RACING IN THE RAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 288, 4 December 1911, Page 5

RACING IN THE RAIN.

A SENSATIONAL DAY. ELEVEN HOUSES FALL. With rain falling steadily, i-lthough not heavy, all Saturday morning, a postponement of the concluding day o! the fakapuna Jockey Club's winter meeting was looked for, but the weather prophet connected with the club cheerfully prognosticated that the rain would (ease at high water, about 2 p.m. Whether this influenced the stewards or not. it is hard to say, but it was decided to go on with the racing. The course had nut been a fleeted to any great extent when the first race, the Hurdle Ra.ce, w.»s decided —although one horse, Bon Cyr, fell 012 the flat going om, of the straight—while in the second race, the Stanley Handicap, a four furlong flutter was got off without any mishap. The interval between the second and third races saw the rain fail heavier, and when the field went out for the Spring Handicap, the big event of the day. it was coming down fairly solid and the course wa> saturated.

ion horse..-. Parted for the event, and Wee Olga (Buchanan) led to the turn out of the straight, where she appeared to slip, and ran out wide, hut kept her feet. A couple of lengths behind. Sphinx 'Whittaker), Maheno (M. Kyan). Miss Livonia (O'Shea), Master .lack (Conquest), and BluelGarment tStenning) were racing almost in line, when Sphinx slipped, and fell, bringing down Maheno and Miss Lironii. while Master Jack which w*as on the inside, also slipped and fell, and there was a general mix-up of horses and riders on the ground. It was at first feared that serious results would follow, but with the exception of A. Whittaker, the others soon got on their feet, although M. Ryan, the rider cf Maheno. was badly dared. Whittaker. on being conveyed tn the casualty room and examined by Dr. Guinness, was found to be suffering slightly from concussion. besides being cut about th e face and badly bruised, his injuries, however, not being serious. The next event, the Vauxhall Handicap, brought out a field of fourteen, the race being started in a blinding shower. At the first turn Avalon came down, her rider. Stockier, falling under his mount, which slid along some distance with Stockley underneath, and it looked as if he would be serioi.sly, it not fatally injured: but to the surprise and relief of the onlookers, as soon as he got clear he scrambled to his feet, and was able to walk hack to the paddock. In the meantime, Miss Ada (McFlinn), Cloudy Dawn (Oliver), Rutter (C. Brown), Miss Jewel iHall). and Lenelia (E. Wilson), all came to grief at various stages, the riders, with the exception oi Hall, soon regaining t!ieir feet. Hall, an apprentice attached to Mr. F. Loomh's stable, was brought in by the ambulance, an examination by Dr. Guinness disclosing slight concussion and a bad shaking, and he was removed to Nurse Brett's private hospital. In addition to the falls mentioned above. Master Lane, one of the starters in the race, collided a; the finish with Cloudy Dawn, one of the riderless horses, 1.. Morris, the rider of Ma.-.ter Lane, being thrown, but luckily escaped with a shaking. The stewards met at the conclusion of j the Vauxhall Handicap, and wisely decided to postpone the remaining events. A further meeting was called for this afternoon to consider the date on which the postponed events- will be run off.