INTER – PROVINCIAL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 834, 1 March 1906, Page 8

INTER - PROVINCIAL.

(From Our Own Correspondents.)

CANTERBURY.

Christchurch, February 28. Christchurch backers went strongly for Machine Gun in the Caulfield Futurity Stakes on Saturday, and as a result they lost a lot of money. The winner, Gladsome, was not backed at all. The Nelson —Dudu filly Stratagem will make her first appearance in public at Wanganui. Sir George Clifford’s team for Wanganui includes Stronghold, Chryseis, De Witte, and Stratagem, Mr. Stead will be represented by Savoury, Delaware, and Porcelain, and Mr. Friedlander by Catherine Gordon. There should be some prize-winners among the above horses.

Tirole and Chivalry have recovered from their attacks of influenza, and are once again in active work. Canterbury owners scored remarkably well at the Dunedin meeting last week, winning no less than fourteen out of twenty-four events decided during the three days. Among the principal winners were Rongoa, who won three hurdle races, and Czarevna, who won three of the minor handicaps. Other winners were Stepdancer, Terrapin, Lapland, Somaroff, Quickfire, Zetlander, and Count Gorton. The Akaroa Racing Club will hold its annual race meeting on Tuesday next. The following are likely winners:—District Hurdles, Kohuri; Cup, Euclid and Farley Grove; Flying Handicap, Hilarity; Hack Handicap, Narrangarie; Welter Handicap, Tsitsihar.

Mr. Stead has entered Savoury for the three principal handicaps of the Auckland Racing Club’s Autumn Meeting. From this it would appear that he intends sending Isolt up to run in the Northern Oaks, and is sending Savoury to keep him company. Handicaps for the Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps are due on March 23, and the betting at this stage is fairly brisk over the double.

Makaroff ran in the three principal handicap events at Dunedin, but although well backed oh each occasion, failed badly. This colt has done a lot of racing this season, and per-

haps a few days’ spell would do him good. What a wonderfully improved horse Terrapin is. After doing a season’s stud duty he was taken up during the second week in January, and made his reappearance in public at the C.J.C. Summer Meeting here. He secured a first and second, and was then taken down to Dunedin, where he won the Jockey Club Handicap and ran third in the Anniversary Handicap. Stepniak’s sons and daughters again had a big innings at Dunedin, the following winning races: —Stepdancer, Petrovna, Czarevna, Master Alix, and Somaroff.

Perhaps one of the biggest surprises at the Dunedin meeting was the failure of Ivanoff in the Champagne Colt W'elcome Stakes. On recent form he appeared to have an excellent chance of winning, but failed even to gain, a place. Lady Wayward and Bonnie Brae are Sir G. Clifford’s entries for the Champion Hack Plate at the Manar watu Autumn Meeting.

Porcelain, who will be Mr. Stead’s representative in the Jackson Stakes, Wanganui, is a three-year-old colt by Multiform —Saucer. This will be his first appearance in public, as he has been entered for several events, including the last New Zealand Cup, but has never started.

HAWKE’S BAY.

NOTES ON THE WOODTHORPE AND WOODVILLE MEETINGS. February 28. This popular racing institution brought off their annual gathering on Saturday, and without doubt it was one of the best of the many meetings that have bee* held. The day was beautifully fine, and as a consequence the attendance was the largest seen on the ground for many years. The tableland above the racing track was covered with vehicles of every description

and type, from the landau to the farmyard dray, while numbers rode over on horseback. Napier and Hastings residents were largely represented, while the districts immediatelv surrounding the course furnished their full quota, the fair sex assembling in force. The meeting takes the form of old-time racing, no pretentions to lawn, saddling paddock or grand stand being in existence, but all mixing freely and exchanging friendly greetings. The most important business of the country folk, next to the racing, is their endeavour to make all welcome. The racing was well conducted, and although on Saturday the finishes were not so close as is usually witnessed at Woodthorpe, still they were enjoyable. Mr. S. Bennett secured three wins with the aid of Rapia in the Bracelet, and Rechabite in the Okawa and Fuketapu Handicaps. Hemi Nuku’s horse Pearl Diver won the Patoka Handicap, and also ran first in the Woodthorpe Handicap, but weighed in 21b. short, consequently this race was awarded to Kruger. In connection with this even something mysterious occurred, as the jockey certainly weighed out correctly. The horse was a hot favourite until the race was started, when he suddenly receded in the betting until he reached 4 and 6 to 1 against. Both thte owner and jockey were more than surprised on weighing-in after a comfortable win, as they had backed Pearl Diver. It is surmised that azlb. sack became missing in some unaccountable way. This was the only incident to mar the day’s sport. This year the Club, a*- the request of many of its patrons, broke away from its rule not to charge admission to the course, and the consequence is that next year they will be in a position to further increase their stake money. No totalisator was on the ground, but 14 bookmakers paid the two guineas fee. both the fee and the number of bookmakers being double that of previous years. The officials one and all worked hard for the success which was attained. Mr. J. Peacock, the hon. secretary, had matters at his finger-ends, and contributed largely to the success of the day. Mr T. H. Lowry acted as judge, and gave full satisfaction, while Mr. J. Bicknell-got his fields well away. Though a strong wind was very much in evidence for the opening day of the Woodville J.C. Autumn venture, the climate was otherwise favourable. The attendance was large, and the racing of a good class, some very good finishes re-

suiting. The goes for second honours were more exciting in the majority of instances than those that took place for the first award. Speculation was brisk, as the figures show, for the sum of wa put through the machine during the course oi the day, an increase of over the amount handled at the similar meeting last year. Mr. Chavannes’ dismissals were of an equitable nature, and to say that Mr. Hartgill was in ni» uou«> .<1 in the judge’s box is sufficient guarantee that the decisions were accurately and promptly given. Mr. Jervois George claimed the big race of the day with Cyrano (a four-year-old son by St. Cyr and Tamora), second honours coming to the Mangatarata-bred gelding Burea, who just beat Melodeon by a neck. The latter ran a good race, and was evidently on his best behaviour. Roseal, who looked big and lusty, showed a bold front for about seven furlongs, when he melted away at the home bend. There were half a dozen in the contest whose chances locked of equal value, but inside the distance Cyrano pulled to the front, and then i_ was all over. The local-owned Florio was made a warm pot for the Hurdles, but had to strike the flag to Gargoyle and Levent. The former, who was bred at Mangatarata Station, is a half-brother to Sleepwell, and is owned by Mr. W. Murray, of Dannevirke, whose luck has rot been any too good of late. The pink and blue livery of the Dannevirke sport was again seen to advantage during the afternoon, Whakawhei getting second to Si. Albert in the President’s Handicap. The latter is one of the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s cast-offs, by St. Andrew, out of Aiethusa. Third berth went to Mussel who was going very strong at the finish Douche, one of the opposing forces, was never prominent. Sherlock Holmes, another of the Karamu rejects, secured an easy victory in the Whariti Hack; Waitapu, who got badly away, beating the others just as easily as Sherlock Holmes had silenced him, with Windy Affair third. Pantaloon, the favourite, got quickly to the front, but his quality was not good enough, and he figured as one of the also started. Loiret, the second pick, faile 1 badly. Gazeley supporters picked out the County Stakes as belonging to him, bu l the bullion did not come their way. The oddly-named Houyhuhum scoring comfortably at the finish' from Elfrida, who was sold by the Hon. J. D. Ormond a year ago to Mr. T. Ray. Third place was secured by St. Ludlam, a good-looking son by St. Hippo and Morning. Allons, a four-year-old gelded son by Euroclydon and Santa Katarita, trained by A. Peters (who used to follow the profession in Hawke’s Bay) won the Maiden Plate comfortably from Splendid Idea, Rino a fair third. Lebicco, a half-brother to Hipporofla, was one of the opponents of Allons, but failed to materialise. Prospector, another who first saw the light at Waimarama Station, got away with the Victoria Hack Handicap, and then had not to put in any strenuous efforts to get the prize. Business was brought to a conclusion with the Telephone Handicap, Federation, the second favourite, just getting home by a head from Gawain, who was bred by the Hon. J. D. Ormond and sold some time back by the squire of Karamu at Palmerston North. Jolly Friar, the first choice, never gave his party any assurance that he would be able to settle the argument, and finished outside of a place. Federation, who takes after his dam Waitotara, a grey in colour, is very quick off the mark, and in this respect takes after her dad, Sedgebrook, who lost no time when the word “go” was given when he used to be carrying satin. Dalky’s movements in the Hurdle Race were very peculiar, for he was slow to get away, and then for three furlongs took matters easy, but a change came over the scene in the last couple of furlongs, for he got up steam rapidly, and put in a big run, getting a good third. His party were hauled before the stewards, who, after taking evidence, adjourned the matter till later on. Mr. E. J. Gothard was, as usual, the acme of courtesy in the treatment of his numerous patrons, and to his energetic efforts the success of the meet- . ing is largely due. The XVoodville Jockey Club’s Meeting concluded to-day in fine-weather,, though a strong breeze made matters somewhat unpleasant. The attendance was jj00d..,, The sum of passed through.. ~ the . machine, . making /.i3,494 for", the meeting. This is /T 137 in excess of the turn-over at the corresponding meeting last year. ~ The Ash-hurst-trained Red Cross, with S. Reid in the saddle, shaped better in the Settlers’ Hack Handicap than, on the previous day, and won with something to spare from Hauyhuhm. After his sensational performance; yesterday,' Dalky was made favourite for the Hurdles, He secured the verdict. It was only after a ding-dong race in the last

two furlongs with Apiti. Sherlock Holmes (who is improving) won the Ballance Welter from end to end, and paid a good price. Dulcinea acted as pacemaker in the Autumn Handicap, leading to the distance. White Ribbon was then proclaimed the winner, when Melodeon put in a sensational run, the judge declaring in his favour by a nose. Gazeley, stable-mate of Melodeon, was sent out a good favourite for the Kumeroa Hack, but shut up when caled on for a final effort. The Car-terton-owned Elfrida headed St. Ludlam in the last bit. Montague made a bold front in the Shorts for half a mile. Federation, the first day’s winner, had a bad run on the rails, and failed to reach Gawain. The Hastings-trained Belle Clair brought off a surprise in the Scurry. St. Albert would probably have repeated his previous day’s performance but for getting hemmed in on the rails.

OTAGO.

February 28. The Dunedin Cup Meeting, which was concluded last week, must take rank as the most successful gathering yet held at Wingatui. Not only was the sport of an unusually high quality, but the financial returns showed a decided increase on last year’s figures, and the profits over the gathering will be something like Stepdancer won her Cup somewhat easily, but she succumbed to Terrapin the next day over ten furlongs in the D.J.C. Handicap, and the principal event on the second day went to the Hon. Geo. McLean’s colt Apollodoris, who had scored the previous day in the principal sprint event on (he card. The successes of the horses carrying the colours of Mr. C. J. Dalgetv and Mr. St. John Buckley was a pleasing feature of the meeting, as both the gentlemen have been liberal purchasers of blood stock, but up to date have not met with much success. • Petrovna scored somewhat easily in the Publicans’ Handicap, but landed the Flying Handicap on the last day by a narrow margin. She, however, had 10.5 to carry on a very heavy track, and both her performances were of a high order. Master Alix scored in the Railway Plate somewhat comfortably but his win was made easy by the others going wide at the turn, and this allowed the Stepniak gelding to get up on the rails and gain two or three lengths.

Although some may regard the Forbury Park racecourse as a drug in the market, i<- is rumoured that when the place was priced recently on behalf of a prospective buyer, the figure quoted was a substantial increase on the amount which was generally supposed would have sufficed to purchase the course.

Some two or three years ago Bell Car gave an attractive display of trotting when he stepped out the Tahuna Park Cup distance in losec after slowing down over the last quarter. He went his first mile in the neighbourhood of 2min. 3osec., and his form should tend to make holders of Belman stock pleased with themselves. The Tahuna Cup winner was sired whilst Belman was in training, and his dam was the only mare served by him during that season.

Mr. St. John Buckley scored in his first classic when Lady Landon secured the Champagne Stakes, and the dual win of the filly must be doubly pleasing to her owner, as her dam is one of the matrons at his stud. Lady Landon is a beautiful-ly-bred filly, as her dam Robinella was got by Robinson Crusoe out of Campanilla; a daughterof Maribyrnong. and Silver Bell, a sister to Chester, St. George and Rhoodee, a trio of good horses left by the imported Stockwell mare Lady Chester. Seaton Delaval, the sire of Lady Landon, is also rich in Stockwell blood, and at some future date she. should mate well with a St. Simon horse.

Makaroff gave three diappointing displays of form at Wingatui last week. In the Dunedin Cup he was at the tail of the field until turning for home, when he moved up a bit, but never got within coo-ee of the winner. On the second day he got a bump or two in a scrimmage which took place shortly after the field left the post in the D.J.C. Handicap, and probably that was sufficient reason for .his racing .machinery being out of order, as.he was again one of the also When Hewitt whs noticed to; be up on :Makarbff : when he went out for the .Anniversary Handicap the wiseacres }at once arrived at the conclusion that .-the spn of Arlina. had been & rod in pickle for the event, but even with P first lord of the pigskin on his back Mr. Friedlander’s colt merely provided - his with a good view of the. rpce. ’

Apollodoris/ . the “all-heart-and-no-peel” son of Phoebus Apollo’, and Brisa,. scored twice out of three attempts, and in his twin irt the Anniversary Handicap Showed that he was made of the rough, metal by the way he warded off Master Alix’s strong

challenge at the finish. The little fellow did not appear to get going properly in the Publicans’ Handicap, probably owing to the race being a bit too rapid for him in the early stages. The Elderslie Stud paddocks, at oamaru, have produced three Dunedin Cup winners since 1903. Orloff won in that year K Bulawayo followed up in 1904, and now Stepdancer has inscribed her name as the winner of 1906. A shapely candidate in a three-year-old colt named Woodend was amongst the starters in the Trial Handicap, which opened up the Tahuna Park Trotting Club’s Meeting, and as he was got by Wildwood out of Vickery he is bred to go fast. At present he is a bit on the green side, but he evidently possesses pace, and he may be found a good winner before long.

The writer has it on good authority that when Mr. J. Buckley, who contemplates a trip to the Old Country a few months hence, makes his departure he will make arrangements to have some of his horses kept in training during his two years’ absence. Some of the. horses at present at Redcastle are likely parted with, so as to keep their number witfiir reasonable bounds during, their owner’s absence. -

The writer does • not- like to be a bird . of ill-omen, but the narrowness of the, stiaight at Tahuna Park was again made ’ very noticeable when some of .the fields'; were lining up to start for their, races,-and unless it is widened there is a good, chance o r an accident occurring some of these; days. The track' is by no means top safe , for harness racing, and if the dub has the A bad luck to have an accident it would probablv give them a set-back from, .which it. i would take some time to recover,; \ Vladimir’s withdrawal from the Dunedin Cup on the eve of the race was h result ; of his pulling up sore, after a gallop, Machine Gun’s defeat in the Futurity Stakes cost New Zealanders a feW of the best. Information came to band that If is party fancied the son of Rubiria, and there was a bit of a rush . to. support him for the race.

The methods adopted by the D.J.C. in working out the tote dividends calls for the severest condemnation, as last, week the writer had a case r brOught under his notice in which the public Were mulched; of a fraction under 20 per cent., and in another case about 17 per cent, was charged. whilst the average appears to be about 15 per cent. C. Piper drove a couple Of record-makers a Tahuna Park last week. Fritz stepped’ a mile in 2.19, and Verax paced two miles in 4.6. Vickery had a winning; mark of 5.0 3-5 on the old track, and; went inside ofjmin. ‘in one of her races;although she did not rank as a winner on; that occasion. ?

Some fairly smart horses were unearthed at Tahuna Pqrk last week. Miss KI, a Kentucky mare, showed a good gait in the early stages of the Trial Handicap, and Woodend and Francesca are evidently above the ordinary. California" is a promising colt. Bell Car acts well in saddle. He is credited with going inside of 2.30 over the first mile of the Tahuna Cup, and Pride of Burwood had her field in trouble by the smart gait she showed over the first half of her race.

The imported American colt California, which Mr, Buckland brought out to take Vancleve’s place at the stud, is a good cut of a youngster that can step a fair gait, but he stopped badly when he appeared to have the Dunedin Handicap at his mercy on Saturday last. Whether he stopped at the scraping shed because he was under the impression he had done enough or because he struck himself is hot known, but he will have to comport him*self more generously in future before he climbs into high favour. - -

WANGANUI.

• ■■■■■■■' f;, ‘ February 25J - Mr. George Morse has every reason to feel well satisfied 1 ’ with the acceptance received for the various even^-at ■the' 1 Wanganui Jockey Club’s' Autumn "Meeting! which promises - to - be dne’bf the most successful in the history of the club. -F-he Cup especially should be'a fine face, and the winner is very hard to -pick from-the 14 acceptors, every one • of- whom' has friends. When the weights appeared £ I picked out Paritutu and Nonette as tftfe two -I thought most - liktely to win, and as they are both left in and are apparently very fit, I still pin'my faith -to the better of the pair to land the big race on Thursday. HbweVer,''Multifid,' Letherin,' Bourrasque and Ropa are a very dangerous lot, VPhile Melodeon of Boomerang may tarry My,-. E. J. Watts’s colours/into a,. ; place. However, to attempt to place them in the order in Which they may finish, T shall tpke : Paritutu 1, Nonette J 2, Multifid'3.’ Kuroki will not be? a starter in the l>ig hurdles oil the' first day, owing io having had a bit; of d bumping at Hawera,whii:h made him sore for a few days, aria Lind

did not care about jumping him. His half-brother (by Crackshot) is rapidly getting into shape, and if appearances go for anything he should more than pay his way. He has been endowed with the name of D’Nil. Of course, it will take some time yet to get him properly right, but that he has pace and can jump he has already amply demonstrated. The other morning he skipped over four furlongs with Kuroki in 51 sec. from a flyingstart.

It is said that the Roseal party intended to pay up for the son of Handsome ack in the Cup, in which the West Coast horse was thought to have a good chance, but through an error they paid up for the wrong event. The local “bookies” had a bad time over the Woodville Meeting, and on the second day most of them were struck pretty hard. It is simply marvellous how some people are so lucky on the second days of the various meetings. Next Saturday, March 3rd, nominations close for the Warrengate Jockey Club’s annual hack meeting. This gathering takes place on March 22nd, and should prove most successful and enjoyable. From ab. accounts there will be first-class nominations for the several events, and given a fine day a large number of Wanganui people will assemble on the country club’s course, on which the tote tjells will not ring, but the voice of the “bookie” will

reign supreme. The Jackson Stakes, to be run on Friday, looks like providing a better field than has yet contested this event, which has already been won twice in succession by Achilles, who should again score. Letherin, who arrived here on Saturday, appears to be in excellent condition, •; and should win a race at the meeting. The fall Cassiopea sustained at Hawera has had the effect of making the mare more careful in her jumping, and the way she has cleared the obstacles on the track the last few days has surprised many. She was struck out the first day’s big hurdles here, as the distance was too far, but her connections are hopeful that she

will give a good account of herself on Friday. She is a greatly-improved mare, , and Johnny Belcher has got her in the pink of condition at present. Tautoru gave promise of turning out fairly good some time ago, but the son of Lethe—Rautahi does not seem to be mak-

ihs r any improvement; as a matter of fact, Mr. W. Tuck’s horse is going backwards. The general opinion is that he is a good ’un, but is getting too much fast work. A meeting of the recently-formed Horseowners’ Association is to be held on Thursday evening at the Rutland Hotel. Most o f the owners in this district have expressed tl’.eir sympathy with the objects of the

Association, and a large muster is expected at the meeting. There is no doubt that there is plenty of room for reform in the conduct of racing, and if the chief of

the proposals which are to be discussed are eventually adopted it cannot help tending towards a better state of things than is at present existing. Federation made his first appearance in open company at Woodville, where he

started twice, obtaining a first and second, and paying fair prices in each event. The grey son of Sedgebrook is one of the quickest horses to begin at present running, and once he gets his head in front he takes a lot of catching, especially over five or six furlongs. He will be hard to beat in the Farewell Handicap, six furlongs, at the Wanganui Meeting. Paritutu is galloping in great form at pt esent, and badly beat Savoury and Delaware in a go over a mile this morning. The Castor gelding was in front all the way, and ran right away from the other two, finishing some six lengths ahead. His time for the mile was 1.43 4-5, Delaware just beating Savoury in the last bit. Both of these horses are likely to show better form on Cup Day, however. I< it is true, as reported, though, that Multifid beat Paritutu in a gallop at New Plymouth the other day, then Mr. Dan O’Brien’s candidate must very nearly win here, as Paritutu appears to be going as well or better than any of the other Cup horses who have yet put in an appearance, unless it be Ghoorka, who was probably never better than at the present time.

Joss Prosser’s team of nine, including Achilles, Ghoorka, Ailsa, Devonia, Gold Crown, Kurawaka, Marguerite, Boris and Exmoor, arrived on Saturday evening. The whole of the horses bear the appearance of having done careful preparations. Achilles slipped over six furlongs by himself this morning quite comfortably in 1.17. The ackson Stakes certainly looks io be a good thing for the chestnut, who wil be very dangerous in the Flying, if started. With Ghoorka in such excellent nick_as he is just now the Porirua stable might easily land the double, Cup and Flying. Devonia is one that should also pick up a race at the meeting. I hear that W. Young’s disqualification has been removed, and that capable young rider will have the mount on old Nonette in the Cup. What beats him will win, I think.

WELLINGTON

Mr. McMaster, secretary pro. tern, of the proposed Horse-owners’ • Association, was in last week. He refers in hopeful terms to the formation of an association which he calculates will prove a boon to those owners whose horses perambulate the colony in search of stakes and dividends. That horse-owners and trainers have legitimate grievances no one will attempt to gainsay, and if only the right class of owners can be induced to take a hand in the formation of a horseowr.ers’ association much can be done in the wav of removing the abuses under which those associated with racehorses have for many years suffered. Many railwav officials apparently look upon the man i/ charge of a team of racehorses as an unmitigated nuisance. Those having control of the traffic cannot see any difference between a horse truck freighted with such valuable horses as Mahutonga and Achilles and a truck freighted with store steers, the care taken being apparently measured by sum charged as freight. As a matter o' fact, the owner of the store oxen may pay equal rates with the racehorse owner, but the latter, when produced on a racecourse, draws together thousands of persons from all over the colony and the railway receipts are in consequence greatly increased. The Minister of Railways had this in mind when he consented to carry racehorses free on a return journey from a race meeting. It would not be too much of a concession were he to decree that those attendant upon racehorses should be carried free, both going to and returning from race meetings ; only those who have raced horses in this colony know the cost of taking a team of racers to and from race meetings. The Government not onlv gain much revenue through the medium of the railways from numerous race-goers, but thev draw some per annum from the public through the totalisator. Under these circumstances thev could well afford to carry both racehorses and their attendants over their fines entirely free of cost.

The Woodville Me°*ing. which was held week, gave speculators an opportu<.f irdu’<Ting in their weeklv gamble. tj,„ t . n ,.; r , r wfls n ot very high class, but ifiat anoarentlv does not prevent the public from attending in goodly numbers and soe-'iilatin-r Coming in*' prior to

the Wanganui fixture, it was not to be expected that prominent stables would be strongly represented, and as a matter of course the meeting was left to the secondclass brigade, whose movements are not of much interest to sportsmen at a distance The club’s Executive, however, deserve a word of praise for the capital way their gathering is managed, and were it not dove-tailed in between the Egmont and Wanganui Meetings a considerable improvement would be noticeable in the class of horses represented at the meeting. On the opening day Roseal and Melodeon were in their bad humours, and gave a very poor exhibition of galloping. Cyrano, owned by Hr. Jervis George, easily managed to secure the principal event from Barca, who finished in front of Melodeon and Roseal. Federation, who was receiving 271 b. from St. Claimer, had no trouble i annexing the Telephone Handicap, which was the event next in importance to the Cup. The second day saw Melodeon 1 1 the mood for galloping, and with 41b. more in the saddle he appropriated the Autumn Handicap. Mr. Watt must be pretty well tired of conveying the erratic son of Medallion round the country. Melodeon is such a good-looking horse that the public are invariably tempted to trust him with their investments, but after Egmont and the first day of the Woodville Meeting most of Melodeon’s admirers had deserted, and he paid a capital dividend, considering the weakness of the opposition.

The Wellington Racing Club’s Autumn Meeting has been fixed for the 26th and 28th of April. The programme is much similar to the one placed before owners last season, the only change of note being the substitution of a two-year-old handicap for the Heretaunga Handicap. This will tend to encourage owners of two-year-olds to patronise the meeting. The Thompson Handicap, North Island Challenge Stakes and the St. Leger Stakes are the principal events of the meeting. The Autumn Handicap, run on the second day, is worth 300S0VS., whilst the Railway and Suburban are each valued at 150S0VS. Nominations are due on Monday, March 26th.