RACING NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 37, 13 February 1905, Page 3

RACING NEWS.

! Bonomiana's name was omitted from he list of nominations for the South Auckland Cup and Tradesmen's Plate. PAPAKURA RACING CLUBS AXMJAL MEETING. Tho Papakura Racing Clnb held their annual meeting on the old Papaknra racecourse at Glenlora Park last Saturday. In years gone by the Papakura meeting was one of the best around Auckland, and many a stirring contest has been witnessed on the scene of Saturday's gathering." The old clnb. however, got into difficulties some eight or ten years ago, and were forced to disband, and their totalisator permit was secured by the Auckland Racing Club. Within the past few years strong efforts have been made to resuscitate the cUib. and thanks to the energy of Mr W. Walters and Mr F. D. Yonge, who have bad the assistance o" a hard-working lot of stewards, the club's gatherings bid fair to take the place In the world of sport they occupied in the old days. Stroug efforts are being made to secure a totalisator permit, and although those at the head of affairs recognise that they must "wait their turn, still they are working hard to hurry that turn up, and anticipate _v early reward. The day's outing on Saturday was a most enjoyable one. the weather was perfect, and the raeiug exciting. The attendance was hardly as large as expected, but no doubt the counter-attraction of the big cricket match affected it seriously. The train arrangements were hardly as complete as could have been wished, there being one or two tedious waits on the return journey, notably at Otahuhu. added to which there was a lot of dissatisfaction expressed over the issuing of tickets from the stations beyond Auckland, a number of passengers being compelled to pay the admission fee to the course twice over. Mr J. G. Rutherford officiated as judge. Mr G. H. Hankens as starter, aud Mr J. 0. Evett handicapper. the close finishes in the majority of the events being due to the latter gentleman's adjustments. The meeting was well conducted by the secretary, Mr F. D. Yonge, and the officials, tlie events being got off right np to the advertised time. In the absence of the totalisator, speculation was carried out per medium of the bookmakers, and betting was lively throughout the day. the books, if anything, having the best of the argument, only two favourites prevailing out of sis contests. Racing commenced with the evergreen Maiden Plate, from which Lnncttn and Blueskin were withdrawn, leaving a field of six. Punters first made Jean favourite, but Cuiragno met with stroug support, and the two eventually wound up even favourites at 2 to 1, with 3 to 1 on offer about Incognito and- any price the others. Jean was first out when the flag fell, aud she led for a furlong, when Cuiragno took charge, and he was never afterwards headed, winning at the finish by two lengths from Jean, who beat Incognito a neck for second honours. The good field of eight turned out for the Flying Stakes. Celerity and Lunetta declining their engagements. Backers were undecided what to make > favourite, first Hector and then Ben Blair finding strong support, the latter winding up a point shorter than Hector, the betting being 2 to 1 Ben Blair, 3 to 1 Hector, with long prices on offer about the others. Calle Iris was quickest to begin, bnt Hector immediately rushed to the front, and at the home turn he had a length the best of Ben Blair, whose rider (Pinker) was taking matters easy. in the run to tbe post Ben Blair made his effort, but he had waited too long, and Hector beat him a neck. Calle Iris was a couple of lengths away third. Eight was again the field in the Pony Handicap, Orange and Blue. 'Whawhai, Lady French, and Marisa dropping ouL" Lucrecc and Gladys Rose were even favourites at 2 to 1, with 6 to 1 Sentinel, and 10 to 20 to 1 tbe others. Gladys Rose was- in the lead after a couple of furlongs were covered, and she was first to the home turn, where Luerece and Sentinel joined issue. and the trio fought out a great finish, Sentinel staying the longest and winning by a head, Luerece •Seating Gladys Rose by the same distance for second money. Calle Iris and Mechanic were the defections from the Papakura Cup. for which six went to the post, and of these Annoyed was made favourite at 6 to 4, with 3 to 1 on offer about Seatonia and 4 to 1 Dunmore. Rouomiana shot" out when the word was "given to go/ and, settlug a solid pace, she made the running to the turn for home, where the field closed up. As they straightened up for the run to the box Seatonia, Bonomiana, Dunmore, aud Soultftsh were all together, and a great finish resulted in Dunmore shooting out in the last 20 yards and winning by a neck from Bonomiana. who was a head in front of Soultfish, tlie latter putting in a suprlsfng late run. Seatonia was close up fourth. Lnnctta. Terence, and Ngahere • were scratched for the Hack Handicap, leaving eight in tbe starters' hands. Additional interest was attached to this race, in the fact that Bainbridge, the English rider, was having his first mount on a colonial racecourse. Unfortunately for him. however, the horse he bestrode (Marshal Ney) was probably one of the worst he conld have chosen to have made his debut upon, and he was unable to even raise a gallop, consequently Bainbridge got no opportunity to display his ability as a horseman. To the race itself. Cuiragno and Blueskin wound up even favourites at 3 to 1. Celerity being half a point longer at 7 to 'J. Autahi was first to become prominent, but Immediately gnve place to' Celerity, and she was first to turn for borne. At tbe distance Aut3hi and Incognito challenged, and Celerity had to he hard ridden to win all out by a neck from Autahi. who was half a length in front of Incognito. Orange and Blue. Jean, Calle Iris. Jack Brown, and Mary Seaton were the absentees from the Railway Handicap, the concluding event of the day, Tor which eight started. Bonomiana was made a strong favourite, starting at 2 to 1, with 4 to 20 to 1 on offer about the others. Hector meeting with a little support at fours. Hector, followed by Woodmount. made the running till a furloog from home, where Bonomiana shot up on rhe inside, and she was first to turn for home. Holding her advantage in the run down the straight, she lasted long enough to win a good race from Woodmount, who was a similar distance in front of Annoyed. Bonomiana's victory was well received, and she gave the bookmakers the only serious reverse they sustained during the day. *