GOSSIP BY "HIPPONA."

Observer, Volume 5, Issue 120, 30 December 1882, Page 252

GOSSIP BY "HIPPONA."

— Mr James Paul, secretary of the Taranaki Jockey Club, has sent me a copy of the programme for the Club's Anniversary .Meeting on tho 3rd and 4th April, and a very liberal one it is, considering the sice of the town. It reads thus :— First day.— Maiden Plate, 50sovs., 1$ miles; Handicap Steeplechase, 75aova., 3 miles ; Jockey Club Handicap, 300aovs., 2 miles ; Champagne Stakes, 50aovs., 6 furlongs (closed) ; Ladies' Purse, 50sovs., 1 mile and a distance. Second day — Taranaki Derby, 100sov«., 1£ miles (closed) ; Hurdle Race SOsovs., 2 " miles ; Autumn Handicap, ISOsovs., If miles ; Nursery Handicap, 30sovs., 6 furlongs j County Handicap, 50soys., 1J- miles ; Consolation, 30sovs., 1 mile. Nomination* for the Steeplechase, Jockey Club and Autumn Handicaps, Hurdles, Nursery and CountyHandicaps close on "Wednesday, 31st January. — The great weight-for-age contest, the V.B.C. Champion Stakes, .three miles, will be decided at Flemington on Monday next, and I think Commotion will place the "thou" to Mr Pearson's credit. At latest advices, this plucky sport was confident of his horse getting home first, and among other wagers, acceptod the short price of 2000 to 1000 that he wins. If Navigator (who, according to the cablegrams, is first favourite) can lower the colours of the son of Panic over three miles, he must indeed be a wonder ; and brilliant colt though he is, I am of opinion he will have to play second fiddle to Commotion. The other starters will probably be Darebin (who is being trained by Tom Lamond, and it is said will hare another inninga on the turf), Segenb.ce, Cunn&mulla, Jessie, Guesswork, one of Mr Branch's (perhaps Little Jack), and Coriolanua (the last winner). There has been but little betting on the event in Auckland tbU year.

' — Favoured with beautiful weather, the largest", attendance yet seen on the Ellerslie Eacecourse, aafl^ good racing, it was no wonder the opening day of tha Auckland Racing Club Summer Meeting- on Tueadav * was a great success. The improvements lately effected ' ; inside the paddock were most favourably commented' upon, while the lawn (which was tastefully surrounded with a number of pot plants) was in great favour withthe large number of well-dressed ladies present, who ■-. were enabled to display their toilettes in the intervals ' between the races. The old grand stand was packedbut the now one hardly met with the patronage expected* : Owing to the dry weather we have had. the course wag very hard, but it did not interfere with the running . while the stewards of the Club and Mr Porcival, t|a secretary, worked hard to secure the comforb andenjoy. ment of their- patrons. Proceedings commenced withthe Maiden Plate, 1£ miles, for which four faced t\', ■ starter, and it was reckoned such a nioral for ii t ,\ "Bate's " fine mare Minerva that there was no betti.t ■' ' and she fully justified the confidence of her owner \)j \ winning rather easily from Eubina. The two-year-oil' daughter of Kingsborough ran well, but the distant J proved a bit too far for her. Seven saddled up for ti. a v Free Handicap, 1 mile, and after a slashing race, Pisca. ■ torious, who was in fine fettle, succeeded in getting ' home first, Kenilworth being second, and Kingask third* •; Maid of Honour ran in this event, but owing to her heavy weight and want of condition could never get on terms with the leaders. The time was very fast, viz J limn. 45secs. All in the Hurdle Bace weighed out except Ngata, who had gone wrong, and as they went for the money, it turned out to be the best contested race of the day, the excitement at- the finish being intense. Canard, who was in. excellent condition, ran a great horse, and fully proved, what a good one he is in the best of company, which he met for the first time. New Year surprised many by the plucky way in which he stuck to the winner, and his rider succeeded in making a splendid finish oHt. Clarence ran agsod third. Lone Hand was most in "demand previous to the start, but although the old horse ran straight as a die, the com« pany was a bit above him. Agent was not himself and looked very big. The principal event of the day, the Cup, produced a field of nine, the most noticeable absentees being Turquoise, Kingask, and Minerva. The race needs little description, for the great favourite. Welcome Jack, ridden splendidly by Willie Butler, getting away with the start, had it all his own way the whole of the distance, eventually romping home th« : easiest of winners. The colt was brought out in the pink of condition, and looked fit enough to run for a kingdom. He i 3 the picture of a racehorse, and one of the handsomest colts ever seen here, while his propelling power is something wonderful. Welcome Jack was.brea by the Christchurch Middle Park Stud Company, and at their yearling sale was purchased by Mr E.'Kay for one hundred guineas, Mr Pilbrow also being a partner- in the transaction. A week or two previous to the C.J.O. Meeting, Ray disposed of his interest to Mr Pilbrow, who, it is understood, is his sole owner. The pedigree of Miss Flat's brilliant son reads as follows : —

The following are his previous performances :— At two years : At the Canterbury Jockey Club Spring Meeting ran fourth in the Welcome Stakes (h mile) won by Siesta, and fourth in the Nursery Handicap (jfinile) won by Nonsense. At the C. J".C. Autumn Meeting was unplaced with 7st-71b in tha Nursery Handicap (5 fur)won by Siesta. At three years : At Geraldine won the Maidon Plate (H miles) carrying 7st 51b, and ran second, with flat 81b to King Quail (7st 13lb) in the Geraldine Cup (2J miles). At the Canterbury Jockey Club Spring Meeting won the C.J.C. Handicap (2 miles), carrying 6st 51b ; ran unplaced in the' Cup, 2J miles, weight-for-age, won by Sir Mqdred. At Ashburton Spring Mooting won the Cup (1J miles), carrying Bst 121 b. As I anticipated, the consistent Tim Whiffler ran a great horso, and although but second, I consider his performance was a splendid one, for he was giving away lots of weight. He stayed every inch of the distance, and Rowlands, his trainer, is to be heartily congratulated on the manner he brought him to the post. The Poet, who was third, and well handled by Wattie, ran as he always does, gamely and well ; but I fancy the distance was a bit too far for him. Some of the " tickers " that were on made the time e 4min. Bsecs., while others made it 4min. lOsecß. Only four started- for tha Bailway Plate, and Welcome Jack, who was again saddled up, won easily from Minerva, Mitraillouse being third. This event ended one of the most successful race days yet held on the Ellerslie Course. • — The Auckland Racing Club's Summer Meeting will be continued on Monday next (New Year's Day), and Tuesday, and judging by the- success of tfee first day's racing, there should be capital sport on each sfternoon. Owing to the early day at which my copy goes to press, I am unable to make any comments on some of the races, and would advise my readers to wait until the numbers go up on each day, as it is next to impossible to know some owner's intentions until then. For the Derby, run on the first day, there is nothing in it but Welcome Jack, and if he starts, it is at his mercy, while the same remarks apply to his chaace in the Auckland Plate, set down for decision on Tuesday, while Kubiha or Nelson should win the Midsummer Sbafce3,the former for choice. The Steoplechasa promises to be a great race if all are sent, but I expect to see a lot of ''idead ones" in the market before the flag falls:^ My fancy at the present time is Mr Pilbrow's selected (Canard or Clarance), and Nbw Thab should run the •best of the pair very close for first honours ; while, for an upset, commend me to the chances of Chandler.

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