AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2242, 18 February 1897, Page 33

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By Taihoa.

February 15. The Takapuna Jockey Club's Summer meeting, which was concluded last Saturday, was a mos* successful fixture in every seme. The betting was good, the racing interesting, and on the three days the attendance was satisfactory, a proof of this being given in the fact that during the meeting the totalisator agents handled the respectable total of £20,198. One of our leading owners of jumpers had exceedingly bad luck on the last day in the Maiden Hurdle 3. His horse Dentist won easily, and would have paid dividends of £19 6s and £33 19s had it not been for the rider crossing the second horse Forella in a most unnecessary, manner at the home turn. He could have won easily had he left the other horse alone, and his interference led to his disqualification and the race being awarded to Forella. Then in the Open Hurdles Hue's horse Kingswood caught the leader at the last jump, and was fairly beating her for pace when Kiugs wood's jockeyj ockey fell off. Rae had the same rider up on Dentist and King*\vood, with the result that two races that he should have won were thrown away. The leading flat race was the summer Handicap, of 1003ovs, one mile, for which An tares was a strong favourite. Lady Marion led for half a mile and then fell, after which Retaliation rushed to the front, and led the field to within a few strides of tbe winaine post, where the uncertain Panoply caught her and won by a long neck. Evidently Panoply will not stand the whip, for all the way up the straight bis jockey rode with hands and heels, the result being that for the first time up here the horse raced generously. Geo ge Wright lias had to wait a long time for Panoply to sore, but with a £10 9s dividend his party must have won a good bit of money. The field consisted of a very second-rate lot, and had Panoply not been able lo score he would not have been worth feeding. The six-furlong Devonport Handicap look»d a good thing for Lillie, who was strongly backed, but Lady Marion won cleverly, with Puranei Potae and Lillie in the places, dividends of £8 13s and £7 5s resulting. The runner-up in this race, Porangi I'otae, had an easy win in the Boiough Handicap, four furlongs. She got away well, and, being kept at it, never let che field close to her. I have spoken of the Maiden Hurdle Race, which was the best of good things for Dentist had he been ridden properly The* Pony Ra.ce was a good contest, the favourite, Mavourneen, only getting home by a neck from Partan Jennie, who was also well backed. Fidget was left at o the post, and appears to have gone back to the unpleasant humour which led to the name being given to her that she bears in the jumping racej. Miss Nelson ea'ily took first honours, both Hurdles and Steeplechase falling to her. As a flat racer she was a jade, but over jumps she is perfectly honest. Slie is another instance of a sprinter proving a stayer. On the flat she was no good over a longer distance than five or six furlongs, but now she jumps over three and a-half miles of country as though she enjoyed it. She is the only decent thing Nelson has, given us, and the thought strikes in on me that Pegasus, ■who was a howling failure on the flat, might earn his oats if he were gelded and put over sticks Mr Stead's Maxim mare B uetire is to be mated ■with the Wellington Park sire St. Leger. This union should give something good. F. M Miuamin has had another addition to his string, the Nordenfeldt — Kosarina mare Norina having joined his stable. The Papakura trainer, French, who has hitherto had charge of Norina, could do nothing with her, but M'Minamin may get a race out of her. The Auckland Trotting Club holds its Autumn meeting on April 10 and 17 The Alison orothers are trying to get another race out of their stallion Regel (by St. Leger— Atlanta, and therefore full brother to Hippomenes). He has joined Adam Byers's string, and is being given slow work. His legs look sound enough, but it is much too early to hazard a guess as to his ability to stand a preparation.

Mr Swan, sen., of Carterton, who Is 'now 95 years of age, the other day carried out the work of shingling a large barn entirely with his iwn bauds.