SPORTING.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 408, 11 March 1899, Page 2

SPORTING.

SOUTH AUCKLAND RACING CLUB'S MEETING. The annual race meeting of the South Auckland Racing Club will be held on the Claudelands racecourse this afternoon. There is every appearance of fine weather at the time of writing, and there Is little doubt this will prove to be one of the most successful gatherings ever held by the popular club. The date has been admirably chosen, coming as it does just before the Te Aroha and Paeroa meetings, enabling horse-owne:s to make the round trip in about a week. The Railway Department have furnished additional facilities in the way of excursion trains, and a big crowd of visitors is expected from the Thames and the Upper Thames goldfield. This is the first occaop"olis"ha"ve:"na(l"au"opporfunity oY~attending the premier Waikato gathering, and no doubt many sports will embrace ifc The acceptances are unusually large and the events are exceedingly open, and we look forward to racing of a most interesting nature. We understand that the course has received every attention at the hands of a hard-working committee, and that it is in really good trim, albeit a trifle hard. A large number of horses arrived from Aucklaud yesterday, while others are coming on by the excursion train this morning. All the hotels were full of visitors last evening, and the town looked quite lively ; in fact the meeting seems to have aroused more interest throughout the district than any of its predecessors. All ponies not holding certificates will be measured on the course at 10 a.m. this morning. The first race will commence punctually at 12,30 p.m. Messrs Bloomfield and Co.'s totalisator will be on the ground, and the club has decided to adhere to 10s tickets. We must not forget to mention that the fine Hamilton Band, the strength of which will be augmented for the occasion by several members of tho To Aroha Band, will be preseut, and no doubt their efforts will be greatly appreciated by the public. Our " P.D.," who takes more interest in horse-racing than in anything in this wide world, has sent us the following " tips " for publication :

Trial Handicap—Puhia 1, Nikau 2, Canopus 3. Hurdles—Supplejack 1, Kelvin Grove 2, Libeller 3. Pony Race —Edison 1, Recruit 2, Moment 3.

Steeplechase—Robin Adair 1, The Monk 2, Itch 3. Hack RAOE-Bar-the-Door 1, Puhia 2, Dorothy 3. South Auckland Cup Admiral Hawke 1, Crusade 2, Korowai 3. Claudelands Handicap—Crusade 1, Porangi Potae 2, Merry Maid 3. Flying Stakes Lillie 1, Partan Jennie 2, Cavalier 3.

V. R. C. AUTUMN MEETING. THIRD DAY. The following was the result of the Champion Stakes. Mr VV. R. "Wilson's b c Bobadil, 3yrs, by Bill of Portland—Siie, 7st lllb (H. Morrison) 1 Mr J. Wilson's, jun., ch g Avalon, Syrs, by Strathmore—Chintz, 7st 7lb (V. Turner) 2 Mr F. Austin's b c Lee-Metford, 3yrs, by Carbine—Felicitas, 7st 121 b (P. Dowling) 3 Mr P. Bolger's br h Le Var, syrs, by Lochiel—Le Valette, 9st 51b (P. Bolger) 4 These were the only starters. Betting ; 9 to 2 on Bobadil, 6 to 1 Lee-Metford, 14 to 1 Le Var. Goiug away at a snail's pale, Avalou assumed a 12 lengths lead from LeeMetford, two lengths behind whom came Le Var, with the favourite a length astern of the West Australian. Up the river straight Avalou improved his advantage to fully 20 lengths, Bobadil taking up a position behind the leader towards the termination of the first mile and a-half, which occupied 3m. Passing the stand the second time Avalon was six lengths in front of the favourite, Lee-Metford three lengths further away ; but the leader held the advance up to liver side, where Lee-Metford closed on Bobadil, the favourite reducing the gap from Avalon to three lengths, but failing to overhaul him until well into the straight, when Morrison shook his whip, with the result that he cleared right out from the others, winning, amidst tremendous cheering, by eight lengths. There was a desperate finish for second money between Avalon and Lee-Metford, resultiug in the former squeezing home by half-a-length, with Le Var a dozeu lengths away. Time, sm. 52is.