THE TURF.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 34, 21 March 1891, Page 3

THE TURF.

[by

OLD TURFITE.]

The Henderson’s Mill Turf Club held their annual meeting at Avondale on Tuesday (St. Patrick’s Day). The weather was beautiful, at times rather too hot. The attendance was not so large as might have been expected. This was greatly owing to portions of the Auckland community not making it a general holiday, while some only closed their shops after one o’clock, which was too late to give their employees the benefit of an outing. The Avondale racecourse is at present in its infancy, but under the present management it will soon become one of the nicest suburban courses. The saddling paddock and lawn require enlarging, and the ladies who grace the meetings with their presence require more accommodation. The course is prettily situated close to the Avondale Hotel, where the landlord, Mr. Foley, had provided a capital lunch for the hungry ones, at a most reasonable charge. The racing was of an interesting character, many of the finishes being pretty close. Thanks to the energetic way the officials, especially Mr. Wynyard, the secretary, carried out the management, everything passed

off without a hitch. Impey’s band was in attendance, but comments on this are unnecessary, as they are too well known. The only fault to find with the whole meeting was that time was not kept, and it was nearly dark when the last race was run, and as the finish was a close one the judge must have had hard work deciding who was the winner; no one else could decide it. The races commenced with the Maiden Handicap, for which seven started. Macaroni made most of the running, half way up the straight the little pony Forget-me-not challenged, and answering every call made on her, gradually wore down the favourite, Macaroni, and won by three- quarters of a length. Octopus was a moderate third; the tail was also a long one. The Hurdle Race brought out a field of seven, and was looked upon as a foregone conclusion for Sentinel. When he appeared in the paddock he had a jaded appearance, and looked tucked up, not having recovered from his trip to Wanganui, therefore many turned their attention to Fishmonger. The race requires little comment. Hopeful Kate ran off at the second hurdle, when Fishmonger assumed the lead; on entering the straight Sentinel, who had commanded his field all through, came away, and won in a canter. Nap caught Cloth of Gold, who was just easing up on the post, and “napped” the fiver for the second horse by a head. The remainder of the field were spread-eagled. The St. Patrick’s Handicap only produced a field of five, -Brian Boru being made a great favourite, but he was never in the race. Macaroni made most of the running, and looked a good thing coming up the straight, but Prestissimo wore him down at the finish, and won by a neck; Sirloin a moderate third. The Henderson’s Mill Cup, the principal race of the meeting, came next, and resulted in a regular surprise. Eight faced the starter for it, and when the flag fell they all got away on pretty even terms. Capella made the running all through, and ridden home won by a couple of lengths. Antelope, who came with a rush when entering the straight, finished second; Tamora third. That this was a true run race no one can believe. As proof also of how little the stable thought of her chance she paid the biggest dividend of the day. To an onlooker it appeared that one or two did not hurry themselves, while another was very curiously ridden. Old Octopus as usual appropriated, the Selling Race, defeating three others ; his owner buying him in for £42. Six numbers were hoisted for the Steeplechase, Sentinel, for whom the race looked a certainty, being an absentee. Favouritism was pretty well divided. Many were stalled off Fishmonger, owing to his having a bad knee, and being lame, but being admirably ridden by Byers, he stalled off Hopeful Kate’srush, and won by a neck, Nap finishing third. At the fall of the flag Moderator bolted off the course, and on being pulled back he gave Fergus a nasty cropper. Nap then baulked, but was soon got straight., General and Begorrah did not get round. The meeting wound up with the Railway Handicap, and as it was nearly dark it is impossible to give a description of the race. The judge’s verdict was that Ingorina beat Antelope a short head. Four others started. Messrs. Adams and Andrews had the working of the totalisator, and put through £2,220 during the afternoon.

The Hawkes Bay Autumn Meeting commenced last Tuesday. The attendance was large, and the racing interesting. About £5,500 was passed through the totalisator. The proceedings commenced with the Grand Stond Handicap, one mile, for which seven came to the post, resulting in an easy win for Queen of Trumps, 7st 121 b; Loch Ness, 7st 51b, second; Bay King, 6st 81b, third. Lenore, 7st 31b; Fleta, 7st 21b ; Misfortune, 6st 81b ; and Swivel, 7st 71b, also started. The same number came to the post for the Hurdle Race, Mr. Ormond scoring a second win with Otaiere, Chemist being second, The Peer, who up to this time has not proved a profitable investment to Mr. Douglas, third. Darnley, Tauraekaiti, Catiff, and Ival also started. The Hawke’s Bay Cup, If- miles, the principal race of the meeting, only brought four to the post, and was virtually a match between Cynisca, Bst 71b, and Dudu, 9st lib, the former winning somewhat easily by a length; Pearl Powder, 6st 81b, three lengths away, third, with Thackeray, 7st 21b, whipping in. Dudu

was made’ a great favourite. Time, 2min 38isec. Dividend, £5 10s. Nine came out for the Nursery Handicap and resulted as follows . Namoa, by Nordenfeldt—Tres Deuce, Bst 51b, Ist; Hakimana, 7st 71b, 2nd; Cretonne, Bst 91b third. Tiraillierie, 8stl01b; Rosefeldt, Bst 71b; Dree Lance, 7st 61b ; Huna, Bst 51b ; Capua, 7st 31b; and Hippomenes, 7st, also ran Won by a length. Good third. Time, . ISfseo Dividend, £2 10s. The Highweight Handicap brought out a field of six; the mysterious Jet d’Eau, lOst 51b, just managed to squeeze home half a length in front of Couranto, Bst 71b ; Bay King, Bst 51b, being third. Pursestring, lOst 61b, Vision, Bst 51b; Blue Mountain, Bst 31b, also ran. Como defeated Brown Duchess, Emerald, and seven others for the Trial Stakes, paying the nice little dividend of £l6 13s. The Railway Stakes fell to the Auckland owned horse, Loch Ness, 7st 31b; Boulanger, Bst 21b, second; Seraph, 6st 111 b, third. Whisper, 9st 61b; Retina, 7st 121 b; Lullaby, 7st 21b; and Total Eclipse, 6st, also ran. Won by a head ; good third. Time, Imin 16|sec. Dividend, £l6 17s.

The second day of the Hawkes Bay Races was also very fine, and the attendance large. The fields were larger than on the first day. In the Place Handicap Bay King and Brown Duchess collided; Ross the jockey of the former was a good deal injured. The racing commenced with the March Handicap, for which seven started, and resulted in a splendid race. Swivel, 6st 51b, made most of the running, followed by Lenore, 7st 71b, Lullaby, 7st. Coming down the straight the three closed, Lenore finally winning by a short head from Lullaby, who was the same distance in front of Swivel. Boulanger, 9st; Pursestring, 7st 101 b; Fleta, 7st 91b; and Bay King, 7st, also ran. Seven was again the main of the Hurdle Race. Catiff, lOst, made all the running, and won easily from Taurekuitai, lOst 71b, The Peer, 9stlolb, third. Ival, 9st; Otaiere, lOst 41b; Darnley, list; and Chemist, list 101 b, also ran; Chemist was a long way last, his running was so suspicious that his owner was had up before the stewards. Eleven faced the starterfor the Burke Memorial Stakes which resulted as follows :—Dudu, 9st 81b, 1 ; Loch Ness, 7 st, 2nd; Wakatipu, Bst, 3rd. Whisper, 9st 61b; Queen of Trumps, 7st 81b; Retina, 7st 41b ; Pearl Powder, 7st 41b; Huerfana, 7st; Thackeray, 6st 121 b; Misfortune, 6st 31b ; Poua, 6 st, also ran. Dudu laid off until entering the straight, when she came through, and won by a length and a half. Time, 2min 38sec. Dividend, £7 6s. Como defeated four others for the Pacific Stakes. The Juvenile Handicap only brought out seven horses. .After a good race Tiraillerie, 7st 131 b got home half a length in front of Namoa, 7st 131 b, Rosefeldt, 7st 81b, a length away wasthird. Thackeray, Bst 71b; Cretonne, 7st 11 lb; Triton, 6st 101 b; and Overture, 6st 71b, ’also started. Thackeray as usual played up at the start, and eventually was left at the post. Curanto defeated three moderate ones for the Post Stakes. The meeting wound up with the Place Handicap, for which Loch Ness, Bst, easily defeated Swivel, 6st 71b ; Wakatipu Bst 81b, third. Lullaby, Brown Duchess and Bay King also started. The two latter fell.

When the Sylvia Park stud was disposed of, many persons maintained that Mr. Hordern had secured a bargain in Nordenfeldt, and that he was prepared to go to 9,000 gns. for him. It. remains to be seen if he will turn out the bargain that it was supposed that he was. The late Dunedin and V.R.C. Meetings tend to prove the other way. At Dunedin the only one of his get that earned brackets was Palliser ; he is a third class sprinter. At Flemington Zalinski (who certainly is a big colt that wants plenty of time) ran badly in the Hopeful Stakes, King William and Gatling were nowhere in the St. Leger. Lady Carbine performed disgracefully in the Ascot Vale Stakes, disappointing her party. Gatling again was a miserable third in the Maiden Plate. Zalinski received weight, was easily beaten in the Junior Handicap, and Strathmore wound up the record by running nowhere in the Unplaced Two-Year-Old Stakes. It may be that Nordenfeldt’s stock like.his sire’s require time to develope, but one thing is certain, he will require careful mating if he is to make a reputation in future years at the I stud.

The Otahuhu Trotting Club hold their inaugural meeting at Potter’s Paddock to-day. The entries and acceptances are exceedingly good, very few having dropped out, notwithstanding the threats held out by the A.R.C. Committee regarding the Rule 20 of Rules of Racing. The matter now entirely rests with the Colonial Secretary and the Resident Magistrate. It would, however, be a great deal better if all of those interested in this kind of sport affiliated with the New Zealand Trotting Association; that would prevent any future disagreement, and make all things work smoothly. However, all is right for this meeting, and with fine weather there should be a capital afternoon’s sport, and a large attendance. Knowing nothing about the horses engaged it would be perfect madness to attempt to pick the winner, but there is one thing my readers should be warned about —a bay mare called Nora was disqualified down south ; all I can ascertain about her is that she was sold and shipped with another to the North., There is a rumour that she will be “ rung in’ at the forthcoming meeting. It is to be sincerely hoped that such a thing will not be attempted ; if it is I trust that it may be discovered, and the offenders severely punished. It may be as well for trotting men to know that such an offence at home is punishable by law, and more than one man has been sentenced to seven years penal servitude, and I am not aware that the law is different here.