SECOND DAY.

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

SECOND DAY.

Sandwiched in between the two days' racing at Wingatui was the Show day, and for this fixture gloriously fin© weather was on hand. It was confidently expected that this would continue the following day, but the morrow brought with it a repetition of the same weather as was experienced on the Thursday, the first day of the meeting. Rain fell at intervals, but was not sufficiently heavy to entirely mar the pleasure of the day's racing. The ball was set rolling with the Novel Handicap, and the only two horses nominated went to the post. These were Sharpshot and Senior Wrangler. For this race the rogue's badge which adorned the erratic son of Medallion on the first day was removed, and. as if he were aware of the fact, Mr M'Kewen's horse was induced to leave the mark. He afterwards raced fairly kindly, and Sharpshot stopping after going a furlong and a-half, through lack of racing condition, allowed him to win by 20 odd lengths. Mr M'Kewen bought the winner in aftei the race for £16. Foray was a strong order for the Second Welter, but when racing well in the lead two furlongs from home the mare nearly came down through stumbling, and entirely lost her position and chance in the race. The mishap to Foray left Vandyke ' with a commanding lead in front of the others, and this lie maintained to the finish. Wild West came with a late run, and got second money. Dartmoor was also putting in a good run at the finish. Billet Doux was well up. with the othere at the turn into the straight, but will require a lot more time before he is seen at his ,best. This cleared the way for the St. Andrew's Handicap. Mr Goodman turned out Cherrystone looking very fit and well, but the little mare -was outclassed, and had no chance with Pampero at the finish. Canteen lay second to Cherrystone until <i furlong from home, when he shot his bolt, and Hewitt came along on Pampero. Although the winning margin was not quite a length, it could have been increased had the rider of the winner desired. Although not enamoured with some of Hewitt's finishes, it must be said that no fault could be found with the patient manner he handled Pampero in both his races at the meeting. In both Pampero's races the opposition turned out to 'be rather weak, but he did what %vaa required in a most convincing manner. In the Stephenson Memorial, when the pair of starters were sent away, Blazer began badly, and Goldspur quickly put in a gap of a couple of lengths, which he slightly increased at the end of three furlongs. Goldspur turned into the straight about two lengths in front of Blazer, who ran wide at tlv» turn. This it was afterwards said was caused through Mr Solomon's gelding stumbling. At the halfdistanca Blazer was almost on the leader's quarters, and when within a few strides of the post got to Goldspur's girths. The St. Clair gelding looked liked winning when he threw up lii> head, and old Goldspur sailed home a winner by a short length. It looked as if the rider of Goldspur unintentionally frightened Blazer with his whip, but the race was lost thiough over-confidence at the start by Jackson, snd when it came to a ilose thing bis faiish was wanting in determination. Goldspur received a round of applause when he returned to the weighing enclosure, and the old fellow is very popular with racegoers. Ayrdale won the Second Hack from end to end, but had to be shaken up to re-M.-t a challenge from The Serf at the finish. Petroi na was sore before the race for thp Grand Stand Handicap, and isi the race did not raoa up tc her usual form. Red Gauntlet was ridden a good race by S. Smith, and he won with little to spare. Noblesse caused some delay at the post in the Juvenile Handicap, and when the barrier -was sent up Lady Ecselyii at once shot out and the result was afterward? never in doubt. Navarie was going well at the turn, but after dying away came again and got second place Sarrhedon vas well supported, but was never a serious menace to the winner. The following are the weights put up on the board for the Farewell Handicap : Fulmen 8.13, Nihilist 8.6, Spinner 8.3, Wild West 8.1. Vandyke 8.0, Red Banner 7.11, Edelweiss 7.10, Foray 7.9, Dartmoor 7.7, Donna Rosa 7.4. Peerage 7.2. Black Pool 6.13, Transport 6 11. The scratching pen was freely used, and six went to the post. These were Fulmen, Tlip Spinner. Wild West, Edelweiss, Red Banner, and Peenge. This furnished the last race of the meeting. From a good start the first to show out was Wild We'-t, and Peerage \\a= ■slow in getting on his legs. Tlio Silvennark mare continued in the lead until turn'ug into the straight, vhen King on Red Banner, M'Coinb on Fulmen, and Smith on Peerage moved up to fche leadei. Well inside the distanco W:ld West had them all beaten but Fulmen. who came with a run and gof- up in time to make a dead heat of it, Red Banner half a length a^\ay third. Many thought that Fulmen won, but the judge thought otherwise. The Sp'nnor was a quiet tip for this race, but lie was in trouble from the start. Peerage ran wellj but was badly handicapped, through

______ _ _■' losing a lot of ground at the start. When horse is coming with a rush at the finish of a race ho always appears to bo- more likely to' hold the spectator's eye .'han the horse on which he is gaining. At a stride past the post in the Farewell Handicap) Fulmen was in front of Wild West, and when a finish is as close as the last race on Saturday was, the spectators are never guilty of being unanimous in their verdict. It is only the "man in the box" who is in a direct line with the winning post, and he is the only one in a position to judge a very close finish. In the totalisator investments on the machine during the two days there was a shrinkage of no less than £3810 10s, as compared with the amount invested at the same meeting last year. La«t year the amount handled was £10,535 10s, and this year the total wa3 £6725 10s. This shrinkage was not entirely due to the small attendance and bad weather, but rather to the poor fields engagein several of the races.