SPOTTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13497, 25 May 1907, Page 7

SPOTTING.

RACING FIXTURES.

June 1, 3. B—Auckland Eacing Club. June I,3—Dmiedin Jockey Club, ; -

DATES.OF COMING EVENTS.

j„ ne i—Great Northern Hurdle Race. June 3—Great Northern Steeplechase.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

QUERY.—Mahoe did not carry a penary in the Century Hurdle Hace. „ _;. - - Levanter won the " Great Northern Steeplechase on two occasions. <~^ J.P., Tairua.—The dividend paid' over Star Rose and Captain Shannon was £2061. -:; -

> SPOETSMAN.—The dividends paid* on Don when he won the Great Northern Steeplechase were £27 (inside), and £20 10s (outside).

W., Thames— 1. Apremont, Cadogan, and Leplinus were imported to New Zealand by Mr. G. G. Stead. 2. The sum paid for Halberdier prior to his winning the New Zealand Cup, was £28.

' CAMPSIE, Ohaupo.—The horse in question served several season at the stud; in the South Island, but so . far he has not sired anything of a noteworthy character. It is but fair to state, however, that he was not in an advantageous position to put up a good record.

S.G.T., Devonport.—You- have confounded two mares of the same ; name. ,; The" Belle, who won the- Great Northern Steeplechase of 1884, was" got by Musket. Belle, who ran a dead heat with Bombardier for the Takapuna- Steeplechase of 1894. was got by The Australian; ; '

NOTES BY PHAETON.

THE AUCKLAND \ RACING CLUB.

The special meeting of members of the Auckland Racing Club convened for Monday- last in order to consider the new set of rules submitted by the committee did not give rise to anything of a startling character. The interesting little" fact, however, was. established that the committee were not unanimous on at least one important matter, and that was with ; regard .to' the election of ' the president arid vice-president. The rule as submitted was on 'tV/i old lines, which placed the election; of those officers in the hands .of the committee. , Mr. F. Earl, however, : contended that the 'president "and vice-president should be placed in a position to win their seats from the members of the club, arid tire meeting, endorsed the motion that was tabled in that; direc- j lion-'.'.: While Mr. Earl was about it he could, I think, have gone ' a step ;further and j tabled a mo.tion placing the election of, stewards in the hands of the members of the club. Now I don't wish to cast any reflection on past appointments ; that ■; have been made by the committee in. that direction; but the members of the club are, I think, just .as 'fitted to take : the responsibility of electing stewards as the committee in appointing such officers, and seeing that Mr. Earl is prepared to trust the members in one direction I fail to see any valid reason ; why . he should not ; have gone the step further :as\ indicated. The question of limiting the membership of Hhe club to 250 cam© in for some mild opposi-' tion; but the rule was carried pretty well 1 unanimously. It may perhaps be argued that there is less need for, such a rule .to be passed in the present day than, say, ten years back ' when" the proposition was first mooted; but after a. full review of the matter tho committee no doubt considered that' the time has arrived ' for a limit to be set;; and however much tho irresponsible may talk of a limit of;membership being in the direction of constituting a close borough, a strong, case can, I think, ,be made out,for tho committee's action. Tho fact of a now rule passed providing that a ballot paper shall be posted to every member prior to the election of committeemen each year, and that the same can bo returned through a ' like channel, 'is ah' experiment the result of which* "will ' bo awaited with'considerable interest. That 'a: largbr number of - votes will bo recorded than under the old regime, when ballot ; papers »; were 'Only issued 'to those attending■> (he • annual • '■■! meeting, may be ' taken as quite certain; but will the new departure be at the cost of reducing interest in the annual meeting of the club? Candidly speaking I fear there is some danger to 'be apprehended in that respect, and , also that it may give rise" to a whipping up for ballot papers, and, this may bring about ■' a situation that may not be to the advantage of the personnel of the -committee. '.. ■-"' -■.]. •• ;..-„;■--; -

NEW ZEALAND-OWNED TWO-YEAR-

OLDS,

With the holding of the Hawke's Bay meeting the two-year-olds of New Zealand had their last outing, arid " Pentagraph's" statistics bearing on the juvenile form are now to hand. For the second year in succession Sir George Clifford is found in the position to claim the leading winner amongst the juvenile brigade, and the pleasure .'of such to the popular Canterbury sportsman will be heightened by reason of the fact, that each time the leading, youngster first saw the' light at his.." Stonyhurst 'V estate. Glericulloch, who heads the list with £2180, has captured '' a ; greater amount in stakes than did', his full sister Kirriemuir last season, and it may be remarked that from a stake point of view the son of Clanranald's record is the best since Menschikoff's year. , If Boniform's win in; the Breeders': Plate ;at Randwick is brought into the question the son of Multiform secures second place amongst New Zealandowned youngsters, for the value attaching to tho New South; Wales race was £1487. However, .confining the question to; New Zealand racing, arid that perhaps is the best course to pursue, then the San; Francisco colt Elevation is entitled to rank as runnerup to Glenculloch with £1310' to his credit. Atone time it looked as though. Eona would be an easy first amongst the two-year-olds; but the Birkenhead filly quite lost her form in the autumn. The captures which she made, in the spring,, however, caused her winning total to run out to the good sum of £1295. The following list which" I have" compiled shows the juvenile that has an- : . nexed most money iu; the respective seasons : — ■ , ' ; ',-:.'.. '-■

1888-89—Cynisca, by Apremont ... £1,262 11-' 0 1883-90—Pygmalion, by Apremont ... 1,539 19 0 1890-91— by Tsisman ... ... 1,239 15 0 Wakawatea, by Apremont ... 1,220 5 0 1892-93—Strowau, by Locliiol ... ... 1,266 ' 7 0 1893-94—BlueHie. bv Maxim '...2,087 3 ; 0 1894-95—Mannllcher, by Maxim ... 1,124 16 0 Bombshell, "by Ohainshbl ... 1,016 10 0 1896-97—.Multiform, by Hotehki** . ... 2,761 13 0 1897-98—Conqueror, b'v ■Mednliio'n ... 1,830 .'<J C 1898-99—Smew Gun, bv Hofehkiss ... 1,782 o r o 1899-00—Renown,'by Dreadnought ... 846 5 0 1900-01—Memchikoff, by Stcpuiak ... 2,555 , 0 0 1901-02—Porirua, bv Beaton Delaval... 1,140 0 0 Treadmill, bv Hill of Portland 1,670 0 0 1903-04—Silkworm, by Seaton Delaval 1,790 0 0 1904-05—Munjeet, by Stcpniak ■■;,-.'' ... 1,355 0 0 1905-06—Kirriemuir, by Clanranald ... 1,705 0 0 1906-07—Glenculloch, .by Glanranald... 2,180 0 0 DOUBLE EVENT BETTING. The present racing season will be long retained in memory by reason' of the number of substantial dividends that have been paid on the double event machine. The dividend (£2061) which stands as the record is that paid over the surprise victories of Star Rose and Captain Shannon, and it may bo anticipated that we will have to wait some time for that to be ' exceeded, for a special set of circumstances ruled when they scored. ; Totalisator figures are always calculated to interest the man ' who follows racing, and the following little list of big dividends paid on .the, double event since it was installed in Now Zealand.is republished for their edification: — : ; , £513 18s— Waipuna and Ben Blair, Empire and ; ! - Royal Handicaps, Takapuna, May, 1906. £2061—Star Rose and Captain Shannon, New Zealand Cup and .Stewards' Handicip, lticcarton, 1906. ; . "' ' £932 18s—Black and: Cold and Apologue, Stanley ..._ ... •■'-,.'-. and Spring Handicaps. Takapuna, 1906. £404 ids— llikuui and;. Sweet Alice, .Flying Han- .. dicap and I'ueioii Handicap, i'aeroa, > 1907. ' ;.- ' ... : ; .; .; . ~, ■;.; £707 17s—-Millie and Duatt, Empire Handicap and ; Victoria Handicap, Takapuua, 1907,.,

THE GREAT NORTHERNS. /'} The Wanganui * and -"Takapuna: Winter: Meetings now being numbered with events of the past undivided attention can now be given to the Great Northern Hurdle Race and Great Northern Steeplechase, , which come up for decision at Elferslie on June > 1 arid 3. The double win recorded by Ma hoe at Wanganui must be accounted - to make his chance in the Great Northern Hurdle Race bear, something ' very much akin •jo a rosy aspect," for with a 51b penalty the Sou'wester _ gelding has only to put up 9st 81b, which is - 31b above the impost he carried to victory in the Century Hurdle Race yesterday. If the form displayed at Wanganui is to lie accepted as correct, well then a good few can be: counted out of the Ellerslie race straightaway. Of the hurdlers that contested at Takapuna, Shrapnel is the only one _ that merits a line- The Workman gelding did all that was required of him in the race he won at the North Shore; but he beat nothing of; any account, and a 51b penalty will bring his impost up to lOst, 131b. With regard to the Great Northern Steeplechase the outlook, from an open standpoint, is a deal more satisfactory. Haydn and Nadador, who distinguished themselves respectively at Takapuna and Wanganui, have each incurred a 71b penalty. This addition will probably affect both horses. Judging from the account of the Wanganui Steeplechase telegraphed, Irish was going in great style when he came down. Should the Eton gelding have escaped injury he may be still looked upon as a dangerous candidate in the Ellerslie race. Mahoe; claims an engager ment in the Great Northern Steeplechase, and with-only 9st 91b to carry, he must be given a great chance on figures. Still a light weight . will not. be a very great help to Mahoe, unless lie has been schooled over big fences. In the course of a day or two, ! the horses that contested at Wanganui will, rib' doubt, have put in an: appearance , at Ellerslie, and when they are in evidence on the A.R.C. convincing ground the situation will be., placed in a more favourable light to.be dealt with effectively. LEAVES FROM MY NOTEBOOK. The meetings held under the auspices of the Takapuria Jockey Club enjoy such a wide popularity that the North Shore can ever be counted upon to be strongly invaded when the 'flags are hoisted there. Though the second day's racing; had to be conducted in u'npropitious surroundings, racegoers crossed the Waitemata in strong force, and the totalisator bells were kept ringing so merrily that when' figures, came to be totted up at the close of the proceed- : ings .it was found that £22,756 had been . , handled, which ,; is a record for the winter ! gathering. The running of one or two J horses formed- the ! subject of some comment, but, taken altogether,: it can be said j that- a healthy tone characterised the racing. I ■ on both days. ; j- The double-event totalisator was run at |;Takapuna in connection with the Empire an i I;Royal Handicaps, and the Empire and Vic- I toria Handicaps, and with a surprise re- | corded in each raCe, big dividends had once . /again to. be entered up- at the North 'Shore jt gathering. la : the first-named combination only two tickets were issued about the win- [,' ning combination (Millie and Duart)', and ; the: fortunate backers were rewarded with ;the; sum of £797 10s, while: in the second > combination, in which Syren and Miss Winnie claimed the attention of;the judge, the amount of the dividend was £139 17s. -.;" Followers of form were badly worsted in : endeavouring to find the winner of- the Empire Handicap at Takapuna last Saturday. Recent form did not suggest ;■ Millie as one likely '■: to claim the; attention of > the judge, and indeed there is just ; a I tinge of suspicion * that she was started on ; the off-chance. They had •. not gone- ■■ far ere Millie was found in the lead, ; and the • Tasman mare staying out ( the ten - furlongs' . properly, ; kept the opposition at bay, and } rah -ho ; an' easy winner-in' front c r . : Delania. , Millie was produced on tho second day to.contest the Britannia Handicap, but ':. she never really.', had a chance in; the mile race under Bst 61b, and finished unplaced; ! "'■ Tho Cyrcnianrnare Syren showed herself attractively ;at Taikapuna yesterday. .On : the opening .day of the meeting, Syren contested the Royal Handicap, but she failed rather badly, and there is reason to believe that her running in the five, and a-half - furlongs event was a disappointment to her j ; party. > Directly the' barrier shot up yester- :, day for the Britannia Handicap Syren: was found .hand to play, her part attractively, and, bowling along in the heavy going like . a'frUVS mudlark, she romped home in -front. ' L'afet": ifrthe day Syrofr was saddled up .to contest ?;tho Welter Handicap, f. for ;. which ; she ..was made a strong favourite, and .she again ran homo an easy winner. Syren has never previously filled the eye so pleasingly as at... the present time, and , she may be heard of again before the season ends. fi.< ! What a truly game horse can do at the end* of a searching steeplechase journey ex- j tending to three miles and a-half was pointedly demonstrated yesterday at' Takapuna by "the veteran Haydn. The old fellow was j being ' hard ridden ■ a long r way from home, and when-the last three furlongs came to bo; undertaken ■ it hardly. s«nied possible for j him to close up the gap separating him from I the lightweight Moulten. In the run up to the last' hurdle Haydn, as "though scenting the winning-post, put in the real bit of L dash, and the instant ■he got to his black rival 'it; was practically thousand, pounds to a hayseed on him. : The enthusiastic cheers that greeted Haydn's victory well deserved, and his owner,. Mr. Waller Dalies, who is absent in Wanganui, must be accounted to be a loser not to have been present to see his gallant old steed score his first victory in the winter of 1907. : The Leolantis gelding Caohuca, who was well fancied : for the? Maiden Steeplechase,: at'''Takapuna lon Saturday last, was fairly spun v out > when the head of the i straight was reached by; reason of a strong effort. . he was called upon to make in an endeavour to wrest the lead from the top-weight, Khama. ; When Cachuca came to leap :. the last fence '(a plain 3ft 6in 'i hurdle), the? obstacle beat him. On the second ; day Cachucha made a second effort\to win over the 'Takapuna - steeplechase course. .In the. decision of the principal cross-country event he played his part in a prominent■ manner until the final stage, came to be tackled, when he compounded. Cachuca showed, a good; deal of dash. as, long ,as be lasted, and he will probably see a belter ■day.,;'".. *-",.,-.--, ;-,-. : -;'!;- The veteran Khama made a satisfactory debut as a cross-country horse in the; Maiden Steeplechase at* Takapuna -; last Saturday. He was always found- ; on hand to" play his - part well. -i Going to-the front half a mile from.\ home, -the Castor gelding might be said to have had' his race won a good distance from* the post, and;, I though he possibly beat nothing of note, he can still "be accorded « a .good word. Yesterday Khama had a; trial as -a' hurdler, and he beat the opposition in; capital style in the.Hauturu Hurdle Race. ;It is a great pity that Khama - isnot'; a .sound-legged one,' for: otherwise : his future- would be of a promising character. KhSnia, it may be remarked, was given to It. Hall by his; old employer, Mr. ;B:Armitage,, when the , latter determined ,on ; relinquishing racing in January last. ; The Takapuna Jockey Club did not have • much of a race ■ for the - 150sovs which formed the prize fo.v the Hauraki Hurdle Race, as the 'field dwindled down to'a, quartette. ' It was expected that Cuiragno and Soultfish would figure amongst the, list of contestants, but the pen was put through their respective names, and the reason for such _ may, ■ I ; suppose,, be- ascribed to } the fa'ct'that their , respective owners did not wish to risk the 51b penalty for the Great Northern Hurdle Race which'■■■■ a victory in the' North Shore event entails. -Shrapnel was made favourite,; and The; Workman's son rolling into his task with'much vigour, really never ! gave his followers much cause for anxiety at any juncture; of the contest. As a result of his victory at the North Shore, X Shrapnel's impost in; the Great Northern Hurdle Race will be raised from lOst 81b to lOst 131 •-._ '. v

Tlie; announcement from Wellington that Exmoor was. so severely injured, owing to an accident that last week befell: him, that his racing again is doubtful, is : a most unwelcome > piece "of news. Exmoor showed himself to be a finished hurdler, and that he could stay out a ; long course in a jumping event, he demonstrated last winter at Ellerslie, when he practically won the Great Northern Hurdle Race from end to end. The loss of Exmoor's services at the present time, when so many valuable races are on the tapis, causes the reverse to be all the more severe to the Poriru a stable.

Arthur Julian has given many illustrations that 'ho,.has a right to a place/ with the •• most i noteworthy riders over country that grace the: New" Zealand turf at the present time, and 'the manner in which; foe handled Haydn in yesterday's Takapuua Steeplechase was such as to entitle him to place another feather in his cap. Always retaining a; cool head : when the lightweights were cracking, on the pace, he bided ■] his time ; patiently till the critical moment arrived, - and artistically ' handling his horse, in the closing stage, : he assisted Haydn to a meritorious victory. -.'•-*■ 1-.V ■':'■<;■;;

The Ben Godfrey gelding Ben ( Jon-on I made his -debut as j a hurdler on Saturday ] last ;at Takapuriaj and it can be said that [ he acquitted himself in a manner that J invests his future with a deal of promise. * The bay gelding jumped , every one. of his fences most proficiently, and tho bold and confident manner in which ho charged the various obstacles; was more in keeping with the well-seasoned veteran than' a afresh as-' pirant for 'jumping" honours. Ben Jonson can, I think, bo safely ticked off as a horse likely to earn further early distinction over j the battens. ' ■>. -. 1 Melbourne Cup winners arc being 'rapidly j removed from the scene by death, no less than- three being numbered amongst the; defunct during the past few weeks. Tho I latest death to be recorded is that of Men- ' tor, the brown son of Swiveller and Night- ' mare, who won the great Flemington race in ■ the colours of the late Mr. Donald Wallace " in the spring of 1883. Mr. Wallace was < credited with winning a strong stake over Mentor's Melbourne Cup success, and it was said at the time that the' amount, for : which Iks held the ring liable fell little short of £20,000. ; At: Takapuna yesterday Turbine, the | three-year-old son of Menschikoff, managed ' to lose his maiden ', certificate, when he won the Pupuko Handicap in decent style. It has been a popular belief that Turbine was of little use over a longer distance than half a mile, but he stayed out five and a-half furlongs well yesterday, and that, too, in the faeo of his being out in front, making the pace almost from the start. ■ ' MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. Hardship has been scratched for all engagements at the Great Northern , meeting. Seddon, the, two-year-old full brother to Wairiki, continues to train on satisfactorily at Caulfield. ■*..,. ■','■'■'" ■ -.-/■ >;Waitarere, Rangifoto, and Khama do not incur a penalty for the Great Northern i Steeplechase, by reason of • their recent suc- j cesses across country. - = ■;-■■ •; ~ - The Itefo gelding, Mooltan, ran a good race in the Takapuna Steeplechase, and he will ■• probably lose his maiden certificate at tho approaching Ellerslie meeting. '-. ; ; The bracelets to be given by the A.R.C. at the winter meeting have been placed on view in Mr. A. Kohn's window, in Queenstreet, and have been greatly admired. The Tasman mare Millie, who won the Empire Handicap at Takapuna on Saturday last, .figures as* an entrant for tho Maiden Hurdle Race, to be run at Ellerslio next month. .-■■ : ' ' J :t : .■'.-'..');.•'': "The statement that Solution is unlikely to race again is" contradicted.;,':-. The daughter of. Soult is reported to be again quite sound, and she is to be trained for spring engagements. / t -. *.- Albert Percival is > entitled to a word of priiiiie.fbr the manner in which ho handled Mooltan in;.- the Takapuna Steeplechase yesterday. ; When the four-year-old - Field-Marshal contested at Avondale last month his breeding appeared on the race card as by Seaton t)elaval--Jadestone, but at Takapuna on Saturday last he was returned as by Sou It— Sapphira. The latter is the correct breeding of the Waikato gelding. - AUCKLAND RACING CLUB. THE GREAT NORTHERN MEETING. ; The following acceptances have been re- ': ceived for events to be decided at the forthcoming ' Great Northern meeting, which opens at -Evlerslje on Saturday next:—,. • • MAIDEN HURDLE EACE of* llOsovs. One mile and three-quarters. . ' ''''-'-" st lb ':'''' ■'"'-'■'' '".' at "lb Ben Jonson (inc. Catchem ... 9 8 bib pen.) ...11 6 Haeremai ' ' ...v 9 i 8 Millie /:<:-.... -• -, ; ... 10 6 Loch Eyne ... 9 ; ; 4--Yolette ... ...912, , , MAIDEN STEEPLECHASE of 125sovs. About • two miles and a-half. --. :; st lb ' . - '■;-' st lb Mawhiti *■ ... 10 7 Lady. Lanta ... 9 7 Sammy ... '-. ... 10 5 Fretwork ... 9 7 Silica ... ... 10 2 Tanglefoot ... 9 7 Glasgow.-." ... 10 0 Mooltan ... 9 7 No Shot ; , ... 10 0 Brigbam /., - ... 9 7 ; ' JffiEVOIS HANDICAP of lOOsovs. • Seven : " ,-'V-'. : - fuvlougs. , f . 'st lb st lb Freemount- ... 9 2 Puhipuhi ... 7 10Pearl Necklet ... 811 Rose Lawn ... 710 ' , St. ; reh .. .■;..: 8,6 . Lallan Rookb. ... 7, 10 Dan Leno ... 8 2 Manapouri ... 7 7 Dogger Bank ... < 8 1 ! Lady* Pbcebe"l'" : 7 7 Keepstepfv - ... 710 Strdmness .'f: ... 7 7 Napenape • ■;.., .7 10,.. Gay Paris -".r ... -7 7 MAIDEN WELTER HANDICAP of lOQsovs. "■.- '•''•-'■'"■ Seven furlongs. . ,' st lb st lb Waihuka ...... 10 5 Dogger Bank ... 9 4 Waitati ....;. 9 13 San Paulo ... 9 4 .Miss Crispin ... 910 Octoroon - - ... 9 2 Lady Cressy ... 9 8 Mighty Atom ... 9-2 Turbine (inc. 51b Engraver ... 9 2 pen.) ... ... 9 7 Paroquet : ... 9 1 Delegate ... ... 9 6 Lallali Rookh ... 9 1 Inglis ... ... 9 6 CjrniTi ... .... 9 0 The Dane ... 9 6 Sabine ... ... 9 0 Hikuai ... ... 9/6 Rambler ... ... 9 0 Dan Leno ... 9 5 Honourable ... 90 La Cigrale • ... 9 5 Lady Kegel: ... 9 0 DevonpoTt -'//.;. 9 6 Freebird ... ... 9 0 CORNWALL HANDICAP of 300sovs. One mile. ■ st lb - / at lb Paritutu , ... 11 3 Lucrece ... ... 9 3 Celtic ... ... 10.3 Te Aroha : ... 9 3 Uranium ...... 911 Lof tus - ... ...9 2 Regulation ... 9 9 Omati- ... ... 9'o Scotty ... ... 9 9 Sir Gilead " ... 9 0 Delania.' ... ... 9 9 Lady Gladys ... 9 0 Loch Erne :..'.. 9 9 Silver Shell ... 9 0 Certainty ... 9 7 Delegate ... 9 0 Lord Seaton ... 9 3 Uenuku ... ..v 9 0 Syren (inc. 51b ; Sweet Alice ... 9 0 pen.) v ...... 9 5 Geordie ... ... 9 0 LADLES' BRACELET of lOOsovs. :; One' mile '..ls'.'.'.V ; ' '•'■••'" and a-half. . ;: -::■■■' :-v"'- ■'•"' -'-'f' : '-' st lb *'-.-'- st lb Baltimore I ... 11 2 Tui ... ... ... 11 2 Castadrift :. ... 11 2 Vizier ... ... 11 ■ 2 Henry . Havelbck 11 2 Aqua Regia ... 11 0 Luminous •■...'112 Eauparaha r ... 11 0 > No' Shot .;.':.. 11 2Te Uira ... ... 11 0 .Powhirii .... ... 11 '2 Peregrine : ... 10 6 Slow Tom "-M- ... 11 2 Turbine .'.'; r„; 10 6 Te Taiiiwha *... 11 2 K r . SECOND' DAY HUNTER'S BRACELET HANDICAP of 65sovs. , ' . One mile and a-quarter. ; •"•;.' ; -" ; ' : '-'st lb-:''-' ..• ' .;..'..'. :: st lb Mahoes .... ... 11 10 Sterling ... ... 10 0 Vizier ; ... ' ... 10 5 Pukerimu ; ... 9 8. ■ Hillflower'.- * ... 10 5 Mozart ... ... 9 7 Lockerbie . ... 10 2 •"'": : '.' ■_■'■ • NORTH OTAGO RACES. • ' SECOND DAY. V : [BY TELEGIIAPB.— ; ASSOCIATION.] . v . ;,..: .:.■•-. .: OAMAnir, Friday. . The' North Otago Jockey Club's races were coneluded, to-day ' ii! splendid [ weather. The attendance was large and the sum of £4478 10» went through.' the machine, making a total of z £8265 , 10s for the two days, or tin increase of £2946 on the last winter meeting. Tlie results are as follows:— ;.- r ~,- '.... ■■, ; : /V.\-'.. .■'''. .i' PARKSIDE WELTER HANDlCAP.—Merrymaker 1, Ard Reigh 2, Sam Weller 3. All started. .Merrymaker won- by four lengths. Time, In). 21s. Dividends, £5 Bs,and £1 18s. SHORTS HANDICAP.— Cockade 1, Petard 2, Royal Shell 3. Scratched: Wool, Sailmaker. White Cockade won by. four lengths. Time, lm. • 78. Dividends, £15 4s and 14s. / i TELEGRAPH HANDICAP.—RepIete 1, Gwendoline Tessera 3. Aunee Soult was scratched. This was a great race, being won by a neck. Time, lm. 21 3 sb. Dividend, £2. ' VICTORIA HANDICAP.— 1, Astrakhan 2, Lapland 3. Fireiron and Probable were ! scratched.r, Apollodoris won by a short head after a hard-fought race! t Time, lm. 435. Dividend, £5 4s. ... ■"■' - ■■,//■; PUKEURI HANDICAP TROT.— V. 1, Osborne K. 2, Prince Randle 3, All started. King V. won comfortably by six length*. An inquiry was held into the winner's trotting on the two days, and the stewards found that ■ there was no evidence , to warrant disqualification, but • dissatisfaction was expressed with the horse's form. - REDCASTLE WELTER HANDlCAP^.—Dombastes 1, Royal Shell 2. Don Orslno 3. Also started: Sahara and Rio Grande. Bombastes won after a fine race by, a short head. Time, lm. 21 3-ss. Dividend, -£*7 ISs. .: . ./, -■■ OTEAIKK HANDlCAP.—Grandstand 1, Aimee ; Soulfc 2; The Seer 3. Red Morn was scratched. Grandstand won bv two lengths. Time, lm. s|s. Dividends, £7 18s*and £1 10s. HAWKE'S BAY STEEPLECHASE. [BY . TELEGRAPH. ASSOCIATION.] : ( " ' : .V;- : Napier, Friday. The following nominations have been received for the - "'■-- -- - ,~'", -"./ : . HAWKES BAY STEEPLECHASE of 250sov=, three miles Needlework, Eclair, Nadador, Com-: fort,ti>ai-edevil, Sammy, Hut ana, Nogi, Uajigitoto, llikairoa, ; Lord • Ullin,, Irish, Romany King, : Levent, Kialeie. THE DOUBLE EVENT. , " - TO THB SPORTING EDITOft. Sir,—A good deal of adverse criticism was expressed at Takapuna yesterday afternoon over, the non-bracketing on the double machine of horses running in the same nomination. Why this should be permitted is beyond comprehension, for the same arguments that ' apply to dual nominations in single events must be equally applicable to the double event, probably more so, for the task of picking the right ones is : much harder. In the double event under notice there were dual nominations in both legs of the double, and what can backers think wheu one is pulled out at the last moment in the first race? • In Wellington this state of. things does not exist, and dual nominations are bracketed, so that investors know exactly what they are. doing .It is time the double inachine was brought . tip to date Oh our Auckland racecourses.— am, etc., -; BpvBIL.