AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB’S MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 361, 24 June 1897, Page 6

AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB’S MEETING.

[By

Atlas.]

The Auckland Trotting Club has every reason to be satisfied with the result of its meeting, held on Jubilee Day (June 22), in aid of the Hawke’s Bay Relief Fund. It was an excellent oppor-

tunity for enjoying sport and for that pleasure to pay money to a laudable object, and when the committee saw such a record attendance at Potter’s Paddock they must have been pleased with the success of their design. The management was fairly good, but a most objectionable practice has grown up at Potter’s, which, if not stopped, will some day end in an untoward accident. I allude to the practice of allowing people and their dons to swarm on to the straight. Men, women, dogs, and children were there on Tuesday, and perhaps they will continue to go there until some horse runs amuck amongst the gaping throng. The stand and paddock, it may be remarked for the information of the innocents abroad, were specially designed for the convenience of sightseers, and not the racing track, which should be reserved for the exclusive use of the horses and jockeys. The track is none too big on ordinary occasions, and, to say the least of it, the appearance of a crowd standing half way across it opposite the upper end of the grandstand was unsightly. However, all the other arrangements were good, and although the trots were not very well contested the pony galloping events were exceedingly interesting. Mr Cults got his fields well away, and Mr A. R. Harris discharged

the duties of judge to the satisfaction of everybody. The sum of £2,517 passed through the machine, and it is certain that the Flood Relief Fund will benefit to a substantial degree by the meeting. ■ '■ Proceedings were inaugurated with the Handicap Hurdles, for which there were nine starters, the bulk of the public money going on The Dove, but the lightly weighted New Boy, who performed pretty well at the Lake Takapuna meeting, won by two lengths from Helena, with Effie a good third. The last named made the pace for three parts of the journey. The winner paid the nice dividend of £5 7s for 10s.

Duke C. was the only scratching in the Benefit Trot Handicap, eleven being left to face the starter, Sailor Boy and Hurricane being the best favourites, but neither of them were ever dangerous. The Judge, who was on the limit, went away from the word go, and soon had such a commanding lead that the issue was never in doubt, finally winning by nearly twenty lengths from Sailor Boy 11., and the despised outsider, Pioke, third. The winner paid the very nice dividend of £5 Bs. There was a striking similarity between the tote figures in this race and in the first, the totals being 704 and 702. In the first race there were 59 on the winner, and the dividend was £5 7s. In the second race there were 58 on the winner, and the dividend was £5 Bs.

There was not a single scratching in the Hawke’s Bay Stakes Handicap, and consequently a dozen faced the starter, and of that number Rangiuru was made favorite. Mr Cutts got the lot away io an excellent start, but there was a lot of bumping at the turn and Sneak very nearly came down Maria established a good lead round the back, Lena being her nearest attendant, but when heads were fairly turned for home, Rangiuru ran to the front and won comfortably by nearly three lengths from Maria, who was a length in front of Lena. The time was returned as Imin 31isec, and the dividend £1 14s. Maria, who was placed second, ran a great race, and had Rangiuru been out of the road she would have paid a handsome dividend.

Five was the main in the June Trot Handicap, and nothing would go down with the public but Duke C. and Lord Harold, the latter being the better favorite. Lord Harold, after settling down, soon established a long lead, but from the outset Duke C. trotted in great style. It was a good race until approaching the straight for the last time, and here Lord Harold broke, and Duke 0., running to the front, won easily by ten lengths, fifteen lengths between second and third. The time of the winner was 4min 19sec and the dividend £1 ss.

flight started for the Handicap Steeplechase which was made the medium of a lot of speculation, Little Raven having the most followers. Effie acted as pilot for more than a mile during which Daisy Bell had baulked, while Helena’s jockey became unseated. When half the journey had been completed the race was virtually between Little Raven, The Dove, Little Tom, and Fauntleroy, the others being beaten. It was a great race between the quartette, but Little Raven had the advantage as they rounded the home bend for the straight. At the distance Fauntleroy made a game effort to reach the leader, but he failed, Little Raven winning by two lengths, four lengths between second and third, Little Tom fourth, and Effie fifth. A protest against the winner for running inside a post was dismissed. Little Raven paid a dividend of £1 4s. Napier Trot was won with ridiculous ease by Hordern, who has evidently improved a lot since he was last seen in public. A good finish was witnessed in the Benevolent Handicap, Rangiuru j ust managing to get home by three parts of a length from the unlucky Lena. The performance of the winner was full of merit as he got all the worst of the start. The following are the detailed results :— Handicap Hurdle Race of 30 sovs; second pony 5 sovs from the stake. One mile and a quarter. 59 Mr P. V. Flexman’s g New Boy, 9.0, Quinton ... .. ... ... 1 57 Mr T. French’s ch m Helena, 10.8 Bowden ... ... ... ./ 2 35 Mr E. Stanley’s b m Effie, 9.0 ... ... 3 Other starters —38 Fauntleroy, 11.12, 27 Little Tom, 10 9, 228 The Dove, 10.6, 91 Cupid, 9.7, 13 Epaulet, 9.5, 156 Daisy Bell, 9.0. Won by a length from Helena, Effie being about the same distance away third. Time, 2min 34£sec. Number of tickets on the totalisator, 704. Dividend, £5 7s. Benefit Trot Handicap of 40 sovs; second horse 5 sovs from the stake. One mile and a half. 58 Mr W. J. Greenwood’s b g The Judge, 30sec, owner... ... ... ... 1 186 Mr R. S. Henry’s ch g Sailor Boy 11., 12sec, Walden ... ... ... s 2 18 Mr George Robinson’s br g Pioke, 20sec, Sandall ... ... ... ... 3 Other starters —58 Kapai, 2sec, 176 Hurricane 9sec, 22 Fibre, 15sec, 28 Ingar, 17sec, 112 Vulture, 22sec, 19 Uric, 27sec, 17 Doone, 30sec, 8 Coralie, 30sec. The Judge ran into front place in the first furlong, and was never headed, winning as he liked from Sailor’ Boy 11. Time, 4min 20sec. Number of tickets on the totalisator, 702. Dividend, £5 Bs. Hawke’s Bay Stakes Handicap of 30 sovs; second pony 5 sovs from the stake. Six furlongs and a half. 263 Mr J. Ramwell’s b m Rangiuru, 7.12, Gillespie ... ... ... ... 1 11 Mr T. French’s b m Maria, 6.7, Williams 2 79 Mr G. Lovett’s br m Lena, 9.0, Hogan 3 Other starters —105 Norina, 9.10, 177 Sneak, 9.4, 39 Silkworm, 9.2, 158 Bit-o’-Fashion, 8.12, 129 Lady Howitzer, 8.10, 2 Vanity, 7.0, 25 Siwash, 6.7, 18 Sweetheart, 6.7, 17 Disgrace, 6.7. When the first bend was reached Rangiuru assumed the lead, and kept it to the -post, winning by a couple of lengths from Maria. Time, Imin 31|sec. Number of tickets on the totalisator, 1018. Dividend, £1 14s.

June Trot Handicap of 30 sovs; second horse 5 sovs from the stake. One mile and a half. 178 Mr R. Mcßride’s b g Duke C., scr., Chatteris • • 1 248 Mr W. J. Greenwood’s ch g Lord Harold, 23sec, owner ... ••• 2 30 Mr J. Winter’s b g Sandfly, 20sec, owner 3 Other starters —6 Uric, 27sec, 37 Doone, 30sec Won by ten lengths. Time, 4min 19sec. Dividend, £1 ss. Handicap Steeplechase of 35 sovs; second pony 5 sovs from the stake. About two miles and a half. , 379 Mr T. Brain’s blk g Little Raven, aged, 10.8, Hogan ••• ••• 1 153 Mr T. Greenwood’s b g Fauntleroy, aged, 11.8, owner 2 57 Mr J. Wylie’s b m The Dove, aged, 10.0, Lett „ 3 Other starters—l 77 Helena, 11.0; 50 Butterfly, 10.8 ; 106 Little Tom, 10.6 ; 64 Daisy Bell, 9.7 ; 51 Effie, 9.7. . Won by two lengths. Protests against Little Raven (for running inside a post) and Fauntleroy (for inconsistent running) were dismissed. Dividend, £1 4s. Napier Trot Handicap of 30 sovs ; second horse 5 sovs from the stake. One mile. 41 Messrs. Henry and Walden’s r g Hordern, lOsec, Sandall ... ... ••• 1 76 Mr R. S. Henry’s ch g Sailor Boy, Bsec, owner... ... 4" Q 4 Mr J. Gage’s g m Fibre, 9sec, G. Clarke 3 Other starters—Carbine, Bsec ; 2 Ingar, lOsec; 3 Sandfly, 12sec ; 12 Lord Harold, 15sec ; Cinderella, 15sec ; 12 Little Agnes, 17sec ; 9 Bendigo, 18sec; 82 The Judge, 20sec ; 264 Miss Graham, 20sec • >-■ Won by twenty lengths. Time 3min usee. Dividend, £2 17s. Benevolent Handicap of 25 sovs ; second pony 5 sovs from the stake. Five furlongs. Mr J. Ramwell’s b m Bangiuru, 3yrs, 8.0, Gillespie .... • • • Mr G. Lovett’s b m Lena, 6yrs, 9.2, Hogan ... 2 jkfr p. V. Flexman’s New Boy, 6.10, Quinton 3 Other starters —Norina 9.12, Sneak 9.6, Bit o Fashion 9.0, Cupid 8.0, Vanity 7.2, Epaulet 7.0, Sweetheart 6.10, Eclipse 6.7, Mana 6.7, Maihaihie 6.7. , „ j Won by three parts of a length. Dividend, £1 2s.