Turf Topics.

[By

“Sir Launcelot.”]

Redleap has put up a record in the history of the Victoria Racing Club’s Grand National Steeplechase by winning that eventon Saturday with the crusher of 13.3 up, and doing the distance (about three miles) in 6min 45fsec. The previous best on record was that great horse Sussex, who triumphed under 13.1 in 1881, and negociated the journey in 7min 2fsec, breaking down just after passing the post. Between then and Saturday’s race the highest weight borne successfully to the goal was by Ruby in 1888, the little mare carrying 12.7, and doing it in 6min 53sec. Redleap’s weight was raised to 13.3 owing to his Grand National Hurdle Race win, which mulcted him in a 101 b penalty, but that he would have won under almost any circumstances was demonstrated by his starting first favourite, and getting home very comfortably by seven lengths. The Adelaide - owned Confidence was second in receipt of 351 b from the winner, and the Tasmanian - owned Wellington, receiving 261 b from Redleap, was third. Among the other starters were the New Zealanders Freeman, Rob Roy, and Jack's the Lad, the latter of whom was a particularly strong tip for the race in Auckland. The race was marred by more than one casualty. Freeman fell at a jump soon after starting, and though soon remounted, lost all chance, and The Duke also came down. The Duke (who is a son of the V.R.C. Derby and Champion winner Wellington) was not long ago purchased by the popular New South Wales medico, Dr. Cortis, for whom he scored at the first time of asking. Redleap is really the property of the wealthy Mr. Septimus Miller, but since that gentleman’s brother died a short time ago, his horses have been raced in the name of his trainer Bellamy. Redleap, who was bred by one of the Miller family, is by Dante out of Pandora by Panic—Flying Roe, by Warhawk—Flying Doe, by The Premier - Wilhelmina, by Romeo - Moss Rose, by Rous’ Emigrant from a mare imported from the stud of Lord Charles Somerset at the Cape of Good Hope. Pandora is the dam of that good horse Mernder, who won several races in Mr. S. Miller’s colours, and Redleap’s

sire Dante is by Fireworks out of Rose de Florence, and is therefore half-brother to Maribyrnong and King of the Ring.

Of the other events of Saturday’s racing at Flemington it remains to be said that Mr. Golian won the 3OOgns Open Hurdle Race with Kimberley, who had ll.nin the saddle, and beat a field of twenty —a good performance. Mr. W. T. Jones, the Ballaratian, was second with Buttons, but he had his revenge in the succeeding event the Lawn Handicap, which his four-year-old Gresford won from The Harbour Light and Berrigan, who were receiving 81b and 61b respectively from him. This victory entails on Gresford a ylb penalty in both the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup, making his weight for the former 8.4 and for the latter 8.3. Gresford is by the imported Drummer (who ran third to Pretender and Pero Gomez in the English Derby of 1869) out of La Muette, a full sister to The Mute (who is now at the stud in Hawkes’ Bay, and who is sire of Silence, Rewi, and Pasha). Gresford later in the day was only beaten a length and a half by that smart three-year-old filly Competency in the July Handicap of a mile. He was conceding her 181 b, and as the mile was cut out in I min sec, it was a good go on Gresford’s part. Redleap’s stablemate Wiora was third. Competency is by Richmond (winner of the Champion Race, Australian Cup, etc.) out of Success (imp) by Suffolk —Noma, by Adventurer. Fearless 11., who won the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase of 1890, annexed the Open Flemington Steeplechase, which wound up the day’s card.

The well-known sportsman Colonel Fraser, M.H.R. for the Thames, is, I mentioned in a previous issue, introducing a bill into the Legislature to further amend the Gaming and Lotteries Act. The provisions of the Bill are now to hand, aud show proposals in the following directions “It shall not be unlawful for any lottery or sweepstakes on an event to be conducted and determined in public, in respect of whieh the contributions do not exceed 20s. each, subject as follows :—No lottery or sweepstakes shall be used or conducted, except by such persons as the Colonial Secretary shall from time to time license for that purpose ; every person licensed to use or conduct a lottery or sweepstakes shall deposit with the Public Trustee a bond or guarantee to the amount of Z5OOO ; all tickets issued shall bear a stamp ; the license fee shall be £25, and shall be paid to the local body of the district where the licensee has his principal place of business. The Bill also provides that it shall not be lawful for any racing club, trotting club, committee or association holding a license for the use of the totalisator, to deduct by way of commission, expenses or stamp duty, or otherwise, on any pretext whatever, a greater amount than a sum calculated at the rate of 10 per cent, upon the gross takings of such totalisator on each and every separate use thereof.” Full repeats of the English Derby to hand by latest mail from the old country show that the starters, in addition to the placed horses—Sir Hugo, La Fleche and Bucentaure were St. Angelo, Rueil, Galeopsis, Thessalian, Hatfield, El Diablo, Bona Vista, St. Damien, Llanthony, and Persistive. The betting straight-out at the start was— 11 to 10 against La Fleche, 100 to 9 Rueil, 100 to 8 Bona Vista, 100 to 7 St. Damien, too to 6 each Llanthony, St. Angelo and Thessalian, 20 to 1 El Diablo, 2 c to I Persistive, 40 to 1 Sir Hugo, 66 to 1 Hatfield, 100 to 1 Galeopsis and Bueentaure. For a place 2to 1 was laid on La Fleche. and Sir Hugo started at 5 to I against and Bueentaure at 100 to 6 against. There was a tedious delay at the post, the start being much delayed by Galeopsis, who refused to join his horses. Ultimately, however, the flag went down to a good start. The pace was good from the jump, yet there was little tailing until nearing Tattenham Corner, where Thessalian was in front, attended by Persistive and the French colt Bueentaure. Coming fairly round the corner Bueentaure rushed to the front, and swept round, attended by Thessalian, with St. Damien, Sir Hugo, and La Fleche next, in the order named, St. Angelo and El Diablo last. When fairly in the straight the 100 to 1 Bueentaure was still in front, but was being gradually caught by Sir Hugo, with La Fleche three lengths behind, and being ridden to keep her place, Thessalian meantime falling back beaten. At the distance Sir Hugo passed Bueentaure, and La Fleche, running with great gameness, also passed the French horse and went in pursuit of Lord Bradford’s colt. The outsider, however, held his own in grand style, and won all out by three parts of a length from the Ally, with a length between second and third, and St. Angelo placed fourth, another length behind. Thessalian was fifth, St Damien sixth, Rueil seventh, Llanthony eighth, the very last being Colonel North’s El Diablo. Time, 2min. 44SCC. Total value of the stakes, _£7>°i°While on the subject of the Derby I may as well point out for the benefit of those who have often wondered—as I have done myself—how the date of the decision of the Derby was fixed. The appended extract from a recent copy of The Field says: —-‘There is no definite rule for determining the date of the Derby Day, but there are various myths current, which evidently die hard, as we have been trying to kill them for the last quarter of a century, yet they crop up again year after year. The arrangement as to the date of the meeting is decided on annually by the Jockey Club, who choose that which they think most convenient for the time being ; and it has happened that the date first announced was afterwards altered. During the past twenty years the Derby Day has always been on the fourth or fifth Wednesday in May, or on the first Wednesday in June. In previous years it has varied from - May 4 to June 9, and has occurred on almost all the intermediate days.”

Foxhall, the American horse, who won the double of Cesarewdtch and Cambridgeshire in 1881, was recently taken back to his native land from England, where the results of his stud life have not been quite as satisfactory as one mi«-ht have expected from such a brilliant racehorse. Soon after his return to America he was entered in the United States Horse Show, and took first prize--200 dols.

The Breeder and Sportsman of May 28, published in San Francisco, contains a lengthy account of a visit to the Rancho del Paso Stud of Mr. J. B. Haggin, where the “lords of the harem” are Sir Modred, Darebin, Maxim and Salvator (the latter of whom holds the woild’s mile record, imin. 35|sec ). The following extracts from the article are particularly interesting to New Zealanders : “To give an idea of the magnitude of the establishment, we will state that there are in all at least 200 thoroughbred mares at Rancho del Paso, sixteen thoroughbred stallions doing stud service, while Mr. Haggin owns in one body 44,000 acres of land, a large portion of which is let out on shares. From a mammoth power house along the road to the home of Salvator, Maxim and their worthy associates is pumped the water that supplies every paddock, and these paddocks, all with grand old white oak trees in them, are divided for the most part into strips of 200 acres, and reach for miles. * * * Salvator was led out for my inspection first. Standing a good sixteen hands, he covers an immense amount of ground. His head and neck are certainly the cleanest-cut and shapliest that it has ever been my good fortune to see, while that large irregular white streak extending down to the nose seems to give his face an expression that leads one to believe that he is going to talk to you presently so intelligent does he look. His eyes are mischievous but clear and bright, his nostrils are full and blood-like, his nose shapely in the extreme, and his muzzle shows his royal breeding by its fine shape and entire lack of coarseness. His ears are small and set beautifully on his kingly head, while Salvator has not as thick a throat or neck as most stallions. His shoulder is where he denotes his power, and in no other place does he show it, for he is not unusually deep through the heart. The great horse is cut off rather squarely behind, as a racehorse of stamina should be, and he has an immense sweep from hip to hoc it and the straight hind leg so much sought after by experienced horsemen. There is not much difference between the height of Salvator at the withers and the highest portion of the rump, and he has a short, strong back. His legs and feet are without a blemish. Viewed from behind, he would not strike you as being the most powerful racehorse you had ever seen, but as a well-turned one, with legs of flinty hardness. Maxim, the newly-arrived New Zealand crack, was next in order. The son of Musket and Realization is a dark bay horse standing 15.3 hands, and weighing, I should say, in the neighborhood of 1200 pounds. He has a beautiful head, neither too large nor too small, ears that set well forward, wide jowls and a delicate throat that betokens much quality. His neck is long and thickens out wonderfully, and he has shoulders that show a world of muscle. Maxim is very deep through the heart, and has rather a heavy, round barrel of fine length, short legs, and broad, short back. ‘ There is a giant,’ anyone would say that looked at him critically, and he has truly wonderful quarters. His cannon-bones are unusually short, and he has strong-looking limbs all round. Withal he is a horse with lots of ‘ quality,’ and at the same time of a type seldom seen in America. The sons of Musket have been very successful, and as this is one of the best eyer produced by that horse, he should accomplish wonders, mated with our thoroughly American mares. Sir Modred, in the adjoining stall, was in spected, but as he has been so often described, we will pass him by with the remark that he is a handsome horse, built on much the same lines as Maxim, though not so heavy as his Antipodean friend. Darebin was never in better health, and is a fine-shaped horse, 16.2 in height.” There were in all 58 yearlings catalogued to be sold from the Stud on June 4, and of these 10 claimed Sir Modred as their sire. Mr. Haggin though, be it understood, does not stick to his own stallions, but like a sensible studmaster sends his mares afield to be served by other horses whose strains of blood he thinks will nick with theirs.

Redleap’s dual win will have taken a lot of money out of the Melbourne ring-men judging by the following remarks of a Melbourne scribe a couple of days after he won the Hurdles :—“Owing to the fact that Redleap was practically untouched in the double event speculation on the Grand National Hurdle and Steeple until the night before the Hurdles, those double event betters who had been pegging away at the popular picks for the past month or so had a bit of the best of the betting, and there are very few of them who have to ‘ bring forward’ more than two or three ‘ ways ’ in their straightout Steeplechase books. The straight-out fielders, however, fell heavily. The Redleap order, tardily as it was delayed, when it did come came hot and strong, and at ten to one Bellamy’s nomination probably ‘ took out ’ more fielding money than would have been the case even if the favourite, Donald, had won. About the first w r ager I saw laid on the course on Saturday was ‘ nine hundred to a hundred Redleap, Grand National Hurdle Race,’ booked to a fashionable surgeon who, some ten years back, had an interest in a Grand National Hurdle winner who won his race in far faster time than Redleap did.” Mikado 11. w r as unplaced in the Maiden Hurdle Race at the Victoria. Racing Club’s Steeplechase Meeting Mr. Golian’s colt Culloden, who is half-brother to Lochiel, was among the starters for the Two-year-old Handicap, won by Insomnia (8.4). Hehad 8.7 up, was ridden by White, and finished the absolute last in a field of ten. “ Cranbrook,” of the Sportsman, however, thus eulogises him: —“One of the finest colts I have seen out this season, now so near an end, is Culloden This brother to Steadfast is a sweet mover, and reminded me muchly of his sire, Nordenfeldt, with his long sweeping stride. Depend upon it, when Percy Martin gets this colt well, w r e will see a clinking good racehorse.”

Kimberley, Satyr, Tayfo.-th and Butcher Boy were the representatives of New Zealand in the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race. Donald, -who ran third, was bred in New Zealand, but he is now owned by the Ballarat trainer, Mr. T. Wilson. Moore rode Kimberley, Corrigan Butcher Boy. Nolan Satyr, and Cameron Tayforth.

Red Cross, carrying 6.13, beat a field of 15 in the Oakleigh Handicap of 20 sovs., one mile, at Oakleigh (Melbourne), on July 6.

Writing after Satyr’s injury in the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdles “ Cranbrook,” of the Sportsman, says:— “ Poor old Satyr, whom I saw in his box on Sunday afternoon, had bad luck in the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdles. Chatting with Mr. T. Lamond, the trainer of the son of Naiad, he stated that Nolan felt very confident of winning, as his mount was only ‘ cantering ’just before reaching the hurdle which brought Abergyle down. The latter, he said, hit the obstacle heavily and fell, and Satyr landed right on top of the prostrate son of Comet, one of Satyr’s fore feet coming on Abergyle s nose, and The other just behind that horse’s arm. No wonder Abergyle’s nose bled so freely. Then the Pioneer fell over Satyr, and Knight of the Garter also came down at the same obstacle.” Satyr, by the way, ran m the nomination of Mr. L. M. Moss.

Owing to the delay in not receiving certain information that has been applied for by the publisher of the “ N.Z. Centaur ” to those interested the publication of that work has been delayed for a day or two, but the book will appear before the end of the present week, in time to reach subscribers by the mail leaving here on Monday. By permission of the Colonial Secretary, an art union will be held in aid of the widow and childnn of the late iockey W. Clifford. There are half-a-dozen valuable prizes to be given, the principal of ' vhlc .\ are J"} painting of Lochiel and a three-year-old colt by Torpedo —Beauty Bright that Clifford bought as a two-year-old. The tickets are £ i each, and as the object is a laudable one—Clifford having unfortunately left his wife and children in rather poor circumstances — snorting men should not be slow at coming forward with their mite. Tickets can be procured at the Sporting Review office. ’ Missile and The Jewel were two nags taken to Melbourne from Dunedin the other day in company with Palliser, &c. Missile was until recently the property ot Mr. P. Butler, for whom she won more than one sprint race The Jewel is a smartish mare, and won the Hurry Scurry at Tinwald, near Ashburton, on New Year sDay. Both she and Missile will come under the standard tor galloways at the Melbourne suburban meetings. Ingorina was brought back yesterday from Sydney. His trip there has not been a profitable one. The annnal meeting of members of the Auckland Racing Club will be held on Monday week, August ist. Messrs. Hill and Poole, the well-known Wanganui metallicans, announce by advertisement in another column that they will give advice on all forthcoming events.

The Review’s Napier correspondent in his budget in another column mentions that Couranto has been purchased by Mr. W. Douglas, and that Mr. Evett, the handicapper, will take up his permanent residence in Auckland next month.

W. Connop. the Hawke’s Bay jockey who rode Thame into second place in the last New Zealand Cup, has entered the service of Mr. T. W. Hungerford (owner of tVakawatca, British Lion, &c.), at Grey mouth. Potaka, the week after winning the Hack Hurdles at the Hutt, put his foot in a hole one morning while exercising, and broke his leg so badly that he had to be destroyed.

Te Ata, who has been purchased on behalf of an Auckland sportsman, wi l ! arrive here on Monday.

The Hon. J. D. Ormond’s brood mares Martyr and Lullaby, arrived from Napier on Tuesday, in order that they may be mated with Cuirassier. I accompanied Mr. Motrin to the wharf to see them landed, and saw them safely sent out on their journey to Wellington Park. Both are old acquaintances of mine, Martyr especially, whom I have often seen at Middle Park. This halfsister to that great racehorse Mata bears unmistakeable evidence of being in foal to Le Loup; bnt I have my doubts about Lullaby being in a similar condition. This young lady is a half-sister to Somnus and Morpheus, and a full sister to Somneil, being by Apremont out of Hammock. Mr. Ormond’s other mares—ldalia (dam of Sir Modred), Rupee (dam of Merrie England), and Torrent’s sister Water Baby, will arrive here next week; also on a visit to Cuirassier.

Mr. Humphrey Oxenham, the leviathan Sydney bookmaker, recently visited his old home at Bathurst, and while chatting to a representative of the Advocate he gave some interesting information respecting his operations on the turf. From this we learn that he was born at Wattle Flat, and that his first sporting wager of any magnitude dealt, not with horses, but with the carnage of a prize pumpkin. The epsiode occurred about 14 years ago, and is a matter of history in the Bathurst district. Whilst staying at Bathurst some chaffing arose as to whether he could carry a pumpkin weighing a hundredweight on his head without the use of either hand. Mr. Oxenhem was confident that he could, and backed himself for £3OO to carry it from the Kelso Hotel to the Royal. He succeeded m his undertaking, and it is said there were more people turned out to see him than had ever turned out in Bathurst before. Coming to turf topics, Mr. Oxenham stated that last year he turned over more than half a million altogether in wagers, his book on the last Melbourne Cup being a £40,000 one, and on the Australian Cup £20,000, while his books on other races varied from £5OOO to £12,000 and £15,000. As to large single bets, he stated that he laid £20,000 to £lOOO about Carbine when he won the Cup,. and last Melbourne Cup he laid £40,000 to £lOOO agianst one horse.

Orme has not taken long to recover from the so-called “ poisoning ” which prevented his competing in the Derby, for at the end of last week he won the valuable Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park. He only got home by a neck though from Orvieto, who ran second to Common for' the Two Thousand Guineas last year. St Damien (who was third) occupied a similar position behind Curio in the Newmarket Stakes some three months back. Orme and Orvieto are related on the sire’s side in a way, Orme’s sire Ormonde being a son of Orvieto’s sire Bend Or.

A local paper informed its readers on Monday that Mr. Gollan’s Kimberley, who won the Open Hurdle Race at Flemington on Saturday, is by Apiemont —Martyr. He is by Armourer —Milksop. The Kimberley that was got by Apremcnt out of Martyr is the property of Mr. E. T. Rhodes, of Timaru, South Canterbury, and performed stud duties in that district last season.

As in the case of the Derby, something undei the average time was made in the Oaks, La Jleche taking, according to Benson’s chronograph, 2min. 43 4-ssec., against the 2tnin. 54 3*5 sec - Mimi last year, and the 2min. 40 4~ssec. of Memoir in 1890, which is the best on record in connection with the race. In 1889 Lord Randolph Churchill’s L’Abbesse de Jouarre won in 2min. 45sec., and in 1888 Lord Calthorp’s Seabreeze occupied 2min. 42 4-ssec., which was record time up to that date.

The Michelham Plate, of 100 so vs., for two-year-olds, five furlongs, run at Epsom on Oak’s Day, fell to Lucy Lockett by Macheath—Sonsie Lass, who is owned by Mr. Milner, the youthful husband of the Duchess of Montrose. I only mention this bee.l use Sonsie Lass is a half-sister to Sonsie Queen, the dam of Mr. W. R. Wilson’s stallion Eiridspord. Sonsie Lass is by Mortemer (sire of the Canterbury Middle Park Company s sire Apremont) out of Highland Lassie and Eiridspord s dam is bv Musket—'Highland Lassie. The. race Lucy Lockett won was one to which selling conditions were attached, and after she had won Mr. Milner had to buy her in at 710 guineas. The Hon. G. McLean’s cast-off Dorineur, with 6.13 up, ran unplaced behind The Jester (7.1) in the Railway Stakes, 5 furlongs, at Williamstown (Vic.) on the 2nd inst. ; and at the same meeting Peerswick, with 7.8, was also beaten out of place in the Epsom Handicap, one mile, won by Red Rose (7.7). Red Rose is the property of the ex-New Zealander C. Rudings, and was steered to victory by another New Zealander, H. Cusdin. Red Rose was sired by a New Zealand-bred horse, Manuka.

Melos is again doing easy work at Randwick, and so is Bungebah.

The St; George—Rupee horse Silver Knight, with 8.5 up, won the Welt r Handicap of a mile and a quarter at Canterbury Park (Sydney) on July 2, beating a field of 14.

A record has been made for Australia at the Tiotting carnival just concluded under the auspices of the Royal Agricultural Society. In the Free-for-all-Trot, Violetta Jun., a mare owned by Mr. A. M. Smidmore, was first past the post in a two-mile run in the good time of smin 7j-sec, which beats the previous record by 3|sec.

Concerning a horse now much talked about in connecwith the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups, “ Ribbleden ” says : «»Malolo is by Malua; as a two-year-old he was leggy and overgrown, but since he has been added to the list he has improved ; in fact, as the song says, ‘ he grows more like his dad every day. A horse who takes after Malua does not require much recommendation.” The Adelaide correspondent of the Sportsman writes : “ The S.A.J.C. have reason to be well pleased with their experiment of issuing ten-shilling tickets at the totalisator in the Derby stand enclosure. The public appreciated the boon, and took on to it so much that what was done experimentally will be retained permanently as the best plan to follow in the future. It is astonishing how much interest is taken in the working of the machine. The Trades and Labour Counci land their representatives in Parliament have expressed their satisfaction with the new arrangement.”

King Cannibal is rapidly recovering from the accident he recently met with. Mr. Sam. Hordern, the owner of Nordenfeldt, &c., has built an equine palace at Randwick for training purposes. Everything is on a scale of splendour and completeness, and Mr. Day will have possession directly in which to direct the training of Mr. Hordern’s racing stud.

Commenting on Sir Hugo’s win in the Derby « The Special Commissioner ” of the London Sportsman said : —“ Months ago Sir Hugo showed signs of hock trouble in a slight form, but the joints ever were well built, and after all it was going out of the way to point this out, for in a racing point of view he is as sound as any that ever swept round Tattenham Corner. Sporting a thin streak on the face Sir Hugo has a white feather on the near quarter, and unquestionably the most powerful colt in the paddock, his bone-raking shoulders and prodigious strength behind the saddle commended themselves to hunting men. It is not too much to say that Sir Hugo throws back to Rataplan who comes into his pedigree twice as great grandsire. So far as I could judge he won fairly on his merits —that is to say I could find no excuse for La Fleche’s defeat. To me the slashing Shifnal colt seemed to stride down the hill more smoothly than did the wiry Kingsclere filly, gamely though the latter fought in her difficulties.”

In the Derby Allsopp rode Sir Hugo, George Barrett La Fleche, and Chesterman Bucentaure.

The old-established Woodcote Stakes, which is the principal two-year-old race of the Epsom Summer Meeting, resulted in a dead-heat between Baron Rothschild’s colt Le Nicham by Tristan—La Noce, and Colonel North’s colt Quicklywise by Wisdom (sire of Hugo) Quickstream, and Baron Hirsch was third with Gamboge, a son of Galliard and Mabella. Among the seven other starters was Lord Calthorpe’s Buckingham, who is by Galopin out of Lady Yardley, and is therefore half-brother to Castor. The owners of Le Nicham and Quicklywise divided the stakes. By Sir Hugo’s victory Lord Bradford won about £2O, 000, besides the value of the race, as he had a wager of £lO,OOO to £lOO taken when the colt was a yearling, and also backed him to win some £lO,OOO a little while before the race. Though Wisdom’s stock have been wonderfully successful for some years past, Sir Hugo is his first Derby winner.

The Canterbury Times' 1 subject under the heading of <• Turf Notabilities,” in its issue of July 7, is the veteran Robert Ray, well known to all Auckland sporting - men, and indeed to all who g"o a-racing throughout the length and breadth of the Colony. The article in question gives the following interesting . information anent Ray’s early years :—“ As his name implies, Ray came of Scotch parents, and as a matter of fact was born in the land of ‘brown heath and shaggy, wood. He was a child in arms when his parents determined on becoming colonists, but the family that left the shores of the Old Country were not destined to reach New Zealand without feeling death’s ravages. His mother died on the voyag’e out, and when her latest born, Robert, landed in Nelson he was scarce two years of . age. When he was eleven years old this young colonist lost his other parent, and was placed in a boarding school. The restraint proved too much for little Ray, who made up ms mind to run away. This resolution was no sooner made than carried out. Having found his way up country, he obtained employment as a cow boy at a Mr. Atkinson’s, Awatere. He gained plenty of useful knowledge there, and the fear of capture by the boarding school authorities having entirely vanished, he retraced his steps to Nelson, and, finding his way into the stable of Mr. H. Redwood, received his first real lesson in horsemanship. His connection with the stable lasted between two and three years, during which time he was accidentally shot through the arm, which laid him up for some nine months. Just after this Ray had his first mount in public, riding a horse named Frantic in the Nelson Maiden Plate. Entering the service of Mr. Stafford, who at that time was chief turf contemporary of Mr. Redwood, before those two sportsmen joined forces to send a team to Australia, the lad was selected along ■with G. and E. Cutts to accompany the horses on what in those days was a great undertaking. Strop, Potentate,. Miss Rowe, and Io were the Maorilanders comprising this the second string of horses sent to the island continent to do battle for the Colony. Although the horses did not sweep the board on the Sydney side they met with fair success, the most unfortunate being Potentate, who broke down. Returning from Australia, Ray undertook the driving of a mob of horses from Nelson to Christchurch for Mr. W. H. Harris, and in this way he was introduced to Canterbury. The young jockey was not long in becoming known, however, for he was on the back of Ada when that mare in 1859 won the first Canterbury Derby. About this time Ray became acquainted with Mr. Duppa, and on that gentleman deciding to take several of his horses to Australia he was engaged to go with them to do the riding. The horses that were sent were Phoebe, Wildrake and Bay Camden, and the tour was a very successful one. Sydney was first visited, and there Phoebe won most of the events for which she started, while Wildrake.also did good service. Going on to Melbourne, the horses won more money, and in aH eleven races were secured by Mr. Duppa out of twenty-two attempts. It was on returning from this trip that Ray first controHed the training of horses, Major White being his employer and Oxford the scene of his labours. Needless to say, there was no proper training ground, and Wetsail and Rob, his charges, were prepared under difficulties. Wetsail broke down at the Christchurch meeting, but the jockeytrainer had good luck with his mounts. In one important event he beat Revoke on Ultima.” After detailing many other of Ray’s early successes in the saddle, the writer says :—“ After returning from a trip to the West Coast in 1865 Ray rode his first steeplechase, and was successful in catching the judge’s eye. The course was at Peerswick and the name of the horse Locomotive. Following up this victory, he won, among other crosscountry events. the Kaiapoi Steeplechase on Banshee.” I may here interpolate, for the benefit of my North Island readers, that Peerswick is the name of a newlyformed suburb contiguous to the Canterbury Jockey Club’s convincing ground at Ric Carton. The Canterbury Times' article inter aha says that Ray considered Weicome Jack the very best horse with which he ever had anything to do. The close of the article will bear quotation, and will be eagerly read by all those who know “old Bob” in the fleshlt was after Vanguard’s New Zealand Cup victory that Ray handed over Mr. Robinson’s horses to Mason’s charge, and he may be said to have ceased active service from that time, although he superintended the preparation of Mr. Robinson’s team for the Spring events of 1888. He last sported silk on January 1, 1884, his exit from the saddle being a triumphant one, for on that day he was on the back of Cheviot, when Idalia’s now much-valued son sailed home in front of his fields in the Midsummer Handicap and Craven Stakes. Mr. Ray has established his home at Riccarton in the vicinity of the scenes of so many of his successes. Surrounded by his wife and family -six daughters and one son—he has everyth’ng to make life comfortable except a great essential, perfect health. The great regret of his friends —and of these he counts many, by all of whom he is respected—is that the veteran cannot enjoy the autumn of his years so well as he deserves by reason of his sufferings from an ailment for which he has tried many remedies and failed to o-et much relief. The pride of his father’s heart is youn°- ‘ Bobby,’ who is already favourably known as a horseman, and who, without any of the obstacles which stood in his father’s path to overcome, is likely to perpetuate the name of Robert Ray.” A circular letter has been drawn up by the committee of the Victoria Amateur Turf Club, and a copy sent to each member, pointing out that the annoying practice adopted by women of a certain class pestering members for tickets of admission at the railway station, and also at the racecourse gates, is increasing, and suggesting that members should in future refuse these demands.

Keith has transferred his horses Tayforth, Omaha, "Vengeance 11., "Whiteman, and Jack s the Lad from Mordialloc to Flemington.

The owner of the Queensland horse The General has withdrawn his horse from all his V.A.T.C. Spring engagements, including the Caulfield Cup, and also from the Melbourne Cup.

The Epsom Grand Prize, won by Mr. W. Cooper’s colt The Lover, was looked on as almost a certainty for the Newmarket Stakes winner Curio. Prince SoltykoiPs colt went out at only 13 to 8 against, while n to 2 was obtainable about the second in demand, Ich Dien, 10 to 1 being freely laid any other. At this price a fair amount of money was put on. The Lover, who had once (in the Craven Stakes) given Curio 51b and a beating, and was now meeting him on lolb better terms—that is to say receiving 51b instead of giving it. The more recent form, however, of The Two Thousand Guineas and the Newmarket Stakes, in both of which races The Lover finished behind Curio, made the bulk of the talent hold off the former, and it was almost as great a surprise to see him win as it was to see Sir Hugo so sensationally upset book form in the Derby. The starters were 13 in number, and included two colts that had run in the Derby, viz., Persistive and El Diablo. The Lover, who was ridden by G. Chaloner, won easily by three lengths. The starters for the Oaks, in addition to the placed mares —La Fleche, The Smew, and Lady Hermit—were Arise, by Muncaster—Rebellion; Palisandre, by Bend Or —Palisade ; Shining Star, by Thurio —Meteor ; and Brood Corrie, by Hampton—Corrie Roy. The betting at the start was 11 to 8 on La Fleche, 4 to 1 against Palisandre, 10 to 1 against Broad Corrie, 100 to 8 against Lady Hermit and 100 to 6 against The Smew. For a place odds of 3 to 1 were laid on La Fleche. Broad Corrie made the running till the home turn, where she was displaced by La Fleche, The Smew and Lady Hermit heading the others. Broad Corrie was beaten a quarter of a mile from home and gave way to The Smew and Lady Hermit, of whom the latter was unable to make a bid, and from the distance left the issue to La Fleche and The Smew. The set-to between the pair was of a very close character, and althoagh until fifty yards from home La Fleche promised to get home with a just a little to spare, she just then changed her legs, and amid a scene of great excitement The Smew almost got level, the verdict being only a short head. Lady Hermit was a bad third and. Arise was fourth. The London Sportsman, commenting on the race, says : —“ The verdict trembled in the balance, and not until No. 1 was hoisted amid a storm of cheers were the layers of odds relieved of anxiety. Nothing in comparison with the reception then accorded to La Fleche was the enthusiasm that greeted Sir Hugo a couple of days earlier. There were not a quarter as many people present, yet the applause was infinitely louder, a rare tribute to the popularity of the winner, her owner, her jockey, and last, but not least, her painstaking and latterly so much worried trainer. Sheer gameness won the day. It was clear to demonstration that La Fleche felt the effects of her severe Derby battle, yet though nineteen out of twenty would have been beaten by The Smew’s desperate challenge, the Baron’s filly struggled on magnificently, and just held her own to the end.” When the conditions of the Derby "were altered those of the Oaks were changed on the same lines, but the amount guaranteed to the winner is not so large. The value of this year’s race was £5,320, while last year Mr. N. Fenwick, whose Mimi was successful, won £4,405, the odd 5 sovs. representing a fine imposed for the correction of an entry. In the previous season, when the Duke of Portland won with Memoir, the stakes amounted to £4,400, and the previous season Lord R. Churchill’s L’ Abbesse de Jouarre won £2,600. On the same day that La Fleche won the Oaks the Acorn Stakes at Epsom of 300 sovs., five furlongs, for two-year-old fillies, fell to Mr. T. Jennings, jun.’s, 4 Affluence, by Florentine —Wealth, ridden by G. Barrett. This is a beautifully-bred filly. Her sire, Florentine, is by Petrarch (winner of the Two Thousand and Leger of 1876) out of Hawthorndale, and Hawthorndale is by Kettledrum (winner of the Derby of 1861) out of Lady Alice Hawthorn, by Newminster (winner of the Leger of 1851) out of Thormanby’s sister Lady Hawthorn. Lady Ravensworth, formerly the property of the N.Z. Stud Co., and dam of Ravenscraig, Puschka and Lord Raven, was by Voltigeur out of Lady Hawthorn, and Petrarch’s dam, Laura, was full sister to Adrasta, the dam of Anteros. On the dam’s side Affluence also comes of good stock, for her mother, Wealth, is by Sterling (sire of Isonomy) out of Cherry Duchess, and is consequently full sister to Energy (sire of Reverend, Reuil, etc.). G. Barrett was on La Fleche when she won the Oaks. Watts rode The Smew, and Mornington Cannon Lady Hermit. Mr. W. Cooper, the Australian sportsman, won the Durdans Plate of 175 sovs., w f.a., 6 furlongs, on Oaks day with his two-year-old filly Lucky Devil, by Hawkstone—Lucky Shot, who beat three opponents very easily. The will of Mr. E. S. Chapman (“Augur”) was proved in the Melbourne Supreme Court on the 30th ult. for £3995. At the Bendigo (Vic.) Jockey Club’s meeting on the 29th ult. the Handicap Trot, of 35 sovs., two miles and a half, was won by Prince Edward, who is a son of Princess, the mare that Price took to Australia some time back and who was disqualified. Kimberley, carrying 12.5, ran third to Pateena (10.0) and Lady Wilde (9.7) in the Open Hurdles, one mile and a half, at the Oaklands Hunt Club’s races at Caulfield on the Ist inst. Cusdin, at the same meeting, rode Lamond’s brother Accident (who ran in the name of C. Rudings) home successfully in front of eleven opponents in the Glenara Handicap, one mile. Malua is advertised in the Melbourne sporting papers to stand the coming season at 30 guineas a mare; Trenton, Eiridspord, First King, and Robinson Crusoe (brother to Onyx) at 50 guineas a mare ; Carbine at 200 guineas, and Mentor at 50 guineas. Carbine’s fee is a bit stiff, to say the least of it, but as Mr. Wallace has several good marcs of his own I presume he is not particular about the patronage of the people for the champion of champions.

Mention of Mr. Wallace reminds me that Megaphone is still his property, and he is not advertised as a “ sire of the season.” Mr. Wallace informs “ Ribbleden ” that the son of Newbold is sure to race again before being relegated to the stud.

Corcyra’s son Alcinous carried 7.8 into third place behind Wiora (7.12) in the Broadmeadows Handicap of nine furlongs, run at Maribyrnong (Melbourne) on June 28. Paddy was unplaced with 8.10 in the Bulla Handicap, five furlongs.

A good story is going the rounds of the English turf about a well-known Duchess —presumably she of Montrose, otherwise “ Mr. Manton” —who chanced to see a trial between two conspicuous candidates. Some time after the trial she observed to a noble Duke, interested in the Unicom stable, that Unicom, who finished first, was apparently carrying a heavyweight. “Oh, no,” said he, “by no means.” “ Indeed,” said the Duchess, “ I am sorry to hear that poor Waits is so ill !” Nothing else transpired at the moment, but that night Watts received a request from the Duchess to ride in a trial at 8.12 on the following morning. To this he replied that he was sorry he was unable to ride less than 9.4. Thus her Grace got the better of the Duke. Here is an interesting reminiscence of old-time Tasmanian racing, which I cull from a Tasmanian writer who has unearthed it from a file of the Launceston Examiner of January, 1843 :—“ On New Year’s Day our racecourse presented a scene of gaiety and bustle almost equal to the annual meeting. A number of booths had been erected by licensed victuallers, pastry-cooks, &C., and every preparation made for a festival day. The principal cause of attraction was amatchfor£3ooa-side, made between Messrs. Dry and W. Field, the former backing his colt Mozart against a filly of Mr. Field’s by the same sire, both three years old, to run thrice round the course. The horses appeared to be in excellent condition. The filly was backed at 3to 2, and in some instances greater odds were offered. At starting the colt took the lead, but did not keep it more than half the distance before the filly passed him and gained an advantage of 20 or 30 lengths, which she kept for the first mile ; the colt then gradually gained upon her, and at the distance post they were neck-and-neck ; at the winning post the colt resumed the lead, and kept it during the remainder of the race, winning easily by several lengths. Cooke rode the colt. The next performance was a bye-match between Mr. Field’s Lalital and Mr. Hodges’ Venus, one mile, for £lO, which was won by the latter. The last and perhaps most interesting match of the day was against time. Mr. Dry had engaged to ride Mr. W. Field’s horse, Doubtful, nine miles, divided into equal portions of trotting, walking, and galloping, within an hour. He commenced trotting,°and performed the distance in about ll|min. ; the walking occupied 37min., leaving about Ulmin, to gallop the remaining three miles, which enabled Mr. Dry to complete his task upwards of 3min. within the appointed time amidst the loud plaudits of the assembled multitude.”

Taken right through, excellent nominations have been received for the A.J.C. coming two-year-old events. The first that will be run off is the December Stakes at the Summer Meeting of 1892. For this event 62 entries were received, Mr. J. B. Clark having seven in his name, while Mr. J. Monaghan has five, and Messrs. W. A. Long, E. Keys, W. Forrester, W. J. Franks, and F. Wentworth two each. Mr. Wentworth’s pair are La Perouse, by Trenton from Rosedale, and Wanganella (Marvel’s sister). This latter young lady was recently sent a couple of furlongs, and thus early finished in front of the others in Monaghan’s stable, and he has a rare batch, too, nine or ten. Victorian owners have largely patronised the A.J.C. Champagne Stakes of 1893, as amongst the 85 entries no less than a dozen are down to Mr. J. B. Clark, and five to Mr. W. R. Wilson. The St. Alban’s lot are Carnage (half-brother to Carbine), Havoc (brother to Zalinski), Pilatus (brother to Stromboli), Argent (brother to Hortense), and Moth (sister to Strathmore). Newstead’s brother, Captain Smith, also finds a place in the list ; while Garmon, by Newminster from Waiting Maid, and the Marvellous-Gertrude colt appear in the name of Mr. W. Sayer. There are two Malabars in the list—one in the name of Mr. Greenway, and the other of Mr. J. B. Clark —so that one will have to be changed. The Australian trotting horse Commander is still competing on the English tracks. At the meeting of the Alexandra Park Trotting Club on 23rd May, Mr. H. Bartlett’s horse took part in the 2.45 Class Trot, one mile, and in the first heat finished second, the distance having been covered in 2min 38 i-gsec. The contest for the final heat is described in Sporting Life as follows : — “ Commander was the first to show in front, but breaking badly, soon let Sador get close to him. Going down the hill for the second time Commander again went into the air, but gained on the gallop. The first half mile was made by Commander in imin iB|see, with Sador 10 lengths behind. The others were struggling in the rear. Going down the hill for the last time, Commander not only went into the air, but went very wide, allowing Sador to shoot pass on the inside. He then drew away at every stride, and eventually won by five lengths, despite Commander’s running. The latter finished six lengths in front of Starchy Jack, but was set back for running. Time 2min 42|sec.” After the second heat a mare named Red Rose was called before the stewards for suspicious running, and the subsequent proceedings are penned as under: “The scene that ensued when Mr. Woolley was called into the judge’s stand was a most exciting one, and had it not been for the squad of mounted police that escorted their ‘ suspect ’ to its stables, Mr. Woolley would not have had any chance to argue and appeal. One infurated individual hurled a brick at the hapless driver, and the missile just shaved his head.” The mare and owner were suspended.

More reduction of distances. When will it stop ? The old established Hawkesbury Grand Handicap is to be henceforth run at a mile and three furlongs, and the County Purse at six furlongs instead of a mile.

The sub-committee appointed from the general committee of tke V.R.C.. to deal with applications for bookmakers’ licenses held a sitting on the Bth inst., when a large number of renewals were granted. The applications of those bookmakers who disregarded the warning of the V.R.C. in regard to betting at unregistered meetings were for the present refused.

Gresford’s owner, Mr. W. T. Jones, who is at present on a visit to England, was very fortunate at Epsom on Derby Day, for he took a wager of £4OOO to £lOO about Sir Hugo.