OUR AUCKLAND SPORTING LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1989, 10 April 1890, Page 28

OUR AUCKLAND SPORTING LETTER.

(From Oub Own Cobrespondent.) Auckland, April 8.

Though so far as acceptances and entries are oonoerned our Autumn meeting opened under auapioious conditions, rainy weather and counter attractions affeoted the attendance, and there were not more 2000 persona present" at any period of the afternoon. The visitors from Napier, Gisborne, and Wanganui were very numerous, and some, faces were present that I have not Been at Auckland race meetings for years. The raoing throughout was fairly interesting, but there were no really exciting finishes. In the Easter Handicap Hilda (notwithstanding that she had the heavy burden of 9.11 in the saddle) was made a staunch favourite, and she beat her opponents as if they were a lot of common hacks, Rataplan acted the part of paoemaker for the greater part of the journey, and he succeeded so well in his mission that the mile and a-half was got over in the clipping time of 2 39, while some made it a tick less. The daughter of Musket was in great buokle, and the form she showed in the race once more revives the question, How did she lose the Wanganui Cup ? The Hurdle Race drew out a fine field of 11, of whom the Napier representative, Darnley, was aelected a strong favourite, but the presumed ♦' good thing " got bowled over, Donald a recent importation (who had been doing hia preparation), beating the favourite by four lengths. The Champagne Stakes was regarded &b something approaching a moral for Captain RuBBeU'B filly Aronoel, but when Misa Cole got away with three lengths the best of the start while Aronoel hung at the post, her admirers got a big shook ; but tho favourite speedily set all doubts at rest half way up the straight and ran home an easy winner. Aronoel is a daughter of Apremont and Leonora, and is, like her dam, a chestnut in colour. She is very faat, and I waß much impressed by the manner in which Bhe made up her ground. The meeting was to have been continued today, but rain fell almost unceasingly and a postponement was decided on. The two-year-old colt Leolantis.(by Leolinus —Atlanta) was Bold on Monday last to a patron of George Wright's Btable for 500ga. He has only once Bhown anything like passable form; but Btill Wright would not have advised his purchase without some good grounds. The steeplechaser Messenger having been purchased by a Victorian turfite is to be Bhipped tor Sydney to-morrow by the Rotomahana. The horse was engaged in the Autumn Steeple chase to be run to-day, but owing to the wet weather necessitating the postponement of the meeting he will- not be able to compete, as delivery had to be given to-day in accordance with the terms of the purohase. The committee of the Auckland Racing Olub have decided to deal a death blow to pony ( racing, as at a meeting held to-day it was decided not to pasa any programmes in whioh | any races of that obaraoter are included.