THE TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB’S WINTER MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 462, 1 June 1899, Page 11

THE TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB’S WINTER MEETING.

[By

Atlas.]

The Winter Meeting of the Takapuna Jockey Club was brought to a close on Queen’s Birthday, when the weather was certainly not what we are in the habit of calling Queen’s “weather. Only one shower of consequence fell, but the sky repeatedly wore a threatening aspect However, that fact did hot prevent the meeting from being well patronised, and the secretary, Mr Wynyard, must have regarded the presence of about five thousand people under such disadvantageous circumstances quite in the light of a triumph for his club. The steamer services of the Devonport Ferry Company were capital, and it was evident that the carrying of a few thousand more people could have been accomplished without confusion or danger. The Jehus employed in the short journey from the boat to the convincing ground did a much better business than usual, as most people, and parti ularly the fair sex, who always patronise Takapuna, shy at muddy footpaths, and there is no doubt that they would very much like to see a ’bus drive made in the club’s enclosure, so that they could be deposited eloser to th® stand than the outside gate, which r ecessitatea their negotiating a portion of the steeplechase course on the hill, a performance that in moist weather is a slimy task particularly distasteful to the female form divine. However, I must not find serious fault with the Takapuna Club, which has done a lot to make the course comfortable for its patrons. It would, no doubt, cost a lot of money, but I think that it could be made th® finest sports ground in Australasia. The extension of the running track to the swamp in Messrs Duder’s property would place the club in possession of a splendid track of more than a mil® round, while the centre of the present course could be converted into a first-clast recreation ground, admirably adapted to cricket, football, pedestrianism, and other athletic pastimes. However, I am going away from the subject of the meeting on Queen’s Birthday. The programme was carried out in first-class style. The racing was good, but I am not going into an ecstacy of delight and ascribe the cause to the good handicapping of Mr Knight. There is no doubt that the handicapper performed hss duty conscientiously, but the big percentage of scratchings from the original entry showed that many owners were not seized with the idea that Mr Knight had given their horses a chance with those left in. Speculation was .fairly brisk, the sum of £7357 passing through the machines, making the total for the meeting £12,026, only a few pounds less than last year, when there were two more races on the programmeThe racing commenced with the Hack Handicap, for which there were ten starters, the Southern horse, Quilted, finding most favor. He is evidently not a satisfactory animal to back. On the first day he was left at the post, and made up a lot of ground. That probably caused punters to go for himjon the second occasion, but he so completely disappointed them that it is probable they will leave him alone in the future. When the barrier went away Wellington and Corpoaal were the first to show the way. and they led along the back, with Hamoa third, and the race straight out was between the two. The finish between Corporal was a very good one. The lastnamed wiqh Joe Gallagher up, seemed to have the advantage in the straight, but young Tate kept Corporal at it and just squeezed home by a head. Frank Macmanemin-trains the winner, and the Ellerslie trainer repeated his performance on the first day by winning the opening event. Corporal paid the very nice dividends of £9 12s inside and £8 4s outside. Only four started for the Second Handicap Hurdle Race, and Tim was made a decided favorite. Personally, although I know that Tim is an in and out customer with a rheumatic affection, I thought the race looked the best of good things for him ; but the three-year-old Drum Major settled his prett nsions from the first. Messrs Duder’s colt, ridden by that resolute rider Burns, was taken to the front from the start, and although Shylock and Tim tried to hang on to him, they tailed, and the big Cuirassier colt won by a length and a-half, Stray bird being “last. There were those who, in ther private talk, expressed the opinion that Drum Major’s form was inconsistent, but I have no sympathy with them. The colt has always run wonderfully well in public, and the only fear I have is that his owners are trying to get too much out of -him. Two years hence, if kept, he should be the best cross-country horse in New Zealand. His performances as a three-year-old are wonderfully good. The Britannia Handicap brought out a field of seven, and of that lot Firefly, Red Lancer and Ouirasette were most fancied. The punters were quite astray, as not one of the fancied ones got into the pride of place. Crusade was evidently in a galloping humour, and was prominent throughout the race. He showed.the way into the straight, followed two lengths away by Cuirasette, with

Red Lancer, Porangi Potae and Auld Reekie close up. Cuirassette made a game effort to reach the leader, but Satman kept Crusade going, and Mr Booth’s gelding won by a couple of lengths. In the Birthday Handicap Crusade very much disappointed Jack Booth, who, notwithstanding wbat people may say concerning inconsistent form, backed him honestly. In the second Pony Handicap Lady was made favourite on the strength of a private reputation. The result proved that a private reputation is not to be relied on After the barrier went away the leading division consisted of Lena, Roy, Clansman, and Edison. At the turn Rangiuru, who all through had a bad run, ran up to the leaders, and a great finish resulted in a neck victory for Edison, while Trooper was very close to Rangi uru. The winner has shown a lot of pace heretofore, but has run very erratically. That fact probably accounts for the fact that he paid inside the very nice dividend of £22 12s. The public outside evidently knew more about the pony than those inside, as on the outside machine he only paid £l3 18s. In the Victoria Handicap the best backed division was Manutake, Cuirasette, St. Jack, Picklock and Lillie, but once again the punters were wrong. St. Elmo was the first to show the way, but he was supplanted at the back by Picklock. At the home turn, howev-r, St. Elmo got in front again with Cuirasette, Lillie and Firefly following close in the wake of Picklock. St. Elmo sought out the finish gamely, and under punishment won by half a length, and paid his supporters a very nice dividend. The time, Imin 25 3-ssecs for six furlongs, shows that the course niust have been t erribly holding. The Handicap Steeplechase bought out a field of seven, and Glenlora, Rifle and Nor-west were about equally backed. Going up the hill the first time Rifle and Kaitoa were in front, Glendora and Biot following four lengths away. Rifle came to grief at the post and rails, and Glenora took the lead, showing the way over the water jump, to Dingo, Crusado and Nor-west following. This was the order of going for some time, but when negotiating the hill for the last time Dingo was in front of Glenlora, but he came to grief at the sod wall. Glenlora led to the water jump, which was taken by (Glenlora and Nor-west in turns, with Crusado four lengths away. Norwest at once drew away from Glenlora, and seemed to have the race in hand, but Crusado crept up and headed him at the bend. Crusado was half a length in front of Nor-west at the last fence, but bored in on Nor-west in a palpable manner and effected a certain cross before the distance was reached. Nor-west had to alter his course, and was beaten home by fully a length. A protest for foul riding against Fergus, the rider of Crusado, was very properly upheld by the stewards, and the race awarded to Nor-west. The Welter Handicap resulted iu the surprise of the meeting. • Thirteen started, Doctor and Merry Maid being the popular choice. Cannongate was in front for most part of the journey, but Crueado got on terms at the home bend, and the issue appeared to be between the pair. Oannongate was the first beaten, and Crusade looked all over a winner until Regalia with a late run beat him on the post by a neck. The winner paid outside £69 9s and inside £SB ss.