Spring and dramatic REVIEW AND LICENSED VICTUALLERS' GAZETTE WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WEEKLY STANDA Thursday, May 2, 1901. Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 541, 2 May 1901, Page 10

Spring and dramatic REVIEW AND LICENSED VICTUALLERS' GAZETTE WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WEEKLY STANDA Thursday, May 2, 1901. Sporting Topics.

| By

ochiel.]

Creasy, the smart two-year-old in Frank MeManemin’s stable, ia at present being spelled in one of her trainer’s paddocks at Greenlane.

In the Autumn Handicap at Wellington, Cameo fell shortly after the start, but fortunately his rider, T. O’Brien, escaped without injury.

The Tarawera, with Advance and Mr Prosser’s jearlings on board, arrived safely at Wellington on Friday.

The sum of £2518 went through the machines on the second day of the Waipawa Meeting, and £2446 on the first, making a total of £4964.

Mr Halstead had a good win over The Trifler,’ having backed him straight out and in combination with The Needle for the double.

The following has been suggested as aj appropriate label for some of the horses seen out at Ellerslie during the past few weeks, “ They toil not; neither do they spin!'

A gentleman, connected with the law, is reported to have made a big scoop over the wins of Dormant and Palaver, three of our local ring being bit for some hundreds.

Mr A. E. Glover, well-known in racing circles, had a great victory in the South Ward at the recent municipal elections, as he topped the poll with the fine total of 1343 votes.

The following horses are advertised for sale by Mr J. Rae in our columns this week : —Oh g Golden Crown, syre; ch m Pohutukawa, 6yrs, full sister to Jenny; and the brown filly Valedictory.

It was stipulated in the conditions of the Great Eastern Steeplechase (says a Sydney exchange), run at Onkaparinga meeting last week, that the breeder of the winner should receive £lOO out of the stake, but as Wooral (the winner), who raced here in the colours of the ex-Btate Minister for Lands, Mr T. Hassall, is not in the Stud Book, the query is who is the breeder? £lOO reward will, no doubt, be sufficient to discover the lucky man.

Rocket (late Shaughraun), who won the Second Hack Handicap at the Avondale Meeting, carried 6st 101 b and cut out the six furlongs in Imin 18sec. On the previous Saturday, with 41b less on his back, after getting well away and being in a leading position for four furlongs, he died away to nothing As be won his race on Saturday with fully a stone in hand there was naturally a protest, but the stewards decided not to disturb the judge’s placings.

Dingo ran like a stuffed turkey in the Steeplechase. His rider allowed Trifler and larragan to get a long way ahead of him at the back of the course, and never attempted to make up his ground until he saw it was too late to catch the leaders, and then he came with a great rattle. Though well supported on the machine, Dingo was practically unmarketable with the ** books,” and after opening at 6 to 4 went to the post at 3 to 1 against.—No comment necessary.

Mat Harris, the jockey, is back again in Sydney from India.

One of our local percillers lost £lOO on Lady Avon on Saturday, and two or three others had big ‘ punts ”on Tarragan. Their losses in this direction took some of the cream off the milk. Mr G. GF. Stead must be accounted a lucky man to be the proud possessor of three flyers like Menschikoff, Cruciform and San Patricia. The lastnamed, a filly by Hotchkiss—St Evelyn, put down Nonette —and he is no slouch —in the easiest possible manner in Imin 14 4-sth for the sixfurlong Pacific Handicap.

The Wellington Meeting, from the totalisator point of view, was not so successful as the corresponding meeting last year. In 1900 the sum of £19,356 passed through the machines, but this year there was only £17,443, a decrease of £1913. The wet weather on the second day accounted for the falling away,

Frisco, the winner of the Sydney Cup of 1887, was disposed of in the Nowra saleyards a little while ago (says an exchange) for a fiver, and though 20 years of age, his new owner, Mr GF. U. Alley states that he has not possessed a sounder and more active buggy horse for many a day.

Mr Percival desires it to be known that the handicaps for the third days racing of the A. R.O. June meeting will appear in the morning papers of Wednesday, June 12th, instead of Tuesday the 11th, as originally advertised, and that the ac ceptances will be received by him up till 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 13th.

Mr Spencer GFollan has had another victory with his five year-old Australian Peet horse, Australian Star, who won the City and Suburban Handicap by six lengths. The Australian horse started at the short price of 9 to 2 against. This is the third year in succession that the Epsom race has fallen to a horee from the colonies, ?<ewhaven and The GFrafter being the two previous winners. His three recent victories will go far to repay Mr GFollan for his outlaw of 2,500 guineas on Australian Peer’s son.

In referring to the sale of the Messrs Duders’ stock recently I wrote: “ A mare well worth attention is Volee. A good race is not beyond this mare, and considerable improvement could, I think, be made in her.” The Cuirassier mare proved the truth of my assertion by her victory in the Autumn Handicap on Saturday. Mr Bradley must be well satisfied with the 131gns he gave for her, as she has already paid back her purchase money. The stake was worth £9O, and Mr Bradley had, I understand, a couple of tickets on the mare, which would give him an additional £lO4 12s.

Through an error, I understand, on the part of the Press Associatio >, the result of the St Leger, run at Wellington, was sent to the local evening paper as having been won by Cannie Chiel, with Somerled second and Beddington third. As the people closely associated with Beddington had received private wires saying that he had won, there was naturally much discussion on the subject, and many beta made as to the correctness of the Press Association wire. One gentleman, high in authority on the evening paper felt bound, in defence of his paper, to stake all the coin in his pockets, and it was no small amount —even for a pressman —on the correctness of the paper report. He found a ready taker in a well-known budding solicitor, and, as usual, the liw scored and annexed the coin.

St Loander’s backers, after her victory in the Pony Handicap, were kept in suspense for some time as to whether they would get their dividend or not, ns Mr Ralph, owner of Lady Avon, entered a protest against Mr Friedlander’s mare for inconsistent running. At the A.R.O. meeting on the second day with Bst she was unplaced in the six furlongs to Pipiwharauroa (7st7lb), Lena (7st 121 b), and Mamoa (7st 91b); on the third day with 7st 41b she ran third to Lady Avon (9st 51b), and Lena (Bstlist),over five furlongs; with 7st she was again unplaced, a week later, in a six furlong spin, Lady Avon (9st 10lb), Orange and Blue (9st 21b), and Trooper (7st 51b), filling the places In the race in question she had 7st, Lady Avon conceding her 3st 51b, and Lena, who ran third, 2st 61b. On these, grounds Mr Ralph thought there was enough to warrant a protest, and entered one accordingly, but after a long enquiry the stewards decided against him, and the stakes went to St Loander Mr Friedlander, it is stated, had £5O on his mare when she ran unplaced the previous Saturday.

It would be interesting to know how many triers there were in the Maiden Hurdles on Saturday. In this connection the Lieutenant people might well have been asked a few pertinent questions by the authorities, as the horse’s running was too bad to be true. Here are his three last performances: — In the Maiden Hurdles (a mile and three-quarters) with lOat 91b on the concluding day of the A.R 0., after being in the lead for nearly the whole journey, he fell at the last hurdle, when looking all over a winner. The time for the journey was 3min 32 3 ssec. On tne first day of the Avondale Meeting he had to carry 9st 71b over a twomile course, and was placed second to Fortyseven, beaten by two lengths in 4min 1 2 sseo. In his last essay over a mile and a-half his weight was list 81b, and he tailed in the field in a race run in 3min 3-ssec. Far be it from me to even suggest t; at the horse was a nontrier, or that the Hurdle Races as well as the Pony Races for the past six months have been “ farmed ” out—perish the thought I Merely in the interest of consistent horses do I suggest that a question or two from the stewards occasionally might save a lot of unpleasant remarks •on the part of the public. The Review is at present compiling for the assistance of punters a list of horses which cannot be depended on by their owners to run consistently, and I shall be glad of any assistance owners can afford me in compiling my “ Inconsistent ” list.

The Pakuranga Hunt Club will hold a special general meeting of members at the office of the Auckland Racing Club on Monday next, at 2.30 p m , for the purpose of considering the advisability of altering Rule 6 to read : “ That the season date from August 1 in the one year to July 31 in the following year,” and also in Rule 16 to read : “ Horses running at these club races must be qualified by being fairly hunted five times during the season,” and that the subse quent clause be struck out.

A unique competition at the Sydney Show wa for the best stallion ar d mare to produce l emoun horses. Tho.oughbreds, roadsters and trotters entered, but the final result was between the thoroughbreds Hindoo (imp.) and Courage, the former eventually receiving the first prize Hindoo (Mr S. Hordern’s) is by Rightaway (by Wisdom), from Idolatry, by Isonomy from La Trappe. A mare by the American-bred trotter Honesty was, selected as the best female in the class, and was considered an ideal mate for either of the thoroughbreds named.

Articulate, the three year old son of the Mar-tini-Henry mare Utter has been beaten several times on the San Francisco tracks. Referring to the fact that Articulate had been beaten in different races in one week by Joe Frey and Kenilworth, the “Spirit of the Times” says the confidence of the colt’s game but misguided owner is little short of sublime. All his r-ces are in the nature f special matches, and each time he is “ stacked up” against a fresh and formidable rival. 'T'hat under such trealment he should not show at his best goes without saying, as it stands to reason the strain of such races is far greater than would be experienced in ordinary everyday contests.

Over the Wellington meeting the following amounts were paid in stakes : —Mr D. GFordon, £500; Mr G G. Stead, £4OO ; Messrs L. I> and N. A Nathan. £300; Mr E. J. £260; Sir G. Clifford, £230; Mr A. Rayner. £220 ; Mr F. Watson, £l9O ; Mr A E. Harrison, £9O ; Mr J. T. Ryan, £BO ; Mr F Martin, £75 ; Mr A. Launceston, £7O ; Mr J. H. Prosser, £7O; Mr P. E. Baldwin, £5O; Mr W. Smart, £45; Mr P. Oof fey, £2O; Mr W. Blackmore, £2O; Mr-J. Pauli, £2O; Mrs K. Shearsbv, £10; Mr W. Davis, £10; Mr J. Cress, £10; Mr T. Lean, £lO ; Mr J. George, £5 ; Mr U. F. Vallance, £5: total, £2690.

Sir George Clifford, hiving declined to give a ruling on the gelding allowance question submitted to him by the Messrs Nathan in connection with the Century Stakes, the A R.C. Committee decided to pay over the stakes to the owner of Battleaxe. ,'ihis does not, however, get over the question of whether the allowance should be 51b, as fixed upon by the A.R C. in th s ra-e, or 31bs as laid down in the rules, and it is to be hoped the matter will be finally settled at the Racing Conference, and uniformity thereby secured.

Aurum is to have every chance at the stud in England. Among the mares on Aurum’s list are the Oaks’ winner, Limasol, Mr Simons Harrison’s Grace Conroy, Lord Downe’s Lenity, Irish Melody, Blumenaue, Honour Bound, and others of similar class. The first mare to drop a foal to Aurum is Lord Durham’s Primrose Day (winner of the Cesare witch). G. Kell way writes from Harraton Stud Farm, Fining : ’‘l like it very much ; I have not seen a better foal for a long time.” This is the first foal by Aurum, so far as reported, though there may be others whose owners have not yet made a return.

A friend at Cape Town sends me a recent copy of the “ Cape Times,” from which I take the following, re Herb. McKell’s training for his match with Everhardt. “Herb, McKell trains here in Cape town, and the quarters where he takes his exercise are so close to the business centre that a visit to his place, the N.B.C.’s headquarters, does not take up too much time. Our representative looked in yesterday, and saw Herb, go through some of his work. The Antipodean stipa a picture. One could imagine him. anything in the world of ath.etics. Runner —he looks the ideal sprinter; jumper—his strength and power across the loins and the way he moves about on his toes betoken the clever jumper; wrestler — his well-knit frame, his well-developed back muscles, his firmness on his pins, would indicate wrestling ability ; and boxing—his keen, clear eyes, his way cf using his arms at the punching ball, the fine shoulder muscles, good, without binding, muscular arm, and his quickness in movement, give evidence of a boxing ability far above the average. Nor does his action in tue ring belie him He put in three rounds with W. Kennedy, the well-known middle-weight, just by way of exercise. Then his cleverness in avoiding, smartness in countering and attacking, his appearent ma tery and ability to plant a blow wherever he wished, all without extending himself, produced the effect on the mere observer that he was watching one of the cleverest and most scientific pugilists South Africa has ever entertained. Prior to his go with Kennedy, he had in the morning had a good ten-mile spin up the hills in the neighbourhood of the Gardents; t-ien, just after four o’clock in the afternoon, twelve minutes quick, hard work with the punching ball, five minutes with 31b dumb bells, three minutes with the skipping rope, and the same time with light dumb bells. All the work was such to make the arms loose, keep the muscular system free, and at the same time improve the wind. After the boxing he did not leave the ring, but, with a few minutes’ interval, had another turn at both classes of dumb-bells, then a turn with the skipping-rope, then with light clubs, the skippingrope again, and finally quick-wrist movements with the clubs. He never worked long enough at anything for it to grow monotonous, and was quite fresh at the close. After all, he had a shower, then a rub down from his trainer, Owen Sullivan, a glass af something light and a biscuit, and a sharp walk home, fie keeps good hours, and looks fit enough to-day, and should be in the pink of condition when the fight comes off.

Tamaki, whe is being schooled, seems to jump very well for a beginner. Lord Durham’s brood mare Fetish has foaled an exceedingly fine colt by Trenton.

Will Whitburn will train Digitalis for his match with Osterley for £lOO a side.

Regalia 11. continues to improve, and good judges think the Grand Nation 1 Hurdles not beyond the son of Regal and May. Rosella, Beddington, and Nonette arrived safely by the Mapourika yesterday, none the worse for having struck the gale.

Mr Dan McLeod is sending Record Reign across to Sydney on Monday next in charge of J. Gainsford, Minerva will go by the same boat.

Clean Sweep’s brother, who. was bought at the Newmarket sales for 265gns, and who is in charge of H. Bellamy at Caulfield, is now being ridden about the tracks at Caulfield.

The English trainer, Thomas Jennings, of Lagrange House, Exning, who died on December 15th, left property to the value of £45,007 5s 7d, including net personalty of £29,631 Is 7d. Mr A. A. Woods, who judges at Caulfield and suburban courses, an J who was recently in Auckland, is back ag iin in Melbourne looking much better for his N.Z. trip.

I understand Nonette stumbled on the second 'day of the Wellington Meeting, bus good judges say Mr Stead’s representative held him quite safe.

Favona is still in the land of the living and doing good work. The soft ground is favouring this horse, and he may secure a race at the Winter Meeting.

Straybird is in work again at headquarters. The son of Wanderer is looking a trifle light, otherwise he seems to have done very well on his recent spell. Crusado is to be sent to Melbourne, and will go into J. J. Allan’s stable at Caulfield which already shelters the recent Great Steeplechase Onkaparinga winner—Wooral.

Bill of Portland has commenced his stud season in England, the first mare put to him being Mr Brices’ Lady Rayleigh, by Hampton. The horse is doing excerdit gly well, and has never looked back since his arrival in his native land.

Record Reign’e departure for Australia in a few days will rob our Winter Meeting of some interest, but John Thorpe has a good representative in Oavaliero This horse is coming on, and will be there when he is wanted.

Nonette’s performance in Wellington goes to show what a poor lot of two-year-olds we have at Ellerslie. As I heard it remarked by a Southern trainer the other night, they are not worth two bob a head as racehorses, and I quite fall in witfi him, for they are a poor lot.

Cadet, an Australian pony, exported to India last August, with the reputation of being a nailer over furlongs, made his debut over a furlong further at the Bombay meeting last month, and won very smartly, though appearing on the big side."

My Christchurch correspondent says that even money wagers have been accepted, that neither Menschikoff nor Crucilorm will be in the Derby. The fancied one, he believes, is Royal Artillery, who is reported to be a regular clinker.

Bwiftfoot is being schooled over the small sticks. Ido not think this horse one of the class to shine over sticks. I take him as a very poor doer as he always seems somewhat tucked up. and when in Koss Eaton’s care gave him no end of trouble.

A peculiar accident happened the other morning at Flemington to a two-year-old named Barley mow (Harvester —Litigant). He was being cantered on the sand, when both his forelegs suddenly snapped near the fetlocks, and, of course, he had to be destroyed.

Tom Saunders, who partly owned, and rode Dunlop to victory in the Melbourne Cup of. 1887, has lately taken to riding over the “ little sticks,” but bad luck has attended his new venture as Jenico came to grief with him at Flemington recently, and Tom sustained a iracture of the collarbone.

It would appear, according to the following extract, which appears under the signature of London “ Sportsman’s ” American correspondent, that quite a number of the followers of the Turf have “ lost their head,” and are located in private lunatic asylums. He says : “ A bright idea has been hit upon by a physician of one of these establishments. He has fitted up a room as a poolroom, and the patients amuse themselves all day betting on the races, and studying the performances of the horses. They bet their hundreds with as much abandon as do the ordinary poolroom gambit rs—who are supposed to have sense —and, at all events, are kept quiet and out of further mischief by this simple expedient.”

The following were the winning owners at the Avondale Meeting:—Mr E. J. Rae, £l2B 5s ; Mr J. G. Ralph, £99 15s; Mr S. Bradley, £B5 10s ; Mr C. Halstead, £B5 10s ; Mr E. A. Watkins, £7l 5s ; Mr John Chaafe, £66 10s; Mr P. Jones, £66 10s ; Major F. i\. George, £6l 15s; Mr H. Hyland, £6l 15s; Mr J. Litherland, £52 5s ; Mr F. B. Ross, £47 10s; Mr Geo. Hill, £42 15s; Mr L. Arthur, £33 ss; Mr E. Hillary, £33 5s ; Mr H. Friedlander, £33 5s ; Messrs L. D. and N. A. Nathan, £l4 5s ; Mr J. C. Booth, £9 10s ; Mr F. H. Lambert, £9 10s; Mr D. McKinnon, £9 10s: Mr J. Stockley, £9 10s ; Mr R. L. Cleland, £4 15s; Mr W. C. Hird, £4 15s; Mr T. Barr, £4 15s ;MrJ. B. Williamson, £4 15s; Mr J. War ner, £4 15s. Total, £1045.

What a determined finish young Abbott put up on the pony St Loander on Saturday last. Skeats tried to show him a point on the run home, but the youngster was quite up to it. Dingo is reported to have met with a mishap while contesting in the Steeplechase on the concluding day of the Avondale Meeting. Take this for what it is worth ; I have not seen the horse. The way he finished did not lead me to believe there was very much wrong with him. Had his head gear been a little more elastic I think he might have got there.

The Melbourne “Sportsman” says : “We have not a high opinion of ‘sassiety’ journalism at any time but for pure idiocy commend us to the London social news purveyed by the Paris edition of the ‘ New York Herald.’ Here is a gem from a recent issue :— * In Piccadilly I saw Lord Marcus Beresford walking, quite unconscious of the fact that one trouser leg was turned up and the other down.’ ”

Jumping is at present going on in full swing at Ellerslie in view of the approaching Winter Meeting One morning this week Lieutenant was asked to jump the steeple jumps but he failed to negotiate the country. Lady Dash was schooled on Tuesday morning, and shaped very well. There is a maiden hurdle race concealed in this mare, and at no distant date methinks.

On Tuesday morning last, after Dayntree had had worked, there seemed to be something amiss with the grey son of Castor, and his trainer at once decided to take him back to the stable, This he did with some difficulty. The horseseemed to be sore across the loins as if he had caught a chill. I have since learned that the horse is improving, and was out on the course on Tuesday morning.

The Lochiel —Venusta gelding Oban, won the Brook Maiden Hurdle Race, of 192 sovs, at Gatwick last month He carried list 71b, within llbi > of the top and started second favourite at 11 to 2 in a field of 12, winning easily from Strelma, list Sib. On the same day Mr J. G. Clarke ran Manazona, 12st, in the International Hurdle Race, 625 sovs, 2 miles, but he was not quoted in the betting, and ran last in a field of 11.

The funeral of the jockey E Hodgkins, who was killed at the South Australian Tattersall’s races, took place in Adelaide on April 15, and was one of the largest seen in South Australia. All the registered jockeys followed the remains to the West Terrace Cemetery, many of them being in their riding colours. The colours carried by Corral, the horse Hodgkins was riding when he met his death, together with his jockey’s whip and outfit, were buried with the coffin. All the racing clubs and a majority of the local owners sent wreaths.

Musket Stock, a four-year-old gelding by the New Zealand horse Derringer (son of Musket), won the Maiden Selling Hurdle Race, w.f.a.,two miles, on the opening day of the Gatwick March Meeting, and on the concluding day the Australian horse Oban, by Lochiel—Venusta, scored his first success in England in the Brook Maiden Hurdle Race, two miles, in which he carried list 71b (w.fa.), started second favourite, and won easily from eleven competitors. Manazona, on the same day, ran in the Internationa l . Hurdle Race, but the son of Mana was not marketable, and was the last to get home.

The English “ Sporting and Dramatic ” says :—?■ The marriage of Miss F L Norris, who has owned steeplechase horses in England for some years, to Mr Joseph Widger, a famous crosscountry rider, has brought to notice a curious will Miss Norris was bequeathed a huge fortune: by her uncle, the late Mr Irving, a wealthy Liverpool merchant, and an eccentric condition of the legacy was that the lady should continue trying to win the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase till she succeeded The bridegroom owned and rode Wild Man of Borneo when he won the Grand National half-a-dozen years ago, and the bride is evidently of the opinion that ho will be a handy man about the house in the matter of meeting the conditions of the will.

Great sympathy is felt for Harry Franks among the trainers and riders at Ellerslie over the mishap that befel him on Sunday morning; last, when he had his house and the whole of his furniture destroyed by fire at Greenlane Poor Harry seems to have been born under an unlucky star, for during the last two years bis wife met with a railway accident, then fie had Courtier destroyed by falling on the tan arid breaking his fetlock joint one morning while exercising. Then some time after he had a Brigadier colt destroyed by falling and breaking his leg, and now the whole of his property destroyed by fire. Harry is one who deserves something better than this, and I hope Tis will end his misfortunes and a spark of luck strike his path, for he is a painstaking man, and justly deserves better fortune.

It is quite evident, says an Australian scribe, that famous na es of racehorses do not repeat themselves in fame. There are certain names in horse racing that are so particularly identified with the animal as to arouse almo t a feeling of resentment when they are repeated. Names that have been rendered classic by great performances ought not to be bestowed on any other animal. Owners are, as a rale, superstitious, or, at any rate, believe in the phantom, luck, and, therefore, it may pei haps answer a sentimental purpose to say that the most fatal thing man can do is to bestow on bis horse a name that has been borne with distinction by some other animal. Call a horse Carbine and it is almost certain that he will turn out a wretched performer. Neither the Derby, nor any classic event for that matter, has ever been won by two animals bearing the same name, and to a very great extent it has been the same with all other winners of races of the first importance.

Word New Plymouth says Dummy is looking nice and fresh again after a long spell. Knight of Athol has been sold to a Fiji sport, and proceeds to his new home in a few days. I understand Biuejaoket is to have a good spell during the winter months and will be eased off.

It is stated Mr Dan O’Brien wants £3OO for Malatua.

Record Reign was yesterday scratched for all engagements at the A.R.C. Winter Meeting. Quite a number of local pencillers left on Tuesday night by rail for the Waikato on a shooting expedition. Tim has been on the retired list for some time, having struck a hurdle on the concluding day of the A.R.C. Autumn Meeting.

The grey mare, Queen’s Guard, has gone ■wrong, and bas consequently been thrown out of work.

Telephone II returned to the paddock after the Avondale Steeplechase very lame, and will probably not be seen out for some time.

Australian writers opine that after Australian Star’s vicories in England, there will be many enquiries for Australian Colours, who ran so well at Randwick.

Cannongate and Oavaliero are the ruing favourites for the Great Northern Steeplechase and Hurdles. Another horse being supported in doubles is Battleaxe.

Two young men at Waihi were fortunate enough to have a ticket between them on Volee. and received the dividend of £26 3s each —not a bad investment.

The Maiden Hurdles, run on the concluding day of the Avondale Autumn Meeting, gave rise to some strong talk concerning the running of one of the competitors.

A story is told about a lady investor, who had a ticket on Despatch, throwing the winning ticket away with some others and finding it -again after some few minutes’ searching. The change in her face from lost to found was something great.

Percy Martin has taken Materoa and Taheke home after a stay of about a month in Auckland. Martin was very unfortunate with Materoa, as the mare continued sore during the A.R.C. and Avondale Meetings.

The bookmakers in Bombay have had a dustup with the turf authorities, says a Melbourne ■exchange, on the subject of place betting, and threatened to go on strike at the last race meeting. They say with reference to the matter in ■dispute: “ When we pay high prices for cur stands, why should we not be allowed to conduct our business in our own way so long as that way is straight and open ? There have been occasions when the bookmakers have been made a target, by a combination on the part of some owners when betting for places, as in many instances horses have been backed at any price for a place, and not touched for a in. In two or three races at a recent meeting the bookmakers felt that there was something of the kind, and, while laying free odds to win, declined to any great extent to accept place investments. No better indication of the fairness with which bookmakers treat punters need be indicated than the fact that ■during the Bombay races, and since, the public have been able to reckon their accounts on the winning side, and a close study* of the odds laid •on each successive Saturday will prove that the bookmakers have not been niggardly in their prices. There are always people ready to ‘ skin the lamb,’ and the bookmakers should surely be allowed to use their own discretion, as the amount of their business and living depend on the prices they lay.”

Red Lancer has been turned out again. His trainer found it no use at present to continue with him. ,

There lias been some enquiry for a gooi pony for the other side, but the price asked for a couple has been above the commission.

Boreas is nominated for the Century Hurdle Race, to be run at the Wanganui Meeting, aid also for the North New Zealand Grand National Hurdle Race.

The Needle, who has an engagement in the Gran 1 National Hurdles, is a splendid jumper. I saw him jumping last year and he was quite a past master at the game. James Buchanan, who got his toes broken while riding Lataetia in the Avondale Handicap, is about again, and will soon ba seen in the pig skin.

Three Wairarapa horses are nominated for the Wanganui Winter Meeting, viz., Cyclist, Kohunui and Lottie Collins. The former is entered for the Wanganui Steeplechase. Mr W. Mead’s Waitura has again been put into work, and has joined D. Wilkinson’s string at Tauherenikau. The same owner’s Komutu is still on the retired list.

Mr F. Walcott;, the owner of Queen’s Guard, has purchased The Dane, by Vanguard —Lady Grey, and the new purchase will join Shearsby’s team at the Hutt.

At a recent race meeting the starter offered to stand whiskies for the half-dozen runners in the concluding event if they would get away all together. One of the local pencillers, and one of the newest at the game, got hit very strong over the Second Hack Handicop at the Avondale Autumn Meeting. He had a nice little settling after the race.

At a meeting of the stewards of the Wellington Racing Club the rider, Hasher, and the horse Kohunui were disqualified for twelve months for inconsistent running in the hurdle races at the recent meeting.

The well bred Legion of Honour (Medallion — Iris), who has been a big disappointment on the Turf, was sold at Taranaki last week for £l5. Mr E. A. Laurent, owner of Full Cry, was the buyer.

What a good race Quintal rode on The Trifler in the Avondale Steeplechase. W e have not seen this rider up on many charges, but I think he is sure to make a name for himself over the big country. This was the opinion of some of the best judges at Ellerslie on Saturday last. I have much pleasure in drawing the atttention of my readers to an advertisement of Mr Charles D Halstead, which appears in another column. The livery stables, of which Mr Halstead is the proprietor, are sisuated in Albert-street, and patrons may obtain a turn-out of any description at a reasonable price and at the shor est notice. Mr E. D. Halstead, the well-known veterinary surgeon, may always be consulted at his son’s stables.

The expense of keeping such a largo establishment as Mr G. G. Stead’e Yaidhurst must be pretty heavy (says '* Seahorse ”). The Canterbury Jockey Club provides in stakes sufficient to pay a great part of the bill. During the present season Mr Sbead’s horses have won at the spring (£1535), summer (£ll6O and autumn (£1185) meetings a total of £3BBO, which is about one-fourth of the stakes given, /is the visiting trainers have won the greater part of the balarce, some of the Riccarton trainers must be getting a bit tired. For the small number of horses he has had through his hands, Free Holmes has comparatively speaking, been particularly successful. It is reported from Cannes that Baron Pierre de Coubertin, president of the International Olympian Committee, won recently a bet under the following conditions : — That he would, without any previous training and without feeling tired at all, go through six hours of full sport out of eight. He succeeded easily. The programme included lawn tennis, riding, rowing, cycling, and riding a racing motortricyle for one hour each, to end with four competitions of fifteen minutes each in boxing (French) and fencir g successively with the foil, the sword, and the sabre.

An American owner named J. H. Schorr has grown tired of having his horses persistently touted, and is annoyed to find that his colts are very often favourites the first time out of the box. He has, therefore, determined that in future the two-year olds of his stable shall be designated by numbers only, in order that no stab e boys, touts, or, indeed, anyone save himself, shall know their names, and hopes by this means to save the cream of the betting for himself. Poor deluded man! This same scheme has been tried by others before him but the colts have been recognised by the railbirds and touts directly they appeare 1 in the paddock ready to race, and the owner has had little chance to beat these informers in the race to the betting ring for good odds J, E. Madden, who has owned Hamburg, David trrick, and many other good horses, attempted the same thing two years ago, but history does not relate that any advantage accrued to him by so doing.

When Hickey took charge of Australian Star the horse was a cranky and unmanageable brute, but the ex-New Zealander has evidently got Australian Peer’s son in good fettle now.

Harry Cook, the once premier jockey of this State, returned to Sydney on Friday from New Zealand, where he has been riding for Mr Dan O’Brien, says the Melbourne “ Sportsman.”

The New Zealander, Labourer, who went to Melbourne in the spring with Seahorse, has gone into W. Glasscock’s, stable at Flemington. Labourer was racing about Gippsland during the summer, and won a couple of small events. Mr T. Morrin returned from his trip to the South on Saturday last. Not the least of the enjoyments of the trip was the satisfaction of seeing some of his Wellington Park bred ones upholding the name of the place of their birth. “ Reginald,” in the Melbourne “ Sportsman,” writes : “ Looking at the Bill of Portland— Barley colt in his box, it struck me that he possessed rather more depth than did Malster at the same age. He does certainly seem to be more robust about the waist, but, of course, when trained off he may lighten up just the same as his celebrated brother. The young one is evenly constructed, showing a galloping length, and he appears to be of nice disposition.”

When the Boers first over-ran the north of Cape Colony they held Mr Alexander Robertson (owner of the well-performed English racehorse Nunthorpe) a prisoner in Colesburg, Mrs Robertson being left alone at that gentleman’s residence, which is at his stud, some distance out of the town. There were no helpers nvailable, and, Mrs Robertson being a bold and resourceful lady, went and took off Nunthorpe’s muzzle and headcollar, which she carefully hid. The Boers came along, and seized all the brood mares They wanted Nunthorpe also, and Mrs Robertson showed them to his box and told them to take him Nunthorpe eyed the intruders with no friendly gaze laid back his ears, and seemed to prepare for action. Some of the Boers had heard of his savage propensities, and none of them felt keen about tackling him. As a result they concluded that they would not take him unti next day. On their departure Mrs Robertson herself fed and watered the horse, which, if they ever heard of it, must have made the enemy feel small. As a matter of fact, they did not come back for Nunthorpe at all, and, through the influence of soma more or less reasonable commandant, the brood mares were returned, though not before several had been badly knocked about through being herded with mules and other beasts. Nunthorpe himself is now safely in England at Mr Donald Eraser’s stud, where he will have every chance to sire more good winners such as Nunsuch and Emita.