BITS OF TURF.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 383, 10 July 1889, Page 6

BITS OF TURF.

The curtain was rung down on the racing season in Auckland with the Onehunga Pony and Trotting Meeting on Saturday. The gathering was a tame one, and the only real excitement was occasioned over the Handicap Trot, in which Nellie paid a totalisator dividend of £26 6s for an investment of 10s. No one connected with the mare had a single penny on her. One of the tickets was held by two young warehouse swells, the other conjointly by a Ponsonby resident and a well-known vendor of oranges in Queen-sbi'eet. £551 was passed through the totalisator. ""Messrs Percival, Kirkwood, Moi'rin, and Marks have been appointed to draw up the Auckland Racing Club programmes for next season, and the same gentlemen have also been appointed to act in revising the racing rules, with the assistance of Mr A. E. Whitaker, the Club's solicitor. Panic, the winner of the Napier Park Steeplechese, is a son of Marmion. He hails from Canterbury, and in thatprovince is well-known to racecourse habitues, but he has never previously recorded a performance of note. Owing to no mail from Sydney this week, we are without the opinion of the Australian turf scribes on the Melbourne Cup weights. Southern writers think Cuiras&ier badly dealt with, and anent the matter, the Ricarton correspondent of the " Referee" writes :—": — " I should like to see Jim Kean this morning," remarked a trainer on the appearance of the Melbourne Cup weights, and no doubt the Auckland mentor would have been anything but pleasant aftei scanning the imposts for the big Australian handicap. Cuirassier has got quite enough, though Corunna may not be out of it. Overtures were recently made from Sydney for the pui chase of Man ton, but I see by the Christchurch papers that the sale fell through. Mr Bulter will not have an eagy task to sell the son of Musket at a satisfactory figure after the way the Australian handicappers have treated him in the big spring races. The Wellington Steeplechase Meeting comes off next Saturday. The question of appointing a delegate to act on behalf of the Auckland Racing Club at the meeting of racing delegates in Wellington was discussed by the A.R.C. Committee on Wednesday. No resolution was come to on the subject, but it is probable the Hon. E. Mitchelson will represent the Club's interests. From Christchurch I learn that Chain Shot, Merrie England, and Engagement are doing well, and that Cynisca is thickening out into a fine mare, "Spectator" writes: — Mr OBrien was nearly having a bit of bad luck this week. Ratling, his Noi-denfeldt-Petroleuse colt, in the exuberance of his spirits the other morning, played up and slipped down on the road, bub only a few scratches wore the result. Crackshob, the Nordenfeldb-

Pungaworewere colt, is one of the most lighfcheai'tcd youngsters at Riccarton. He is full of life and play, and occasions those in charge of him some anxiety ; while tho boy on his back must feel a bit uncomfortable at times. Tho doath is announced of Mr R. C. Farquharsom, veterinary surgeon in Dunodin for many years. He had boon ailing for some few years past from some affection of the lungs, and was fifty-four yoars of age at the cime of his death. There does not seem to be much room for grumbling over the Grand National StoeplochfißO weights. Both Ahua (list 51b) and Oddfellow (list 101b) are nicely handicapped, and Orangeman (lOst 51b) should run a good race, for the conrso and big fences will suit him. Panic is certain to have plenty of admirers after his win in the Napier Park Steeplechase lie has incurred a 101b ponalty, which brings his weight up to lOst lib. It turns out that the industrious correspondents who wirod out the news that Sir Thomas Eldor had been buying thoroughbreds for his stud farm at Adelaido, were a bit provions with their information. Mr Elworthy tells " Trumpator" that no purchasos have boon made. Inquiries as to prices wore made from the Mossrs Tattersail's, but Sir Thomas Elder's agent considered that 6000gs for a likely siro was a bit too much, and tho idea of adding to the Morphottville by buying in England Mill bo abandoned. It should bo oasy to get much better value lor the money in Australia or New Zealand. Roforiing to Don's success in tho Great Northern Stooplechase, tho Napier writer " Hippo" discourses thus anent his sire :: — > "It must bo satisfactory to Mr (i. P. Donnelly to know that tho siie ho selected for his mations is capable of producing the class of stock ho is anxious to brood — hoi scs with stamina, and good weight carrying crof-s-country horses, combining blood, bone, and pluck. The tew j oung ones that 1 have seen of this horse's stock arc vcrv promising ones. Thore is a very lino colt out ot Waiwaihapi, and anothor oat of Poarl, both of which should bo able to get over country and make a namo for their sire."