Thames Jockey Club’s Summer Meeting.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 127, 29 December 1892, Page 7

Thames Jockey Club’s Summer Meeting.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

First Day.—Monday. December 26th. The Thames Jockey Club commenced their Summer Meeting as usual on Boxing Day, and quite 2,000 people were present. The weather was fine, and some excellent sport was witnessed. .£1,256 went through the totalisator. The Maiden Handicap of 25SOVS, six furlongs, was the first event, and seven went to the post. The Auckland mare Acacia was made a warm favourite, with Caprice next in demand. This pair, however, found more than their match in Viceroy, who won by a head from Caprice, with Acacia a good third. St. Mary came into contact with a post and threw her rider, who, however, was not injured. The dividend on Viceroy was The First Handicap Hurdles of 35 sovs, one mile and three-quarters, brought out a quartette, viz., Megoulet, Platch, Daisy and Mistake. Megoulet was made a very hot favourite, and as all the other competitors missed a jump she won easily from Platch. The other pair did not finish. Macmanemin rode the winner, who paid a dividend of £\ zs for each ios invested.

The Thames Handicap of 45 sovs, one mile and a quarter, attracted to the post a septette, namely, Ingorina B.io, Ida 8.0, Peeress 7.0, Stanley 7.0, The Laird 6.11, Orwell 6.9, and Bulrush 6.7. Ida was favourite, Ingorina next in demand,

Stanley and Peeress also being well supported. Stanley led for a little more than six furlongs, when Ingorina assumed command, but Ida collared him three furlongs from home, and having the best pf the run-in won by a length. Stanley gained third place. The dividend was ‘£i;7S. t . The Welter Handicap of 25 so vs., one mile, saw a quintette assemble at the ppst. The Waltzer, who was so successful at the South Auckland Meeting, was made a very hot favorite, and justified the confidence reposed in him by winning in a canter. The dividend was 15s. . The First Handicap Steeplechase of sosovs, about two miles and a-half, saw /Hurricane, with 9.10, make his first appearance in the colours of Mr. T. D. Halstead, and he carried them with success too, for he won easily by a couple of .lengths from Carronade, Hopeful Kate ~getting third place. It may be mentioned as showing what a sterling nag I Hurricane is that he has not had a real gallop for the last two months. The veteran is evidently not yet done with. The dividend paid on him was £ 12s. . The Stewards’ Handicap of 25SOVS, one mile, concluded the card, and Ida, despite the opposition of a quintette, won , easily, paying a dividend of £\ is. 'i' . Second Day.—Tuesday, December 27. i The weather for the second day’s racing was dull, but the attendance was good, the local residents being reinforced by a large number of excursionists from Auckland. The racing was again interesting — the Steeplechase especially so—but the enjoyment of the day was somewhat marred by accidents to three of the competing jockies in the Midsummer Handicap and Free Handicap respectively. In the former Waltzer fell, and -his rider, J. Gallagher (who had the day before ; steered St. Hippo to victory in the Auckland Cup), had his thigh badly twisted, and was also hurt about the head. He was immediately removed to the hospital, and at the time of writing is reported to 1 be progressing favourably. In the Free Handicap Stanley and Minnie came down, and Burns and Tee were badly shaken. It is high time that the Thames •Jockey Club took some steps in the ► direction of improving their race track. If they do not do- so they will only have themselves to blame if owners and .trainers fight shy of patronising them. -v The Midsummer Handicap of josovs, seven furlongs, opened the ball, and eight were weighed out. Waltzer was made a warm favourite, with Ingorina next in public esteem, the others being almost deserted. The race was a chapter of accidents, for Waltzer, Caprice, and Orini fell while coming round one of the jturns, and St. Mary came down at the entrance to the straight. Ingorina was consequently able to win easily from Stanley. Bulrush and Minnie ran off the course. The dividend on Ingorina was £* 18s. : For the Thames Handicap Hurdles of 6osovs, about two miles, four out of the five on the card came to the post, the being Daisy. Hopeful Kate was favourite. Platch went to the front at the-fall of the flag, and kept his position all the way, closely followed by Megoulet and Hopeful Kate. The lastnamed made her effort at the entrance to the straight, but could not get on even terms with Platch, who won easily at the finish. Megoulet was a bad third. Dividend, £1 Bs. ■-i The Hack Handicap of 1530V5, one mile, attracted a field of eight. Macmanemin’s Kotahi was favourite, and won easily from Flint and Maid of the Mill. Dividend, 19s. The race for the Thames Goldfields Handicap of 65SOVS, one mile and a half, dwindled down to a triangular duel between Ingorina, Ida and The Laird. Ingorina was favourite. Ida and Ingorina raced neck and neck for six furlongs, when Ingorina went to the front, and won hard held from Ida. The Laird came fast at the finish, and nearly wrested second place from Ida. The dividend Was 19s. The Novel Handicap of josovs, 7 furlongs, was contested by a quartette. Orena was a slight better favourite than Kotahi, but she could not improve on the position of third to Flint and Kotahi, the former winning easily, and paying his admirers £3 12s. The winner was put up to auction in accordance with the B conditions of the race, and was bought in bv his owner, Mr. Berggren, at £ll .os.’ There were half a dozen starters for the Thames Handicap Steeplechase of Sosovs, about two miles and a-half, and Yum Yum was in very brisk demand, and

was favourite at flag fall. Hurricane was next in favour. This was the best race of the day. All jumped splendidly. Yum Yum led for most of the journey. She commenced by cutting out the work at a merry pace, closely followed by Hopeful Kate*, Hurricane and Carronade. This trio were still in front till they got round to the straight for the last time, when it looked like a “ moral” for Yum Yum, but Hopeful Kate came very fast, and just beat her on the post. Hurricane being 8 lengths behind. Macmanenim rode with, excellent judgment, for Hopeful Kate rapped the last hurdle and nearly brought him down. Dividend, £3 9s. In the Free Handicap of 20 sovs, 7 furlongs, Ingorina scored his third victory of the day, by beating Megoulet, Peeress and seven others. Ingorina had top weight of 10.5, and the dividend paid on him was 18s.

A word of praise is due to the officials, and especially to the secretary, Mr Greenslade, for the activity displayed in the conduct of the meeting, and for their kindly hospitality to the visitors. Mr W. Blomfield worked the totalisators in his usual capable manner, and handled the sum of /’1306, making a total of for the meeting. Tickets were 10s on each day.