SPORTING.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 398, 24 April 1902, Page 1

SPORTING.

AVONDALE RACES.

A VICTORY FOR GEOLOGIST.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, last night. The Avondale Jockey Club's Autumn Meeting was continued to-day, when the club was again favored with fine wenthor. There was a satisfactory attendance of the public, and speculation was brisk.

The following are the results : Maiden Hurdles: Mars (Stewart) 1, Wilson 2, Lady Dash G. Also started: Arena, Firefly, Persoverance, Papatu, Tuni, The Miner, Satan, Midnight, Yarra, Peacock, Sophia, Major. Mars came to the front five furlongs from home, and holding his own in tho easiest possible fashion, won by three lengths. Time 3.24, diys. £o 3s and £8 6s. Flying Handicap: Hohoro (Jellings) 1, Warwick 2, Despatch 3. 'Also started : Reclaimer, Takapuua, Jewellery, Orange and Blue, Cressy, Lady Soult, Sultan, Hillflower, Scout, La Polish, Gatesman. Hohoro came with a rattle in tho straight, and won a good race by half a length, a head separating second and third. Time 52 2-5, divs. £2 Pis and £9 10s.

Second Pony Handicap : First Whisper (Barr) 1, Orango and Blue 2, Annoyed 3. Also started : Blue Paul, Seaspray, Vulpine, Ukase, Jewel, Sportsman, Garnet. Vulpine led to the straight, followed by First Whisper, and the latter drew out at the lawn rails and won by two clear lengths. Time 1.5 35, divs. DIO 6s and 19s.

Autumn Handicap: Laetitia (Buchanan) 1, St Olga 2, Defender 3. Also started: Highlander, Val Rosa, Sundial, Volee, Taplow, Goetzer. St Olga, Defender, and Val Rosa made all the running, Highlander getting left badly. In tho straight Laetitia came away and won by four lengths. Time 1.46, divs. D 4 7s and £4 6s.

Nursery Handicap: Northumberland (Buchanan) 1, Geordie 2, Austerlitz 3. Also started: Muskerdale and Lavadel. Austerlitz and Geordie were racing on even terms till the stand was reached, when Austerlitz dropped back, and Northumberland coming through defeated Geordie by - a length. Time L2O, div. £1 11s.

Handicap Steeplechase: Kowhai(Olive) I, Pungarohu 2, Tarragon 3. Also started : Evening Wonder, Dingo, Parahaki, Sultana, Tiurne, and Ilapai. It was an eventful race. Sultana collided with a flag post and lost his rider, Parahaki fell, Evening Wonder, liapai, and Pungarehu ran off. During the race Dingo and Tarragon were left leading liowhai by 50 lengths, but mistook the way into the straight, and left Kowhai to como in first by ten lengths from Tarragon, who had pulled up and got on to the course proper again. A protest against Tarragon receiving second money on the ground that ho ran outside a post was upheld. Time 7.22, divs. Dl7 9s and Dl3 12s.

Hack Handicap : Mechanic (Jelling) 1, Francis Lovejoy 2, La Polish 3. Also started: Green and Gold, Gatelock, Minna, and Midnight. Mechanic slewed up in front when a couple of furlongs had been covered, and, beating off Francis Lovejoy in tho straight, won by two lengths. Time 1.19 25; divs., D 1 15s and £1 17s.

Waitakerei Handicap : Geologist (Ryan) 1, Reclaimer 2, Hespor 3. Also started : St. Olga, Takapuna, Landlock, Sundial, Hillflower, Despatch, Swiftfoot, and Mara. Geologist dashed through at the home turn, and, cutting down Landlock and Reclaimer coming up the. straight, Mr McDonald’s gelding won by a length and a-half. Time 1.17 2-5 ; divs., £2 17s and £1 17s.

Tho victory of Geologist in the Wai takerei Handicap, at Avondale yesterday will bo welcome news to the sporting public on the Coast. Mr McDonald’s gelding ran in three races at Ellerslie during Easter week, and obtained some attention from the public on account of the heavy commissions sent from this district to the totalisator. Geologist, in the first race at Ellerslie, finished second to last, and in the second race fourth. On the third occasion tho son of Pounamu ran into a place. At Avondale on Saturday last Geologist was well backed, and ran a good second to Gootzer. We congratulate Mr McDonald on his gelding's victory. Wilson, another local horso, ran second at Avondale yesterday, and paid a dividend of over i£B. The Gisborne-owned Papatu and The Miner, which compoted in the same race, ran unplaced.