Sporting Review. THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1892. PAPAKURA RACING CLUB ANNUAL MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 88, 31 March 1892, Page 5

Sporting Review. THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1892. PAPAKURA RACING CLUB ANNUAL MEETING.

[By

Old Turfite.]

The Papakura races, which were postponed from the 17th inst., took place last Saturday. The day was beautifully fine, and everyone enjoyed the afternoon’s outing. The attendance was between 700 and 800, and would have been much larger if it had not been for the extortionate charges made by the railway authorities—six and four shillings, including admission to the course, and made no difference to those that held ticket s of admission. This even was only granted on the Club guaranteeing £75. The Ministry are always complaining that the railways do not pay: how can they expect them to do so when there is no inducement offered to the public to travel. In no part of the world except New Zealand would five shillings return be charged on a race day for an eighteen mile journey. I have attended race meetings for many years, but Saturday’s railway arrangements take the cake for mismanagement. Before leaving Auckland the train was pretty well full. Notwithstanding this, two carriages were taken off, thus not allowing for the people that were to be picked up on the way. The. consequence was that before it reached its destination it was packed and the platforms crowded. If there had been an accident would the Government have paid damages ? On the return journey the train (the line being perfectly clear) waited at the station until all the people had collected by the side of the line, instead of drawing up and letting people get in as they left the course. The consequence was a terrible scramble, and how some of the ladies managed to get in was surprising, as the line at this place is considerably higher than the level. There is an impression that the Papakura Club is a proprietary one. This is a great mistake —such is not the case. The grandstand when finished will be by far the best anywhere around Auckland, Ellerslie excepted. At present there are no seats, and the stewards’ room is not floored. The ladies’ room is very convenient, and was greatly appreciated. The stand is roofed in, and there are two sets of steps to the upper part, which was well filled by our country cousins, who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves, especially those that happened to strike a dividend. There is a great deal more to be done before everything is complete : the course is to be ploughed and grassed down, the approach from the railway is to be made good, and it is the intention of the Club to ask the authorities for permission to erect a platform, so that there will be no difficulty in getting in and out of the train. Next year, when all is completed, it will be a very good course. Mr. Walters kept open house to his friends, and it was owing to his energies that the meeting was as successful as it was and the races got off to time, as they started late. There were no numbered saddle cloths, which were greatly missed by the general public, especially as some of the colours were very much alike and in one or two cases wrong ones were worn. Mr. Lawry officiated as judge, and was pretty successful in his decisions, but the majority were decidedly against him in the Flying Stakes, but perhaps he was flurried by an interested party who was in the box with him, a thing that no judge should permit. Mr. F. W. Mark was clerk of th e

scales, and Mr. Halstead wielded the starter’s flag and was pretty successful, though in the Maiden Plate he let the winner have the best of it. The totalisator house is a very convenient one, being accessible to both those inside and outside the paddock. Three machines were used, which made it rather inconvenient for those that want to know the amount invested on the different horses before they invest their money. It was very efficiently worked, there being no delay in getting your dividends, which, however, ran small throughout the day —Transit, £■4 ios. for ios., being the best. It is a great mistake having tickets on the big race £1 and on the smaller ones ios., as the public who are not accustomed to country racing often find themselves mistaken and are unable to back their fancy. The Club, with a competent person at the helm, a good committee, and some' stewards who will work and know their business, will soon be a success, as there is no pleasanter place than Papakura for a day’s outing. It is not too far Jo drive, which is a pleasant one; in fact many came in brakes when they found the exorbitant prices charged by rail, while some even chartered cabs, as they found it the cheapest way. In fact parties could have been made up to go there and back at 2s. 6d. per head. All this, it is to be hoped, will be remedied next year. The racing, considering the handicaps, was very good. Many were surprised at some of the fields being much larger than expected, as, owing to some reason or other, the full acceptances were never published. The Hurdle Race was looked upon as a certainty for two—Stepper and Cloth of Gold. The latter was not fit to run, the former winning easily. Carbery was a good deal talked about, but such an animal hardly ever started on a racecourse, being a heavy shouldered, curby hocked brute. The Steeplechase, as anticipated, was a match between Kate and The Colonel, the former winning easily; and it was evident from the moment the weights appeared that the Cup and Flying Stakes would go to the Papakura stable. For - the first event Pinfire, who is reported lame, was scratched, and, Leorina commanded her field the whole way, and simply romped home. The Flying Stakes was rather amusing. The stable had their money on Helen McGregor, and the public stood Leorina, who w~s in waiting. Ida, however, made it so warm for the former that Leorina had to come. Which won will be known, but the judge, much to the surprise of some of her backers who were standing close to the box, gave it to Helen McGregor. The races commenced with the Hurdle Race, for which Ika Vuka made the running, with the rest in a cluster. At the hurdle below the stand he jumped the wing, but still continued on. At the back of the course Bryan O’ Lynn ran off; Carbery toiling in the rear. Half a mile from home Ika Vuka was done with, and Stepper assumed the lead, closely followed by Kate and Cloth of Gold. At the distance he came away, winning easily by three lengths ; a bad third. Five started for the Pony Race. There, was a delay at the post owing to the fractiousness of Little Nannie. After one break away the flag fell to a good start. The field ran in a bunch to the distance, when Walter Scott, La Grippe and Sepoy fought it out, the former winning by about three-quarters of a length ; a good third. The Papakura Cup only brought out four runners. At the fall of the flag Capella, who was as fat as a bullock, made play, followed by Ida ; Leorina in waiting; Belmont last. At the back of the course Ida went to the front. About a quarter of a mile from home Leorina, who was pulling double, assumed the lead, and romped home an easy winner by a couple of lengths from Ida ; Belmont a bad third; Capella tailed off. Seven faced the starter for the Maiden Plate. The flag fell to a fair start. Transit getting away first made all the running, winning a good race Dy a neck from Acacia, Assassin about the same distance away, and the remainder well up. Only four came to the post for the Steeplechase. At the fall of the flag Kate went to the front. Cloth of Gold refused the first fence, and Bryan O’Lynn the second. Kate held a long lead of The Colonel until the double was reached, when both went wrong; but being quickly righted they got over together. Kate again went to the front. After crossing the double the second time The Colonel tried to go up but failed, Kate running home an easy winner by twenty lengths. Only these passed the post. Six scrubbers came to the post for the Novel Handicap. Comet made all the running, and won by a neck from Elsie. The Flying Handicap brought out only five runners. The start was a good one, Helen McGregor, Ida, and Stamford being in front, Leorina waiting Raglan broke down. At the distance Helen McGregor led. Ida made a vigorous effort, and looked so dangerous that Leorina had to come. A slashing race ensued, the judge giving it to Helen McGregor a short head from Leorina ; Ida a neck away third ; Stamford close up. If this had not been the last race of the day there would have been a disturbance, as the majority of the public thought Leqrina had won.