SECOND DAY.

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

SECOND DAY.

The second day's meeting at Ellerslio was not so successful as the lir»t. The weather, which for a wonder held up during the Queen's Birthday, broke at night, and rain fell at intervals during the day in heavy showers. Although there was but little attraction cither for tho general public or for racing people, the course waa simply wretched. Pools of water extended across it at every hollow, and where these did not exist, there was liquid or porous inud, which made the course dangerous and bad. The attendauce was meagre. Bookmakers were shy, and scratches were frequent, but favourites were plentiful. This did not quite appear in the lirst event of the day, but it waa apparent afterwards. The lirst race called was the St. -Legek Stakes, of 100 sovs., with a sweep of 10 sovs. each added; h.ft. for acceptors. (Jolts, Sat. lOlbs. ; fillies and geldings, Sat. Tibs. St. Leger course. 1 mile 0 furlongs 132 yards. Mr. Win. Walters's lire Hippocampus, Sst. lOlbs. 1 Captain J. Wiumsloy's or u Aerolite, Sat. 101b. , . i These were tho only two in the race. It was well understood that there would be no contest, and when, alter the start, Captain Walmaley's horse wa3 pulled up, there was no surprise except amongst a few uninitiated individuals, who lost more or less money, and who hooted Captain Walinsley's horse when he came in from the wrong side of tho course. Hippocampus cantered part ol the way and walked the rest. It waa an easy victory for Mr. Walters, whose luck was undoubtedly in during thia meeting. Flying Stakes, of 40 sovs. for two-year-olds and upwards, added to a sweepstake of 2 sovs. each. Weight for age. Winners since Ist .November, IS7O, of a weight-for-age race of 50 sovs. to carry 31bs. extra ; of 100 sovs., ulbs. extra; of 200 sovs., lOlba. extra, i' mile. Mr. W. WiiUers's ch f Venus Transit, Ost. 21b?. (Mulgravu) 1 Mr. Watt's ch g Lynslauds (including 311)5. eitia), Cat 61ba. (Warren) .. •• ;- tvll ,Vi ?,

Mr. fiusscTs b g Dayt.reak. Sit. lllb?. .. 0 llr. ... mitkliinrt'i Queun M;il>, Iht. 21b3 . .. 0 Mr. Hunt's Cotkiighter, Ost -21!j- 0 This was, with the exception of the Steeplechase, looked forward to as the race of the day. From the commencement Watts's colt and Walters's filly wem favourite?, and before leaving the saddling paddock, they were backed at even against the Held, betting being 4to 1 against the others. The two

favourites led off from the first, and before half the distance was run, they had drawn off from the others. The book-keepers bet on the colt, but the colours of Mr. Walters were in demand, especially as he had something good to carry them in the Peeress filly. There was a slight demand for Louglauds, in consequence of the state of the course, but the colt and tilly came into the straight together, having left the others a long distance behind. How the race would terminate was a mystery, but just in front of the post the tilly drew ahead, lauding Walters's colours once more in the front by nearly a length, amidst loud cheers. Venus Transit is one of the best bred fillies in the colony, and will make her mark yet, and prove a credit to her stables. Better blood she could not have. She is by Derby, or Sledmere, it is a matter of conjecture which, but the impression is, by the latter, out of that magnificent j mare Peeress. Mr. Walters has good reason to be proud of his lilly as well of his inagniliceut colt Hippocampus. Ariel, at 9st. 3lbs.; Shannecn. at Sst. 131b5.; Bide-a-wee, at Sst. lolbs.; and Els;v, :\t Ost., were scratched.

Handicap Stekplei'hase, of 70 sovs., with .1 sweepstake of .'■{ so vs. each, the amount accruing from swee[> to go te second horse. Difetance, about 3A miles. This was, undoubtedly, the chief event of the day. The course was excessively rough, bail for man and horse, but the money was worth going for, and the winner must not only be a good goer but a sure juniper. Here .Mdiou's colours came for the first time into prominence at this meeting. Xever did Perfume show to better advantage. The chase was loug aud rough as well as heavy ; the jumps were such as to strike terror into the rider's heart, the pace was likely to prove speedy, but Perfume was equal to all those emergencies with Hudson ou her back, not withstanding the tremendous penalty of list. lOlbs. which she had to carry. But we are going too fast for the race, and had better begin at the beginning, as follows :— 1 Perfume, list. lOlbs 1 liu'cliur Buy, list ■> Coiiii:LUKht"K!ing''r, list. 211)5. 0 Bilckstone, 9st. 41Us 0 Don, Cst. 1011 m 0 The race hardly afforded tho interest which was expected. Perfume, ridden by Hudson, went away from the start, only recognising one jump, which she did not refuse. Old Butcher made .1 game race, but, having refused once, his chances were lost, aud all he could do was take second honours, Buckstone being third. Autujix Handicap, ofSOsovs., added to a sweepstake of 3 sovs. each. Weights to appear by S o'clock p.m. ou first night of the races. Distance, IA miles. Mr. W. Wnltor.-i's Ilippou.minis, 7st. 13,bs. .. 1 Mr. H. D. Vavasour's Biclc-a-Wc-, Sat 2 Mr. Watts's Ariel, Bst S Perfume, Klsa, Shannecn, Baron, and Magician were scratched, the Handicap not suiting the books of the owners. The race was virtually between Hippocampus and Bide-a-wee, and was won by the former by threequarters of a length ; thus placing Walters's colours on the post once more. Selling Race, of 30 sovs., added to a sweepstakes of 2 sovs. each. Weight fjr age. The winner to be sold by auction immediately after the race for 200 sovs. If entered to be sold for 150 sovs., allowed Tibs.; if for 100 sovs., allowed 1-llbs.; if for 50 sovs., allowed '211b5.; if for 10 sovs., allowed 2Slbs. Distance, 1 mile. Mr. Win. Walters's br c Isiak W.-ilton (150s .vs.) Sst. 711)3 1 Mr. K. Henry's b g Shannecn (jOsovs.). 7st. B'ibs... 2 Mr. A. Bucklancl's blk g Magician (lOOsovs.), Sit, lib 0 Daybreak, which had been entered at a selling price of 50 so\ s., was scratched. The race t«s the fisherman's from first to last. Shanneen pushed him towards the close, but Izaak came away when he wanted to, recording another victory for Mr. Walters.

Consolation Stakes. This was the last event on the programme, and it was a poor affair for a wind up. There were only two entries, It was in point of fact a match between Medea aud Shauueen, and it was won by the former. This brought to a conclusion the Autumn Meeting of the Auckland Jockey Club. It was more successful so far as contests can be reckoned, than any birthday meeting which lias been hc-lil for years past, and the manner in which it was carried through, is very creditable to the olliccrs of the Club. The attendance at the race course was, on nccouut of the threatening weather and boisterous squalls, ralhur limited, but this did not interfere materially with the success of the races, which, witli the exception of the first event ou the programme, were contested witli a keenness which guaranteed the genuineness of the betting, FOOT RACE AT ELLEItSLII':. On the 20th of May, just before the conclusion of the proceedings <>£ the Hunt Chlb, an interesting mile race took place on the Foot race course, near the Kllerslie Gardens, between two local puds of some celebrity, viz., Fugau aud Nelson, the former giving the latter 41) jards in the mile. There was quite a large attendance. The course, in consequence of the rain which had fallen, was rather heavy, and this had a tendency to increase, the favour iu which Kagau was held, he being the stronger and heavier man of the two. The race was for £-0 a side, aud as there w as a large attendance, considerable interest was manifested, aud some little betting took place at even money. Air. U. C. ' McUuu ollie-iated as starter, aud Mr. Perkins as judge. A good start was efi'eceeil. The -uile nice necessitated three runs round the course. At the termination of the first lap Nelson had rather increased his iead, but Fagau put on steam in the second lap, and gained considerably,

reducing .Nelson's lead to about 10 yards, but the latter exhibited powers oE endurance which few would have looked for, and gained rapidly until tlin back of the course was reached, when he had increased his lead to about 30 yards. Fagau theu tried to put on a spurt, but failed in doing so, and, seeing that his chances of success were gone, he gave in, leaving .Nelson to finish alone. The time—umins. 2acos.