A.R.C. EASTER MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 89, 16 April 1927, Page 11

A.R.C. EASTER MEETING.

North Island Champions Racing For Big

Stakes.

EASTER HANDICAP AND NORTr'"~""\ OAKS. '•They're off!"' At exactly seven minutes to noon to-day a mighty roar from thousands of throats announced that the 1027 Easter meeting of the Auckland Racing Club had commenced, and that the race for the Great Northern Oaks, the only three-year-old classic of the North Island confined to fillies, would, in less than three minutes, be over. But in the two and and-half minutes, or thereabouts, when the fillies were struggling for supremacy over the trying course of a mile and a-half, the multitude packing the three stands, hills, and flat, v.-ere gripped in excitement. It is a wonderful sight is Ellerslie on race day, but never was the scene presented more wonderful than to-day. Recognised as the most picturesque racecourse in Australasia, Aucklanders might well feel proud of the staging set for the elite of race meetings. Not too big, or too small, the course is just about nine furlongs in circumference, and offers all an opportunity of following a race from start to finish. The lawns, gardens, rockeries, gay with their mass of colour, ths picnickers on the hill, and the moving density of humanity, in which the beautiful coloured frocks of the ladies add a charm, all contribute towards the remarkable kaleidoscopic scene presented. In the Grip of the Sport of Kings. Boxing Day, or "Cup Day," is the day when all Auckland is present at Ellerslie, but there is really very little difference between one race day and another on the famous course, and it would be hard to call up memories of a more entrancing spectacle than that presented this afternoon. The weather was beautiful; it could not have been better had it been supplied to order, the course and gardens were in their best autumn garb, the attendance ran into thousands, and the whole atmosphere was such that everyone was in the grip of the "Sport of Kings.'' Visitors included the highest personalities in the land—they came from all parts of the Dominion, knowing they would enjoy racin"- served up on a scale and in surroundings not obtaining elsewhere. The horses, too, came from all parts of the Xorth Island. "Winners of cups, derbies, all the important races decided in the Dominion, had made the trip to Auckland to oppose each other for the rich stakes offered by the A.R.C. Rapine, the best stayer in the land, whose wonderful victory in the Auckland Cup last Boxing Day will live in history; Reremoana, the winner of the Easter Handicap the last two years, and recognised as the best handicap miler in New Zealand: Commendation, winner of the New Zealand and Great Northern Derbies this season; Cimabue and Gascony, two brilliant two-year-olds, all were brought from the South to compete' at the Easter meeting which opened to-day. Their owners, wealthy men, were keen to oppose the best, but the rivalry was always good Matured and clean. Because an owner may not have a champion to carry his colours he does not keep away. He knows racing is an uncertain game, and luck runs very often in cycles, and though this may be a lean year with him, he is an optimist—all racing men must be —and hopes that it will be his turn next season to lead in the winner of a Derby or Cup at Ellerslie. Wonderful Transformation in the Grounds. If the history of Ellerslie could be written up, it would make interesting reading. Not only has a wonderful transformation been carried out to the grounds, for which the honours must go to the president, the Hon. E. Mitchelscn, but there are some historical struggles between chaaapiflß racehorses -which are even now fresh in the'memory of those who tcere present. To-day's big race was the Easter Handicap, first staged, according to records, way back in 1574, the winner on that occasion being Mr. James Watts' Batter. Over 50 years have passed since then, and" nianv good horses have had their names enrolled on the list of winners of the handicap. For a number of years the distance was a mile and a-half or a mile and three-quarters, but in IS9S the journey was reduced to one mile at which it has remained ever since. Strangelv enough, when reduced to one mile. Rex, owned by Mr. J. C. Booth, won twice on end, and it was not till Reremoana captured the race in 1925 and again last rear that the performance was repeated. The Great Northern Oaks, the "ladies'' race of the North Island was instituted in 1906, and in a run through the list of winners the names of such mares as Desert Gold, Counterfeit, Isolt, and Enthusiasm are noticed ihere have been some surprises registered in connection with the race' and two outsiders to score were Bonny Doreen and last vear's winner' Danae. * '