During the present week I listened to a discuS anent officials of racing: c.lube oo_ cv ovine the dual position of bandicapper aXtaWr, and special reference, wai.mac. ro Mr E. D. Halstead, who fills this double We for the Avondale Jockey Club Now there is no one connected with our loan race institutions who to more respected hun Mr Halstead, and his »«»£«? and honesty of purpose is undoubted ; bu any turfite who thinks Tor a moment cannot but condemn the principle of

handicapping and starting being per • formed by the one man. Ie is needless for me to weary my readers with the hundred and one abuses that may crop up. I have made some inquirios on the subject, and so far as I can learn there is no racing club outside of Auckland that allows the same individual to handicap and start at the i same meeting. Mr Halstead has achieved i a good measure of success both as a starter , and handicapper, but he should confine his attention to one post cr the other. The South Auckland Racing Club Meet ing comes off on Saturday next. Accept ances and general entries are due to-night with Mr Hayr. Nominations for the Takapuna Jockey Club Winter Meeting fall due on Friday, 6th May. The full programme appears in this issue. Nominations for the Auckland Racing Club's Champagne Shakes of 1893 (for now ' yearlings) close on Friday next. A cablegram last night states that Magic Circle and Wild Rose are now first favourites for the A.J.C. Doncaster Handi cap at 6 to 1, Hclene having receded a point. G'Naroo has been backed for the Sydney Cup heavily at, sto 1. All money olfered at that price has been taken. The owner of St. Hippo has complainod to me about the handicapping of the colt in the Onslow Stakes, and I think justly too. The son of St. Loger was scratched soon after tho weights appeared. The Australian-bred Recall added to his Indian record by winning with lOsb the Aligash Stakes at Meerut February 27 meeting, and running the mile and a half in 2min43JJißec. Freedom struck himself while galloping at Rand wick, which accounts for his with drawal from the Sydney Cup. It is stated thatTediiy Power will hrcve tho mount on Portsaa in the Sydnoy Cup. 