AUCKLAND RACING CLUB.— AUTUMN MEETINGS.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1993, 25 May 1875, Page 2

AUCKLAND RACING CLUB.— AUTUMN MEETINGS.

Fiest D&f.

The Autumn Meeting of the Auckland Kacing Club was inaugurated to-day. The weather at daybreak this morningwas not very cheering, the sky having a decidedly watery appearance, and before the lime fixed for the first race, the rain cape down in torrents. We cannot compliment the committee on the programme, Five races appear on the card ; but as it has been known for some time that the St. Leger would be only a walk-over, we have only four races for the afternoon's entertainment, rather a slender . bill of fare, especially when it is remembered that of these' the .Hurry Scurry might prove a failure. It might certainly have occurred to tbe committe that the public would not enjoy standing, about from halfpast one till three o'clock, with nothing to occupy their attention. A race of some description—for ponies or donkeys, if need be—would have been much better than the abhorred vacuum. We venture to express an opinion that if these little matters recAved. more" consideration the public would be more ready to put their hands in their pockets for the support of the club than they are. The time for commencing was 12.30 o'clock. Fully an hour before that timo the arrivals on the course begun. The trains brought the; larger portion of the spectators, who numbered about four hundred. All sorts of devices were adopted to preserve a dry skin. The refreshment department in the Stand, and also in the booths at the back, attended; ;by Mrl Edward Perkins, and catering gaie..eyident satis-, faction. There v. -as not much ''fun "" going on abou. the course. One or two well-known proprietors of the thimblerig business and other little swindles have, we are sorry to learn, come to grief since the last meeting, and/ were prevented by unavoidable causes from putting in an appearance on this occasion. A few demonstrative individuals did a precarious trade in the "over and under" line, and the " bags and greys ;" but it is clear that the Auckland climate is not favorable to the species, and we expect many of bur-black-legged partridges have flitted to more congenial skies in the [ South. The '• ring," moreover, was not in force to-day. Somehow or other betting, is not very extensive on thb Auckland race-course. Whore £1 is invested in a bet, £10 'are laid out in " sweeps," which appear to be the favorite method of *" taking an interest" in races hero. Bar a little impatience at the length of the " waits," good humour was the prevailing epidemic at Ellerslie to-day. The racing was over in good time and the return to town was accomplished without accident. The nonarrival irom the South of Mr Dclamain's Elfin King was a drawback- to the Birthday Handicap ; but the keen antagonism of the other entries, and the excellent handicapping sustained the interest of the race. The starting, weighing, and clearing the course were most effectively performed.

Tbiai, Stakes of. 30sovs, with a sweep of 2sors each added; distance, 1J milesj

for horses that hare never won a prize of 3Qsovs previous to starting. Mr Charles Robert's br g Daybreak, aged, Sst lib' ... ... ... 1 Mr Wm. Walters' br c dam Fanny Fisher, by Dainty Ariel, 2yrs, sst lllbs 2 Mr J. S. Buckland's b g Fakuranga, 4yrs, Bst lllbs ... 3 Mr John Thorpe's eh g Eclipse, aged, 9st lllbs ... 0 Mr John Quinlivan's b f Belle oi the Isles, 4yrs, Bsfc 121b ... ... 0 Mr James Hunt's br c Skylark, 4yrs, Bstlllb ... ... ... ... 0 Mr W. Campbell's bg Young Derby, Cyrs, 7stl2lb ... ... ... 0 All the horses entered came to the post, and a capital race ensued. Eclipse got away with the lead, but .wai collared at about a quarter of a mile by Daybreak, which maintained the lead to the end, and won by about four lengths. Gooseman was the rider of Daybreak. There was scarcely any betting. Husdt.e Eace (Handicap) of 30sovs, with a swesp of 2sovs each; the amount accruing from sweep to go to second horse ;• distance, 2 miles, over 8 flights of hurdles. Mr E. D. Halstcad's eh g Islesman, aged, list 71b ... 1 Mr Pohika Hapuka's br g Shamrock, aged, list ... ... .... ... 2 Mr Clarke's b g Middy Ashore, aged, lOst 3 Mr W. Bobbett's '; g The Arrow, 6jrs, lOstlOlb ;.. ... ... 0 Mr F. W.~ Wright's blk g Moose, . syrs, 10st21b. ... 0 Mqosc was scratched ; the others came, to the post, and a good race ensued. Shamrock held a favorite place, and was doing well when he was jostled off the hurdle by Middy Ashore, and lost his chance. Islesman, which was ridden by | Mr C,,A. Calvert, then had it his own ;way. :Sx Ledger Stakes of lCDsovs, with a sweep of lOsovs each added ; h. ft. ; : Colts, Ssfc 101b, fillies, Bst 71b ; distance, 1 mile 6 furlongs and 132 yards. < Tbis was a walk over for Mr Watt. After this race the first return train left for town, and thcra was a general stampede from the course. ; Eipthday Handicap.—-Betting at 1.30: 3 to 2 against Yatterina, 2 to 1 against t Ngaro, 3 lo 1 against Maori Weed, 5 to 1 j against Eedouin. Maori Weed .;. ,i. 1 Yatterina ... ... ... 2 ; Ngaro 3 Parawhenua and The Belle were scratched for the Birlhday Handicap at 12 o'clock.-—Auckland Star.