TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 947, 20 February 1897, Page 9

TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB

Postponed meetings are seldom successful. The Takapuna meeting just past proved an exception to the rule. When the original opening date of their fixture arrived, and with it rain and wind, the outlook for the Club was an extremely gloomy one. However, an enforced postponement to what proved lucky dates has put an entirely new face on the matter, for the meeting we have just passed through proved as successful as any the Club have yet held. Last Saturday was the occasion of the third and concluding day of the fixture, and notwithstanding that the big draw of the Championships in the Domain took place the same afternoon, the Shore racecourse was thronged with racegoers, and that they speculated freely was evidenced by the fact that no less than £6159 was invested on the machine during the day. The racing was of a first-class order. Panoply, who was lightly in for the big handicap of the day, though not too lightly, judged by his previous performances, at last got his head in front at the right end, and the stable got an excellent price about Splendour's son, as he paid the dividend of the day, viz., £10 4s. In this race, Duff, rider of Lady Marion, had a narrow escape through his mount falling when in the lead, but, fortunately, he escaped without any injury whatever, and was able to ride in the following race. Lady Marion also escaped unhurt, and amends for her ill-luck in this event was made in the last race, which she won comfortably. Miss Nelson scored a jumping double, hurdles and steeple, and though she had luck on her side to win the first, her steeplechase victory was full of merit. Investors in the big dividend, which Dentist would have paid had he been awarded the race he came in first for, were left lamenting, through the protest of the owner of the second horse (Forella) for an alleged cross being upheld by the stewards. The Disposal stakes might easily have been eliminated from the programme without it being missed. Only two started for the 40 boys, and Revenant could make no race of it with the winner, Bouquet. Evidently, owners did not care to risk running nnder the selling conditions, with so small a stake attached. During the three days £20,198 was invested, an average of about £6732 each day, which reads very satisfactorily for" the Club's finances. As the privileges were sold at high prices, the meeting will no doubt prove a very profitable one. All .the arrangements were carried out in a perfect manner, and the management of the meeting gives no cauee for other than eulogistic comment.