THE AVONDALE JOCKEY CLUB’S SPRING MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 916, 26 September 1907, Page 5

THE AVONDALE JOCKEY CLUB’S SPRING MEETING.

The above club opened the racing season of 1907-1908 for the local district last Saturday at Avondale. The weather was perfect, and a very large number of visitors and sporting men availed themselves of the glorious weather conditions to have a really good day at the pretty little rendezvous. Nor were they disappointed. The track was in good order, the racing was interesting and exciting, the management all that could be desired, and the sport of the best. The Avondale racecourse is one of the most pleasant of suburban racecourses that I have seen in New Zealand, and I feel sure that it must always provide an agreeable outing. The official work was quickly and judiciously carried out; the judge and starter (Messrs. Foley and O’Connor respectively) gave universal satisfaction, and Mr. H. H. Hayr, the genial secretary, was übiquitous, obliging, and full of energy. The sun shone the whole afternoon, the band played, the glittering costumes and fair faces of the gentler sex were much in evidence, and there was a fair amount of favourites that got home; therefore everything was coleur de rose. A really first-class luncheon was provided by Mrs. Gallagher, to which ample justice was done. The first race started punctually to time, and Gay Paris was installed a firm favourite, Ney being next in demand. The favourite made no mistake, and nicely handled by Whittaker, came at the right moment and won by half a length from Octoroon, who ran a really good race. Castadrift was third, with Dunborve and Hughie close up. The First Hurdle Race saw Lady Hune established a very firm favourite, the public backing Weal’s' mare as if the race was over. It was a pretty race to watch. Aqua Regia led from start to finish, and in turns St. Harp and Lady Hune tried to head her. But the mare always held the opposition safe, and won easily by over three lengths from Lady Hune, who was a similar distance in front of Sol. St. Harp fell at the last fence. I think the best race of the day was the Steeplechase, but the race for the Avondale Stakes ran it very close. Before the start Aqua Fortis took hold of her boy, and cleared round the course. En route she took a hurdle in great style, shot her rider off, and then, clearing another fence, took to the paddocks at the right of the course. This filly will be a hurdler some day. There must be some jumping blood in Salvadan or Cloud. The field of six got off together and Hohungatahi smoked away clear of Santa Rosa, Rarata just behind. So they ran to the straight, where Santa Rosa passed the leader, and the race looked won. But immediately Rarata, Sedition and Tale Pitcher put in determined challenges, and for a moment Rarata forged ahead; then Tale Pitcher shot out, followed by Sedition, and won by a head; Sedition only that ahead of Rarata, with Santa Rosa close up. It was a fine race. The Avondale Cup saw Shrapnel established a slightly better favourite than Uranium. Syren was next in demand, and Scotty was also backed. There was a vexatious delay at the post owing to Scotty and Inglis. Uranium got rid of her rider, but was caught before she had gone far and remounted. When they at length got away Inglis whipped round and took no part in the race. Uranium, Lady Regel and Shrapnel in that order ran most of the journey up to the four-fur-

long post, where Scotty chimed in. Uranium came into the straight ahead of Scotty, who ran out wide, but quickly made up his ground. Halfway up the straight Scotty was in front, but Uranium came again under punishment and beat Scotty by a neck, Shrapnel third a length behind, followed by Syren, Peregrine and Lady Regel. The Plunket Handicap witnessed the downfall of a strong favourite in Omati, who was easily beaten by Lochbuhie and Pearlie. The former led practically all the way, and won as he liked by three lengths from Pearlie, who was a couple of lengths ahead of the favourite. The Steeplechase provided a race worth going a long way to see. Loch Fyne was backed heavily, 329 tickets being registered on the number of this son of Lochness. Next in demand was Cinque, 172%; 103% Catch ’em, and 95% Lady Lanta. Loch Fyne stumbled at the start, and Lady Lanta, and Tanglefoot ran to the front, and led over the jumps for the first time round. Passing the stand Cinque joined in the fun, and with Loch Fyne kept the other pair company, Catch’em next, and Nor’-west last. Coming round the turn for the third time Catch-’em ran off and Loch Fyne moved up third to Lady Lanta and Cinque. At the sod wall at the back of the course Loch Fyne fell back, and Cinque forged ahead, and leading across the dip, entered the straight a length in front, of Lady Lanta. Then a roar went up as Nor’-west, apparently coming from the clouds, swooped down on the leaders with a magnificent run. The gallant old Sou’wester came along full of ginger, and battling it out like a prize-fighter, cut down the leader a couple of chains from the judge, and won easily by a length, Lady Lanta two lengths away third, Tanglefoot fourth. There was a tremendous ovation and one well deserved by the fine old son of Sou’wester. He was a living example of the old saying that age only improves a good ’un. The Pony Handicap proved the softest of good things for the lightlyweighted Waihou, who won anyhow from Octoroon. The Flying Stakes was a pretty race. Quadroon led at a great bat, followed by Wauchope, Soultmaid (who fell soon after), Haldane, Millie, Waihuku and Te Aroha all bunched together. They closed up in the straight, and it was anybody’s race up to two chains from home. The whips whistled and cracked and the crowd yelled blue murder when Ryan brought Te Aroha along with one long judicious run, and just pipped Millie on the post by a neck, Omati the same distance away third, and Frederick ditto fourth. The actual favourite, Wauchope, finished alongside of Waihuku and Frederick. It was fitting that such a fine race should bring the .proceedings to a close. Let us hope that the next two days may be as enjoyable.