THE TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB’S SPRING MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 518, 22 November 1900, Page 12

THE TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB’S SPRING MEETING.

[By

Petronel].

On Wednesday nvxt the first meeting of the year held by the popular North Shore Racing Club will commence. The second and concluding day of the meeting is on the Saturday following. Like all other racing clubs, the T.J.C. prefers fine weather, and if the sun is shining next Wednesday there should be something like a record attendance on the pretty Takapuna racing ground. Since the winter fixture in May, the Club officials have been very busy in carrying cut very many improvements. Visitors on Wednesday will be pleased beyond measure with the attractiveness of the general surroundings. I say this positively, for on Tuesday I visited the course with Mr R. Wynyard, the popular secretary of the Club, and had a good look round. The improvements to the Grandstand are quite in the right direction. The Stand has been raised several feet, the staii cases now are at either end, instead of in front as they were ' formerly, and seating accommodation in front of the Stand has been provided. Now fully twelve hundred people can find seat-room and at the same time obtain a splendid view of every part of the course. From start to finish of a race the occupants of the Stand will now be able to watch every phase and every development. The ground all round the Stand has been cemented, and right away from the entrance gates the roads and pathways have been asphalted, so that visitors can travel to the course on a wet day without getting their boots muddy. The totalisator enclosure has also been asphalted. The “Bird Gage” and the Saddling Paddock are covered with a thick coat of grass, and the Saddling Paddock is now very different from what it used to be. Caretaker Fanch has been very busy. Everywhere there are signs of improvements. The show of flowers is a capital one, and greatly adds to the attractiveness of the pretty suburban course. For the complete enjoyment of the public cnly fine weather is now necessary, for the T.J.O. officials have done everything in their power to make their course and stand accommodation as comfortable as possible. The acceptances for the races to be run on the first day of the meeting are not due until tomorrow (Friday), so I am not very confident in undertaking the task of selecting the probable winners. Proceedings commence with the Trial Handicap, one mile. In this race Mr Knight has given Mmerve, the winner of the Maiden Plate at Ellerslie, top weight She has Bst 121 b, and is asked to concede Swiftfoot, who has beaten her when giving her weight, 51b. Of couise Minerve may have improved a lot since the last meeting of the pair. Should they start, these two will be close up ut the finish. Pretoria, Af quite ready, should run well with Bst, while

Volee 7st 31b, looks to have a chance. I shall hazard the opinion that Swiftfoot, Minebve, and Volee

may provide the winner. The big race of the day, the St Andrew’s Handicap, may not attract a very big field, for Cavaliero and Bluejacket are already scratched, and I hear that Coronet, Bosella, and Hohoro are also likely to be withdrawn. Firefly 8s t 61b, St Peter Bst, Hastings 7st 101 b, Honesty 7et 81b, and Doctor 7st 21b are fairly handicapped. The lastnamed is looking muscular and well, and I think he will run a really good race. On Tuesday I saw him gallop a good circuit at Takapuna, and he went strongly. I fancy with a run that the placing will be— Firefly 1 Docter ... ... ... ... 2 St Peter ... ... ... 3 For the other races my selections are a 8 follows : — Hurdle Handicap. Drum Major ... 1 Volcano ... 2 Hylas ... ... ... ... 3 Cambria Handicap. Kissaline ... ... ... 1 Gbeen and Gold ... ... 2 Sparkling- Water .... ... 3 Cheltenham Handicap. Winsome 1 Telephone ... ... ... 2 Kettledrum ... 3 First Hack Handicap. Takapuna ... 1 Ambition . ... ... ... 2 Defender ... ... ... 3 Maiden Hurdles. Tahaka 1 Miss Drury ... 2 The Master ... ... ... 3 Pony Handicap. Lena ... ... ... ... 1 Texas 2 Myrene • ... 3