AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2059, 10 August 1893, Page 30

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By Taiijoa. August 8 The annual meeting of the Auckland Racing Club was held on Monday afternoon. The report and balance sheet show that the club has made a loss of £635 17s 9d. An important matter in comrc } nw th the fixture is the announcement that the committee intend to place pony races on their programmes. The report is as follows: "Gentlemen, in laying the annual statement of accounts before you your committee regrpt that they have not so satisfactory a statement to make as in former years, for owing to the severe weather experienced losses have been made when we htp'-d to have made larger profits than formerly. At qur Summer meeting the weather was really worse than ever has been experienced before. During tho year we have given away in stakes £8900, as against £8335 at the corresponding meetings last year. The amount put through the totalisator was £49,453, as against £63,109 the previous year, or a reduction in round numbers' of £U,OOO. The gates' realised £929 and the grand stand £815, as against £1200 aod £899. Three conferences were held in Wellington dating the year, At (jhe last the delegates

agreed to give representation to country and suburban clubs at future conferences, which your committee trust will make matters work more satisfactorily to all concerned. Your committee intend at future meetings to place pony races oo&your programmes, which they trust will meet the wishes of their supporters." You will have t/6 elect six committeemen. Messrs Nathan, Buckland, M'Laughlin, Ouder, and Kirkwood retire, but offer themselves for re-election, while Mr Arch. Clark has given the requisite notice that he is a candidate in room of Mr Lanigan resigned " . So far as I have heard the first foaling of the season in Auckland took place yesterday at the Wellington Park stud, when Formo (dam of the promising Formee) produced a grand colt foal to Hotchkiss— a bay in colour. A pleasant afternoon wag spent on Saturday on the course, which was thrown open. All the leading trainers were present. There stood the stalwart James Kean in his clogs ; Scotty Wright, proud as Punch of his two-year-olds ; M'Minamin with clock in hand ; J. B. Williamson conversing with Mr Lowther. A pretty afternoon, and each trainer trying to deceive his brother. Several two-year-olds were fluttered, but the best of each batch never had its head loose. After timing them and watching the strength and weight of each jo'ekey, I admit I was in a quandary. After this was over a cab drove up with Mr Lowther and ano'her well-known follower of the sport. Mr J. B. Williamson, turning to Mr Lowther, remarked, " Have you room for Taihoa ? " Mr Lowther replied in the affirmative, and away we went in a brougham to the stables of Mr J. B. Williamson. I may mention that tho various two-year-olds were ordered to file past for inspection on the racecourse, consequently we saw them at their best. On arriving at the avenue our first introduction was to Specimen, a very handsome daughter of the Dauphin and the Musket mare Bangle. This filly has grown up in front, but hardly thickened out to my liking, albeit she has shown great pace and may yet effect a cou& Out came the beautiful Eve. Yes, although^ the filly has not grown up, she shows wonderful development since her lasfc appearance in public. She has thickened, but still retains the* lady-like look for which she was so justly celebrated as a two-year-old. Best assured She will be a thorn in the side of the best of the three-year-olds if Mr Williamson has the luck to keep her well. Out comes Morion's brother, a great over-grown colt, which Mr Williamson informs Mr Lowther he intends making a steeplechaser of. I quite agree that, all going well, he thould make a Grand National horse. Dibhouour, full brother (o Freedom, then follows. A nice shaped 'un is th's one. and, ia<i.rk my words, a g"nri race is in sbore with this covey. Miud, Mr Williaunsou does not; say so ; consequently it is my own private option. The Gay Deceiver; by Woolbroker from The Jilt, is next led out. He is on the small side, but showing heaps of quality. Mr Williamson likes The Jilt family ; hence I fancy his object in securing this colt. He reminds me of.The Workman as" a two-year-old, and may yet well repay the purchase money. The St. Leger and Radiant colt has furnished well, neyertheless,l don't like him. Mr Williamson has a much higher opinion of him. Perhaps he is correct in hjs surmise. In come the two-year-olds. Methiok* Old Grandma— l allude to the Veneration filly — is about the shapliest and fastest Castor 1 have yet seen. The> Hotchkiss or Castor out of Aida colt is a nice leDgthy bay, not coarse, and to the eye more like a Ca9tor in conformation than a Musket ; yet Mr Morrin informed me he was foaled to Hotchkiss's time, consequently the studmaster must be correct. Lord Dunluce, a nice dark chestnut colt by St. Leger from Lady Antrim (who in turn was by Nordenfeldt from Erycina, dam of the flying Mitrailleuse), is next passed by. Mark this gentleman. A sluggard of the first water. Mr Williamson thinks very highly of this colt, and he can go just as fast as you can clap your hands, and a . bit faster if wanted. Next comes the^Tetford out of Lioness colt, who is more than' likely to furnish into a racehorse. If this be a fair sample of Tetford'a stock, rest assuredhe is a much neglected sire. Bear in mind that Lioness is a purebred mare, but a cross-grained devil, as she cost her owners a small fortune. A real daisy followß in the chestnut Castor out of Jilt colt. I fancy this is the "bonanza" of the stable for a Rerby oolt. I may be wrong, but time will tell. A handsome little filly is the one by Nelson out of Tenambra — as slippery as greased lightning, bat she will, I think, find weight a huge obstacle. The Nelson— The Maid filly is of a more cumbersome style, and with the careful treatment she is receiving may eventually develop into a first-class mare. Mr Williamson's establishment comprises 8,0 me 22 boxes, and I must not pass it over lightly, so will continue next week. James Kean has the Hotchkiss— Satanella colt in hand. This is abqut the best Hotchkiss I have seen. Satyr arrived to-day all well, Our big coursing meeting comes off on the 23rd and 26th of this month. There is great jubilee over our footballers' return. Jervis informs ma that the bsst thing that could happen to the team wa3 the licking they got.