WELLINGTON RACING CLUB’S AUTUMN MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 39, 25 April 1891, Page 4

WELLINGTON RACING CLUB’S AUTUMN MEETING.

These races took place on the i6th and 18th inst. The weather being fine there was a good attendance. The racing was not of a very interesting character, the fields for the most part being small. In the Trial Stakes the stewards had Raynor, the rider of Revenge, up before them for suspicious riding, and suspended him for six months. On the second day they reopened the case, and subsequently removed the disqualification, considering there was pot sufficient evidence to convict the jockey. This shows that they were rather hasty in their judgment, which, however, is a fault on the right side, as reports of suspicious riding are rife throughout the Colony at the present time. St. Malo whilst running well in the Autumn Handicap struck into the heels of some horse and came down. He, however, annexed the Stewards’ Handicap later on in the day. About £i i,ooo was put through the totalisator during the two days, which should leave a good balance on hand. The racing commenced with the Trial Stakes, for which four started, Liquidation, 7st sib, winning rather easily by a length and a-half from Revenge, Bst 61b ; Revolution, 6st 41b ; and Nanette, 6st sib, who had bolted and run round the course twice, last. Only three came to the post for the Hurdle Race. Beggarman, 9St, who was made a hot favourite, after going a mile went to the front, and won anyhow from May Day lost 41b. and Lone Hand gst. The Autumn Handicap, one mile and aquarter, the principal race of the meeting, brought out a better field. Six faced the starter for it, resulting as follows: Queen of Trumps, 7 st ulb and 21bs over, Ist; Retina, 7st ulb, 2nd; La Petite Fille, yst 31b, 3rd. Exchange ;st 71b, Loch Ness 7St 61b, St. Malo 6st 71b and 71b over, and Comet 6st 71b and 71b over, also ran. The flag fell to a good start; Retina and Exchange making the’running, Queen of Trumps lying off. This order was maintained until rounding the turn for home, when Queen of Trumps began to go up. On entering the straight Retina had a slight lead of her, but at the distance she went to the front and won easily by a couple of lengths, three lengths between second and third. St. Malo fell soon after the start. Time, imin i3sec. Dividend, £3 lIS - Prestage beat sixteen others for the Hack race. Only four came to the post for the Stewards Handicap. St. Malo, 6st 81b, won by a little more than a length from Weka, 7st 51b, British Lion, 7st lolb, third. Comet, 6st 71b, including 41bs overweight, also started. The Selling Race fell to The Laird, who defeated Peep o’ Day, Empress, Satyr and Scraps. The largest field of the day came to the post for the Railway Handicap, eight starting for it. From a bad start Rebellion, 7st 61b, jumped off in front making all the running, won by a length from Weka 7 st 71b, La Petite Fille yst 81b a good third. The other starters were Heather Bell Bst 61b, Fleta 7St 51b. Egalite 7st jib, Josephine ;st 21b, and Tukiturata, 6st 71b. The second day’s races commenced with the Waiwitu Handicap, which produced a field of seven. Pyramus. Bst jib, who made the^'best of a bad start, won by half a length from St. Malo, Bst 61b ; Heather Bell. Bst 4Tb, the same distance away third. Rebellion Bst ylb, Weka Bst 31b, Fleta 6st nib, and Comet 6st lolb also ran. Four came to the post for the Hurdle Race; Beggarman, 11st, repeating his previous day’s performance by winning in a canter from May Dav, rost 51b, Master Agnes list, and Lone Hand gst 71b. Roger defeated four others for the Second Hack Race. The April Handicap of no sovs, one mile one furlong, brought out a field of only five, and was won by Retina, Bst 21b ; St. Malo, 7St 71b, 2nd; British Lion, 7st 31b, 3rd. Queen of Trumps Bst lolb, and Loch Ness 7St lolb, also ran. Retina was in the front all the way, on entering the straight she had two lengths lead, easily stalling off St. Malo’s rush half way up the straight, she won by a length, the same between second and third. Time, imin 59 7-ioth secs. Dividend, £3 6s.

For the Third Hack Race Donovan defeated eleven others, and paid the good dividend of j 7s. The Welter Handicap only produced a field of four. Weka gst 51b, who got a bad start, won by a length from Angler lost; Pyramus gst jib, two lengths away third. Liquidation Bst 51b also ran. Empress, 6st 81b, won the Selling Race by two lengths from St. Malo gst; Satyr 6st ylb, third. The Laird Bst 51b also ran. The winner was sold to Mr. Healy for 41 sovs. The Electric Handicap, five furlongs, the last race of the meeting, brought out the good field of eight, resulting as follows : Weka. Bst 51b including lolb penalty, Ist; Retina, gst db including 1 olb penalty, 2nd; Rebellion, Bst 61b, 3rd. Loch Ness Bst 31b, Revenge 7St 11 lb, Exchange 7st idb, Josephine 6st rolb, and Tuhitarata 6st 31b also ran. Rebellion, and Retina lumped off in front; at the distance the former appeared to have the race in hand when. Retina came again, at the same time Weka on the outside made-her effort, a tremendous race ensuing, the latter getting home by a neck, a head between second and third.