other by Mrs Handley. Surely this was a case for bracketing on the machine. We quite believe that the horses ran on their merits, but it is only fair to the public that the horses so plainly in one ownership should be bracketed. The Splinter people had bad luck on Saturday The gelding jumped the first and second hurdles in great style and appeared to be going well. At the third j ump Bellman just touched the hurdle, Drum Major knocked it a bit harder, and as it came back Splinter struck it hard and came a regular purler. He slid right in the track of Nor’-West,, whose first stride over the jump landed him amongst Splinter’s legs. It appeared as if a terrible mix up would happen, but the Sou’wester gelding kept his feet in a marvellous manner and ran a respectable second to the sterling Bellman. The charges brought against the Wellington police officer in connection with the recent totebetting cases was heard on Monday, and after legal argument the S.M. postponed delivering his judgment on the case. On Tuesday Mr Haselden gave judgment in the case. In dismissing the charge against the defendants the S.M. said they acted under orders. The object they were employed upon was for the public good, and what they had done was done in the performance of their duty. The defendants were not mere informers in any legal sense of the word, and they ought to be protected in the performance of their duty.

An interesting statement has just been issued by “Tattersall” Adams, showing what has happened in connection with his sweeps during the nine months prior to March last. New South Wales has taken nearly £BO,OOO of the “place” prizes ; Victoria, £35,000 ; New Zealand £20,000; Queensland, £17,000 ; South Australia, £5193 ; Tasmania, £2600 ; Western Australia, £1692; and China, £1125. There were 29 consultations held, only 12 of which filled, and the aggregate amount of the “place” prizes paid away was £184,932. Then, of course, a great deal was given in cash prizes. Four of the five “specials,” drawn on the day of the race, filled.

The victory of Contrast over Le Var, Gnullo, Paul Pry, Forest, Vigorous, and Diffidence in the South Australian Jockey Club’s Elder Stakes, a weight-for-age event, is described as the surprise of the season in Australia. Contrast is a five-year-old and is by that once famous horse Commotion, and is owned by Mr J. B. Pearson. She paid a dividend of £36125, and on the second day of the meeting she demonstrated that her Elder Stakes victory had been no fluke, as she won the Adelaide Cup of 1500 sovs, beating fourteen opponents. On this occasion, however, she was much better supported, as out of £5576 15s on the machine, £1350 10s had been invested in her favor. Her dividend, therefore, amounted to only £3 16s, a very small one indeed considering the quality and size of the field. She carried 7st, the top weight being Le Var with 9st 21b.

Tangahoe was struck out of the Auckland R.C. Hurdles (states The Mail), he having been nominated without the consent of his owner. Such being the case the Wanganui Club, for whose hack hurdles the horse was nominated, decided to allow the horse to start. Their regulation stipulated that a horse could not be nominated if he had been nominated for an open handicap elsewhere within three months previously.