AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB’S AUTUMN MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 352, 22 April 1897, Page 8

AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB’S AUTUMN MEETING.

[By

Atlas.]

Second Day—Saturday, 17th April, 1897 Although the weather on the final day of the Auckland Trotting Club’s Autumn meeting was suggestive of breezy Wellington, there was a wonderfully good attendance at Potter’s Paddock, and speculation during the afternoon was fairly brisk, the sum of £2OOI passing through the machine, making a total for the two days of £3975 10s. Mr Marks must be commended for the complete nature of his arrangements, and the management of the racing was highly satisfactory. I was glad to see Mr Harris in his usual place in the judge’s box, as in that position he has the respect and confidence of the public. Mr Cutts handled the red flag with his customary ability, while the interesting nature of the racing and the good fields was a flattering tribute of praise to Mr Knight, the handicapper. Proceedings were opened with the Trial Trot, in which a field of eleven started. Golden King was the absolute favourite, but at the last moment the well-informed division planked the dollars down on Wild Rose 11., and when the start was effected she was almost as good a favourite as Golden King. The mare moving at a nice easy gait soon got to the front, and she was never afterwards displaced, and won very comfortably by half a dozen lengths. After the race it was reported to the committee that the mare had been rung in, and for a short time she was taken charge of and her description taken. I have no doubt, however, that the winner is what she has been represented to be—Wild Rose 11. The Maiden Pony Race brought out a field of eight, and the public placed their confidence in in the polo pony First Whisper. This little mare has been singularly unfortunate since her introduction to racing. Well fancied at the polo sports at Ellerslie, she was defeated by Chance It, who, only a few mornings before, had succumbed to her on the training track. Since then at Potter’s Paddock she has always run forward, but has never been able to quite get there. Oh Saturday she got well away, and had a substantial lead along the back stretch, but when negotiating the bend Israelite put in an undeniable claim, and very quickly had everything else in trouble, winning finally by nearly two lengths. Ten was the main for the Easter Handicap Trot, and Hordern was made a very strong order, the whisper having gone round that he had done a satisfactory trial. Duke C. did not start owing to some misunderstanding at the post, and the money invested on him (£64 10s) was returned to the investors. The race is soon described; Ingar quickly got to the front and repeated Wild Rose’s performance in the first race. Vulture, in the final round, made a good effort to catch him, but lost his chance by breaking badly. Mr Renwick’s gelding eventually won easily by a dozen lengths. Kapai trotted splendidly in the latter part of the journey and got second, while the favourite, Hordern, was never dangerous, and collapsed before half the journey had been done. The Steeplechase amongst the ponies is always an item of interest at Potter’s Paddock, and that on Saturday was no exception to the rule. Six faced the starter, and every one of these was well backed, the total number of investments doubling that invested on any of the others during the day. Fauntleroy was the actual favourite, but The Dove and Little Raven followed him closely in the estimation of the public. Helena, from the fall of the flag, made the pace lively, and was followed by Fauntleroy and Little Tom. The other three were close up, and passing the stand the second time Fauntleroy reached Helena, while Little Raven was last. Going round the bend Little Raven, who had been patiently and wisely ridden, began to move up. He was full of running, and the leaders beginning to tire, he was on terms with them before the dip was reached, and the race was then virtually over, as he came away and won very easily by half a dozen lengths. Little Raven was ridden by his owner, who deserves credit for the judgment he displayed. The Second Harness Trot brought out a field of five, Slim Jim and Duke C. being the pick of the public. However, they both failed badly. Slim Jim in the early part of the journey moved well, but he had to give way to Lord Harold, who eventually won very easily from Hordern. A dozen cried content in the April Handicap, and Silkworm, Lena, and Lady Howitzer carried most money, but it did not fall to the lot of

any one of them to catch the eye of the judge first. Cupid was the first to act as pilot, but Topsail took command at the dip, where the field was well bunched and close up. A splendid contest down the straight ensued, and the issue was in doubt until the finish, when Rangiuru put in a well-timed run and won by a neck from Silkworm and Topsail, who made a dead heat for second place. The shades of night were rapidly approaching before the last race —the Class Trot —was run. Six started, and out of that number Rosebud was made a pronounced favourite, but she quite disappointed her backers. Alice got to the front three furlongs from home, and won very easily from Lusitania. This brought a very successful meeting to a close. The following are the results : — Trial Trot Handicap of 25 so vs (saddle) ; second horse 5 sovs from the stake. One mile and a half. 100 Mr E. Ellett’s b m Wild Rose 11., aged, 33sec, owner ... ... ... ... 1 3 Mr Thomas Brady’s b m Little Agnes, aged, 33sec, Brady ... ... ... 2 15 Mr W. McLeod’s b m Coralie, aged, 39sec, owner ... ... ... ... 3 Other starters —29 Lusitania, scr, Palmer ; 63 Waihinepai, 4sec, Edwards ; 24 Okoroire, 18sec, Henry; 105 Golden King, 24sec, Newsham ; 6 Miss Graham, 25sec, owner; 5 Bendigo, 25sec,

owner ; 6 Bessie Doyle, 35sec, owner ; 6 Doctor, 35sec, Neighbour. Won by half a dozen lengths. Time, 4min 28sec. Dividend, £1 12s. Maiden PofrY Race of 20 so vs ; second horse 3 sovs from the stake. Five furlongs. 103 Mr H. J. Connop’s Israelite, 8.2, Glass 1 244 Mr M. Wood’s b m First Whisper, aged, 8.4, Kelly ... ... ... 2 87 Mr M. Brigg’s b g Siwash, aged, 7.7 (including 91b over), Gillespie... ... 3 Other starters —38 Pembroke, 8.10, Dixon ; 18 Little Belle, 7.8, Powell; 75 Papamoa, 7.4, Brady; 17 Disgrace, 6.7, Neville. Easteb Handicap Tbot (saddle) of 45 sovs ; second horse 5 sovs from the stake. Two miles and a quarter. 44 Mr J. Renwick’s b g Ingar, aged, 40sec, owner... ... ... ... ... 1 30 Mrs Carr’s br m Vulture, aged, 37sec, Carr ... ... ... ... ... 2 14 Mr Douglas Henry’s br g Kapai, aged, 4sec, E. Ellett ... ... ... 3 Other starters —48 Darlington, 16sec, owner ; 16 Claret, 21sec, owner; 186 Hordern, 27sec, owner; 6 Sandfly, 30sec, Neighbour; 63 Bess, 36sec, G. Clarke ; 0 Hazelwood, 37sec, owner; 4 Doctor, 45sec, Armer. Won by a dozen lengths. No time taken. Dividend, £4 4s.

Handicap Steeplechase of 49 sovs ; second horse 5 sovs from the stake. About two miles and a half. ", \ 225 Mr T. Greenwood’s blk g Little Raven, aged, 10.0, owner ... ... ... 1 71 Mr W. J. Bowden’s ch m Helena, aged, 11.2. McClusky ,2 267 Mr E. Williams’ br g 11.10, McLennan ... ... ... o Other starters—9s Little Tom, 11.0, D. White; 50 Pembroke, 10.8, Quinton; 235 The Dove, 10.5. Cook. Won by five lengths. Time, smin 49sec. Dividend, £1 17s. Second Harness Trot Handicap of 40 sovs; second horse 5 sovs from the stake. One mile and a half. 92 Mr W. J. Greenwood’s ch g Lord Harold aged, 48sec, owner ... ... ... .1 85 Mr R. Henry’s b g Hordern, 6yrs, 30sec 2 193 Mr E. G. Sandall’s b g Slim Jim, 6yrs, 46sec, owner ... ... ... ... 3 Other starters —152 Duke C., 12sec, Chatteris ; 20 Sandfly, 32sec, owner. Won easily. Time, 4min 31sec. Dividend, £2 13s. April Handicap of 35 sovs; second pony 5 sovs from the stake. Six furlongs and a half. 115 Mr James Barnwell’s b f Rangiuru, 3yrs, ■ 7.6, Gillespie... ... ... 1 242 Mr G. Hatton’s ch m Silkworm, aged, 9.4, White ... ... ... ... + 14 Mr H. C. Greenwood’s ch m syrs, 9.8, Quinton ... ... ... + Other starters —212 Lena, 9.4, Lett; 156 Lady Howitzer, 8.10, Kelly; 57 Cupid, 8.6, Dixon; 45 Kit, 8.0, Powell; 35 First Whisper, 7.12, McEwan; 51 Israelite, 8.1 (inc. 71b pen.), Glass ; 14 Germina, 7.0, Neville ; 9 .Papamoa, 6.12, Brady ; 6 Maria, 6.7, Speakman. Won by a neck. Time, Imin SOsec. Dividend, £3 15s. Class Trot of 40 sovs (in saddle or harness) ; second horse 5 sovs from the stake. One mile and a half. 82 Mr P. Williams’ b m Alice, aged, 16sec, Edwards ... ... ... ... 1 22 Mr J. Winter’s b m Lusitania, aged, 16sec, Armer... ... ... ... 2 10 Mr J. Gage’s gr m Fibre, aged, 27sec, Clarke ... ... ... ... 3 Other starters —217 Rosebud, 9sec, owner ; 34 Old Judge, 16sec, owner; 26 Waihinepai, 19sec, Duncan. » Won by half a dozen lengths. Time, 4min 14sec. Dividend, £2 2s.