TURF TOPICS.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 211, 16 July 1904, Page 21

TURF TOPICS.

By the "Old "Un."

THE city is full of racmg men, includin" delegates to the New Zealand and Tiottmg Conferences. The latter body held their annual Conference yesteiday and, although in some quarters diweiisionj as pvnected the Confeience got through fts busings expedit 1O usly and pliantv A number of alteiations and additions were made to the rules. One of the most important is the setting up of an executive of membeis of ate e ? o,ered o hold enauines. into the affaus oi any trottiS club, and also into the affaars orihe Ne« Zealand Trotting Rogation The new chairman of the Conference (M. . G. H McHaffie) and Messrs F T. Pannell (O'mstchurch). Thos. Thmcan (Masterto..^ and Jas. Rathbane the executive, the appointment now being an annual one. The late chairman (Mr. P. Sehg), in his report, explained that owing to SreJure of pnvate duties, he could not to the tact and eneigy with whach he had filled the position as chairman. Mr G H. McHaffie, the new ohairJSr» an enthusiast in trottingg+^t^ He is chairman of the Metro Pohtan Trotting Club, at CWchuroh and is well known as the breeder of wmm should continue to prosper. got as far as Melodeon. I shall bneny refer to those lower in the list. reckoned with. mirannel (7sfc 61b) does not stay well. GeSlymons C 7st 51b) has some .good ffif TS* M^ioplfan ' HaS wherein he ran, the male and a-half in SSrSseo. He faaled badly m subsequent race*, and appears *^»g™/ Fleka. Full Cry Okoau, and Blaok Reynard have handy weights, but 1 doubt their ability to mn the Cup distance. The two-yeai-olds engaged are so tar untned, except that some of them have shown pace over short courses, and their ability to run two miles is a matter of mere oonjecture. Of the older horses weighted below 7st, Cyrus demonstrated, by winning the Feilding Oup, t*.at he can stay at least a mile and ahalf Onewa is a well-bred one, ana thorough!- sound. Heroism has been prominent with light imposts over a distance in first-class company. me remainder do not. appear to have credentials that would wairant their being considered Cup winners. Mv selections last issue veie Ciuciform Canteen, Martian, Buluwayo, Ghoorka, Romeo, and Melodeon. lo these I will add Oblivion II , General Symons, Cyius, Heroism, and the be^t three-year-old. The lacing at Wellington will give backers an opportunity of selecting hkelv winners of the C.J.C. Grand National Hurdle and Steeplechase events. The nominations for the first-named race include all the best hurdle hoises in the colony, m addition to which several flat racers are engaged. Kremlin, Magnificent, Newtown, Re-o-ulation., and Pure Silver are speedy horses that, if proficient over hurdles, would more than hold their own. with the rank and file of our hurdlers. Roseshoot is reported to be recovering from an ailment which prevented' his appearance in public, subsequent to the Auckland winter meeting. Ostiak will have benefited greatly by his racing over hurdles at Hawke's Bay amd Napier Park. From appearances, it is safe to predict that the Grand National Hurdle Race will prove a most interesting contest.

The Grand National Steeplechase may be more easily soited out, as only e-xpeiienced 'chaseis cam be lehed upon to negotiate the Grand National coui he in safety. Haydn, Victory, Pipi, Sultana, a,nd Plain Bill are accomplished fencers, and have got round the Gi a,nd National course Papatu, Eclan , Stai Camfoii t, Nadador, Kaitere, Princes of Thule, Slow Tom and Mocassin ire all piofioient fencers, and, with luck should get to +he end of the Grand National Steeplechase A number of doubles have aheady been taken in connection with tie Grand National Steeplechase and Hurdles. Haydn and Slow Tom aie populai selections for the Steeplechase Roseshoot Creu'-ot, CSthe>ma Gordon, and Waawera aie fancied for the Hurdle Race. Wa^ennCT on the New Zealand Cup is tanlv busk. Melodeon has been supnritedfieely at 100 to 6 and Martian Ghooika Convoy Buluwavo. Lady Lillian and others have received' support at rjrices ranging from 100 to 2 to 100 to 5.

Much troubled in mind, the Cynic reclined, His star was not in ascendant ; He deigned not to scoff foi he had a bad cough And a tear from his nose was pendant. " I'll away ! " said Diog, " To Delphi I'll jog, And consult that oracle sure." He went, and it said, "For a cold in the head Take Woods' Gbeat Peppermint Cure."