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Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 202, 29 September 1888, Page 3

Of the twenty-seven Melbourne Cups, no less than seven have been won by three-year-olds, five by four-ye<rolds, eight by five, four by six, and three by aged horses. Carbine is said to be the best conditioned horse at Riccarton. Artillery, it is said, his not a ghost of a show' for the N.Z.Cup, and Exchange and Lorraine will prouably never reach tne post. The Hou. W. Kobmsou says Chain Shot is the best colt he ever owned. Sextant is coming back to form again, and wib, it is thought, be Stead’s candidate for the New Zealand Cup this year. ' Too Soon is thus spoKeu of by a Sydney paper ‘ Though he has been iu thia colony for some time, ihe racing public have never yet seen the N.Z. horse Too ooon strip for a race. He has cost His owner a lot of money, and judging by the ‘ music ’ when going at anything more than a canter, it is doubtful if Mr Lyons will ever get any return for his outlay.’ The Dunedin Jockey Clubs’ programmes for the year are issued. There are not many changes made. The spiiug meeting is reduced to £4O, and tne autumn by £7O, while the May meeting is increased by £5O, and the anniversary meeting remains the same. Tne total reduction in the four meetings is only £6O. The Dunedin Cup B ia reduced by £2O, but the Marshall Memorial Stakes are increased by £5O In the spring meeting some small reductions are made all round. In the May meeting the Birthday Handicap is increased by £3O and the Provincial Handicap by £2O The “ Demon Bowler” recently arrived in England from Australia, accompanied by Mrs Spuffortb and their two children. The family party cons! .ted of uuly three perso a when it left Melbourne, but a young Demon ” appeared on the scene three days after the departure of the steamer. Mr Spofforch has announced bis intention of remaining in England for good, and he has also staled that he will for the future play against the Australians—that is, of course, if the English selection committees see fit to include him in their elevens. The dreamers are ‘on the job ’ once more in connection with the forthcoming spring events across the water. A sporting scribe had a most vivid description of the finish for the Caufield Cup of 1888 to relate the other morning. He had evidently gone to rest after witnessing the Caufield Grand National Steeplechase, in which there where five falls, as he said that at the turn were Donald Nicholson was n 0 esB tliau seventeen horses came to grief, but what they were he failed to observe m bis vision. However, he saw Stanley shoot out from among the fallen horses and come on and win the race very easily. So impressed was he with the dream that he forthwith backed the sou of Grandmaster and Psyche to win him £5OO. Another gentleman relates that he most distinctly saw Matador—in his dream—win the Melbourne Cup, Ari tocrat being second. Seeing that the two latter horses are the property of one owner, it is hardly likely that both of them will run into a place. Still, such things do happen in these days when the place money is worth running into a * shop ’ for,