AFTER THE RACES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 769, 1 December 1904, Page 8

AFTER THE RACES.

TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB’S SPRING MEETING-

Nothing could ha e Loen better than the weather for the opening day of the Takapuna Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting on Saturday, it being, in fact, about the first genuine summer day experienced this season. ihe couise and enclosures never looked better, the latter having cpiite a wealth of flowers which made it loo.< beautiful. Under the circumstances, despite the counter attraction of th 3 Agricultural Show, the attendance was distinctly good and the racing proved interesting. ihe meeting was well conducted by Mr Wingard a..d his stall, there being not much room left for fa.,it-unding. ihe double event machine pio.ed rather popular, the sum of £so’2 being invested on it, and the winning douule, Geordie and black and Gold, returned a dividend of £32 17s to the thirteen lucky investors. Altogether the sum of £7657 went through the machine, as against £7466 last year. Unfortunately, the day was not allowed to pass oil without some accidents, there being several falls in the jumping events, and from one of these Alfred Butkr, who had the mount on Loch Lomond, suffered such injuries that he died in a few minutes. Of the nine runners in the opening event, the Trial Handicap, one mile, all found supporters, but a strong demand for Lycia placed her at the head of the quotation’s before the machine was closed down. From a good start, Golden Sands, Sergius and Stromness were best away, but passing the stand Cuiragno just led from Sergius and Simple Simon. Lown the tacx stretch Ryan made a forward move on Lycia, but Sergius turned into the straight apparently so full of running that a victory looked likely. At the distance, however, Lycia threw out a challenge, and running home very truly won by two lengths. Sergius beating Golden Sands by a neck for second place after a ding-dong fight.

There were six runners in the Cambria Handicap, a four furlong dash for the juveniles, and punters preferred the chances of Luresome, Kilderkin, Merry Delaval and Devonport, the first-named being in best demand. Mr O’Connfor got them away to a good start, tut Luresome was very slow to begin, losing over two lengths. Horsa and Devonport headed the bunch to the turn, when Ryan 'brought up Luresome into second place. Horsa turned into the straight with a clear two lengths lead, and although the stable mate challenged she could make no impression on the Hilad gelding, who won by two lengths, with Merry Delaval a length behind Luresome.

All the eight on the card started for the St. Andrew’s Handicap, one mile and a-quarter, and in a good betting event Zuleika carried the most money. The race was a very interesting one from the rise of the barrier, all getting away to a splendid start. Avalanche immediately assumed the role of pacemaker, the pony leading past the stand from Geordie and Strathavon, with Zuleika three lengths away, last. Going down the back stretch Avalanche was just showing from Geordie, Strabhavcn, and Lady Hune, while at last Marchant began to wake up on Zuleika, Up mare joining her field. The same posit’us prevailed as they entered the straight, but at the distance Geordie was in front, and he ran home two lengths ahead of Zulieka, who had put in a great run up the straight, passing Avalanche in’ the last few strides, with Lady Hune fourth, and Annoyed a bad last.

Nine runners carried silk in the Maiden Hurdles, one mile and a-half, the popular picks being Swagsman and Swimmer. After some delay they were sent away to a fair start, Swimmer being last to move. At the first hurdle Jack Brown and Ilakaria came down, Sharp escaping with a shaking, but Burns, on Ilakaria, got a nas"ty fall. Malania, then showed out from Swagsman and Reckless, but the latter pair were in front passing: the stand for the second time. Wairaka then commenced to improve his position, and at the bend he was in front. At the distance it looked like proving a good race, but Wail a ha. had a good bit in hand, the Muskapeei' gelding winning by over two lengths from Reckless, Swagsman being I bird, Native Rose fourth, and Swimmer fifth. 'There were nine starters for the Melrose Handicap, live furlongs, and punters remembering Discoverer’s treble win at Te Aloha, came strongly for the Tasman gelding. Jean, Discoverer and Baltimore, who had the inside positions at the start on the bend, were the first to show, but before manv strides the favourite was in front, and he led down Ihe back and round the home turn followed by Moititi and Jean, with the rest straggled out. At the distance the race seemed at the mercy of Discoverer,

but Julian brought Air Gun with a great run on the rails, and the Hotchkiss colt got up in time to make a dead-heat of it, with Jean a fair third. Air Gun was going so much faster than the wii.ner at the finish that manj thought he had won, and there was a slight demonstration at the hoisting of the numbers. There were nine starters for that popular event, the Pony Handicap, six furlongs, and punters were in a dilemma as to which to back, but knowing that Girton Girl is always a trier, they came for her, the Medallion mare going out a pronounced favourite, with Sally Horner and Manoeuvre next in demand. Although Sentinel got rather badly left the others were well away together, Girton Girl and Storyteller immediately going to the front. Down the back stretch the favourite led by over a length from Sally Horner, and so they’ entered the straight. Whips were out on all at the distance, but here Lucrece and Sally Horner came to the front, and a desperate finish resulted in a head win for Lucrece, with Girton Girl two lengths off, third. Six runners went out to do battie in the First Hurdles, two miles, and for this Wellcast was made favourite. The race itself merits but little description, for Bellman taking command at the outset led throughout, and won in the commonest of canters by five lengths from Hinau, who was the only one to ever get near the winner. Princess of Thule, who was kept in a had position throughout, was a moderate third. Loch J Lomond fell at the first fence, Butler getting a fearfully bad fall. He was picked up in an unconscious state and carried into the jockeys’ room, but expired a few minutes afterwards. Fergus, who had the mount on Wellcast, which fell at the fourth hurdle, escaped without injury. A dozen runners carried silk in the concluding event, the Cheltenham Handicap, five furlongs, Black and Gold, Te Aroha, and La Cigale carrying most investments. This proved a singularly accurate forecast, for they ran! home in the order mentioned. Black and Gold, favoured by the inside berth, jumped off the mark very smartly, and galloping as though his 9st 61b was a featherweight fairly spreadeagled the field, winning without the semblance of an effort by four lengths from Te Aroha, who beat La Cigale by less than a neck, with Liberator and Noteorini next in order. The following are the results : — Trial Handicap of 55 sovs ; one mile. Mr F. L. Armitage’s br f Lycia, Syrs, by Soult —Lady Musket, 7.10, Ryan ... ... ... ... 1 Mr G. Campbell’s b g Sergius, syrs, 8.10, Bird .. 2 Mr T. G. Smith’s ch m Golden Sands, 4yrs, 7.10, Julian 3 Other starters - Leo Delaval, 8.5; Romola and Cabaret, 8.3; Cuiragno, Simple Simon and Stromness, 7.10. Won by two lengths. Time, Imin 47 2-sth see. Dividends, £2l3s 6d and £3 10s 6d. Cambria Handicap of 100 sovs ; four furlongs. Hon. H. Mosman’s b g Horsa, by Hilad—Monsoon, 7.0, Satman .. ... ... 1 Hon. H. Mosman’s b f Luiesome, 7.10, Ryan .. 2 Mir W. Handley’s ch f Merry Delaval, 7.0, Pinker ... 3 Other starters — Kilderkin, 9.2; Devonport, 7.10; Moira-ma-Chree, late Moira, 6.10. Won by over two lengths. Time, 53 2-sth sec. Dividend, £3 4s. St. Andrew’s Handicap of 200 sovs; one mile and a- quarter. Mr G. Marshall’s br h Geordie, syrs, by Seaton Delaval—Cuirassier Bianca mare, 7.i0, Chaafe ... 1 Mr R. Hannon’s b m Zuleika, aged, 8.0, Marchant ... 2 Mr A. Hanson’s br m Avalanche, syrs, 7.10, Deeley ... 3 Other starters - Durable, 8.4; Maro, 7.10; Strathavon, 7.8; Annoyed, 7.6 ; Lady Hune, 75; Sonoma, 7.4. Won by two leneths, a length separating second and third horses. Time, 2min 13sec. Dividends, £3 18s and £1 0s 6d. Handicap Maiden Hurdles of 60 sovs; one mile and a-half end a hundred yards Mt M. Gorrie’s b g Wairaka, by Muskapeer—Maungatautiri, 9.0, Howard ... 1 Mr Norman Banks’ b m Reckless, aged, 9.8, Marchant 2 Mr J. McGuire’s b g Swagsman, syrs, 10.12, Mitchell 3 Other starters—Swimmer, 10.12; Native Rose, 10 10; Jack Brown, 10.0; Malanta, 98; Freemount, 9.6; Hakaria, 9 0. Won by three?lengths. Time, 3min 3sec. Dividends, £6 3s 6d and £2 9s. Melrose Handicap of 50 sovs ; five furlongs. Mr J. P. Sinclair’s br c Air Gun, 3yrs, by Hotchkiss— Mantle, 8.0, Julian ... .. * Mr H. Burch’s ch g Discoverer, syrs, 7.10, Chaafe ... * Hon. H. Mosman’s b m Jean, 4yrs, 8.0, Ryau .. 3 dead heat for first place Other starters —Elspeth, 8.7; Celerity, S.O; Moititi, 7.12 ; Baltimore, St. Cyril and Tahutu, 7.7. Won by a length. Time, Imin 6 2-sth sec. Dividends : Discoverer, £2; Air Gun, £6 10s 6d. First Pony Handicap of 60 sovs; six furlongs. Mr B. Cunningham’s br f Lucrece, 3yrs, by Soult — Postmistress, 75, Seeats ... ... ... ... 1 Mr H. Bernard’s b m Sally Horner, aged, 7.5, Deeley 2 Mt B. Armitage’s ch m Girton Girl, 8.11, Pinker _ 3 Other starters—Manoeuvre, 8.0 ; Whawhai, 7.12; Miss Cuirassier, 7.10 ; Storyteller, 7.6 ; Sentinel and Solitary, 7.5. Won by a head. Time, Imin 20sec. Dividends, £ll 9s and £1 9s. First Handicap Hurdles of SO sovs ; two miles. Mr R. Hannon’s ch g Bellman, aged, by Tetford —The Orphan, 11.0, Marchant ... ... I Mr J. B. Williamson’s br g Hinau, 9.0, Phillips ... 2 Mr M. Deeble’s br m Princess of Thule, aged, 11.12, owner J ... ... ... 3 Other starters—Wellcast, 9.6; Lingard, 9.4; Loch Lomond, 9.0. Won by fully a dozen lengths. Time, 3min 50sec. Dividends, £3 10s 6d and £2 19s 6d. Cheltenham Handicap of 100 sovs; five furlongs. Messrs R. and R. Duder's br h Black and Gold, syrs, by Cuirassier —Hune, 9.6, Deeley ... ... 1 Mr W. Davies’ bm Te Aroha, 4yrs, 8.0, Cress ... 2 Messrs Vyner and Mobberley’s br f La Cigale, 3yrs, 7.12, Gray .. „ 3 Other starters - Alba Rose, 8.6; Ben Blair? and The Middy, 8.2; Liberator. 8.0; Swagsman, 7.6; Noteorini, 7.5; Anchorite, 7.4; Soultfish, 6.10; Lillymea, 6.7. Won by upwards of four lengths. Time, Imin 3 3-sth sec. Dividends, £4 4s and £llss.