Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 513, 24 May 1900, Page 11

Sporting Topics.

[By

Petronel.]

The Weaver has been scratched from the A.R;C. Grand National Hurdles.

R. Thorpe has purchased the pony LeonaThe price paid for the Leolinus —Fishplate mare was, I believe, £4O.

Puhia, the Cuirassier mare seen out in the Maiden Hurdles at the A.R.O. and Avondale Meetings, has been purchased by a syndicate of Paeroa sportsmen.

Muscatel has arrived from New Plymouth, The Foulshot mare, who appears to be in capital fettle, is regarded as a certain starter in the Takapuna Steeplechase on Saturday.

Tee West Coast jumpers, Tukapa and Hautonga, arrived at Ellerslie on Friday. It is said that both will be seen out at the Takapuna Meeting, which starts to-day (Thursday).

Young Jack Ohaafe’s Oatesby horse Conspirer has been shaping very well in his recent schooling tasks over the hurdles, and if he is kept at the game he may pay his way. St. Innis, the speed? little daughter of St. Leger and Innisfail has gone into “ General” Booth’s stable. I thall not be at all surprised to see her run prominently at the winter meetings.

Frank Macmanemim’s old warrior Tim has been sent over some of the big fences lately. The Woollbroker gelding has shown very decent form and probably he will make a very useful crosscountry horse.

The Takapuna Jockey Club’s Winter Meeting commences to-day (Thursday), and will be concluded on Saturday. With Queen’s weather the gathering should prove a great success, for the acceptances promise excellent racing.

There is an opinion that Torpina will not stay out the two miles in the A.R C. Grand National Hurdles, but I do not know why such an opinion should prevail, for the Torpedo gelding has won over two miles before, and has beaten some very fair jumpers. Voltigeur II is not likely to be accepted for in the Great Northern Steeplechase when acceptance time comes along on Friday. I hear the Lionel gelding has broken down, perhaps not seriously, but sufficiently to prevent his running just yet awhile. Forty-Seven, the winner of the Maiden Hurdle Race at the A.R.C. Autumn Meeting, has been schooled over the cross-country jumps. He has popped over the obstacles in excellent style, and bids fair to make a very game ’chaser. Jack Booth’s diminutive mare Bonnie, who appeared in the Maiden Hurdles at Ellerslie and Avondale, has, since the last named meeting, been tried over the big jumps. Bonnie jumped well, and has shewn no inclination to shirk the tasks allotted her. Cuckoo has been well supported during the week for the A.R.O. Grand National Hurdles, straight out, and the “ two Cuckoos ” has been one of the favourite selections for the double, Hurdles and Great Northern Steeplechase. Blackduet has also been backed to win both the ' big races at the A.R O. National Meeting. Acceptances for the A.R.O. Grand National Hurdles and Great Northern Steeplechase are due on Friday next, May 25th. Elsewhere I give a list of probables for either race. There will no doubt be a big drop in the numbers, but both events should receive a good acceptance. Those who have ah eady backed Drum Major for the Grand National Hurdles may have cause to regret their baste, for I think that Messrs Duder’s candidate will hardly be forward enough to win at Ellerslie. He is doing good work, but he is very big yet, and there is barely time enough for his trainer to get him into fit condi tion for a two mile race over hurdles. Cavalier —the Cuirassier —Clio Cavalier I mean has come on exceptionally well during his preparation for the fortbcomii g hurdle races, and maybe he will win before the season comes to a close On the flat he has not proved much of a stayer, but he need not be put out of reckoning on that account.

Bush Rose has been doing some sound work on the track lately. Mr R. J. Platt has removed from Hastings to Riccarton, where he will tram for the future. Cannonade did not once get a place in five attempts on the flat last season. Weights for the Takapuna Jockey Club’s second day races are due on Thursday night at nine o’clock.

The Otaki Maori Racing Club’s Meeting commenced yesterday (Wednesday), and will be concluded to-day (Thursday).

The Waipawa Racing Club’s Birthday Meeting takes place to-morrow (Thursday). The acceptances are good, and given fine weather the gathering should be a very successful one.

On Tuesday, June 5, nominations for all events to be decided at the Napier Park Racing Club’s Winter Meeting are due with the secretary, Mr A. T. Danvers.

During his racing so far Advance has won £3412 10s, while another inmate of the Porirua stable, Boreas, has won £3150 10s while he has been racing.

Glenogle is said to have made considerable improvement lately. If the news be true, he should have a very good show in the Tradesman’s Handicap, to be run on Thursday—today—at the Dunedin Jockey Club’s Meeting.

Harry Goodman, who was up here for th Auckland Cup Meeting, will probably make Wellington his headquarters if it be finally decided not to re-open The Forbury. Lord Dunraven’s Sea Fog, who is by the Australian-bred Kirkham (son of Chester) won the Doddington i late, a welter handicap, at the Lincoln meeting on March 28th. The gelding started favourite, made all the running, and won easily in the hands of the American jockey, J. H. Martin.

Mr E. Knight, the owner of Mora, Royal Purple, Prince Carbine, and other racehorses, has been laid up for nine weeks in Dr O’Hara’s private hospital, .Melbourne, but has now sufficiently recovered to be about again. Royal Purple has been turned out for a spell. M. Edmond Blanc, the owner of Flying Fox, has introduced in the French Senate a bill for the suppression of tipsters, whether by advertisement, circular, card, or any other form of publication, the minimum penalty of an offence of the kind to be two months’ imprisonment and a fine of from £4 to £2O. The Australian turf loses an able and influential supporter in Mr M. O’e hanassy, whose death is reported from Camberwell, near Melbourne. For many years Mr O’dhanassy had norses racing in his colours, bu* the most successful of them were Chicago, who won the Caulfield Cup in 1880, and O’Trigger, who won the V.B.C. Bagot Handicap in 1887. Mr O’Shanassy was a member of the committee of the V.R.C. for several years, and took a great deal of interest in all matters concerning the efficient governing of of the turf.

The following from the Sporting Times is calculated to make the mouths of Australasian “ head lads ” water :—“ When Mat Dawson trained privately for Mr Merry, his salary was £250 per annum. The house was, of course, free, but the trainer had to pay for his own coal We have now at Newmarket instances of the head lad being paid a salary of £5OO per annum, with house, or just double what Mr Merry gave Mat Dawson for training Derby winners.” What must the trainers who can afford to pay their head lad £5OO a year be making ? Jas. Jewitt, who trained for Captian Machell, left £70,000 when he died lately.

The death is reported of the Dutch Skater stallion, Bomba, owned by Mr F. W. Allen, of Yorke’s Peninsular, South Australia. Bomba was got in England, but foaled at Morphettville. He and a filly called Roy’s Wife, by t oottish Chief, also foaled to English time, were sent by Sir Thomas Elder to England to be trained, but after having them some time, Alec. Tayler reported them not up to the mark, and they were sent back to Australia. Roy’s Wife died after foaling Aldivalloch, and Bomba was sold to Mr Allen. Bomba got very few thorough-bred mares, and First Bomba was about the beet known of his progeny.

Rhino is likely to be well backed for the Great Northern Steeplechase if he performs well at Wanganui on Queen’s Birthday. He is accepted for in the big steeplechase there, and, judging from the reports received from Hawke’s Bay, he has been doing very well in his track work. The Native gelding has, of course, been on the shelf for a long time, but there seems to be no doubt that he has become thoroughly sound again. Fit and well, he must have a good show in the Great Northern, for he is in receipt of 181bs from Dnmmy. In the ’9B Grand National Steeplechase, he was only a length behind Dummy when he was giving the chestnut 61bs.

We all but lost ’Stockwell to a French bidder in 1860 (says an English paper), and had we done so, there would have been no Blair Athol, no Doncaster, and no Flying Fox. Viewed in this way, it is indeed funny to trace the thirty seven thousand pounder and Stockwell himself to the old Irish mare offered by his farmer owner to a neighbouring priest for £lO. Had the latter purchased her there would have been no such string of smashers as are here given, but the priest’s offer of but £5 so incensed the farmer that he refused to sell at all, aud sent the mare instead to a neighbouring sire. “ Birdcatcher” — no 400 guinea fee then ! —the produce being The Baron I We have thus to thank the worthy priest for what followed : —The old £lO mare, The Baron, Southwell, Doncaster, Bend Or, Ormonde, Orme, Flying Fox, and the Kings - clere sale, which sent the fourth “ great grandson ” of the ten-pounder up to 37,500 guineas.

The two-year old Scornful, by Bill o’ Portland from Tea Rose, the property of Mr J. R. Smith has gone to that gentleman’s Tucka Tucka stud, and will not race aga n. General entry day for the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s Winter Meeting is Friday in next wet k, June 1. The weights for the first day’s events and the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase should be declared by Mr Henry on Friday, June 8. Entries for the Wellesley Stakes and Wellington Stakes to be run at the Summer Meeting of the Wellington Racing Club, 1901, close on Monday, June 25. No money is required at the time of nomination for either of these races

The first race on each day of the North New Zealand Grand National Meeting will start at half past twelve o’clock. If the last race is timed to start soon after four o’clock, visitors to Ellerslie will be enabled to get back to town soon after dusk.

Boreas has not yet been taken up. He still enjoys his liberty in a paddock at Porirua Well-rugged, he is out night and day, and the hardening treatment seems to suit him, for he bears a very healthy appearance, and he has a very hearty appetite. At the Egmont Meeting a gelding named The Crawler, by St Hippo out of Maratea, very nearly sured. In the Mokoia Handicap he was out in the lead by himself until the distance was reached, and then he had to give way to the speedy Waylay, The Crawler 1 shewed undeniable pace and he may be heard of in the future

One of the outsiders for whom punters hav e something of a regard is Cannonade, a 4-year-old gelding by Middlegun. Bis jumping ability has come during the last few months, but if he is really as good as some people say he is he will run a good race in the A.R.C. Grand National Hurdles.

Nominations for all races to be run at the Gisborne Racing Club’s Steepleeheese Meeting close with the secretary, Mr M. G. Nasmith, on Saturday, June 9 As this is the first day of the Auckland Racing Club’s gathering, owners and trainers should be careful to make their Gisborne entries before they leave for Ellerslie. The full programme of the Meeting was published in last week’s issue of the Review.

I hear that Mr W. O’Sullivan, of Pollard’s Opera Company, is about to buy Drum Major, with a view of taking the Cuirassier horse over to Australia Drum Major is a fine animal, and if the purchase is concluded and the original intention carried out New Zealand will have a very creditable representative in jumping events over on the other side.

The portrait of the very handsome St. Leger —Necklace filly, which appeared in last week’s Jleview, should have had her owner’s name below it. The filly belongs to Dan McLeod, who is to be congratulated upon the possession of such a promising youngster as the half-sister to Coronet. If she does as well as Mr Leonard Marshall’s horse has done —and she may do better— she should enhance the value of her dam’s future progeny. It would seem that dogs were a bit of a nuisance at the recent Egmont Meeting. Several —pure-bred and mongrels —were on the track at different occasions, and in one event no less than four canines chased the last horse up the straight Doubtless this was an ironical display on the part of the doge, who were not satisfied with the running of their' quarry. Evidently the dogs at Hawera are quite as intelligent as some punters, who would very often like to “ let loose the dogs of war ” on their fancy when it has got beaten.

Nominations for the various minor races to be decided at the North New Zealand National Meeting close on Friday next with Mr Pe cival, the Secretary of the A.R.C. The races and the amount of nomination fees in each event are as follows : —Maiden Steeplechase, Isov ; Winter Welter Handicap, Isov; Selling Steeple, 2sovs ; Maiden Hurdles, Isov; Maiden Welter, Isov; Ladies’ Rracelet, 2sovs ; Second Maiden Hurdles, Isov; Second Maiden Welter, Isov , Handicap Hurdles, Isov ; Tally-ho Steeple, Isov; Second Winter Welter, Isov; and the Hunt] Club Bracelet, Isov.

0. T ynham, head lad to M. Blanc the pur chaser of Flying Fox, has taken that costly piece of horseflesh safely across to France. Flying Fox is now located at the Haras de Jardy, and is not to be visited by any strange mares this year. He goes straight to the stud, but will only serve a few mares belonging to his owner in his first season. The Haras de Jardy, M. Edmond Blanc’s new stud, is situated at La Celle Saint Cloud, just outside Paris, close to La Marche. Flying Fox had already begun his stud duties when the mail left, his mate being Princess Royale, by Wellingtonia out of Protess, by. Trocadero.

The New Zealand Stud Book, which will this year be published by the New Zealand Racing Conference, is now in the printer’s hands, and will be issued as soon after the last entries are received as possible. It is very desirable that owners and breeders should send in part : culars and returns to the compiler as soon as possible, for entries reefived after June 30 will be too late for publicet ; on. The compiler will also be glad if owners of young stock will forward the names they have chosen for their young thoroughbreds, for it is the desire of the publishers to make the next volume of the Stud Book as complete as possible. The price of the book will be 30s, and intending subscribers should be expeditious in sending in their names, as the number printed will largely depend upon the copies ordered previous to publication. I would urge Auckland breeders, and owners in particular, to be quick in sending in their various returns, for it is necessary to the credit of the volume that it should contain the names and pedigrees of all the thoroughbreds in the colony.

Mr A. F. Scott, the owner of Bluejacket and Antelope, is a visitor to Auckland j ust now, and will be present at the Takapuna Meeting and the Ellerslie Grand National gathering.

Troubadour has been jumping big country lately, and his connections are rather pleased with his efforts over fences. Perhaps he may show to better advantage in the Northern Steeplechase than in the National Hurdles.

Mr S. Hordern, who purchaed Parthian’s dam, Archeress, at the breaking up of the Chipping Norton Stud, has been asked to put a price on her, but he has replied that she is not for sale. It is believed that she is intended for England. Hautriller is the n me given the yearning colt by Haut Brion from Narara. The colt by Bill o’ Portland from Montalto will be known as Altitude, and the filly by Lochiel from Atilla as F. oradora.

Mr Leonard Marshall’s jumper Tahaka, by Mmkapeer out of Ladybird, is a promising customer. He is well built, and looks a likely timber-topper. As he is only five years old, J. B. Williamson would seem to have a prospect of making a good jumper of the Muskapeer gelding.

Social Pest and Venture will stay at the Harp of Erin during their visit to Auckland. Now that the coming of the former is certain my remarks elsewhere about his starting in the Grand National Hurdles must be qualified. Boxes have been engaged at the Harp for Mr Rutherford’s jumpers, so Social Pest will evidently be accepted for.

Troubadour, who has arrived at Ellerslie, looks in admirable fettle. He will be a starter at the Takapuna Meeting, and will be ridden by Alec Hall in his engagements at the North Shore and at Ellerslie. Nor’-West’s elder brother may keep up the family prestige by winning a race or two during his present visit to Auckland.

The amount of the nomination fee for the Hawke’s Bay County Gun Club’s £l5O Handicap has been reduced from Ssovej. to 2sovs The secretary of the Club, Mr W. D. Ireland, will receive nominations up to, and on Saturday, June 2nd. The handicaps will be declared on or before June 9th, and the acceptances close on Monday, June 18th. Though there is only one nomination fee, two acceptances are allowed, the fee for each being £2 10s.

After all. Nor’ West did not travel from Sydney by the Mararoa. Peter Chaafe found that the horse was not well enough to come over, so his departure had to be posponed. It can now safely be assumed that Nor’ West will have to be taken out of the Steeples and the Grand National Hurdle Race. This is a pity, but though everybody will be sorry that such a favourite with Aucklanders will be absent from the big jumping races, they will hope with the owners that the rest in Sydney will put him on his legs again.

A singular superstition among the natives of Chamba, capital of the State of that name in Northern India, is the reason for a law which strictly forbids entire horses or geldings to enter the town What awful calamity would follow were a stallion or gelding allowed to come inside the city precincts is not stated, but a European visitor who was the guest of the Maharajah learned that this law existed, when his host invited him to join a game of polo, and he remarked that the forty ponies on the ground were, without exception, mares.

Major Rimington, of the InniskiUing Dragoons, the Header of the well-known Rimington Scouts, in a letter written “on the way to Kimberley,” says: “I am all right up to date. We have been in two engagements, and another little “ scrap ” early this morning. I was lucky yesterday, and probably won’t be in as hot a corner again for some time. My drderly, a steeplechase jockey, saved me by charging a barbed wire fence when we were close under a heavy and unexpected fire. He broke the fence and fell, and his horse cleared. Then I got him up behind on my pony, and we got out.”

The compiler of the Australasian Turf llegister has issued his list of winning sires for the past nine months, which shows Lochiel at the head. According to this list Lochiel has sired 31 winning horses, which have won 72 races, 73 seconds, and won in stakes £12,827£. Bill of Portland is second on the list with 11 winners, their score being £11,6381 for 24| wins and 33 seconds. Carbine is well to the fore with 13 winners; while Malua is credited with 24, and Gozo 21. The defunct Grand Flaneur comes out well, thanks to Parthian, as his six winners have landed in stakes £4511J. So far as the number is concerned, Sunrise is again in front, with 35 to his credit. They have between them won 80 races, but the stakes are small.

In February, 1857, at the Kilkenny Club House, a few members of the Old Kilkenny Hunt laid a wager that old Sir John Courtray, of Bally Edmond, County Cork, would not ride his favourite grey mare from the club-house yard to the club-room and jump over the fire screen and back. Sir John took Mr Dick Barnard, a Kildare visitor, up for an even £lOO, that he would perform the feat, and the mare was iaddled, pulled out of her stable, and brought round to the side door. Sir John mounted and rode the mare, who was not in the least disturbed by the brilliancy of the gas or her other surroundings, up the two flights of brass-mounted stairs He rode her into the club-room, took the prescribed leap “ without disturbing the claret glasses on the table ” (it must have been a wellbuilt house), and rode downstairs again without accident. - Sir John Courtray had hunted with the Kilkenny Hounds for forty-five years when he did this memorable feat. Henry Lord Waterford did the same thing at the same house on a famous occasion, with the difference that he jumped his horse over the dinner table.

Rhino is scratched for all engagements at the Wanganui Meeting.

Dummy, Muscatel, Tarragon, Heart Whist and Tukapa, who claim engagements at Takapuna and Ellerslie, came up from Taranaki on Tuesday by the Gairloch. Mr H. Oxenham’s Syerla ran third to Lackford and Forcett- in the Doveridge Handicap Plate at the Derby Spring meeting on the 6th April. The field was of good class, but the son of Gozo was unmentioned in the betting.

The Field, speaking of the starting machine, says, with races started by means of the machine, without any material delay, jockeys will have no excuse for being late, and under the changed conditions something like a system can be devised for insuring punctuality. This is simply not possible under the present system of starting.

Very great interest is being shown in England in the arrival of more American horses and jockeys. Never has the English turf experienced a more severe shock than that administered to it last year by the handful of trans-Atlantic thoroughbreds and jockeys who made a home in the Old Country.

Jack Gainsford and Mick M’Auliffe returned to Sydney on Friday, says the Melbourne Sportsman, after an absence of several months in New Zealand. Gainsford tells me he had plenty of riding to doover there, and speaks well of the sporting people, and the conduct of racing affairs generally. He intends re-visiting New Zealand about September.

At a sale of yearlings in Adelaide on May 10, the highest price realised was 200 guineas for the Fulham Park bred colt by Port Admiral from Quality, Mr R. T. Melrose being the purchaser. A colt by Carlyon from Thora, by Somnus (imp.) from Astarte (sister to Richmond), and bred by Mr J. H. Aldridge at Richmond Park, was sold to Mr O. H. De Rose for 150 guineas. A sister to Carlton, from the same stud, went to Mr G. Tolson, of Melbourne, at 60 guineas and half a dozen Fulham Park yearlings were purchased by Mr F. Reynolds at low rates.

“ Reginald ” says that Bobadil could race along on eggs without breaking the shells, so lightly did he land, and so neatly did he gather himself up. Some of the Bill of Portlands are decidedly wide in front — almost “ bowed ’ ’ in the arms —but thiv does not alter their superb action, and most of the St Simon breed we have seen out here are similarly endowed. If they only had the courage that fights down difficulties, the St Simon tribe, with their other great gifts, would beat creation. Had Bobadil been possessed of Wallace’s big heart, the little black dandy would possibly have never known defeat.

It was at Liverpool that the idea originated that sheets marked with the number or the name of the competitor should be born by horses in the paddock for the benefit of lookers on. The same idea was carried ont in connection with the last Grand National Steeplechase, each competitor’s name being marked in blue thread on a white ground. In the case of the Prince of Wales’ horse, Ambush 11, who won the design was very elaborate. The rose, shamrock, and thistle came first in appropriate colours, “Ambush II.” in white on a scarlet scroll, with the Prince of Wales’ feathers in black, passant, tricked by a bine and red flourish, rampant, and dexter and sinster His Royal Highness’s initials in blue and red, gardant, the same being carried out—in the jargon of heraldry—at each corner.

According to the English writer, “Augur,” there are many curious cases of mares being what all breeders will say too prolific. It has been very rare, indeed, to find a twin of much use for racing, but there have been a few exceptions. The dam of Montreal, a mare called Legend, by Merlin, was one of the most remarkable of twin producers. She was bred in 1825, and had ten foals up to 1840, when she had three lots of twins in successive years. The first were alive, and one, a filly called Prairie, came to maturity, and was a pretty good mare, winning several times as a three-year-old, and once over two miles. It has been somewhat remarkable that many old mares have often had twins. Elenora, by Melbourne, was twentyone when she was so blessed, after breeding pretty regularly for fifteen years One of the twins lived, namely, a filly called Elaine, and she became a very regular breeder. Prior to that, too, there was Rachel, by Amadis, and dam of Abraham Newland, at the age of twenty-two, after dropping in regular sequence thirteen foals. One of her twins lived. Mopsa, by Cannon Ball, is an instance of a mare having twins twice, and her eleventh, when she was sixteen.

Lastly of the stallions, I saw the sire of the greatest racer in the world. To Orme has lat terly bee apportioned a large high-walled paddock at the Eccleston part of the estate, and not far from the church of that name recently built by the late Duke of Westminster. It was in this enclosure that Touchstone roamed for many years, when not on duty at th ? stud proper As Orme walked up in easy-going style to where we stood, I thought I had never seen a more temperate thoroughbred. All the excitement of his days when confined and treated according to the usual system have gone, and no horse could be more contented. In the rough he framed equally handsome as when he returned to scale at Goodwood after giving La Fleche 71b and running her out of the Gordon Stakes. The same perfectlyset shoulders, lean, game head, well-arched loin, and muscular though not overloaded thighs, were conspieious as in training, with total absence of lumber. A young stallion, living as Orme lives now, surely must get healthier and hardier stock than could be expected of the lusty, highly-fed, lightly-exercised—though with old horses more shelter, warmth, and feeding may be requisite. To Orme, then, au revoir, with prosperity wished, as in the case of his glorious old grandsire.

During the recent S.A.J.O. meeting, £41,575 went through the totalisator —£3600 less than last year.

Scorn, who cost a large army of backers very dearly during his three-year-old career, is reported to have died shortly after landing in India, in consequence of a bad passage.

Mr W. Forrester recently received a private offer for The Watchdog and Saraswati. The sum offered for the pair was 600 gs, and as this was not considered sufficient Mr Forrester has decided to keep the two sprinters himself.

The Grafter was made a warm favourite fo the Jubilee Handicap, run at Kempton Park on May 12, for after his City and Suburban run it was thought that he could not lose. However, he could only run into eighth position.

The Musket Blood was again in the ascendant at the S.A.J.C. Autumn Meeting. Six events fell to descendants of the great son of Toxopholite, whilst Brutus, the Steeplechase winner, has a strain of this valued blood through his paternal grandam Bellissima.

Forfarshire, who has been prominent in the betting for the English Derby, is said to be a beautiful colt. He is by Royal Hampton, out of St Elizabeth, by St Simon, from Esa, by Uncas, out of Fleada, by Hermit, from Cradle by Saunterer, from Margery Daw, the dam of See Saw and third dam of Sternchaser, which son of Nordenfeldt did well lor Mr Spencer Gollan a few years back. The Victorian mare, Alix, who ran disappointingly at the recent A.J.O. Meeting, easily won the Rosehill Stewards’ Mile, going out an even money favourite in a field of eight. Auda was the only other candidate to make a decent show, as the sister to The Chief cut out all the running to the straight. In this race the rider of Napoleon, J. Walker, lost his seat after going a furlong, but his spill was a harmless one.

It is not often that father and son ride winners the same da’-, but such a case occurred at Morphettville recently, when H. Hopwood won the Hurdle Race on Jack, while his son had the winning mount on Martagon in the Fisher Stakes. Both riders are decidedly popular. Hopwood sent, is the trainer of Merry Pilgrim, who, by the way, did not run up the expectations in the Adelaide Cup.

The American owner, Mr E. Corrigan, who is going to race in England, arranged to leave New York at the end of April in the new Atlantic transport liner Minneapolis. His string of eight animals were to come over in the same boat, one of them being the crack three-year old, Golden Rule, by (imp.) Golden Garter out of Lucille Murphy, who out of eighteen attempts last year, was twelve times victorious and three times second. His sire, Golden Garter, was bred at the Hampton Court Stud, and is by Bend Or out of Sainfo : n’s dam, and was bought as a yearling by Sir J. Blundell Maple for 600 guineas.

The New Zealand-bred Altair, by CastorCissy, would appear to have quickly struck form in England, for on the concluding day of the Nottingham Spring meeting, he was favourite in a field of seven for the bi ewmark Plate, of one mile ; and in the hands of the American jockey, B. Rigby, he made the whole of the running, and finally won, pulling up, by five lengths, Hips and Haws and Grey Consul filling the places. Altair had run twice previously in the Old Country, having finished second to Trevor at Lingfleld, and running unplaced to Past Master, Justice Royal, and Queen’s Park at Manchester in November last. Altair ran in the colours of Mr E. A. Wigan, and was trained by Fallon. Thus the Special Commissioner of the London Sportsman on the question of Army Reiiiounts : “There is a sort of case-hardened instinct at the War Office to refuse all suggestions in this or any other matter. They are notorious for flouting all inventors unless these be gifted persons within their own “ charmed ” circle, and yet one would have thought red-tape barriers would break down on emergency ; but it is not so. I know of a case, the other day, when they were offered as many as as 2,000 horses from 15 hands to 15'1, hard, wiry, and with plenty of blood crosses, accustomed to live on grass, like tne South Americans, and more nearly broken than the Hungarians ; but the reply was : Such horses would not be in condition for work—though Mr Powell Williams had in the House given grass-feeding as a reason for preferring the South Americans to the Irish horses—and that they were not sufficiently trained, though at that moment infinitely less-trained Hungarians were being bought in thousands on Government account. In answer to these objections an offer was made to produce some of the horses as samples for the Remount Department to see ; but this, though in a sense unanswerable, was not in the least likely to move the official mind. Lord Roberts and the British army might go to Jericho for aught the official mind cared ; and it simply indited a letter to the effect that the person who offered the horses—at about £32 each, be it remembered—was thanked, and if his services were needed he would be further communicated with—which, of course, he never will be. Anybody who knows the War Office knows that.”

Alemene, who has been retired to the stud, did all her racing in Mr Oxenham’s colours, having been leased from her breeder, Mr J. B. Smith, who will next season mate the daughter of Gozo with Metal (imp.). Caledonia, Scornful, Matrona, and a filly by Gozo from Euterpe were travelling companions to Tucka Tucka with Alemene. Caledonia is returning to his native heath for a spell, as his owner intends visiting England shortly, and Scornful goes hence to take her place in the stud. Being a sister to Scorn (Bill of Portland—Tea Bose) she ought to be an acquisition to Mr Smith’s breeding establishment. Matrona is a mare by Trenton from Juno, belonging to T. Payten, and the Euterpe filly is a two-year-old, and oue of the draft sent down to Wootton some time back to be tried.

The English Derby is run on Wednesday next. Judging from the tone of the betting market and his public performances the Prince of Wales’s colt Diamond Jubilee should win the race. Last week he won the valuable Newmarket Stakes run over a mile and a quarter on a straight course. Diamond Jubilee only won after a terrific race with Mr John Musker’s colt Chevening by Orion out of Simena. Guidwife, by Surefoot out of Brose, was third. English writers say that Diamond Jubilee is a splendid animal, and one that fills the eye as a typical Derby colt should do. He is a bay with black points, stands about 16 hands, is of medium bulk, and possesses much quality, His legs and feet are excellent, and he is better let down than his famous brother Persimmon was at the same age, and he has little trace of the legginess which is so often to be seen in St Simon’s colts. Taken all round Diamond Jubilee is a charming horse to look at, and as his action is the perfection of moving, no wonder he is the admired of all beholders.

“ Galtee More ” writes: —“ Discussing past-and-gone champions with a Victorian trainer of large experience the other day, he said in his opinion First King and The Barb were the two greatest stayers Australia ever saw, but Grand Flaneur was the best horse ever bred south of the line. He ran all distances, was never fit, and never extended. He could give Progress a stone and hack beat him over any distance, and when Flaneur retired Progress could badly beat any horse in Australia at w.f.a. Tom Brown says he never had Grand Flaneur fit but once —that was just previous to the A.J.O. autumn meeting of 1882 —but he broke down on the eve of the races. His breakdown was caused by J. Gainsford misunderstanding instructions. He was told to canter thejjcolt two miles, but he galloped him at his top for that distance, and broke him down beyond all hope of repair, and left Progress to carry off the St. Leger, Sydney Cup, and w fa. races. Avernus was Flaneur’s working mate, and a fair horse he was, but Flaneur could go a mile at his top and pick up Avernus and beat him over another mile, a performance that must commend the old son of Yattendon to anybody with experience.”