THE TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB’S WINTER MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 461, 25 May 1899, Page 12

THE TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB’S WINTER MEETING.

[By

Atlas.]

There is no doubt that the Takapuna Jockey Club is one of the most important of the country clubs in New Zealand, and when anything happens to mar the success of its gatherings the interests of the sport suffer, and the sporting community are disappointed. They were a little bit more than disappointed on the first day of the Talapuna Club’s Winter Meeting, for, speaking personally, the feeling of disappointment merged into disgust when pitiless rain fell heavily just as the first race was being run, and revisited us at intervals during the afternoon. Wet coats, Takapuna mnd, and a stiff cold breeze are not pleasant conditions under which to hold a race meeting, and would knock the enthusiasm out of even a Salvation Army man, but somehow the love of the [sport is too strong for wind and weather, and fully 2000 people braved the elements and witnessed the racing. The course, which up to Friday had been in splendid condition, became sloppy, but k that did not prevent some of the races being well contested, and some exciting finishes were witnessed, while the only mishap to note was the fall of Splinter in the Hurdle Race. It looked an ugly fall, but the horse and rider escaped, and Splinter’s backers mourned. Mr R. Wynyard’s arrangements were complete, and the programme was carried out with precision and correctness. Mr Frank Lawry, M.H.R., occupied the judge’s box in the absence of the Hon. E. Mitchelson, and had two close finishes to decide, and under the exciting circumstances it is not surprising that some criticised *

In the Birthday Handicap I have but little doubt that the judge was correct. From the Press box St. Ursula certainly appeared to have just won, but there were many in the grandstand -who thought otherwise. However, Mr Lawry was in the best position to judge. The finish in the Royal Handicap was equally as exciting, and Mr La wry’s duty equally as difficult as in the Birthday, and spectators generally were in doubt as to what had won until the numbers went up. The totalisator arrangements, under Mr Blomfield, were good, and the fact that £4651 was passed through the machine shows that, the wet weather notwithstanding, a lively interest was taken in the sport. Impey’s band discoursed sweet music, although it was not musical weather, but it was a. day that favored the comforts of this life to which the prohibitionists are strangers, and the booth iu the grandstand presided over by Mr A. R. Dunn, and that on the hill, managed by Mr Donovan, were well patronised. The booth on the hill proved a blessing to the patrons of that part of the course, for not only was the liquor good, but the commodious booth itself afforded shelter when the rain at intervals was intolerable. The catering was in the hands of Mr A - F. Stillwell, of Parnell, who has to be complimented for the way in which he carried out his end of the contract.

Proceedings were opened with the Handicap Maiden Hurdles. There were only two scratching!, Boadicea and Ruru, and nine thus were left to go to the post, but it is very possible that there would have been more absentees had it been known that the event would be run in a heavy downpour of rain. Stray bird, a fine, upstanding son of Wanderer out < f Fleetwing, was made favorite, but the Sou’-Wester gelding, Verdi, who has not been very long in Frank Macmanemin’s hands, had a good following. The others were not well backed. Just as the field was ranged up in line down came the rain, and Mr Cutts mercifully lost no time in letting them away. Dorothy and Try-Me led over the first hurdle, which Regulus and Puriri very considerably damaged. TryMe and Dorothy in turn led, with Verdi and Straybird always handy, but in the last round. Straybird was in front at the home bend, with Verdi next. Straybird led over the last hurdle, but Verdi had more running in him, and finishing much better than his opponent, won by a length and a half. Tiki was three lengths behind Straybird, and then followed Wally. The investors on the outside machine got a much better dividend than those inside.

In the Handicap Maiden Plate the pen was run through the names of Moment, Solo, Regulus, Favona, Reconstruction, Tiki, and Brigham Young, the field being just the same in number as in the Handicap Maiden Hurdles. Auld Reekie was favorite, and Quilted was next best backed. The favorite was the first to move, attended by Lieutenant and Thelma, but Quilted was left at the post, and the field was a furlong in front of him when he moved away. Puhia quickly took up the running, and led out of the straight, followed by Lieutenant, Leo, and Snider, with Auld Reekie fifth. In this order they raced round the back stretch, where Snider and Auld Reekie began to move up, and it was evident that the leaders were tiring. Snider led into the straight, and swung out a bit. This gave Jack Ohaafe, on Auld Reekie, a good chance and comir g on with a well-timed run Mr Marshall’s mare won by a length and a half. Shylock finished third, while it was noticed that Quilted had made up a lot of lost ground, and was not far away. If this son of Quilt can only be made to face the barrier properly he should be well worth watching in future.

Nine out of the eleven on the card faced the starter for the event of the day, the Birthday Handicap, the absentees being St. Kilda and Regulus, who had competed in the earlier event?, Auld Reekie, who had won the Maiden Handicap, was asked to race again—a difficult task on such a heavy course, but the mare did not disgrace herself, and demonstrated that it she had been reserved for this event she would have been more handy than she was. There was not a great deal of speculation; indeed, more money was invested on the Pony Race, for which the stakes were worth only a third of those offered for the big handicap. The Doctor was made a slightly better favorite than Crusade, who was a pretty strong eleventh-hour tip, and the outsider of the field was Auld Reekie. It was an excellent start, and Coronet, Lillie, and The Doctor raced for the lead, and in that way they ran along the straight, Crusade, Auld Reekie, St. Ursula, and Firefly being in a bunch close up, and Admiral Hawke last. Turning out of the straight, Doctor, running wide on the outside, raced to the front, followed by Auld Reekie, while Coronet thus early showed that he was not in a galloping humor, and he began to drop back. Along the back stretch Doctor and Auld Reekie battled for the lead, while St. Ursula and Firefly were clear of the others. At the home turn Doctor had shaken Auld Reekie off, and he looked like the winner, as he had a substantial lead as he entered the straight. Pope took him out wide, possibly thinking the going was better there, while Chaafe, on St. Ursula, cut up on the inside A dingdong finish home resulted in favor of St. Ursula, who, according to the fiat of the judge, had won by half a head. The way in which St. Ursula finished showed that she is very game, and Auld Reekie was a very creditable third? Such a close finish of course caused a lot of excitement, and there was a mild demonstration in favor of Doctor, and a counter demonstration in favor of St Ursula.

The track by this time was not in a tempting condition for hurdle racing, and it was not surprising to find that the scratching pen was busily used in the First Handicap Hurdle Race, those to go out being Miss Nelson, Shylock, Anita, Boadicea, and Regulus. This left four in the field and although the Auckland public has not seen him out before they made the Natator gelding, Splinter, an even money favourite. Splinter is a fine looking horse, and flies his jumps in dashing style, but that does not make him a safe carriage on a wet day with a slippery take off. When the

quartette were sent on their journey Bellman went to the front attended by Drum Major, with Splinter third, and Nor’-West last. At the third jump, nearly opposite the Press stand, Bellman rapped, Drum Major rapped harder, while Splinter in his wake came a cropper, Nor’-West narrowly escaping a fall over him. Meantime Bellman continued in the lead going along in great style, and was half a dozen lengths in front of Drum Major at the back. There was no change in the order of procession until approaching home when Nor’-West ran past Drum Major, but his show was what would be vulgarly described as Buckley’s show. Bellman won easing up by three lengths from Nor’-West, while Drum Major was half a dozen lengths further away. In this event Bellman showed great form, and even if Splinter had stood up I have my doubts, in such going as that on Saturday, as to his ability to beat the winner. On firm going, however, the result might be very different.

People would have liked to have seen the East Coast horse, Rifle, out in the Handicap Maiden Steeplechase, but they were doomed to disappointment, as his number was missing from the board. This was the only scratching, and eight went out to do battle for the 80 sovs. Riot was a strong order on the machine, but he quite disappointed his supporters. The two greys, Nellie and Voltigeur, were the first to act as pilots, and led in turns for a round. Over the water jump the second time the order was Voltigeur, Nellie, Libeller, Reporter, Crusado, and Riot. Once over the jump Crusado ran rapidly to the front, and at the home turn Dan McLeod’s new purchase had everything else beaten and at his mercy. Burns rode Voltigeur 11. vigorously, but although the grey responded gamely he could make no impression on the leader, who won easily, while* Nellie, who, I understand, has not been long in work, was a creditable third. Reporter, who is one of the improving sort and should be heard of during the winter, was fourth, Riot fifth, and Libeller sixth.

The Royal Handicap brought out a field of twelve, and was the best batting race of the day. Partan Jeannie and Manutake were almost equal favorites, while Picklock and Cuirasette were also well backod. The starter bad a lot of trouble, and when the barrier did go away the start was a straggling one, and Cuirasette, as is too often the case with this handsome-looking mare, was left at the post. St. Kilda was the smartest on his legs, with The Archer close up, and then St, Elmo, who soon afterwards shot to the front, pursued by Red Lancer and Partan Jeannie. These formed the leading division all the way, and a splendid struggle up the straight terminated in favor of Par tan Jeannie by the shortest of heads, St. Elmo being third, only a nose behind Red Lancer, Manutake was fourth, Porangi Potae fifth, St. Kilda sixth, and Bluecap seventh.