THE RACING CARNIVAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 307, 27 December 1915, Page 2

THE RACING CARNIVAL.

THE AUCKLAND CUP. HUGE CROWD AT ELLEKSLIE. RACING CARNIVAL OPENS IN COOL, FINE WEATHER. THE TOFF WINS ROYAL. STAKES. BALBOA WINS THE CUP. Tile New Zealand racecourse is the ■ most respectable turf in the world. If any proof be needed" that it -has been lilted for "<iod ami all from the more or . I leas sordid trammels that fasten on to I it in other parte of the world, one has only to walk through, a racecourse crowd to find it. It is. for instance, democratic in the broadest sense of the word. for every section of the community. ranging up to the unco giiid, is found represented in if.. No' raucous-voiced, top-hatted 'brass-plated "Joe Juggins, the old firm," laying the most honest odds in Christendom to be found there; no sure and certain in tips given free, gratis, and • all for nothing with a penny packet of j sweet*: no disreputable spongers and cadgers, giving information straight from the boree's mouth—usually a tip for every runner for various parties to make certain of being able to claim at least one reward. No. the New Zealand turf is respectable, and no part of it more so than ; the summer meeting of the Auckland Racing Club, whw>h, because of the classic event, the Auckland Cup. has become the darling child of all local sports- ' men as .veil as r,f many other parts of the Dominion. The A.R.C.'s Christmas mectin,' can indeed lay claim to being a carnival. Take away the cup race and the Chrh-tnuLs holidays would become champagne without the sparkle—so integral a part of the holiday is it for thousands of people of all classes. GOOD GOING. This year's summer meeting opened at Ellerslic this morning with every promise of another record-breaking success-. The intermittent rains which have fallen since Friday, culminating in the short sharp downpour of this morning, rendered a r"al service to the club, for . not only did it robe the beautiful grounds in the fresli raiment of spring, but —infinitely mo-re important to the man keenly interested in sport —it; imparted to the greensward a delightful springiness which gave every encom_gcraent to fast going. The crowd on the racecourse was a typical one—the kaleidoscopic concourse of folks 'which is invariably attracted by the summer meeting, for the Ellerslic course has so man}- picnicking charms that its meetings rank as important social functions for tbc patrons of the more expensive en- . closures, and provide a fine combination of holiday change and excitement for humbler folk, which is probably unique. Hence the respectability and the democracy of the Cup meeting. One found oneself bowing to ladies ._who.se 'ac- ' quaintance has been made in the churchporch, and nodding unconcernedly to malo friends the discovery of whose pre- ' sence in the bar parlour would threaten one with apoplexy. Fathers took out j their families to the course with ahso- . lute openness and unconsciousness of _ [any suggestion of the improper, and there , was tin: uuual huge proportion of women- . folk present. All of which goes to . prove that the reproach flung at the . racecourse of old time has vanished with the passing of the undesirable appendages of the course. To 1 be sure, there . were gentry in suits and general get-up . we would not welcome at our own parti- , enrar birthday gatherings, and here ajid • there the "sporty" idea in female . fashions —usually in the shape of some . flaring, flamboyant shade of frock that. ■ might have been snatched from a Are- . works display—was visible, .but by-and . large the .big crowd out at Ellerslic to- , day consisted of business a-nd work-aday ! folk, arrayed in their spiekest and nicest , Sunday best. A BUMPER MEETING. j Everything at mid-day to-day pointed j to a bunqrer meeting. True, the wea- , ther was not as settled as could be desired, and a blustering south-westerly j found its way unhindered even into the s cosy, nestling location of the course and drove up heavy rain-clouds that now and I then joined up to provide a light shower. But the weather conditions did , not keep many people away, ' as witnessed by the fact that it ".•as estimated the attendance was as j high as 25.000. From eleven o'clock onwards tram and train discharged crowds of holiday-makers, and this without hitch, notwithstanding the volume of J trafiic. THE WEATHER'S EFFECTS. If any difference resulted from the uncertairaty of the weather it was that there was distinctly le_ white and summer tints amongst the dresses of women. Either this, or else the sobering influence of the war had caused people to dress a trifle sombrely. In point of fact, the weather created morp enjoyable conditions than ever on the course, for EllereHe on a real hot day sometimes provides too much of a good thing. Today the sun ivaged a strenuous tussle ivith the cloikLs through the morning, and got sufficiently the best of it to j be able 'Lo make things pleasant and gen- . ial all round. The wind was a little . cruel towards the special coiffures on I the lawn, but ite influence was pleasantly cooling itnd refreshing. The grounds, re- . vived by the morning rains, were almost , perfect. Generally beauty and solitude , go hand in hand, hut this is moro pecu- , liarly applicable 'to the beantios of . nature. When the cunning hand of man 1 has created the. former it frer quently happens thait the pro- ; scnee of the human element ! in wanted to encase It with an atmoa--1 pherc of reality. ISo the beautiful . groundii of Ellerslic, open as a public ; park all tho year round, ltavo a diatinc--1 tive charm, when forming- a setting to ; the huge carnival crowd of the summer ) meeting, and rarely has artificial beauty been wore superbly displayed. The noble, carriage drive, with Its avenue of green young oaks and gorgeous flower beds, was a opei'tacle that ivouhl have attracted many holiday folks, races or no races. All along the pale heliotrope of huge hydrangeas—4iko inigo pompoms on a -rllUan- robe of pink antirrhinums, porcelain blue delphjn!un_ and orange and red cannas. The saddling paddock was another outstanding feature of the weil-ltept grounds, in the middle of which d the hugo star of flowers, centred by a tr fountain whirling-spray before the wind. l.- was. admiringly watched by many. 11 $ was composed mainly of a glorious 0 .i0,>. U{ feeggptaja, edged,-with altsrnajithora,,

■tnd dotted with red iresin and many ■ other choice -varieties of flowers. The shield and (beds on the back 'lawn displayed a wonderful show of white and dark red begonias, bronze and white geraniums, and a golden profusion of calceolarias, while the long iied fronting the lawn was carried out in festoon design with calceolarias and pink begonias, sprinkled with white rosette-like coheveria and illuminated 'by brilliant scarlet salvias. Even so. the most pleasing feature of all to the eye wad the. refreshing verdant freshness of the turf, w_icli in the morning sun shone softly like a beautiful emerald. BUSINESS ON THE "TOTE." With a nourishing Christmas reported on every hand, it was only to be expected that a reflex of the general prosperity would be found in the "tote' i figures at the racing carnival, and one educative feature of the meeting was the ', glimpse it gave of the remaining resources of the little Dominion, both in men and money. If the first race was indicative of tht 'betting of the meeting, ' the war will have little effect upon this ' takings of the summer meeting. The , figures of the totalisator twinkled away merrily throughout the period allowed ' for backing, and the rush to support • Wishful played the very deuce with the No. 11. cylinder, which whirled round ' from 0 to 0 with a rapidity which pro- : rn'irred to make her a hot favourite. Nov ' was the confidence reposed in the misplaced, for sure enough, after a great J race site romped home with a short haJf- ' head lead. ' Tito music for the opening day of the ' carnival was provided by the Auckland 1 Garrison Band, which went through n ' nicely-selected programme. • Results are as follow:-- ---. SHORTLAND PLATE of SOOsovs. Dis- , tance, one mile. I Mr. (J. L. Stead's b c Wishful. :iyrs, by Honlform -Drought, 7.7 t'Emerson) —. 1 ■ Mr. !•'. Dorset's eh f lied lilbboti, :iyrs, 7.L' (Heidi 2 Mr. .1. Marshall's br m <i»kl Necklet, , Syr*, 7.11 iDeelcy) 3 Also started: Iladj 8... Cialltipin 7.13, 1 Glucian 7.i:t, (Joltt Kran i.13, l'eudoon 7.L1, 1 Kaween 7.11, Sahia 7.11, Siguo 7.11, 1 ilydrus 7.-1, Dribble 7.J, Lady Glen 7.2, and , Jack Jeiikoe 7.0. Tbcrc was a little trouble at the post, but Ihey left to an even despatch, irom r wbicli the colours of Uold -Necklet and Salvia were ilrst prominent, aud they made the running along the back, with Hydros, Lady Glen, Red Rib Don, and Wishful raeliic i in that order, the field being well Strang out. Going through the cutting, Ilydrus " aud Lady Gleu were the leaders, aud the - pair showed the way across the top, with , Salvia, Gold Necklet, Red Ribbon, <Jallupln, " and Wishful racing in that order, and l'en- - doon. leading a strung-out lot. Racing ', round tlie home turn, Ilydrus, Lady Glen, r Galltipln, Red Ribbon, and Wishful were 1 bunched, with Gold Necklet, l'eudoon, and Salvia most prominent of the others. Once i in line for home lied Ribbon shot to the > front, closely followed by Wishful, and the . pair Wearing out Iron* thcfleui-fought out , a .verdict.EojnfiJo Wish--1 fnlby half a head. Gold Necklet got third, - six lengthy away, jnst la, front of Iladj 3 and Ilydrus, and then came Dribble, Gal- , lupin. Gold Fran, Pendoon, Lady Glen, Glucian, Kaween. and Salvia, with Jack 5 .leiilcoe last. Time, 1.40 4-5. Wishful was r favourite. ' GREAT NORTHERN FOA.L STAKES of l.OOOsovs. Distance, six furlough. I Mr. G. L. Stead's be The Toff, Boniform —Class, 5..10 (Bntcrsonl 1 j .Mr. T. 11. Lowry's eh c Egypt, All I!lu<-k —Aurcirii_, S.JO (O'iiueii) 1' Mr. C. «. iD—gcty's b c Wardancer. llartian-Stepdaucer, S.lO (Jones) :i Also started: Rockbound. N.vhtsd, Uncle 1 Ned.. Hyttus, Sweet Tlpperary Rekauul, - s, -» 0 iA„-.VWck», , ;,„■» , s*Jf, There was some delay at the post, Sweet Tlpuernry being the chief offender, and It was to a somewhat straggling start that ibe - tape titled. .Egypt was tlrdt to lind his i lect, followed iby Hyttus and Wardancer, i but going through the cutting Sweet Tlpperary rushed to the front, i_d led avross " the top. two lengths tiiear of! Egypt, will) f Lady Jack, Itekanui, The Toff, -Nystad, 0 Rockbound, and Wardancer racing In that order, and Uncle Ned last. Egypt tan up to Sweet Tlpperary as they swept round t the home bend, with La<!y Jack within a , length, while The Toff and Wardancer conld be seen Improving their position. At 1 the distance Egypt had Sweet Tipperary - beaten, then Ludy Jack c_alien*—, but 2 failed to sustain her effort, and jupt wben Egypt looked to have the race in safe keeping The ToU came with a great run, and " Wardancer also put in a claim. The Toff, 1 Snishing with a brilliant burst of epeed, gJt , np, to win by half a length. Warranter " was a neck away, third, and then ca_e ; Sweet Tlpperary, Relcanul Nystad, Lady t. Jack. RocKbound, and Hy.ttns, w!t»i Uncle . Ned last. Time, 1.15 2-0. Kgypt was fay- , ourtte. 1 Previous winners or the race are:— .'.'''." . ' ",, Tlnn ~ n_ a. t ISBs—Ricochet, by WusUet i ]y 18SG—Niagara, by Anteros x n_i ISS7—Pearl Shell, by Musket 1 laj ISSS—Corunna, by Musket ] _i 1880—Pygmalion, by Apretnont .... ijj i 1800—Lebel, by Nordem'eldt l i&j IbOl—Wbakawatca, by Aprciuout .. 1 10 - 1.502— Reflector, by Lochiel l m 0 IBo3—Three Star, by Castor 1 lv* . 1804—Bloodshot, by Maxim j 17 1895—St. Paul, by St. Leger 1 18 : IS9G—Gold Medallist, by Medallion... 1 17J 1 IS97—Conqueror, by Medallion .... 1 lv j ISoS—Screw Gun, by Hotchkiss .... 1 10} 1890—Renown, by Dreadnought 1 17 • 1900—Meuschikoff, by Stepniak 1 19 i 1001—Idas, by Seaton Delaval 1 17 1902—King Log, by Stepuiafe 1 jsj ' 100.'!— Silkworm, by Seaton Delaval.. 1 17 t 1004— Sungod. by Multiform 1181 9 IDOn—Kirriemuir, by Claiiranald.... 1 _sj . 100C—-Glenculloch, by Clanianald .. 1 15 1907—ll'leetfoot, by Clanrauald ... 1 17 2-5 8 1008—Broadsword, by Clanrnnuld.. 1 14 3-ri t looO—Forinby, by Birkenhead 1 10 3-0 f 1910—Culprit, by Charlemagne 11. 1 15 1011—Winning Way.by Cannie Chlel 1 17 3-3 1912—Soltano, by Soult 1 16 1013—Rencontre, by Obllgado 1 10 2-5 1914 —Desert Gold, by All Black.. 1 10 4-r, O'SHEA CAUTIONED. • After the race the stipendiary steward 1 (Mr A. Gordon) had .1. O'Shea. rider of f Egypt, before the stewards for alleged lny terfereDce with Hyttus and Wardancer. => After hearing the statement of the riders c concerned he decided to administer a severe f caution to O'Shoa. c ROBINSON HANDICAP r Of 250 sots. Distance, seven furlongs. 8 Mr W. G. Stead's eh f Gold Painting by Boniform—Ormulu, 3yrs, 7.10 (It Reed) 1 c Mr R. Hannou's eh in Tinoreka, Gyrs, ;. 7.1- (Robinson) ~1.., .' 0 0 Mr P. Slenning's eh m Lady Gwendoline, Oyrs, 7.0 (Deeley) 3 c Also started: Torotoro 8.0, Blucform 8.0, King's Courier 7.5, Colonnade 7.12, iPaciflc Slope 7.11, San Sebastian 7.0, Christine 7.8, y Mountain Dream 7.7. Kalmannka 7il, Maid . of Orleans 7.4, VJmikn 7.4, Sir Multlild 7.4, i Redman 7.4, Lavernn 7.4, Keystono 7.4, N'gatlwerencre 7.4, and Glendalough 7.4. Wlien the tapes lifted King's Courier and " Gold I'alnUng shot to tho front and the pair 1 soon had a break on the field, of which tho i) most prominent were Tinoreka, Vlrmkn, Cliriiillno and flnn Sebastian, the latter heading 11 bunched lot. Crossing tho top, ' King's Courier and Gold Painting wero t strldln/f along together in the lend, three lengths clear of Tlnoreku, which hud San Sebastian on hor quarter, and then came I Christine, ISliieform and Lady Gwendoline, c with the otberw strung out, Ngatfv/crcworo lining lust, Turning for homo, Tinoreka got through on tho Insldo, and when they 3 straightened up for flio inn to tho post, r Tluorekii, (fold Painting, King's Courier ami .. San Sebastian were nil lv lino, while Lady (iweiidi—no had Improved lu;r position, At tile rtlstancu Tinoreka mid Gold f'nliilliig I were the leaders, and tho latter, slaying on V the better, got the verdict by three pm_ of a length. Lady (Iweiidnllno got third, twu ' lenglus anil a-half nwiiy, and then came 5 —lug'n ('mirier, Ban Sebastian, Torotoro, 0 Pacific .Slope, Kaimanuku, Blueforni, Mouns tain Dream and Christine, with Ngatlwcrewere last, Mountain Dream wus favourite. l > Time. 1.25, n AUCKLAND CUP (Handicap) of 2050sovs. Distance, (wo miles. '-' Mr. T. H. I.owry's eh h tlalhoa, -iyrs. by II Varco—Nerve, W. 3 (O'Sllenj , *. 1 1 -Mr. K. J. Watt's in- Il lflai-ki.ll. 4yrs, 1 7.7 1 Emerson) 2 . Jlr. :'. G. Dalgely's b g Snub, 3yra, (1.13 Chii-ki 3 Alao started 1 Wli—top 0,4, C.njtalla T.H, ij gelf 0.8, Colonel Soult 8,7, Bli-Snlo «A

' Kooya 7.9, St. Elmn 6.11, Hullingar 7.3, , i Maniaroa 7.3, El Gallo 6.10. I When the barrier lifted it was to an even dispatch, .Blackall aud St. Elmn being first to move. .Self was soon in the lead, aud . set out to make the running, Hollowed by . Blackall, Cnstalia, Maniaroa, Colonel Soult, Sir Solo, Warstep, liaiboa, Snub, .Viullliigar, El Gallo, Kooya, aud _t. Eunu, and there . was very little change lv these positions as they crosset the top. Passing the stand there was considerable alteration,-Self being Uic pilot, two lengths clear of Warstep, wltn Blackall, Sir solo, aud Maniaroa in the front, and Colonel Soult, Balboa, Castulm, Snub, Mulllngar, and El Gallo lv that order, Kooya aud M. Elmn the last pair. Just after [Hissing the stated Warstep broke down badly, and was pulled up. After leaving the straight, and esttlng out for the run along tbe back, Self .was still forcing the pace, with Colonel tooult running up swoud, and Snub, Blackall, _1 Gallo, Balboa, Castnlla, Kooya, St. Khnn, Mulliugar, Sir Solo, aud Maniaroa followlug. Crossing tlie top 'Self was a length in front ot Snub, with El Hallo aud Colonel Soult almost on terms with tho lastnamed, while Balboa and Blackall were handy, ami Kooya, Mullingar, and Castnlla next, the others -being hopelessly beaten. Sweeping into the straight, 'Self, Snub, and E. Gallo wore almost in line, with Colonel Soult, Balboa, and Blat-kull all holding positions . while Mulllngar put in n run and got within striking distance. Once straightened up for the ran to the judge, Colonel Soult ran up to the leaders, and his victory was loudly proclaimed, but lie failed to struggle on and Snub took charge. Balboa and Blackall then came on the scene, and, gettlug to Hie front halfway down the lawn rails, fought out a great finish, Balboa staying the longest, and winning a great race liv a head. Snub was half-u-length away, third, and the., came Colonel Soult, ICI Gallo, MiilIliigar. Self, St. Elmn, Maniaroa. Castnlla, and Kooya. with Sir Solo last. Time, 3.27?. The bracketed pair, Warstep and Snub, were favourite. The times for the various , stages of the journey was kindly supplied' by Mr. J. K. Douglas, and were as follows: j One furlong 145.. two furlongs 25Jk, three furlongs 30 2-r.s, _,\ir furlongs 32 4-ss. seven furlongs 1.31, mile 1.40 .'l-3. mile and u-qnurtcr 2.11 :\-o. mile and a-haif 2.30 3-5, | two miles 3.27 3-5. Warstep was very lame ou returning. ASIJBUBTON TROTS. I (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ASIIBURTON, this day. > The Ashburtou Trotting Club's Boxing Day Meeting was held In cold weather, rain threatening. There was a large attendance. ' Results:— ■ Trial Handicap; Rorke's Drift 1, Sliver Prince 2. Green Ribbon 3. .Scratched: Bloomfleld. Won easily. Time, 3.43. 1 TAR—NAKI JOCKEY CLUB. SUMMER MEETING. CBy Telegraph.—Press Association.) , NEW PLYMOUTH, this day. The weather Is showery for the Taranakl Jockey Club's races. The course Is good ; after the night's rain. Results:— ' ■ HI7ATAKI PLATE. Seven furlongs. Pateonga lj ; Zoln ' B| ; White Bhuse 3 ; Scratched: Syntax. Won by three lengths. : Time, 1.31 2-5.