RACING IN AUCKLAND.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9433, 3 June 1896, Page 2

RACING IN AUCKLAND.

THE FORM AT TAKAPUNA. Auckland, May 25. Genial weather favoured the Takapuna Jockey Club for the opening day of their Winter Meeting on Saturday. There must have been fully three thousand spectators present to watch the racing, which was oi an interesting nature from start to finish. In the absence of the Hon. Mr Mitchelson the duties of judge were performed by Major George, while Mr E. D. Halstead, by the aid of the barrier, was successful in dispatching the fields on even terms. The racing track was very holding, in fact some of the jockeys stated they had never previously ridden on such a holding track. It is, therefore, not to be wondered at that no fast times were recorded during the afternoon. Although the prize money of the Handicap Maiden Hurdles, the opening event of the programme, was only a paltry £35 with £5 for second horse, no less than fourteen went to the post, and the width of the course was hardly sufficient to enable all to line up to the barrier on even terms. Among the many new beginners who started were Grenadier, Annabelle, Miss Nelson and Ongo. The last-named and the Gisborne liorse, Forella, were made favourites. Ongo was the first away and led over the first hurdle, but making a faulty jump at the second fence she fell away third, Forella *ud Grenadier "going on at the head of the field. Ongo, however, caught her opponents when the last few furlongs were entered upon and she led into the straight. As they raced to the last hurdle Ongo was just clear DfHard Times, Miss Nelson, and Forella, who were all going well. Ongo bungled a little in taking the last jump and lost a bit of ground, but hor rider quickly straightened his mount;, and, despite a sharp challenge rra the part of Miss Nelson, she won by half a length. Ongo, who is engaged in the North New Zealand Grand National Hurdle j Race, was got by Herculaneum—Aconite, and is, therefore, half sister to Acone. She was picked up by her owner, John Rae, J during the last month for £25. Previous to Saturday she had only started once in a hurdle race and came down at the first obstacle. She is built on light lines. Miss Nelson was disappointed in getting through her field, or she might have beaten the winner. Hard Times, who gained third place, is an aged horse by Emir Bey, owned by Mr R. Harper, of Gisborne. Perform, a six-year-old gelding by Natator—Lucy, hung at the post when the barrier was released aud along with Fisherman (by Billingsgate) finished last. Of the ten starters for the Handicap Maiden Plate The Sharper was thought to have the best chance. However, he put up with defeat at the hands of the Gisborne owned Glenora, who won by half a length and paid a dividend of £16 12s. It is unnecessary to say the result was a surprise. Paddy O'Rorke was among the unplaced division. The First Pony Handicap was won easily by the bad-tempered Fidget, who had not caught the judge's eye first for a very long period.

. There were twelve starters for the Birthday Handicap, the leading event of the afternoon, among those scratched being St Regol, Folly, Retribution and Eve. The connections of the Wright stable planked ! their dollars on Panoply, while Acone, another representative from the stable, had but £8 invested on his chance, and o*i Doris, also trained by Wright, there were but £12. St Kilda stripped in great buckle, and Anita, Tit, Lady Marion, and Pegasus each looked well to the eye. Lady Agnes and St Kilda made the running from the start right to the turn, with Pegasus and Panoply at this stage the nearest attendants. Pegasus headed the lightly-weighted Lady Agnes about one hundred yards from home and, fighting out "the finish in the gamest manner possible, gained a verdict by a length. This is tho first race that Pegasus has won for a pei-iod of something like eighteen months, and with 7st 31b he had a pull m the weights. Keau was not confident of Pegasus winning on account of a leg trouble, which necessitated Nelson's son being Btopped in his work a short time ago, but at the time he thought the horse had a chance and he told his friends so. The result was that the public secured a dividend of £5 15s, for Kean only entrusted Pegasus with a. couple'of sovereigns himself and put one on for the rider, young Castleton. It will be remembered that Kean gave £100 for Pegasus iv January last, and he tried to get rid of him at New Plymouth during the progress of the bwfc Taranaki Jockey Club's Autumn Meeting, and later at Auckland. Panoply got into a bad position, and* was disappointed in getting through his field on three occasions, Among the eight starters for the First Hurdles were the North New Zealand Grand National Hurdle.Race candidates Bombardier, Bonovoree, Ida, Captivity and Aughadowey. The last named was installed favourite. Sterling made the running for a mile and a half, when Aughadowey went to the front and there remained to the finish, stalling off a rush from Bombardier in the straight. This was Aughadowey's second attempt at hurdle racing, and his second win. He shaped in muoh improved style since he was last seen out, clearing each "-obstacle on the journey in a most proficient manner. I referred to Aughadowey as a coming hurdler in my notes in the Refekse after the last A.R.O. Autumn-Meeting, and it was verified on Saturday. He has 81bs less to carry in the Grand National Hurdle Race than he won under in the race just reviewed, so that his prospects of winning at Ellerslie cannot be overlooked in searching for the winner. Aughadowey ie owned by' a member of the big Auckland Stock Brokers and Mining Association. Ida baulked during the race and it is evident jumping ia not her forte. The Selling Steeplechase proved a match between Kingswood and Ika. The last named was in the lead until half a mile from home, where Kingswood drew level and after a few strides got his head in front. He was quickest to reach the home turn, hotly pursued by Ika. Both riders sat- down on their mounts in earnest, but Kingswood lasted long enough to win by three parts of a length. J. Rae received an oration on returning to scale, and it was deserved, for he rode one of the best races of his life. On being put up to auction, Kingswood returned to his owner when the bidding reached £27. There were ten starters for the Royal Handicap, St. Regel being made a slightly better favourite than Lufra, the double winner at the recent Avondale Jockey Club's Meeting. Orion waa in front till the home turn was reached, when Glenora swept to the front and won with something in hand, thus once more proving there is nothing like "oliowing form. The Sharper was again second. Glenora is certainly underrated tere, but I have come to the conclusion that >ver a short course the daughter of Hippo- < ampus and Rosarina is a very speedy mare ndeed. During the afternoon the sum of £3547 ras passed through the totalisator, the lividends being good throughout. The meeting was brought to • conclusion

to-day. Rain fell at intervals during the day and the first race was run in a shower of rain. There was an immense crowd of spectators present and the accommodation, of course, was over-taxed. The racing track was naturally more holding than on Saturday, and it had to be rolled after each race owing to being cut up. The first erent on the programme, the Hack Handicap, drew out seven starters, My Sweetheart, a daughter of Hotchkiss and Brunette, being made favourite. Hairy Legs was in the lead for the first three furlongs, when My Sweetheart went to the front. She looked like winning till 20yds from the post, where her rider foolishly allowed Polite to get up on the inside, with the result that the latter got home by a neck. The winner is an aged gelding by Captivator, and is owned by Mr J. C. Booth. Bombardier and Ditto were withdrawn from the Second Handicap Hurdles, leaving nine starters. Aughadowey was made a pronounced favourite on the strength of his Saturday's form, but he was in the rear throughout. Miss Nelson had a very easy win indeed, and although she passed the winning post a dozen lengths in front of Sterling, she might have won by a considerably larger distance. Ongo's rider lost one of his stirrups or she might have been second. She jumped the hurdles very wildly, her rider being unable to control her. The race was run in much faster time than on Saturday, and Aughadowey had his weight considerably increased, and to this is attributed his dofeat. Mis s Nelson jumped each hurdle in most proficient style, and it went to show that she should have won the Maiden Hurdles on Saturday. Half a dozen starters lined up for the Britannia Handicap, and despite that St. Kilda had the load of lOst to carry through very heavy going, he was sent to the post favourite. Lady Agnes and St. Regel (a stable companion of St. Kilda) were in the van till about half a mile from home, where St. Kilda was given his head, and rushing past his opponents he romped home the very easiest of winners by three lengths. St. Kilda's running was questioned by some people, but on to-day's form he certainly has a chance of winning the North New Zealand Grand National Hurdle Race, providing of course that he can jump. In conversation with Adam Byers 1 was informed that St. Kilda will be schooled during the next few days, and if he takes kindly to the jumping business, he will be persevered with. On the other hand, should he show no inclination to fence, he will not be knocked about.

The Second Pony Handicap fell to F. McManemin's Archduke, a six-year-old geld-

ing trained by his owner. Archdukeis by The Da.upb.in—Duches3, and is a new beginner at the racing game. Fidget turned round when the barrier was released and interfered with several other starbera. During the race Dan, a six-year-old jjelding by Daniel O'Rorke—Black Bess, broke his leg; his rider escaped unhurt. At a later stage Dan was removed from the course aud destroyed.

St. Kilda was again pulled out for the Victoria Handicap and despite that he had to add a penalty of 71bs to his impost of lOat 21b, the public made him a pronounced favourite, for out of 825 investors on the machine, 352 favoured his chance. St. Kilda got well away, but The Sharper worried him soon after the start, tho pair racing into the straight almost stride for stride. In the straight the weight told on St. Kilda, and The Sharper got home by half a length, while Doris, who had been quietly supported by her connections, came with a strong ran and gained the honoxirs of second places. The two-year-old -Bavaria was among the unplaced division.

; Twelve faced the flag for the Handicap. Steeplechase, the field which started being worthy of a bigger prize than the lOOsovs given. The Giaborne horse Hard Times, the property of Mr W. Harper, owner of Donald McKinnon, was sent to the post favourite, while the next held in esteem were Donald McKinnon and Bombardier.' It was a splendid contest, the finish resolving itself

into a struggle between Donald McKinnon and Bombardier. Donald McKinnon held a rear position till the last round of the journey, when he assumed command and, stalling off a determined challenge on the part of Bombardier, won amidst excitement by three lengths. The whole of the twelve starters successfully got.over the course, Bombardier taking each obstacle in a proficient manner. Considering that Donald McKinnon had 12si; 61b in the saddle, there is a good deal of-'merit attached to hie victory, and he must hav,e a chance in the Great Northern Steeplechase. The favourite, Hard Times, failed to get in the first flight.

The meeting was brought to a v conclusion with the Welter Handicap- St. Regel romp.

ing home an easy winner. , Doris and jJThree Star figured in the unplaced divieibn.

Thus ended one of the most successful meetings held on the Takapuna course, and it was well managed by Mr R. 0. Wynyard, the popular secretary of the cjub,, The sum of £4840 was passed through the totalisator, making a total of £8383 for the two days. At the corresponding meeting last year the siim of £8849 went throughthei machine. No less than £941 was invested on the twelve starters in the Steeplechase, whjoh must be a record for the course.