TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB'S SPRING MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 288, 3 December 1892, Page 3

TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB'S SPRING MEETING.

Matters meteorological favoured the Takapnna Jockey Club on Saturday last, but this was nob sufficient to draw a big attendance of the public and there was a greab falling off in the totalisator receipts compared with last year, 1*3,108 going through the machines againsb £4,746. The meebing proved a mosb enjoyable ono, bub the only race that provided an exciting finish was the Spring Handicap, the concluding evenb of the afternoon. Proceedings opened with the Handicap Maiden Hurdles, which the much improved Daißy won easily. # The only one of the other six starters who gives promise is Mr P„. Burkes gelding Bombardier, one of Brigadier's progeny from Belle's dam Kate. Oub of the five on the card for the Devonport Handicap three juveniles faced the starter, and two of the number Annabel and Trajectory carried Mr R. Burkes colours. Captivity secured a bloodless victory. I don'b think tbat Annabel is likely to shine in decent company, but Trajectory struck me aa giving promise of better things. He is a son of Brigadier and Rosie. I looked upon tho Maiden Plate as a real good thing for King Cannibal, bub he could nob geb nearer than third, and the race was run in slow time, too. The winner turned up in Stanley, a recenb arrival from Gisborne, who showed a good turn of speed, whilo Marguerite, a three-year-old by The Dauphin, gob second. Ib was the firsb appearance in public of Margueribe, who had only been a few weeks in work. When the numbers were hoisted for the Hurdle Race a reporb was pub in circulation that the Taranaki horse Flukem had been "offhis feed" since his arrival, but this did not reduce the horse's price on the totalisators, and the public senb him to the post firsb favourite. Flukem ran fairly well, bub he proved no match for Deceiver, whom I understand hails from Whangaroi. After the race Mr J. Hand, tho Ponsonby boniface, took a fancy to Flukem and secured him at £150 with certain contingencies, and the horse is now at Kobimarama in Fred Stenning's bands. Tho general body of backers looked on the Sb. Andrew's Handicap as a good thing for either Belmonb or His Worship. Glaucus had a fair following, and never giving his opponenbs a chanco won from end bo end His Worship ran very unkindly in the race, with the result thab Mr Thompson's colb injured his stifle and cut the rider's boot through. Ib appears to me bhab the colt has been badly mouthed. When running on the Takapuna course, he bores in on the rails, whilst at Ellerslie he runs wide. I think thab Belmont is a horse thab should be kepb ab the jumping game. Steeplechases on the Takapuna course invariably produce keen finishes, bub Saturday's event was an exception to the general rule, for Hopeful Kate won very easily from Tupara. The concluding race of the afternoon was the Spring Handicap, which gave rise to a good deal of speculation. St. Clements was sent to the posb favourite, and after a slashing set-to in the straight with Vieux Roee and Warrior the speedy son of St. Leger gob home by half a length. W. McMinamin rode the winner, and he also had the mounb on Hopeful Kate in the race previous, the Steeplechase, so thab he performed a feat worthy of mention. There is no more capable all-round horseman than W. McMinamin, who is equally ab homo " between bhe flags" or on the flat. Hopeful Kate and St. Clements are trained by Frank McMinamin, a brother to the rider referred to, and who thoroughly understands his profoeaion, and always brings bis horses to the post in good nick. Mr Wynyard, bhe energetic secretary of bhe Club, managed bhe meebing well.