DATES OF COMING EVENTS.

Observer, Volume XL, Issue 26, 28 February 1920, Page 22

DATES OF COMING EVENTS.

Eeb. 26.—Wanganui Cup. Feb. 28.—Jackson Stakes. April 3.—Great Northern Oaks. April 3.—Great Northern Champagne Stakes. April 3.—A.E.C. Easter Handicap. April s.—Great Northern St. Leger. June 3.—Great Northern Hurdle Race. June s.—Great Northern Steeples. Things at headquarters are very quiet., with a number of horses away assisting at the country fixtures. Last week the Opotiki Jockey Club Anrnial Meeting took place, and proved successful, although small fields started. The astute young owner-trainer, J. Williamson, who has the happy knack of placing his gee-gees, cap-

tured a couple of heats, with Melting securing the Maiden Plate and Domain, "Welter Handicaps. Ginger Mick had to be content with a couple of seconds to Melting and Captain Scott in the Maiden and Counties Handicaps respectively. Patetonga ran home an easy winner in the Opotiki Cup and Borough Handicaps. The gelding evidently does not bleed now. Monte ran a first in the President's Handicap, and a second in the Cup, beating Glucian, and a second in the Domain Welter Handicap. We have fairly quick travelling now in the Dominion. Jack Williamson saw Melting capture a double at the Opotiki Meeting on Friday and was present at the Otahuhu Trotting Club Meeting on Saturday. Bunny Avon the Waioka Stakes and Captain Scott the Counties Handicap. Bunny also accounted for the Farewell Handicap. Another country meeting which, proved successful was the Waipa Ajmual Meeting. A big attendance was present. Lady Bruoe broke her maiden status by winning the Pirongia Hurdle Race, beating the well-condition-ed Oakleigh, a recent winner. Lightning, which came back to her old form at the Te Kuiti Meeting, won the Kihikihi and Flying Handicaps, a sound performance. Corrigedor beat Lady Energy in the Te Awamutu Cup; Mountain Gold third. The respective weights were 6.9, 6.7, and 6.7. Arch Salute also started. Glenspire 10.4 proved too solid in the Paterangi Welter Handicap. Golden Petal and Mountain Gold filled the "places. After many disappointments Monocrat managed to get her name on the winning list, running a dead heat in the Orakau Handicap with Night Time. The Ohanpo Handicap went to the Te Aroha owned gelding Woody Glen, who downed the favourite, Ohinewairu, Fabriquette was third. 'The Otahuhu Trotting Club Summer Meeting proved the most successful yet helct to date. And although we had spirited opposition from the visiting teams we more than held our own numerically with the local trained horses. Canberra, Piletta, Poly anna, Greta, and Prize Pearl scored for local owners. Bluewood, Partner, and Emperor each participated in the prize money for the visiting teams. The totalisator showed a substantial increase over last year's handling* on the opening day of £10,132 10s. Canberra, which has been running several seasons in Auckland, at last broke; a sequence of bad luck by winning the Trial Handicap. Mintonette put up a bold challenge in the straight, 'but Julian's clever handling of the winner averted disaster. The plodder, Sandy Patch, also ran a sound race, and was on. his best conduct, handled by J. W. Paull. Mention might be made to avoid confusion that three families of the Paul or Paull's were riding and driving : Jack Paul (Te Awamutu), J. W. Paull (Onehunga), and Jas. Paul (Mangere). The McKendrick Bros, had deservedly good luck with their most recent pacing purchase, Piletta, for which report says they paid 400 soys. In the April Handicap, Piletta took the race at the jump off, and was never after displaced, although the whips were out on Piletta and Profiteer at the finish.

Bluewood had the Alexandra Handicap at his mercy over the final stage. The ancient Kirikiriroa'did his .owner Kelsey a good turn by catching the soys. for second. Rita GSalinda 110/oked an even money chanoe at one time, but easing her feet (and head) could not be induced to keep down, and had to put up with third place. , Partner, a recent winner in th« South, artistically handled by Fleming, kept Lord Rose and Emperor at bay in the Otahuhu Trotting Cup after a good finish. ( . Steel Bell has not her former dash when it comes to a finish. The mare looked a bit in the rough, but no doubt a bit of paddocking would cause this. Polyanna, after running third in the April Handicap, had 1,600 odd supporters in this race, and won rather easily, being second favourite. ■Greta, Albert Patch, and Te Awa put up a great battle at the finish of the Papakura Handicap, the whips assisting place-fillers. Greta only recently went into J. Lynch's cane at Epsom. Emperor started a very warm favourite in the President's Handicap, and the issue was never in doubt at the business end of the race. Nancy Patch and Gold Girl filled the places. Pearl dOr was a costly proposition to its punters in the Railway Handicap, won by Prize Pearl, and Dorothy Dimple second. Each paid good prices to investors. Prior to the start, Huon Grattan, while playing up, came down, and a fresh sulky had to be procured. The driver, W. Orange, felt no ill effects of the fall. Mr. Fred Marks, the popxilar clerk of the scales at all the leading clubs in Auckland, was welcomed back to his post at the 0.T.0. gathering. Mr. Marks has been absent through sickness over six months. The Waikato-owned pacer Ludski was given a run at the O.T.C. Meeting. The gelding is now trained by R. Hall at Papatoetoe, and is a little backward yet. Mr. G. O'Conner was at his best with the starting lever, passing nearly ninety horses through his hands during the afternoon. Four first favourites won on the day. Killiard, who has been an unpayable proposition on the flat since coming to Auckland, is to be given a trial, after a spell, over the battens, to try and make good. The two maiden candidates over the battens, Forward Lady and Lady Penury, popped over a few battens last week, showing aptitude at the «ame. The latter has won mile races on the flat under 1.41, and should be useful. Others who did easy jumping tasks during the past week were Thrace, John Bunny, and Kmkora. The latter tackled the steeplechase fences. John Bunny acted as pilot. The new beginner stopped at the stone wall. The Thames Trotting Club intend holding the inaugural meeting on March 13th. The racecourse should make a splendid track for trotting and pacing. Mr. J. N. Heslop sustained a serious loss last week when his fine filly Tessares died. She cost Mr. Heslop 800 guineas. The Matamata Racing Club have scheduled the Annual Meeting for 27th March on th« new course. Two hundred soys. is to be given in prize money.