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Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 911, 13 June 1896, Page 15

In the Welter on Saturday, Mr Cuttß had to deal with, the biggest field on record for flat races at- Eller3lie. It was one of the prettiest races yet witnessed there, and the finish was full of interest.

Most of the local double layers escaped the big jumping .doable with clean books. One layer, however, got struck for about six or seven hundred. However, ■ome were insured on the machine, so that the actual amount to pay was lessened.

Auckland racing season 1895 96 closed.

The Hawke's Bay Steeplechase Meeting takes place on the 24th and 26th inst.

More coursing at Avondale on Saturday.

Captive backed by his owner for the N-Z. Cupfor £2,000.

Anita seems lucky on the Ellerslie course, and a common adjunct of tbe victory of the • black and gold ' is a good dividend.

Two or three local turfites had fairly big wins over the double Grand National Hurdles and Great Northern Steeplechase.

As much enthusiasm was displayed over Donald McKinnon's effort in the Grand National Hurdles, as there would have been if he had actnallv won that race.

There was nothing paying a very sensational dividend for the G N. Hurdles. Lord Vivian was the outsider of the ten starters, and he was showing a dividend of about £47.

When Mutiny won the Grand National Hurdle Race three yeais ago, his victory was gained in similar fashion to Hopgarden's last Saturday. A lead from start to finish, and an easy finish, were the characteristics of each race.

About the two Liberators, 12 to 1 was accepted the morning of the Grand National opening day. An absurd price to take, although this double, which won last year, only paid about 6to 1. But the difference in the two fields was very great.

Romp was said to be a bad jumper by some, 'i hey were evidently considering price. But the majority were not to be put off a good thing without reasonable proof, and Romp, notwithstanding the deterrent rumours of her not being able to jump, started second favourite, and won handsomely.

St. Hilda's first essay over hurdles proves that in the. case of some horses long schooling is not necessary for able jumping. St. Kilda ran a most respectable race in the G.N. Hurdles, and I doubt; if he had had a long term of schooling that he could have beaten Hopgarden.

I cannot understand how Chris came to pay a £12 dividend in Maiden Hurdles on Saturday. Ho was opposed to such a moderate lot of animals, that one bred as he is, with known pace; and an inmate of an almost purely jnmping stable, would be expected to start a warm favourite.

An element of luck must be associated with the victory ot Persimmon in the English Dei by, as Loates, who rode the favourite — St. Frusquin — had the bad luck to break a stirrup leather during the race ; otherwise it seems probable that the neck victory would have been the other way.

Now that the Grand National Hurdle Race is over, there is no doubt about Hopgarden's staying qualities. To this doubt, expressed by so many racing men whose judgment is not usually warped by prejudices, was due the overthrow of Hopgarden's early favouritism. A week or so back the Gisborne horse would have started favourite.

The ultra-loj'al British turfite would feel unbounded enthusiasm over the victory of Persimmon in the English Derby, But apart from that feeling, the success of H.R.H. Prince of Wales' colt would be well received by turfites at Home. Persimmon was bred at the Royal stud at Sairaringham, so that double honours attach to the colt's victory.

The Shore sportsmen, owners of Bombardier and Company, are usually somewhere about in the cheque list over the Ellerslie meetings, for if they cannot win with one, they usually have some other string good enough to keep things going. Followers of this stable could hardly have lost much during the past season, for though I have in mind many failures, the victories have usually had attached to them drvidends large enough to cover a good few losses.'

What were the possibilities in connection with the Great Northern Steeplechase, supposing the weather had kept dry, and the ground good, and — another if — Donald McKinnon had not baulked ? His Tally-Ho victory gave us some aort of an idea of what he could have shown us in the big Steeple. Mutiny, a good little horse, struggled gamely under His big burden, and in firmer ground would, I think, have made a bolder bid. Liberator, too, carried his 12st 91b as gallantly as any stouthear4;ed;horse could poasibly do. All things considered, I think those early backers of doubles, beginning with Hopgarden and ending with Levanter, were exceptionally lucky in landing the same.

Euroclydon is looking sound. Antic is still winning pony races Sydney Bide. Mr Douglas' team of jumpers leave soon for Sydney. G. Hope goes with Mr Douglas' team to Australia. James Mann takes charge of the home team at Hastings. Oma, a local New Zealand Cup candidate,' was v omitted from the list of names telegraphed from Christchurch. An American paper is responsible for the statement that the Prince of Wales owed Baron de Hirsch over a million sterling. Pounamu, Mousquetaire, Sternchaser, and Culloden, bound for England, were shipped by the Wakatipn, which left for Melbourne last week. Teacher : ' What did Wallace do for Scotland ?' Scholar (Bookies' son) : ' Nothink much ! I've 'card my old man a»y he wished to 'Eaven the beast 'ad pegged out w'en he was a foal.' — Bulletin. The Christchurch Beferee publishes a long letter written by T. H. Pollock, in which he advocates the licensing of bookmakers by racing clubs, thus placing them on the same footing as trainers, jockeys, etc., and amenable to club rules. H. Harrison, following a common move of transit amongst the training fraternity, takes up bis calling as Boniface early next month. I see no reason why he should not do well, and there is no reason why he should not still have a ' horse or two,' which he probably will. The New Zealand Cup nominations are out, and show a slight increase in number over that of last year. With a few exceptions the quality of the horses engaged does not, at first sight, appear to be quite up to that of the past year or two, though, of course, the coming season may cause one to alter this view. That weight makes a deal of difference to moat horses, and little or none to a select few, was exemplified at Ellerslib last Saturday and Monday. At least those of the sterling kind are always good weight carriers, whilst weak-hearted ones need to be risen only a few pounds to annihilate their chance.