TUAPEKA COUNTY JOCKEY CLUB'S ANNUAL RACE-MEETING.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1215, 20 January 1886, Page 3

TUAPEKA COUNTY JOCKEY CLUB'S ANNUAL RACE-MEETING.

The above Club's annual meeting, which takes place on Thursday and Friday, gives every indication at present of being the most successful yet held under the Olub'a auspices. The entries for the principal events, which have previously appeared in these columns, are more numerous than was the case last year, and altogether a really first-rate country meeting may be looked forward to. The Club has effected considerable improvements to the course, and the owneis of horses will aothaveso much room for complaint upon ihi» score as they had at previous meetings. With the additional improvements contemplated the course will yet be made one of the best outside of Duuedin. It is to be hoped that no time will be lost after the present meeting in getting the track ploughed up, properly harrowed and rolled, and laid down in grass. With the ojcoeption of several horses owned locally, very few of the horees nominated for the more important events have yet made their appearance on the course. Two or three, however, reached here yesterday, and the greater number will likely arrive by the mid-day train to-day. So far as we can learn the Club's handicapping has met with general approval. One or two owners are said to be dissatisfied with the weights allotted to their horses, but it is not to be expected that the handicappers could see "eye to eye" with all the parties who have horses engaged at the meeting. The acceptances for the Novel Race, Publicans' Handicap, District Handicap, Lawrence Handicap, Hurdle Race, Handicap Time Trot, and Trial Stakes are receivable by tbe Club's Secretary up till nine o'clock this evening, at which hour nominations for the Maiden Plate also close. A large influx of visitors from Dunedin and elsewhere is expected, and no doubt with fine weather those who put in an appearance will be well pleased with the Club's meeting of 1886. We are indebted to " Augur," # wellknown 'Saport," for the following " tips " .: — "For the Novel, I fancy Iris, with Land Leaguer and Mystery next in order. Warwick, if fit, should win the Publicans' Handicap, Molly Bawn and Foul Play being close up. The District ought to be a ' moral ' for Lackington, who will not be very much troubled either by Bushman or Heatherboy. For the Lawrence Handicap, I will vote for Viking, Knickerbocker Sam, and Blackboy, who will probably, pass the judge's box in the order named. (Garibjaldi, bar accident, should win Hie Hurdles, jpilh Marquis second. The Tro* «* » certainty £oj: Silver Bell, for whom : the race has been made. I fancy Axe will be seeoud, and Reefer third. It seems strange that Silver Bell (late Charlie), who won the Trot 50 easily at last meeting, should get a better start this year by ssecs from the scratch horse than be did last year. How is this to be accounted for ? Oliver has done nothing to speak of during the last twelve months, whereas Silver Bell has had several wins placed to >his credit. Can the handicappers give any treasonable explanation?"

"Nimrod" sends us' the following :—: — "There being bo few horses forward, and the acceptances not yet in, a tipster has very little to work on, but for a plunge I will take for the Novel three which I expect to see placed — viz., Kuriwao, Land Leaguer, and Specimen ; for the Publicans' — Viking, Foul Play, or Factory Girl; Lawrence Handicap — Mokarakara, Knickerbocker Sam, or Martyr Filly ; in the District, I can see nothing but Lackington, with Bushman an indifferent second ; the Hurdles should prove rather exciting, but for choice I take the lightestweighted — viz., Garibaldi — with Trapper second ; for the Flying Handicap I fancy Billy, Viking, and Martyr Filly ; for the Trot— Silver Bell, Wakatu, and Kathleen ; for the Trial Stakes — Factory Girl, with Mystery second ; and for the County J.C. Handicap — Knickerbocker Sam, Factory Girl, and Martyr Filly."