THE AVONDALE JOCKEY CLUB'S SPRING MEETING.

Observer, Volume XVIII, Issue 1025, 20 August 1898, Page 19

THE AVONDALE JOCKEY CLUB'S SPRING MEETING.

Another racing year is completed, and another cycle of racing events now commences. The Avondale Jockey Club has the distinction of precedence in the list of 1898-99 racing fixtures. The dates of the fixture are but a few weeks ahead of us The Avondale Jockey Club is a progressive one of yearly increasing popularity, but it has had to contend in a greater degree than moat clubs with that bugbear of racing — bad weather. There have been occasional fine days for racing at the Avondale rendezvous, but they have not been many, and bad weather is a severe check to the acquirement of revenue over racing operations. However, the A.J.C. can but roughly gauge the success that would have accrued had they had better luck meteorologically by the actual and ascertained result of past operations. As Avondale has had more than its fair Bhare of wet racing days in the past, it is reasonable to be more sanguine as regards the future, and baild on hopes of sunshine. The dates of the spring meeting are Sept. 17th and 2lßt. As usual, the programme includes a couple of Hunt Club events. The open events are the nsual attractive ones,varied in character,and giving owners of all classes of animals a chance to compete. The stakes are on a liberal scale, and, taken altogether, the programme is one which should draw numerous entries.

The Avondale Cup, 100 soys, 1£ mile, and Plumpton Handicap, 75 soys, 1 mile, are the chief events, the iormer being run on the opening day. There are two hurdle races, on 3 of 40 soys and one of 50 soys. The shorter races are the Flying Handicap, 50 soys, 5 fnrlongß ; Electric Handicap, 50 soys, four furlongs ; and Mount Albert Handicap ot 50 soys, five furlongs. The juveniles are catered for with an event for each day. On the first, the Juvenile Stakes of 60 soys ; and on the second, a Nursery Handicap of 50 soys. The ponies also find a place, two handicaps of 30 soys each being alloted to these. A Maiden Handicap of 30 soys and the couple of Hnnt Club events already alluded to — the Hunt Club Steeplechase and Hurdle Race — complete the programme. As will be seen from the above resume, the stake money is well distributed, and all the events should fill well. Altogether, the stakes amount to £570. Nominations for the Avondale Cup, Hunt Club Steepler, Plumpton Handicap, and Hunt Club Hurdles close on Friday, August 26th, at 9 p.m. Generai entry night, Friday, September 2nd.

Daystar is doing good work on the Weat Coast. Pink Coat won the American Derby, which wbb ran on June 23rd. The value of the race was £1840. Odds of 100 to SO were laid on Maluma at Gatwick (England) in the Diamond Plate, l&m. The only other competitor was Ultimatum. The latter won. Hickey leaves for England on the 24th mat. Waiuku and Biverdale will be shipped by direct steamer from Lyttelton. W. Carr, who took The Possible home, goes in charge. Writing from London to the Sportsman, Mr T. Cohen says, ' One punter coming home in the train from Gatwick said he knew how he could make a fortune if he were a bookmaker. When asked " which way 1" he replied by laying against the Australian horses. They were only " sausage horses," and not worth a Frankfort and always very mysterious."

St. Conan has been sold to a Hawera man. Mr John Douglas, of Te Mahangi, has leased Mahaki Fireworho has been taken up again. His leg trouble is said to have disappeared. Of Mr D. O'Brien's trio of New Zealand Cap representatives, ' Spectator ' likes best Malatna. Heritas, he says, is a taking mover, and both Malatna and Peerage have ■ been responsible for some smart sprinting work.' A San Francisco paper says of BJoane, 'It is really marvellous how this young man, a light weight, seems to land winners. The late Fred Archer and Tom Gannon, the English crack riders, seemed to be invincible . . . but no one has ever quite had Sloane's vogue.' The leading jockeys in England have an * all right ' time of it, as the boys would say. Some idea of how such live can be inferred from the fact that ' Morny ' Gannon ' had a special train to carry him, hia valet and others from Manchester to London,' in order to catch the train to Calais. Huzzar's reputation as a coining hurdler has evaporated. Bat it may be as well to remember that few horses become good hurdlers without some time and trouble ; also, that as a rale, when new beginners are pionounced good or promising, the general- verdict is nearly always verified with time. Backers will now be in a greater quandary than ever in regard to the Yaldhurat N.Z. Gap representatives. St Gyr has shown that he can gallop, and Multiform has proved a champion. Then there is Altair, who, alongside a lot of the moderate ones which figure in the Gap, can have no mean chance. Mr Stead has not been a big handicap winner of late years, but he seems to hold a strong hand for the N.Z. Cup this year. There were rumours on the morning that the Grand National Steeplechase « was ran that all was not right with 1 ummy. Those more easily deceived readily gave credence to it ; the more astute, benefiting perhaps by past experience, paid no heed. Dummy was a very popnlar fancy for the race right throughout, and his victory completely justified the public adherence to his chance. St. Cyr, hitherto an unknown quantity in regard to deeds, but of a reputation based chiefly on supposition through his being an inmate of Yaldhurst Btable, has now shown publicly that he can gallop and stay ; for although the opposition to him at Riccarton was not of a known high order, he did all that could be expected of him — buried his field. The only surprise in connection with the race — remembering now the horse has been talked about — was the price he paid — over two to one. Female Franchise, after travelling all over the country, and running well at various meetings, seems to have been completely forgotten in the race at Riccarton. Those who did stick to her reaped a good reward for their perseverance, bat it is usually the case that the participators in large dividends are some few lucky individuals who previously never invested a single penny on the animal they this time happed on. ' Ould Oireland' has a chance of becoming more noted in the future in the way of rearing thoroughbreds The limestone lands of Ireland have been found to contain the precise ingredients which, theoretically, should furnish bone and power to the stock reared on them ; the stock being superior in these qualities to those reared at most English studs. The Golham stud has led the way in the new order of things by sending their youngsters to be reared at a place near Dublin. The differences between English and French racecourses is noted in an English exchange ; the most curious of which are first in respect of the quietness with which everything is carried on on. French racecourses when compared with the ' hoarse shouts ' of gipsies, showmen, etc , which are characteristic of English racecourses. The 'nimble-fingered gentry' who hunt for ' Waterburys or chronometers ' are held in check on French racecourses by the presenoe of the ' police and soldiery, who share the maintenance of public order.' The commissary of police haa his own special office on the ground. The following is noted as a peculiar characteristic of a well-known American horse owner, J. Murphy. He will not allow a horse of his to be ' snap-shotted ' until he has won a race. 'Oat in California last winter,' says Jim, ' Back Massey stood for his picture a dozen times or more, and the handicapper made him carry weight for photographs. Every time a new picture of him came oat, the official weight-master would slop on two pounds more, and old Buck would drop a second in hie speed. I won't allow Streamer to have even a tin-type taken till after be has \ /on a race. — Exchange, . .

Conqueror has forfeited for the C J.C. Darby. Rex and Lady Marion are advertised for sale in Sydney. Dummy started eight times last season without winning once. Multiform is quoted at 9 to 1 in Christchurch foe the New Zealand Cap. Old Liberator's efforts at Biccarton show that though the old champion has still a bit of his old dash left in him, his day is past for any considerable winning honours. Bat for moderate races, if the old horse should keep sound, it may be we'll yet Bee him figuring as a winner. Iv Auckland, Social Pest was as good a favourite as anything left for the Grand National Hurdles. Perhaps Missfire and Opai were nearly as well thought of, but I think if there had been a ' tote ' open in Auckland on the race, Social Pest would have paid a considerably leaa dividend than he did at Riccarton. Ditto has earned distinction enough now. ITfe name will henceforth be enrolled in the list of Grand National winners. *'ew of us awhile back thought the seeming moderate Ditto would bloom bo. Bat his then trainer (Mr J. B. Williamson) very early assessed his then budding qualities as promising good fntnxe development, though 1 believe he had a doubt aa to Ditto'B staying ability. Ditto seems to have had a fairly easy victory in the Canlfield Grand National Steeplechase. His friends must have had a substantial win, for Ditto started at the nice price of 8 to 1. The changes which take place in the racing career cf horses is very strongly instanced in the positions of Ditto and Donald McKinnon, the latter, who a while back could concede weight to the best horses , having to be now content to take third place to Ditto, with a stone concession iv weight. It is reported that Tattersall intends to draw one of his minor consultations on the Melbourne Gup at 10 a.m. on the morning of the race. This, I suppose, in the way of a trial. The blackmailing owner has in the past drawn heaps of protests from investors in these consulfations, complaining of th c unfairness of the system in vogue, by whioh owners have gradually come to lean on the drawers of horses in these consultations for additional prize money, the threat of not starting being quite sufficient to make these anxious to meet owners' termß. That Dromedary. Her owner should shake the dust (if there is any at this time of the year) of Christchurch from off his feet, and swear a great swear never to race there more, a place where concentrated and long continued and barbarous ill-luck dogs his mare — Dromedary. Last year a policeman, this year a riderless horse. And I know some who backed her this year because of her ill luck last year ; but aid not bargain for the repetition of history. Seriously, I don't think Dromedary had a chance. A man was hurrying homeward froua town on Saturday evening and met the press of returning footballers, whose love for ' the ball ' is stronger than that for 'the lilk,' yet with still sufficient liking for the latter to be carious. And as he hurried along, at every few yards, came the persistent query, ' What won the Grand National ?' till at last he grew weary of the repetition and of hurling back ' Social Pest.' * Thera are too many of them,' he muttered, as he turned a corner leading eastward, where he left the crowded track.