After the Races.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 479, 28 September 1899, Page 15

After the Races.

AVONDALE JOCKEY CLUB’S SPRING MEETING.

[BY

Petronel.]

Skcond Day—Wednesday, September 20.

A Good Time for Layers.

Cannongate Punters’ Only Joy.

Despite rather unpromising weather forecasts a great number of people journeyed out to Avondale for the second day’s racing of the popular suburban club’s Spring Meeting. And though a few showers fell and the wind blew pretty keenly, the spectators had a most enjoyable afternoon’s sport, for the racing was interesting and some of the finishes were decidedly close. Backers of favorites did not have a good time, for the dividends grew enticingly bigger with each successive race, until the Hunt Club Hurdle event was reached. Then punters who were mourning their losses, rightly went for Mr John Marshall’s “ all black.” Oannongate’s rehearsal in the Hurdle Race on the first day of the meeting put the Hunt Club Race in a very good light for him,, and it was not surprising to find the Cannon gelding a little better than a six to four chance. He won easily enough, and made the majority of backers happy, but only for a moment or so, for in the last race of the day they were all astray again. Though the big dividends were rather against large totalisator receipts the machines were kept busy, and when Mr Outts despatched the field for the Mount Albert Handicap the amount put through for the day had reached £5479, and this added to the £6023 for Saturday made a grand total of £11,502, against £7152 put through at the corresponding gathering last year. Mr Michael Foley, who was in the judge’s box, was very prompt with his verdicts, and the general arrangements for the success of the meeting, admirably planned by Mr Harry Hayr, met with unqualified approval. Mr George Outts got his fields away in capital order, and, of course, Mr Joe Evett was congratulated upon his skill in concealing the successful candidates. The eleven jumpers coloured in the card for the first race of the day turned out. Backers did a plunge on Volcano, whose running in the “ stick ” event on the first day caused a good many people to think he could not lose the mile and a half race. J ack Rae’s Dentist was next in favor, and then Saturday’s winner (Voltigeur II.) was best backed. Mr S. Coombe’s Regel horse, Favona, was the first to show in advance, and he quickly established a big lead from Volcano, Voltigeur 11., and Dentist. Going along the back Favona was quite half-a-dozen lengths to the good and running well; but just as his admirers began to congratulate themselves on a probable win, Favona jumped the rails into the enclosure. The departure of the chestnut left Dentist with the lead, just in front of Volcano, and Rae’s mount came into the straight a length ahead of the Torpedo gelding, with Crusado coming fast in third place. This order was unchanged as the horses cleared the remaining hurdle, but once over the last obstacle Volcano and Crusado gave Dentist some trouble, but Rae, putting in one of his wellknown finishes, landed Dentist a winner by a little more than half a length from Crusado, with Volcano close up third., The whole of the acceptors for the Electric Handicap faced the starter, and the seventeen runners presented a pretty picture as they lined up* at the starting post. Sultan was made favorite/ and then in the order named the public sup

ported Guardfish, St. Peter, Dayntree, and Blairina. The Blairgowrie — Hipporina mare was said to be a certain winner at the meeting, and consequently she received good support from the knowing division. From a very good start Kettledrum was the first to make play, and he led the field at a very smart pace. Coming along the home bend, Sultan and Guardfish collided, and spoilt whatever chance they might have had of success. Kettledrum continued at the head of affairs until half way up the straight. Here he was challenged by St. Peter and Blairina, and a rattling finish between the three found the mare first past the judge by half a length from Kettledrum, with St. Peter in close attendance. For the Nursery Handicap the nine acceptors saddled-up. The public fancies were Aleger, St. Olga, and Vai Rosa, and the support accorded these youngsters was steady and business - like. Golden Bose and Landlock displayed a little spirit at the post, but they did not keep Mr Outts waiting very long, and he soon got the field away to a very pretty start. Vai Rosa and St. Olga were the quickest on their feet, while Evert and Miscalculation were the slowest to move. The Seaton De laval colt cut out the running very briskly, and with St. Olga almost on terms came along at the head of affairs at a fairly smart pace. As the field raced into the straight Vai Rosa had about a neck the best of St. Olga, and this pair seemed

likely to have the finish to themselves. At the distance, however, Landlook commenced a brilliant run, and he caught the leaders fast, so that a pretty finish resulted in a half-length win for Vai Rosa from St. Olga, with Donald McKinnon’s colt a neck away third. The following are the head-lines of Vai Rosa’s pedigree— VAL ROSA Vikcx Boss | Seaton Delavai. Boaarina | Hip’oeampus i Rosedale | Melton The Pony Handicap again brought out a big field, sixteen of the seventeen coloured coming on the course. At the measuring of the ponies it was found that Little Wonder had Grown, and Mr Bam Tooman’s game “ little ’un ” had to be withdrawn. However, a Tooman owned one of the best backed ponies in the race, Texas, who was made a very warm favourite until a lot of Cuisine money deprived him of the position of first favourite. Rangiuru, as on the Saturday, was being well backed, while Edison, Lena, and Stella had many admirers. When Mr Outts sent the runners away Rangiuru and Clansman at once took the lead, and after a hundred yards had been traversed the gelding took command, and increasing his lead as he liked he ultimately won with ridiculous ease from Trooper and Texas. At the home turn Cuisine and Mot ukorea refused to negotiate the corner and ran straight into the wire fence, luckily doing no damage to themselves or riders. Clansman looked extremely well, and

his party must have secured a very nice Win, fo he paid the good dividend of £9 13s. St. Crispin, Picklock, and St. Aida were the withdrawals from the big race of the day, the Plumpton Handicap. On the strength of his easy win in the Avondale Cup punters made Record Reign a Hot Favorite, and certainly, the appearance of the Castor horse quite justified the confidence reposed in him. Cavalier was the next fancy, and then St. Elmo, who had done very good work with Bluejacket, was best supported. Considering St. Ursula’s proved ability over a mile, the sister to St. Paul, was not well-backed, though, doubtless, her running in the Cup on Saturday kept a lot of the mare’s admirers off. The starter got the ten runners away in a good line, and St. Elmo closely followed by Coronet was quickly on his feet. Peter Chaafe’s horse was evidently in a gallophumour, and ho went out of the straight with a good length the best of Coronet, who was closely attended by Regalia 11. and St. Ursula. Going along the back Coronet had had enough and St. Ursula, ran into second place about three lengths away from St Elmo. The mare closed on the leader as the field ran along the home turn, and Record > Reign could be seen making a forward move. St. Elmo led into the straight with St. Ursula and Record Reign gaining. As soon as St. Ursula had drawn clear of St. Elmo, Becord Reign put in & tremendous effort, and though he seemed to have a bit the best of it thirty yards from the post, the mare caine again and the pair ran past the judge’s box locked together, St. Ursula’s nose being sufficiently in front for Mr Foley to award the race to her. As soon as the riders were weighed in Mr Roulston

Lodged a Protest. on the ground that Record Reign was interfered with by Jack Ohaafe, the rider of St. Ursula. Tommy Taylor, at the enquiry held by the stewards said that Chaafe cought hold of bis reins and jerked them several times thereby stopping Record Reign. Ohaafe said that as they neared the winning post Record Reign bored in upon St. Ursula, and came so close that he could not use his whip. Taylor’s reins were very loosely held and were hanging down, and Ohaafe admitted that in his efforts to use his whip it got caught in the reins. If there had been any interference it was purely accidental, and was due to Record Reign’s boring in upon St. Ursula. After a few minutes deliberation the stewards dismissed the protest. The time for the mile was Imin 411860., a very good go considering that parts of the course were rather heavy, and that Record Reign carried 9st 51b and was only beaten half a head. Of the thirteen left in the Hack Handicap only Kettledrum and Wellington were withdrawn, and punters quickly made Bellbird a hot favorite. Out of six hundred and five investments on the machine, two hundred and twenty-one were in favor of Mr Roulston’s mare. The selected of punters could only get second, however, for Castroline, jumping off with the lead, was never troubled, and she won with consummate ease from Bellbird and La Gloria, with Quilted in fourth place. The Hunt Club Hurdle Cup was voted a good thing for Mr John Marshall’s four-year-old gelding, Cannongate. This time backers made no mistake, and after Glenarm and Biot had made

the running, and thinned out the field, Cannongate went to the head of affairs, and finally won very comfortably by about eight lengths from Glenarm, who outstayed Riot for second place. Thelma was fourth. The winner was ridden by Mr “Budge” Gordon, who bad a very satisfactory journej. Going round the back for the first time Turk hit a hurdle hard, and unseated his rider. The horse recovered himself, and he finished the race, coming in about sixth, and stopping to graze as soon as he found that the race was over. , _ , For the Mount Albert Handicap, the final race of the day, Cavalier, Picklock, and The Sharper did not turn out.- St Elmo was made favorite, and then Sultan, St. Peter, and Bed Lancer received most support, while Blairina, who had to put up a 51b penalty for her win in the Electric Handicap, received a respectable backing. This proved to be

Another runaway race, for Moment, a stable companion of the well-bred hack Castroline, lost no time in getting into her stride, and instantly put a considerable amount of daylight between herself and the rest of the field. The pony came into the straight with a big advantage, and though first St. Peter and then Blairina essayed to overhaul her, she won somewhat easily by a couple of lengths from the Electric winner, who beat St. Peter on the P°st for second honors. A very heavy shower fell during this race, and it may have interfered with the prospects of some of the runners.