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RACING NOTES.
12th February. The cars on Saturday presented quite" an animated scene, and the presence of a number of ladies Int to it enchantment. His Excellen- oy the Governor was a onspicuo :s figure in attendance, at once the largest and most re- presentative of the season. The morning was delightfully fine, and the work accomp shed eminently satisfactory. The Derby candidates were on their best behavour, and acquitted them- selves so well, that the majority of the onlookers
left the track with a conviction that th blue
riband of the local turf will take a lot of win ning. Even the most sanguiue prophesiers were dubious about expressing opinions to which last week they gave unhesitating vent
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Not only those who have expressed their discontent, but the public generally will be pleased to learn that the Jockey Club has decided to revert to the old charges of admis sion. Instead of four dollars for each dy, and ten for the meeting, the rate will be two and five dollars respectively.
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Au advance guard of the Shanghai sporting division in the persons of Messrs. James Keensa, l'oeg, and Waillimier reached here yesterday. Mr. C. R. Burkill is en route, and others may be expected in a few days.
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The Maiden Stakes' candidate Diplomat was the innocent cause of a little diversion during the moring. He had hardly left the mark for a nace round gallop, when the girth severed, nd the boy all unconscious of the fact proceeded on his way. He would probably have finished all right, had it not bave been for the intervention of the other maffoos who with Lue pong's owuer, objected to Diplomat being hammered with the flying strands. As soon as the rider's attention was directed to the mishap, he attempted to pull his mount up; this operation caused him to over balance and land in the middle of the track. By immediately beading for home the pony display ed a disinclination to participate to any further extent in the morning's work He was captured however and put through his facings later ou. The bo seemed none the worse for his sudden introduction to the hard heith
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Modder, whose name is modestly at the bottom of the Derby list, attracted more attention than any other candidate on Saturday. His gallop, one of the fastest of the morning, was clocked with the greatest precision, and brought him more admirers than he has had hitherto. Al- though he appeared to waver a bit at the finish the performance was a good ous, and if favour. ed a with a slow run race, his brilliancy will make him a very formidable opponent. Storm King beat Pirate King pointless over a mile and three quarte: 8 The latter carried Mr. ('or and at least a stone more in weight, so that too mach importance must unt be attached to the trial. Whilst the nominal favourite Thunder- storm was on view he was the cynosure of all oyés.
Three twenty-eight was registered against his Derby distance the end of which was not impressive. Although not driven out with the whip be seemed to be going up and down in the one place as he neared the post, and it is doubtful if its application would have made him sustain a finish.
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Strathcona was not out for time, but never the less did a gallop equally as good as the fastest of the morning. This pony is not being bustled off his legs, aud as a result will be found going at the end of the classic journey when a good many of the others will be stopping. Staying is evidently his forte, and his owners realise the fact.
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Uu account of a slow run Challenge Cup dia tance, the pessimistic are inclined to discount the chances of Rampant Rose, a pony that promises to become a publio idol before the meeting is over. Four ton is certainly not fast time for the dis- tauoe, but those who over estimate the perform. ance and gamble their dollars accordingly, will probably regret it. The present indications are that Rampant Rose will not only beat more than beat him, but that whatever outstrides him will win the Derby, and one or two other
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
events. It may be considered premature to speak s holdy about this nomination, but I look to avents to justify my prognostication.
According to a reliable informant the literal interpr tation of Ting Haou is very good or oue of the best, and his nomenclator's wish was doubtless father to the thought when he deter mined that the pony should be distinguished by the appellation. In appearance Ting Haou does not bolie his name, sud his work so far leads to the reasonable belief that his performances will not do so either. The Deray may be too far for him and his rolling at the end of the mile and a half on Saturday, makes it rather palpable, Notwithstanding this, he is the possessor of whips of pac-, and will atone for any early
defeat.
Bulbull, Black Prince, Dessert King and Strategist all did fairly good work, but the first three will have to do more than they have done hitherto to justify their inclusion i the proba. bilities. Nobody would begrudge the victory to the gentleman who owns Strategist, and his many friends bare the satisfaction of knowing that his chances of annexing the coveted honour are by no means small.
Two of the most conspicnous ponies engaged at the forthcoming meeting are Tartar and Bandolero, the former is engaged in the Valley Stakes aud the latter in the Foochow Cup and other races. Tartar has a strong aversion to work, and a disposition that will cause his early relegation to a gharry or something mach hea. vier. Bandolero simply beggars description, in color and conformation be closely resembles a mule, but in his ability to gallop he cannot be likened to anything but himself. Neither the Stakes, nor the Champions will fall to the lot of his owner; in fact if he ever appears in the van, it will be on sufferance.
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Impahla and Orange Blossom are gradually ingratiating themselves with the people who desire to find the winner of the fourth erent on the opening day. Mr. Pogoses entry WAS credited with the fastest mile and a quarter of the day, and his finish was infiuitely better than that of the favourite Sartou. Impahla clipped a secoud off the latter's time without the slightest trouble; he finished full of running and looked capable of taking on another quarter.
All the old ponies were restricted to useful long strong, none of them any particular time. Several questions will be asked them during the week, and the answers will be watched with a good deal of interest.
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The ⚫tudent of time and the follower of track
form will find food for thought in the detailed list appeuded. In order to give tho e so in- clined an opportunity to form au opinion for themselves, a similar list will be published after each galloping day.
14th February.
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¡ r'ebruary 17, 1900. poaies with a prospect of Derby success. Thun- derstorin. Ting Haon Rampant Rose, Strate gist. Butbal, Modder, Stormking, and last, but not least, Strathcoua. There are those who imagine it possible to pick the result at once. To hazard an early guese for the present posi. tion makes it nothing more, the first named three might be mentioned specially, and it would be a strange coincidence if they were to finish in the order indicated.
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Neither Rampant Rose nor Strategist were asked to do more than trotting work. Ting Haou and Thunderstorm, however, put in. a mile and a half and a mile and three quarters respectively. thunderstorm's gallop was par. ticularly impressive, in fact nothing has so far been accomplished to beat, or even equal it. On Saturday at the end of a mile and a half he seemed to tire, but yesterday he finished the extra quarter with ease. Ting Haou, with Mr. Gresson to guide him tied his stable companion Corbie in a knot before a mile bad been nego- tiated, and romped home a good seven lengths to the good, ia 3.34), finishing the last quarter in 35. Strathcona left a useful mile bebind, bim in 2,17) and finished at the right end, The other Derby candidates Bulbul and Forest King, worked in hood and sweaters. Modder tried conclusions with Tiber, and easily settled his pretensions in a mile and a quarter run in 2.53, or otherwise in the best time put up for the distance during the morning. •
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The trainer of the Amoy champion. Pluto, evidently believes in the old maxim of the e rly bird and the worm. Daylight had hardly as- serted itself, when the brown started to add another mile and a half to his already long list of work. He fairly revelled in the gallop. finished like the game little fellow he un- doubtedly is. Shanan, who is the picture of health, carried Mr. W. W. Cox over Pluto's distance, making slighty better time.
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When yesterday's training operations were over Mr T. F. Hohgh, acting under instructions from the owner, fubmitted to public anction four Australian horses Two of them attracted little or no attention the third was passed in at 8226, and the fourth purchased to Captain May at $300. The purchase is a sweetly pretty ware, well worth her cost. She shows plenty of quality and appears to be as sound as a bell. Mr. Kennedy, who had had the haud'ing of the walers since their arrival, has hrother gelding for sale, that ouly requires a little more time to develop into a ready sell r
Orange Blossom, Starton and Impabla will be found a formidable trio when the Valley Stakes comes up for discussion, and unless somebody has a rod in pickle the winter should
come from one of the three. "Rescue looks
capable of winning a decent race and may have to be reckoned with, but the chances of those referred to are rosier. In a go with Dot Rose over the Stakes distance, Orange Blossom quite held his own and Sarton easily vanquished Cos sack over a mile. Impahla and Kescue only spurted a short distance, the roan getting the best of it,
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Although the weather yesterday morning was inviting enough to attract the most fastidious, the attendance at the track was not large, and the fair sex who have hitherto attended regu- larly were, with a few exceptions, conspicuous
Last year's Lusitano Cup winner, Charger, is is condition is all by their absence. The lack of attraction in the doing exceptionally well. last respect was somewhat counteracted by the that can be desired and he will be worth watch- presence for the first time of all the riders, ing whenever he starts. Rose de France, an both Shanghai and local, who are going to par- other of last year's performers, easily defeated ticipate at the forthcoming meeting. Shanghai Unique Rose in a mile gallop in 2.18. Ace of was represented by Messrs. Barkill, W. W. | Hearts record for a similar distance was 2.17, Cor. Crawford, Ca.uming, Moller, Wuilemier whilst the old pony Tea Rose, assisted by the. and Jones, whilst Messrs. Gresson, Cor, Wal-griffen Chios Rose, took 2.27 to do the same wyn, Johnson and Hart Buck, did duty for distance. Hougkong. The visitors are all in excellent trim, and the local men will have to look to
15th February.
their laurels if they desire to sustain a repu The arrangements for the meeting commenc. tation for southern riders. Nothing was wanting on Tuesday next are almost complete, and ing in any of the form displayed during the nothing but elements of the most adverse des morning, and the presence in the saddle of the cription can prevent a successful issue. The amateurs certainly makes the work more in-
race track and its surroundings are in excellent teresting.
order, and Mr. T. F. Hough, the energetic clerk of the course, is sparring neither time nor trouble, in providing for his prospective patrons fields in nearly every instance will be sufficiently large to justify the anticipation of a good 18cë, and the probabilities are that even the mat exacting will not regret the expenditure of åre dollars for the three days.
As the time of trial approaches the chances of the various caudidstes become more pr nounced. Whilst many of their prospects are enhanced, others have become beautifully less. Yesterday's gallops confirm the previously formed impression that there are at least eight
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