AUCKLAND.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3435, 27 December 1879, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

Last night. The Races. At one o'clock the day cleared up, it bad been raining heavily all the forenoon which prevented numbers from attending. HoweTer, 3000 were present during the afternoon. The grand stand was crammed with visitors, though but few ladies were present. The course was very heavy through the heavy rain experienced, but was not c*t up. A totalisator was on the ground, and was fairly patronised. The police did not interfere with the person who managed it. , Maiden platb—SOsots ; Weight for age, U Miles. Libeller ... ... ... 1 Kenilworth ... 2 Maid of Honour ... ... 3 Time, 2inins 27secs. Daisy, Introduction, and Lady Gertrude Started; Maid of Aihol was scratched.

Hvbdle Bace.—£so; 2 miles, over 9 hurdles. Loch Lomond ... .;. 1 | Lone Hand 2 Agent ... 3 Loch Lomond took the lead from the start, with Lone Hand in close companionship, changing places occasionally with Agent. AH cleared the hurdles without fault. Coming into the straight Lone Hand came into competition, and was only a length behind. On coming to the last hurdle Lomond struck the hurdle, and the rider, Mclvor, came on hia neck, giving Lone Hand a chance to come up. Both flogged to the post, where they finished a dead heat. The rider of Lone Hand entered a protest against Lomond on the ground of jostling, on coming to the scales, but was not prosecuted, and Lone Hand retiring, Lomond was left to walk over for the first place ; time 4mins 30secs. An Auckland horse th.9 winner. Auckland Cup—3oosqvs; Sweep, lOsovs 2| miles. Ariel (F. Mathews) . 1 Laertes ... ... ... 2 Balmoral ... 3 . Hippocampus, Sinking Fund, Lara, Bata, Merlin, Landy, Elizabeth, Maivern,Gillie Callum, Yatapa, and Harold also ran. Templeton, Maritana, Pinfire, Maid of Honour, Bepo, Lalla Hookh and Loch Lomond were scratched. Betting : 2 to 1 Sinking Fund, 4 to 1 Hippocampus,! 4 to 1 Lara, 6 to 1 Ariel, 100 to 8 Laertes, 100 to 2 Balmoral, 100 to 3 Merlin, 100 to 5 Lady Elizabeth, 100 to 2 Bata, 100 to 4 Yatapa and Harold, 100 to 3 Gillie Callum. The heavy course made a material difference, and probably caused some heavy-weigh ted ones to decline; but the field was large, and ample room was left tor speculation. To call the result a boil over is bare truth, and some of the bookmakers and knowing ones were severely bitten. Edgar, the owner of Ariel, and Mathews, his trainer and rider, turn in upwards of a thousand on the betting alone, for no odds were considered too long against Ariel. Hippocampus had a number of friends, and was expected to pot money, but he gave out after a mile and a-half; At the start Hippocampus sprang to the front, with Malvern on her quarter, the rest in a cluster except Lara and Merlin, who bung on post. The order changed frequently up to the second round, when Bata led out of the cutting with Laertes on his quarter, Balmoral third, Hippocampus fourth, and Sinking Fund fifth. The two latter, evidently tiring Bata, < succumbed soon after, given place to Laertes, but Ariel,, ridden with great! judgment and consummate skill, was carried beyond the second, challenged Laertes, and collared him in the straight, Laertes being thoroughly beaten. Ariel .won by four lengths, amidst loud plaudits. ■ Time: 4tnins. 23|secs. Bailway Plate, 50 soys., weight for age, £ mile. Billingsgate ... ... ... 1 Eenilworfch ... ... ... 2 Maid of Athol ... ... 3 Maritana, Introduction, and Tim Whiffler aisu started. Tim Whiffier made the running for three parts of the distance, when he was collared by Billingsgate, who, running away in the straight as he liked, won by about 3 lengths; Maid of Athol was a good third.

Hubby Scubby, 10 soys, 6 entries, was won by McGee's Old Times, which was bought in by the owner at £27.

A Solvent Court.

The 17th anniversary of the City of Auckland Court, A.< 1.F., was celebrated by a concert and ball which passed off successfully. The report showed over 300 members on the books, and funds to the credit of over £2,000.