PONY RACING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 480, 13 April 1909, Page 7

PONY RACING.

** MIRAMAR APRIL MEETING. AUTUMN HANDICAP A DEAD-HEAT. The postponement of tho second day of tbi Wellington Pony and Galloway Racing Club'i April meeting from Saturday to ycsterda; was not as unfortunato. as ifc at first ap poared. Beautiful weather prevailed yes terday, and tho result was a large gatheriiij on tho course. The track was on the hear side, moro particularly at tho northern end where 1 tho water had not soaked away sine* tho heavy rain. The centre of tho coursi was a small lagoon, on which a large num ber of seagulls foregathered until disturbei by' , the cab horses. Although tho heavy goinj necessarily: affected tho fields, the racing wa; good, several excellent finishes being wit nessed. The big event, tho Autumn Handi cap, resulted in a dead-heat between thi lleet-footed Anrifera, winner of the Easte Cup, and Sweet Lethe. The well-inforniei were not inclined to givo the Easter Cu] winner a chance on tho heavy track, am long odds were obtainable, Sweet Letho am St. Helena ranking first in tho public csti mation. After tome, delay at tho barrie Sweet Lethe got away nicely, closely followei by Aurifcrji. At the first bend the latte drey; up, but Sweet Lethe took the leai again, and raced in frout all the way alonj the back, with Aurifera, in close attendance The little black mare was first into til straight, and a gfeat race homo ensued. Botl riders got their whips out, and the two ponie, responded gamely, and a brilliant finish endei in a dead-heat. Miretta was third, a coupli of lengths away, St. Helena next, and Moat; last. Only three out of tho eleven entrant, for the Maupuia Handicap faced the starter the winner turning up in scantily-fanciei Mytre, which got a Hying start, and led al tho way round the course, stalling off a chal lengo by Firefly in tho run home, and win ning with case. The Second Maiden fell ti Anglican. Prince Roy led to the back of. tin course, when Anglican and After Dark tool a hand. The race resolved itself into a fifih between these- three, Anglican getting thi verdict by a couple of lengths from I'rino Roy. An alleged outsider in Lady Dauphh had a. two-lengths advantage of After Dark Merrie Oliver, and AVeo Nannie at the end o tho Konini Handicap. Merrio Oliver wa badly left at the post, but finished a gooi third, making up the lost ground in good style Miss Ivy accounted for the Avenue Handi cap without an effort. Psycho, the popula fancy, fell at tho N.W. bend, tho jockey (B Stephens) escaping with a shaking aiid i scratch or two. A protest lodged agnins Miss Ivy for alleged crossing of Firefly com ing into tho straight was dismissed. Thi final race of tho day fell to St. Heleua, Swce Letho holding on to the winner until nen tho winuiug post, when she was displaced b; Merrimanu, who gained second place with ; brilliant late run. Details of the racing are: — MAUPUIA HANDICAP, of 20 sovs. Fiv furlongs and a half. —Mr.'- J. Craig's Mytre Sst. 91b. (Todd), ] ; Mr. W. Whiting's J'irc fly, 9st, 01b. OVadham), 2; Mr. A. Caillcr , Miss Ivy, Sst. 101b. (Thompson), 3. Tlio onl; starters. Time, Imin. IS 3-oscc. SECOND MAIDEN RACE, of 20 sovs Four furlongs and a half. —Mr. .1. Driscoll' Anglican, 9st. 4lb. (Wadham), 1; Miss E Ansell's Prince Roy, Bst, 41b. (Willoughby) i; Mr. F. IT. Day's After Dark, Ost. (Todd) 1. Also started: Soprano, Bst. 811).; Stranded isa.. 81b.; Bobs, Bst, Time, 63 3-r.sce. ' AUTUMN HANDICAP, of 40 sovs. Si: furionns.—Mr. P. Blake's Aurifera, list. Dili "fodil), and Mr. F. Avant's , Swept Lothe, !)st I2lh. (Cooper), dead heat, 1; Mr. W. Whit ing's JMirotta, list. 41b. (M'Donald), 2. AJs. started: Moata, 10st. 111b.; St. Helena 10st. Sib. Time, Imin. 25sec. KONXNI HANDICAP, of 20 sovs. Fou furlongsj—Mr. W. Waiting's Lady Dauphin 3st. 21b. (Thompson),. 1; Mr. F.' H. Day' After Dss-k, Bst, 41b. (Todd), 2; Mr. \l Francis's Merrio Oliver, 10st. 31b. (Towers) 3. Also started: Wee Nannie, 9st. 111b Time, 57sea i AVENUE HANDICAP, of 20 sovs. Fiv furlongs and a half.—Mr. A. Cailler's Mis Ivy, Sst. 81b. (Thompson), 1; Mr. W. Whit ing's Fireuy,'9st. 3.01b. (Wadham), 2; Mi A. Robinson's San Toy, Bst. 81b. (Todd), S Also started: Psyche, gst. 131b. Time, lmiii 20 2-ssec. TAUHINU HANDICAP, of 25 eovs. Fou furlongs and a hal'f. —Mr. W. Kennedy's St Helena, 10st. 131b, (Willoughby). 1; Mr. R Eager's Merrimann, Bst. 91b. (Johnson), 2 Mr. F. Avant's Sweet Lethe, lOst. (Cooper) 3. Also started: Billy, lOst. 71b. Tho next meeting of tho club will bo tli Charity Meeting, to bo held on April 23.