SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9029, 16 April 1888, Page 5

SPORTING.

THE TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB'S AUTUMN MEETING. The Autumn meeting of the Takapuna Jockey Club was held on Saturday afternoon, and it was a sign of the times that, notwithstanding the popularity of this meeting, and the singular advantages by cheap and regular means of transit afforded by the fine fleet of the Ferry Company, and the exceptionally small charge made for admission to the course, the attendance was very much smaller than usual. This, we have no doubt, was due to the fact that there has been such a plethora of racing recently that the public have simply become tired of it; and further, that owing to the existing depression people have neither the means nor inclination to patronise the racecourse to anything) like the extent which they formerly did. With the exception of want of punctuality in getting off the events to time the management was excellent, and in fairness to the officials, we may state that the chief delay was caused by a protest in the hurdle race, in regard to which a large amount of evidence was taken. One or two mishaps occurred during the races, the principal ones being in the hurdle race, in which Holly and Don came to grief at the first hurdle, and the riders were somewhat shaken, Windsor, the rider of Don, being bruiced about the face, and Collins, the rider of Holly, sustained such a shock that it was some time before he was able to rise. Both jockeys were promptly attended by Dr. Walker, but it was found that neither had sustained any permanent injury, and the horses escaped without any injury at all. Mr. W. H. Fen ton lias hitherto occupied the judge's box, and Mr. Thomas Stevens wielded the starter's flag very successfully, while Mr. F. W. Marks officiated as clerk of the scales, .and Mr. Joseph Chadwick, ably assisted by Sergeant Gillies, was clerk of the course. Mr. Vosper fulfilled the duties of treasurer, and Mr. R. Wynyard those of secretary. There were two totalisators worked, one inside the paddock and the other outside, but the moneys were put into one pool, so that only one dividend was paid. There were some very fair dividends paid during the day. It was said that Mr. W. W. Robinson, the handicapper, made a mistake in producing his handicaps before the results of the Onenunga meeting became known. This may, perhaps, account for the thinning out of some of the fields, but it was manifest that he had in each instance well concoaled the winner, for in only 0110 of the handicap races, namely, the hurdle race, did the favourite win, and in tho Autumn Handicap, appropriated _by The Cat, the handsome dividend of £13 5s was paid. The police, under Senior-Sergeant Pratt, rendered every assistance in their power to the stewards, and the Devonport Brass Band, under the direction of Bandmaster Morris, performed a number of selections during the afternoon. Nothing could exceed the arrangements made by the Devonport Ferry Company for the conveyance of passengers. Their new purchases—the Eagle and Osprey— put in commission with the other ferry boats, and a rapid and uninterrupted service was maintained through the whole day, and at the close of the races the passengers were conveyed back to Auckland withont hitch or delay. The following are the results of the races : Maiden Hurdle Race of '2osovs. Over six flights of hurdles. Three-year-olds to carry 9st 101b ; four years, lOst 41b ; five, six, and aged, lOst 61b. For all horses that have not won any handicap hurdle race. One mile and a-half. Mr. J. B. Williamson's b g Artist, lOst 31b (Frewin) Mr. J. Kean's b g Huntsman, lOst 31b (Nolan) ... Mr. W. Bond's cli g Sirloin, lOst 31b (Had field)

. \XLa*iiiV7iU/... ... ... ... ... o : Wat Tyler, Gazelle, St. Michael, and Fair- • play also ran. Rob Roy, Kangaroo, and i Yuba Bill were scratched. Huntsman was made favourite on the machine. The horses got fairly off, and Artist was the first to go . to the front, followed by Wat Tyler and Sirloin as his nearest companions. He maintained his lend round the course, and past tho stand, and again round to the back, where Huntsman ran into second place, and encouraged his backers by making a race of it through the home turn, but when fairly in the straight Artist came away, and won -easily by two lengths, Sirloin a moderate third, and the rest scattered. We may remark that after the first round the race was virtually a flat race, all the hurdles having been knocked down. There were 461 10s tickets on the totalisator, 94 on the winner, and the dividend was £2 4s. Selling Rack of 30sovs. For three-year-olds and upwards. Mr. H. Sanson's b g The Squire, Bst 61b (Pearson) 1 Mr. H. Harrison's b h Catesby, 7st 121b (Wright) ... 2 Mr. W. Robertson's b m Capella, 7st 131b (Kat terns) 3 Reproach, Briseis, and Oil Guard also ran, Miss Alice, St. Michael, Venetia, Sirloin, and Yuba Bill being scratched. The Squire was the favourite on the machine, and getting well away, he won from start to finish by two lengths, Catesby securing second place in the straight from Capella. There were 60S 10s tickets on the totalisator, 224 on the winner, and the dividend was £1 4s. Handicap Hurdle Rack of 45sovs, second horse to receive ssovs out of stakes. Over six flights of hurdles. One mile and three-quarters. Messrs. Hayr Brothers' br m Ma Petite Fille, 9st 31b (Laing) ... ... ... 1 Mr. M. Gallagher's gr g Peter Osbeck, list 91b (Mahon)... ... ... ... 2 Holly (9st 21b, Collins) and Don (Bst 71b, Windsor) also started. Recruit, Rob Roy, Sirloin, Wat Tyler, Gazelle, and Wideawake were scratched. Ma Petite Fille's victory on the Epsom racecourse the previous Saturday causcd her to be made a warm favourite for this event, although Peter Osbeck was considered to have his chances improved by the lessened distance of the course. Othe;« expected a good deal from Holly, as he is known to have a good turn ui speocl. Ma Petite Fille led to the first hurdle, which she cleared with Peter Osbeck, but in attempting to follow, both Holly and Don fell heavily, and as their riders were too much shaken to remont Ma Petite Fille and Peter Osbeck were left to finish the race. Ma Petite Fille maintained the lead past the stand and round to the back where both struck the hurdle heavily, but neither fell. The mare led all the way, and had two lengths clear lead when entering the straight, but at the finish tho old grey came with great gameness, closing the gap to three-quarters of a length on the post, but Ma Petite Fille literally won without an effort. Aproteatwas lodged by Mi-. Gallagher on the ground that Ma Petite Fille crossed Peter Osbeck in the straight, but after hearing evidence the stewards decided to disallow the protest. Tho investments were £1 tickets, and the dividend was £1 las. Autumn- Handicap of 70sovs, second horse to receive lOsovs out of stakes. One mile and a-half. Mr. J. Thorpe's gr h The Cat, 6st 71b (Shaw) 1 Mr. J. B. Williamson's ch m Maratau, 6st 41b (Cook) ... ... .... ... 2 Mr. G. Wright's br m Friendship, 9st (T. Taylor) ... 3 Miss Alice (7st) also ran. Tamora, Lioness, Leorina, and Capella were scratched. Friendship, although top weight, was the favourite for this, the chief event of the day. The favourite was the first to get away, but The Cat raced for the lead, and secured it before reaching the stand, which he passed, followed by Friendship, Miss Alice, and Maratau. The little grey secured a strong lead by the time the back of the course was reached, and here Miss Alice ran into second place, only, however, to surrender it again in the homo turn to Friendship and Maratau. The latter ran gamely to the finish, but was unable to reach The Cat, which won cleverly by a length, Friendship two lengths away, being third, and Miss Alice last. The investments were £1 tickets, and the dividend was the handsome one of £13 ss. ' Novel Race of 25sovs. Winner to be sold immediately after the race, and the whole of the proceeds to go to the club. Lowest ' weight, Bst. Six furlongs. . Mr. W. Bond's ch g Sirloin (Durston) 1 < Mr. C. Beresford's br m Reproach (Kidd) 2 Mr. W. Robertson's rn g Boomerang ' ' (Kabterns) ..." ... ... ... 3 j

Yankee, Lady Lonsdale, .Contractor,, and Deception also ran. Venetia, Signa, Wat Tyler, 10U, and Yuba Bill were scratched. All got evenly away except Deception, who hung at the post, and Lady Lonsdale was at once taken to the front, maintaining that position to the back of the course, where Sirloin ran to the front, and won easily through the home turn and the straight by a length from Reproach, Boomerang a moderate third. The dividend was £10 ss, and the winner was put up for sale by Mr. Tonks. He was bought in by the owner for £16.

Handicap Steeplechase of 75sovs; second horse to receive lOsovs out of stakes. About three miles.

Mr. J. Rae's b g Orangeman, lOst 71b (Rae) ... ... ... ... 1 Mr. J. Marshall's ch m Magnesia, list (Nolan) ... ... ... ... ... 2 Mr. Perritt's b g Don, 9st (Laing) ... 3 Huntsman (lOst 61b), Guy Fawkes (lOst 51b), Tawhaio (9st 101b), Quilp (9st 71b), Trovatore (9st), and Wideawake (9st) also ran; Whalebone, Recruit, and Rob Roy were scratched. This was a magnificent race throughout, and was the feature of the meeting. It was from the first looked upon as a very open race, but Huntsman and Magnesia were those that were most largely backed. The field got well away, but poor Guy Fawkes fell at the first hurdle, and was from that time out of the race, 'Nolan, pursuing his usual tactics on Magnesia, took the mare to the front, and led up the hill and round the back of the grandstand, followed by Quilp, Orangeman, and Huntsman in the order named, the others being well up, and in this order they went over the water jump and round the flat course, and up the hill through the steeplechase course again, all jumping well, but Tawhiao being outpaced, was left a long way behind. As they swept down the hill, coming to the water ' the last time, Magnesia was leading Don by a neck, with Orangeman scarcely a length away third, while Quilp, Huntsman, and Wideawake were about three lengths in the rear. The water was negotiated in splendid style, and Magnesia jumping the obstacle beautifully, swept on td the flat a length clear of Don, with Orangeman well up third. All were now riding as if for bare life, and as Don closed up to Magnesia, as they ran up the back, his victory was loudly proclaimed, but it was. soon seen that the mare had the best of the struggle, and as she began to draw away from her opponent, a loud cry went up in her favour. Once in the straight, however, Rae sat down on Orangeman with great determination, and the old fellow, taking his punishment like a real game 'un, soon lessened the gap separating him from the leader, and when they ran through the gap in the last hurdle, Magnesia had the barest advantage. The pair ran neck and neck for a few more strides, when Orangeman, who was struggling on very gamely under the whip, began to draw away, and amidst enthusiastic plaudits he ran home a winner by a snort half a length, Magnesia being two ' lengths in front of Don, with Huntsman fourth. The dividend was £5. As Rae came back to the paddock he was received with hearty cheers.

Devon'port Handicap of 40sovs; second horse, ssovs. One mile. Mr. C. Boresford's ch f Formo, 3yrs, 7sfc (Myers) 1 Mr. G. Wright's br m Friendship, aged, Sst 101b (T. Taylor) ... 2 Mr. H. Simson's b g The Squire, aged, Sst 41b (Pearson) ... 3 Antelope (Bst 121b), Leorina (7st), Greenmount (6st 121b) also ran. There was a lot of delay at the post, caused by Leorina breaking away. When the flag fell, Formo jumped off in front, while Leorina got badly away. As they came past the stand Formo was seen to be in front, with The Squire second, a length away, with Friendship, Greenmount, Antelope, and Leorina in that order. Forrfto made the pace a docker up the back, and entering the straight, she had a two-lengths lead of The Squire, while Friendship was lying close handy. Half-way down the straight the latter came w'th a great run, but just failed to catch Formo, who won by a bare half-length. Dividend, £4 2s.