A RECORD OF SPORT.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 711, 6 January 1877, Page 3

A RECORD OF SPORT.

[Written expreesly for the Waikato Tihbb.]

«HB PAST AUCKLAND RACING CLUB MKIiTINGk

The Summer Meeting is now over, and •must be pronounced a success both iv ■reference <to the attendance on each day •and <to<the sport. The number of the >publio who visited the course bears 'favourable /comparison with previous .•years, *tlme proving the wisdom of the •committee 'in raising the admission money <to 2s. It was quite impossible under the -old shilling 'tariff to make tbe receipts at -all commensurate with the expenses, and <the club was quickly drifting into difficulties which would have rained it had mot a change been made. A good deal of credit is due to the railway authorities who have, lam glad to say, at last woke to the fact that •cheap holiday fares pay as well — if not •better — than . high rates, while they are smiieh more effectual ir< encouraging traffic. This time the return railway fare to the course was only ninepence, and il'll be bound there was more money taken than m any three days before. The weather on. the first day was splendid, but •on New Year's Day it was exesrable. The last day was as fine as could be wished- on the course, but strange to say ?in Auckland, at three o'clock, it rained heaven's hard. When tbe'handicaps were published, it was the general opinion that the Papakura >sable was unduly favoured. I heard one -old stager observe that Captain Hand ley must.. have slept with Mr Walters the «night before. But, alas, for human prognostications, not a shilling of the stakes money did this popular gentlemen come iin for.. Mr Wai tew always runs his horst&s fairly -and squarely, and his victor-" iies are invariably we'll received. Much sympathy is expressed 'for him, for his luck has been abominable He was cperauaded not to bring out the Fanny Fisher colt to oppose Danebury m tbe /Derby, but could not resist the temptation to send him for the Maiden Plate, which looked a gift for him against Skylark,. Sprig of Shillelagh, Derby, Aconite, and •such like cattle. Of course the colt came m first m a canter, but it turned out that die had gone tbe wrong side of the post at the bend for borne, and a protest being 'lodged he was disqualified. Izaak Walton j*an a very good race with Fallaoy for the Bail way Plate at£2lbs for the yea-, and •afterwards ran third for the Handicap. 'On ttiis running he was thought to have an excellent chance ot winning the Cap and some other races, but he ran worse and worse thebetter he got m, and finally allowed May Moon to beat him by half-a---dozen lengths, at level weights, over his • own distance, a mile, m the Stewards •Handicap. He is a brute, and if he had broken his neck he would have saved his owner some money. Then Kingfisher, for whom on his Southern running the Handicap and Cup looked very like -certainties, went dead amisß after a gallop on Christmas eve, and could not be 'brought to the post at all. Mr Walters ran Medea m two or three races, but she IB a perfect jade, and could not gallop fftsfesflftpugh to beat a man. The forturnatyplftn, par excellence, was Owen Mc^B^jWho landed four of the principal .events with his two mares, Perfume and May Moon. The former secured the ABO Handicap of 150 soys, and the 'Steeplechase of 100 soys ; and the pony 4ook the Hurdles, 80 soys, and the stewards Handicap of 100 soy?. You will see by my anticipatory notes that •Owen's success was not unexpected on my part, and here I may lay claim to .some credit for spotting- the winners of three out of the four big events, namely, the Hurdle Eace, ABC Handicap, and Steeplechase, and hope your readers profited by my hints. The smaller races and the Cup I must acknowledge being o« : m, but 86 ring that so many considerations are allowed to weigh before a horse is permitted to run m the minor events, and that Ariel was industriously reported lame, you will admit that my tips were as •near the mark as the majority of tips usually are. Following McGee's stable as I was, even I could not stand May Moon winning against Fallacy and Izaak Walton m the Stewards Handicap. It is a question whether she woull have done had Fallacy not fallen, indeed the two Jookeys agree m thinking Bay's mare would have proved the fleeter up the straight. The Auckland trainers are up m arms against Mr McQ-ee. What, will become of their business if this kind of thing goes on f Here is a man goeß and wins almost everything he goes for, after preparing bis horses by letting them run loose m a paddock, and scarcely ever giving them a rub down. The fact is •certainly significant, and deserves much attention from proprietors of race horses. And when we come to think of it, the • constitution of a horse is not unlike that -of a man* With men the old ideas of training on raw beefsteaks and Glauber's gaits are qu}te exploded, and natural Wealthy exercise and good wholesome food, without stint, have been found a much .more beneficial regime. Why should - horses be compelled to stow themselves m a close stable, stinking of dung and urine, any more than a man should be ttraiued by being confined m his bedroom, except • when he ia at exercise ? Depend upon ifc, McQ-ee has hit upon the

right idea, anfl his theory is indveaUn* itself. The Southern stable, Bob Hay and Co, has not done muoh. Only the Derby, of the big events, fell to their share, and that was a walk over ; the two Selling races, the Railway Plate .and the Publicans' Purae, constitute the remainder, of thoir winnings. There is no doubt that Danebury was not m his Christchurch form, while Middleton has been all to pieces ever since his arrival.

Backers' were hard hit by the scratching of Fallacy for the Grand Stand Handioap t'nd Tommy Dodd for the Steeplechase. For the former" withdrawal there was a very cood reason, for if the mare had

won the race the public selected her for, she would have incurred a penalty for the Dunedin Cap,, for -which ehe is fancied ; whereas by Bending her for the Publicans' Purse she ran no snch risk, as the prize does not amount to £100. Why Tommy was scratched I am unable to say, thoush I have heard many reasons assigned. He was favourite almost up to the time the pen was put through his name. The Kohimarama stable worked a very clever coup with Ariel, though as usual the publio were bluffed off by his sorathmg for the Handicap. When Mr Watt wins any money he likes to have it all to himself as a rule, and that ia what makes him so unpopular. There is scarcely a doubt that the rumour about his having fever m his feet was all moonsnine, for the horse was never m better fettle than he is now. It will be seen that m the Auckland Plate he gave Danebury 161bs and a good beating, which makes him about as good as Guy Fawkes ; whereas at Chrisfeohurch the back gave him 13lbs. and a great hiding m the C J C Handicap. Mr Buckland must be very sorry he cold Ariel to 2£r Watt for such a paltry sum as £300. He is worth three times that sum now, and has won his purchase money besides. The Southern horses leave on Monday next. I forgot to mention that Tommy Dodd did not change ownership, but was bought m after each selling race he won. — VatbS.