South Auckland Racing Club’s Meeting.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 126, 22 December 1892, Page 8

South Auckland Racing Club’s Meeting.

(FROM our own correspondent.)

First Day—Friday, December 16.

The first day's racing in connection with this popular Club’s Summer Meeting took place on the Claudelands Racecourse, Hamilton, on Friday last, the 16th inst. The attendance was not up to the usual standard, no doubt owing to the unsettled state of the weather, together with the fact that owing to the meeting being held so near to the Christmas holidays a good many people from Auckland could not spare the time to make the journey to Hamilton, and consequently the attendance did not number more than 500 people. The racing throughout was of a very interesting character, although the fields were not large. Mr. G. H. Carter, the popular and energetic secretary, ably assisted by the other officials of the Club, worked hard to make the meeting a success, each event being got off punctually to the advertised time. The totalisators were efficiently worked by Mr. W. Blomfield, of Auckland, who put through the sum of £672, the tickets throughout the day being 10s. each. The handicapping of Mr. E. D. Halstead was. it will be remembered, a source of fruitful grumbling when his adjustments for the first day made their appearance, but the finishes for the majority of the races utterly cofifounded his critics—in the Cup more especially, for which Tulloch had been spotted as the best of good things when the weights appeared. The first event set down on the card was the Maiden Plate of 30sovs, seven furlongs. Eight horses faced the starter. The public soon selected Orini as the good thing, but backers were doomed to disappointment, as she never proved dangerous, although getting the best of a very indifferent start, followed by Duchess, Marquis, and Waltzer. At the back of the course Minnie ran up to the leaders, but soon dropped back again beaten. Turning into the straight Waltzer led his field by half-a-length. Caprice then made a great rush and looked like winning, but Waltzer, responding to Creamer’s call, just got home by half-a-length in front of Caprice, Marquis being close up third Nero, Mistake, Sandy Muir, and Slumberer were struck out of the Handicap Hurdle Race of 30sovs, one mile and a-half, leaving a field of six. When the flag dropped Megoulet got away first, and led over the first hurdle, followed by Pretender and Scaltheen, the others all close together. This order was maintained up to the second hurdle, when Scaltheen fell, sustaining a serious injury which will probably prevent his racing for some time to come. Megoulet still led her field past the stand, and jumpled the next hurdle in good style, Pretender being close handy, with Daisy next. The same order was continued along the back of the course, but on coming to the next obstacle Tupara shot up, and led Megoulet by half-a-length. Turning into the straight Tupara came away full of running, winning by six lengths from Megoulet, Daisy about a couple of lengths away from the second horse.

The only absentee for the South Auckland Cup. one mile and three-quarters, was Waltzer, leaving a field of five to do battle for the 115sovs prize. The lot moved off in a line. The first to show in front was Tulloch, who led round the back of the course and into the straight, followed by Stranger, Glaucus, Ida, and Minnie in the order named. On passing the stand and right round to the back of the course the order was the same, but just before turning into the straight Ida made a forward move, while Stranger dropped back beaten. When the straight was reached Ida had run up into second position, and before another fifty yards were covered she took command, winning by a length from Tulloch, Glaucus two lengths off third. Scaltheen, Nero, Daisy, Mistake and Slumberer were the eliminations from the First Handicap Steeplechase of 40 sovs, about 1$ mile, leaving only five to go to the post. When it was found that Nero was taken out the public soon selected Tupara as the good thing, and he went to the post a strong favourite, and justified the confidence placed in him by winning easily. When the flag fell Justice went away and led over the first obstacle, followed by New Year (who fell), Nightcap and Tupara, with Hopeful Kate last. This order was preserved through Edmonds’ paddock, and on coming on to the course again Justice

was still leading, followed, by Tupara and Hopeful Kate, with Nightcap last. This order was maintained over the hurdle in the straight, and up to the water jump. Here Justice took the jump successfully, but Hopeful Kate, on landing, stumbled and rolled over her jockey, while Nightcap baulked. Tupara, who also took the water jump in a slovenly manner, now ran up to within a couple of lengths of Justice before taking the next obstacle. Macmanemin in the meantime remounted Hopeful Kate, but after negociating the second jump of the double she stopped at the sod bank and was not further persevered with. Justice continued to lead Tupara all the way round till the last hurdle in the straight was taken, when Tupara came away and won as he liked, none of the others but Justice finishing. Four saddled up for the Tradesmen’s Plate of 40sovs, miles, Tit, Minnie, Orini, Orwell and Stella being scratched. The flag fell to a very even start, the four contestants all racing together on passing the stand. When the back of the course was reached Tulloch took command, with Memorandum and Glaucus in close attendance. Before reaching the straight Glaucus had changed positions with Memorandum. On entering the home stretch Glaucus challenged Tulloch, but he was unable to get up, Tulloch winning all out by half a length. Caprice was third ten lengths away. The next event on the card was the Waikato Produce Stakes of 60sovs, six furlongs. Notwithstanding the club received 18 entries, of which six paid the acceptance, the event resulted in a walk over for Mr. D. McKinnon’s b f Agate by Flintlock from the Dainty Ariel mare that is dam of Scot Free. The racing was brought to a close with the Flying Stakes of 30sovs, 6 furlongs, Tit, Antic, Orwell, Memorandum and Caprice being scratched. This only left a field of four —Helen McGregor, Orini, Marquis and Waltzer. The race requires little description, as from the fall of the flag Waltzer went away to the front and was never headed, Orini finishing second and Helen McGregor third. Waltzer is one of the few sons Sword Dance left behind him. His dam Lady Brunette is by Musket out of Brunette by Ratan, and is now the property of Mr. ‘ J. Maicolm.”

Second Day—Saturday, Dec. 17.

The attendance showed a marked improvement to-day, and the sport provided was good. Fine weather also prevailed. Speculation was slightly brisker than on Friday, £862 going through the totalisator.

The Christmas Handicap of 30sovs, one mile, opened the ball, and brought half a dozen to the post, the only elimination being Helen McGregor. Waltzer, 8.5, was favourite, next in demand being Glaucus. who was giving him 21b. At the fall of the flag Marquis took the lead, and he was still in front when they got to the back of the course, Folly being second and Glaucus third. Coming into the straight Glaucus led, with Marquis and Folly in attendance. Glaucus then come away and won easily from Caprice, who made a big run in the straight. Waltzer and Minnie both ran off the course. Out of eight coloured on the card for the Hurdle Handicap of 45sovs, 2 miles, half a dozen went to the posf. Nero was a warm favourite. At the fall of the flag he took command and led over the first hurdle, Megoulet and Daisy lying second and third respectively. Going round the back of the course Megoulet got into the lead, Daisy running second and Nero third.- The hurdle leading into the straight brought Nero down, and Megoulet went - on with a lead of Daisy and Tupara. Megoulet and Daisy ran first and second past the stand, but Sceptress had got up third. At the back of the course Megoulet was still in front, with Daisy second, and Hopeful Kate had improved her position so well that she was in third place. She came on and led into the straight with Tupara at her heels, and a good finish ended in Tupara winning all out by half a length, with Megoulet third ten lengths away. Owing to an accident First Love was struck out of the Claudelands Handicap of 25sovs, 5 furlongs, for two-year-olds, only leaving three competitors—all the property of Mr. J. C. Booth. The trio got away well together, and kept close company till 50 yards from home, whence Bay Bess and Jennie raced neck and neck to the finish, Bay Bess winning by but a head. Bay Bess is a full sister to Brown Bess (who won many races here and in Sydney), being by St. Leger out

of the Musket mare Cantiniere. Jennie is a full sister to Adelaide, by Nordenfeldt out of Victoria; and M.C., the other starter is by St. Leger out of Renga. The Publicans’ Purse Handicap of 40sovs, one mile and a quarter, dwindled down to a trio of contestants —Ida 8.10, Tulloch 82, and Glaucus 7.12. The latter was the outsider of the party, Ida leaving off with a slight call of Tulloch. From a good start Tulloch led Glaucus a length past the stand, Ida two lengths away. At the back of the course Tulloch was still leading Glaucus by about a length, but rounding into the straight Tulloch ran up to Glaucus, and the pair came on neck and neck under the whip. A grand race home ended in Tulloch winning by a neck from Glaucus, who was half a length ahead of Ida, who came very fast in the straight. Scratchings reduced the South Auckland Steeplechase Handicap of 70sovs, about three miles, to a quartette, the local mare Yum Yum being made favourite. Backers had the best of the deal, for she won easily from Justice, who was the only other that got round. When they got to work Justice took the lead with Yum Yum, Nero, and Hopeful Kate following in that order. They continued thus all the way round to the water jump, when Hopeful Kate and Nero came up. At the sod wall Yum Yum had a lead of Nero, who fell. Justice then got into second place. The same positions were preserved up to a few yards from the water jump, where Hopeful Kate drew up to Yum Yum, but she deliberately baulked, throwing Macmanemin into the water. The race was thus left to Yum Yum and Justice, and the mare won as she liked by a length. Both Yum Yum and her rider received a great ovation on returning to scale. The Novel Race of 25sovs, seven furlongs, only brought out a trio, Te Akau being favourite. Viceroy and the favourite raced together for about three furlongs, when Viceroy came away and won in a canter from Wilfred, who ran into second place in the straight. The good field of half-a-dozen faced the starter for the Railway Stakes Handicap of 30sovs, six furlongs, and Waltzer left the paddock in most request. He scored, too, thus bringing off a “ treble ”at the meeting. Waltzer, with Helen McGregor in attendance, went away to the front when the flag fell, and, never being headed, won easily by two lengths. Entering the straight Orini made a run, but soon died out, and second place was taken by Peerless, who came with a strong run in the last fifty yards. Stranger was only opposed by Ida and Minnie in the Welter Handicap of 25sovs, one mile and a distance, and odds were laid on him. At the fall of the flag Ida went away first, with Stranger at her heels, and so they passed the stand. At the back of the course Ida was leading Stranger a length. Before rounding into the straight Stranger fell back, and Minnie went into second place. When the straight was reached Ida came away and won easily, Stranger running up into second place, beating Minnie by a length. ' ' \ - Thus ended a meeting that might have been more successful financially, but this was in no way due to any want of efficiency on the part of the officials, who one and all worked well. Mention must be made of the excellent starting of Mr. G. McOullagh. All the events were got off well to time and the Auckland visitors were thus able to get back comfortably by their train on Saturday night.