AUCKLAND SPORTING LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1848, 22 April 1887, Page 24

AUCKLAND SPORTING LETTER.

(FfiOM Oub Special Sporting Coebbsponoent.) Auckland; April 19. Considering that turfites had two big days of sport at Ellerslie on Easter Monday and Tuesday, it was not anticipated that the Takapuna 1 meeting would draw, but the, great popularity of the fixture stood the club in good stead; and the attendance was, if anything, larger than on any previous occasion. The racing throughout was of a capital description. Proceedings opened with the Selling Hurdle Race, for which Torpedo was sent out a favourite, but Fisherman' (owned and ridden by J. Rae) beat him by a length,' the dividend being £3 7s. Fisherman was bought in by the owner for £56. The Maiden Plate drew out a good-looking lot of eight, and was won by Britannia (half-sister to Victoria), who beat Rosie by naif a length, and rewarded her admirers 'with a dividend of £3 ss. Five weighed 'out for the 'Hurdle Race, of .whom Orangeman' (9st) • was ' elected favourite, but Magnesia (half-sister to Master Agnes) beat him easily/ There was a protest on the 'ground of a cross, but it was disallowed, and a dividend of £2 13s was paid. The Autumn Handicap 'only drew out a field of five— -namely, Friendship' (Bst), Wapiti (Bst 21b), Tamora (6st lplb), Okato (6st 101b), Makero (6st). Wapiti was favourite, but half a mile from home he was in 'trouble, aiid the two stable mates, Tamora and Friendfthip, fighting out an exciting battle,' the former .won by a length, Wapiti being a poor 'third; Dividend, £5 9s. The victory of Tamora was a surprise to her own party, and the whole' 'of their money was on Friendship. Teddy Yuille, who bad 7st 12lb allotted to him, was regarded a fair moral, but his * owner was so annoyed at ' certain parties forestalling him that he struck him out. The Steeplechase had a field of five, viz.. Falcon (list 101b), Quilp (lOst 91b), "Silvio (lOst 91b), Torpedo (9st 81b), Zip (9st9lb). Silvio, who was made a warm favourite, wasfirstaway and made the pace at a great rate. Coming over the water the last time" he was'just clear ~of Torpedo, and the pair ran locked 'together to the second hurdle from home, which Silvio ' took in fine style, while Torpedo jumped slovenly. "The latter was however not hear done with,' and at the last hurdle he was almost again on terms with Silvio. The latter, however, stayed right outandwonby a neck. Dividend, £I' l7s. '; It transpired after that WaneD, who rode Torpedo, broke a stirup leather the first time round, and had that not occurred he would most certainly have won. The last item on the programme was the Devonport Handicap, which was a moral for Teddy Yuille, with Bst, and in the hands of White he beat Friendship (Bst 41b) by half a i length. Dividend, £1 12s. Mr Evett's handicapping at the late meeting has come in for some very rough treatment at the hands of the sporting scribes, who are unanimous in condemning his work on the Autumn Handicap as an outrageous production/ Mr Evett has been so used .to have nice things 'said of him, that when -the flail was' administered" he took the criticism on his work very unkindly, with the result that strained relations now exist between himself and the' scribes. I am' afraid ! that unless Mr Evett shows a little more care i over his work, he w ; ll find a movement on' foot' to appoint another man to iho position.' The Takapuna racecourse has always been notorious for the number of accidents'that occur tnere, and the meeting on Saturday last furnifihed a couplp more to the list. In the Selling Hurdle Race Whalebone, ridden by Laing, fell at the secoud obstacle, and his rider received a severe shaking, being carried in suffering from concussion of the brain fn the second Hurdle Race, Rob Roy fell at the same obstacle as Whalebone came down at, aud Fergus, his rider, was thrown with Mish force that he was rendered insensible. F.rgus was badly cut about the face, his nose being broken. 'Both jockeys are doing as well as can be expected. The good luck the New Zealand Stud Company had with their mares last season has not, I regret to say, followed them this season, as Sylvia (dam of Martini-Henry) and Onyx (dam of Nordenfeldt) have both missed, the former to Nordenfeldt and the latter to Ingomar. Your old friend Jimmy Kean had a couple of wins at Takapuna, Magnesia and Silvio, who were both tsained by him, respectively winning the Hurdle Race and Steeplechase. I understand that Drake will make a move South with his horses by this week's steamer. CRICKET. . The Auckland-Wellington cricket match was not a financial success. The takings- at the gates amounted, I am informed, to £50, but of this amount £20 went for the use of the ground. It- is expected," therefore, that there will be at least a <)< bit balance of £20 over the match. FOOTBALL. Things are very quiet in football circles at present, but now that we have got the holidays and the Wellington cricket match safely over more interest will be displayed , The variou* clubs are quietly mustering their strength, and Graftou, Ponsouby, North Shore, and ' Albert will have strong teams for the ensuing season. Gordon has much the same as last year, and is " btrengthoned by Mogiui ; but what they lack are fast men behind the'Jscrum, And they have no new blood in that. Auckland will atili place a team in the field, but I am ' afraid after its 15

years^exis.tence the. old club will have to content itself Vith a loi^ place', „-> ! The editor of. 'the Auckland Rugby Football Annualinfor^as toe, that the book will be published during tHe-first : week in May. . / A movement has been set on foot by the Rev. J. B. .Hill to. -establish a new football club in Auckland under the Association rules, as. being, less rough and a, prettier game than the Rugby game. „* •",■..• BOWLING. The .representatives who played iin the late interprovmpial patch played- three riaks • nonrepresentatives of the. Auckland Bowling Club, and defeated them, by 22 points. AQUATIC. , It is underatoqd that a well-known Auckland an order fdr the building of a 25-ton, yacht with fi'view to competing in the big race to be sailed in Australian" waters next season. The cost of the yacht, it is' expected, will be fully £1000.' ( ' : NOMINATIONS. . DUNEDIN MAY^RAiCES. The following nominations ! were. received for the May meeting at Mr Sydney James* office on Saturday night' :-rPROVINCIAL HANDICAP, Of 20090V8.- One mile and a-half. Teddy Yuille ', Marion ' EvertonLad Fog > .Beresford Moana St. Glair ' Borderman Mokoia Jack Mirella * Apropos Quibble Hermitage, • Rose aiid Gold Titbit ' Captain Cook La Boae. MAY HANDICAP TROTTING BACK, Of76flovs'. Three miles.' Jimmy Brown " Gipsy Postman Bonnie Jean Wanderoo Reefer Daisy , ■ Dark Cays Jumbo ' . Conga . Chanticleer Bloswitch Na pa-nap ' Idle Girl Frolicsome Bella ' Fidget Coacher' Toby Foremost Masher Maid Allßlnck Duchess Joe John Oacar Claret Maggie Jack Axe , Rockwood Mabel , Shamrock Tommy „ Hawkdun Antrim. Kett's bay mare ' ■ Minnie.'* TRADESMEN'S HANDICAP, i Of lUOsovs. One mile.' Teddy Yuille Comet St/Clair Mokoia Marion Rocket Bereslord Mirella Apropos Witchcraft Bard Jack Quibble Jackal Athol, Daisy fitbit Captain Cook La Rose Everton Lad Fog Ironsides Garibaldi I ', Camerine Jealousy 'HANDICAP HURDLE RAGE, Of 808OV8. Two mile's.' Peter Osbeck The Drover , Fishhook Garibaldi' Secretary ' Dunluce Mayboy . .Trapper Wildboy KJugaek >„ '■ ■ Aziin Bordermau. BIRTHDAY HANDICAP, Of ISOeovs. One mile and a-quarter. , Teddy Yuille Bard' Everton Lad Marion Quibble Fog Beresford 1 Hermitage Moana St. Clair Rose and Gold Ironsides , Mokoia Titbit . ' CameHbe Mirella 1 ■ Captain Cook Jealousy Apropos . ' La Kose ■ Jack, WINTEfi HANDICAP TRdITING RACE; Of 7580V8.- iTwd miles. ' " Jimmy .Brown . Dark Days John Oscar Postman. Conga Claret Wnnderoo Bloxwitch Maggie Daisy Patience Axe, Jurat o ' Idle Girl Mabel Na pa-nap • Bella ' Tommy Frolicsome Ida Maid Antrim Fidget, Roger Minnie Maslier Maid Coacher . Jack Gipsy Silvcrßell TtjKooti Bonnie Jean ' Foremost' Rockwood Reefer' Duchess Shamrock | Little Emily Joe' Hawkdun ST. CLAIR HANDICAP, Of lOGsbvs. Seven furlongs. T*ddy Yuille Apropos Everton Lad j Hockefc Bard Fog .Comet Witchcraft Moana Marion < , Quibble .Tronsides Beresford Athol Daisy Camerine ' St. Clair' Titbit , ' Jealousy Mokoia Captain Cook Toko Mirella "' . La Kose Jackal RACING IN NEW ZEALAND. INVERCARGILL R.C. AUTUMN MEETING. . . Invercabgili,, April 14. The second day's races of the Invercargill 1 Racing ' Clv- were better attended than on the previous day. £471 passed through the totalisiter. The results were as follow : — 1 ' BASTEK HANDICAP, , Two mile's.* Mr WilsonVCivis, Bst 71b ... ... ... 1 Mr Brown's Adele, Bsfc ... , ... ... 2 These were the only starters. Dividend, £1 6s. 1 SBLLING.BACK, 1 One mile and n -half. Mr Brenchlcy'a No Shenanikan, Bsi ... ... I Mr Aitken's Barb' Wire, 10sl. 7lb ... ... 'i Mr Steele's Aparima, 8f! w< ... ... 3 Five started. Dividi-wi. I •'•;!*. HANDICAP TIME taOT, ' Three miles. Mr Littlewort'B Foremast (scratch) ... ...» ! Mr Aitken's Harry Moo"t«. ('2o<!^;> I ?our ran. Dividend, £1 15s. SOUTHLAND ALL-AGED HANDICAP, One mile. I Mr Brunton's Plunger, 7st .. ... ... 1 I Mr Fraserls Lady Ellen, Bst 121b ... ... 2 ; Only two ran. Dividend, £3 Is. ! . PONY HANDICAP. | Mr Rodger's Dick; M 91b ... MrßußaeU"BT<>by,7st7lb .., • ... ]Six ran', and a good race was won on the post by a bare length/ Dividend, £12 7s. HURRY SCURRY, „ One mile and a-quarter. Mr M' lvor's Slbper Mr Brunton's Jasper ... ... ... % Five ran.' Dividend, £2. The Consolation was won by Mr Steel's Aparima. Dividend, £2 Bs. , : RACES. Auckland, April 16. - The Autumn meeting of the Takapuna Jockey Club was. held to-day. There was a good attendance., The weather was splendid. The following are* ihe 'results' : — Selling" Ht/bplks^ o-^e mile and a-balf.— Fisher- | mari,'l;Torp'edb;2';Rowdy,3., Won easily. Whalebone fell at 'one' of tbe hurdles, and ' Long, the ! jnckev. was injured, and is suffering from concussion of, the brain. . Maiden' -F'i.ate, one mile and a-quarter. — Bntanuia, 1/, ' Hostel -S ; Weasel, 3. ' This was a close finish. ' ' • +J <. , - ', .' Handicap Hutbdiks, over seven flights of hurdles. Two miles.— Magnesia. 1; Orangeman, 2 ;-Pippie, 3; Rob Roy felUat one, of the hurdles, and the, rider, Fergus, sustained concussion of the brain. Magnesia won after a fairlv'cb'ntested race. Devoktost Handicap.* Teddy Yuille, I ; Friendahip, 2;. Reproach 8; - Thlp wap a closo ractt. * Handicav BT^|SPLSCHABE.~SIKio, I ; Torpedo, '£; Zip, 3. This -tins a capital race.'