Sporting and Dramatic REVIEW AND LICENSED VICTUALLERS' GAZETTE WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WEEKLY STANDARD Thursday, May 30 1901. Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 545, 30 May 1901, Page 10

Sporting and Dramatic REVIEW AND LICENSED VICTUALLERS' GAZETTE WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WEEKLY STANDARD Thursday, May 30 1901. Sporting Topics.

I By

Lochiel.]

Cavaliero will have 12.13 to carry in the Great Northern Hurdles, and if he wino with that crusher he will have put up a record. The light weight division have scored in every previous race, with two exceptions, and these were Liberator and St Simon. The former won with 12.9’ and the latter with 12 12. Cavaliero’s wins! at the Shore were achieved with such consummate ease that there is every probability of Cuirassier’s. son eclipsing all previous performances

Lady Dash and Royal Conqueror fell in the Maiden Hurdles, and Capford was pulled up. Don stumbled and got rid of his rider (Ross) in the Maiden Plate.

Regalia II would have paid £6 19s had the protest against Tukapa been allowed.

St Elmo was only stripped once at the Shore, and then he ran a very creditable third to Hastings and St Olga. Bufus, a gelding ;by Muskapeer — Haricot, showed up well in his Shore engagements. He will be worth watching in future engagements. Mount Zeehan (late Zeehan, late Injustice) started at the Shore in spite of the way the owners were treated there some time back.

Voltigeur’s rider was caught napping in the finish for the Steeplechase, and was beaten on the post by Tarragon for second money. Paul Seaton and Motor were put about as good things for the Welter Handicap, but neither ran prominently.

Torpina is not to be aeeen sporting silk at El lerslie this winter, as Torpedo’s son did not give not give too good a display at Wanganui.

Mr Horace Lunn, one the principal amateur steeplechase riders in New Zealand, and for years a leading trainer i’ Christchurch, has given up the turf and gone in for farming. Heliades was fixed upon by the knowing ones as real good goods for the First Pony Handicap. The supposed good thing, however, came to grief, as on entering the straight she stumbled and dislodged her rider. Much of the force of “ Fair Play’s” letter in our last issue, re the inconsistent running of a certain pony at Potter’s Paddock, was lost through the omission of the figure 1. The number of investors on the pony on the second day should have read 165 and not 65.

Overheard at Ellerslie—Lady loquitur: “Oh Mr please get me a ticket on Millie. My little niece’s name is Millie, and it is such a sweet name that I must back the name.” Not much of a reason for backing a gee-gee. but she nearly got a dividend a’l the same.

Only twice has tne Great Northern Steeplechase been won by horses earning 12st or over, viz., in 1885 when Macaroni (12st) won, and in 1897 when Levanter carried 12.1 to victory. It remains to be seen whether Nor’-west or Cannongate are equal to the task this year.

Pheon, says the “ London Sportsman,” of 12th April, has been sold privately, and has left Foxhill for Australia. Pheon is a six-year-old bay horse, by Hampto i out of Photinia. He was a •tarter in the Lincolnshire Handicap, won by Little Eva, on the 26th March, in which he carried 7st 101 b.

The wet season comingion you will need a good Macintosh or Cover Coat (made to order or ready made), and by going to Geo Paterson, 147, Queen street, you will get all you require. He has a splendid assortment of Shirts, Hats and Ties of the newest styles, which are well worth inspection.

The programme for the Wellington Racing Club’s Winter Steeplechase Meeting to be held on Wednesday and Saturday, the 17th and 20th July, appears in our advertising colums. There are fourteen events on the programme, the most important of which is the Steeplechase of 350 sovs Nominations for all the handicap events close on Saturday, June 15th.

The following are the nominations received for the Napier Steeplechase of 300 sovs, to be run at the Napier Park Steeplechase Meeting, held on July 3 and 4 : —Venture, Social Pest, Opaku, Waitio, Rhino, Evening Wonder, Tarragon, Stanley, Blackberry, Moifaa, Scallywag, Cannongate,. Awahuri, Kauri Gum, Hairtrigger, The Guard, Hutana, Waterport, Bush Bose, Sylvanus, Roller.

The latest additions to the list of horses for ■ale by the New Zealand Horse Agency are St Elmo, the Castor—Welcome Katie horse, who is in full training and will be sold cheap; Millie, the four-year-old mare by Tasman—Duchess, who ran second to Wellstock on Saturday; a three-year-old mare by Regal—Mysterious, who has been handled but is untried ; and the stallion St Crispin (by St Leger), who won the Auckland Guineas and the Great Northern Derby.

“ Look here,” said a puzzled punter to his more experienced friend, “if there are only two starters and.l lay 5 to 4on one and take sto 4 about the other how do I stand ?” “On velvet,” said the other, “ because if the man you win from don’t part you’ll be ‘ balanced,’ and so you will if he do< s.” The answer was all right to anyone who understood the language of the turf, but it left the interrogator more puzzled than before he had asked the question. According to the “ Sporting Times” there a/e in Australia many jockeys who are fairly good bicycle riders, and one day .the question arose as to which could do the faster time for a mile, a ■mart horse or a bicycle, mounted by a capable rider. Baid one accomplished light-weight, “ I think I should lay a shade of odds on the geegee.” Another member of the select party ohimed in : “ I’ll tell yer wot I’ll do. Put me up on one of ’em—whichever one yer like—an’ I’ll lay yer 5 ter 2—on the other!”

The stewards of the Auckland Trotting Club were not at all satisfied with Gunning’s handling of Ivan in the Farewell Handicap at their recent meeting, and accordingly began an inquiry on Tuesday which was adjourned and finished on Thursday. ‘ After gqing carefully into the matter the stewards arrived at the conclusion that there was not enough evidence before them to warrant them in taking action. They however informed Gunning that they were far from satisfied with his riding, and would keep a watchful eyejon him in the future.)’

Ivan and Little Bess were on Monday shipped by the Zealandia for Sydney. At the last meeting of the stewards of the Master ton Racing Club (according to the local paper) a letter was received from Mr R Acheson, Carterton, stating that he had nominated and accepted his horse Diplomat in the Dash and Railway Handicaps at the Club’s lest meeting when it was ineligible for competition as it was only a two-year-old He mentioned that the stewards of the club should have detected the illegality of his horse being unable to start in a handicap event, especially as he mentioned the horse’s age when nominating. Mr Acheson, therefore, asked for a refund of his nomination and acceptance fees amounting to £1 15s. After a good deal of discussion, during which it was pointed out that if Mr Acheso > had won the race he could not have claimed the stakes, and that the stewards were as much to blame as Mr Acheson, as they should ha ve detected the mistake. If Diplomat had won and a protest had been sustained against him there would have been a great public outcry, and the public should be protected. On the other hand, it was contended that refunding the money would be establhhing a bad precedent, and then no one can say how often the thing might occur. A motion that the refund be not made was carried.

The New Orleans authorities had to put on their thinking caps recently to decide a case which happened through an oversight of the secretary, who accepted the entry. The race in question was a selling event for non-winners since 29th November. Cherries won, and was sold in due course after the race at an advance of 500 dol over her entered selling price. Subsequently the owner of the second diecoverad that Cherries had won a race at Washington in December, and therefore was not eligible He objected, and here is where the stewards found themselves in a tight place. Eventually they decided to take the race away from Cherries, put the winner up for sale, but declared that the sale of Cherries was valid, and also the bets on the race. Two horses were therefore sold as winners of the race, and bets were paid on the one which did not win, and not on the one which won. The rules provided for the two being sold, the purchaser of the first winner having the option of keeping her at the price or returning her, but the bets were the conundrum. Probably the stewards knew that the bookmakers, having paid on one horse, would decline to pay a second time, and that influenced their decision. In any case, it was a matter which needed the acumen of a Philadelphia lawyer to decide, and the hew Orleans stewards have not had their brains taxed to such an extent for a very long time, says the London “ Sportsman.” Now that the starting, machine has battered down prejudice in England, there can be no harm in stating that even so experienced a sportsman as Admiral Rous, once held the opinion that any d d fool could start a field of horses ” One day he tried the feat himself, and—well, here 4 s the story ; —For the Royal Hunt Cup in 1861, Admiral Rous made his maiden bow with the starter’s flag, and a nice mess he made of it. There had been a lot of complaints just before this time as to the way the starting had been accomplished, and the Admiral took the duty on himself. It was scarcely wise under the circum stances to commence on a field of thirty three runners, this being the number in Buccaneer’s year; but, boiling over with wrath and indignatisn/down strode the gallant old salt to the starting post, flag in hand, thinking his appearance alone in the position of starter would strike terror and dismay into the hearts and minds of the hitherto unruly jockeys. So far from this being the case, he absolutely had not the slightest control over them, and such a scene as ensued was probably never witnessed at the starting post. Jim Goater especially was determined not to get left, and at last after an hour’s delay, and when if possible, the animals were in a worse position to be started than they had been at any time previously, Admiral Rous, who was completely livid with rage, literally threw down the flag, shouting at the same time at the top of his naturally strong and rough voice: “ Go, and be d— -d to you 1” Goater got a flying start, and being on a very speedy hbrse and quick beginner, rapidly added to his lead, was never headed, and won in a canter with the then big weight of Bst 71b. This was Admiral Bous’ first and last attempt at starting.

According to the New York correspondent of the London “ Sportsman,” steeplechasing has had a hard row to hoe in coming to the front in America, a d even to-day the patrons of the sport have their work cutout in keeping races between the flags free from scandal. The jockeys for the most part are the rag-tag and bobtail of the riding fraternity, hanging on the fringe of the profession' for a bare existence, and willing to sell themselves body and soul for the prospect of having an enjoyable time for a few days with a dollar or two in their pockets. The Louisiana Jockey Club of New Orleans thought to add a little interest and diversity to their sport by introducing jumping races, and for a time the innovation proved successful. Directly the jockeys came to know and understand one another well, they got down to business and planned a big coup, by which they would all get some spending money, and live for a short time on the fat of the land. The race came off, but the acting steward, Captain Rees, had his suspicions aroused before they went to the post by the peculiar condition of the betting, so he called jockey Lawless to him, and warned him what would be the result if he failed to “ try.” The lecture had its effect, and Lawless rode it out on his “ pals,” to the chagrin of the backers of the “ good thing,” After tne race the stewards took an ur usual step They not only declared the bets off, but likewise the race in toto. The jockeys Were suspended, pending an inquisition, and after ten day’s deliberation, a clean sweep was made of not only the winning mare and her owners, but also of all the jockeys engaged in the race, which effectually puts a stop to steeplechasing at New Orleans, for the rest of this season, at all events.

A Sydney paper remarks that horse> Record Reign—one of the biggest animals in work at Randwick—has not yet treated the “ regulars” to a taste of his quality, hia best yet being halfpace. His action is even and his style bold.

On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr Hodder, it was resolved that the next race meeting of the Taratahi-Carterton Olub will be held on Friday and Saturday, Bth and 9ch November

A correspondent of the London “ Field ” some years ago describes a little incident he had witnessed as an example of attachment between two horses. The horses were harnessed to an artillery waggon, which ,was drawn up beside a low hedge, the near horse being next to the hedge, and the driver being out of the saddle for a moment. The near horse was seen to bite mouthfuls from the hedge, and turn his head to give them to his companion, then biting a mouthful for himself. The|Taratahi-Carterton Racing Olub stewards are still moving in the direction of obtaining a course, and I notice that at their last meeting a letter was read from Messrs Beard and Robinson covering tin offer from Mr T. Ray to sell the property on which the course is situated, 146 acres, at £25 an acre. a committee consisting of Messrs Deller, Dalrymple, Wolters, Eagle, Catt, and Hodder was appointed to inspect various sites offered and report to the next meeting. Messrs H. Judd and K. W. Udy were appointed to interview Mr Ray and ascertain on what terms he would sell the course to the Olub.

A recipe from a New York paper. —In all wounds of horses, union is promoted by putting the part at rest Healthy wounds are seldom much benefited by the application of lotions or ointments. When the wound is of small size, it is best to leave it uncovered, and, if it be in the sum mt r, it may be smeared with zinc ointment, or with 40 parts of oliye oil to one of carbolic acid. In large wounds the surface should be lightly cove, ed with a cloth, kept wet 'with a solution of carbolic acid in 40 parts of water. When a wound shows what is called ‘ proud flesh,” it should be rubbed over at its most prominent part with sulphate of copper (blue-stone), or washed with a solution containing 2oz of sugar of lead to a pint bottle of water. The Dunedin Jockey Olub met on Tuesday night and were evidently out for business. A full and exhaustive inquiry was made into the running of Ynnilla, with the result that it was resolved to disqualify for 12 months Joseph Toomey, John Uurran, R. Derretti and the mare Vanilla. J. O. McGuiness is also to be called before the committee for an explanation. The trouble arosepn connectionlwitb|the Novel Handicap, iu which Vanilla got home by a head but was disqualified, and the money invested on her was ordered to be returned, less commis ion and the stakes were awarded to Hippomenes. Vanilla started on the first day in the Selling Race with Bst on her back, and finished nowhere, being beaten by Hippomenes and Witchcraft, whom she subsequently beat in the Novel Handicap.

Tattersall’s Olub, Queensland, opened their new premises in Queen street last week with a smoke concert. - The rooms, which are situated opposite the post office, are splendidly fitted up, and are a great improvement on the old premises. The club is now fairly booming, as nearly one hundred new members have joined lately. The Hon A. J. Thynne, president of the club, was in the chair, and a most enjoyable time was put in. One toast proposed was “ Success to the Sport,” coupled with the name of Mr Phil Glenister, who replied with a very nice speech, in which ho said that he hop?d that the Brisbane and Sydney club would reciprocate. A funny incident occurred during his speech, a horsey gentleman remarking sotto voce, “ Is that Phil Glenister who worka the big commissions ? Why, I thought he was a parson.”

The disadvantage of being a bad’writer is now apparent to the owner of Tirea, according to the correspondence read at the last meeting of the Masterton Racing Club’s steward.', where the secretary reported that at the last meeting he received a paper hominating what he read as Ziska, so bad was the writing. The owner of Zisca, howeper, called on him, and stated that he had not given anyone permission to nominate the horse, nor did he do it himself. H e (the secretary) ultimately discovered that the name of the horse was Tirea. A good deal of correspondence had taken place between the secretary and the owner of Tirea, Mr F. Armstrong, who disclaimed any liability as regards the nominatio > fee of Tirea, on the ground that the horse had not been ■ handicapped. He mentioned that Mr F. Armstrong failed to reply to his letters until he was threatened to be placed on the forfeit list. On the motion of Mr Pilmer it was decided not to c airn the £1 from Mr Armstrong. The South Wairarapa Charitable Trotting Club’s Meeting was held on Friday, May 24th. Notwithstanding the inclement weather there was a fair attendance at the above Club’s annual fixture, some 500 people being present. . Mr W. Armstrong's long experience of secretarial duties enabled him to carry out the meeting most satisfactorily, being backed up by a good set of officers. Following are the results : —Maiden Trot, 15sovs, one mile : Captain Spec, 1; Manaia, 2 ; Nellie, 3. Dividend, £1 2s. Pony Trot, 15 sovs, o e mile and a-half: Destiny, 9sec, 1 ; Captain Spec, 25sec, 2; Nikau, 24sec, 3. Dividend, £9 4s. Victoria Trot, 25sovs, one mile and a-half : The Boatman, 1 ; King George, 2 ; Simon R., 3. Dividend, £3 6s. , Wairarapa Trot, 2Osovs, two mile* : Destiny, 32sec, 1; Lady Brook,4ssec, 2 ; King of Munster, 3. Dividend, £3 13s. Kempton Park Trot, 30aovs, two miles : King George, 45sec, 1 ; Violet, 32sec, 2; Ned Kelly, 23sec, 3. Dividend, £1 17s. President’s Trot, 18sovs, one mile : .The Boatman, 13sec, 1; Waihine, 16sec, 2 ; Rockwood, Bsec, 3. Dividend, £2 3s, Dash Trot, 20iovs, one mile: King George, 23sec, 1; Bookwood, Bsec, 2. Dividend, £1 13s. ■ .

The Beecroft Company, Hastings, won the third prize, £BOO, in Tittersall's s weep on the Turf Club Handicap.

Our Hawke’s Bay correspondent has some very interesting items in his . letter this week re a visit to Messrs Smith and Wooley’s stables.

Sirocco is pottering about, and as his faulty joint has got callous it is quite on the cards that he will survive the - ordeal of a preparation. Benedict (I ochiel ll.—Fiancee), a full b-other to the yearling colt that Mr J. Prosser bought in Sydney last month, won the Stewards’ Mile at a Canterbury Park (N.S.W.) Meeting recently. Jas Hayes, who a few years ago wis one of the leading jockeys in Victoria, was fined £lO and costs in Melbourne last week for assaulting a woman.

Oranbnurne is to be tried over the hurdles. As he is a big horse, and ought to be able to carry weight, he should pay his way over the small sticks. The Weaver has been turned out fir the winter, and it has been decided not to persevere f arther with old Lotion '’alaver and The Shannon are also enjoying a spell in the paddocks.

A.t the New Zealand Rioing Conference, in July, Mr P. E Baldwin a steward of the Wellington Racing Club, will move to amend the racing rules, so as to’ give stewards of racing clubs power to review, if thought advisable, the running of horses just prior to competing at their meetings.

The disqualification of Tukana and her rider (Holmes) for two years came as a great su-prise in Auckland, as the general public were under the impression that the inquiry into Tukapa’s running at Egmont had been closed Full particulars of the committee’s action will be found in the letter of our Taranaki correspondent.

At a meeting of the 8. A..J.0. Commi'tee, Sir Richard Baker said he felt it was incumbent on him to resign his position as chairman in consequence of his having been elected Presid nt of the Federal Senate. Members of the Committee expressed a wish that he should retain office, and he consented to do so. Despite his Federal duti ‘s he will be able to attend nearly the'whole of the 8. A J.O. Committee Meetings. The Hon W. B. Bou .sevell was appointed deputy-chair-man.

In connection with Clansman’s failure to win the 14 1 Race, at Kensington last week “-Pilot ” has the following :—" Clansman, the favourite, cut up very badly, as at no part of the race did he look like winning, and it will be some time before he is again sent out such a hot favourite. He won several races in New Zealand, but I do not think that in any of them he carried as much weight as on Wednesday last, and it may be that his performance in a race recently won by Indabba has caused him to be a trifle overrated.”

Raymond, who won the Kent Handicap Steeplechase at Folkestone (England) on April 4th, was ridden by Mr H. Nugent in MacOalla’s new patent weight-adjusting saddle (says a contemporary). This was the first occasion upon whi sh this saddle had been used in a race. The principal feature in the new affair is that the stirrup leather is so adjusted that the stirrup iron moves backward and forward, and thus allows the weight of the rider to be placed to the best advantage, and does not interfere with the freedom of the horse when coming to a fence or in getting over it. .

Judging by the tone of the market, the exNew Zealander Clansman was genuinely backed for the 14.1 Handicap at Kensington on May 15th, but he performed most disappointingly, and ran a bad last. Y-Not made first use of the start, but he was soon joined by the second favourite, Kitty, and the pair led to the turn, where Wait-a-While got up with them, and beat the Trenchant mare in the run home. Wait-a-V hile has already proved herself the champion in her class, but, as she was giving some of her opponents 2in, she went out at'6 to 1. —(Town and Country.)

In England, where breeding the thoroughbred is conducted on scientific principles and where heredity and its laws are strictly adhered to, a yearling was sold last autumn for 50,000d01. and at the same sale one by a full-brother to the highpriced filly and out of a mare that was a sister in blood to the costly one’s dam, brought lOOdol., and yet in point of looks there was little or no difference between the two. While it does not follow that the 50,000d01. filly will race more successfully than the cheap one, the greatest racers in England have been bred by strictly following this rule. There a stallion is discarded if he is a failure on the Turf, and although some Turf failures have developed into useful sires, the instances are comparatively rare.— American paper.

The late Duke of Hamilton, ° the red (headed) duke," tried hard to lose even, a bigger fortune over Hermit than Lord Hastings, but was prevented, thanks to Providence and Captain Machell. The »rue story of this colossal wager, as told Mr Dixon by the captain himself, runs thus: Hermit was highly tried as a yearling, and found to be a colt out of the common, and early the following year Captain Machell one night at Long’s Hotel backed him for the Ter by to win £65,000. The late Duke of Hamilton came in while some of these wagers were being booked, and remarked: “Pooh, you don’t call that betting! I’ll lay SOJOOO to iOOO against Hermit once, twice, three times, four times, five times, six times.”. The captain promptly booked the colossal bet of £lBO,OOO to £6OOO. A large surn wae offered to cancel the bet, but Captain •Machell refused to take it, though he declared the bet off some time before the race ; which was lucky for the geranium-haired ‘f Dook ” remarkably lucky, indeed. —(Sydney “ Referee.”) -

Ivan and Little Bess have gone into Dave Creamer’s stable in Sydney. Solo was in trouble from the time the barrier went up. Hie foreleg seems somewhat enlarged. After a long wait Messrs Nathan have had a win with Bastings What an unreliable gentleman this is!

I take Marksman to be well treated in the Fir.t Maiden Steeple set do»n f r the opsning day of the A.R.C Winter Meeting Winsome, the half-sister to Record Reign, is doing all she is asked at Ellerslie. This mare is sure to run forward in the Welter engage ments next month.

On Monday afternoon last Cannongate did two rounds of the steeple course alone. He jumped very well, and was so fresh at the finish that he almost took charge of Stewart, his rider. At the recent Grafton Racing Club’s meeting, the jockeys J. Young and T. Andrews used their whips on one another in a race, and the stewards fined the former £5 and the latter £2.

The public were taking 6 to 4 about Cavaliero on the first day of the Takapuna Meeting. One of the “ books ” secured a wager at 2 to .1 and thought he had done a stroke. I wonder what he said when he saw the dividend of £5 10s ?

Macmanemin keeps Regalia 11. going strong at headquarters. I hardly think this horse will be quite equal to downing Cavaliero, as the latter is in splendid trim at present Regalia II will, I think, run a good race The party behind Rufus took on a big thing on Saturday at Takapuna when they asked the little chestnut to measure strides in the hurdles with Cavaliero, nd in the Steeple with Nor’west There is no doubt Rufus is a good little bit of stuff, but I think they have spoiled a chance in a Maiden Hurdles or Maiden Steeple.

The Ellerslie people got a bit of a bump in the Second Hack Race at Takapuna. Merrr Kate was made favourite, but the kno wing fraternity came hot and strong for Alicia, but the brother to the once great Waiuku was good enough for the best of them, and what a nice dividend he paid.

Nor’-west is looked upon by his connections as being up to his best form, and I am one with them. I will admit Nor’ west did not meet anything any good at Takapuna to warrant his showing anything out of the common, but the way he galloped and jumped, and then wouldn’t blow a match out at the finish quite took my fancy.

After the Takapuna Steeplechase on Saturday last I had a look over the contestants, and found quite i a number of them lame. Voltiguer returned very distressed and with hardly a leg to stand on, Trifler was as bad, and poor old Reindeer was in a very bad way. This trio may be looked on aa lights of daye gone by. On the opening day of the Takapuna Jockey Olub’s Meeting a number of people complained about the colours on Mr J. Thorpe’s pair of ponies being reversed after they had done their preliminary gallops. There was nothing in it to complain about, the colours were both alike with the addition of a sash to one; and this got on the horse, but one of the stewards saw it and it was removed at the head of the straight and placed on the other. It was quite an oversight which anyone might be guilty of Mr W. H. Mate gives as his reasm for not nominating Ibex for the Melbo irne Cup that he disbelieves in the policy of subjecting three-year-olds to the severe training necessary for a Melbourne Cup, and not because he thinks that Ibex won’t stay. ■ He says that hundreds of promising three-year-olds have been ruined in consequence of the severe test involved in training them for two-mile races, and quotes Carbine and Abercorn as among the few exceptions who survived the ordeal. .

After the Second Pony Race at Takopuna on the concluding day there was quite a demonstration against Urange and Blue, as the mare was quite 12 lengths behind on the first day and not in any way anxious to improve her position. I understand the owners made some complaint about J. Gallagher interfering with her on the the first day This was, I think, a great mistake, as Gallagher is one of <* few of his profession who hold themselves above anything of the sort. I am sorry we have so few of his sort among the jockeys in Auckland.

Dingo is still on the slow side in his work. I would advise my readers not to touch this horse at present, as I think he can hardly be ready on the ooening day of the A.R.C. Winter Meeting. Volee, after returning to the Paddock on Friday last at Takapuna, seemed a trifle sore in front. This probably was the cause of her not starting on the second day. Mr J. George has engaged accommodation at the Harp of Erin Hotel for Orusoe an d St Aida Boxes have also been engaged at Ellerslie for Vanquish, Haydn and Sundial.

Hairtrigger, The Swimmer, and Nat'tion were schooled over the big jumps at Ellerslie on Tuesday, and went fairly well.

In connection with the A.R.O. Meeting Derringcofte has been scratched for the First Welter, and Waiwera for all engagements. The scratching of the latter will be a n isty knock for. backers, as she bad been backed in a lot of doubles.

At a meeting of the Auckland Trotting Club committee, held on Tuesday the copduct of Wm. Knight was considered. He was accused of using insulting language towards the secretary, this offence being aggravated by his refusal to ofl>r ; any explanation to the committee or withdraw the words complained of. He was accord ingly disqualified for life. One thing worth mentioning in connection with the Auckland Trotting Club enquiries is that all the evidence is given on oath. This example might well be followed by some of the more pretentious clubs.

The Harold Abdallah-Billy Wilson case has been engaging the attention of the Auckland Trotting Club stewards dur ng the past week, Mr Chatteris having asked that the case be reopened to allow him to tender further evidence The stewards fell in with Mr Chatteris’ wishes, and the taking of evidence was to have been concluded on Tuesday, but owing to the absence of a material witness was adjourned till Friday. The’whole of the evidence will then be forwarded to Christchurch in connection with Mr Chatteris’ appeal, and the decision of the Association should be known at an early date.

The sporting world has contributed largely to the school for slang, and a West Australian correspondent sends along to the “ Refei ee ” the following story by way of showing how misunderstandingsjmay arise from’a too lavish use of the allpervading|fashion of tampering with the “ King’s English.” “ The property man of a show now playing in this district recently rang up the local police, and having orders to procure four rifles for the next night’s show, asked if they ‘ had any “ guns ”at the police station ?’ ‘ I’ll have a look,’ responded the constable in charge. Presently he returned to the ’phone- ‘ Yes,’ he said, ‘ there’s one in the cells. We snapped him at the races. Do you wani to bail him out ?’ ” That “ gun ” didn’t “go off,” although well charged by the arresting bobbie.

For young beginners, says Boondi, Australians have already done some ta 1 things in L’urf belting that grand old time sport, “ Ned ” Jones having laid a £50,000 to £250 double, Navigator for the Derby and Gudarz for the Me bourne Cup in ’B2 Navigator won his flutter all right, and the plucky once told me his heart began to travel in the direction of hie boots when he saw Gudarz turning into the straight with the first lot of gee-gees, and making that desperate fight which landed her a good third. I don’t think that wager has been topped since, and, in company with thousands of others, I sincerely regret that the plucky penciller of the past is not in a position to repeat J the dose to-day. I do not know who the taker of the big money was, but he made a mighty good guess, and came within an ace of being a wealthy man, and dying, like all other people who sit behind a good banking account, “respected by all who knew him ”

“ Umpire ” in the “ Sydney Refer ee” pens th© following pertinent remarks : “ Many of the best fencers over Flemington and Caulfield have developed m the hunting field, and if there was anything like the interest in hunting here that there is in Victoria, there would soon be a different tale to tell. We are always hearing that the low class of our steeplechase business is caused by the poor prizes offered by the racing clubs, but it is about time this cuckoo-cry was dropped. The trouble is there are no horses worth mentioning to cater for, the latest illustration to support this being;apparent in the few entries made for a valuable stake given by the A.J.O at the June Meeting. Unless there is a developement of interest in hunting, we may not see a sufficient number of horses schooled for steeple™ chasing to keep the game going in a manner worthy of a horse-breeding country like this. There is no better way of schooling and making-up a horse than hunting him, andin capable hands a fast horse adapted for the business would soon make a steeplechaser of better class than any one of the lot entered to dispute possession of the stakes that are being given during the next fortnignt. A little enterprise on the part of owners would soon find work' for the cross country riders who now find it difficult to live, and there need be no. fear about the race clubs catering for them As soon as the horses are about the clubs will find stakes often enough to give them sufficient encouragement.”

In the latest racing book published—“ Turf Memories of Thirty Years,” by Mr Sydenham Dixon —the worthy son of a worthy sire, the world-renowned “Druid,” mention is made of some exceedingly steep speculations on the English Turf, special attention being given to the fierce wagering of the “ Hastings Era.” Mr Dixon, like many more shiewd reasoners, does not swallow all the stiff stories told of the giddy young Marquis and his alleged colossal losings. “ Everyone,” he says, “ has heard of the £75,000 Lord Hastings dropped over Hermit’s Derby, but few know that he won the entire amount back a fortnight later at .Ascot. The Ring had been hugely reassured by the promptitude with which all the Hermit losses were met, and the Marquis was encouraged to bet at the Royal Meeting till, as they say, ‘ the cows came home.’” Mr Dixon declares that His Lordship had £16,000 on Lady i lizabeth for the New Stakes alone, and she started at even money. For the Gold Cup the stable took every wager they could about Lecturer (who had won them a fortune over the previous Ceearewitch), and Mr J ixon estimates that the spoil here was quite £50,000. They also scored in other races at Ascot, and, as Lord Hastings never stopped “ backin’ ’em,” the King had a memorable experience.