AUCKLAND RACING CLUB’S SUMMER MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 76, 7 January 1892, Page 5

AUCKLAND RACING CLUB’S SUMMER MEETING.

Second Day. New Year’s Day was the second day of the Auckland Racing Club’s Summer Meeting. The attendance was not up to the average though the grand stand was well filled. There were a great number of visitors present, including the Hon. G. McLean, and Hon. J. «D. Ormond, Messrs. W. R. Wilson (Victoria), Stead, Gollan, Wilson (Wanganui), Hungerford, Dan O’Brien and Patsy Butler, who had come up for the yearling sales. Then last, but not least, was the celebrated Mr. H. M. Stanley and his wife, but as my conferere deals with the company and ladies dresses (which are completely out of my line) in another column, I shall confine myself to the racing. As on the first day, the starting was something infamous, and loud and deep were the anathemas hurled at Mr. Buckland’s head by those who lost their money through him. For the Midsummer Stakes the horses were kept over three-quarters of an hour at the post, during which time there were twenty-two false starts and foiiy breaks away ; then when the flag did fall there must have been a dozen lengths between the first and last horse. To end the matter of starting, one may say theie was not a single good start during the whole meeting. Mr. Buckland fined some of the jockeys, but it was not their fault; the fact is that he does not even know the rudiments of the way how to start, but in his egotistical way he came back, time after time, to the stand with a smile on his face. Why he was appointed no one knows, as Mr. Halstead, who started at the Spring Meetings and Suburban Meetings, and gave every satisfaction, was present. It is really a wonder the stewards did not take the flag, but the fact was Mr. Garrett was the only one that appeared to take any interest in the racing It would bo well in future years if the A.R.C. Committee were more careful in selecting their stewards, as if they do their duty the appointment is no sinecure. The racing was not without some surprises, or what is generally known in Auckland as ‘•reversal of form.” The Derby was a surprise. Morion, who had been “ plating” in very moderate company, winning by half a length. Looking at it in a charitable way, Clifford deserves a great deal of praise for the way he rode him, as more than once he tried to cut it. but he was kept going, and had not a chance. Dolosa rather unexpectedly gave her popular owner a turn by winning the A.R.C. Handicap. The mare is evidently running much more generously since she has been stinted. The Maiden Plate showed a reversal of form on Mr. G. Wright’s Van Dieman. who could not get near the front in the Maiden Plate at Takapuna with 7st 101 b, and moderate company then, comes out with Bst 31b, and wins cleverly. A question often asked me is how long are these practices going to be permitted before the stewards take action ?

The races commenced with the New Year’s Hurdle Race, for which the four acceptors started. Fishmonger, 10st 91b, and Yardman, 9st 71b, made the running for about a mile, when they were joined by Try Fluke. back of the course the second time round Sentinel, who had been lying last, moved up, but soon fell back. At the half-mile post . Yardman was done with, Fishmonger coming on won all out by three lengths from Try Fluke, who was half a dozen lengths in front of Sentinel. Eight faced the starter for the Newmarket Handicap, finishing as follows: —Lochness, Bst, 1 ; The Baron, 9st 21b, 2 ; Fiesole, Bst 61b, 3. Lady Belle, 7st 41b ; Master Pat, 7st 21b ; The Dancer, 7st; Roie, 6st 71b; Ida, 6st 81b, also ran. After a great deal of messing about at the post, the flag fell to a very moderate start, Lochness being first away, followed by The Dancer and Fiesole. On entering the straight the field closed up, the Baron coming to the front at the half distance, he challenged, but could never get quite up, Lochness winning all out by a length, Fiesole being a neck away, third. The Great Northern Derby produced a field of five. Speculation was brisk owing to it being an open race, none of the horses having proved that they could get a mile and a half. The finish was : Morion, 1 ; Clanranald, 2; Flinders, 3. The Workman and Fraternite also started. Morion went away with the lead, the pace being very slow, Flinders and Clanranald following. At the mile post Morion tried to cut it, but Clifford quickly straightened him. Fraternite then went to the front, trying to make the pace faster. Passing the halfmile post Clanranald and Flinders closed up. Fraternite led into the straight, closely followed by Morion. When fairly in the line for home the former was beaten, Morion coming on in front. At the half distance Clanranald came up, but Clifford keeping Morion going, he could nevei get quite up, and was beaten by half a length, Flinders being a couple of lengths away, third The others tailed off. The Midsummer Stakes brought out the good field of twelve, but the whole interest in the race was spoilt by the wretched starting, which resulted as follows :—Whakawatea, 9st 101 b, 1; North Atlantic, Bst 61b, 2 ; Stepniak, 9st 21b, 3. Tamar, Bst; Wyvern, Bst; His Worship, 7st 71b; Glenora, 7st 61b; Puwerewere, 7st 51b ; First Nelson, 7st; St. Hippo, 6st 91b ; Lottie, 6st 71b, and Swiftsure, 6st 71b. After three-quarters of an hour had been wasted on the post, the flag fell to a wretched start, Stepniak being the first to show in front, but he was soon pulled back, North Atlantic taking up the running, followed by St. Hippo, who led into the straight, Whakawatea close up. When fairly in a line for home St. Hippo was beat. At the half distance 'Whakawatea challenged, and running very game got home a good head, Stepniak being third. A frivilous objection was raised by the trainer of Puwerewere that they were started in front of the post, but it was dismissed. Five was the main for the Selling Race. Speculation was slack. Octopus got home a comfortable head from the Barb, The Laird third. Brian Borou and Essie were the other starters. The winner was bought in for £sl by his owner. The Auckland Racing Club Handicap brought out a field of nine. Speculation was very brisk, the race being looked upon as a very open one. It resulted as follows : —Dolosa, 7st, 1 ; Lochness, 7st 41b, 2 ; the Dreamer, 7st 41b, 3. Pinfire, Bst 61b ; Leorina, Bst 31b ; Reprisal, Bst; Quadrant, 7st U lb ; Queen of Trumps, 7st6lb; and Coalscuttle, 7st 41b, also ran. The flag fell to a fairly even start, Queen of Trumps’ colours being the first seen in the race, followed by Pinfire, Lochness, and Leorina, Dolosa heading the second division. Passing the three-quarter of a mile post Pinfire and Leorina closed on Queen of Trumps, but the latter soon fell back beaten. At the halfmile post Dolosa and the Dreamer closed up. Queen of Trumps led into the straight, but she was then done with, Dolosa coming with a rush, followed by Lochness and the Dreamer, who fought it out, the mare winning by a length and a half ; the same distance between second and third, there being a long tail. The Maiden Plate produced a field of eight moderate ones, finishing —Van Dieman , Bst 31b, 1 ; Yattaghan, Bst 51b, 2 ; the Dancer, Bst,

101 b, 3. Glaucus, Bst 41b ; Warrior, 7st 121 b ; Tuna, 7st 71b; and Stamford, 7st 71b, also ran. Stamford made the running to the straight, when he was done with, the Dancer going to the front. At the distance Van Dieman, who had been quietly waiting, shot to the front, and won easily by a length, Yattaghan, who came fast at the finish, being a good third. The Welter Race only produced a field of three, and ended in an easy win for Te Kooti, lOst 61b, ridden by Mr. E. D. O’Rorke ; Ida, lOst, 2 ; Priscilla, lOst 71b, 3.

Third Day.

The attendance as usual on the Steeplechase Day was very good, but as has been often the case was very disappointing, the Steeplechase especially, it being nothing but a race of disasters, Sentinel being the only one that got round the course without a mistake, winning as he liked. Hopeful Kate, who baulked at the old water jump, finishing second, three hundred yards from the winner, while Tommy trotted in third half-a-mile behind. Fishmonger disappointed his followers by refusing the double and the water jump. Good Day struck the stone wall heavy, coming down a buster, giving her jockey (Dickson) a nasty fall, also splitting her knee, which will render her unfit for racing again, so the best thing will be to give her a friendly bullet. The Colonel also came down a cropper, but Rae got. off well with a few bruises and damage to His right arm. The Musket Stakes was a curious race, as notwithstanding the bad start, Whakawatea, who was ridden by Gallagher, ought to have won on his previous form. Mr. Hungerford, his owner, has asked for an inquiry, but as the case at the time of writing is sub judice, I will refrain from making any comments, though I have formed my own opinion. Quadrant, after his previous running this season, created rather a surprise by winning the Victoria Handicap in a common canter. The totalisator was well Worked by Mr. Bloomfield and staff, the large sum of 107 being passed through the machine. Great dissatisfaction was expressed by the general public at the 1 per cent, being deducted. The A.R C. Committee has made a great mistake in doing this, especially as they commenced the season by only deducting the 10 per cent. It was never intended by the Government that this tax should fall on the shoulders of the backers; but they must get money somehow as they are launching out into extravagance The racing commenced with the Grandstand Handicap, for which seven came to the post. Dolosa again ran muchmore kindly. The race resulted in Dolosa, Bst, 1 ; Coalscuttle, yst ilb, 2 ; Pinfire, Bst, 3 ; Leorina 7st i2lb, Loch Ness Bst, Queen of Trumps 7st 21b, and Glaucus 6st 71b, also ran. Loch Ness and Pinfire were made the favourites. The flag fell to an infamous Start. Pinfire was the first to show in front, followed by Dolosa, the rest in a cluster. At the half-mile post Dolosa assumed the lead and was never afterwards headed, winning by a couple of lengths away from Coalscuttle, who was a length in front of Pinfire. Five faced the starter for the Sylvia Park Handicap, for which North Atlantic, gst 61b, was made a great favourite, and getting three lengths the best of an infamous start, won easily by a length and a half from Lottie, 6st 71b, Tamar, 7st i2lb, being the same distance away third, His Worship, 7St, and Glenora, 6st 11 lb, being the other starters. « Only three came to the post for the Auckland Plate, Clanranald being made a great favourite. At the fall of the flag Clanranald was first away, but was soon pulled back. Fraternite, going to the front, forcing the pace, Flinders lying last. In this order they entered the straight, when they both challenged Fraternite. At the half distance Clanranald had both his opponents settled, and striding along, won clearly by a length from Fraternite, Flinders finishing close up. Nine came to the post for the Steeplechase, resulting as follows:—Sentinel, 11st 81b, 1 ; Hopeful Kate, lost lolb, 2 ; Tommy, gst 71b, 3 ; The Colonel lost 71b, Fishmonger lost 71b, Yardman gst i2lb, Good Day gst 11 lb, Dan gst 1 ilb, and Chance gst 71b, also ran. The race was a series of blunders, and was a perfect fiasco. At the fall of the flag Fishmonger, Sentinel, and Tommy were the first to show in front, but after they had gone a few hundred

yards Hopeful Kate assumed command, with Dan next, the others close up. Coming down the hill Hopeful Kate was leading, Fishmonger, Yardman, and Sentinel being her immediate followers. At the stone wall on to the course Good Day came down splitting her knee and giving her jockey a nasty shaking. Hopeful Kate led over the water jump, which Fishmonger refused, Chance, Dan, Sentinel, Yardman, and Tommy following in the order named. Going up the hill Chance and Yardman ran into second and third places, Fishmonger, who had been got over the water jump, close up. On coming to the double in front of the stand Kate and Chance, with Sentinel close up, were the first over. Here Fishmonger again refused, and was out of the race. At the old water jump Hopeful Kate and Chance collided, the latter coming down, Sentinel having obtained a long lead. The race afterwards was never in doubt, as, fencing well, he won by two hundred yards. Tommy, who had refused on the hill, trotted in third after the judge had left the box. None of the others finished. The Colonel came down at the post and rails at the top of the hill, giving Rae a shaking. Four came out for the Selling Race, for which Octopus was made a great favourite, but he had nothing to do with the finish, Vasator winning easily by a couple of lengths from Transit; Octopus a bad third ; Kupe being the only other starter. Five faced the starter for the Musket Stakes, resulting—North Atlantic, /st 51b, 1 ; Whakawatea, 7st gib, 2 ; the Workman gst, 3. Flinders, Bst 4.1 b; Pungawerewe 6st 131 b, also ran. There was a good deal of unpleasantness over this race some people declaring that Gallagher on Whakawatea threw the race away. After a good deal of fiddling about at the post, the flag fell to a moderate start, Whakawatea and North Atlantic getting first away. The former lead into the straight, but at the distance North Altantic came with a rush, and soon settling the favourite, won by a length ; a bad third.

The good field of twelve came to the post for the Victoria Handicap, resulting as follows: Quadrant, Bst 31b, 1 ; Loch Ness, Bst ilb, 2 ; The Dancer, 7*st 61b, 3. The Baron Bst gib, Fiesole 7St izlb, Queen of Trumps yst 61b, The Dreamer 7SI; sib, Van Dieman yst 21b, Master Pat yst ilb, Lady Belle 6st nib, Warrior 6st 71b, and Ida 6st 71b also ran The Baron and Fiesole were made warm favourites. The race requires little description ; the flag fell to a miserable start, The Dancer, Loch Ness and Quadrant getting best away. On entering the straight Quadrant went to the. front, and striding away won as he liked by three or four lengths ; a moderate third. Nine came to the post for the Recovery Stakes, finishing as follows : —Tulloch, 7st, Ist; Resentment, 7st, 2 ; Helen McGregor, yst 81b, 3rd, Lady Belle yst lolb, Master Pat yst gib, Priscilla yst 81b, Vieux Rose 7st 81b, Warrior 7St, and Transit yst 51b, also ran. The flag fell to a miserable start, Tulloch, Helen McGregor and Master Pat getting away in front. The former was never headed, and just got home a neck from Resentment, who came with a great rush at the finish, but could never get quite up. This brought the meeting to a close.