AUCKLAND SPECIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 93, 29 April 1901, Page 2

AUCKLAND SPECIAL.

AVONDALE RACES,

[Special to Tnius.]

A - "- Hand, Saturday.

The Avondale Je key Club’s Autumn Meeting was conch; '.jd this afternoon. It rained heavily dr..mg the night, and as the day advance 1 the vain came down in torrents, which made the course veryslippery, and the outsiders in almost over," instance managed to prove victorious ; consequently big dividends were the order of the day. Operations commenced with the Maiden Handicap Hurdles. Lieutenant, on his performance last week, was made a red-hot favorite, but finished last. Regalia 11., the winner, made a very creditable display for the first time over sticks. Pourere, the Gisborne horse, ran much better than he did on the previous Saturday. St. OlgA, after a hard-ridden race, placed the Flying Handicap to her credit. In the Pony Handicap St. Loander just beat Lady Avon. A protest was lodged against the winner for inconsistent running. The stewards were of opinion that the race should be given to Lady Avon, but after a lengthy consideration it was eventually decided in favor of St. Loander. A rank outsider, Voice, proved to be the winner of tlje big event, out of a field of thirteen, and returned the handsome dividend of .£52 6s. The Needle and Laetitia were made favorites, Mr J. A. Harding's Materoa found but few supporters. A fortnight ago Voice was purchased from those unlucky sportsmen, Messrs Duder Bros., for 180 guineas. A Gisborne horse, Despatch, was successful in the Nursery Handicap, and returned to its supporters the sensational dividend of £76 15s. The Handicap Steeplechase was a hard-fought-out contest betweon The Trifior and Tarragan, the judge’s decision being in favor of Tlio Trifior by a head. Scarcely half a length separated the first and second horse during the three-mile course. A protest was lodged against the winner of the Hack Handicap, Rocket, for inconsistency. Rocket finished last in the Hack event last week against the same cattle, and to-day he came out and won as lie liked from the favorite, Progec. The last race of the day, the IVaitakerei Handicap, was contested in the pouring rain. Hastings was.expected to fill tho first place in this event, but unfortunately for him the heavy rainfall was a circumstance that militated against his chances of success. Hastings is always ridden with blinkers, and is a very faint-hearted horse. The winner, however, turned up in Lady Avon, the pony paying £lB 18s. Among the good things that were telegraphed to Gisborne this morning for tho Avondale and Wellington races wore Lady Avon, Nonettc, and Palaver, Palaver won tho Autumn Handicap at Wellington (£6 8s div.), Lady Avon tho Waitakoroi Handicap, and Nonettc suffered defeat at the hands of SankPatrieia. From Wellington a telegram was received stating that Nonette could not lose, the Auckland horse only carrying 7.7, whereas in Auckland Nonettc has had to contend with a very heavy impost. Buchanan was present at the races on crutches. He is making good progress, but will be unable to ride for several weeks. Owing to injuries sustained to Buchanan, Messrs Nathan engaged Sainsford to ride Laetitia in the Auckland Handicap, and Hastings in tho Waitakcrei Handicap. Had the Gisborne rider had the mount on Laetitia I feel sure that Messrs Nathan’s horse would have finished by herself.