TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1151, 2 May 1912, Page 8

TURF TOPICS.

General entries for the A.R.C. Steeplechase meeting next month fall due on Friday, May 10. « « * * Mr George Morse’s handicaps for the Great Northern Steeplechase and Hurdles are du e on Monday. Jack Whitaker is settling down to his duties as a trainer, and is likely shortly to have a good string of active workers in training. In this issue he is advertising for gallopers, jumpers, and trotters to train. Judging oy his excellent credentials, owners should have no hesitation in giving the “new man” a trial. Whitaker’s testimonials (copies of which are available for inspection at the office of Arthur Cleave and Co., Ltd., Vulcan Lane) should certainly ensure him a good clientele amongst Auckland sportsmen, because he has had a unique experience as a trainer, backed by an excellent training track at Papakura, and good quarters at Ellerslie. ■ * • * • The horses recently sold in Australia to go to India include 'Gunboat (£1100) Saxonite (1000 guineas), and Kurnell (600 guineas). The “Sydney Referee,” commenting on the three thoroughbreds, holds that the two last mentioned should pay their way in India, mor e particularly Kurnell, as he is good from a mile to a mile and a half, and consequently there will be more races to suit him than Saxonite, who, on his past season’s form, cannot win at a shorter distance than a mile and a quarter. However, if the latter strips as well as in the Sydney Cup he is bound to take no end of beating in the Viceroy’s Cup, as he is well up to the weight he will have to carry, and the mile and three-quarters will be to his liking. Gunboat is again at Caulfield, and continues in E. A. Connolly’s charge, which may mean that he is to remain in Australia this year in order to compete for some of the big handicaps in the spring. If Gunboat does stay here it is improbable the handicappers will overlook him, but in New Zealand he proved himself a good weight carrier up to> 1%

mile, and it may be that he will shine in a similar respect over a much longer journey. Gunboat is a six-year-old but as he is a gelding he should be good for at least a couple of seasons’ usefulness in India, even if he is not sent to that country until next year.— Sydney “Referee.”

There appears to be very little prospect of Master Soult again sporting silk. This is to be particularly regretted as there are few better bred equines in the Dominion than the good-looking son of Soult and Lady Hester.

Dr. Ring, who has recently successfully operated on a numbei’ of Auckland horses, has been requisitioned ■by the “Highden” stable to deal with a number of cases requiring attention there.

Both the big jumping events —the Great Northern Steeplechase and Hurdles have drawn three previous winners of the respective races. Sol, Loch Fyne and Corazon have scored victories over the Ellerslie Steeplechase course, whi e Merriwai, Bully and Whakaweira have won the Great Northern Hurdles.

By the win of Solitude at Avondale, when she paid the best dividend of the day, a double maiden was scored. It was the first race the daughter of Seaton Delaval had won, while Moore, her rider, also won his first race in silk.

The game mare La Reina, who has done well this season for the popular Devonport sportsman, Mr R. H. Duder, seemed to have lost her dash at Avondale. A spell till the spring would do her no harm and she has certainly earned it.

Aberbrothock has finally broken down and there is no chance of him again winning in the popular colours of Mr D. Buick, M.P., for whom he did brilliant service a couple of seasons back.

Royal Soult made his re-appearance at Avondale and looked like striking form again. He started first in the Titirangi Handicap, but after causing a deal of bother at the post, got badly away. However he showed a lot of pace and before the winning post was reached had worn down the majority of the field, although finishing out of a place. Phil Brady, his rider, lost an iron during the race, which was a further handicap. However the plucky little son of Soult came out again on Saturday and put up a much better performance in the Autumn Handicap when, after a poor start and bad run, he finished very fast just behind Gloy and Sea Elf, who were bracketed as winners. If Royal 'Soult keeps fit he should have some say in the deciding of events at Ellerslie.

The Waipukurau Jockey Club made a profit of nearly £5OO out of their annual meeting last month.

In his last two engagements Master Jack has been sent to the post fit and well, and on both occasions met with liberal support by punters, but at both -Ellerslie and Avondale he declined to leave the post when the barrier lifted.

Judging by the nominations received for the A.R.C. Steeplechase meeting in June there is every probability of a large number of Southern horses coming North to claim engagements.

It is highly probable that Antarctic will be sent to Wanganui this month to contest the big West Coast Steeplechase> and it will depend largely on the form he shows there whether or not Antarctic will go to Australia.

First Barrel, who was so unlucky last jumping season and cost his connection a deal of money, made his reappearance at Avondale on Saturday, and was one of the four jumpers to complete the steeplechase course. Although he finished last, it must be said he jumped well. He did not ap-

ed to his twelve-months disqualification and been fined £5. The rule under which Gray was further penalised is very explicit and reads: — “Every such person shall be excluded from all places under the control of any club; and any such person disobeying this rule by entering on a racecourse or otherwise, shall thereby incur an addition to his sentence of one-third of its original duration, and shall pay a fine of not less than £5 for every such act of disobedience before such sentence shall be considered to have expired.” The N.Z. Racing Conference, therefore, had no option but to enforce the further term and fine on the crack horseman.

Crown Pearl was the only horse to win more fhan one event at Avondale, securing two victories on the opening day.

Since purchasing R. J. Mason’s property at Yaldhurst, Messrs. W. G. and G. L. Stead apparently have no further use for their Grasslea property, which they have sold.

fl. George and R. Hannon each turned out two winners at Avondale, the former being responsible for Crown Pearl (a double winner), and R. Hannon for Semolina and Salute. The

pear to be anything like ready, so there is some hope that after a careful preparation he may do better this winter. ♦ • • * Corazon, last year’s winner of the Great Northern Steeplechase, is reported to be doing attractive work in his schooling at Hawke’s Bay, and there is every reason to anticipate that the son of Coeur de Lion will again be a formidable contestant for the big cross country event next month. * « * * The successes of Bronze have prompted “Mr. Highden” to experiment further with Field Battery as a sire, and the whole of the mares from the Highden stud, including Persimmon’s daughter Peronila, are to be mated with the Hotchkiss horse this year. * * A A Delegate has been withdrawn from all engagements at the A.R.C. winter meeting. * * * SJi Master Soult must now be definitely regarded as a “back number,” as there are apparently no prospects of him again racing under silk. * V * * The success of the last meeting of the Wanganui Trotting Club may be judged from the fact that after wiping off a fairly large debt the club have now a credit balance of close on £3OO. This is very satisfactory, and if the next meeting is as successful the club should then be in the position of being able to procure a course of their own. • ♦ * * For appearing on the Feilding racecourse after being disqualified Hector Gray has had four months more add-

following trainers also supplied winners: —J. Williamson (Royal Irish), C. Hennesy (The Chef), D. Moraghan (Tact), E. W. Alison (Tiresome), W. Gall (Solitudo), J. Chaafe (Goldsize), E. J. Rae (Waiowera), N. Dickey (Napenape), Mantel (Red Lupin), P. Johnstone (Pleiades), Mr. W. C. Ring (Ngatimuru), H. French (Gloy, dead heat), F. McManemin (Sea Elf, dead heat). * * • • The hurdler Mercedo was purchased during the South Canterbury meeting by Mr. P. Elworthy for £250. He will still be trained at Riccarton by E. Scoullar, and he may be tried as a steeplechaser. * ♦ * • J. O’Shea headed the list of winning horsemen at Avondale, with three successes, gained on Tiresome, Red Lupin, and Ngatimuru. C. Brown steered Royal Irish and Tact to victory, while F. D. Jones was successful twice on Crown Pearl. Other riders to pilot a winner were: —J. Ellern (The Chef), F. Moore (Solitudo), J. Buchanan (Goldsize), L. Morris (Semolina), B. Deeley (Waiowera), J. Tutchen (Napenape), F. Howard (Pleiades), P. Brady (Salute), while J. Stockley (Gloy), and Poulgrain (Sea Elf) dead heated once. * * • One of Auckland’s best konwn and highly respected sportsmen passed away in the person of Mr James Roulston. The deceased was one of the pioneer settlers in the North and from the early days ’was always identified with the sport of horse-racing and hunting. It is now many years since James Roulston started a small stud at Pukekohe, and one of his first mares was the brilliant Winnie, from

which he bred some sterling perform; _ers which can be traced for a couple of . decades through the N.Z. Turf Register. Probably the most notable of his stock was Record Reign, who scored many good races in the black and maroon sash livery. At the time of his death Mr RoiilstOn was living in comparative retirement at his homestead, “Belmont,” Pukekohe, as his advanced years made it necessary to relinguish his active association with the sport he so dearly loved. Th e Avondale Jockey Club concluded a most successful season on Saturday. The totalisator returns for the four days’ racing—two in the Spring and two in the Autumn — reached the substantial 'sum of £60,610 10s. There are few clubs that have more richly deserved the success achieved this season. * .<£ * . . J. Pinker, who met with a somewhat serious accident at Pukewera some weeks ago, was discharged from the hospital this week, but . his injured arm is still in a sling and it will be some time before he can again get into the saddle. * * :■: ej: Nyland is making a steady recovery from his breakdown several weeks ago when one of his ligaments was badly sprung. He is now able to walk quite soundly, but whether he will ever be able to race again is extremely problematical.

J. O’Shea, who only came out of his apprenticeship this season, has done exceptionally well and gives every promise of ranking as one of New Zealand’s foremost jockeys next season. He is very smart at getting his mount out at the barrier, possesses a strong pair of hands, and rides with great dash and not a little judgment.

What must be regarded as a most extraordinary feature of the Manawatu meeting was the success of the “M’s,” says “Phaeton.” In the two days’ racing horses with names beginning with iM. were eight times first and eight times second, returning dividends totalling well over the century. Appended is the interestinglittle list, bearing out the foregoing statement: —First Day.—Apprentices ’ Hack Handicap: Miss Very 1, Master Achilles 2. Linton Hack Welter: Merrimac 1, Morning 2. Longburn Handicap: Manawakaha 1, Mulga Bill 2 Woodhey Hack Handicap: Mallard 1, Mount Victoria 2. Telegraph Handicap: Mon Ami 2. Second Day.— Stonyhurst Welter Handicap: Matlow 2. Cloverlea Handicap: Mount Victoria 1, Miss Vera 2. Hack Flying Handicap: Merrimac 1, Moutoa Girl 2. Autumn Handicap: Mulga Bill 1. Borough Handicap: Mon Ami 1.

C. O’Neil,. the New Zealand horseman, has been offered a position as private . trainer to a Hobart sportsman, and after fulfilling Melbourne engagements will accept the appointment.

Kohinoor and Flip Flap, in V. Cotton’s stable, are to be sent across to Australia this month. Both were starters at Avondale but neither ran into a place.

The winning honours at Avondale amongst the sires were divided by Gluten (Gloy, Goldsize and Semolina) and Seaton Delaval (Sea Elf, Solitudo and Tiresome), who were responsible for three winners each. Soult (Royal Irish and Salute) and Coronet (Crown Pearl, 2) had two each, and San Remo (The Chef), Obligado (Tact), Gienapp (Waiowera), Explosion (Napenape), Lupin (Red -Lupin), Daystar (Pleiades), and Freedom (Ngatimuru) one each.

Autumnus returned from Palmerston North on Saturday, says a Christchurch correspondent. The good-look-ing son of Treadmill has come through his strenuous season sound, and will now go into winter quarters. He can now, after his consecutive victory over Ermengarde, fairly lay claim to -being the best two-year-old of the year, and if this is denied him he has established a record in winnings, having won a tctal of about £3000,. thus eclipsing Multiform’s record in that direction.

Dogger Bank beat a strong field in the Karamu Hurdles at Hawke’s Bay on Wednesday, and judging by that performance should have a good season.

Mr J. Mason has sold Yaldhurst to the Messrs W. G. and G. L. Stead, and as soon as possible R. M’Donald will take up his residence at the tracks where so many good winners for the yellow and black have been prepared. Mr Mason has trained at Yaldhurst for about 27 years, and his future movements are not definitely known, but it is expected that he will tak e a team of horses over to the A.J.C. spring meeting. Mr Mason has been so long identified with the New Zealand turf that it will be a matter of regret if he decides to settle at Randwick, but he is far more partial■ to racing in Sydney than in this country. While in India recently Frank Wootton rode in 31 races, winning 10, finishing second in eight, and was third three times. Of the important races at the Calcutta meeting, English horses won 12, and Australian-bred ones eight. Tn the minor events the Australians had a majority of one over their English rivals. ❖ ❖ ❖ During the present season no less than sixteen Auckland owned and bred two-year-olds have earned stakes at the various juvenile events. The winners were as follows: —Prince Soult, £1275; Tact,. £430; Dido, £300; Bleriot, £270; Monoline, £255; Lannacost, £215; Monorail, £197 10s; Semolina, £130; Devastation, £95; Prince Merriwee, £6O; Centenary, £335;. Potoa, £32 10s; Indulgence, £2O; Geneva, £10; Monotone, £5; Lady Gladstone, £5.

land Cup (Downfall), Great Autumn Handicap (Seal Rock and Los An- 1 gelos), Dunedin Cup (Los Angelos), Feilding Cup (Crucinella), Wellington Cup (Crucinella), - Canterbury Derby (Elevation), and Canterbury Cup (Elevation). * * s * Of the eighty yearlings which have realised IOOOgs or upwards in Sydney only 21 have returned their purchase money. The best returns were obtained by Emir, who cost IOOOgs and won £6 648, and Cisco, who cost 1050 gs and has so far annexed £602 5. lolaire cost 1420 gs and won £4700, while Martini-Henry realised 1250 gs and captured £4861. Among the expensive failures may be mentioned Orcus, who was bought for the highest price ever given for a yearling in Australia, viz., 3050g5, and only got back £6O. Lord Randolph cost 23 00gs and won £l4O. Calventi (210 Ogs), Mousquetaire (2025g5), Superba (1900 gs Sudbury (1750g5), Montem (1550g5), Formeden (1450g5), Redbourne 1325g5), Kilbride (1300 gs Genesta (ISOOgs), Abydos (1300 gs and 20 others who topped the IOOOgs

Los Angelos scored a meritorious win in securing the Hawke’s Bay Cup on Wednesday for he carried 9st 101 b on a holding course to victory in the fast time of 2min 36 l-ssec, which is only a tick below the best time for the event put up by Bridge under 7st 101 b in 1910. Midnight Sun again suffered defeat In the Hawke’s Bay Cup. There have been few more unlucky horses during the last few months, for he has gone out in most of the principal events with strong support and in nearly every case has given a disappointing display. Possibly he has had an overdose of racing and a spell will do him good.

The apprentices ‘ maiden hack plate at the Manawatu meeting was something of a fiasco. Several of the lads appeared as if they had never been on a horse, and the antics of a number of them caused some anxiety. Three horses in the race fell and C. Carmont, the rider of Asternown, and an apprentice attached to AHall’s Wanganui stable sustained .a broken collarbone. After the recent exposition of riding by green apprentices the club would be well advised in deleting it from future programmes.

San Francisco has established a good record in long-distance races in New Zealand (says the “New Zealand T.mes”), among the races won by his progeny being the New Zea-

mark did not return their ownersa solitary sixpence. Such is-the luck of the sale ring; * ■ * * - * Carbine and his descendants have certainly left their mark on the A.J.C. Plate. “Old Jack” won it three times himself, his daughter La Carabine twice, his son Amberite once, and his grandsonns Emir and Trafalgar once and three times respectively. .** * * It has been decided to mate all the “Highden” mares with Field Battery. No doubt the success achieved by Bronze has brought about this decision. With some well-bred mares in the list the handsome son of Hotchkiss and Lady Evelyn will have a further opportunity to add to his reputation. * « * * Negative scored a long overdue win at the Manawatu meeting. Favoured by heavy going, the Birkenhead gelding won very easily from Plantation and Turna, who filled the places. ♦ * * * T. Howard, who returned from Australia last week, after riding Seldom to victory in the big steeplechase event at Randwick, rode a good race on Pleiades when he won th© Avondale Steeplechase on Saturday. * * * * At the autumn meeting of the Manawatu Racing Club the sum of £2 6,161 was put through the totalisator as compared with £22,874 for last year’s autumn meeting, showing an increase of £32 87. That, however, includes two additional races on this year’s programme. .. There were only seven events each day.last year. Allowing for the increase in the number of events, however, the investments on the totalisator for the meeting just concluded still show an increase of £217, notwithstanding the severe weather experienced. # st ❖ The brown horse Probable (The Possible —Primula) recently changed hands for the modest consideration of a fiver. He generally seems to do well in training, but fails to reproduce the. form on the race track. sV .if? CjC Thus the Denver “Post” on the probability of horse-racing being revived- throughout the United States: —“Each day the racing element—that class of people who want the sport for sport’s sake, and not for the gambling adjuncts which in olden days were annexed with it—"is nearer to the goal that is to revive racing. In New Orleans recently an election was held, and the new Governor was elected on a platform in which he pledged himself to allow racing in any locality in which the people demanded it. The entire antiracing ticket was defeated.” :Si ❖ ❖ The Victorian sporting scribe, “Clarion,” has compiled a list of the high-priced- yearlings sold since the inauguration of the yearling sales in Australia. . Including, the lot that realised I'OOOgs or more at the recent sales, he says that 84 have brought over that amount.. Orcus was the highest priced one, 3050g5, and he only won £6O in stakes. The most successful yearling disposed of at IOOOgs was Emir, who won in stakes £6 648. Cisco has also done well, having won £6025, and lolaire’s.)winnings were £4770. Mar-tini-Heniry cost the late Hon. J. White d‘2sOgs, and won for his popular owner £4B 61.

Discussing the prospects of the next A.J.C. Derby, “Pilot” says, in the “Sydney Referee,” in regard to prospective candidates from the Dominion: —“ There are several New Zealanders engaged, and Sir George Clifford may be tempted to give Autumnus (Treadmill —Goldleat) a run against Australia’s best. There is no doubt as to Autumnus being a first-class colt, and a Derby with £5OOO added money is a tempting bait, even though races much more easil- won are run in New Zealand shortly after our spring meeting'. Prince Soult (Soult Lady Hester) is another well-performed New Zealand two-year-old, and it is Quite on the cards he 'will put in an appear ance. Like his brother, Master Soult, he should stay fairly, too. However, of the youngsters which have been seen out either in Melbourne or Sydney, Wolawa, Cider, Symetris, Sheriff Muir, and Gold Brew seem the lot most likely to fight out the Derbies at Randwick and Flemington. ■ *. * * * Haskayne was the only favourite that was successful on the first day of the Wellington Racing Club’s autumn meeting. * . * * * According to Australian exchanges Lady Medallist met with a lot of bumping in the Doncaster Handicap at Randwick, and under the circumstances she did well to finish second. * * * * ~ Rill, who was a star performer among the hacks in the North Island last season, has been a great disappointment this season. In this respect her record is little better than that of Colleen Mary, whom she just beat in the Douro Cup at Trentham in January, 1911. ♦ * * * The victory gained in the Thompson Handicap by Gipsy Belle would surprise close followers of racing form. She has always had a reputation as a very speedy mare, but was never given credit for ability to run out a mile. She has some smart performances to her credit, including the Railway Handicap at Auckland and . the Flying Handicap at Wanganui this season, but until last Wednesday she had never won a race over a greater distance than six furlongs. She started in the Great Easter Handicap, of seven furlongs, at Riccarton, on Easter Monday, and finished fifth. Gipsy Belle, who was bred by Mr J. F. Reid, and realised 80 guineas as a yearling, is by Step-niak-—Belle Clair, by St. Clair — DiOne, by Traducer —Gilda, by Ravensworth —Mermaid. :» * * * Trafalgar has now scored thirteen consecutive wins, anti in nine of these he started at odds on, while in the Champion Stakes there was no betting, such a certainty did the result seem. The rumour as to his retirement seems to have been quite unfounded, as J- E. Pike has already been engaged to ride him in his spring engagements. Thoroughly sound, and only rising seven, the great son of Wallace ought to be able to win many more weight-for-age events. $ * * * Vanguard, who won the Great Eastern Steeplechase at Onkaparinga the other day, put up a very remarkable performance, and it is said that such jumping has never before been seen in South Australia. Vanguard cut out the distance, three miles and a quarter, in 6min 3 6sec, which beat the previous record by seven seconds, and is only five seconds off the record for the Flemington National, the distance of which is a furlong shorter. Originally he was hacked about over New South Wales by a sundowner, and did a lot of work after sheep. Finally he was sold for £l5 to a man, who thereupon played the sundowner poker for the money, and won it back again. Mr Quinn picked the grey up at auction for something over £lOO, a small enough price for the champion ’chaser of today. • * ♦ * C. Emmerson, with four winning mounts to his credit, was the most successful rider at the Manawatu meeting. B. Deeley, C. Price, and F. E. Jones each rode two winners, and others to score a win were W. Weller, H. Tricklebank, W. Adams, W. Ryan. M. McDonald, and A. Oliver.

George Price, who has been so successful this season as a trainer of Mr “Highden’s” horses, leaves this week for a trip to Australia. He is taking Boanerges over with him, as his owner has decided to sell The Pilgrim’s Progress horse. * * * * The “Highden” stable, presided over by George Price, carried off the lion’s share of the stakes distributed at the Manawatu meeting. The cheque drawn by the successful owner (Mr Goring Johnston) amounted to £5BO. Sir George Clifford was next with £5 70, and then followed T. F. Goddard £lB 5, J. T. Radford £l5 5, F. Martin £l4O, J. Maher £l3O, H. J. Cameron £llO, F. S. Easton £lO5, and W. Lawson £lOO. » * $ * The Pahiatua Racing Club (says the “Wairarapa Age”) is making determined efforts to influence the new Minister for Internal Affairs to grant it a racing permit. Pahiatua has a distinct grievance in this matter. It was a victim of political circumstance over which it bad no control. The Hon. D. Buddo was morally bound to the recommendation of the Totalisator Commission, which was partly his own creation. The new Minister, however, when he discovers what an unholy mess has been made of things, may insist upon

an alteration. Certain it is there was no justification for the obliteration of the Pahiatua Club, whose meetings were among the most successful in the lower portion of the Ncrth Island.

Grand Canary, the dam of Trafalgar, was once sold for £3 5, having been a failure on the turf. Someone with a taste for figures has worked it out that Australia’s champion racehorse has run 9 8 miles and three furlongs in actual racing, and has travelled 9000 miles in railway travelling to and from courses.

The Egmont Racing Club’s meeting, to be held on Wednesday and Thursday of next week, promises to be one of the most successful winter gatherings ever held by the club. Coming as it does a couple of weeks before the Wanganui Steeplechase meeting, the Egmont fixture is looked to to provide some light on the racing here. A number of Connolly Handicap cand’dates will be competing in the Manaia Handicap, including Coromandel, Mendip, Mulga Bill, Con the Shaughraun, Otahu, Lady Menschikoff, Labour Day, Red Lupin, and others, and their form at Hawera will be watched with interest. Cornelian, Kauroa, Coronetted, Seaman, and several other jumpers are engaged at both places, and backers will he anxious to see whether any likely winners of the Century or Steeplechase run at the Engmont fixture. Coronetted is spoken of as likely to do well at the hurdling game.

An English exchange says that Lomond continues to hold his ground firmly as favourite for the Derby, and it may surely be taken for granted that he will fulfil one or more of his engagements between this and then. As even if not indulged with an eye-opener at Aintree, other chances await him in the Chippenham Stakes at the first spring meeting and the Newmarket Stakes and Payne Stakes at the second. White Star has not been quite as firm in the market,as he was before the mild scare caused by slight lameness, consequent on treading on a stone at exercise, but a couple of days’ rest put him all right again, and he is going on quite to the satisfaction of. all concerned.

At the meeting of the Masterton Racing Club recently a steward said the general opinion seemed to be that the Club was making a profit out of the dividend to be paid on Rahani, who ran third in the Hack Scurry on the second day of the Masterton races, and was placed second owing to Miss Vena’s disqualification. The public had an idea that as a number of tickets were torn up or thrown away by the owners, the Club must necessarily have a surplus in this matter. They did not take into consideration, said the steward, that a number of those tickets might have been picked up by other people and

presented for payment. It was decided if there was any surplus after paying out on all the tickets presented it be handed over to the Masterton Hospital. The ‘ Sydney Sun” relates the following:—Mr C. R. Brown, a Pitt Street auctioneer, is £2 600 richer as the result of Lochano’s win in the Doncaster Handicap. A few nights ago he dreamt that he met a friend coming off the Randwick Racecourse and asked him what had won the Doncaster. “Lochano” was the reply. The fact that Lochano was a rank outsider did not deter Mr Brown —in fact, it added zest to the wagers which, in spite of the ridicule of his fr’ends, he proceeded to make. Some of his money was got on at 100 to 1, and now the lucky punter is in the happy position of the man who laughs last. * + * * There is a filly racing in Western Australia which rejoices in the somewhat remarkable name of Noo-soo-ga-lay. It means “young suckling,” and she was so called from having been brought up on the bottle, as her dam died within a day of foaling. « * * * A special meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association was held at Christchurch last week to consider a. letter from M. Edwards, who gave notice of appeal against his disqualification, together with his horse, Dillon Bell, until December 31

next, by the N.Z. Metropolitan Trotting Club in connection with the running of th? High Class Handicap at the club’s recent meeting; The president said that the question was one of fact. The only point to be considered was whether the club had followed the proper procedure, and it seemed to him that it had. The case might, however, have been put more fully, and he thought the statements of the stewards should have been set out. The president having ruled that the appeal could not be received, the club’s action was endorsed. An application from M. Edwards for permission to be present on the racecourse until May 31 was refused.