SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12016, 12 July 1902, Page 6

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. ; July .16, Wellington Racing Club. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. SPORT, Waitelcanri.—The following were the placed horses in the Melbourne Cup in the years named:—l9oo, Clean Sweep, Malster, Alix; 1901, Revenue, San Fran, Khaki. A.1!., Queen-street.— Explosion never raced in public after his battle with Seahorse in the Auckland Plato run at Ellerslie in January, 1900. - 2. Advance defeated Ilohoro in tli3 Auckland Plate of 1901. iVAOER. — Mutiny won the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase under 12st 411). and Levanter under 12st Gib. 2. Kins Quail was imported to Auckland in 1877. The year that Foul Play won the Auckland Cup King Quail fell. SUBSCRIBER. — Amberito defeated Aurum in the V.R.C. Derby. In tlio - Melbourne Cup. Aurum (Oat. 61b) finished third to Oaulos (7at 81b) and The Grafter (7st 71b). Amberito being unplaced. On the last (lay of tho meeting Aurum defeated Amberito easily in the Spring Stakes, and on the same afternoon won the C. B. Fisher Plate.

NOTES BY PHAETON. At the annual meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club, held recently, pointed reference was made to the tendency in certain quarters to whittle down the distances. No great charge of that character could be laid at tho door of the C.J.0.. but the authorities of that body have evidently deemed it necessary to show that they are thoroughly in accord with tho agitation for tho keeping up of the distances, and the Canterbury Cup has been reinstated to the old standard of two miles and a-quarter. A couplo of years ago tho C.J.C. reduced the distance of tho Canterbury Cup to a mile and threequarters, in the belief, no doubt, that the reduction.of Lho distance would tend to attract a stronger field. It cannot be said that the movo was attended with marked success, and the chances are that the number of starters would have been the same had tho longdistance been retained. The C.J.C. is to be applauded for their action in l regard to tlio Canterbury Cup, and, if it achieves nothing else, it will be a standing proof that tho Southern body are prepared to show a bold front in the keeping up of tho distances. /

The V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle. Race, run at Flemington on Saturday last, fell to a liorso carrying, it is pleasing to learn, the colours of one who can be truthfully termed a thorough sportsman." Mr. Albert Miller, who has always a big team of jumpers in hand at . his private establishment at Mill Park, annexed tho Grand National Hurdle Race with Rawdon, a chestnut gelding by Rival, who was put in at the minimum, and who succeeded in putting up a fresh time record for the three-mile race. It was just about this time last year that Rawdon passed into i the hands of Mr. Miller, The gelding had a long row of a dozen failures down against his name when submitted to auction at Kirk's Bazaar last July, but Mr. Miller evidently considered that - there was a good race in him, for he could not be silenced in the competition, and eventually he secured him at 235 guineas. Rawdon was well fancied for the Grand National Hurdle Race, and though Mr. Miller is not what would be termed a big bettor, the ring would no doubt retain evidence that lie had been speculating when overhauling their volumes at ■ the' • conclusion of last Saturday's race. The following is a list of winners of the V-R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race, from which it will bo seen, that Rawdon -succeeded in knocking 4|s. off the time record: —

m. s. 1881—Mr. M. Loughlin's Sir Peter, 11.4 ... 5 42% 1882— T. Nagnten's Rhesus, 9.12 ... 541 1883—Mr. M." D. Foster's Dizzy, 9.4 ... 5 481 1884—Mr. I). Wallace's Don Quixote, 11.13 5 43$ 1885— 0. H. T. Hart's The Agent, 11.6 6 0 1886—Mr. J. Moffatt's Ocean. 9.4 ... ... 5 351 1837— S. G. Cook's The Yeoman, 9.8 6 253 1838 Mr. J. O. Ingrlis' Malua, .11.7 ... 6 7 1889— 8. Miller's Redleap, 9.8 ... 5 54? 1890—Mr. It. Phillips' Ellerslie, 11.1 ... 610 1691— G. Glasscock's Crusoe, 9.12 ... 6 202 1892—Mr. 8. , Miller's Redleap, 11.12 ... 5 58} 1893— G. Davis' Tim Swiveller, 11.0 6 111 1894—Mr. T. P. Manifold's Apsley, 9.9 ... 6 0 1895—Mr. J. E. Brewer's Emmalea, 11.6 5 554 —Mr. J; Farrell'B Buzzi, 9.0 ... ... 5 591 1897—Mr. J. Farrell's Buzzi, 9.11 ... ... 5 571 1898—Mr. J. 12. Brewer's Pat, 11.0 ... 6 0 1899—Mr. J. Farrell's Valdis, 10.0 ... : ... 6 7V 1900—Mr. A. McKenzie's Aquarius. 9.0 5 523 1901—Mr. C. Hindhaugh's Stioddv. 9.11 ... 5 52j? 1902—Mr. A. Miller's Rawdon, 9.7 ... 5 48: From 1881 1 to 1886 the distance of tho race was two miles six furlongs and 307 yds.. From 1887 the distance has been three miles. The Now Zealand-owned Battleaxe had his first flutter under silk on Victorian territory when he contested the V.R.O. Grand National Hurdle Race on Saturday: last. The Hotchkiss , gelding, wo aro told, was assisting in making the running in... the early stages of the race, but he died away in tho last mile, and last but one was his position as the field dashed past tho post. On the second day of the meeting wo are told that. Battleaxe was sent out. favourite for the Braybrook Handicap,' which event was run over a milo and a-half on the flat. Wo aro not told the weight that was apportioned to the New Zcalander, but wo aro informed that he came home at the tail end of the field. In awarding Battleaxe list 121b in tho Grand National Hurdle Race, Mr. Dakin undoubtedly dealt very harshly with the ■ bay gelding, and I fear that the treatment meted out to the New Zealander will make owners /from this side chary of entering in future for jumping events on the Victorian turf. '

The Wellington Racing Club hold their winter meeting on Wednesday and Saturday next, and judging from the character of the acceptances received for tho events which form tho first day's programme there seems every reason to anticipate a highly-successful gathering at the Hutt. The principal event of tho opening day's programme is the Wellington Steeplechase, in which race 13 horses are engaged. The racing that Plain Bill went through at Napier will probably have had a beneficial effect upon him, and I would as soon' trust him as anything engaged, for with list he lias an impost of which he is fully a master. Gobo. who is in at the same weight as Plain Bill, lias proved a bit of a disappointment this season, but one thing that can be cited in his favour, for the Wellington race is that lie has previously won over tho Hutt coursc. In the Winter Hurdle Race the Auckland-owned Royal Conqueror figures at the head of the list with list 71b. The Flintlock gelding cannot be said to have any the best of the weights, but he is a very genuine bit of. stuff, and will probably bo going when tho majority of the field arc stopping. My particular fancy, however, is Frost (lOst 41b). The Foulshot gelding was making a really good fight of it in the A.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race at Ellerslio last month when lie came to grief through toppling over Tresham, ( and those who have argued that he would have been either first or second in the ■ Ellerslio race but for the accident were, Iv think, basing their conclusion on pretty safe ground. If Frost is in a position to reproduce his best form ho will be hard to beat at the Hutt on Wednesday.

Some interesting facts are bound up in tlio sensational victory achieved by Mr. F. Gordon's maro Ballistit© in the Settlers' Hack Handicap at Napier Park last week. The Napier correspondent of the Herald writes: Mr. F. Gordon, of Olifton Station, purchased Ballistito for 17 guineas only; the previous Saturday, and as he had a ticket on her when sho paid a dividend of £122 4s she has proved a lucky investment. Although thero were only four tickets registered on the machine on Br.llistito's number, it is said that there were more than that number taken, out on her. How the mistake is supposed to have occurred is this way: The total isa tor investment department of: the club had ■ received from two •backers— a resident of . Waipukurau, the other residing at _ Wrikani—instructions to invest a pound apiece front them on Ballistic, and though the clerk who has charge of tho investment department put his orders in to the official of the machine, he must have omitted to ring on the investments. Upon making inquiries I ascertained that besides the £2 which were sent to .tlio club for investment Mr. Gordon, the owner, had a. ticket, while a relative of his also had one. ; A syndicate, which included Mr. Gordon's wife, had another, and nine natives having the : fourth, thus accounts for the four registered on the machines. McLaughlin, who rode Ballistite, did not fancy her chance, neither did Mr. D. Piliner, ,who trained the mure. Ho told mo he was quite satisfied that she had heaps of pace, for she had often showed it to him in private, but she seemed to be disinclined to reproduce it when stake money was being looked for. Bailistite let her party in pretty heavily at Otaki last month, and her disappointing form when the colours were up induced her previous owner to get rid of her. She was bred at tho To Mahanga Stud, and brought 25 guineas as a yearling. Though she has started upon many occasions, Ballistito had only won" one race (at tho Kensington meeting last February) previous to her sensational , score at Napier Park.

Some little time back an English cablegram stated that Mr. R. S. Sievier, the owner of the dual Guineas winner Sceptre, had thrown out a challenge to race his filly against any horse in the world for a substantial stake. The challenge, it transpires, came about in this way: The ;Sportsman's' leader writer. "Vigilant," having written occasionally, in a somewhat deprecating manner of Sceptre's performances and prospects, Mr. Sievier took up his pen and addressed the following letter to the editor of that journal:—"Sir,—Speaking personally, no observations which might appear in your loader could in any way disturb my equanimity; but ever since Sceptre has been named there have appeared above the pseudonym of ' Vigilant' nagging paragraphs concerning her merits, and it behoves me, as her owner, to protect'the deaf and dumb. That this contemptible ' nag' shall receive its quietus, and that the filly is not quite so helpless against these attacks as 'Vigilant' would lead tho purchasers of : the Sportsman to imagine, she sends forth tho following challenge to the world:—Sceptre shall run any horse, at weight-for-ago and sex, for £10,000, over from one mile and a-quarter to one mile and three-quarters, at the option of the acceptor of this challenge, to be run at the Newmarket Second July Meeting (the gracious permission of the stewards of the Jockey Club granted),. failing this at, tho Goodwood meeting, or on any reasonable and true racecourse, between this date (July) and the middle of August; £2000 forfeit to bo declared seven, days before running. Failing tho above, Sceptre is prepared to run St. Maclou .under the same condition's at even weights, except tho 51b Derby allowance to fillies. She now trusts that 'Vigilant' and the smaller ' Vigilants' will cease to 'nag' at her until she fails.—l am, sir, your obedient servant, 11. S. Sievier. ' Elston House, Shrewtou, Wiltshire, May 21. P.S.—Between July and August it is usually fairly warm." Tho allusion to St. Maclou refers to a statement by " Vigilant"; that Sceptre, to be any good, must be able to beat St. Maclou at a difference of 101b for the year between their ages. The "P.S." as to. warm weather refers to prophecies by "Vigilant" that the advent of warm weather will upset Sceptre sufficiently for fears to bo entertained as to her running up to her proper form. . The death in England a i little : time back of a well-known bookmaker named Isaacs led the Sporting Times into a discourse on the wealth of bookmakers. In the'course of the article it was stated that Mr. Isaacs' will was expected to be proved at £100,000, and seldom lias this amount been exceeded in the case of a bookmaker, and not often equalled. "On this subject," remarks the writer, "wo had some conversation only a short time ago with the Nestor of the Turf, once a bookmaker, who has won many great races, and is reputed to be possessed of considerable wealth. It is somewhat remarkable that, notwithstanding the enormous profits that bookmakers are popularly supposed to make, and the vast'sums that, in the public mind, arc devoted to betting, neither conclusion is borne out by the records of Somerset Hcajso. As compared with modern wealth, what is £100,000? And yet it represents almost a maximum as far as the turf is concerned. In conjunction with the Nestor we have spoken of, we called to mind all the great bookmakers who have died during the last 40 years, and in not one single instance did the deceased's will betray the possession of any great amount of wealth. The greatest bookmaker that was ever known was Davies. Since his time no man has laid such a bet as 100,000 to 1000 against a horse that I started a favourite, and over Daniel O'Rourke's Derby he paid away considerably over £100,000. He left all his money to the town of Brighton, and it did not amount to more than £60,000. Next to Daviea the most dashing operator we ever know was Stephen-' son, who was a veritable " King of the Ring." All that lie died worth was about £50.000. ■ With the celebrated John Jackson, of Fairfield, it was less, his will being proved at £38,000. Head was a very big man, whose wealth was small. Many bookmakers who betted in thousands left no estate whatever to speak of, and some were almost penniless. _ Their names it is not, necessary to mention, as they will occur to all who have any experience of racing. A very unpretending bookmaker who died, to the general surprise, worth a largo sum of money was ' Irish' Connor, who was worth' close on £100,000. In his case it is said that he made many fortunate investments. There are probably men still living who have made a much larger sum than this, but they have been engaged in other speculations than tho turf. Wo have, in' estimating the wealth of tho ring, in view only those who have made their money by bookmaking pure and simple, and few of these, so far as we know, are rich men." ' In New Zealand a few of tho leading bookmakers have solid banking accounts, and some aro known to hold property of considerable value. Probably none of them would be classed as really wealthy. Yet it is not the backer as a rule that has the best of tho deal. , . r

Tho Cambridgeshire of 1886, in which poor Fred. Archer just got beaten by Sailor. Prince, is a most interesting bib of turf history; and gives a keen insight into some of the delicacies of race-riding. It is a matter universally known that Archer had possibly more money on his mount (St. Mirin) than he had ever had on a. horse beforehand that the wasting ho underwent in order to ride was indirectly the cause of his tragic death. It was Tom Cannon who in all probability lost Archer the . race, which the latter had set his heart on winning. . The two jockeys cantered to the post together, it being Cannon's first leg up on Melton, whom, as need hardly bo said. Archer had ridden in all his victories. "You are on the biggest thief in England," Archer said to his companion, as lie , proceeded to talk of Melton's tricks of manner. They reached the post and the flag fell. When they got to the Red Post Cannon was in front, his horse, going well, and he was gammoning Melton that ho was not doing his best, taking little pulls at him —rot enough to interfere with his pace, but just enough to make him think that he was holding him. . Archer saw this as lie galloped by at Cannon's side, and.' thinking that jockey was doing a great deal too well, stretched out St. Mirin, so that Melton would have to be pushed to keep with him. Archer knew that Melton would not stand being forced, and thought ho would soon get him beaten. Tho consequence was that he began to push his own horse sooner than he would have done, and he said afterwards he was sure that this lost him the race. Sir Walter Gilbey has just attained his 71st birthday. He began life in an estate agent's office, and' is now one of the greatest authorities' on the art of breeding horses and on various other snorting subjects. Sir Walter lias written various books and pamphlets on horse-breeding. The King, as Prince of Wales, was frequently his guest at the banquets he gave at his house in Regent's Park to the members of the Royal Agricultural Society. He was created a baronet nine years ago. A horse, particularly if he be a high-strung one, often retains effects of a bump. An English writer cites the case of Forfarshire as a case in point. Poor Forfarshire never recovered from the smashing cannon given him hi tho Derby of two years back by the rider of Disguise 11. He seemed to lose all confidence afterwards, hence his "four consecutive thirds" last season. Tacked on to tliis is the .following: The American jockey, "Tod" Sloan, can certainly be associated with the annihilation of tho best French horse of modern times as well as one of the best of our English lot. A racehorse with better action than Forfarshire is seldom seen' on the turf, and had he gone on the right way he might have made a really grand four-year-old. _ Although Loyal and Abundance aro mentioned as having chances of downing Brakpan in the V.R.C. Derby, tho Victorian liandicappers, judging by their Caulfield and Melbourne Cup adjustments, do not share that opinion. In the Melbourne Cup Brakpan has to concede the other two colts 61b each, while in the Caulfield Cup Brakpan has Bst, Abundance 7st. 91b and. Loyal 7st 71b. On autumn form, i Brakpan was certainly several pounds superior to the other two, and- as the Grafton colt is wintering well there is good reason to believe that he will still be ahead of them in the spring. A London cablegram to hand states that Australian Star won another good race for the Now Zealand sportsman, Mr. S. 11. Gollan. This was the Alexandra Park Cup. This is the first win that has been credited to Australian Star since lie scored in the City and Suburban Handicap in April last year. Mr. .T. 11. Pollock, who has been recommended as one qualified to aspire to the post of handicapper; published an adjustment for tho New Zealand Cup simultaneous with that issued by the C.J.C. official, Mr. J. E. Henrys. Mr. Pollock adopted a 31b lighter scale than Mr. Henrys, and in some other respects he lias formed different conclusions to the C.J.C. handicapper. Jockeys can be more effectually disciplined by suspension than by fines every time, as they out both ways. An old English trainer once told his jockey, " Now bo "sure thee gets well away at the start. If thee get fined I'll pay it for thee. If thee gets suspended I'll board thee. But if thee gets left at tho post I'll break every bono in thee body." Tho latter day crop of jockeys are evidently imbued with the "got away at all hazards" policy, and to that cud will take any risks with the starter.

BREVITIES. Waipawa (by Apremont is spoken of as a colt likely to run well at three years old." The Wellington Racing " Club hold their winter meeting on Wednesday and Saturday next. Kola, Nip is the name claimed for the yearling filly by Soulfc from Helen McGregor. The English Jockey Club has decided to exclude geldings from the Derby and Two Thousand Guineas. Sir George Clifford is considered to possess a. very promising colt in lercelet, a son of Clanranald and .Teredina. Lady Lillian, who is engaged in the New Zealand Cup with 6st 111b, is stated to be at present in the paddock. The Nonette stable is stated to hold £2000 about tho son of Seaton Delaval in connection with the New Zealand Cup. The Acting-Prcmier (Sir Joseph Ward) considers that tho use of the totalizator is 0110 of the questions that should be submitted to a referendum. Winsome, the disappointing half-sister to Record Reign, figures amongst the entrants for New Zealand Grand National Hurdle Race honours. Rawdon, who won tho V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race on Saturday last, ran unplaced in a 2i-milo hurdle race a week or so previously. So far it is stated that the Porirua stable have not made a move to sound the market with regard to any of their team engaged in the New Zealand "Cup. Mr. W. Walters has leased Swordfish 11. to a breeder at Pahiatua, and the son of Hotchkiss and Fishgirl will shortly be transferred to that district. A statement of the winnings of horses which curried the. colours of tho late Captain Machell shows that from. 1864 to 1902 they captured £110,010 in stakes. Judging from the tone of Australian papers to hand the declaration of the weights for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups did not give rise to any marked speculation. Clanranald has never yet sired a real out-and-out stayer, but some good judges consider that "his son Glenaladale possesses a good chance in the New Zealand Cup. An English cablegram to hand states that the Weight-for-age Handicap at the Bibury meeting was won by Lord Carbine, a three-year-old &on of the Auckland-bred Carbine. St. Olga, Royal Conqueror, and Geordio were shipped to the West Coast on Thursday last with a view to their fulfilling engagements at the Wellington Racing Club's Winter Meeting. Rawdon, who distinguished himself on Saturday last by winning the V.R.C. Grand ; National Hurdle Race, was eligible as a maiden at Flemington up to the time of achieving his success. In England it is proposed to introduce mile and a-half hurdle races for three-year-olds. The matter was to receive the consideration of the Nations! Hunt Committee shortly after the last mail left. ! In America recently an offer of 15,000d015. for a four-year-old trotting mare named | Zephyr was refused. As a three-year-old Zephyr trotted a mile in 2m. 14£s., and this i season in a race she accomplished 2m. I2s. with case. . Though Regalia. 11. had much the worst of ; the weights in the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race, P. Nolan evidently held the dhanoe of the little son of Regel in high esteem, as he wired his name to Auckland as a likely winner. < St. Olga should have a deal to say in the settlement of.the Stewards' Handicap at the Wellington meeting on Wednesday next, for with lOst 51b she has been nicely handled. I should take Field Battery to be her most dangerous opponent. Moifaa having been nominated for the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase, it would seem as though the big fellow had made a good recovery from the unsoundness which came against him during the > running of the Hawke's Bay Hurdle Race last month. . A fund has been started in Melbourne for tho purpose of the erection of a monument in the Melbourne General Cemetery over the grave of the New Zealand rider, Harry Underwood, who died from injuries received while: riding in a steeplechase at Flemington recently. > : ..;■. Sir Frederick Johnstone, who was so successful in racing when in" partnership with Lord Abingdon, has presented the freehold of the Greenhill Public Gardens and other valuable ' property .to the town of Weymouth. This was in commemoration of the Coronation..:; -Vv : • It ; was thought probable: that Tresham would be sent to Wellington in order to fulfil his engagements, but a survey of the situation did not apparently cause the winning prospects of tho Catesby gelding to wear a promising character, and he was allowed to drop out of the Winter Hurdle Race. " The King's Racehorses: A History of the Connection of His Majesty King Edward VII., -with the National Sport," by Edward Spencer, with additional notes by Lord Marcus Beresford, was published recently. For a specially printed edition, in gorgeous binding. the price of the volume was ten guineas. Misfortunes never come singly, and shortly after Mr. W. C. Whitney's colt' Nasturtium was found to have turned roarer news was received from. America that two crack colts belonging' to the same gentleman were also amiss. These latter two were Yankee and King Hanover, who were in the first flight last season. '' The Wellington , writer " Crackshot". says: Gobo does not appear to have much chance of distinguishing himself on Hastings form. He seems to have turned sour this season. Still, lie never was a genuine horse, and his owner must consider himself lucky that ho got two fine stakes—the Wellington and National Steeplechases—out'. of him last season. ";V .

Duenna, the dam of Amberite. Flintlock, Ace tine, Pelissier, and Mrs. -Grundy, died a few days ago at Bylong, aged 21 years. Duenna was a half-sister to. Cardigan and Mantilla, and was bred at Neotsfield. She was by Lecturer from Sigrtora. (imp.), and will live long in turf history as the dam of such a firstclass horse as Amberito, who won the two Derbies and the Champion Stakes. THE NEW ZEALAND CUP. The C.J.C. handicapper, Mr. J. E. Henrys, has, on the whole, good reason to be satisfied with the manner in which his work in .connection with the New Zealand Cup has been received. In a run through the com-, ments made by the leading Southern writers on the Cup handicaps I clip the following as setting forth the respective quarters from which they respectively expect the winner to come:— . •" The Probable" (Canterbury Times): I will select the following as having winning prospects:Nonette, Cruciform, St. Michael, Pampero, Halberdier, Ideal, Glenaladale, Motor, Siege Gun, Sirius, Kelpy, Vladimir. ■ " Petronel" (Weekly Press): I think the top-weight lot have the best of matters, and shall expect to see the winner come from Cruciform, Nonette, Pampero, Achilles, Glenaladale, Porirua, Motor, St. Michael, Vladimir, Velbeck, Exmoor, Calibre, and Dundas. My preference, as I have stated above, lies with the first-named. "Advance" (Now Zealand Mail): To reduce the field to nine, I will select Nonette," Glenaladale, Achilles, Ideal, Tortnlla, Melwood, Cruciform, Beddington, and Porirua, with a preference for the three first-named. ■■ " Crackshot," Wellington Post: The half-dozen that I fancy at this stage are:-— Cruciform, Beddington, Glenaladale, Motor, Exmoor, and Kelp}', and to narrow them down to two X would name Cruciform and Glenaladale. ; Otago Witness: At present I like the following in the handicap:—Cruciform, Nonette, Tortulla, Pampero, Glenaladale, Achilles, 1 orirua, Canteen, Melwood, Beddington, Dundas, Lady Lillian, Fakir, Vladimir, 'Siege Gun, Exmoor, and Ghoorka. To take a dozen of those handicapped I like the following horses in their order:—Cruciform, Nonette, Tortulla, Glenaladale, Pampero, Achilles,, Porirua, Canteen, Lady Lillian, Beddington, Dundas, and Melwood. "Fritz" (Otago Witness): Cruciform is my first selection, and after her the best of the three-year-olds, Nonette and St. Michael. GISBORNE RACES [BY TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION',] . Gisbqrne, Friday. The Gisborne Racing Club's meeting concluded to-day in fino weather. The results arc: — Handicap Hurdles: Lady Raven 1, Papatu 2 Ilippowai 3. Won by a length. Time, 3m. 245. Dividend, £3 Is. Hunters Flat Race: Bruiser 1, SergeantMajor 2, Tcha 3. Dividends, £3 19s and £0 is. . ' , ' , To Hapara Handicap: Tauhei 1, Lady Raven 2, Daredevil 3. Won bv half-a-lengtli. lime. Im. 355. Dividend, £2 ss. Gisborne Park Steeplechase: Cronie 1, Straybird 2, Hyla.s 3. Also startedMagpic, Pullaok, and Kotiti. A fino finish between first and second. Time, 6m. 43 l-ss. Dividends, £5 lis and 13s. Hack Flat: Soultina 1, Bruiser 2, Muskctoon 3. Time, lrn. 3%. Dividends, £2 7s and £1 10s. • Tally-ho Steeplechase: Peter Osbeok 1, G. 8.0. 2, Mangamahaki 3. Also started Majestic/ Won by a couple of lengths. Time, sm. Dividend, £1 17s. Final Handicap: A.B.N. 1, Paria 2, DareHP.., 3." Also started—Piuopinetekura. Dividend, £2 JL7s,