Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 518, 28 June 1900, Page 10

Sporting Topics.

[By

Petronel.

The A.R.O. has passed the Avondale Jockey Club’a programmes for next season. The Dunedin Jockey Club made a profit of over £5OO as the financial result of the May Meeting, The totalisator investments at the Hawke’s Bay Meeting amounted to £BO2l for the two days. Last year the receipts were £9639, £1615 more than wass peculated last week. At a special meeting of the Auckland Racing Club Committee held on Monday Messrs H. B. Gorrie and William Bercival were chosen as delegates to the Racing Conference. The Ellerslie Racecourse water supply question came up before the A. 8.0. Committee on Monday. The matter was referred to the Works Committee, of which body the Hon. E. Mitchelson is now a member. This committee will report on the subject, and the conclusions arrived at will be submitted to the Club at a future meeting.

Four men were convicted and fined at Dunedin recently for trespassing on the Dunedin Jockey Club’s course at Wingatui. It was alleged that the men were tote-betters. On Saturday Straybird, Tip, Neried, and Admiral Hawke departed from Auckland for Gisborne in order to take part in the Meeting next week. The handicaps for the first day's races of the Gisborne Facing Club’s Steeplechase Meeting appear in this issue. Acceptances for the various races close with the Secretary, Mr Nasmith, on Saturday next. On the first day of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club's Winter Meeting, the totalisator investments amounted to £3757. This sum is £657 less than the money speculated cn the first day of last year’s Winter Meeting. The Auckland Racing Club has removed all disqualifications from all jockeys, trainers, owners and horses in the provincial district of Auckland that have taken part in unregistered meetings during the season and who have not been disqualified for malpractice. It is quite prebable that the Dunedin Jockey Club will next season hold the autumn meeting in February. In March, the weather is too unsettled for a successful attendance. There is another reason for an earlier date and that is that the services of Mr Harry Piper as starter would be available. The Gisborne Racing Club’s Steeplechase Meeting takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday in next week. The handicaps appear in this issue of the Review, but as the acceptances are not due until Saturday, I shall not anticipate every race. I think the Auckland horses Straybird, Tip, and Admiral Hawke will run well in their engagements, and Paria, Evening Wonder, and Canopus seem to have the best chances among the local horses engaged. Mr Roulston has sold Record Reign for £6OO, and the Castor gelding is now being trained by J. E. Thorpe, who has been giving the big horse a trial over the small sticks. Record Reign has acquitted himself very well, so I suppose we shall see him nominated for the New Zealand Grand National Hurdle Race. Mr Roulston, I know, regrets parting with his old favourite, but he was so high up in the estimation of handicappers that he was obliged to sell him. Record Record is a gallant stout-hearted horse, and if hurdle racing should be his mission, I have no doubt he will take to the game kindly. At a meeting of the Dunedin Jockey Club Committee, held on Wednesday in last week, it was decided to ask the Hon G. McLean, Mr W. Carncross, M.H.R., and Mr A. Cohen to act as the Olub’ei delegates to the Racing Conference. A letter was received from Mr Sydney James, tendering his resignation as Secretary, owing to the state of his health. The resignation was accepted with regret. The Committee expressed their high appreciation of the service rendered to theclub and to racing generally by Mr Jaems, and a sub-committee was appointed to .make arrangements for some suitable recognition of his services. To-morrow (Friday) nominations are due with Mr Wanklyn, the Secretary of the Canterbury Jockey Club, for the principal races to be run at the New Zealand Grand National Meeting. The races close, on Friday, and the respective entry fees are as follows: —Grand National Steeple chase, Isov; Grand National Hurdle Race, Isov ; Winter Cup, Isov ; Beaufort Steeplechase, Isov ; Lincoln Steeplechase, Isov; and Sydenham Hurdle Race, Isov. In view of the fact that the South Island jumpers are poor both in quality and number there should be an excellent entry from the North. Many instances of the open-handed, but in ostentatious charity of the late Mr W. R. Wilson are now being narrated in Melbourne. The Melbourne Sportsman says that many a lame dog was helped over the stile by Mr Wilson, and pretty stiff stiles some of them were, too. In many cases cheques for three figures were presented to struggling racing men, and the only thing that troubled “ W.R. ” was that his liberality might become known. He was one of the very rate sort that “do good by ste .Ith and blush to find it fame.” However, he took good care that he did not let his left hand know what his right was doing. Outside his own immediate friends, very few people knew what a good fellow he was, but even his detractors (like every man, he had a few) are now beginning to realise the loss the Australian Turf sustained when the large-hearted sportsman was beaten by the “ Pale Horseman.” Baron Schickler’s Semendria, the winner o* the Grand Prix, was got by Le Saucy out o Czardas. Semendria, who was bred by her owner, is described as a powe ful, well-shaped filly, with good quarters and plenty of length aftl’substance, but somewhat high on the leg, and light below the knees. She ran twice as a two-j ear-old, winning the International Criterion of £1462 at the Paris October Meeting, and the Prix de la Foret of £906 at the Chantilly October Meeting. Early this year she gave considerable trouble to Wtbb her trainer, owing to her suffering from shoulder lameness. This, however, did not prevent her starting favourite at odds of 2 to 1 on for the Poule d’Essai de Pouliches (the French One Thousand Guineas), at the Paris Spring Meeting, and winning by six lengths, her time for the mile being Imin 47sec. The value of the stakes was £3458. Lovegrass, the second horse, ran three times, being third in the Pnx de Sablonville. at the Paris September Meeting, winning the Prix do Chenes of £330, at the Pans October Meeting, and third in the Pnx Upas, at Maisons Laffltte. lago, the third, fiid not run as a two-year-old. He was second in the Prix Frontin, at Maisons Laffltte in April last.

Select the winners of three races by the exercise of your knowledge of racing and you handle the <o ld Just turn to page 24.

Sirenia, who won the Jubilee Handicap at Kempton Park on May 12, put up a very fast performance. The mare ran the mile and aquarter in 2min 5 2-ssec. About the most expensive wall paper, in Australia, if not in the world, decorates the parlour of an Adelaide Hotel. It is composed of 1,640 Tattersall’s sweep tickets, procured at a cost of 5s 9d each, or a total of £474 10s—which means that that amount was disbursed without a return. The tickets, contrary to expectations, present a very picturesque appearance, being arranged very artistically as panels. The eventful feature of the day at Oakland track, San Francisco, on Saturday, 21st April, was the breaking of the Coast record at a mile and a-quarter by My Gipsy. She ran the distance in 2min s|sec. A day or two before she was beaten a head in 2min 6sec, which showed that, with light weight on, she could accomplish better things. Hova, with 2min 6sec, holds the Australasian record for the distance. The world’s record is 2min Sfsec, by the American horse Banquet.

The report of the State Racing Commission, composed of Messrs August Belmont, E. D. Morgan, and John Sandford, has just been published (says a New York writer). In the past five years the Commission has paid to the State Controller the sum of 311,139 dollars, to be distributed among the agricultural societies. This money was raised by tax from the various racing sesociations in the State, the Coney Island Jockey Club contributing 87,943 dollars of this sum, the Brooklyn Jockey Club 20,306 dollars, and the Saratoga Association 17,370 dollars. The tax is increasing at an enormous rate every year, which goes to prove on what a solid basis the “ sport of kings ” is in this country, or State, at any rate. Racing is on the boom all over the country. The American Derby has been revived, and will be decided at Chicago this summer on a more magnified scale than ever. In the South-West the prospects may not be quite so bright, but the three great centres, New York, Chicago, and St Louis, will have a more prosperous racing season than ever before, unless all signs fail.

In discussing the probabilities of a successful handicap for the Melbourne Cup, “ Milroy ” writes : —“ It would be idle to deny that a man of experience and ability—a thoroughly unprejudiced man, free from fads and fancies —cannot bring together a small lot of horses whose latest form ib less than a month old, but when a man is asked to guess the capabilities of 172 horses four months in advance, it borders on the ridiculous to suppose he has the smallest hope of being able to fix the weights of any two horses with the least degree of certainty Nominators for any of the big spring handicaps go into a double lottery ; they are gambling on their trainer, or nature, getting their horses fit to run out a severe race, and on the handicapper letting him in about 211 b better than any of the other horses that happen to be also fit on the day. Even then the horse may get jammed up in the field and never get out where he can show his galloping powers, and lose that way. In their respective years Ruenalf, Jeweller, Massinissa, and Algerian would have been as near to 9st as they were to 7st had they shown the form before the weights appeared which they displayed afterwards; but they were all beaten out of place with their light weights. In 1890 Carbine, five years old, gave Highborn, five years old, 531 b, and beat him in the Melbourne Cup ; in 1892 Carbine was handicapped to give Highborn 251 b in the Cup. During the year that intervened between the two races Highborn won several races, and Carbine only met with one defeat during the same period, but in July, 1891, the handicapper said Highborn was going to be 2st better in November, 1891, than he was in November, 1890. It would be interesting to know the means by which he arrived at that conclusion. This is only one of many glaring inconsistencies for which handicappers are remarkable.

The “ Special Commissioner ” of the London Sportsman writes : —“ In connection with the subsequent auction after Kaffir Queen had won the Selling Plate at the Newmarket First Spring Meeting, a curious incident occurred, which deserves notice, for it recalled the famous affair many years ago now, when owing to the refusal to accept a cheque, the name Bank Note was given to the horse for whom cash payment was made a sine qua non. In this instance, after Kaffir Queen had been knocked down to Mr Sievier for l.lOOgs, Mr Weatherby, for some reason best known to himself, declined to allow an order on Messrs Pratt to pass as payment. Ultimately Mr Sievier astonished the official mind by producing three £5OO notes, which he tendered as payment, and demanded change. The boot was then on the other leg, for change was not forthcoming. However, Mr Sievier being of a more trusting disposition than Mr Weatherby, left his £1,500 down, and expressed his willingness to receive the change when convenient. Altogether the advantage in this encounter does not appear to have rested with Mr Weatherby, for though, of course, it is quite right to be careful, there could be no valid reason why the fact of an account being with Messrs Pratt should produce such unpleasantness. Apropos, the Minera colt has been named Toddington, after Toddington Park, where Mr Sievier lives ; and I may add that when Morton came to see him before he was taken, off to Wantage he declared, after a long inspection, that he could not find any fault whatever in the colt. Nothing in the way of big ones had seemed equal to him since Prince Charlie. Now, this is a very big thing for a trainer to say when he is just taking charge of a costly purchase. The natural inclination must be to spot some weakness if possible, so that if all does not go well a reason for it may not be wanting, but here Morton, who had nothing to do with the purchase, accepts the big colt, reputation and all, and has not a word to say except in his favour.

Orusado has lOst 101 b in the V.R.O. Grand National Steeplechase. Sir Rupert Clarke intends to start a racing establishment in New South Wales. La Carabine is top weight in the Melbourne Cup with 9st 71b. The Lochiel mare Cremona has been retired to the stud. Cremona won the Metropolitan Stakes last year. In the straight-out betting in Melbourne for the V.R.O. Grand National Steeplechase Ohelsea is the ruling favourite. Ruamahunga, who scored a double at the Hawke’s Bay Meeting, is evidently in great trim just now. George Hope trains the horse now. At the Kempton Park May Meeting the American jockey J. H. Martin was suspended for a month for foul riding. Old Paris is very near the top of the handicaps in the Caulfield Cup. He has 9st 71b, only 11b less than Tarquin, the top weight. Crusado should jump and stay well in the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase. I expect that the pace will stop him from winning. In the Caulfield Cup, Tarquin 9st 81b, gives La Carabine 9st 51b, 31bs. In the Melbourne Cup, (the mare gives Tarquin lib, the respective weights being 9st 71b and 9at 61b. In the Hunt Club Steeplechase, on the first day of th<jj Hawke’s Bay Meeting, the riders of Carnival and Stormberg thought they had come to the en,d(of the journey. They found out their mistake too late, and Puketoi. consequently won easily. Mr J. Mueker, who has been meeting with much success on the English turf this season, recently sold his Melton-Minera colt for £ll,OOO. This big price was paid by Mr Bob Sievier, who has quickly invested some of his Grafter winnings. Wait-a-Bit and Ohelsea was the favourite double before the weights for the V. &.O. Grand National Hurdles and Steeplechase were published. With Wait-a-Bit given 12st 51b there has not been such a keen disposition to back him. Sir Richard Baker, Chairman of the South Australian Jockey Club Association, writing to Sir Rupert Clarke on the subject of the totalisator, says that if the machine were introduced into Victoria the V.R.O. would probably be able to add £20,000 to the Melbourne Cup. The “ Special Commissioner ” of the Melbourne Sportsman inclines to the chances of Borderer, Loch Fad, Redeemer, Welfare, Arcadia, and Victor in the V.R.O. Grand National Hurdle Race, and in the Grand National Steeple he likes the following — Hayseed, Onyen, Brokerage, Ohelsea and Blucher. The weights of the New Zealand horses in the Melbourne Cup are as follows : —Advance, 9st 51b ; Seahorse, 9st; Malatua, Bst 81b ; Tortulla, Bst 21b ; Artillery, 7st 31b ; Military, 7st 31b ; Hengist 6st 131 b. In the Caulfield Oup, the Hon Hugh Mosman’s colt —the only nomination from New Zealand —is weighted at 7st. Multiform is coming back to New Zealand. Our Canterbury correspondent says that he will take up stud duties here, and this is confirmed by English files, which state that the horse is returning to New Zealand to take up stud duty at Yaldhurst. It may be that Screw Gun will journey to the Old Country, for it is stated that Mr Stead is anxious that the chestnut should be given a chance to show his form against the best of the English horses. Riverdale, the Cap-a-pie gelding, who ran second to Firecross in the Hunter’s Hurdle Race on the second day of the Hawke’s Bay Meeting, was two years ago bought by E. Hickey for Mr Gollan, with a view of taking him to England for jumping events. At the following Grand National Meeting he failed to show any form, and eventually fell into the hands of Mr E. G. Groome, his present owner. The Hon J. D. Ormond has a very promising jumper in Roller. The Dreadnought gelding won the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles in good style, and followed up this victory by a meritorious win in tho Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase. Roller’s first appearance was at the Hawke’s Bay winter fixture of last year, where he ran third in the Ladies’ Bracelet, and on the second day won the Maiden Hurdles. In the past twelve months Roller has improved immensely, and if he keeps well he should run prominently at the New Zealand Grand National Meeting. The following are the drawers of placed horses in Tattersall’s Consultation, of 25,000 at ss, on the Newcastle Cup, run at Newcastle, N.S.W., on June 9th, which closed with 12,500 subscribers, and was drawn pro rata : —First. America, Melbourne Syndicate, care Bradley and Curtain, 150, Queen-street, Melbourne, Victoria, £9OO. Second, First Consul, C. H. Handley, care A. F. Roberts, Nesterfield, Ashburton, New Zealand, £337 10s. Third, Moama, D. G. Peele, Box 800, G.P.0,, Sydney, N.S W., £225. One of the first matters which Mr H. Oxenham turned his attention to on arrival in England, was the little misunderstanding which arose between J. E. Brewer and Mr Fitz-Hill, who was managing the racing of Syerla and Sailor Boy on his behalf. According to a cable received, Mr Oxenham evidently takes sides with Mr Fitz-Hill, for he has removed the horses from Brewer’s stable and placed them in the care of E W. Day at Lowther House, Newmarket. It will be remembered that a good deal of money was invested on Syerla for the City and Suburban Handicap on Mr Oxenham’s account, and the race was won by The Grafter, also in Brewer’s stable.

Bendigo, the sire of Voyou, has returned to England from'Germany, where he has been standing at the stud. Now that Sir Robert Clarke has been elected a member of the V.R.O. Committee, he may change his determination never to race again in Victoria. Herbert Jones, who rode Diamond Jubilee to victory in the Two Thousand Guineas and the rich Newmarket Stakes, is nineteen years of age. He can go to scale at 7st 61b, so that if he wanted it he could get plenty of riding outside Marsh’s stable. Oornquist has Bst 11b in the Caulfield Cup, and 7st 121 b in the big Melbourne race. Mr Stanley’s horse is just the sort to develop into a good stayer, and if he should retain that brilliancy of his he is not an unlikely candidate for the twomile race. “ Umpire,” in the Sydney likes the following for the V.R.O. Grand National Hurdles :—Welfare, Bethnae, Redeemer, Lochlad, Donald, Claymore, The Provost and Cranberry. In the Steeplechase his half-dozen consists of Blucher, Hayseed, Honeydew 11., Brokerage, Chelsea and Pirate. War God is not harshly dealt with either in the Caulfield or the Melbourne. In the first he has 7st 131 b, and in the two-mile race his weight is 7st 111 b. Colonel Campbell’s horse has twice run fourth in the Melbourne Oup. This year he may get a bit closer. As the strength of her running in the Australian Cups it was only to be expected that La Carbine would figure at the head of the handicap for the Melbourne Oup. Such a grand stayer aa the Carbine mare has proved herself to be is not overweighted. Gunga Din, who is in the Caulfield Cup with Bst 91b, and in the Melbourne Oup with Bst 31b, is a candidate that might be dangerous for whichever event his party elected to go for. The South Australians swear by the horse, and declare that he will be reckoned with in one of the Cups. Valdis, who had lOst to carry when he won the V.R.O. National Hurdles last year, has been allotted list 71b for the forthcoming race. The acceptances for the race were due on Monday last, but so far they have not been cabled over. It will be very interesting to know wether Wait-a-Bit and Valdis remain in. There appears, after all, to be some probability of a reconciliation between the Q.T.C authorities and the executive of the Central Queensland Racing Association. What form the reconciliation is to take I do not know, says a writer in an exchange, but it is said that some sort of a compromise may be expected to be arrived at before very long, and there is also some talk already to the effect that the Rockhampton Jockey Club intends launching out in great style when the difficulty has been removed. Starting-machine inventors are becoming as numerous in England as they were in Australasia one time, and in the paddock at the Thirsk Meeting on May 4th, a machine, patented by Mr S. Barrasford, a North-country owner, was on view. The machine, according to an exchange, is a very simple one, the webs being fastened across with a spring that lets them loose with the least pressure. In addition, it is noiseless, and is said to have greatly pleased the trainers and jockeys who saw it working. Some short time ago two men, one a Manchester man and the other a Scotchman, went to Flemington with ten pounds between them to make a book. When they got there it was mutually agreed that one should go in the ring and keep the other, who was betting outside, posted up. This left them, after paying all expenses, B”ven pounds to commence business with. The Manchester man, who was a backer at heart, went in the ring. On the first race the bookmakers opened out at seven to two on the field ; but almost instantaneously the talent were taking evens. The Manchester man rushed out of the ring, and hearing his partner calling out “ Seven to two on the field,” could not resist the temptation of going up to him, saying—“ Book me £7 to £2.” Without waiting, he ran back to the ring and saw the favourite win. He then went back rather sheepishly to his partner, and, in answer to his inquiries how he had gone on, received the following answer: —“Ay, mon, I only had two bets on the race—£7 to £2 you, and £7 to £2 me !” Turf scandals of some kind always seem to be cropping up in America, and one of the latest is from San Francisco. A jockey named Hennessy made charges to the California Jockey Club that the horse Hard Knot, controlled by D. J. Lynch for E. Lanigan, had been ridden in and out, and so manipulated that the combination had won, whichever way the horse ran. Hard Knot, ridden by Piggott, was a warm favourite for a seven furlong race at Tanforan Park, but was beaten rather easily. The next time he ran he disposed of a strong fancy in Arbaces. In referring (to the case the Spirit of the Times says Lanigan, who owned part of Hard Knot, bet on him and lost. When he won he bet on Arbaces. That gave him the idea that Lynch, also part owner of Hard Knot, was at the old game of “ double cross,” and it was probable Lanigan who was responsible for the investigation. The outcome of it all was that J. D. Lynch, the jockey Piggott, and an ex-jockey named Martin, who also had a finger in the pie, were disqualified. At the same time the California Jockey Club also disqualified a jockey named Milton Henry who, it was alleged by a couple of owners for whom he had ridden, had been guilty of “taking hold.” The loss of Henry’s services will come rough on a sportsman named Mr Arkell, who had only a few weeks previously engaged him at a retaining fee of 5,000 dollars.

Mr Daiy’s handicaps for the Epsom and Metropolitan Handicaps appear in this issue.

Mr S. Hordern recently lost a very promising filly by Haut Brion, from Round Dance. Strangles was the cause of death.

August 10th is the date fixed for the sale of the horses in training at the late Mr W. R. Wilson’s establishment, St. Albans.

Mr Joe Thompson, who recently returned from India to England, is once more suffering from ill-health.

Veneda leaves Melbourne for India next month. The Escutcheon —Happy Bride horse leaves for his new home on board the Darius.

Mr A. Chirnside means to sell the stallion Zalinski and about a dozen brood mares. He will still keep Vengeance and ten mares.

f . Mr C. F. Glasscock recently shipped two hundred horses to Among them were Oararra, Mervyn, and Acorn.

To-day (Thursday) all the late Mr D. S. "Wallace’s brood mares will be submitted for sale by auction.

Old Wait-a-Bit has Bst 101 b in this year’s Melbourne Cup, 21b less than he had to carry last year.

Rhino is on the mend again, and T. Jones is hopeful that he may get another race or two out of the Native gelding.

The ex-New Zealander, Crusado, is entered for a steeplechase to be run at Rosehill on Saturday. He meets much the same horses that he has encountered before.

Nor’-west will not run in the Wellington Steeplechase. I give this timely intimation so that the competitors for our Skill Competition need not waste their coupons.

The English-bred horse Orzil has been given Bst 41b in the Caulfield Cup and Bst 71b in the Flemington Race. He can have no chance in either, but I just mention the weights to show how handicappers differ.

Amongst the three-year-olds in the Melbourne Cup Maltster heads the list with 7st 111 b, Hautboy has 7st 91b, Finland has 7st 61b, Debenture 7st 51b, Haulette 7st 51b, Kinglike 7st, Hautesse 7st, and Palmer 7st. Merriwee, when he won the race last year, carried 7sb 61b.

Bob Arnott, the rider of The Guard in the A.R.C. Grand National Hurdles, says that his mount was not brought down by Torpina. The Guard fell through taking off too far from the hurdle. He was about, a length behind Torpina, and when the latter rose The Guard jumped too, with the consequence that he landed on the hurdle.

Our readers are becoming very skilful in selecting the winners of the races we nominate for our Skill Competitions. The Hawke’s Bay treble was selected by two competitors. There is a £2O prize offered on the last page for selecting three winners at the approaching Wellington Meeting Judging from the way things have been going lately, that £2O is going also.

On Friday next handicaps for the first day’ B races at the Wellington Racing Club’s Steeplechase Meeting are due to make their appearance. The weights for the Steeplechase should also appear that day. Our own Mr Evett frames the : weights for the open events, while Mr Henrys does the trick in the hack and hunter races.

The handicaps for the New Zealand Cup should be declared by Mr Henrys on Monday. Much speculation is rife as to the weight the highest horse will get, and to which horse gets the post of honour. From the fact that Mr Dakin has placed Advance within 21b of the top weight in the Melbourne Cup, I should say there can be very little doubt that Mr “ Douglas Gordon’s ” colt will head the list. If he is worth 9st 51b in the Melbourne Cup, he is sure to get more in the New Zealand two-mile race.

Anent Merman’s victory in the Ascot Gold Cup, “ Galtee More ” writes : —“ After .Mr" W. R. Wilson bought Merman at the Randwick yearling sales, somebody asked Mr. Leslie M’Donald what sort of a colt he was, and ‘Mac ’ jocularly informed his interrogator that ‘ he could not tell until the youngster was melted down a lot.’ Merman was a fat yearling without a doubt, and a stilty one as well. Mr M’Donald recognised the futility of expecting such an over-fed youngster to begin early, and when he got him over to St Albans he turned him loose among a tribe of healthy home bred yearlings that were supplelimbed and hearty, having plenty of room and liberty to take natural exercise, and work off anything that would be likely to affect the health and galloping powers. Merman’s efforts to keep pace with his new friends in their paddock gallops, lam told, were very comical; but in time the out-door exercise worked the mountain of useless flesh off. and just before be was broken in. the son of Grand Flaneur was beginning to bold his own in the paddock srrints with his rivals, but he never had a ghost of a show with Wallace, either for pace or staying power. At first Merman was a very unpromising subject, and nobody connected with him ever dreamt that he would be anything out of the common, or dally long on the racing stage. He began to wake up at the back end of the season, and won his winter oats, and in the autumn of his three-year-old days came over to Sydney, but did nothing. As a four-year-old he showed much improved form, but, as before mentioned, he was never a favourite at St. Albans, and he had to go to England for his glory.

Lady’s Chain has had her name altered to Lady’s Link.

The Autumn Meeting of the', Queensland Turf Club resulted in a profit of £l,OOO, albeit £5OO more than last year was paid away in stakes. The prizes distributed at the late meeting amounted to £2,520.

The Wellington Racing Club received excellent entries for the Wellesley Stakes and Wellington Stakes, 1902. For the former race ninety-one nominations have been received, and for the latter 128 horses have been entered.

Another effort is to be made to legalise the totalisator in New South Wales. Were the machine introduced and the amount invested in it to be proportionately the same as in New Zealand, New South Wales would receive for it charities, at a rough estimate, about £20,000 annually from this source.

Tarquin, the Adelaide Cup winner, and top weight in the Caulfield Cup, is expected to reach Melbourne from South Australia at about the end of next month. He will be trained at Caulfield by E. B. M’Kean. Australian and Aqua, in the same stable, have gone from Adelaide to Weetern Australia in view of the August meeting at Ooolgardie; and after they have fulfilled the engagements they may contract in the West, they will probably come to Victoria to take part in in the spring meetings.

It was with some reluctance that Walter Hickenbotham brought Fleet Admiral back to Flemington from Adelaide. The son of Richmond has for a long time been a source of anxiety tp the Flemington trainer, and as hs bled freely from the nose after winning in Adelaide, he did not desire to persevere with niui any lurcher, but Fleet Admiral’s owner persisted in sending the horse back to Melbourne, so that an attempt is to be made to win more races with him. Hickenbotham, it is said, does not regard the prospect as at all cheering.

In some reminiscenes by “ Thormanby ” of Jem Mason and the famous steeplechaser Lottery, he writes: —“ The next two horses upon which Jem Mason distinguished himself were Jerry and Gaylad. He once rode the latter for two miles with the stirrup iron up his leg, and when he came in to weigh it was with the greatest difficulty he could be got out of the saddle. Gaylad’s great match with Crosby, over four miles of the Harrow country, was one of the most curious things in steeplechasing. During the race both horses were not less than four times reduced to a walk, and when they got to the last fence, neither had a jump left in him. The friends of both then began pulling down the fence for them, and Jack Darby boldly shoved Gaylad into the winning field, and Jem managed to hold him up, and walk in, greatly to the chagrin of M’Donough, who was on Crosby.” The purchase of Merman by the lady who races under the nom de-course of “ Mr Jersey ’ has been a very profitable investment, for under her livery he has won upwards of £7,500 in stakes alone since his debut on the English turf, anr, as his fair owner has the reputation of being a plucky better, it is safe to assume that she has also taken a good sum out of the ring every time he carried the colours to victory. His successes on the English turf include the Lewes Handicap, Cesarewitch Stakes, and Hurst Park Long Distance Handicap, 1897 ; Newmarket Jockey Club Cup, 1898; Goodwood Plate, Goodwood Cup, and Birmingham Handicap, 1899, besides running third in the Oheveley Cup at Newmarket, second in the Kempton Park October Plate, and second in the Jockey Club Cup, while his success in such good company as he met in the Gold Cup at Assot the other day shows that he still retains the speed and stamina for which the descendants of the famous Yattendon are renowned.

The A J.C. programme for the coming season 1900-1 has been issued, and as compared with that of the current season shows a reduction in stakes of £350, the totals - being £20,900, as against £20,550. The pruning knife has been principally used in connection with the summer meeting, the stakes for which show a reduction of £4OO, the Villiers Stakes having been reduced from £3OO to £250, the Summer Cup from £750 to £5OO, the A. J.C. Handicap from £250 to £2OO, and the Nursery Handicap from £250 to £2OO. The total amount of the prize money for the coming spring meeting, £9lOO, is equal to that of the present season, and the only difference throughout is that the prize for the Derby has been increased from £5OO to £6OO, while the prizes for the First Hurdle Race and Second Steeplechase have each been reduced by £5O, thus equalising, but at the expense of the jumping division. In connection with the autumn meeting, the total of the prize money has been increased by £5O, as compared with that of the current Season, the figures being £9600 as against £9550 The difference in this instance is in f vour of the jumping events, the stakes for the First Hurdle Race and First Steeplechase showing an increase of £5O each, while the prize for the Second Steeplechase has been reduced by a similar amount.