THE RACING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2362, 1 June 1899, Page 35

THE RACING.

The results were, of course, affected by the heavy going. The course was not only heavy, but sticky. The water lies on the surface more than at Forbury. For this reason it will the quicker dry in a wind or under the influence of the sun, but as .there was neither wind nor sun last week, the course was at its very worst. Some of the horses splodged about more than others. That is an ordinary experience. The more important fact was that in a few cases a horse slipped one day and galloped well the other. Benzoin's performances may be cited as an illustration. He won the Maiden Plate easily in lmin 55sec for the mile, and next day, raised 91b, he could not get a place in the Farewell, the time of which was lmin 56sec. Glenelg performed erratically. He ran a really good race in the Birthday Handicap, never had a look in in the Provincial Handicap, and then came back to form in the Farewell. Take, too, the case of Visionary. She. apparently, could not gallop the first day, but was going like a racer up to the time she got knocked on to a post on the Thursday. Then there is the running of Vulcan and Silver crest. On the Wednesday Silvercrest, receiving 101b (I refer to the actual weights carried),, romped over Vulcan at every part of the Hack Race, whereas on the second day, there being 91b between them, Vulcan held Silvercrest perfectly safe in the last quarter^of a mile. There is no need to extend the list. A good deal of tho form was inconsistent; but I do not attribute this to pulling. The course was so deceitful under the conditions which prevailed that consistency was not to be expected, and for aught that I can say the racing was quite straight. Noting the races in the order of the card : Witchcraft won with nothing to spare, the point in her favour being the horsemanship of Len King. If all had stood \ip in the Hurdle Race the chances are we should have seen afinish 'tween Windermere and Glenore. The Birthday Handicap was a splendid race up to a furlong from home, after which Starshot had a solo. I do not think much of Skirmisher's second, for the others were stopping, and that was why he was able to clear out from them. He would have stopped, too, if Buddioomb had given him half a show. Starshot won this race last year, and on that occasion Sequin was second. Bobby Reay has had hard luck to be second twice to a mare~that ho sold. Previous winners are here shown :

Benzoin, Mr Hobbs's English-bred colt, won the Maiden fairly easily at the finish, but I think he was doing his best up to 50yds from home. He is a powerful-bodied colt, but not particularly good about the legs, his small knees looking weak. Hypnotist ran a really good race, and will win before long. Jupiter made the Welter no race at all. M'Comb had a firm grip of him all along the straight, and won by no more than was necessary. The public backed Nihilist for the Selling Race with such keenness that he started an odds-on favourite, but he either could not or would not act, and Proposal was able to pass him and. win easily. The Tradesmen's Handicap found Eidelweiss and Quickshot II smartest away, with Tiger Lily next, but after a furlong or so Vanilla and Brisa ran past and the latter won easily. She struck her leg in "the race, however, and had to be scratched for her second day's engagements. Red Banner would have very nearly won the St Clair Welter had she not hung at the post. As it was, Abercrombie had an easy win. The Hurdle race found Glenore and Lobe and Pioneer coming to grief ; but I think Windermere would have won even if he had stood up. He is a good horse of his class. Jupiter was not intended to make his run so early in the Provincial Handicap ; but little Duncan, finding the horse so full of running, wisely deoided to let him sail on in preference, to pulling his head off and obeying the letter of his orders. This is a promising young jockey. Maimoa, the pony, showed V lot of speed for half a mile in the Novel Race, but could not live with Wedlock on the point of staying. Tiger Lily wanted only ordinary luolc to win the Wairongoa Handicap. He suffered* somewhat by the accidental bumping that took place in tho straight, and was only just beaten in one of the most spirited finishes I have seen this season. Visionary's mishap in the Hack Handicap cost her the race. She was accidentally bumped by Silvercrest and knocked on to a small post and had her eye cut. J'Jven after this she nearly caught Silvercrest in their race for the £5 astern of Vulcan. Benzoin shaped badly in the Farewell, and Glenelg's gameness carried the prize to Southland.

[891— Eetina ... 4yrs 1892— Don Pedro ... syrs onolMelinite ... 4yre l 89 'V Captive .. "3yrs 1894 — Hippomenes Byrs 1895— SaiMcen ... syrs IS96— Quiltiri ... Syrs 1897— Skirmisher ... 6yrs LB9B— Starshot ... 4yrs 1899-Starshofc .. Byrs 7 7 244 jCI2 1 li 9 247 7 1 69 /2/ 2 50 \ 41! 8 8 245 511 8 6 2 f-5} - 2i; 710 2 49J 7 ' 8 4 247} 6 ( 812 2 46J 21] 832 254 311 (1 S LS L 6 LI 4 t [1 10