AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2320, 18 August 1898, Page 33

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By Taihoa.

August 15.

Tho sub- committee appointed by tho Atickland Racing Club to draw up the programmes for the coming season met again this afternoon, and aftei between two and three houra' t.ilkee talkee, failed to arrive at anything definite to place before tho general committee for ratification. Rumour has it that the amount to 00 disbursed in prize money according to the programmes at present forwarrl appioaches £17,000, but it is not anticipated that the general commifcteo will be prepared to accept anything over £10,000, which should certainly endow tho four meetings granted with plums sufficiently inviting to attract outside competition tigm M pivrtg of tho colony. The esjubi-

tion splash (summer programme) ia expected to embrace a couple of handicaps of lOOOsovs, while it is anticipated that the time-honoured Auckland Plate will be revived, and that a stake for weight for age will be one worthy of the event. Messrs Duder Bros, had a bit of bad luck last week when their brood mare Anabelle produced dead twins to St. Hippo. The latest foalings at Wellington Park stud are a filly from Ganza to Cuirassier and a colt from Forma to St. Leger. The local pencillera have contracted pretty large liabilities about Multiform, on tbe strength of a rumour that this colt might be looked upon aa an improbable starter in the New Z'!i\an.d Cup. Multiform's appearance m the acceptances has certainly not formed pleasant* reading for mo<.e than one 01 them. With the announcement ot the acceptances his ptico dropped from 20's to 10 to 1. The four permits granted to the Auckland Racing Club for the season ot ISO3-J9, will be

ma ov<?r 12 clays, as under: — Spring, November !5 pud 3; Summer, Deceiribf-r 26, 27, and January '> and 3; Autumn, Jester Monday and Tiietday, arid Uie Saturday following; National meeting, June 8 and 6.

Tho whole of the Aiickland candidates for the New Zealand Cup are doing satisfactory work, though it ia doubtful whether jN r ostor, who has a log, will be able to stand the wmdmg-up process.

Betting on the big southern event has been quiet during the past week.

Messrs Duder have named their batch of two-year-olds a<3 under: — Brown colt by Cuirassier — Huno, Waterloo; bay colt by Cuirassier— Miss Stead, Halberdier; bay filly by Cuirassier — Dolosa, Volee; bay filly by St. Leger— Anna, Queen Ann; brown colt, lyr, by St. Hippo — Anna, Takapuna. Tho Corormuidol Racing Club has formed an attractive programme for a country gathering, tho principal events being the Coromandel Cup, of 70sovs, one mile and a-quarter, and the Coromandel Racing Club Handicap, of 40sovs, one mile.

At a meeting of the committee of the A.R.C. on Tuesday last Mr H. T. Gorrio was elected treasurer, vice Mr J. Dickey, deceased, and tho following officers were elected: President, Hon. E. Mitchelson ; vice-president, Mr L. J). Nathan; stewards — Messrs H. O. Nolan, S. A. Price, A. Buckland, J. Dawson, D. W. Duthio, Major Pitt, A. J . Dennifton, C. Hcsketh, W. D. Holgate, Donald M'Leod.

The annual meeting of the Avondale Jockey Club was held on Friday last, when the statement of accounts submitted showed receipts S2IGS 17a lid, and exx>enditure JEIB7, leaving a cash balance of £241 4s sd, while assets were set down as with liabilities nil. It was state 1 that a contract had been entered into for a new stand and improvements at a cost of about £500, and a sub-committee consisting of Messrs H. T. Gorrie, Donald M'Leod, Robert Duder, M. Foley, and the secretary (Mr H. H. Hayr) was formed to draw up a row code of rul°,s for the future working and guidance of the club.

Some years since the racing clubs at Whangarei, Datgaville, and further north quarrelled with the metropolitan body, and as a result severed their connection with the Auckland Eacing Club, and have since conducted meetings under the code of rules drawn up by themselves. Acting on a suggestion thrown out by the Colonial Secretary, who when dealing with the allotment of totalisator permits hinted that it would bo desirable that the club 3 ia question should fall in line with the governing body, the Auckland Racing Club Comuiifetee, at a meeting held last week, made a conciliatory overture by removing the disqualification from the horses, trainers, and jockeys who have competed at these unregistered meetings to date, excepting, of course, a disqualification imposed for malpractice. It only now remains for tho clubs in question to accept the overture tr> have the whole of the clubs in the Auckland provincial district working amicably tinder one government.

Mr Thomas Morrin, the well-known Wellington Park stud master, ha.ving declined to accept the office of chairman of tho A.R.C., Mr A. Buckland, one of our veteran sportsmen, has beeu appointed to the chair for the ensuing year.

For some time past a section of the committee of the Auckland P.acing Club have been moving in the direction of wiping pony racing off the club's programme, recognising that such make for the purification of the sport. So a step would be in the truo interests ancl strong, liowever, has been the feeling in favour of the continuance of liliputian events that the eflort has failed. Yet agitation has had a good effect, and the class of sport in question will henceforth be placed on a more satisfactory basis. The committee having decided to raise the standard from 14.2 to 14.3, which shows a tendency to do away with many of the abuses that have been resorted to to bring ponies under the required standard, added to which it is decided that ponies shall be relneasurcd before each meeting. To this end Mr G-. Cutts ia appointed tbo official measurer — a happy selection, as Mi- Cutts will allow of no li&nky - panky or questionable practices, and every pony passed through his h?nds may be relied upon us eligible.