AUCKLAND ANNUAL RACE MEETING.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 819, 19 January 1867, Page 5

AUCKLAND ANNUAL RACE MEETING.

THIRD DAY.— January 3, 1867. (From the ' Southern Gross,') The Auckland Annual Race meeting for 1867 concluded yesterday, and I think the public generally who visited the course during either of the first two days must readily admit that it has proved without exception the best meeting that the province of Auckland has yetseen. Yesterday, being quite an off day, there being only three advertised races upon the programme, did not, as may be supposed, attract anything like the large number of spectators who visited the course on the previous day ; still, considering all circumstances, there were fully as many present as could reasonably be expected. The early portion of the day, too, threatened wet, which no doubt proved a damper to the good intent of some. The Steeplechase, Pony Race, and Hack Race, were the three events set down in the p>-o-gramme ; added to which, a hack steeplechase was also improvised. For the Steeplechase Lord Lyon at once became a hot favourite, more especially when it became known that Weka had injured himself so severely on the previous day as to necessitate his withdrawal. I did hear, indeed, that the horse was so severely injured that it would be found necessary to shoot him. Brookes, his rider, I regret much to say, has been taken to the hospital, huving in the fall broken some of his ribs, besides putting his shoulder out of joint. How he could possibly manage to ride, as he subsequently did, is a mystery to every one, and shows him to be thoroughly game to the backbone. I most sincerely trust that a few day's restwill once more set him on his legs — a desire in which I feel assured all sporting men will cordially join me. The only accident that I witnessed on the course during the day happened to one of the Albert car drivers, named Dibble, who ran across the course at 1 the conclusion of orie of the improvised hack races, and was knocked down in consequence by one of the horses as they came in. The man was quickly picked up, and removed into the saddling yard, where every assistance was rendered him, and he very speedily recovered from the effects of the accident. If people will do such stupid things as this, notwithstanding the frequency of the cautions they receive, they have only themselves to blame if they come to grief; and should they escape being killed, they have only to thank Providence for not permitting them to be so. A great deal of annoyance has been caused to the race officials during the races by the crowding on the course of innumerable refreshment stalls, their owners almost invariably seeming to believe that they had a right there free of charge. It is hardly necessary to call attention to the great injury their presence caused to the booth-holders, who paid for their stands, and I was glad to see the stewards so actively, determined to prevent them from selling unless they paid the necessary fee. Some people have a conscience and no mistake, or rather, I should say, no conscience at all. How is it reasonable for them to expect that they would be allowed to sell free of charge ? As on the previous days of the meeting, the entire arrangements were excellently managed. In consequence of the retirement of Weka under circumstances above stated, only three horses came to the post — Lord Lyon, Midnight, and Sportsman — the former being backed at as much as three to one against the field. The lace was never in doubt from the commencement, as Griffiths on his Lordship made his own running throughout the race, closely waited upon by Midnight, themare being most artistically ridden by Glazebvook, who deserves every credit for the way in which he rode her. The mare waited closely on Lord Lyon throughout the race, and, had any accident happened to him, she must inevitably have won. The winner, however, was very carefully and judiciously ridden by Griffiths, who never made a mistake with him, but took him round the course in splendid style, winning with the most consummate ease by any distance ho chose. Sportsman showed some good jumping powers, but is sadly deficient in foot ; he also made some mistakes at his fences. He is new at the business, however, and will doubtless improve much should his owner determine upon further persevering with him. The five horses engaged in the Pony Race all put in an appearance, and when Topsy was stripped she at once became the general favourite at even money against the field, and the result proved that her supporters were perfectly right in acting as they did. Mr. Atkyns rode her capitally, and made an excellent race of it, but won very easily at the finish, without ever having been asked. to gallop. The Hack Race, as is generally the case, attracted' an excellent field, the chesnut

mare Phoebe making her.p^n rahtiM|^;o^ ■winning cleverly, but; 'not •■_ e.asUy^toi'^ig* country horse named Rangiriri;- ]b^in|;s|e| warmest competitor. Several ow^v::jm^ provised events took place, : thfe det^i ,pj? which, as obtainable, are given belw* Before concluding the account of the day's sport, I have to congratulate the race committee, the stewards, and other race officials, on the very satisfactory result that their efforts have attained. The Auckland Annual Race Meeting of 1867 undoubtedly deserves to rank chief amongst any, yet held here, and, if we can only einsure equally satisfactory progress during the next twelve months, we may reasonably hope to see even this meeting eclipsed oh the Ist of January, 1868. Mr. Dawson, the owner of Lord Lyon, I should presume to be in amongst the principal winners • during the three days. In Lord Lyon he is certainly possessed of a horse of no mean powers, and it would be gross injustice to: the lad, Fred Taylor, were I to omit to mention the very creditable manner in which he brought- the horse to the post. Fred has been entrusted with the sole and entire management of the horse — -a no trifling charge for a lad of his age, and therefore the greater the* credit due to him for the success he has achieved. Lord Lyon has won each of the three events that he lias started for, and .1 am almost inclined to think that it was a pity he was "not entered for the Auckland Handicap likewise. I verily believe that none of us know much respecting what the horse can do, arid ifc really won't surprise me should he, at some future time, turn out to be one of the best horses over the flat at any and every distance that the province can produce. There has been a great deal of chaff anent the goose-rumped chesnut, and very considerable geese has he made of those that chaffed him,' myself amongst the number. I am quite prepared to make the amende honorable, and to admit to the completest extent my error in so doing. The horse has proved himself a real good one, and the first time anyone catches me laying long odds against him, they may tell me of it. One word further, and I have done. My great friend the Blacking Merchant has decidedly not shown himself to be the genuine article: he has deceived me, as well as others, not a little, but I think I have still reason to congratulate myself on the success of my tip for the races, which, if not entirely correct, was, I believe, quite sufficiently so to enable any who may have been foolish enough to follow it to pull themselves through comfortably.