AUCKLAND RACING CLUB’S SECOND SPRING MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 328, 5 November 1896, Page 9

AUCKLAND RACING CLUB’S SECOND SPRING MEETING.

[’Ey Atlas .3 It is almost unnecessary to inform the sporting •commuity of Auckland that Saturday next will be the first day of the Auckland Racing Club’s Second Spring Meeting. Although but a recent arrival, I know that the gathering is fraught .with considerable local interest. For a time at this season of the year the thoughts of the local sporting men are devoted to the doings on the Australian courses, but once the Melbourne Cup is over Aucklanders turn their attention, perhaps with an increased interest, to local racing. The Auckland Second Spring Meeting comes, too, as a reward, or a solace, to those who have not journeyed South to see the cracks measuring strides in the New Zealand Cup. The fields left to do battle this year are good enough to produce ’interesting racing. Mr Percival is.in the best of •good spirits at the prospects of a big {attendance at Ellerslie, and it is satisfactory to know from him that there have been no scratchings during the week, so that it reasonable to suppose that most of those who still remain in the various .events intend to go to the post. The course, too, is in splendid order. I had a peep at it the other day, and I could not help thinking that Byron Moore, of the Victoria Racing Club, or Secretary Clibborn of the A.J.C., would give something to see Flemington or Randwick looking so beauti‘fully green as Ellerslie. Money has done much for Bandwick and Flemington, but nature has done more for Ellerslie. Mr Percival tells me that he has made complete arrangements for the oomforts and convenience of the patrons of the meeting, and I notice that besides the busses and cabs that will run to the course that there will be seven special trains starting at intervals, the first leaving at a quarter to 11 o’clock in the morning and the last at ten minutes past 2 o’clock in the afternoon. The first race on Saturday is timed to start at 1 o’clock. A want of knowledge of New Zealand form must preclude me for the present from reviewing the fields on the various events, but I have nevertheless looked up the performances of many of the candidates, and assisted by confidential advice of a friend, who is not a bad authority on New Zealand form, I venture the following anticipations Pbesident’s Handicap, t- Wairongomai 1, -Lord Dunluce 2, Lillie 3.

. Auckland.Guineas.—St. Paul 1, Nestor 2,St. Gordon 3. ’ , \ - 5 r Handicap Hubdles.—Aughadowey 1, Beggarman 2, Bombai-dier 3. Sweet things are" said of St. Simon, and if only a portion of what his flatterers Say be true, he should win, but then there are doubts. The Shobts Handicap.—St. Elmo 1, The Flirt 2, Lufra 3. City Handicap. — St. Paul 1, Panoply 2, Haria 3. Pony Handicap.—Fidget 1, Archduke 2, Topsail 3. Flying Handicap;—Waiuku or St. Clements 1, .Nestor or Lady Anna next best. Musket Stakes. —Coronet 1, Miss Rose 2, St. Evelyn 3.