AUCKLAND TOPICS. By Taihoa.

Otago Witness, Issue 2371, 10 August 1899, Page 38

AUCKLAND TOPICS. By Taihoa.

August 7. A. fair amount of wagering continues to be fransacted on the New Zealand Cup. As the result of a bet of 500 to 35 taken in favour of Explosion, the Auckland colt has shortened a 'point, and is now quoted locally at 12 to 1. A 4A 4 commission of 500 to 15 was placed, and 1000 to 60 was booked about Douglas, while, as the .result of a good gallop by St. Paul towarda the latter end of the week, the son of St. Leger was 'backed to win something like £2000. Others "who continue to find support to smaller 'amounts are Coronet, Castashore, Battleaxe, and Seahorse. The imported sire, Cyrenian, arrived from (Wellington on Sunday, and was taken out to fctr J. G. Ralph's estate at Sylvia Park. Several Bports who saw him landed were favourably impressed with the stallion, and I hope to have a look at him myself during the week. The annual meeting of the Auckland Racing Club was held this afternoon, the president (the .don. E. Mitchelson) in the chair. The annual report, as submitted by Secretary Percival, congratulated members on, the' success of the past eeaaon, ar>d pointed oat that while the profits on each of the four meetings held during the year were hardly as large in the aggregate as in She preceding year, such could hardly be c-x-Ipected in the face of the marked increase in ' tetakes. The report sets down the added money ■ as £16,700 as against £13,480 for the pre- j keding season, but, in view of the deduction of j |6 per cent., this is rather misleading. The net tetakes for the year totalled £15,929 10s, as i £13,450 for tha year previous — an in- i fccrease of £3162. The balance sheet shows a net profit on the season of £2024 — a decrease of £43 &c compared with 1897-98, but as a set-off against *hia there is the increase in added money. The jtotalisator investments amounted to £119,520 — pn increase of £17,594, — while increases are also fchown in both the jockeys' and trainers' provident funds. The total amount of the chib's indebtedness now stands at £8760, while the liquid assets total £5841, leaving a deficiency liere of £2619 ; but as against this there is the club's handsome course and buildings at El9*ralie, valued at £20,000. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and accounts, took occasion to urge upon the incoming committee the advisability of abolishing the system of deducting 6 per cent, from the stakes, and place the club on the same footing as other leading clubs of the colony, where owners re- j ctived the full amount of the advertised stakes, said knew exactly what they were to get. Another important point upon which he touched was that of distinctive colours for jockeys, and in this connection he advised the committee to issue a notice to horseowners compelling them to submit the colours for approval. Mr L. D. Nathan also offered a suggestion to the incoming committee to the effect that when framing future programmes more attention should be given to mares, such as the introduction of an Oaks, as provided for by other of the .leading clubs in the colony. The election then took i place, when the retiring committeemen (Messrs ] A. Buckland, N. A. Nathan, R. Duder, D. M'Leod, W. M'Lauahlin, and J. Kirkwood) were returned unopposel Talking of the Auckland Racing Club, it will 'doubtless interest your readers to note the growth of the club, as shown by the following growth of the club,. as shown by ihe following figures: — In 1874 the added money totalled £750, and the ; amount expended in wages and improvements j £137 10s, while in 1899 the stakes are set forth j as £16,971, and wages and improvements £1023, | thus giving a total of £877 10s in 1874 as against ;517,784; 517,784 in 1899. The total amount paid away £n 25 years, exclusive of interest, stands at ! *198,250. ! A private letter received here states that the Queensland jockey, Maity Ryan, intends returning to Auckland at an etrly date. The Mangere and Suburban Trotting Club will lender a benefit meeting to the widow and i family of the late James Kean during Septem- • ier. Kate Godfrey, a three-year-old filly, by St. Leger from Welcome Katie, and a, full sister to Sen Godfrey, who won the Prince of Wales Handicap at Ellerslie some years back, has "been purchasea by Peter Chaafe, and joined that trainer's string last week . Mr A. Davis, manager of L. D. Nathan's turf business, has received notice to the effect that tho names selected for that gentleman's two-year-olds have been allowed by the chairman of *he Racing Conference. They are:— Bay gelding, by St. Hippo — Jadestone, " Hipstone " ; ifcrown gelding, by Seaton Delaval — Miss Letty, " Beddington " ; brown filly, by St. Hippo — Stepfeldt, " Stepfast." Wellsiock is the name conferred by the Hon. Hugh Mossman on the two-year-old colt by St. Leger — Musket Maid, full brother to tJVftiuku. The first foaling of the season in this district was announc?3 from Mangere last Wednesday, when Mrs J. Kennard's mare Ida, by King Cole — Bragela, produced a filly foal to the English ■ire Seaton Delaval. An American trainer named Dan Halliday brought down the imported horses Gilead and Salvadan a few days back on behalf of some wealthy employers in the States, and both were placed oh the private sale list, but as the importer was unable to get a market here for the pair, they were shipped home again by the mail steamer to-day. Gilead was got by St. Saviour {brother to the famous American racer Ede) jrom Mistake, and is a hors=e of perfect conformation, and a decidedly better looking beast than his companion, who is by Salvator from Danegeld. Mr Dan M'Leod, the well-known local penciller and owner of Miss Delaval, purchased a Sou- wester gelding from Mr J. G. Ralph the other day, and has leased him to Mr Alex. Phillips, who in turn has handed him over to the frecently-arrived Victorian trainer, M'Auliffe, to train. The gelding, six years old, was bred in the Wanganui district by Mr Moore, and looks all over a weight-carrier, as he is strongly built and low to the ground, and should be heard of over the sticks. The first foal at Wellington Park was announced on Thursday in the shape of a filly foal by Hotchkiss from Lady Evelyn (by Per.kin Warbeck — Pulchra). Lady Evelyn is the 9am of Hermosa and St. Elya. Paul Seaton is the name claimed by Mr John .Marshall for the promising-looking two-year-old fcelding by/ Seaton Delaval— Levant, purchased at the Sylvia Park sales last year. The b.s. Papanui. with Mr S. H. Gollan on board, is due to arrive at Auckland^ from the old country during the present weekf Last year the local racing authorities raised the height of ponies racing in Aiickland from 14\2 to 14.3, and now the official measurer, Geo. Cutts, is in the field with a suggestion that the height should be raised to 15 hands for the incoming season, so that tfie events may be termed galloway races. It seems that a nurnT>er of the 14.3 class last year had a_ very narrow shave in getting under the prescribed standard, and allowing for growth in the interim, several of them will not be found able to get under when the times comes round for remeafluring, which would, of course, mean a falling away in the size of the fields. As the adoption of Mr Cutts's recommendation means mych stronger field", no doubt the committee will rco their way to its acceptance, and introduce galloway racing. A trotting match for £20 aside between Viscount and Lady Florence took ulace on Satur-

day, and was won by the former. The course was from the firebell, at the top of Parnell, to Sylvia Park gate, about seven miles.