"Weekly Press and Referee."

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9522, 15 September 1896, Page 2

"Weekly Press and Referee."

AUCKL..ND. September 1. It was anticipated that the bsst juvenile for Spring Meetings would come from Ellerslie, bat if all reports are true there is a flyer trained at Mr Lennard's farm at Mangere that will upset all calculations. This is the gelding by Rsgel—Mystery, who is reported to have done something good the other day in company with his stable companions. To-day a wager of a thousand to thirty was taken about Day Star for the New Zealand Cup. Subsequently two hundred to six was laid. September 7. Alter a hard fight the Auckland Racing Club have succeeded in getting a permit for their First Spring Meeting, which is accordingly announced to be held on the dates originally fixed, September 19th and 23rd. The obtaining of this permit has been brought about by the Papakara Racing Club having waived their right to hold their meeting during the 1896-97 season, while the A.R.C. pay liabilities of something like £125, which the Papakura Racing Club owe to horse owners and others. The announcement that the meeting would take place has caused joy among the local trainers at Ellerslie and elsewhere. All is now bustle and activity in the direction of getting their charges in readiness for the opening of the season. Nominations fell due on Friday night and they must be reckoned in every way satisfactory. The owner of Waiuku has not overlooked the f*ct that Ellerslie is a happy hunting ground, for St. Leger _ son and he therefore once more figures among the entries. Mrs Lennard has not nominated Fabulist for the Spring Handicap, the leading handicap of the programme, as the winning of that race would mean a three pounds penalty for the New Zealand Cup. However, he is entered for other races at the m-jeting. The nominations for the Hunt Club Cup total twenty-four against twelve raceived last year.

The Hawke's Bay sportsm*n, Mr W, Douglas passed - through here en route to Sydney. He will be present at the A.J.C. Spring Meeting.

It is thought that the winner of the A.R.C. Welcome Stakes, at the forthcoming meeting will come from the Castor —Necklace colt, Janet (by Castor —Cissy) and St. Evelyn (by St. Leger—Lady Evelyn). The two last named are in Wright's stable.

The sum of £1400 has been taken from the local penciilers about Day Star for the New Zealand Cup.

Mr Sam Bradley's racehorses, including Impulse and Armour, are in the sale list.*

The Committee of the Auckland Racing Club mat this afternoon when the following programmes were passed:—A.vondale J.C. Spring, October 3rd and 10th; Avondale Summer, March 17th (St. Patrick's Day) and 20th ; Gisborne Racing Club, December 28th and January (date to be fixed); Tek.raka (no totalisator to be used) December 26th. Twenty-two new members were elected.

J. Gallagher, the well-known horseman who is attached to Geo. Wright's stable, returned from Sydney last night, where he had been riding for Mr J. C. Booth.

Pirate by Brigadier-Satanella, is being tried at the jumping game. He is entered for the Hunt Club Hurdle Race to be run at the A. R. C. first Spring Meeting. The committee of the Auckland Racing Club this afternoon refused a jockey's license to W. Ashdown, of Gisborne. The cause, of course, was not made public. It will be remembered that Ashdown rode Donald McKinnon in the last Great Northern Steeplechase. At the meeting of the Auckland Racing Club's committee this afternoon a resolution was passed that all racing clubs using the totalisator must advertise their programme at least once in the New Zealand Racing Calendar, The Rj-F-Bee, in terms of the resolution passed at the conference of representatives of New Zealand of Jockey Clubs held at Christchurch in November last.

The Auckland Racing Club have resolved to increase the license fee of bookmakers to bet at their meetings during 1896-97 season to J. 50. Last season's license amounted to £26 ss. Visiting bookmakers are to be charged 7gs. each day for permission to bet. From this it will be seen that the A.R.C. intended to raise a large revenue from tha bookmakers. I expect to hear of a protest against the fee, for it must be admitted that it has been made extra stiff during the 1896----97 season.

The inside and outside totalisators will be worke„ together at the meetings of the Auckland Racing Club, and one dividend paid. I think the move is in the right direction, and as a pressman, I tender my thanks to the committee for the new idea. The old system caussd endless mistakes.

The two-year-old colt by St. Lsger —Tingara, in M'Manemia's stable, has had his name altered from Ledger-keeper to St. Cristair.

Several Gisborne horses figure in the A.R.C. First Spring Meeting nomination list. Among them are Mr J. J. Harding's jumper Avis; Mr W. E. Cooper has entered Miss Baavan, a six-year-old mare, by Emir Bey, and Lignite, by Emir Bey. Mr A. Sawyer's Hukatere is also nominated. In the Hunt Cap figures Glengarry, andagelding owned by Mr C. A. Loughnan of Napier.

The jumper Te Uku, which was brought to Auckland last June by E. M'Elwain, is now the property of Mc W. Austin, a son of Mr Austin, the well-known local owner and dealer.

Among the nominations for the A.R.C. First Spring Meeting, is the jumper Beggarman, by Louis d'Or. He has had a long spell at Kohimarama, where Mr. A. Boyle, his owner resides. September 8. This morning Day Star got through a good gallop on the course proper at Ellerslie. St. Paul also did a useful gallop. Both of these horses are well forward. Mr Evett's handicaps for the A.R.C. First Spring Meeting have seen the light of day. In the Spring Handicap Anita is well handicapped, and St. Paul and Acone have nothing to complain of. In the Steeplechase nothing strikes mc as being better used than Levanter.

Mr W. Percival's well-known hunter, Jim, the winner of last year's Pakuranga Hunt Club Cup, fell over a hurdle and got staked. He was leading Pirate at the time he met with the mishap. Mr Percival's Jim must not be confounded with the Gisborne horse of the same name, who is entered at the coming meeting.

St. Clements is going on all right at r Ellerslie, and he is a regular attendant on the course. With 7st 12lb he is nicely handicapped in the Otago Cup.

The racehorses Avis, Lignite, Miss Bevan, and Jim, which are being brought from Gisborne by the Te Anau, arrive to-night-Mr Stead's brood mare, Ich Dien, arrives by the same steamer.

Mr George Lorain's chestnut filly, two yeare old, by Hotchkiss —Bridal Rose, has been named Bouquet.

The second forfeits for the Royal Stakes 1896-97, Great Northern Derby and Foal Stakes which fell due on Friday last are not yet made up, so Mr Perctval informs mc.