RACING NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 96, 22 April 1904, Page 6

RACING NEWS.

WELLINGTON R.C. AUTUMN MEETING. IBt Telegraph,—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. After a spell of beautiful weather it was . eiy disheartening to all concerned when at an early hour on the opening day of the Wellington meeting rain commenced to fall. The weather, indeed, looked so bad that tbe stewards were called together, and it v.-as not until 10 o'clock that they decided to _o on. and even then the policy was freely canvassed. The day was by no means a pleasant one. as drizzling showers were experienced at intervals, but the rain was a wnrm one. and so many were not seriously inconvenienced. The attendance. however, was not ui> to what it would „t a er wise have been, and it was unfortunate lhat the toraiisator proprietor and staff, through some misconception, did not reach the course in time for the racing 1... begin to time. Tin- niaeliiuery. as a matter of fa..:, was not ready, and the investments on the outside totes on the tirst race amounted to a few pounds only. and it was not until they were open in the Thompson Handicap that the investments of the public were received with prompti- ; ude. The falling off in the tote turnover ■ luring the day amounted to some £1300 odd, as compared with the first day of last .\ ear. The racing was of a most interesting character, lv the Waiwctu Handicap nine faced the starter, who got them away ••_ excellent arms. Shrapnel Shell took ip the running. Petrovna and Kremlin .ollowing. Shrapnell Shell maintained the :vad to the straight, where Dexterity closed on the leader, and after a good race Petrovna won !>y a neck from Dexterity, with Shrapnel Shell a head away third, Kremlin close up fourth. In the Silverstream Hack race. Lady Bobs was first away, but Kehua went to the front before a furlong was gone, aud kept the lead to the hnish. winning with something to spare by a half length from Lady Bobs. Spoil a length away third.

The Thompson Handicap saw a held of -venieen at the post. The start was derived through the restlessness of several of ihe horses, but eventually they got away to a good start, Sanfoin taking up the running, which he kept tor half the journey, with Vladimir next and Star_hoot, Kegi-lau^ l3 and Black Reynard following. Eiinoor. followed Buluwayo. moved up at the beud. where Full Cry could be seen making a good run from behind. Black Reynard ied into the straight, and a grand race home saw Full Cry win after a slashing finish with Exmoor by a nose, with Buluwayo, who came with a good run. a leligta away third, -Stan-hoot a head off fourth, the others, headed by Black Reynard, handy. Vladimir finish ining sixth. Lindsay rode a real good race. The hue di _deud of £13 15, was paid on the winner, and £o 13/ on Exmoor.

The First Hurdle Handicap was an inter*, sting race. Slow Tom as usual hopped off In flout. Killaruey next, and then followed Midia. After they had gone a mile Slow Tom had put a gap ot four length, between himself and Midia, who had supplanted Kilhirney. Midla tried hard to get to the leader, who went on and won by two clear lengths. Midia and Killaru.y lighting out a good finish for second place, the forme; prevailing by half « length. 'Mourner was fourth. Waiwera did not relish the goiug. but ran well for a mil.. ln~the Heretaunga Handicap all the acceptors staited. Sandy aud Sea Lion were first to show in front, followed by Indian Shot. Entering the straight Sandy drew away, and won by four lengths from Sea Lion.

There was more than The usual amount of Int .est taken iv the North Island challenge Stakes race, from the fact of the three principal New Zealand stables having a representative. A splendid start saw the held move off as one. Golden Lily soon took up the running, with Treadmill and Martian handy, the others well up. After half the journey had been covered Martian got alongside Treadmill, and beat him without aiiv by two lengths. Treadmill looks very light and jaded, and the two-year-old failed to stay. Woodmount got away first iv the Tinakori Hack Handicap, Clovelly following, with Gawain close up. Clovelly led for halt' the journey, where Gawain went up, and passed him. Turning into the straight Gawain was still in front, but Woodmount was not to be denied, aud fighting out a good finish beat Gawain by a head. Pokeka two lengths off third, the others buucheci.

The Railway -"Handicap brought proceedings to a finish. The fact of several having had a race lessened the number of starters considerably. Vladimir, Black Reynard. Exmoor. Kremlin, Replete. Narcotic, and Jeanne d'Arc did not again face the starter, but the race proved not to be the good thing it was supposed to be for Machine Gun. When the word go war given Machine Gun rushed to the front, followed by Melodeon. while Bounce. Petrovna and Good Intent hung a bit at the start. Turning for home Machine Gun looked ali over a winner, but died away iv the last bit. and Melodeon, sticking, to his task and finishing game and straittfit, won by a half length, with Good Intent, who came fast at the finish close up third. Ballarat did not display her best form, and Good Intent might have wou had she got off better. Results:—

Thompson Handicap of 400sovs, one ruiie.—lu«. K. A. Laurent's Full Cry. aged. by Keviuird—Vienue, T.IO. 1; 132. Esmoor, 6.11, S; 256-, Buluwayo, S.L 3. Also started: 155,' Vladimir: 24:;. Regulation; 257, Stur_hoot; 103, Canteen, 105, Field Buttery: 13.. Black Reynard; 130, Bagpipes: S3, Fleka; 01. Jewellery; Hit, Blaekstone: 69, Cyrus; o_. Sanfoin; 13, Black Squall: 55, Narcotic. The barrier rose to a fairly even start. San.oin was first in front, with Vladimir and Starshoot his nearest atftndants. After going half the distance Santoin was done with, aud Black ReyTuard. Vladimir. Starshoot. Exmoor. and Regulation were ahead ot a very straggling field. At the bend into the straight Black Reynard was just clear of Exmoor, but the latter drew out when head, were turned for home, but before reaching the distance full Cry came out from the centre of the field, aiid fighting out every stride wore Exmoor down before the post was reached, and won by about a neck, Buluwayo. who had come fast alter getting out. a neck behind Exmoor. Time. 1.43. Dividends, £13 15/ and £3 13': 5/ machine. £0 4. Handicap lT .idle Race, lo'isovs. li mile. —100, C. Machell's Slow Tom, 10.6 (A. Hall). 1; 100. Midia. 10.8, 2: 147. Killarney. 10.13, 3. Also started: Waiwera. Catherine •jordon, Levant, Mourner. I.issa. Kohupui. Eclair. Won very easily by four lengths. Time. 3.20 3-3. Dividends. £5 18/ aud £1 19/; 5, machine. £1 7 .

Heretaunga Handicap of lOOsovs. nine furlongs.—2B2. R. Solomon's Sandy, 5.6 (McMorran), 1: 190. Sea Lion, S.S, 2; 110, Benefactor, 8.9. 3. Also started: Hydrant, Oudeuarde, Tercelet, Indian Shot. Won somewhat easily by font lengths. Time, 1.59. Dividends, i_2 7/ and £1 2/0; 3/ machine, 18/.

North Island Challenge Stakes of -iOOsovs. weight-for-age. seven furlongs.—3l2, G. <i. Stead's Martian. 8.5 I Hewitt). 1: 75, Treadmill. 9.4 (McCluskeyi. 2; Signalman, 6.10 (Mathie). 3. Also started: Golden Lily, Boris, Ailsa. Won easily by three lengths. Time, 1.30 3-5. Dividends, £1 10/; 5/ machine, 8/.

Tinakori Hack Handicap of SOsovs. six furlongs.—2oo. T. W. Arinitage's Woodmount, 7.5 (J. Sceats), 1: 418, Gawain, 7.12, 2; 77, Pokeka. 7.12. 3. Also started: Clovelly. Bombastes. Black Squall, Brighton. De Wet. Rose Petal. Won by a head. Time. 1.18 2-5. Dividends, £4 9/ and 14/. Railway Handicap of loOsovs. six furlon_s—l39, E. J. Watts' Melodeon, 6.13 (L. Denaheyi, 1; 471. Machine Gun, 0.9 _; 51, Good Intent, 0.10. 3. Also started:' Ballarat. Petrovna. Delight. Bounce. Rounding into the straight Machine Gun had a commanding lead, and the race appeared to be .Li.- 3 merc - T - but m_ide of the distame Meodeon came again with a great dash aud the top weight, apparentlj- unable to respond, suffered defeat by a long neck Time Tie Vr n r;_vT P i° ° f W. I machine."£2 B ? Uldends . *= aud 11/;