Sporting Review. SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 1891. TATTERSALL’S RACE MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 38, 18 April 1891, Page 3

Sporting Review. SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 1891. TATTERSALL’S RACE MEETING.

[BY

OLD TURFITE.]

Tattersall’s Club held their annual race meeting on the Takapuna racecouse last Saturday- The weather was fine, but the attendance was not so good as was anticipated, as Takapuna is the favourite suburban course, as you

not only see the racing but you get the sea. breeze and beautiful scenery ; so it is really a relief to get away from the turmoil of the city on a Saturday afternoon, especially if you have been stuck in a Queen-street office all the week. Hunter’s band was in attendance, there is no use commenting on them, as they are so well known. The officials worked in their usual energetic manner; the secretary being übiquitous. The meeting passed off pleasantly, and all returned to town well pleased. The only fault I feel it my duty to point out is the negligent way the stewards performed their duty. They seem to be content to have their names on the cards, and take no cognizance of what is going on. This is the great fault, one may say, throughout the Auckland province , the consequence is there is sometimes very suspicious running, but no notice is taken of it. Even on the Ellerslie course, under the supervision of the A.R.C. stewards, it is overlooked , so one cannot be surprised that country stewards do the same thing. On Saturday last there were two or three things that should not be permitted to pass. In the Maiden Plate Forget-me-not started. On her running at Avondale she had a great show for this race, but she was never m it from start to finish. In the Tattersall’s Club Handicap an incident occurred that should have been taken notice of. Minnie, immediately on starting, slipped her hip, and of course fell into the rear. It was evident to everyone that something had happened. Instead of her jockey immediately pulling her up, he went on flogging her the whole way round, and it was only when passing the stand that, people calling out to him, he pulled up. The mare now, it is expected, will be useless, though if pulled up at once she might have been saved. Priest is no “ chalk ” jockey, having ridden horses not only in New Zealand but also in Australia, therefore he must have known that something had happened to the mare. The fields generally throughout the afternoon ruled small, but some of the finishes were close, and one or two intended good things did not come off. The Maiden Plate was the first event. Only four —Octopus Bst 61b, Forget-me-not 7st 61b, Theorem 6st izlb, and Tuna 6st izlb —came to the post for it. The latter on her running at Ellerslie was the most fancied ; Forget-me-not was also supported. Thereom, from Williamson’s, was the rod in pickle, but it did not come off. Theorem led first time past the stand, but Octopus, followed by Tuna, took up the running at the back of the course. Theorem next. On entering the straight his jockey tried to bring him up on the inside, but got blocked, and had to pull round on the outside. A good race ensued, Tuna getting home a neck in front of Octopus, Theorem who came very fast at the finish being only a neck behind the second. Forget-me-not never was near the front. Four was again, the number that went to the post for the Hurdle Race —— Bit-of-Blue lost 21b, Nap lost, Shotover gst lolb, and the General gst, being starters. At the fall of the flag Nap and General went to the front, Bit-of-Blue laying last. In this order they entered the straight, Bit-of Blue then began to go up, but want of condition told, Nap running home an easy winner by about a couple of lengths. Bit-of-Blue it will be remembered cut his leg badly above the knee in the Autumn Steeplechase, and has never had a gallop since the A.R.C. meeting ; unfortunatly he opened it again. If he had been fit he would have won easily. General is not worth his oats, while Shotover in his old age has lost all his pace, so take it all together, it was not a very brilliant performance of Nap’s. 1 Tattersall’s Club Cup, the principal race of the day, brought out a field of six, The Dreamer yst 61b, and Leorina gst 41b, being the most fancied. The other starters were Ingorina Bst i2lb, Try Fluke ;st idb, Minnie yst. Tamora. 7st 61b. The flag fell to a good start, Try, Fluke, The Dreamer, and Ingorina, being in front, Leorina waiting. From the first it appeared evident that something had happened to Minnie, as after she had gone fifty yards she was toiling hopelessly in the rear, and after having gone a mile she was pulled up. On returning to the saddling paddock it was discovered that her hip was out, and in all probability she will have to be destroyed. On coming round the bend entering the straight Leorina came to the front, half way up the straight she had the race in hand, and stalling

off The Dreamer’s challenge, won easily by a couple of lengths; a good third. Time, 2min 39secs. Four out of the six entered came to the post for the Selling Race, and Iron Bark who was entered to be sold for nil followed Blarney and Moderator into the straight when he went to the front, winning easily from Blarney nil, Moderator /’io, and Captivator The Steeplechase, which is always an interesting race with Auckland race-goers, brought six to the post, resulting as follows :— Nap lost 61b, 1 st; Hopeful Kate lost, 2nd; Justice gst ylb, 3rd. Also started —Ingarangi lost 61b, Bi-tof-Blue lost sib, and General gst 71b. Justice made the running the first time round, followed by General and Nap. The latter went to the front at the water jump, leading on to the flat. On ascending the hill to go into the country Justice again took command, Hopeful Kate going on third. For the second time Nap again led over the water and made the running on the course, Hopeful Kate going on next. The third time round Justice led up the hill, but Nap and Hopeful Kate however, soon passed him—condition telling. In this order they landed on the course ; Nap, full of running, came on, and won easily from Hopeful Kate. Justice, who is a good looking horse but quite out of condition, finished third. Ingarangi, the stable companion of the winner, was made a red hot favourite, but did not appear to like the up and down hill, and was never prominent in any part of the race, fimshed some distance away. Bit-of-Blue refused at the top of the hill, but was persevered with. It is a pity that his owner ran him ; he was advised not to, as the cut above the knee had broken out again, and he was totally unfit. If he had been kept until the winter meeting he would have won a good race. General was pulled up on the top of the hill, and can only be put down as a duffer. Four was again the main for the Flying Stakes. Master Pat, 7st 61b, was made a great favourite, but his supporters had a squeak for it, as after making most of the running he only got home a neck in front of the two-year-old Bulrush, 6st 71b, who if he had not run so green, would have won. Maccaroni, 7st 41b, was a length, away, third. The Welter Handicap brought out the largest field of the day. It would not have been a Takapuna meeting if the North Shore stable had not brought out a surprise. They started three. Warrior, 7st lolb, made all the running, closely sheperded by Octopus, Bst 121 b, Tamora, the stable companion, lying last. On entering the straight Leorina came with a great rush, but being blocked more than once, could not get up, and was only defeated by a head, Tuna being third. The winner has been running all over the country, and has never gained a situation. Few thought this was his journey, though he had shown form as a two-year-old. He paid the best dividend of the day. This form is not much, as Leorina gave him four stone and had a race out of her. Of the horses that ran on Saturday Forget-me-not is worth watching. Ingarangi will be sure to win another good steeplechase some day, but he will require a raking course. Bit-o’-Blue will also win both over hurdles and a country when fit, but owing to the bucketing he got on Saturday it will take some time before he is fit, as his knee looks none of the best. Bulrush is a queer one to look at, but can gallop, and properly placed will pay.