SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4852, 5 June 1877, Page 3

SPORTING.

AUCKLAND JOCKEY CLUB—AUTUMN" MEETING. FIRST DAT. The course was excessi%'ely heavy, in consequence of the downpours of rain which prevailed for some days previous, aud this, from first to last, tended to make slow running. The attendance on the course was good, though scarcely so large as we anticipated, more especially on the grand stand, but there was, however, at the commencement of the races about 3000 present on the course, and sundry book-makers eagerly canvassing for clients in the betting market. Shortly before the appointed time for the starting of the races, half past tweh-e o'clock, there was little in tho saddling paddock except Mr. AValters's horses to show that there were to be races at all. The first race was to have started at half-past twelve o'clock, but it was not until shortly before one o'clock that the saddling bell rang for the first race. In the meantime the race officials bad taken their positions. Mr. Robert Graham occupied the judge's box, and Mr. \V. J. Marks had rigged up an apparatus which served as a scale. Mr. T. A. Brown, in his scarlet coat, cleared the course; aud Mr. Wynyard, with his flags, took up his position at the starting post. Everything was ready, and people were eagerly waiting when the saddling bell rang for The Champagne Stakes.—A Sweepstakes of lOsovs. each; h.ft. ; colts, Sst. lOlbs.; fillies, Set. 711)3. Distance, 6 furlongs. Mr. Win. Wallers'* cli t Venus Transit (Freuch) .. 1 iMr. James Watts'a eh g Louglands (.Mutthews) .. 2 Mr. A. Biic'ilanil'.s blk f Quem Jlub (Itoclen) .." 3 Mr. J. Leonard's eh f Vi'uus (Breuiner) .. .. 0 ilr. U'yiiyard's cli f Lady c'oveutry (Millison .. 0 A capital start was obtained, Venus, a foal out of Minnie Athol, going away with a strong lead, but neither fitness nor blood was in his favour, and he had to give place to better stock. It was a line race, although the speed was not very great, the time being lruin. 2Gsec. Mr. Walters's popularity on the turf was evinced by the hearty cheers which greeted his colours when Venus Transit's jockey was weighed in.

Tradesmen's Plate (Handicap), of 40sovs. .Distance, 1 mile. Mr. W. Walters's br h Izaak Walton, i years, 7st. 41ba. (CantsU) 1 Mr. O. iMcGee's b m Perfume, 0 years, Sst. Clb3. (Hudson) -2 Mr. A. iiuckland's blk g Magician, aged, Ost. 121bs. 3 Mr. J. M. Uussell's Daybreak, aged.. 6st. lClbs. .. 0 .Mr. iMwards's br c Barou, 2 years, s»t. 71b*. .. 0 Mr. Watts's horse Ariel, which was sujected to a penalty of 9st. in this race was withdrawn, as he had to run for the Birthday Handicap, and win it if possible. The bettiug after this became known was 5 to 1 against Daybreak, Magician, and Baron ; C to 4 against Izaak Walton ; and even on Perfume. The start was not a very successful one, as Daybreak was left some lengths behind, and his chance was afterwards spoiled, by his being shoved out of the course. Magician took np the running and led from the start with Izaak Walton and Perfume on his stern. Coming towards the straight, both successfully challenged Magician and passed him, and a game run home ensued between Izaak Walton and Perfume. The comparaively heavy weight which the gallant mare had to carry told against her at the close, and she proved unequal to the hot contest cut out for her by the brown horse, who again, and for the second time, landed Walters's colours in front by three-quarters of a length. Time : lmiii. 50' sec. Hurdle Kace Handicap of 40 sovs., with a sweepstake of 2 sovs. each for acceptors ; amount accruing from sweepstakes to go to second horse. Distance, 2 miles, over eight lligkts of hurdles. Mr. 11. D. Vavasour's gr g Shaughraun, i years, 9st. 51b.i. L'opesteake 1 Mr. J. Biick.and's ch g Butcher Boy, aged, list, lib. (Wilson) 2 M>. Thomas's b h Buckstone, nged, 9st. 121bs.

(I'avlor) : .3 Mr. 81. hdgar's b g The Don. aged, lOst. (Thorpe) 0 Mr. w. Waiters'a dim Medea, 5 year?, Sst. lulus.

(Hudson) 0 Mr. \v. liobbett'3 l> g The Arrow, aged, 9st.'(o«ner) 0 Betting : 6 to 4 against Shauqhraun, 3 to 1 against Butcher Boy, 4 to 1 against Buckstone and Medea, and 0 to 1 against The Arrow. A capital race ensued between Shaughraun, Buckstone, and Butcher Boy. It appeared in coming up towards the straight as if the Butcher was " sewed up " for want of speed, and that the finish would rest between Shaughraun and Buckstone. This, however, was not the termination, for Buckstone fell back, and the Butcher challenged Shaughraun for first honours in the straight, collaring him so closely, that onlookers had to wait the judge's decision, There were cries of " JJead heat, Sliaughrauu and Butcher Boy;" but the telegraph board set matters at rest so far as bets were concerned. It was won by a nose. Birthday Handicap, of 100 sovs., with a sweep of 3 sovs. each, the amount accruing from sweep to go to second horse. Distance, "2 miles. Mr. 11. D. Vavasour's, b g Piilo-a-wce, 5 years, 7st. 7Uis. (Alkius) 1 Mr .Umes Watts's b h Ariel, -1 years, Sst. 131bs. (M.itthi-ws) 2 Mr. 10. Henry's I) K blianui-cti, 5 yivrs, Ost. Slbs. (Taylor) l> Mr. <J. C. ilcUee's g in Kiss, 4 years, Sst U Although the acceptances for the Birthday Handicap were not numerous, and the speculation was somewhat limited, it was one of those instances iu which for the bookmakers there was a most effectual boil over. Watts's Ariel was the favourite ; betting on him mounted from 0 to 4 against to 0 to 4 for; and, so far as appearance weut when he was stripped, the general as well as professional opinion was that it was unsafe to bet against him. The run home was between Ariel and Bide-a-wee —a hard-flogged race, which was won by the latter by about a length. Hukey Scuiuty, of 20 sovs. Catch weights. Distance, once round. Winner to be sold for 20 sovs. immediately after the race. Any surplus to go to tho funds. Mr Leonard's Rally 1 Mr. Met lee's Xeujpleton 2 Sir Charles j> Chance 0 Monitor 0 Micky Free j> £T :: :: :: :: :: :: :: S j ack 0 Hit-oV-iniss'. 0

As tho shades of evening were falling when the time for this race came on, there was not so much interest shown in it as might have been expected.