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GOSSIP OF THE TURF. Many sensational reports have found their way into the capers in regard to the recent ruling off in Paris of little Johnny Reiff, who rode his first win-nor over the Washington track in the summer of 1898 when he scaled but fifty-five pounds. Most of them are ridiculous, especially the one in reference to drink being responsible for his downfall, The boy, who is now seventeen years of age, probably never touched liquor in his life. Lester Reiff, who now lives at Oakland, has received the following letter from his brother from Londdn, under date of October 13: "I suppose you have heard through the newspapers that I have been ruled off by the race track police force for pulling a horse by the name of St. Saulge, which belongs to a Frenchman named Conte St. Phalle. I will give you a faint idea of this horses form. The first time that he ran he won from a lot of bad horses. Buchanan rode him. I rode him in his next start and came in second to one of the best horses in France. Mclntyre had the mount in his next start and finished in the ruck. St. Saulge did not start again until two months ago, when I rode him and won, beating some fair horses. A week later he was started again with Stern, the best jockey over here, in the saddle, and he was last by almost a sixteenth of a mile. In his next start he opened at 1 to 2 in the betting, and two bookmakers laid against him. I rode and was just beaten. No one paid any attention to the race except the police, who took no action until two weeks later. The horse that beat St. Saulge has since won two races, finishing ahead of some fair horses." W. S. Barnes of the Melbourne Stud announced last Friday that he will sell ten of his choice brood mares at the Fasig-Tipton Companys sale of .Ithor-onghbred horses in Lexington November 24, 25 and 26. These mares, which are among the most noted stud matrons in all Kentucky, are :"Sara, dam of Fancy wood and Shandontield and a! half-sister to Salvator; Sallie of Navarre, half-sister JtolFrances McClelland and His Lordship; Vantage, dam of Disadvantage and Irene Lindsey; Merrythought, dam of Merry Acrobat; Twitter, damiof Donna Seay ; Bagpipes, dam of The Goldflnder, Moncreith and Old Centre; Claretto, half-sister to Sankara; Savannah, dam of the 0,000 Fousavannah ; Fable, dam of Barrack and Fay Belle; Lady Rover, dam of Autumn Leaves. A. J. Cassatt has entered ten brood mares in the same sale and six yearlings. The yearlings are all by The Bard and all the mares are in foal to the sire of Gold Heels.
