THE AUCKLAND RACES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 80, 28 December 1917, Page 9

THE AUCKLAND RACES

' : . NOTES ON.THE RUNNING. (By TeleuraDh-dueciat Corrusuundent./ Auckland, December 27. The outstanding i«uure oi yesterdays races'at'Juiereiiß-'wae ihf compicte roul ot the Uip lavouiitea. tub excepuou oi-uynic, none of tne first five tavournes ivere ever promiuent. 'tan, wtto got away badlv, ami uecineu slow to get into his bu-.uo, uiitiiat'ea to get iuto ntth place, and -was. Bows strongly at the eud.oi the race. . The must remarkable pertonuauce ivas tliat of ited Bib Don. She could not eet on terms with Fiery Cross, but with That exception she had the race won at anv stage. It seems certain that more must be heard of her during the incetijus. She is only called upon to carry an «lra Bib in the Summer Oup, whereas Fiery Cross has gone up from Bst. 01b. to .set. Jib Her brilliant performance created a verv favourable impression. Jlr. O Lou. nor" did not keep the horsee long al the post when the line-up was ordered, says the "Herald," "and an they dashed, aw.* the colours of Mullingar were seen in the van, but he was soon steadied down, and half way across the top stretch Adjutant was in front, and he led-to the mile and a quarter post, but shortly after passing that point he met with trouble winch culminated in Wβ rider being unseated. Fiery Cross and Red Eibbon were racing almost level in the lead at the stand, but Fiery Cross had the best of it at the bottom, of the straight, and the son of Glenapp was eaual to coping with all subsequent challenges. As they ran across the top Red Kibbon came again, while Mullingar and Multiply were making strong cllorts to get up. Hed Eibbon seemed likely to get the Best of her southern rival for a few strides inside the distance, but Fiery Cross responded gamely to the last call, and drawing away, won his race nloely at the end by three-quarters of a Ifcngth. That the pace tfae a cracker throughout, the time (3mln. 254.55ec.) recorded, amply proves, each constituting a fresli standard so far as EUerslie is concerned. Fiery Croßß had' previously placed some important events to his credit, but something like a strong opinion prevailed that a journey emending to sixteen furlongs would prore beyond hia powers. Fiery

Cross settled the matter entirely in his ■favour, and he is now to bo accepted as a proved Btayor." In the Foal Stakes Pontoon looked like a winner at one etage. Ho was going along in fino stylo, but swerved when insido tho distance, and causod Demagogue to lose some ground. Tho latter, however, succeeded in recovering himself, and, finishing strongly, defeated Finmark by three-q.uartors of a length. Tho Hurdle Baoe was foufflit out at the business end by Fishor, Sir Solo, and Oluetanus. As the three approached tho last hurdle. Fisher was loudly proclaimed tho winner, but he did not make such a good jump as Sir Solo, and was unable to recover what ho had lost. Gluetanus ran a good race. Tatlmi, who was never dangerous, broko down three furlongs from home.

. Tho Railway Handicap was tho best race of the day. Hymcatra, who wan next to the rails, commenced vory quickly, and the ohestnut colt, carrying tho field along at a great rate, looked like an outright winner. Inside tho distance the son of Hymettus showed evidence of distress, and King Lupin, Keeping up a fine run, just got up in time to make a dead heat of it. The six furlongs were cut out in tho fast time of lmin. 13 2-ssec, which is only one-fifth of' a second outside tho record for tho race, held by King Lupin. The performance of Long Rango In the Nursery Handicap was a brilliant one. He did not get away well, and wae blocked at one stage, but came again in the straight with great dash and won with something to spare. , The outside totallsator found great difficulty in dealing with the enormoue amount of business oflering, and thevc was some dissatisfaction at the method adopted In paying out the dividends. Although several windows wcro used' for that p.urpose, they we're open for only a certain time, after which investors had to attend at a single "late dividend" window. The congestion was accentuated after the sixth race the decision of which resulted in a dead heat for first place, and the' lioree that finished third was coupled with ono of the dead-heaters. As a result the totalisafor stall had to pay out on three horses instead of two. This they were unable to do to the satisfaction of the public, many of whom had not received their winnings until some time after the decision of the last race. Many complaints were expressed The transport facilities were not sufficient It was a difficult matter to ■ get the people out, and it is still more difficult to carry'them home. All the waiting conveyances were filled within a few minutes after tho decision of the last race, at 5 5 p.m. From that time until 7 p.m. large crowds waited patiently, each vehicle being filled immediately on its arrival. The final journey to the city was not completed until about 7.4 a p.m. On Boxin" Day last year 7000 passengers were carried, the number during the four days racing of last year's Summer Meeting being nearly .18.000.