After the Races.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 489, 7 December 1899, Page 15

After the Races.

TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB’S SPRING MEETING.

£By

Petronel.]

The first Spring Meeting held by the Takapuna Jockey Club was commenced on Saturday last. Taken all round, the gathering could hardly have been improved upon, for t’ue management was very capable, the racing was interesting, the attendance was large (there must have been nearly 4000 people present), and speculation was brisk. The satisfactory state of affairs must have been pleasing to the committee, as well as to the indefatigable secretary, Mr Robert Wynyard.

Mr A. B. Harris filled the position of judge, in the absence of the Hon. E. Mitchelson, and he gave his decisions accurately and promptly. Mr George Cutts was still laid up, so that the duties of starter devolved upon Mr William Gray, who may be said to have come fairly well out of a trying ordeal. Mr Knight’s handicaps brought about a couple of close finishes. Mr A. F. Stilwell, the club’s caterer, looked after the requirements of the inner man, and Impey’s Band got through a choice programme of music. During the day Mr W. Blomfield’s staff handled the sum of £6,652, a total which must be considered satisfactory. The sum mentioned would probably have been increased but for the fact that Bar-the-Doo.’s sensational dividend locked up a good amount of money. Racing commenced with the Trial Handicap, from which Solo, Belfast, Regulus, Toroa, and Tiki were withdrawn. The public made The Afghan a good favorite, and then gave most support to Shylock. From a fair start Bar-the-Door got quickly on the move, and at the turn info the straight he headed the field by a couple ofl.cn <ths. Passing the stand he had increased hie advantage to six lengths, and be went out of the straight fully that much ahead. Backers of The Afghan felt very limp when THE FAVORITE FELL at the turn out of the straight. He was bumped when trying to improve his position, and lost his feet. At first it was thought that Gainsford was seriously hurt, but he soon recovered sufficiently to be able to walk back to the enclosure. He received some nasty bruises about the legs and body, but happily no bones were broken. Meanwhile Bar-the-Door sailed along the back and home turn with a estrong lead, and young Abbott driving him along for all he w_is worth, he kept galloping until he reached the judge’s box a length in front of Hamoa, next to whom was Jim Kean. There were only five supporters of Barthe Door on the inside machine, and each received the eminently satisfactory return of £5O 15s. Messrs Duders’ colt, Takapuna, was the only non content for the Cambria Handicap, for which four of the five runners were well backed. Lady Avon was the absolute favorite, with Balbirnie close up, and Zealous and Rosiphele not very far behind. Balbirnie was the first to show in front, but very quickly Rosiphele assumed the lead, with the rest very handy. Rosiphele died away as the straight was reached, and Zealous and Lady Avon came on just in front of the others At the terraces Zealous was challenged by Matamata-arakiki, and a desperate finish between the pair saw Seahorse's sister win by a long head from the long-named one, with Lady Avon close up third. Zealous is a nicely-made filly, rather small yet, but she gallops with any amount of fire.

The Duder Brothers kept Halberdier in preference to Doctor in the St. Andrew’s Handicap for which Porangi Potae and Regulus were also scratched. Of the runners Bluejacket was made a strong favourite despite the fact that the longstriding colt was not best suited by the sharp turns of the Takapuna course. Cavalier was second fancy, St Ursula thiid, and then came Coronet and Halberdier pretty close together. Bluejacket was soon in his stride when Mr Gray sent the runners on their way, but he was very soon headed by Halberdier, and the North Shore colt led the favourite by a length as the field came into the straight. Running past the stand Bluejacket redneed the gap, and at the turn out of the straight he went to the front and continued at the head of affairs to the home turn where Coronet headed Halberdier, followed by St Ursula, Lillie, and Auld Reekie. Once fairly in the straight Coronet challenged Bluejacket, but the latter, who had been

PUNCHED ALONG FROM START TO FINISH, kept the lead to the end and got home first by nearly half a length. The success of the favorite was well received, and Hall came in for a share of the cheers. Ryan’s ill-considered protest was quickly dismissed when the evidence had been heard, and again there was loud cheering when the decision of the stewards was declared.

Dauntless 11. and Korowai going out of the Maiden Hurdles reduced the field to nine. Snider was made first choice with Dingo and Miss Drury next. Thelma made a lot of the running, and when sbe had had enough Dingo, who had been running second, had no difficulty in beating the favorite home by a couple of lengths. Snider was too far away from the leaders in the early part of the race or the result might have been different. Six of the twenty acceptors declined to contest the Hack Backers selected Hohoro, a three-year-old gelding by Tasman out of Lady Moth, and Swiftfoot as a likely pair. Hohoro had a big f jllowing on account of a wonderful go he had accomplished earlier in the week and at the finish of the betting he led Swiftfoot for favoritism. Khama’s green jacket was the first to be seen when the starter sent the fourteen run ners on their way, and with dismay it was seai that the favorite was left fully half a dozen lengths. Khama, followed by Panacea was in the van until the straight was reached. Here Kettledrum put in a claim and for an instant was at the head of affairs. Almost immediately he subsided and Hohoro coming wide on the outside rushed by and left his

FIELD AS IF STANDING STILL, and romped home an easy winner from Khama and Swiftfoot. The l.tter got blocked twies when trjingtocome through mi the inside, an impossible task for hie rider to have essayed. For the Pony Race, Kitty Flynn was made a better favorite than Blue Paul, Lena and Nora being equally supported a long way behind the other two. From a bad start Lena slipped away with a five lengths advantage, and, never being troubled, won comfortably by two lengths from Kitty Flynn, with Nora third, and Blue Paul fourth. The stewards were not satitfied with Ryan’s riding of Blue Paul, and, having listened to his explanation, ordered him to stand down for the rest of the wee iog Opou and Thelma being scratched, left five runners for the Handicap Hurdles. That base

deceiver Verdi was again entrusted with a lot of money, Evening Wonder starting second favorite. Atalanta led until the second hurdle, and there came down, leaving Evening Wonder in front, with Snider and Verdi in close attendance. Going along the back Volcano ran into the lead, and quickly having everything beaten, had

NO DIFFICULTY IN WINNING EASILY from Snider, who beat the Gisborne gelding on the post for second honours. Verdi disgraced himself, and finished a bad last For the concluding event of the day a number of horses were well backed, St. Elmo occupying the pride of place. After the pretty little Castor horse, Picklock, Dayntree, Sultan, and Cuirasette were most fancied. There was some delay at the post, and when Mr Gray pressed the lever Dayntree was on the move, and he soon put daylight between himself and the others. Going along the back, however, Kettldrum ran past the handsome grey horse, and continued to lead the way round the turn. He interfered with Dayntree and nearly brought him down when making the turn, and again when fairly in the straight; and after a rattling set-to

FINISHED A NECK IN FRONT of the grey, with St. Elmo a fair third. Of course there was a protest, or rather two—one on the ground of a cross and the other for inconsistent form. At the enquiry Quinton, the rider of Kettldrum, admitted pulling in on the rails when he saw Dayntree coming up on the inside. The stewards, on the evidence of their own eyes, and this admission, awarded the race and < ividend to Dayntree. The protest for inconsistency was dismissed.