On Thursday next (Queen's Birthday) turfites will foregather once more on the pretty suburban racecourse at the Shore to enjoy the good sport promised under the programme of the Takapuna Jockey Club. Turfites have seldom, if ever, been disappointed in their anticipations of thorough enjoyment at the Gab's fixtures, and the meeting to commence on Que en's Birthday promisee to fulfil, in providing a bountiful eupply of good, enjoyable racing, the high anticipation witb which all - turfites have been looking forward to it. If we bufc have Queen's weather, then Bhall we have Qneen's racing , for the events programmed are so satisfactory regarding both qnality and quantity that under ordinary conditions they cannot fail to be productive of exciting contests ; and such promise of good racing, aided by fine weather, in ceitain to attract a big at tendance to participate in its fulfilment. Mr Knight's handicaps for the various events, though not perhaps beyond a'i criticism, are, at any rate, very equable in most instances. No donbt exemplifications of the uncertainty in racing will come to tbe aid of the handicapper in those vety few inatancea where, possibly, he haa been somewhat lenient. Taken altogether, and judged by past productions of hia own and other handicappers' hands, theae. handicaps for Thursday's racing show but very few and very slight faults ; and these may be only in seeming. Racing will commence at 12 noon with the Maiden Hnrdlea, for which there are thirteen acceptors. Aa all are either wholly nntiied or only partially tried jumpers, the way to & forecast ia rather difficult. I shall content myself with naming Cavalier aa a possible winner. For the Maiden Plata wbich follows, I shell name Cadiz, St. lonis, Swif.foot. Tbe Pony Race will depend aomewhitoi the state of the going. In good goiDg I would choose Lena. In any case I think Cuiaine and Mitnoa. should run well ; perhaps Cuiaine may wiu.. The Birthday Handicap being the b'g event of the day, the bnik of interest will be centred oh it.. It is likely to prove a moat interesting race. I think Firtfly, Dayntree and Hastings have the best bf tbe handicap. The last named may triumph.. Eorowai seems likely to account for the Hurdle Race. She is in good form now, and has shown herself to be a very fair one over hurdles. 