THAMES JOCKEY CLUB’S AUTUMN MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 942, 26 March 1908, Page 5

THAMES JOCKEY CLUB’S AUTUMN MEETING.

Having by no means the best of luck in the matter of weather, the autumn meeting of the Thames Jockey Club proved, nevertheless, a success* ful function. With so much rain falling on Saturday morning, it was hardly to be expected that the attendance would be very large, but a fair number of sportsmen went out to Parawai, and as the weather cleared and the sport proved interesting, they were well rewarded. Mr. W. H. Potts and his committee energetically helped to carry things through, their efforts being quite successful. The feature of the meeting was the fine riding of Ben Deeley, who won five races in five starts. Proceedings opened with the Maiden Handicap, six furlongs, for which nine turned out. Explosive made most of the running, and Deeley keeping him going won by a length from Field-Marshal, with Waiotahi third. Loch Fyne and English were the only two to come out for the Hurdle Race, one mile and three-quarters, and this proved the softest of snaps for Loch Fyne. English fell, but was remounted and completed the course. There were five runners in the Autumn Stakes, in which Sweet Alice, as usual, played up at the post. Once off Foremost set out to make the pace willing, with Royal Soult handy. At the home bend the latter looked to have a chance, but when Deeley turned Sweet Alice loose she came with a rush and won easily by two lengths from Royal Soult, with Tui half a length further back. Half-a-dozen went to the post in the Shorts Handicap, four furlongs. Hikuai was smartest away, and led to the home turn, but at the business end there was nothing in it but Lady French, who won by two lengths from Freebird, with Hikuai third. A trio faced the starter in the Steeplechase, two and a-half miles. Khama went off with the lead, but came to grief at the fourth jump, where Cinque also fell. This left Pierre to win as he liked from Cinque, who was remounted and completed the course. Four turned out for the Railway Handicap, six furlongs, and this proved a capital go. Brady got Miss Crispin going very smartly, and she showed the way to the home bend, where Aristocrat passed her. Inside the distance Whittaker brought Syren with a rush and won by a length from

Aristocrat, with Miss Crispin a good third. The Hack Race, five furlongs, was another good contest. There were eight runners, and Explosive managed to score a second win, with Keep Step half a length off, and Freemantle a good third. The curtain was rung down with the Welter Handicap, seven furlongs, which proved rather a good thing for Foremost, who won easily by two lengths from Montigo, with Dardanus third.