ROYAL SPORTSMAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21993, 27 December 1934, Page 11

ROYAL SPORTSMAN

PRINCE AT ELLERSLIE DRIVE DOWN STRAIGHT WARM WELCOME GIVEN INTEREST IN EVENTS PRESENTATION OF CUP Ellerslie on a summer day was at its best yesterday, when the opening of the Auckland Racing Club's meeting, was honoured by the presence for three hours of fiince Henry, Duke of Gloucester. The four events which His 'Royal Highness saw decided'included the race for the richly-endowed Auckland Cup and the Gloucester Steeplechase. The latter event was arranged specially in honour of the Piince and was the first steeplechase included in a summer programme at Ellerslie since 1906. The Prince did not make any bets on the events. The Prince was attending his second New Zealand race meeting, the previous occasion being at Trenthant on the day of his arrival in Zealand. Himself an excellent horseman, he followed the progress of each race with an expert eye. His keen interest was shown during the' running of the Auckland Cup. when his binoculars were ' focuissed on the field throughout as he followed the fortunes of the) 12 horses from the rise of the barrier until Gold Trail 'flashed past the post, a winner by two lengths from King March

Drive Along Straight The largest Ellerslie crowd for many years accorded the Prince an enthusiastic welcome when he arrived at 12.20 p.m., half-a'n-hour before the start of the second race. Two mounted policemen preceded a procession of four motor-cars, in the second of which were the Prince and the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe The cars were driven on to the course near "The Hill'' and proceeded s ( lowly along the straight past all the stands. The. Princ<e rode in an open car. He » wore a light grey double-breasted suit, with a striped tie. and in his lapel was a red carnation. For the first time on the New Zealand tour the Prince appeared in a bowler hat, and this lie waved cheerily in response to the crowd's wr rm welcome. He also carried a walking stick. The appfeararice of the cars conveying the Royal party caused an instantaneous rush of the public toward vantage points 'The Hill," as viewed from the stewards' stand, was a living of humanity, while the lawns in front of the stands and the stands themselves were packed by eager crowds, anxious to view the novel i>pectacle of the arrival of Royalty at a New Zealand rac<- meeting. . Through a Cheering Lane After resiling the Derby enclosure the cars returned as far as the gateway feading from the course to the main grandstand The cheering and acclamation which had marked the Royal progress up and down the course were renewed.when the Prince alighted from his car. The Governor-General presented the firesident of the Auckland Racing "Club, Mr. Oliver Nicholson. to His Royal Highness. In the following car was Lady Bledisloe and there were also in the party members of the Duke's staff and the V iceRegal staff. The National Anthem was played as the Royal party entered the lawn enclosure. After that Mr. Nicholson presented to the Prince the members of the committee and the stewards. Through a lane of cheering race-goers the Prince and his party then made their way to the Hag-draped Vice-regal 4>ox in the main grandstand, where Mrs. H. M. Rogerson, daughter of

Mr. Nicholson, and Mrs. McGregor Grant, wife of the vice-president, Dr. A. McGregor Grant, were presented. Among others in the box were the Hon. J. A. Young, Minister in attendance, Sir Alexander and Lady Herdman, the Rt Hon. J. G. Coates and Mrs. Coates, Mr. J. S. McLeod, of Hastings, president of the ]\ew Zealand Racing Conference, and Mr. Eric Riddiford, president of the Wellington Racing Club. After the second race on the programme, the Great Northern lloal Stakes, had been run, the Prince and the members of the official party were entertained at luncheon by Mr. Nicholson. Shortly before the start of the Auckland Cup, the fourth race on the programme, the Royal party arrived in the stewards' stand, where they spent the remainder of their stay. The Race lor the Cup The Prince, who was seated between Lord Bledisloe and Mr. Nicholson, followed the cup race with the closest attention. It so happened that Mr. Nicholson is part-owner of two bracketed competitors, one of which, King March, finished .in second place. After watching the horses return to scale, His Royal Highness was escorted downstairs to the birdcage, where Mr. D. M. Douglas, owner of the winner, Gold Trail, his trainer, Mr. J. M. Cameron, and the jockey, K. Voitre, were presented to him. The Princo shook hands cordially with each in turn. Lord Bledisloe "adopted ' Voitre as his protegee, placing a hand on his shoulder as he led him forward to meet the Prince.

The gold cup was handed by the Prince to Mr. Douglas. Mean win lo Gold Trail, having been unsaddled, was led about the birdcage and also came in for Royal attention. Lord Bledisloe, as a souvenir of a memorable occasion, photographed the winner. After chatting for several minutes with the trio concerned with the cup victory, the Prince again shook hands with them, and cheers were enthusiastically accorded Mr. Douglas by those in the birdcage and the large crowd assembled near by. Mr. Douglas arrived in Auckland h.v aeroplane from Te Mahanga station, l'oukawa, Hawke's Bay, yesterday to see the race, and ho returned by air later in the day. Gold Trail, through her dam, Pure Gold, is a granddaughter of Desert Gold, one of tho greatest performers on the Australian and New Zealand turf. Enthusiastic Farewell The next race, the Gloucester Steeplechase, was viewed by tho Prince from the top of the stewards' stand, where he obtained a fine view of the three miles contest, which involved two ascents of the hill and called for exceptional stamina on the part of the 14 starters. An exciting race ended in Absent snatching victory bv a neck from Thespis.

"After the steeplechase had been decided the Prince and his party prepared to leave. They were escorted by Mr. Nicholson to the birdcage entrance to the course, where their cars were waiting. Once more there was an enthusiastic demonstration by the public, and the National Anthem wa% played. To enable all sections of the public to join in the farewell, the cars again were driven down the straight to the Derby stand, and returned to leave by the exit near "The Hill." With handkerchiefs fluttering and hats waving, the great gathering left no doubt of its appreciation of the privilege it had enjoyed in having had in its midst a Prince who had entered fully into the people's pleasure. The Prince acknowledged the tribute smilingly, omitting no section as he repeatedly raised aloft his hat in parting salutation.