After the Races.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 388, 30 December 1897, Page 9

After the Races.

AUCKLAND RACING CLUB’S SUMMER MEETING.

[By

Atlas.]

The first day of the Auckland Racing Club’s Summer meeting was inaugurated by fine cool weather, but unfortunately a strong south-westerly wind swept clouds of dust from the adjacent scoria roads to the discomfort of those in the Leger paddock. The occupants of the saddling paddock and lawn fared much better, and the attendance, if not a record one, could not have been far short of it, while noticeable among the visitors were the Hon H. Mossman, of Queensland; Mr Leslie McDonald, manager of Mr W. R. Wilson’s St. Albans stable; Mr Ike Foulsham, of Caulfield; and Mr Archie Yuille, of Melbourne. The general arrangements for the meeting were good, and the improvements effected in the totalisator were appreciated, and enabled the conductors to pass through the large sum of £13,544 without the public experiencing the inconvenience of crush and delay. The members new dining-room was much appreciated, and the tables, both upstairs and downstairs, were certainly very prettily laid out by the caterer, Mr T. McEwen. On such a day the refreshment department was an important one, and the majority of Ellerslie’s patrons were well attended to, and a great business was done at the Nos. 1 and 4 booths, which will be presided over during the meeting by Mr J. J. Donovan, of tha Star and Garter Hotel. All the officials worked well, and with perhaps the exception of the unfortunate start in the Cup, the programme was got through in a very satisfactory manner. The going no doubt was very hard, but I failed to see any ill effects of it, and the horses at Ellerslie this year appear to be a sound-legged lot.

The only absentee from the first race of the meeting, the Trial Handicap, was Reaction, but the field was reduced by one more—The Sharper —before the barrier went away, and it was hard luck for Caulton that it should have been so, as he had the horse to all appearance well. The fact is that the public at Ellerslie are permitted to crowd on to the straight to a degree not known in any other part of the world where eight races constitute a day’s {programme. The straight is made wbat the lawn only should be, a promenade between the races. I feel certain that the liberty afforded the public in this respect materially lessens the attendance in the grand stand enclosure, especially since the club has curtailed the issue of complimentary tickets. But it is not with that aspect of the case I. wish to deal. There can be no doubt that the crowding of the straight as revealed by some of our pictures not only seriously retards the carrying out of. the programme, but constitutes an element of danger that should never be tolerated. It is not edifying to witness the clerk of the course, with the assistance of mounted constables, clearing the straight on the eve of every race, and even then they are not successful, and when the horses do come out for their preliminary there is a continual danger in consequence of the presence of stragglers, many of whom are women. Dogs, too, were in evidence at Ellerslie on Monday last, and I noticed one mongrel waylaying and barking at the horses doing their preliminary in the first race. My reason for digressing from the subject of the Trial Handicap is to show the injustice done to The Sharper. The great crowd on the track prevented the horses doing their preliminary in front of the judge’s box until just before the advertised time for starting. In doing his gallop The Sharper broke his breast plate and had to return to the saddling paddock for a new one, and he was out again in a few minutes going to the post when Mr Cutts started the field without him. The few minutes delay would not have been material, and when an accident is the cause of the delay it is the custom of the starter to allow reasonable grace. Mr Cutts did so when the jockey of Miss Anna was kicked, and delayed the start for half an hour ; but the treatment of the owner of The Sharper and Miss A.nna was very different, and it is not. pleasing to hear racecourse wiseacres assign the cause of the difference to the fact that one horse was owned by a member of the Committee and the other was not. 1 do not believe that Mr Cutts was so influenced, but the consideration afforded to Miss Anna and The Sharper was at such variance that it gives room to talk, especially to those who had backed The Sharper and did not get a run for their money. The public picked lhe Castor colt, Eton, for the Trial Handicap. When they were fairly going Miss Anna and Lufra appeared at the head of affairs, with Swordfish and Eton handy. At the home turn Miss Anna began to tall back beaten, while Eton moved up to Lufra, and once fairly in the straight the result was never in doubt, as Eton came along full of running, and won with his mouth open by two lengths from Lufra, who was a length in front of Swordfish, with Wairongomai fourth, and St. Gordon fifth. The presence of Mr Stead’s pair of cracks (Conqueror and Altair) seemed to frighten a number of youngsters from starting in the Great

Northern Foal Stakes, and the field was reduced to five. Mr Stead’s pair were greatly admired in the saddling paddock, Conqueror probably winning the majority of admirers. He is a fine upstanding son of Medallion, and should furnish into a splendid Derby representative next year. Indeed I cannot see anything that is likely to beat him, unless Hylas and Explosion improve a lot in the meantime. Altair is also a fine colt, and this pair being bracketed on the machines were made 5 to 1 on favorites. When the barrier went up Hermosa jumped off in front, but going up the hill the filly was joined by Altair. Conqueror was close up, while Hylas and Bluejacket were in the rear. This order was continued to the Derby Stand, where Conqueror shot up to Hermosa and came home an easy winner by three lengths, Hermosa being a length in front of Altair Hylas was an indifferent fourth and Bluejacket a bad last. The time (Imin 19sec) was not good, but the youngsters for the greater part of the journey had to battle against a gale of wind. Long before the time for the Cup came round it was known that Fabulist, Sabretache, Porangi Potae, and Miss Anna would be absentees. Fabulist was scratched at half-past 12 o’clock, his owner stating that it was|no use his running as he would have no chance with Favona. A.s a matter of fact Fabulous’s son did not leave his stable at Mangere. Immediately after the Foal Stakes had been disposed of the Cup candidates were inspected. St. Paul’s box was thonged by an eager crowd, and the general opinion was expressed that he bad never been fitter. His trainer was evidently proud of the little fellow, and made no secret of the fact that in his opinion he was bound to win. Waiuku had the appearance of having undergone a thorough preparation, and his party thought that he was in better nick than when he beat St. Paul in the N.Z. Cup. Nestor looked a trifle big, but his running in the Cup subsequently was a clear indication that Adam Byers had him in much better trim than most people believed. Favona looked well, and had evidently been treated to some hard work. Antares and Panoply both presented the appearance of having undergone a thorough preparation. Daystar pleased the eye of those who saw him, and when he came out of his stall into the paddock his lively antics caused many to rush off to the machine to back him. Coronet looked very well, but his actual performance showed that his Cup trial had been but a flash in the pan. Canopus, Pyroxylin, and Anita had not many admirers, but they all looked very fit. In fact, all round, the Cup candidates did not give one the idea that the tracks at Ellerslie had been as hard as they had been represented to be, and their preliminaries were got through in most satisfactory style. When the field ranged up Anita, St. Paul, and Waiuku engaged in a kicking match, while Anita, suddenly lashing out, kicked young Chaafe on the foot. This occasioned some delay. When the barrier went up it was seen that Waiuku and St. Paul, the two best-backed horses in the race, had been left behind, the others gaining an advantage of some twelve lengths before they commenced to move. Russell and Chaafe both seemed for the moment to lose [their heads by endeavoring to make up the lost ground far too quickly. From the start Canopus and-Nestor appeared in. front, but when they reached the cutting the bright colors of St. Paul and Waiuku were seen right amongst the leaders, Waiuku at this stage indeed having reached third place, with Favona, Panoply, Daystar, and Antares in company, Pyroxylin and Coronet being last, positions they occupied right through the race. Nestor and Canopus led the way round the turn, and passing the stand for the first time they were joined by Panoply, Antares, St. Paul, and Waiuku being in close attendance. Rounding the bend out of the straight the blue colors were just visible in front of Canopus and Panoply. Rounding the baek str.tch little Canopus began to fall back, and Panoply raced up to Nestor, St. Paul taking third place, followed by Daystar, Favona, and Waiuku. Emerging from the cutting, Waiuku ran rapidly up to the leaders, while Anita and Favona also closed up, St. Paul, Daystar, and Antares being in a bunch. Nestor continued to lead Waiuku round the home turn, where Panoply dropped back. At this stage Antares and Daystar were immediately behind the leaders, and St. Paul shot up next the rails, and got on terms with Nestor and Waiuku at the entrance to the straight, Antares and Daystar being close together. Once in the straight Chaafe called upon St. Paul, who came away and looked like a winner, but the effort was made too soon. Waiuku dropped back beaten, and before the distance was reached young Sceats brought Antares up with a well-timed run. The issue was now between Antares and St. Paul. At the half-distance Antares had not quite got up, but he gradually wore down St. Paul, and the game little fellow was unable to sustain the effort Chaafe had called upon him to make, and Sceates, riding a splendid race, landed the son of Castor home half a length in front of the unlucky St. Paul. Antares is owned by Mr J. G. Green, who during his short sojourn in Auckland has gained the friendship and esteem of all true sportsmen, as on all occasions his horses are run to win. Antares has not had a very successful career on the turf. For some time he was an inmate of Mr Geo. Wright’s stables, but he generally belied his track form in public, as well as his unquestionable breeding. He was bought some months ago by Mr Gn en for 275g5, and with his new owner’s colors up he grievously disappointed his stable in the Avondale Cup, when he was badly beaten by St. Paul, and soon afterwards he was scratched fertile Nevz Zealand Cup. In Frank Macmanemin’s hands he has been doing excellent work at Ellerslie, in company with Panoply. Nevertheless the stable connections were afraid that he would not do so well in public as in private, and therefore did not back him for so much as they would otherwise have done. St. Paul is evidently a very .unlucky horse. In the two big events of the year he has just been beaten, and there can be but little doubt that if he had got well away on Monday be would have landed lhe Auckland Cup. Mr Cutts, in explaining the start, said that he ordered St. Paul and Waiuku, who were kicking, to go behind thei.

field, and unfortunately when he let the barrier go they were kicking at one another again. Young Chaafe complains that he was completely taken by surprise, as he had not time to take up his position behind the other horses when the barrier went away. There is no doubt he received a nasty kick, and that, together with the bad start, prevented him riding with proper coolness. After the race a complaint was made against T. Taylor, who rode Nestor, of foul riding. The allegation is that he jambed Favona on the rails. Nestor afterwards showed signs of lameness in saddling paddock, The complaint made will be investigated during the week. The time for the race was slow, but allowance must be made for the strong wind which had to be encountered at the back of the course.

The small field in the Hurdle Race (three) de-, prived it of the usual amount of interest evinced in these events. Most people seemed to think that the race was a good thing for Nor’-West, but he finished last instead of first, after a peculiarly run race, during which Tally-ho and Nor - West appeared to be feeling one another, until at the finish Miss Nelson dashed to the front, and won in a common canter, Nor’-West complacently suffering defeat ou the post for second money. Ten was the main for the Railway Handicap, and in the absence of any penalty condition it was not surprising to find that a rnsh was made to get on the Trial Handicap winner (Eton), over 700 out of the 1800 tickets on the machine being in his favour, and be made no mistakes, as after holding a good position, he shot out at the finish and won as he liked. This colt has improved a lot, and it is a great pity that he was not left in the Derby. A dozen faced the starter in the Nursery Han-, dicap, and Dayntree and St. Innis were the popular selections. St. Innis was never absolutely, dangerous, but Dayntree would probably have, won had he got away on better terms with his field. Kettledrum ent out the running to the top of the straight, soon after which the Hon. Hugh Mossman’s handsome filly, Lady Harriet, came with a rattle, and lasted just long enough to win from Dayntree, who finished gamely, and dispelled an impression I had formed, “ upon information I had received,” as the policemen say, that he would not gee under pressure. Lady Harriet was wobbling a bit at the finish. Fair Nell was voted a good thing for the Pony Cup, and Bangiuru was also well supported. The last-named turned up trumps, but the other did not, and was pretty early beaten. Rangiuru was in front most of the way, aud finally won by a length from Mavourneen, with Napoleon a good third. A field of fivejonly saddled up for the Christmas Handicap, chief support being accorded to St. Crispin and Porangi Potae, but the first-named could only get into third place, while Porangi Potae broke down when running splendidly, and returned to the saddling paddock bleeding profusely from the nostrils. The experience of the first and last racss of the day certeinly showed that Mr Caul ton was out of luck. After Porangi Potae was done with, Swordfish ran to the front and beat Waiorongomai home by a couple of lengths, and paying the very good dividend of £4 5s in.so small a field.