RACING REVIEWED.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1245, 26 February 1914, Page 13

RACING REVIEWED.

THE SOUTH AUCKLAND RACING CLUB’S SUMMER MEETING. The South Auckland Racing Club’s annual meeting was held in warm weather, and as there had oeen no rain for a considerable time therewas plenty of dust on the roads leading to and from the course. The course itself was a bit on the hard and rough side, but was never so fast as it is just at the present time. The fields were well up to the best of previous years, the attendance on each day reached record proportions, and the totalisator turnover was very largely in excess of anything previously done by the club, or any country club within the metropolitan area of Auckland. An increase over last year was quite expected, but that it would amount to nearly 50 per cent, more even the most sanguine could hardly have anticipated. The figures for the first day reached £12,343 10s., as against £7960, and on the second day £15,249, as against £10,569 10s., giving a grand total for the two days of £27,592 10s., as against £18,529 10s., the increase being £9063. The starting was not as satisfactory as could be desired in some of the races, but in others it was all right. The riding of a number of horsemen was called in question and some cautions administered for alleged crossing in the case of H. Price and interference in the case of McMillen, while J. Conquest was fined 710 for his handling of Kitty Bellairs the first day, when that filly beat Laird o’ Gowrie in the Pioneer Handicap and was deprived of the fruits of victory and placed second. McKinnon, rider of Doggerbank in the first hurdle race, got a nasty fall and was much bruised, while abrasions

of the face were noticeable. Surplus, who started favourite for the race, jumped the corner of the same hurdle and landed inside the course and had one of his hind legs badly injured through coming in contact with the railing, which. was lower than the hurdle. The races were run very well up to time, but a table and a few chairs are wanted for the convenience of pressmen, and a room in which to do their work, and the totalisator figures should be supplied, as they are on up-to-aate Dominion courses after each race.

The racing brought to light a few newcomers to the ranks, but with few exceptions the competitors had raced previously. The South Auckland Cup was won by Goldsize, the favourite, who was penalised 51b. for his Taranaki Cup win. Mr. Walters’ gelding is in excellent form just now. Almeida has gradually been racing into condition, and it would appear now that staying is her forte, if she has any special qualification. She was in receipt of 261 b., Gloy had 191 b., and Ovation 231 b., and they followed Goldsize home at short intervals. Jolie Fille led into the straight and was responsible for a solid pace. In the Trial Handicap, Glenspire, a useful gelding by Gienapp from Remorse, accounted for Opposition, Zulupin and Unity, who were each better backed, and for the outsider Lady Betty, who is an aged mare by Banner.

Positive, the aged Fable —Off Chance gelding, who has. been parti-

cularly well handicapped at country meetings, and the resuscitated Arawa, both aided by a start that favoured them, never gave the others a chance in the Claudelands Handicap, Tripoli, the favourite, being one of those beaten out of a place, while Antiphone seems to have no form at all to recommend him just now. Arawa’s backers received a very substantial diviuenu wnen he finised second, as he was the actual outsider of the eight starters.

Surplus carried nearly half the money in the totalisators in the Hurdles Handicap, the distance being considered likely to suit him, but Te Onga, who stays, had nearly half as much invested on his chance and thus had plenty of admirers. Why Tilsley allowed him to linger so long in the early stages of the race might well have formed the subject for enquiry. With nearly six furlongs gone he was a long way away. Then Surplus, who was leading, jumped inside the course and Dogger Bank fell, while Vestal and Cloudy Dawn went to the front, but Te Onga was still running along well back, and finished a few lengths behind Santiago, who followed Cloudy Dawn and Vestal home, each of which paid good dividends. The race was not a particularly fast one.

The Pioneer Handicap was a close race between Kitty Bellairs and Laird o’ Gowrie, and Kitty Bellairs led all the way, but the stewards, acting under the stipendiary steward, Mr. A. Gordon, took the race from Kitty Bellairs and awarded it to Laird o’ Gowrie, on the ground that interference on the part of the former cost the other the race. In addition, Conques*’, the rider of Kitty Bellairs, had to meet a fine of £lO, which carries with it the assumption that he was to blame and not his mount. Attrac-

and Bedford finished next. Lady Penury ran wide turning into the

straight and failed to get near the others.

The Publicans’ Purse Handicap was won, after a fine race, by Spalfish, who wore down Salute and lasted long enough to stall off Tattoo, who did not get a good run at the turn for home, being disappointed at that stage. Tinopai was a little better favourite than Spalfish, but was unequal to the task, and besides the placed horses Miss Livonia, who finished fourth, also beat her. There were ten starters. The six furlongs were covered in 1.14 2-5. On returning to scale Spalfish and rider, Conquest, met with a hearty reception.

There were fifteen runners in the District Hack Handicap, which was won in good style by Spalperion, whose racing has been of the consistent order. Revelation and Gallupin, the best supported pair, were second and third, the last-named being the better favourite, while Red Pine, who towered over the others in size, was fourth. Revelation should some day make a jumper, and Red Pine looks likely for the same game. Tripoli was favourite for the second time during the day when the tote bells had ceased ringing for the Flying Handicap, Pet and Hinerew r a being next in demand. Tripoli Won nicely, but Hinerewa and Manurere had a good go for second money, and Hinerewa’s head was in front. On the second day the attendance was easily a record, and the present accommodation space was fully taxed, both on the lawn and in the birdcage and in grandstand seating. The

club will have to keep moving with the times. In the Maiden Handicap, the Lupin —Modesty three-year-oid filly Unity was favourite, -with Glenspire and Opposition next. The running was earned on by a bunched field, on which Glenspire waited till the last furlong was entered on. H. Price then rattled the game son of Gienapp home by a good margin from Zulupin and Flagfall. Ten was the main in the Shorts Handicap, with Mr. W. C. Ring’s Mighty Atom first favourite. There was also plenty of money for Tripoli, and Positive found support. Revelation made the pace, and the finish was between Positive, Manurere and arawa, but the close finish had the man in the box thinking. It was hard to place the three horses behind the winner. Dogger Bank ran fully up to his Ellerslie trial of a mile before going to the Waikato, and had no difficulty in landing the second hurdle race. The fast-tiring field was led home by Cloudy Dawn, but the latter could not reach Dogger Bank.

The Waikato Handicap produced a royal finish between the placed horses —Tattoo, Gloy and Almeida. Gloy seemed to get the worst of the passage and ran a game race. Tattoo carried a big proportion of the £2OOO odd invested. Miss Livonia ran gaineiy till the straight entrance, when the pace told.

In the District Welter Hack, although Glenspire carried 10.10 he was weii nacued, and after a big tussle on the post had to cry a go to the xightly-weighted Otaraia (7.9), trained by R. McMicken, who sprang a surprise with Munster at the T.J.C. meet--ig. 'rhe backers of Glenspire lost nearly 20 per cent, of their outlay. Spalperion was third.

Laird o’ Gowrie was installed a very hot favourite in the Ruakura Handicap, Kitty Bellairs coming next, but neither ci the pair got a ghost of a show with Lady Penury when finishing. Bedford beat Kitty Bellairs for second money, though he was out in ii out at the start.

Admiral Soult had no trouble, as was anticipated by the punters that laid odds on his chance, in the Welter Handicap, Worcester and Pet filling the places.

Salute led the favourite, Spalfish, home in the concluding event of the meeting, the Farewell Handicap, with Tripoli getting the barren honours of third place.

T. C. Stanley, an old-time Australitn horseman, who was associated with Mr. John Tait in the “sixties, ’ died last week. His successes included A.J.C. Derbies on The Barb (1866) Fireworks (1867), and Florence (1870); A.J.C. Champagne Stakes, Florence; Ballarat Cup, St. Patrick; Champion Stakes (1867), The Barb; Victoria Derby, twice on Fireworks (one being run in November, 1867, and the other on New Year’s Day, 1868), and on Florence; Sydney Cup (1868), The Barb; V.R.C. Oaks, Florence; and Melbourne Cup, Glencoe. Other horses on which he was successful were Warwick, Gaffer Grey, Volunteer, Tarragon, The Pearl, The Quack, .and Falcon. On retiring as a jockey, Stanley went into business at Campbelltown, but lived privately for fourteen years prior to his death, which occurred at the age of 69 years. He leaves a widow, three sons, and two daughters.

On Sunday evening next the Rev. Jasper Calder, familiarly known as the “sporting parson,” will hold a special service for sporting men. Mr. Calder’s love and knowledge of a good trotting horse has won him many friends at Alexandra Park, and on the last occasion when a sporting service was announced his church was packed with owners, trainers, jockeys and followers of sport. The service on Sunday next will be held at St. Columba Church, Grey Lynn, at 7 o’clock. The church is situated at the twopenny section of the Grey Lynn car, oposite what is known as “Paddy Long’s corner.”