PAST MEETINGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1265, 28 May 1896, Page 25

PAST MEETINGS.

TAKAPUNA. At tho Takapuna Meeting on tho first day tho Handicap Maiden Hurdle Race was won by a light weight favourite, Origen, Miss Nelson being second. Hard Times, who was third, will be a bettor horse next year if he gets fair treatment. The Handicap Maiden Plate was won in good time by Glonora, who paid tho handsome div. of £l(3 12s. This mare must lie a rare flyer ; she also won tho Royal Handicap and paid £(> 10s. Her owners have made a little by her this year. Tho surprise of the Birthday Handicap was that St. Hilda only came third, but lie is more a jumper than a flat racer to my mind, and 1. do not think his run at 1 akapuna will in anyway alter tho betting for the Grand National Hurdles. Old Bombardier also came only second in the Hurdle Handicap, Aughadowoy winning easily. Bombardier’s luck seems to bo out ; he only got the same place in tho Handicap Steeple. Tho Selling Race was won by Kiugswood. There were only live starters, and tho winner was entered at 20 hovs, or an allowance of 211 b off weight. In the Second Handicap Hurdles Miss Nelson managed to score, although she had ceased to be favourite; while St. Kilda also reversed his defeat of the previous day ill the Britannia Handicap, with Panoply second. Thu Sharper, too, made a splash in the Victoria Handicap, paying £8 3s. The Handicap Steeplechase was a race that delighted all its beholders. “ Auld Donald ” managed to win with comparative ease from Bombardier, paying £l3. Another horse than St. Regal was picked to win the Welter. But who can judge of a race? It is more uncertain than a woman’s mind. DUNEDIN. Liberator, as predicted all over tho Colony, wen the first Hurdles at Dunedin hands down. Belmont, who ought to have run second, unseated his jockey, which, perhaps, may account for his being unplaced. < >ld Liberator’s chances arc looked upon as rosy for Auckland. Stimulant, who won the Maiden Plato very easily, started a favourite; Salvo Shot, who ran third, should have come in second if the betting before the race is to be believed, but Esau proved a better horse.

Tho Birthday Handicap was a good one, and a splendid field started. Quiltiri, who won from Lady Zetland, had a great race to do so. Up the straight ho was behind and only got half a head’s advantage at the post. Mr Hobbs’ other, Lord Zetland, who came third, is not nearly as good a horse as his stable mate, Lady Zetland, although ho won the Provincial Handicap on the second day from Quiltiri and his namesake.

Captive, who won the Selling Race, paid the astonishing dividend of £7l. Stimulant was third, and yet ho won tho Maiden Plate,from Salvo Shot and Rebel. Verily horses aro wonderful animals. Marernma, who won tho Tradesmen’s Handicap by a couple of lengths from Rangiatea, with Victim third, and Cannonshot, Beadonwoll, Vanilla and Casket amongst others behind, must be a

good nag, much better than was supposed. Tho second Hurdle Race was Lord Zetland’s win, with Marernma second, the reverse of the Tradesmen’s Handicap. Captive, Beadonwell and Jane Eyre, in tho order named, got placed in the St. Clair Handicap. These horses left all tho others behind and had tho race to themselves, and, although Captive was not a public favourite, the Dunedin public are not very sound judges, and Captive was considered by those who were good judges to have only Beadonwoll to heat Vanilla ran twice as well in tho Farewell Stakes as in the Tradesmen’s Handicap, and won with nearly a length to spare, WANGANUI. The Wanganui Meeting was a series of surprises, horses that were thought to be out in the cold turned out to be prime favourites when tho race started, and horses which had been tipped to win all over the Colony came in nowhere. Tho starts were excellent, as the gonial Charlie s starts always are. The first race of tho day, the Flying, was simply a race between Dummy and Sedgebrook, with the field behind them, and Dummy has shown us that he is a horse of quality sufiieient to win the Wanganui Flying with case. The Wanganui Steeple was another surprise Gillie was nowhere and Booties, plucky as a lion and running in giand style won for the second time. The last time he ran a dead heat with Nanakia in 1891. Timothy, who was second, is of course one of our best jumpers, but Booties has speed and for once negotiated all his fences splendidly. The Hunters’ Steeplechase was the next race on the cards and was won by Ulysses, another favourite, Seddon was second. Ulysses is a good horse and Air Shove has in him one of tho best hunters in New Zealand, and Seddon was ridden by one of tho best huntsmen on the coast (Mr T. Simpson). Bradshaw, who won the t rial Steeple, had not much to brag about in his win. There were only three starters and Freeborn, the top weight, absolutely declined to jump. I am afraid Freeborn will soon relapse into the oblivion from which ho has sprung. Man-o’-war, who won the Winter Oats, had a tough race, and the finish was one of tho best seen at Wanganui for some time.

The Final Steeplechase gave Gillie a chance, and after a fierce race with Timothy ho won. Timothy’s running is improving every day, and Mr Williams has not seen the last of success with him yet. The Hack Flat Race winner, Return, is owned by Mr Tilly. Return is one of those hacks which blossom out as racers after a time and his movements will bo watched with interest.

One feature of the day’s racing was tho small dividends that were paid all through. The public had evidently taken each horse’s measure, and the Wanganui public are famed for being judges of horseflesh. Another feature was the splendid starting of Mr C. 11. Chavannos, the champion starter of the Islaud. Mr Chavannos starting is all tho more wonderful booauso he does it for nothing. The proceeds of his services going to tho widow of the late Sam Powell. OTA K r. The Otaki Race Meeting on Monday last was one of the most enjoyable in the Colony. All the races with the exception of the Stewards’ States, were characterless in style, the favourites holding their own. Slaiden, however, in the Stewards’ Stakes proved the exception, paying over £2O. Crimson Streak, who won tho Plate, was the best-bred horse in the race and the best performer. She was ridden by Taggart. Light, who was second, carried Ist 81b less weight.