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GOSSIP OF THE TURF. W. 8. Barnes, who was reported to be seriously ill at hiB home in Lexington, Ky is in pretty good health, according to a Cincinnati newspaper. In telephoning to Cincinnati last night from Lexington he said he had not been in such good health for almost three months as he is in at present. He went on to say : "The only thing I can imagine that that tale which was sent out of here last night could have been hung on was the fact that during tho Saratoga races last AuguBt I had a little touch of indigestion and sent out for a doctor. He was so long coming that I fell asleep before his arrival, and 1 never even saw him. I am right now in my home, and as soon as I get through talking to you I am going to have a nice Welsh rarebit and a good, long toddy and go to bed. I am good for about twenty-five years yet, and not thinking about giving a grave-digger a job. 1 dont care bo much about the report that I am getting ready to shuffle off, but I would like to have it corrected for the reason mainly that Mrs. Barnes doesnt wish to have her mail flooded with propositions from the fellows who are in the tombstone and monument business. Como down about Christmas and I will show you some of the finest weanlings that ever nibbled the blue grass. The best looking of the lot are those by Prince of Monaco, and I will bet something nice that they will step some when they get to the races. Good night." The Melbourne cup, the classic race of the south continent, was won this year by Revenue, a son of Trenton, which beat San Fran a half length after a desperate race. Khaki finished third. There were nineteen starters. Revenue was the hottest favorite that ever won the cup, his backers taking 50,000 out of the ring. Of this amount the stable won no lesB than 00,-000. Revenue carried but 108 pounds, while San Fran had up 133 pounds. GOSSIP OF THE TURF. Continued from First Page. Tho annual midwinter sale of thoroughbred horses began at Lexington, Ky., yesterday. There is an unusually large number of prospective buyers there and gjod prices are expected. Among the consignors are: United States Senator J. C. B. Blackburn, Hon. W. C. Whitney, J. R. and F. P. Keene, Milton Young, L. Tarl-ton, Col. W. S. Barnes, Frank B. Harper, Jerre E. MacDonald, William F. Schulte, J. V. 8hipp, Mrs. Sallie McClelland widow of the late Byron McClellsnd and others. Mr. Whitney will dispose of the famous Jean Beraud and a number of broodmares and young horses. The stock from such establishments as La Belle, Nantura, McGrathiana, Melbourne and Fleetwood, are expected to ba eagerly sought after. Jockey Eddie Ames, the first American to show tho Australians what the Tod Sloan style of riding is lite is catching on nicely in Kangaroo land. In a letter which he mailod at Sydney on October 27 he says: "All is well with me so far and I am becoming more settled and satisfied with my surroundings. You will understand they race only Saturdays. The races are not closa together, but when you win you get five times the pay you do in America. 1 get 00 for one win, 0 for another, 00 for another, and tho other-is not settled. Bo, you see, it is nice wben one wins. I beat a red hot favorite yesterday on a 10 to 1 chance juBt got up in time. x"In a mile and a quarter race I beat the same field that beat the horse a week before with a good rider up. They said they never saw him run the same race and win so easily. The first Saturday I won one out of the four mounts and tho third, I won two ont of three mounts and finished second on the third. "8o, all told, I have won four second once and third once out of nine rides. That is not so bad for a stranger with no backers. "There were not many with me at first, but now they all want to shake hands." i J. B. Bespass will install his thoroughbreds next Monday at the Duhme farm near Glandale, Ohio. Mr. Bespass has in all fifty-two head of horseB stallions, broodmares, horses in training, yearlings and weanlings. His stallion is Maceo, the six-year-old bay son of Bir Dixon and Katydid, by King Ban- Maceo, in his two and three-year-old form, was raced very successfully by the late Byron McClelland. In 1898 Mrs. McClelland raced him, and that fall sold him to Mr. Bespass, who won several good races with him in bis five-year-old form, and laBt fall bred him to several of his best mares. The weanlings by him are said to be very a nice looking lot of yonngsters.
