AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2804, 11 December 1907, Page 56

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Bt Tatkoa.

December 9.

The Takapuna Jockey Club's spring meeting was concluded on Wednesday last under favourable weather conditions and in the presence of a large gathering of race-goers. The sum of £7274 10s was passed through the totalisatore, making £14,990 10s for the meeting, a shrinkage of £3408 on the amount handled for the corresponding gathering last year. The decrease was due to the presence of bookmakers, 11 members of the fraternity having paid the betting fee of £15 demanded by the club for the privilege of plying their calling. The programme opon-ed with the Kawau Hurdles, for which four horses went to the post. Lady Clements got on terms with Hautapu, who had been forcing the pace, two hurdles from home, and lasted long enough to win by half a length under pressure. A field of 10 lined up for the Stanley Handicap, and Klondyke and Mighty Atom were out in front for the greater part of the distance. Once heads were turned into the straight Nol«rini daehed up, and, drawing clear of the opposition, won with something in hand by length. Engraver burst a blood vessel in the closing stages, and was eased up. For the principal event of the day, Ibm Spring 1 Handicap, run over the mile course, only a quartet faced the barrier. Syren was the first to show out, but gave place to Tui Cakabou and Shrapnel after the first two furlongs had been traversed. The pair mentioned remained in close company for upwards of half a mile, after which Shrapnel drew out and ran home a comfortable winner a length and a-half clear of Scotty, who headed Syren and Tui Cakabou in the run down the straight, but could make no impression on the winner. Nine sported eilk in the Vauxhall Handicap, which was won by Cyrettus, who took charge half a mile from home, and remained there, winning_ by a length and a-half from Escamillo. The Pony Handicap was contested by a field of seven, and after Hopscotch had made the pace ri^ht up to the distance Manapouri shot up and won by a length. In the Cantley Handicap four weighed out, and Lochbuie, who was the first to commence, stayed out in front right through the piece, scoring by three parts of a Length from Lucrece. The. same number reached the starter's hands in the Handicap Steeplechase. Khama flattered the hopes of his admirers for the greater part of the distance, but was beaten in the run home by Grey Dawn, an aged son of Nightcap and Maid of Llangollen, who finished gamely under the whip. Tho Welter Handicap attracted eight starters, and went to Noteorini, who led from start to finish, and thus landed a double.

Acceptances and general entries were received on Friday night for the Auckland Racing Club's summer meeting, and were, on the whole, decidedly satisfactory. Eighteen remain in the Auckland Cup. 13 in the Great Northern Foal Stakes, 11 in the Great Northern Derby, and 27 in the Royal Stakes. A fair number of horses from outside the Auckland district figure among the Oup acceptors, thus adding interest to the twomile race, and with Bonifoxm, Downfall, Bonny G>en, All-Bed. Pohutu, Dunborne, and Red Rain left in the Derby there should be ample material to provide a good contest for the blue ribbon.

Although the shrinkage in the totalisator returns at the Takapuna Club's spring meeting compared with last year's figures amounted to £3409, the club received no less than £376 in license feas from bookmakers, which means that the financial results were highly satisfactory. Master Delaval is going along nicely in his training work. The committee of the Auckland Racing Club met during the preeent week, the main object being to go into the question of licensing bookmakers at the club's summer meeting. Race afc Takapuna the Settlements mare Lady Clements should prove useful at the illegitimate game. The Waikato mare Uranium, who has won the three races for whioh she was saddled up this season (Avondale Cup and Plumplon Handicap at Avondale, and the St. Andrew's Handicap at Takapuna), has earned a penalty of 3ib in the Auckland" Cup and Railway Handicap, which raiees her weight in the fir=t-named event to 8.2 and in the latter to B.S.