LATE RACING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 130, 3 June 1899, Page 5

LATE RACING.

NORTH N.Z. G RAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE MEETING.

TO-DAY'S RACES AT ELLEESLIE,

President. Han. E. Mitchelson; vicepresident, Mr L. D. Nathan; stewards, Messrs A. Buckland, D. W. Duthie, W. D. Ho.lgate, D. McLeod, J. Dawson, E. A. Price, A. J. Dcnniston, C. Hesketh, H. ;O. Nolan; committee. Messrs A. Bucklarid, Richard-Duder, H. T. Gorrie, J. Kirkwood, Donald McLeod, J. P.,A. Philsoli, W. McLaughlin, Thos. Morrin, N. A. Nathan^ J. Russell, H. Thompson, J. T. Armitage; hon judge, Colonel Banks; hon. treasurer, Mr H. T. Gorrie; starter, Mr George Cutts;:clerk of scales, Mr F. W. Marks; clerk of course, Mr A. Selby; handicapper, Mr J. O. Evitt; secretary, Mt William Percival. : ■

A lovely. winter's day favours - the Auckland Racing Club for tiheir Grand National Meeting .at Ellerslie racecourse to-day. There is a good attendance on all parts of the course, and among the numbed in the enclosure are a good .sprinkling of West Coast and Gisborne racing enthusiasts. His Excellency the Governor, Lord Ranfuriy, the Countess of Ranfurly, and the viee r regal ' party., consisting of

Capt. Alexander, A.D.C., Lieut. H.. Ward, A.D.C., aud Hon. Chas. HillTrevor, are present, having' been received on arrival by the stewards and subsequently entertained at luncheon. The starting arrangements are in the capable hands of Mr Geo. Cutts and Messrs H. H. Hayr and Co. and a large staff 'have charge of the totalisators. On the. band .rotunda on. the lawn impey's fine band discourses a choice musical programme. The racing track is soft from the raiii, but the pretty course and surroundings never looked better at the winter period, showing the great care bestowed upon it by Mr W. Percival, the popular secretary of the club, and Mr. Hill, caretaker. .Bellman?, was scratched for • the Grand National Hurdles at ten minutes to one, having gone amiss. MAIDEN . STEEPLECHASE of 100 soys. About two miles. 203—Frank Ross' gr g Voltigeur 11., by Lionel —Norah, a, 10!0 (Berry) i 389 —John Kae's b g Natation, a, 10.9 (Rae) .... 2' 68— H. b m Kaitoa, a, 9.7 (A. Williams) 3 Other starters: 99 Riot, 10.3 (H. Philips); 68 Nellie, 9.9 (Burns); 33 Ika Vuka, 'D.7 (Howard); 66 Reporter, 9.7 (Morrigan). Natation was first to get going, and he showed the wuy up the hill, followed by Ika Vuka. At the post and rails on the top Kaitoa had a length advantage of Voltigeur II.; then came Natation. Coming down the hill Kaitoa and Voltiguer 11. were racing together, and when the double jump in front of the stand was negotiated there, was nothing to choose between the pair and Riot. At the old water , jump Kaitoa still had a length the best of Riot, but in- the run .up the back of the course Ycltigeur IL took command,'- only to" giv^"w&yi' it) -ftifelt in the run through the plantation; Then came Riot in third place, with Kajtoa and Natatfon :hMt.;'"At 'ftie post and rails at the top of the hill Riot still had the best of Voltigeur IL However, in the run .clown' the -hill Voltigeur 11. came with; a good run, and took ' command, lauding in the home turn with '.four lengths advantage he came on and won by half a dozen lengths from Natation. Riot finished fourth, Reporter fifth. Time, 4.48. Dividend, .£3 19/. Total isator 936. ■ : ■ . . WINTER WELTER HANDICAP, ./of 200so'fs. One mile. 170—L. Harris' blk g Cavalier, by Cuirassier—Clio, syrs, 10.10 . (Creamer) .1 116—John Chaafe's b f St. Ursula, 3yrs, 10.7, (Chaafe)...: 2 137—T.. A. Williams' b g Admiral Hawke, syrs, 9.12 (Ryan) 3 Other starters. 130 Red Lancer, 11.6 (Taylor); 40 St. Kilda, 11.3 (Byers); 228 Cuirassette, 10.5 (Buchanan); 3S St. Gordon, 10.3 (Telford); 235 Indian SJiot, 10.0 (Clarke); 261 Crusade, 9.13 (Scents); 148 Pyroxylin, 9.10 (Johnston; 71 Snider, 9.o'(Berry); 13 . Cornish Boy, 9.0 (Mobberly); ■• 14 Lieutenant. 9.0* (Wilmotts); 46 Brilliant, 9.0 (Morrigan).

The. field was dismissed to a good start. St. Ursula was the first to show out only to give way to -"nisade, and the latter, carried oti th£ runningl for a furlong', when Snider took coini mand. Ha had three lengths' . lead through the cutting-, but. noarihg the home turn he faded away. S.t;. .Ursula was first to reach the ,str.it:r!:r, hotly .pursued by Cavalier and Admiral Hawke. St Ursula held, her own till the .distance,, where Cavalier joined Ber, and after an exciting set-to Cavalier gained the verdict by a short head. Time 1.50. Jpivident, £8 1.4/. Totalisator 1647.. ■. GRAND NATIONAL HURDLES.; Shyloek, 1 Nor'-west 2 ■ Drum Major .... 3 i' Won'by a good length.