THE D.J.C. SUMMER MEETING

Otago Witness, Issue 2490, 4 December 1901, Page 49

THE D.J.C. SUMMER MEETING

The showers of rain that were falling- on Thursday morning last, in conjunction with a very threatening appearance overhead, seriously affected the altendari.es at Wingatui on the opening day of the Dunedin Jockey Club's Summer meeting. On the lawn the attendance looked meagre, but outside a fair crowd of people were on hand. Dunedinites are evidently only fair-weather sportsmen, and fairly strong inducements have to be held out in order to make them betake themselves to Wingatui on a race day. Then, again," we are most unpatriotic, because many evidently go out strongly imbued with a fault-finding spirit, and those who should praise and endeavour to popularise the course are amongst the many who are continually decrying it. The club can draw up programmes, but unless the public bestow a fair amount of patronage on the club's efforts to galvanise racing into a healthy vitality the present state of things stands little chance of improvement. In order to have good racing at Wingatui, it is necessary that owners at a distance should have sufficient inducement held out to them to nominate and race. Unfortunately, we are not overflush of ovyneis in Dunedin. The cost and inconvenience incurred in bringing horses from Christchurch to Mosgiel is no small item, and it is absolutely necessary that good stakes should be on the programme in order to induce owners to race at the Wingatui racecourse. However, it is perhaps unreasonable to expect that each race meeting held at Wingatui should reward the club with a handsome profit, and it is to be hoped that better weather and attendance will be on hand at the Cup fixture.

Racing commenced with the decision of the Selling Race, and Dartmoor, one of the latest additions to our list of horses in training at Wingatui, had no great difficulty in silencing the opposition in the race. The son of St. Leger was returned to his owner after the race for the sum of £50. Senior Wrangler resolutely declined to take part in the race, and was left at the post when the barrier was released, [n the Dunedin Handicap, the Stepniak — Mist colt, Vladimir, won all the way. Sarchedon will require more time before he can be seen at his best, and Bombardo is another that may be expected to show improvement in the autumn. The winner's stable companion Noblesse, by St. Leger — Lady Emily, was inclined to be fractious at the pa«t, and three furlongs is at present about the length of hei tether. In her preliminary for the First Hack Petrovna moved soreish, but this did not affect her greatly in the race, as when once in the straight she came away from the others, and won veiy easily". Western Bell is making 1 considerable improvement, but Transport did not shape up to expectations, ai.d was the first hoise beaten in the race.

In the Otago Handicap punters pounced on Pampero as a fairly good thing, and he was sent out an odds-on favourite. M'Ginms had him looking \<*ry well. Fulmen also looked well to the eye. and was raced in knee boots. Canteen was* a irifle sluggish, and ha? not yet got over the effects of his N.Z. Cup -ampaign. The grey struggled gamely enough to foot it with Pampero at the finish, but the latiei ettled him as easily on this occasion as the ,*rey did Pampero tvheu he met the bearer of the Zetland spots, in the sarly spring. Nihilist bore a more trained appearance than usual, but the going was too hard {or the handsome son )f Stepuiak and Sincerity He moved shortibh in his pieliminary, and in the actual race the brown only ga\e one exhibition of his true form, and that was when the field were racing along the back stretch. The race requires little description, as Hewitt, on the vrimiei, waited in behind the others until heads were turning for home, and then the chestnut strode past on the ou'=ide, and won easily. Pampero is well adapted to Hewitt's crouch seat, and 1 JBJQUtte t>bs sou of St. Clair *s beia_; con-

spicuously suited to that style of horsemanship. Pampero has powerful shoulders, and is very strong in front of the saddle. In appearance his middlepiece is wanting, and so deep is his chest and heart-room that the girths of his saddle are very far back, and at first blu«h one would think that they had slipped away from their right position. Little or no fault can be found with his quarters, and otherwise he is all right. The horse will probably journey to .Auckland, to take part in the Cup meeting at that city. Aqualis was raced in the Maiden without plates, and was scratching all the way, and never once got properly going. Foray gave Gipsy Grand a bit of a lift by her win in the race. The mare had a go.od lead throughout, but just managed to beat Silver Rupee at the finish. Mr Paul's mare came with a latish fun, or the verdict may have been altered. The brilliant little jst. Denis was settled after going a furlong in the Federal Handicap, but gamely chased the other two in the race. When he was pulled up and brought back to the paddock he walked very sore. Old Goldspui led the field a merry dance, and streaked over thefirst half mile in 51seo, but was tiring at tiie finish, after breasting the hill. Red Gauntlet put in a strong challenge at the finish, and Goldy had his work cut out to shake him off. Mr Godfrey's gelding was pulled out again the following race to chase Blazer, and cain another " tenner," which was given for second place in the SalisburyPlate. In the First Weker the Nihilist party were a trifle hard on the brown when they started him in the race. The horsewas very sore, and did not have a chance at any part of it. Wild West beat the others very easily at the and the decision of this event brought the day's racing to a finish.