SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7824, 18 December 1886, Page 6

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. NEW ZEALAND. December 18-Otahuhu Racing Club. December 27, January I—Canterbury Jockey Club December 27, January 1, 2-AuckUnd Racing Club December 27-Hawkes Bay Jockey Clnb. . December 27—Pukokohe Rsclng Club. December 28—Drnry Racing Club. v December Warkworth lt»oe*. January I—Napier Park Racloi: Club. January 4—Walpu Jockey Club. . January 7 and B—Northern Jockey Club's Summer Meeting. January 16—Onehunga Racing Club. January 29—Takapuna Jockey Club, January 29-Watu* Jockey Club'e Annual Meeting. February 8. Wellington Racin? Club. April 11. 12—Auckland lUclng Club. DATE? OF NOMINATIONS AND ACCEPTANCES. December Acceptances and entries Thames Jockey Club Races. December 21—Acceptances Pukekohe Races. December Reminatlons Wtukworth Races t ac* oeptaaoes, December 28. Deosmber a2—Acceptances Christmas Handicap and Hurdle Race, and final payment Auckland Cup. December Nominations Takapuna Summer Meet* ing ; acceptances January 21. December Nominations Onehunga Jockey CM' Summer Meeting; acceptances January 7. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. H.M.—Fred. Archer was married on Januarys!, 1883, and his wife died somewhere about the end of the same year. - ■ Wag KB.—Fair Play was not scratched for the races you same. He did not accept, so that he really remained In the race up to tho time of cloving the acceptance list M.—Nelson, Wnltirl, and Victoria finished In the Order named for both the Auckland Cup and the A. R. C. Handicap 1 •st year. Wacub.-T. Taylor rode Foul Shot when he won the Auckland Derby. Waikxto.—Disowned was got by Albany from No Name ; Torrent by Apromont- Watowprlte. W.— Fair Nell is a half sistor to SirModred: Chantilly half-brother to Welcome Jack. Both were got by Apromont. J.a.M.-Fu>illade won the New Zealand Cup, carrying 6st Tib. Hβ t\n unplaced in the Canterbury Cup. He was weighted at Bst 71b in the last New Zealand Cup, but was scratched some days before the race. He did not start during the meeting. J.R. —a mile has never bee run by any horse in 1.35. Eingflsh ran the fastest mile ever run in Australia when he w.<n the Hawkesbury Guineas, one mile, in 1.40, at Hawkesbury. Ten Uroeckran a mile in 1.39J, at Louisville, in Kentucky, in a match against time, in April last. The best English record for a mile is 1.88, by Buccaneer.

NOTES BY PHAETON. Thb coming week will see Auckland turfites pretty well in the thick of their annual racing carnival, and as but nine days from now have to elapse until we anive at Cup day, those who are holding back for something to turn up, and give them a line for the Cap, will soon have to bring their deliberations to a oloae. Those who followed the advice I gave regarding the chances of Nelson and Waitiri, when the Cup weights made their appearance, have certainly so far no cause to regret their action, and at present it appears to me that the first and second last year will again fight out the final question on this occasion. During the week Nelson has been striding along in gceat style in his work, and he has proved to me that he will take a power of beating, while Waitiri is looking bright and healthy in her coat, and strides along as - free as one could wish to see. A horse that has been a good deal mentioned daring the week in connection with the race ia Lochiel, and I have heard some excellent judges giving it as their opinion that the son of Prince Charlie can absolutely win ; but if we are to aocept his running in the New Zealand Cup as a oriterion, I certainly fail to fathom how they arrive at the conclusion. In that iace, Nelson had 9at 101b, Lochiel Bst 21b, and Waitiri Bst 51b, when the former finished five langthe in front of the son of Prince Charlie, while the latter was only a short neck in front of Waitiri. In the present race. Nelson has 21b less, Lochiel 41b, and Waitiri 101b, which, viewed in the light of his New Zealand Cup performance, would appear to give Mr. Stead's horse little chance of this time finishing before them. That Lochiel is a very brilliant horse over a mile aud a half, I should be quite prepared to admit, but when a two mile and a quarter journey is introduced into the question I shall elect to worship at the shrine of the proved stayers, and leave him for the present among the doubtful division. During the coming week Ray may show ua something with Disowned and Fusillade to cause a reconsideration of the question, but my view at present ia— Nelson or Waitiri.

Everything augurs well for the success o the Otahuhu Racing Club's meeting to-day The programme to be gone through is ; lengthy one of eight events, and it wouli only appear to require fine weather to brin about some capital racing and a most enjoy able afternoon's sport. The following are th acceptances and entries for the variou events:— Hurdles, tTo mile?.— 12st 61bs; Maralo 10it Sib ; SUwaneta, 9it 121b; Alfred, 9st lOio ; Rowdj 9at 10lb ; Master, 9st 101b ; Ma Petite l'iilo, £U 7ib Larrikin, 9j: 311). Stbkplks. three miles.—Belle, 12at 91b; Falcon list 9lb; Qutlp, list; Tiger, lOst 9lh; Hunt.maE 10«t ; Howdy. 9at lSlb; Manter, 9st 121b ; Leo, 9s 121b ; Fair Lilian, 9it 121b ; Commission. 9.U 71b. SniiUKBAN Plat*, one mile and a-half.—Friendship Sst 41b ; Wapiti. Sat lib ; Mitrailleuse, 7st 13tb Victor;, 7it 111b; Dressmaker, Jit lllb : impress 7et 61b ; Lionel, 7st 41b ; Pipi, 7st lib ; Taniora 7et ; Cat. On 121b-; Contractor, en 41b. Flying Handicap, one mile.— Mitrailleuse, 9» Sib ; Fslondshlp, B>t Mb ; Dressmaker, 7st lllb ; Pipl 7«t 61b ; Empress, 7et 51b; Orphan, 7st; Green Mount 6st ; Octopu*. Out ; Harold, Git. Handicap Poky lUok, one mile.—Firefly, 9.1 7!b ; Makiri, 9at 71b ; Mignonette, 9*t 71b ; SancU fly, 9st ; Escape. O»t : Poodle, 9st ; Little Nell 9it ; Moth. Sst 71b ; Line Mary, Set 71b ; Sybil Bst 71b ; May Queen, Bst ; Nelly, &st ; Gipsy, Bst Ruby, S«t. Belli.no Hurdles.— Ptpi [£30], fiowdy [£80] Scout (£Bo], lUkiu [£80], BUrney [£80]. Banmuap STaitPLKa. -Fair Lillian, Leo, Commie sloe, Kowdy, Belle, Huntsman, Master, Qailp, Falcon Tiger, Record. Maidbn Plat t.— Lionel, Antelope, Cannon, Tamora Reckless, Green Mount, Harold, Mayflower. My selections for the various races are :— Maiden Plate Tamora or Greenmount. Hurdle Race: Belle. „ Suburban Plate: Friendship. Steeplechase: Falcon or Huntsman. . Flying Stakes: Friendship. Business has been a little brisker on the Auckland Cup and Steeplechase during the present week, but the interest evinced in this respect certainly falls far short of thai of previous years. Nelson still continue s i warm favourite for the Cup, and the ring are apparently disinclined to take any liberties with the son of King Cole. 100 to 33 was accepted about him on Thursday. Yesterday 3 to 2 was the beat offer against him. The support accorded to Waitiri has been confined to small lines on the part of the public; but one of the shrewdest of the ring on Thursday betted an even fifty that she or Nelson supplied the winner. Lochiel has been made the medium of good support, 300 to 36 being accepted in one hand about him straight out, and, coupled with Jim for the Steeplechase, 300 to 12 was written about him. 200 to 30 was accepted each about Disowned and Fusillade; but backers are awaiting a move from the stable before speculating very much on . their chances. Clogs, Victoria, and Tetford have also come in for fair support. The following are the prices on offer:— 3 to 2 tgat. Kelson 4 to 1 Waitiri 0 to 1 —— Disowned 6 to 1 Lochiel 7 to 1 Fusillade 100 to 8 Victoria 100 to 7 Clogs . 100 to Cinderella At Tattersall'e last night 100 to 8 was accepted about Victoria for the Cup, and 200 to 5 was pencilled against Tetford and Belle for the Cup and Steeplechase, and 100 to 4 Nelson and Silvio, 100 to 8 Tetford (300 tku), JOO to 5 Kingflsh (300 tkn) ; 1000 to 10 Tetford for Auckland Cup and Lady Nora for Wellington Cup. A special general meeting of the members of the Auckland Racing Club was held on Tuesday for the purpose of reconsidering the new rule recently passed dealing with the totalisator and country racing. On the question being brought up, it was pointed out that the clubs rules forbade any decisions arrived at by a majority of members being reoonsidored during the current year ending August 31 after such decision had been come to. There was therefore no alternative but to let j the •.rale remain as previously passed. Rule 130 relating to jookoys' fees was rescinded, and the following passed in its stead: — "In the absence of special agreement, the fee to a winning jockey shall be 5 per cent, upon the nett amount received by the owner, up to £200, i and 2£ per cent, additional for all money over that sum; provided that in no case shall a winning jockey reoeive less than £3. The fee to a losing jockey shall be £2 in any race up to £100, £3 up to £500, and £5 for any race over that amount. In hurdle races and steeplechases double these fees will be allowed." ' Pasha being an acceptor for the principal events of the Hawke's Bay summer meeting, it is understood he will not fulfil his engagement in the Auokland Cup ; bus it is quite on the cards that the eon of The Mute will be brought up to take part in the second and third day's racing*

Tf there is one particnlar point in connection with a big race that the publio like to get early intimation of it is the probable riders, and in order to indulge my readers a little in this respect, I may etate that W. Brown will once again have the mount on Nelson, while C. Rudings will ride Lochiel; A. Woods, Waitiri; W. Cochrane, Diaowned; G. Williams, Cloge; E. Pearson, Viotoria ; and Sutherland's name has been mentioned in conneotion with that of Tetford.

Our Christchurch correspondent telegraphs :•—•• Peter Oabeult is not going on well, and it is unlikely that he will take part in the Auckland Steepleohase. A number of Christchurch sportsmen have left for the North." After an absence of over a week from the track, Tetford made hie reappearance on Tuesday last, and has been doing strong work during the week. It is rnmonred that, after the conclusion of the Auckland Meeting, the Hon. VV. Hbbinson's team will be taken to Australia. Both Disowned and Torrent have valuable engagements there in the autumn. The Hon. Jae. White has announced his intention of being present at the sale of Sylvia Park yearlings next month. Report says that the Sydney sportsman has set his heart on securing the sisters to MartiniHenry and Nordenfeldt, and if such is the case, no matter what figure they go to, he will have them, for no greater follower of winning families exists in these colonies than the popular Sydney sportiniane. F. Gentry arrived during she present week with the steeplechaser, Jim. Though this horse is aa yet a maiden at the cross • country game, good judges aver that he will take a power of doing in the race to be fought out over the big jumps at Ellerslie on the 3rd January. It was freely stated dnring yesterday that Jim had thrown out symptoms of lameness in one of his legs, and it would be just as well for backers to leave him alone for the present. The Sydney«owned Kingfish has made wonderful improvement since he came into Chaafe's hands, and if he runs up to the form j I ha»e seen him display on several occasions on the training traoks the Southern cracks, Disowned and Artillery, will certainly find in him a worthy Derby opponent. WheninMonaghan's hands the great complaint against the son of Piecatoriue was that he would not try in his work, and was a great slug into the bargain ; but in this respect he is altogether an altered horse, for on each occasion I have seen him gallop he has been fighting for his head, and rnoet anxious to make the pace a cracker. Tigredia's scratching for the Auckland Cup was not, as many supposed, owing to the mare having again shown signs of unsoundness, but solely on the ground that her owner wante a line before despatching her on a journey. The handsome daughter of Leolinus and Ainohia is at present training, and in a most satisfactory manner, and will probably be seen out at the Napier meeting this month. The new grandstand at Ellerslie has now bad the finishing touches administered to it, and will probably be taken over from the contractor during the present week. Trident is said to be looking wonderfully well; and Trenton's condition shows that the great racing he has gone through has not affected him very much. The eon of Musket is being worked left-handed, with a view to the V.&.0. meeting in the autumn. The absence of Kingfieh from the training track during the past two mornings has led to the circulation of a rumour that all is not qnite well with him. The colt's heels, I noticed, were a little sore the other morning, and that may be the cause of his absence. In one of the races Ormonde recently started for in the old country, a well-known plunger laid £10,000 to £500 on his winning. The son of Bend Or gave him no cause for anxiety during the contest, for he scampered home a first by eight length?. The New Zealand bred Lurline has this year dropped a colt to Snwarrow. Like his half brother, the mighty Darebin, the youngster is brown in colour.

The Melbourne Leader tella its readers that the New Zealand Cup, won by Spade Guinea, was worth £119 2s. Only a thousand short of the real total. Some of the New Zealand papers (says "Augur" in the Australasian) blame Robertson for not coming sooner with Trenton in the Melbourne Cup. As Robertson was at his horse for the last mile this is hardly fair. The unbeaten Ormonde has won a greater amount in ttake.s than has ever been netted before by any English racehorse. His victories, numbering nine, represent £22,928 10a, thus heading the celebrated Achievement's score of £22,422. Ormonde is said to be thoroughly eouad, and is expected to go on winning races, if all continues well with him, for a couple of years or so more. For the edification of those who have not means of reference handy it may be mentioned that Caller Ou won 49 races out of 9S starts, Kincsem was never beaten and ran 54 times, and Fisherman won 70 races out of 120 attempts ; but in many cases the stakes were what would nowadays be regarded as very low. There are a few races oa the English turf which the late Fred. Aroher never succeeded in landing, and the Cambridgeshire Stakes is one of them. This year he rode St. Mirin, who was only defeated a head by Sailor Prince, after a great race. Mr. P. Reynolds , mare Powder (dam of Areenal and Crossfire) has this season dropped a filly to Goldsborough, and being thus a full sister to the foregoing, should bring a big figure when led into the sale ring. The value of a good brood mare was never better exemplified than at the late Canterbury Jockey Club Meeting. The imported mare Rupee bad three of her descendants running. One was a two-year-old colt named Silvermark, by Apiremont; another a three-year-old sister named Apropos; and the third Spade Guinea, by King of Clubs. The firstnamed won the principal two-year-old race, the Welcome Stakes of 300 sovs; Apropos appropriated the Lance Memorial Stakes of 500 sovs ; and Spade Guinea annexed the New Zealand Cup of 1000 sovs. This is a splendid record for one atud matron.

The Melbourne correspondent to a country paper has the follewing :—'• The sporting doctor (Dr. O'flara), who did so well by the victory of Ben Bolt at Canlfield. ia reported to have already plunged his £7000 worth of winnings away, and, if the talk of the Rooms be true, has gone £3000 to the bad over recent race meetings. The story goes that he had a very bad Cup week, putting down ooin in lamps without ever troubling hie head about owners' intentions, or even saying a word to them that he had backed their animals. The consequence was that there were a number of 'stiff un'a* carrying the doctor's money, whereas if he had put the owners on to some of the money he had taken about their horses tbey would have 'spieled , them, or in the still more euphonious language of the turf, they would have been 'on the job.' Aβ it is, our friend went down badly at Williamatown, and the ringmen are furious at having to give time when they had come up to the mark ao punctually themeelvee. The other large winner by Ben Bolt's Caulfield victory has, however, done more wisely, and still holds in his purse the £10,000 he won, and a very poor show have the metalliclans got of ever seeing any of it." The following is the liat of mounts, wins, aud defeat! for the principal English flat race riders for the past season :—

Mounts. Won. Lost. P. Archer (deceased).. 476 168 318 O. Wood .. ..408 132 278 " 0. Batrett .. ... 577 103 474 J. Watts .. ..400 83 317 F.Barrett .. .. 443 76 372 J. F«g»n 233 63 170 T. Cannon .. ..225 59 166 The V.R.C. made a profit on their last Spring Meeting of £14,807. As there was £1525 more added money than for the previous ' year, comparatively speaking, the profits wore £16,332, as against £12,632 realised on the Cup carnival of 18S5. The difference affords a substantial index to the increasing popularity of the V.K.C. Spring Meeting. - Under the heading " The Prince of Plungers," an English paper s»ys :—The brief oareer of the late Marquis of Hastings, the owner of Lady Elizabeth, if not one "to point a moral or adorn a tale," is, for all that worth recalling. It was at once brilliant, hazardous, and disastrous. Fortune, the fickle jade, finding him a young peer of easy disposition, employed herself for four years in knocking him down and setting him up, and then knocking him down again for a finish. He drew a 500 guinea prize in The Duke nut of the Hampton Court lucky-bag in 1863, and, by '• following the blood," The i JSarl fell to his nod three years later for 50 guineas less. Per contra, King Charles (1500gs) and Robespierre (1650) were the re suit of leas happy inspirations from the top of a drag, and it is said that the cheque for Kangaroo was nearer £12,000 than £10,000. Ackworth's purchase and his Cambridge-

! "hire Stakes victory was ft ct^T^ , fresher" early in the day,\£uJ? "*• after, when hie Lordship seemed ? L *» scarcely a horse left in his stable T »*« whom none suspected to be a clcV«! urer disguiee, led the "forlorn hope,2,, on « >Jk the Ceearewitch and another not J^ 6 * Like a giant refreshed, the Maraud nlgoldmet the Quorn as master at Kirbv p.* ° Dl y went in with such spirit against Her*? b,lt £103 000 was the Derby balance £g* J* With the second October meeting I hlßl ' came over his fortunes. It was am< ?e chequered week. Nairate, ahigh-breW* proved a failure, and as the MaS, , always hankered after The Earl he w * suaded to back Lady Elizabeth T Per for the Middlepark Stake*, for " was left sitting in a tantrum ' anT ,he finished fifth ; there was another ffj race, curiously enough, was tin. J ,l, to both Derby and Oaks. The two Lr were in the same stable with Bl De Go»« ' Formosa ; the Oaks and One Thou B an? ner was fourth. Then Fortune wag at i!' old tricke, and the young peer won ~ l victory with his mare over Jalj* * a , ° b » 91b for the year, as will be talked of ■!? y as there is a Weatherby calendar to reJ» 8 a cover-box to sit on. There could h ° C pretence that Julius was stale or slow . 5° had only two days before " romDed v, ' „ first for the (Wewitch SUke?under and he had reached Lord Lyons' head in A , spring. It certainly did look at if the th events of 1868 were over. Lord Hutfelt so sure that he proclaimed from his private printing press: "Lady ElizaWu (1), Blue Gown (2), Pace and The £ h dead heat for third place. Won by f * lengths." We all know now how tfi f prophecy was nntnlfilled, and what a , a ending this noble football of Fortune Wi Hβ certainly deserved a better fate. • The Duchess of Montrose is etill fnlj t idle fancies as of old. Her horse Oh occupied a box in the same stable a>? Cob, a well supported candidate J or t ? e Cesarewitch. The Duchess was not to T daunted, and was so anxious over oL that the stable was lit up at midnigft make sure that all was right. There is some talk of founding a race to be worth £100,000 net at Newmarket £ subscription of 50sovs forfeit or lOOaovs if the horses are not struck out by a certain date ; bat nothing is definitely settled with regard to its conditions, and it of course re mains to be seen whether a sufficient numbed of entries can be obtained. The two-year-old form in the old countre Iβ at present rather confusing. The Baron! by Xenophon—Tantrum, by Lord Lyon has already been backed for the blue ribbon at 8 to 1. This colt has, I think, run about font time 3, and is still undefeated, though on two occasions he only just pulled through One of the best two-year-old performers ii the Middle Park Plate winner, Lord Cal thorpe's Florentine. He is a beautifully bred colt, being by -Hawthorndale by Kettledrum ; her dam Lady Alice Haw'. thorn, by Newminster. So he possesses no less than three strains of Touchstone. Lady Carrington, wife of the Governor of New South Wales, has announced her intention of giving a gold cup, which will be associated with the Sydney Cup, to be run in the autumn. Odds of 100 to 1 were laid on Ormonde for the Champion Stakes, which the son of Bend Or had no difficulty in landing.

AUCKLAND RACING CLUB'S SUMMER MEETING. General entries for the Summer meeting of the A. B.C. were received at the office last night. They were in all respects satis. factory, and surpass previous entries in » great many respects. It is manifest that the increased attraction of big stakes has drawn the cream of the Southern horses into com. petition, and as on all hands the great races are acknowledged to be very open, there will be intense interest in the results. The following are the entries received last night :— Maidek Plate of lOO.'ov, one mile and a-hatt-Lionel, Contractor, i con i Larry, Torrent, Ginnon, Silver Prince, Citpsby. Antelopn, Guy Fawkei Tatnora, Rockies*, Lidy Norah, Wit Tyler. ' MiDS MMEB stakes of'.iOOaov. five furlongs.-Han, cot, Lady Alice. Leolinus- Jfetraleuse filly Queeiie Bangle, Niagara, Forma, Cruchfleld, Lady Florin! Handicap Hurdle Race of 150sov, two miles and a-quarter.— Belle, Ma Petite Rile Muter Agnes, Manalß, Silvio, Tiger. Guy Fawkes, Omata. iUwenata, Coral. Railway Plate of lOOsov, three-quarters of a m'le.— Artillery Mitrailleuse, Lady Alice, Torrent Howitzer, Scot Fiee, Forma. ' Christmas Handicap of lOlsov, one mile anda-half —Wapiti, Artillery, Mitrailleuse, Victory, Silver Prince, Cat-sby,' Antelope, Turquoise, Tamora, FjicndshlD, Cindirella, Clogs, Kuwi, Reckless, Be. proach, Lady Norah, Libeller, Okato, Oremome. Selling Kaob, of 50.0 v, one mile.—Lionel, Pipl; Sirßedevere, Blarney, Harold, Capells, Luckpenny, Kaiwaka, Kosewood. Great Northern Derbv of 75030 v, one mile and a half.— Cannon, Tamora, Artillery, Kingfiih, Lady Norah, Silver Prince, Torrent, Liisowned, Catesby, Howitzer. Ktw Year's UunDLE Racs of lOOsov, twomileiMagnosu, Belle, Ma Petite Fille, Master igues, -Mauam, Rowdy, Alfred, Silvio, Tiger, KawenaU, Coral, Uuy Fawkes, Omata. Mkjibkrs' Puuse of lOOsov, one mile.—Mitrailleuse, Leounus, Petroleuse filly. Torrent, Cinderella, Scot Free, Tctforil, Lady Norah, Livelier, Nelson.

• •rkat North Foal STAKES of 300iov, «X furlongs.— Bangle, Lady Alice, Laojr Florin, Fornii, Leolinus—Peiroleuse filly, Queenle, C.utciiliold, ii* lists, Niagara. Nf-wmarket H NEicAFof lOOsov ; six fnrlonn.Clogs, Mitrailleuse, Leorina, Torrent, Silver Prince, Catesby, Antolope, Howitzer, Friendship, Tamon, Cinderella, Brown Rose, Keproacb, Kingfisb, Lay Norab, Okato. Gr ndstand Hakdicap of 150sov; one mile »nd* half.--Victoria, Wapiti, Artillery, ijitrallleuse, Torrent. Silver Prince, Catesby, Turquoise, Friendship, Tamora, Waitiri, Cinderella, Mystery, Clog?, Heckless, Cremorne, Kingtisb, Libeller, Tetford, Lady Norah. Nurskuy Handicap of lOOsov; six furlongs.Haricot, Lady Alice, iCruption, ch f Loolinos-Petro-louse, Lady Florin, Balista, Uansett, (jneenle, Gipsy. Pittan. Bangle, Niagara, Formo, Cciithlieiil. Auckland Platk of 2£ojov, two miles.— Artillery, Di33wn«d. Tnrquoise, Derringer, Kingfish, Tetford, LRdy Norab. Nelson. selling Stakks of lOOsov, one mile.-Britannw, £100 ; Lionel, t>11; Eruption. £100 ;ch t LeolinaJPetroleuse, £200 ; Cannon, £100; Pipi, nil; Antelope, £100; Blarney, nil; Gre«nmount. nil; Rewl, nil; lieckless, nil; The Cat, nil; orpuan, nil; Ok»to, nil. Silvia. Park Stakks of i!00sov, iii furlongi.Balista, Niagara, forma, Queenie, Gipsy, Lady Florin, Bangle, Leoiinns—Petroleuse filly, Lady Alice, Victoria Handicap cf lOVsov, one mile— Rosy, Wapiti, Master 4gnes, Mitrailleuse, Ktuillule, Torrent. Disowned, Silver Prince, Citesby. Lioness, Turquoise, liowltzer, Friendsnip, Temora, Vlctori*, Greentuount, Mystery, Kewi, Brown Kose, Keproach, Cremorne, Klngflsu, Waitirl, Lady Norab, Tetford, Libeller, Nelson. Yesterday Mesera. B. Tonka aDd Co. sold by auction the rights and privileges of the races to be held at the Christmas and New Year holidays, under the auspices of the Auckland Racing Club. The le»n-to bar was sold to Mr. Martin for the sum of £H0; the grandstand bar, to the same buyer, realised £85. No. 1 booth was purobaied by Mr. D. Urquhart for £95 ; No. 2 booth, by Mr. L Adams, for £40; No. 4 booth, by Mr. Martin, for £40; No. 5 booth, by Mr. McLashen, for £32 10s. The cards were Bold to Mr. YVm. Adams for £230. Three Good Templars booths were bought for £9 10a each, Mrs. Hunt being the purchaser, who was also the purchaser of the fruit stalls for £16. The stabling was purchased by Mr. Follais for £10 10a. From the above it will be seen that the club, notwithstanding the cry of dull times, have realised vet" fair prices.