SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 January 1919, Page 8

SPORTING.

AUCKLAND MEETING.

By Telegraph.—Press Assoeiattisi.

Auckland, Jan. 4.

The Auckland R&cmg Club's spring meeting, postponed l'rora November on account of the epidemic, was held today in line weather, there being a large attendance. The track was in good' order. The total isator handled £00,408, being an increase of £1904 as compared with the returns for the spring 'meeting in 191.7. Results:

MAIDEN HURDLES.—2 Ditto (Tutchen) 1, 5 Notability. 2, 3 Loyal Arch 3. Also started: 4 Penniless, 1 Pendoon, 7 Blooraine, G Lady Lyddite. A good race. Won by a length, a neck separating the next two. Time, 2min. 48 3-ssec.

GREAT NORTHERN GUINEAS.—I Athens II (Deeley) 1, C Ivipling 2, 10 Demoiselle 3. Also started. 7 Comedy Prince, 5 Temire, 8 War March, 12 Escaped, 2 Hinemarii, 3 Cherry Mart, 11 Kilbeggan, 4 Principal Lady, 9 Piraeus. Won by half a length. Time, Imin. 40 3-ssec.

HOBSON HANDICAP.—3 Queen Abbey (Rennie) 1, 2 Tigritiya 2, G Arch Lassie 3. Also started: 1 Bellaeity, 4 Happy Valley, 5 Caballero, 9 Step, 8 Miss Leslie, 7 General Stephen,- 11 Mahzoltov, 10 Monocmt. Won by a head. Time, lmin. 15 3-ssec,

WELCOME . STAKES.—I Hetaua (Gray) 1, 2 Bindle 2, 4 Canowindra 3. Also started: 5 Yankee Dan, 11 Finkop, 10 Heathermoon, 7 Mistian, 8 Princess Charming, 6 Passin* Through, 3 Parorangi, 12 Melting, 9 Neglige. Won by two lengths. Time, lmin. 13-ssec.

MITCHELSON CUP.—3 Uncle Ned (Emerson) 1, 1 Teka 2, 7 Gazique 3. Also started: 2 Bedford, 4 Form Up, 10 Sir Ralph, 5 Blue Crpss 9 Glenopal, 8 Vagabond, (i Rockfield and Lord Kenilworth (coupled), 14 Hyllus, 15 Fabriquette, 11 Bingham, 12 Slipstitch, IB Alf Delaval, 13 Windorah. Won by 2| lengths, the next being the same distance apart, Time, 2min. 9 4-osec.

ONEHUNGA STEEPLECHASE. The Channel 1, 4 Peneton 2, 1 Tirau 3. Also started: 2 Hautere. A good race. Won by a length, the third being 100 yards away. Time, 6min. 14see.

• SHORTS HANDICAP—I Silver Link (Gray) 1, 5 Downham (coupled with Happy Valley) 2, 10 Mossman 3. Also, started: 2 Rekanui,' Happy Valley, 7 Cardrona, 4 Ring Lupin, 8 Housewife, 6 Arran, 3 Sheila, 9 Gaycium, 11 Van Dubhe. Won by two lengths, Mossman three-quarters of a length away. Time, lmin. 04-ssec.

NORMANBY HANDICAP.—2 Spanner (Deeley) 1, 4 Independence 2, 1 All Talk 3. Also started: 8 Sanacre, 3 Don't, 6 Singular, 5 Benzine, 12 Mahzoltov, 11 Declare, 7 Debutante, 9 Whitehall, 10 Rangi Aroha. Won by ; two lengths. Time, lmin. 27 4-ssec.

TURF TOPICS.

(By "Moturoa.")

After an absence of several years a stranger visiting Auckland's premier sporting rendezvous, the magnificent course at Ellerslie, cannot help but be charmed with the beautiful gardens that greet him with their wonderful blaze of color at the entrance to the course, with the dainty and' artistic flower plots on the various lawns, and with the restful green swards that extended iu all directions. It seemed almost a pity to spoil all this beauty by tlio introduction of the bustling crowd, which surged round totalisators and filled the stands to suffocation. One is surely tempted to visit Ellerslie some other day, when there is no racing to distract one from enjoyment of one of the finest floral displays in Australasia. The Auckland Racing Club throws open its grounds to the public, and it is not surprising that thousands find pleasure and rest there.

The popularity of racing in the northern city is a tiling to marvel at, and the Auckland Racing Club must find it an ever-increasing difficulty to cater for the huge crowds that stream to Ellerslie. Unlike the majority of .places, our Auckland friends do not set themselves out to "rook" the racing public. Conveyance to and from the course is remarkably cheap,the taxis and 'buses charging scale rates and no more, and the trams taking one within a short distance of the main gates for a few pence.

Once 011 'the couse the visitor is well catered for at a reasonable price all round. A splendid view of the racing can, be secured from any part of the sloping lawns, and the picnic parties at the Ladies' Mile, which fun into thousands, have, quite as good a view of the racing generally, though, of course, not of the actual finish. The inside stands appear to give ample accommodation, 1 but improvement in this respect is due to the outside patrons. Our Auckland confreres have done much, but nothing short of surrounding-<the whole course .with stands-will fill thfe bill, at* the present rate of progress, in about 1950. Needless to say, the racing track itself is perfection, and equal care has been lavished o&*> the multitude of • training tracks within the enclosure. The new .Tulius electric totalisator is a thing to marvel at, and a stroll .round, the inside of the tote house leaves one bewildered. The "face" of the totalisator is about four times the size of the machine in use here, and the may bo read at a considerable distance. The system of calling • for tickets is a good one, though inclined to trip up the stranger at first. You call the number of the horse first, and the numbes of tickets required last. For instauee: "four one" would buy a ticket on No. 4; "ten five" stands for '£o on No 10. Two girls are at each window. One receives your money and passes over your ticket or tickets. The other operates a machine somehting like a ticket-,' producing cash register. Investments'l areitherefore double-checked, and tickets.] sold at increased speed. Unfortunately,

many of the girls working at this meeting were new to the work, and. thereiore' slow and hesitating, but with properlytrained persons tickets could lie sold as fast as you could call for them. Tut crush round the various windows was awful, and more accommodation is called for both at selling and pay-out windows.

Gloaming's Derby win was. a foregone /■conclusion, tat it was not as cleanly secured as could have been wished. There were only four runners, Gloaming, Karo, Kilmoon, and Demoiselle, and 4he bracketed pair (Gloaming and Karo) were backed down to a Desert Gold price. Kilmoon set a solid pace throughout, but Gloaming, haxd held, did not appear to be troubled, and when given his head he quickly headed Kilmoon. Deeley brought Gloaming right across Kilmoon at the distance, causing the latter to be steadied, and for his carei less riding the Auckland horseman was mulcted a tenner. The cross was painfully apparent, but made 110 difference to the result of the race, as Gloaming was only going three-quarter pace at the finish. A Taranakian remarked to me that the Auckland crowd seemed a very calm, imexcitable one, and little or no enthusiasm greeted Gloamingfs fine exhibition. No interest was taken in the decoration of the Derby winner, and some of the lawn patrons—to their shame —were unsportsmanlike to howl, "What about crossing!" "Put 'im out," and "What about Biplane?" It showed shocking bad taste.

King Lupin's meritorious victory in the Newmarket Handicap was the most popular wm of the day The veteran is always sure of solid support at Ellerslie, and he'was a good second favorite to Onslaught, with Gazique, Nanna, and Birkenvale all over the four figure mark. The race was merely a duel between King Lupin and Nanna, who were in front from end to end. The King proved the fresher of the two for the run home, and won really handsomely. Onslaught, who appeared to he sore, waa the last to finish k Clifford's nag cost punters a heap of money at the Auckland meeting, but a keen Ellerslie tout informed me that the Antagonist colt had not done a good gallop since coming north. The A.R.C. Handicap saw Menelaus first favorite, with Glendower, Red Rib■hon, Rose Pink, ami Blue Cross all well backed. The horses paraded in a heavy shower of rain, which continued until the barrier lifted. Menelaus was caught in the tapes, and took no part in the race. Kilralsh was prominent for a while, but when the field settled doitfn Melee and Kilrusb were well clear of Glendower, Killard, Blue Cross, and Red Ribbon. Cynic and Red Ribbon moved up as they approached the turn, and Melee fell away beaten. Kilrush was the first to straighten up, but' came out from the rails, letting Red Ribbon through, while the unlucky Cynie came j round the field at a great pace. Red Ribbon had to be kept going to beat •Cynic, aiid then came Kilrush, Blue Cross, Killard, and Rose Pink. Gloaming, by adding the Great Northern Derby to his list of wins, put up a record that is unique in the history of racing in Australasia. Sloaming ranks as the only triple Derby winner, having won the Australian, New Zealand, and Great Northern Derbies. By the efforts of Maa'coi and Solfanello Messrs Riddiford Bros, topped the •winning owners at the Auckland summer meeting with £2,950 Gloaming won £1750 for Mr. Greenwood, and then came Mr. G. L. Stead £1555, Mrs.'M. A. Perry £1175, and Mr. W R. iiemball £920,

Mr. Harold Brown's luck seems to stick to him. On the Tuesday prior to the Auckland meeting he purchased Loyal Arch for £SOO, and got his money back right away, winning in stakes alone £570 at the meeting. Loyal Arch won twice and was once second. With better handling, they say, he would have won all three races, but if that had occurred Mr. Brown (who is a big bettor) would not (have received such a fine dividend on New-Year's Day.