THE TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB’S WINTER MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 409, 26 May 1898, Page 9

THE TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB’S WINTER MEETING.

[By

Atlas.

The clerk of the weather was in vile humour on Saturday, the day appointed for the opening of the Winter Meeting of the Takapuna Jockey Club. It had rained more or less during the week, making the going in the newly made ground in the straight very heavy, and when the hour of starting arrived it was raining. The club made a plucky .effort to keep its contract with the public, although when the saddling bell rang for the first race the outlook was very unpromising. Notwithstanding these discouraging circumstances, fully 1,000 persons were present, but it was only those who came provided with umbrellas, macintoshes, and big boots that were really anxious that the sport should go on. Nine out of the ten on the card saddled up for the Maiden Hurdle Handicap, and Miss Shot and The Trifler were made the favorites, but neither were ever- dangerous. Platt has evidently succeeded in working a big improvement in the temper of Seabreeze. When she last appeared at Takapuna she showed her contrariness by galloping off in exactly the opposite way to which she should go, while immediately afterwards at Hamilton she refused to budge a yard when the starter dropped his flag. She behaved better at Ellerslie where she was favorite, but disgusted her backers as much as ever by falling. However, her conduct on Saturday was most exemplary, and when Mr E. D. Halstead had started his field she was soon in front, and there did not appear to be anything behind her capable of making her gallop. She remained in front the whole way winning very easily, the places being occupied by South Pacific and Reindeer. The'backers in the outside machine had a much more pleasant experience than those on the inside, as they were rewarded with a dividend of £ll’2s, while those inside got £5 4. It was raining in torrents when the seven candidates for the Maiden Plate wended their way to the The popular choice was My Sweetheart and Thelma, but punters on the favorites were once more astray. Blairina led for a couple of furlongs, when My Sweetheart rushed to the front and led to the straight, where the field closed up. Doneraile proved himself better in the mud than his opponents, and Buchanan, selecting the best ground in the centre of the course, landed his mount a winner by nearly three lengths. The time for the seven furlongs, Imin 43sec, serves to indicate the nature of the going. The rain still continued, and the committee met to decide what should be done. There was, of course, a strong disinclination to postpone, but eventually the matter was settled by a number of the jockeys stating that in the existing condition of the course they would not ride, and a po tponement was then decided upon. At a subsequent meeting of the committee, it was decided to dispose of the remaining five races on the first day’s programme on Queen’s Birthday, and to postpone the events prepared for the second day until Saturday next. To make up a complete programme for the first day two events were added. After the conclusion of the second race a pro test was entered against the winner by Mr Frank Macmanemin, on the ground that he was in the forfeit list, but as the stewards, as well as the general public, were anxious to get out of the wet, it was not at once decided upon. Second Day—May 24. The Takapuna stewards have reason to congratulate themselves for having so successfully

dodged" the clerk of the weatheW ' Ma*ny thoughtthat they were'wrong in: postponing'! on; the: first* Saturday after having entered upon their propgramme, but I am emphatically of the opinion that they were right. After the torrent of rain that fell during the second race on Saturday, fair racing could not be expected, and surely when, in addition to that fact, .the stewards were confronted with the danger of accidents, they were justified in postponing. The fine weather on Sunday and Monday in a measure countenanced their decision, despite the growl of malcontents that the club had outraged precedent by postponing after a meeting had been commenced. These malcontents, however, I fear belonged to a class who had not the true interests of sport at heart, and cared more for the gambling element of sport than the true test of a horse’s speed and endurance. The fine weather on Sunday and Monday greatly improved the condition of the course. The going, particularly in new made ground in the straight, was holding, but it was safe. Although the weather was none too promising there was a splendid attendance, and I was glad to see the genial secretary’s efforts crowned with success, because the day’s sport was most interesting. There is no doubt that the ferry service to North Shore is a credit to the city, and nothing better than the arrangements for the transit of passengers.from the city to the North Shore could have been wished. The return journey, however, was not commenced with so much pleasure, and perhaps in future it would be well if only a limited number of people were permitted to enter the gates on the wharf at one time. On Tuesday the crush for the early boats was most unseemly. One man fell into the water and had to be rescued, but wbat concerned me most was the treatment of the fair sex. In the rush they were entirely disregarded, and certainly the more respectable had to remain on the' wharf until several steamers had departed with the more noisy and selfish throng. This is a serious fact, and personally I enter a protest against respectable women being elbowed out by the thoughtless hoodlum who has been let loose for the day. The racing right through was interesting, and the club has to be congratulated on the conduct of the sport. Mr E. Halstead was in better form than I have yet seen him, and effected some splendid starts under disadvantageous circumstances. In the pony race especially he did well, and although some press scribes have chosen to call the start in the Royal Handicap a straggling oue, it was not. Mr Halstead in this race had to deal with two of the most difficult horses that a starter can be called upon to handle —Ouirassette and Castashore. We all know what a brute Cuiraseette is at the post, and Castushore can be very bad when he likes. After his victory in the Birthday Handicap' on Tuesday he seemed to know all about it, and was very “cocky.” When he was taken out for the Royal Handicap he lashed out most unmercifully, and Mr Halstead was quite right in sending him to the.rear. Probably this v< ry proper act on the part of the starter has been adversely criticised, but let that criticism go for what it is worth. The Hon. E. Mitchelson occupied the judge’s box, and that is equal to saying that the fiat of the judge was never questioned. The sum of £6017 was passed through the machine, which as usual waa under the control of Mr W. Blomfield, and the caterers for the comforts of the inner man — Mr McEwin in the dining-room, Mr Donovan in the inside booth, and Mr O’Connor outside —gave every satisfaction. Clonmel was the only absentee for the Hurdle Race, and of the seven starters Mr Charlie Tate’s visiting horse St, Hiko was made a pretty strong favourite, while the upstanding Reindeer was second in the public estimation. Mr Halstead was not long in getting them away, and St. Hiko and Atalantic became the pilots passing the stand together, while Antares, who had an enlarged knee as an evidence of his blunders in schooling work, was last and floundered at the first jump very badly. He was soon a long last, and meantime Atlantic, close attended by St. Hiko, sailed merrily along in the lead. At the jump just after entering the straight, Atalantic, who had been going very well, fell and St. Hiko was left vith the lead a dozen lengths in front of Reindeer. Antares was still last, but the further he went the better he jumped. St. Hiko began to tire leiding out of the straight, and Reindeer took up the running, and around the . ba-k The Trifler improved his position, while < Antares began to rapidly make up lost ground. Reindeer, however, maintained his advantage and going strongly to the end won by half-a-dozen lengths from the Auckland Cup winner, who beat The Trifler by a neck. Considering the bad start he made Antares’ performance was a good one and a few such lessons may m ke a hurdle racer of him. When remembering the lot of ground he made up in the latter end of the race it should also be borne in mind that a lot of the hurdles were down and he was practically racing on the flat. I therefore fear that Franks has set himself a hopeless task to get the Castor horse ready for the Grand National. Of the three starters in the Substitution Handicap My Sweethea-t was a stro ig favourite, but once again the Innocent punters were at fault. When the barrier went up Blairina dashed to the front and s >on had a strong lead, the favourite being next. The positions were never altered, and the Blairgowrie, filly won as she liked by eight lengths, three lengths separating second and third. The time was Imin 53sec, and the dividend inside, £2 12s. St. Owen was the only absentee from the thirteen acceptors for the Pony Race. Punters fancied Lady Howitzer very strongly, especially as she had the services of Gallagher as pilot. Several of the others were well backed, and Fair Nell, Partan Jeannie, Little Wonder, and Rangiuru were most in favor after Lady Howitzer. Mr Halstead got the dozen away to a capital start, very little time having been wasted at the barrier. When they moved away the “ all black,” carried by Rangiuru in lieu of her own colors, were in front, and rounding the turn Lady Howitzer, whom Gallagher had to urge, joined the lealer,

andthepkirraced ahead'of the field'round the ba^krind' along; the top stretch. Herd Part an Jeannie was seen, to be moving-up, and Satman, bringing;his mofint up on the firm ground once they were in the straight, he had no difficulty in winning, somewhat easily by a couple of lengths from.. Rangiuru; with Howitzer close up third. ■ .„. ■ . |. •- ■ , ;: . For.the principal event of the day, the Birthday" Handicap, ten saddled.up; and when strolling through the paddock I liked nothing better in appearance than Rex. .Heis a horse that takes the. eyd at. price., and Mr. Booth had evidently preserved his Ellerslie condition. L'he restless son of Castor, Castashore, attracted a lot of attention as he was walked round the paddock, Inconsequence of accidents he has been a most unfortunate horse,. Last year he beat Panaply v just,as he did on Tuesday, but through the inconsistency of form, for which the horse should not be blamed, he was disqualified. He found his way into the hands of Mr Platt, a recent arrival from South Africa and England, and when a race at Takapuna appeared at his mercy, he injured himself on board the steamer going to the Shore. Then again he was cast in, his box and ' - ruined his chances at Ellerslie and on Tuesday . ‘ it was Platt’s first opportunity of bringing him to the post fit. The result, I think, proves the correctness of my frequently expressed opinion that he is the beet horse that Castor has sired. Cravat, ’mo doubt, is a good one, but 1 would sooner have Castashore, because, not only has he proved that he can gallop, but I have a suspicion that he can jump, and it may be that he will be found an ugly customer to meet in the Grand National Hurdles. Miss Anna looked well and her condition reflected credit ,on her trainer, Morrigan. Mr Halstead let his ‘field away to a beaut Sul start, and Castashore was the first to show the .way, Miss Anna being second, Korowai third, and Porangi Potae fourth. Rounding the turn Supplejack ran up to Castashore, but the latter left him on entering the straight, and past the stand with a length and a half advantage of Korowai, Merry Maid, and Porangi Potae, who were, .racing in a line,. Turning out of the straight Porangi Potae left the.others, and around ' the,back chased the flying leader, but Castashore had always something in hand, and Porangi began,to subside at the home turn, while Supplejack, who had been close to Porangi Potae, evidently had had enough. Just at this juncture ' the top-weight, Rex, who had been lying in the rear, began to move, up, but somehow he and Merry Maid collided,, and both came to grief. Immediately afterwards Panoply set sail, and the gallant old horse left the ruck, but had no chance with the leader. Nothing troubled the eon of Castor, who, without an effort, came home a winner by four lengths. Panoply was second, two lengths in front of Korowai, Coronet being fourth, Porangi Potae fifth, and Miss Anna sixth., ’ > ' Ballyhooley, Miss-shot, Erena, and Maid of Honor did not turn out for the First Handicap Hurdle Race, which was postponed for a few minutes on account of a heavy shower. Nor’- ?■' West was looked upon as the certainty of the day. The Sou’-Wester gelding looked in perfect fettle, and fully justified the confidence of his admirers. When the barrier went up, Kapai’s yellow jacket was for a short time seen in the van, but Seabreeze was leading over the first hurdle, and the Nelson mare, jumping very well, led her " field past the stand for the first time with a big advantage of Nor’-West, Kapai (who had to be ? kept going by Pennell) with Miss Nelson and Atlantic following some distance away. Seabreeze continued to hold a big lead during the second round, and with the exception that Kapai was quite out of the hunt, lhere was little alternation until the leader entered the top stretch. Here Nor’-West, who had been gradually closing up on Seabreeze, got on terms, and the pair cleared the last obstacle together. Once fairly in the straight Nor’-West held a slight lead, which he maintained with ease to the finish. Atlantic was third, some way off, Miss Nelson fourth, and Kapai last.

Five was the main for the Handicap Maiden Steeplechase, for which Voltigeur 11. was most fancied. The first to show the way up the hill were Itch, Voltigeur, and Reindeer. At.the jump at the top of the hill Chorcoal baulked, but was quickly got over. At the water jump both Itch and Voltigeur baulked, and the race afterwards remained with Reindeer, Playboy, and Charcoal, who were running in that order. Reindeer continued to act as pilot throughout, arid was never afterwards troubled by the others, winning finally very easily by over a dozen lengths from Charcoal, who was a dozen lengths in front of Playboy. Of the fifteen colored on the card for the Royal Handicap only Miss Nelson and Thelma were withdrawn, and Castashore, on the strength of his easy Birthday Handicap victory, was a warm fancy. The Sharper also met with very good support. The son of Kalo was looking very fit, but also a bit wicked, and in his preliminary he and Jellings had a tussele, which certainly did not improve his chance of victory. The favorite was a bit fractious at the post, and was placed behind the other horses to prevent danger. When Mr Halstead prested the lever The Sharper’s colors were seen in front for an instant, but he was soon tackled by Cuiraseette, who for cnee in a way got away from the mark with the rest of the field. Round the back the North Shore filly was joined by My Sweetheart, and the pair raced on level terms along the top stretch and round the. home turn. They came into the straight ahead of the others, but from here Oastashore put in a marvellous run, and moving very fast on the firmer part of the course, he cut down his horses in tremendous style, and passed the post three lengths in front of Cuirassette, with Lillie, who had also come through her horses very

fast, third. Castashore’s “ double ” was very popular, and his owner certainly deserved the congratulations he received from all sides.