SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6280, 3 January 1882, Page 6

SPORTING.

♦ AUCKLAND RACING CLUB : SUMMER MEETING. Second Day. The second day's racing of the A.R.C. bummer Meeting took place yesterday, under circumstances quite as favourable as those which accompanied the opening of the meeting on Boxing Day. The weather was simply glorious. There was a bright sun, a clear sky, and a gentle breeze, while the recent rains, having lent renewed growth to the grass and herbage, gave a refreshing fragrance to the air. The fact that the Thames aud Coromaudel steamers and the Helensville train brought in large numbers for the New Year's holidays, and compensated for the drainage iu excursions, made ifc certain that the attendance on the course would be as large (if not larger) as it was on Boxing Day. The anticipation was fully realised. It is true that the outgoing trains from the city were not quite so crowded. People gained experience from Boxing Day, so there were larger numbers by omnibuses, an immense increase of private traps, and a good proportion walked tiie distance in preference' to having to suffer the crush and delay of the railway. Past experience or receut warnings seem to have no effect in the way of improving the convenience of railway travelling to and from the course. The day trips were managed with tolerable ease, although there were crushes in the carriages, • which should not have been necessary. The return trips, and the scenes accompanying them, showed in a striking manner the insufficiency of the plant, or the inefficiency of the management, or both. The affair was simply disgraceful. Just as the crush got towards the platform, after the last race, a train well filled, but not crowded, started away, while the crowds were kept back by railway officials sitting on the rails of the sheep pens through which ingress and egress is allowed to and from the course. The public displayed an extraordinary amount of patience, for the officers, pleading orders, were allowed to hold their positions, but in the meantime women and children were unmercifully crushed and hustled. Sergeant Gamble, in the worst portion of the hustle, endeavoured to attract the attention of the manager, who was in close proximity, but could not make himself heard, and all appeals to the officials sitting on the rails and the odd constables who supported them were met by the imperturbable plea of "orders." This was bad enough, but mere play to what followed. The second crush got on the platform when the first train left, and there they remained for upwards of 35 minutes, sweltering, swaying, shrieking, and swearing. At length the tardy train came up, consisting of carriages and trucks, into which all and sundry hustled pellmell. Shrieks and roars were the music of the day. At length the train started, and after travelling at a snail's pace, reached the Ellerslie station, a distance of about a mile from the course, where a stoppage for about 40 minutes occurred. Numbers, tired of waiting, got out to walk the remainder of the distance to town, but the majority kept waiting, anticipating a momentary start. The heated and sweating crowd bore themselves according to the individual temperaments, and one fainting woman was taken out of the train and left on the green bank, where she lay when the train at length started down hill for town. We feel it necessary to call attention to the painful inconvenience which has been experienced on account of railway matters. If it continues it will seriously affect the revenue of the Racing Club, and we sincerely hope that before the next meeting the railway authorities will be able to meet the moderate requirements of the place without a renewal of these painful scenes. The concourse at the races yesterday was large, but it would have been very much larger had the means of transit been better. The two grand stands were crowded, the chief one being mainly occupied by elegantly-dressed ladies. . The totalisator was largely patronised, but the bookmakers also seemed to do a good business. The usual half-crown sweeps prevailed universally, and the greatest public interest was manifested. Impey's band played on the lawn in the intervals between the races. The first event, the Derby, only brought out a field of two—the Yattendon-Peeress colt, and Mr. A. Bucklaud's colt Smike, by Papapa out of Una. The of the latter caused great dissatisfaction, and numbers blamed the rider (Hodson), but the stewards held an investigation, and after hearing evidence exonerated the rider from all blame. The Publicans' Purse only brought out a field of four out of ten acceptors, and Billingsgate was at once made a hot favourite. Although slightly lame, he appeared to have improved on his Boxing Day form, and he won with comparative ease, beating Maori, Othello, and Miss Domett. The Racing Club Handicap was the grandest ever run on the Ellerslie course. The finish was so close that The Poet only won by a nose, the two next ran a dead heat, and Lara headed the main division of a large cluster for fourth place. No person out of the immediate vicinity of the judge's box could have told which of the first three was the winner. Tim Whiffler was the favourite at the start. In the paddock he received a kick from King Quail, but the effects were hardly serious enough to affect his running. The Selling Race was an easy victory for Billingsgate, who was bought in by his owner. Tho only other competitors were Vampire and Stanley. The Grand Stand Handicap resulted iu a victory for Mr. J. Smith, and was won by his mare Maid of Honour, beating a good and well backed field. The following are the details of the events :— Derby Stakes, a sweepstakes of lOsoys. each, with lOOsovs. added. 2sovs. on nomination, Ssovs. on acceptance on day of general entry, and osovs. at post. Colts, Sst. lOlbs.; fillies, Bst. 51bs. Distance, 1$ miles. Closed, 14 subscribers. Mr. W. Walters' br c by Yattenden— Peeress, 3yrs, Bst. lOlbs. (Wattie) ... 1 Mr. A. Buckland's b c Smike, 3yr3., Sst. lOlbs. (Hodson) 2 There was no betting on this event, which was looked on as a moral for the Peeress colt. The latter, it is true, was stiff and out of form, but no one considered his rival (a green colt) dangerous. The race was a curious and most unsatisfactory one. The Peeress colt got the best of the start, but Smike made the running from the starting post past the stand and to the turn in the rails. Here he to all appearance became unmanageable, and was pulled back on his haunches, thus giving Peeress colt a good lead. He closed up with the colt again in the cutting, raced him down the turn into the straight, but on this turn he again swerved and was apparently pulled up, but he got into stride again, raced up the straight, and only lost the race by a neck. Time, 3mins. Bisecs. Both horses and riders, coming into the paddock to weigh in, were hooted. No protest was lodged, but the stewards, recognising the public feeling, held a meeting to investigate the circumstances. It was presided over by Mr. J. M. Clark (Mayor) and the other members present were Messrs. Taylor, S. Morrin, Barber, Major George, Kirkwood, McLaughlan, Graham (judge), and Roche (starter). The first witness was Mr. A. Buckland, tho owner of Smike. He said the horse ran on its merits, but he did not even know who the rider was to be. He was

selectedbyhisson. Hethoughtthehorsecould have gone better if let go, and could have distanced the other. Mr. J. S. Buckland said his instructions to Hodson were to go away and get a good lead, then to steady his horse, and keep the lead to the end. His instructions had not been cai-ried out. The horse was difficult to hold, but he had never known him to bolt. T. Hodson, the rider, said Mr. Buckland told him he did not think he could hold the horse, and to take a pull on him. The horse tried to get off the course, and he had to pull on the one rein to keep him on it. The witness was questioned closely, but his evidence was confirmed by Wattie (the rider of Peeress colt) and Mr. Jackson (surveyor), who had his glasses on the race all the time; and on the motion of Mr. Kirkwood, seconded by Mr. Barber, it was resolved that the stewards exonerate T. Hodson, the rider of Smike in the Derby, from all blame. Publicans' Purse, of lOOsovs., with a sweepstake of Ssovs./'each ; the amount accruing from sweepstake to go to second horse. For two-year/olds aud upwards. Winner of Rail way Plate to carry 71bs. extra. Distance, 1 mile. Mr. W. Walters' b h Billingsgate, syrs., 9st. 21bs. (Wattie) 1 ' Mr. D. White's b h Maori, aged, 9st. 21bs. (Clarke) 2 Mr. J. Lennard's b h Othello, 4yrs., 9st. (Laing) 3 Mr. J. S. Bucklaud's br m Miss Domett, 4yrs., Sst. lllbs. (Derritt), also ran. This only brought out a field of four. Foul Play, Badsworth, Maid of Honour, Hilda, Florence, and Teaambra were scratched. The bettins; was 2 to 1 on Billingsgate, 2 to 1 against Maori, 4 to 1 against Othello, and 5 to 1 Miss Domett. The favourite although showing a swelling on his near forekuee, and some stiffness in his hind quarters, was on the whole in better fettle than on Boxing Day. Maori's fine form recommended him to many, and he was held high in the betting, and Othello also had backers on account of his fine performance in the Maiden on Boxing Day. Billingsgate started with the lead followed by Miss Domett, Maori last, and in this order they reached the cutting. From this Maori began to come up, and before entering the straight had second place. The favourite won with his rider sitting up the straight by a length, all the others hard whipped for places. Time : lmin. 49secs. Selling Race, of lOOsovs., with a sweepstake of 2sovb. each added. For two-year-old and upwards. Winner to be sold by auction immediately after the race for 300sovs. If entered to be sold for 200sovs., allowed 71bs.; if for IOOsOYS., 141b5.; if for SOsovs., 211bs. Distance, 1 mile and 240 yards. Mr. W. Walters' b h Billingsgate, syrs., 9st. 31bs. (Wattie) 1 Mr. D. Taylor ns. b h Vampire, aged,SOsovs. (T. Taylor) 2 Mr. J. S. Buckland's br g Stanley, aged, lOOsovs. (J. McGee) 3 This race was taken out of its order, and before the Racing Club Handicap. It only brought out a field of three, for Rand wick, Paramena, Rewi, Lara, Ratcatcher, and Florence were scratched. The betting was 3 to 1 on Billingsgate, 5 to 1 against either of the others, without backers. Stanley led to the cutting, with Vampire lying well up, and the favourite last. On emerging from this the favourite was let out, and won easily by a length, Vampire second, and Stanley a moderate third. Time, 2min. The winner was put up for sale, and bought in by the owner at £295. Auckland Racing Club Handicap, o 200sovs.; with a sweepstake of osovs. each ; the amount accruing from, sweepstake to go to second horse, and third horse to save his sweepstakes. Distance, 1J miles. Mr. G. Bates' ch g The Poet, 4yrs., 6st. 91bs. (Newman) 1 Messrs. Mason and Vallance's cli h Rand-v.-ick, Gyra., Sst lOlbs. (Wattie)f Mr. J. Smith's b h Tim Whiffler, 4yrs., 7st. 91bs. (Derritt)+ Mr. W. Adams' br h Lara, aged, 7st. Gibs. (T. Taylor) 4 Mr. S. T. Horsfall's br h Ring Quail, 6yrs., Sst. 71bs. (J. Ivemy), Mr. D. White's br h Maori, aged, Sst. 21bs. (Clarke), Mr. J. Hunt's br g Yatapa, aged, 7st. lOlbs. (McGee), Mr. A. McDonald's ch h Badsworih, 4yrn., 7st. 91bs. (Carrington), Mr. J. Lennard's ch h Kenilworth, 4yrs., 7st. Slbs. (J. Laing), Mr. G. Bates' b m Hilda, 4yrs., 7st. 51bs, (Williams), Mr. F. Quick's b g Matau, aged, 7st. (J. Laing), Captain Walmsley's ch h Moonstone, 4yrs., sst. 14! bs. (Wood), also ran. Thus the chief event of the day proved also the most exciting of the meeting, and the amount of money changing hands on it was larger than would ba supposed. Out of fifteen acceptors a good field of twelve faced the starter, and those struck out did not affect the betting. Tim WhifHer's grand form, and his performance on Boxing Day, had the effect of making him a hot favourite, but when being led about in the saddling paddock, King Quail made a vicious kick at him, and struck him. A creat deal of alarm was experienced until Tim Whiffler appeared in his preliminary canter, and showed all right. The betting was 2 to 1 against Tim Whiffler, 4 to 1 against Hilda, Maori, King Quail, 5 to 1 against The Poet, and G to 1 against Randwick and Kenilworth ; 10 to 20 to 1 against the others. As usual with I such a field, there was a difficulty at the j start, and Moonstone galloped half way back the course. At the start, Lara, showing in some of his old Cup form, sprang eagerly to the front, as if determined to make the pace, and this he undoubtedly succeeded iu doing. He held his prominent position to the back, where Quail was lying in the rear guard, Hilda also well back, The Poet and Tim Whiffler forging forward through the company, but all so closely mixed that the colours were like kaleidoscope scenes, aud riders were undistinguishable from the Stand. After coming through the cutting a grand race ensued round the turn and up the straight. The favourite, with Poet and Raudwick, succeeded in shaking off the others, aud raced home under the whip so closely that fe w on the course could pick the winner until the numbers were up. It was won by Poet by a nose, Raudwick and Tim Whiffler running a dead heat for second ; and Lara, the head of tho second division, wa3 fourth by about a length. Time, 3min. llAsec. All who witnessed the race were satisfied that it was the best contest ever witnessed on the course. The enthusiasm, as the leaders came up the straight, was almost painful. Grand Stand Handicap of lOOsovs., with a sweepstakes of 3sovs. each ; the amount accruing from sweepstake to go to second horse. Distance, l| miles. For three-year-olds and upwards. Winner of A.R.C Handicap to carry 51bs. extra. Mr. J. Smith's b m Maid of Honour, syrs., Sst. Slbs. (Derritt) 1 Mr, W. Bobbett's br g Parameua, oyrs., 7st. (Williams) ' 2 Major George's b f Tenambra, 3yrs., 6st. (Wood) ... 3 Messrs. Mason and Vallance's ch h Randwick (6ys., Sst., Wattie), Mr. J. S. Buckiand's blk m Miss Domett (4yrs., 6st. 121b5., (J. McGee), Mr. D. Taylor ns. br h Vampire (aged, 6st. 121b5., T. Taylor), and Mr. J. Roelstou's br g Retriever, 4yrs., 6st.. (H. Kelly), also ran. Billingsgate, Maori,

Othello, Badsworth, Lara, and The Poet, 1 were scratched. The betting was 6 to 4 j against Maid of Honour or Randwiek, sto s 2 against Hilda, and 10 to 1 against the J others. A great deal of dissatisfaction was < occasioned in this race through the eccentric conduct of Hilda's owner. The mare was in the paddock, her jockey weighed, wagers taken, andevery thing ready, when, to the astonishment of all, the mare was scratched and taken out of the race just as the horses were going to the post. Of course the public will require some explanation. The bookmakers, in that emphatic manner which they make peculiarly their own, insisted that bets must stand, and if so a good many people will be skinned. The race was won from start to finish by Maid of Honour, with Paramena second, and Miss Domett third. No ollicial time was taken, but the pace was fast. The totalizators on the racecourse yesterday were largely patronised, and at the conclusion of the day's races it was found that close upon £2000 had been put through. Mr. Percival will be on the course at 10 a.m. to-day for the purpose of showing jockeys over the Steeplechase course.