AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2051, 15 June 1893, Page 31

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By Taiiioa.

Our Auckland Winter meeting is finished, and I fancy that no moro disastrous one to backers or more beneficial to the walking totalisator has ever taken place in this city. With the one exception of Mr Blaikie being struck for £400 over the double of Mutiny and Despised, I believe the bookies had a skinner. One noteworthy occurrence that transpired during the meeting was the fact of Mr W. Douglas, who had bred Mutiny and sold him for 30gs } purchasing the same horse before the second clay's running for 235g8. Another was Mr John Lennard's Ida (by King Cole out of the Panic mare Bragela) winning all four welter races— two on the* first and two on the second day. Still one other— vi?., that neither Kulnine nor Norton was able to do sufficient work to keep them up to concert pitch, consequently we saw nothing approaching their southern performances. In the two days £6999 pa?sed through the machine — a considerable falling off from last year. Mr Percival, the worthy secretary of the Auckland Racing Club, despite the weather, kept excellent time and enabled the public to get home before dark, though the first; race on the second day was delayed 20 minutes owing to a hailstorm. This race only brought out three runners— viz., Ida, Lottie, and Ingorina. After the semblance of a struggle Ida won by a neck from Ingorina, Lottie being a coupleof lengths behind. In this race — viz , a Hunter's Handicap— the weight should have been lOst, but the two amateurs who rods Ida and Lottie respectively claimed a 71b allowance. Had an amateur ridden Ingorina he would or could have ridden 9.13, but being ridden by a professional jockey he carried his weight as handicapped by Mr Evetb — viz., 10.6. What puzzles us is whether this penalty is accumulative or is a handicap made for professional jockeys. If the latter, then several horses, it' they had put up amateurs who claimed the 71b allowance, would have been under the authorised 10.0. Ingorina carried his handicap weight, ridden by a professional, but several who were lower in the handicap, if amateurs' allowances were claimed, as in the cases of Ida and Lottie, would have been under the 10.0, which is against the rules. Then why were Ida and Lottie allowed to ride 71b under handicap weight? Several good judges here are of opinion that Ida should not have been declared the winner. Has ever a case transpired under similar circumstances in Dunedin ? The big event of the meeting followed, and here the light-weight outsiders completely demolished the favourites, Booties and Shillelagh. Eleven faced Mr Halstead, and after a false start caused by Shillelagh, the lot were despatched very evenly. Deceiver, Nero, and Scaltheen took the first hurdle, closely followed by Flukem, Booties, and Shillelagh ; then in a cluster came Despised, Chester, Maiechal Neil, Auckland, and Norton. This order was followed over "Percival's puzzle," and up the track through the pines into Crowther's paddock. On coming into view, Deceiver, Flukem, and Booties took the post and rails first. Marechal Neil baulked and ran Shillelagh off, putting his chance out. Flukem, Despised, Scaltheen, Norton, and Nero followed down the hill and over the stone wall, and the sod wall saw little change. Over the water jump the field closed up, and all sail was set for the stone wall and old water jump, Deceiver and Booties going "eyes out." Flukem and Norton here began to tail off. Going through the pines Booties rushed to the front whilst Despised made up a lot of ground and took second place, Deceiver third, Nero fourth, the rest tailing off. At the second fence on top of the hill Auckland baulked. Down the hill and over ths stone wall, sod bank, and double Despised led his field, Deceiver and Booties following. The double saw Flukem come to grief and Norton retire thoroughly baked. Scalfcheen then began to come from the rear, and made up a lofc of ground. Deceiver led over the stone wall, followed by Nero, Scaltheen, and Chester. Despised led along the back stretch and increased his lead, jumping perfectly, and coming into view the third time in Crowther's paddeck, looked an ea3y winner, but the first post and rails saw him throw his rider, which looked like putting his chance out. Meantime Scaltheen rushed past, followed by Nero, Deceiver, and Chester. Kxbs HeatoD, the rider of Despised, had his reins twisted round his wrisb, consequently his mount did not got away. Remounting quickly he sst all sail after the leaders, who were a couple of hundred yards ahead, and only five furlongs from home. Yard by yard he overhauled them, and although they landed over the wall into the straight ahead of him, Despised was running so game and strong that at the hurdle in front of the Derby stand he was level, and clearing the obstacle as fresh as a daisy got home by four lengths from Scaltheen; Nero, Chester, Deceiver, Flukem. and Booties coming in with the crowd. Time, 9aiin 58sec. The winner, Despised, is by Cap-a-pie out of Mavis, and was bred by Mr Caverhill, of Hawera, father of Mr Caverhill, manager of the Auckland Freezing Works. Despised has only one eye, but otherwise is a nice shapely little horse, as gams as a pebble. He was only sent to make the running for Shillelagh, but Mr Caverhill, knowing his breeding, threw in for a nice little stake. Dividends : Inside, £37 12s ; outside, £93 ss. The Hurdle Race was thought to be a dead snip for Belmont, but Criminal repeated the Mutiny triek — went to the front and stayed there; Ingorina third, and Waterbury last. Dividend, £5 103 and £4 9a. The Second Welter Handicap showed that Mr Lennard had

Ida in grand buckle, albeit it was a great finish, His Worship, who made a very late run, being only done a nose ; Lady Belle a close third. Dividends, £7 2s and £10 15s. The Tally-ho Steeples saw a splendid race between Nero, Auckland, Long-ropar, and Flukem. Parnell, Kate, and Bombardier also star bed. Flukem led away, and was never headed till the second time at the double, where he was'showing signs of distress. Parnell came down at the sod wall in the first round, and Kate at the water jump. All cleared the double, but the stone wall saw Bombardier come to grief. Long - roper, Auckland, and Flukem led along the back stretch, closely followed by Nero. Aftir negotiating safely the posb and rails in Crowther's paddock Nero made a forward move, and took first place over the wall into the straight. Here again Long-roper made another great effort, and after jumping the last hurdle put in a still stronger claim, but Nero just lasted long enough to get home a length. Time, 9min 163ec. Dividends, £10 10s and £10 4s. The Novel Race brought out a field of three, Jessica, Minnie, and Mistake. Jes3ica gob away with the lead and was never caught until the straight, where Minnie challenged and won by a long length, Mistake two lengths away third. Dividends, £2 8a and £3 17s. [The Press Association gives Jessica as the winner. —Ed. O.W.] Kulnine and Norton leave for their Hawke's Bay engagements on Thursday next. W. Clark, who was thrown when riding Kulnine in the Grand National, informs me that neither he nor the horse was hurt seriously. Brown Alice, I understand, is at Wellington Park, and will be mated with Castor this season. I hear that Koss Heaton received £100 for his ride in the Greab Norbhcrn on Despised. It is Heaton's intention to leave shortly for Australia, where he should find ready employment, as he is one of our quietest and best-mannered lads, to say nothing of his being a splendid horseman. Parnell is engaged at Hawke's Bay, but will not, I understand, take part. Couranto, Waterbury, and Mutiny will form Mr Douglas's team to Australia after the Hawke's Bay meeting. I fancy from what Mr Douglas told me that it is quite possible it may be enlarged, as he had no idea of buying Mutiny when he wentto see him sold. RACING IN NEW ZEALAND. AUCKLAND WINTER MEETING. Second Day — Saturday, Junk 10. The Auckland Racing Club's Grand National meeting was concluded on Saturday. The weather was cold and cheerless, the ground was very heavy, and the saddling paddock a quagmire. Tnere was a moderate attendance. The following are the results : — Members' Welter Handicap, of GOsovs. One mile. 120 Mrs Lennard's br m Ida, by King Cole — Bragela, 4yr3, 11.3 [allowed 71b] (Mr G.Paul) 1 35 Mr A. E. Byers's b h Ingorina. 6yrs, 10 t5 (A. Byers) 2 61 Mr J. Kean's b f Lottie, 3yrs, 10.5 [allowed 71b] (MrHenwood) 3 Won by a neck, with three lengths bstween second and third horses. Time, 2min 4sec. Dividends, £1 12s and £1 11s. Great Northern Steeplechase Handicap, of 400sovs, second horse 50sovs, and third 20sovs from the stake. About three miles and a half. 21 Mr T» Wyley's br g Despised, by Oap-a-pie—Mavis, aged, 9.7 (Heaton) 1 72 Mr J. O. Lampert's blk g Scaltheen, 6yrs, 9.10 (Windsor) 2 40 Mr C. Deal's br g Nero, aged, 9.7 (Owner) 3 89 Norton 12.S (Clarke), 211 Shillelagh 11.4 (A.Williams), 213 Booties 10. S( P. Johnson), 154 Marechal Neil 10.0 (Dixon), 99 Flukem 9.11 (Shaw), 96 Chester 9.9 (Rollo), SO Auckland 9.9 (Laing), and 102 Deceiver 9.8 (iVl'Kinnon) also started. The running for the first couple of furlongs was made by Deceiver, but Booties then took command and was first up the hill the first time, soon giving way, however, to Flukem, Shillelagh at the same time running round a fence at the bop of the hill, and Marechal Neil refusing to jump. Deceiver was first on the flat at the water jump, where Booties, Flukem, Despised, Scaltheen, Norton, Auckland, and Nero followed him. Ciimbing the hill Despised was second, bub at the fence there Auckland baulked, and Despised, favoured by his light weight, ran to the front down the hill, and led all the way round until he was on the hill the third time, when, with 15 lengths' lead, he fell. Flukem having in the meantime fallen at the double, and Norton, who had run a disappointing race, having been pulled up, Despised was quickly remounted, and again catching the leaders in the run home won by four lengths, six lengths between second and|third. Time, 9min 58£ sec. Dividends, £37 12s and £93 ss. Handicap Hurdle Race, of lOOsovs. One mile and three-quarters. 95 Mr D. Hepburn's eh g Criminal, by Foul Play— Renga, aged, 10.0 (A. Williams) 1 203 Mr F. M'Minamin's br g Belmont, 10.7 (M'Minarnin) 2 50 Mr A. E. Byera's b h Ingorina, 6yrs, 9.8 (Alex. Williams) 3 190 Waterbury 10.12 also started. Criminal, after making all the running, won by three lengths from Belmonb, wibh Ingorina two lengths away third. Dividends, £5 10s and £4- 9s. Second Winter Welter Handicap, of 50sovs. Seven furlongs. 85 Mra Lennard's br m Ida, by King Cole— Bragela, 4yrs, 11.12 (Taylor) 1 49 Mrs Baker's br h His Worship, 3yrs, 10.0 (Mason) 2 105 Mr R. Burko'rf b m Lady Bell, 4yrs, 10 0 (Morrigan) 3 116 Mutiny 10 12, 6^5 Lottie 11.0, 55 Criminal 10.10. 63 Tulloch 10!), 109 Master Pat 10.5, SB Dorothy 10.0, and 38 St. Kilda 10.0 also started. Won by a neck, after a great race in the sbraighb. Time, lmin 33sec. Dividends, £7 2s and £10 ss. Tally-ho Handicap Steeplechase, of lOOsovs. About three miles. 60 Mr C. Deal's br g Nero, by Ingomar, syra 9.5 (Deal) 1 145 Mr C. Sisson's br g Long-roper, aged, 9.10 (Dixon) 2 50 Mr J. Ilands's eh g Flukem, 6yrs, 10.0 (Shaw) 3 31 Parnell 10.3, 73 Kate 9.10, 50 Auckland 9.9, and 153 Bombardier 9.S also started. Flukem led for the firsb mile and a-half, when Long-roper book command. The latter remained in front until the post and rails at the top of the hill had been negotiated, when Nero challenged him and they ran down the hill locked together. The pair jumped the stone wall on even terms, but once in the straight Nero drew away and won by three-quarters of a lengbh. Time, 9min 16sec. Dividends, £10 10s and £10 4s. The Novel Race, of 30aovs, ono mile, was won by Jessica, by Billingsgate — Jessie, who defeated two other horses. Dividends, £2 8s and £3 17s. The missing man Pointon, who wa? supposed to have fallen off Paretutu Island in'o the sea, has turned up at Stratford. It appears that he had met with an accident in the bush, and did not hear that his disappearance was causing tbe police so much trouble.