CHATHAM ISLANDS MEETING

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27246, 13 January 1954, Page 4

CHATHAM ISLANDS MEETING

ROYAL SPARK BEATEN IN CUP

SECOND WITH 12ST IN TWO MILE RACE

On New Year’s Day, 1953, a bay gelding named Royal Spark earned the title of "Dalray of the Chatham Islands” with his efforts to win the two-mile Chatham Island Cup (carrying 11-12), the Kaiaia Handicap, one mile and a half (carrying 11-12), and the Jcokey Club Handicap, one mile and a quarter (carrying 12-0). At this year’s meeting of the Chatham Islands Jockey Club, Royal Spark was gallant in defeat in the cup event, according to a Waitangi correspondent. A popular choice in spite of his maximum weight of 12-0 for the event, he all but succeeded again, finishing second to Maharamai (10-7) in a field of 12. The race was run in fine weather, but onpa heavy track. The time was 3min 51 l-ssec—much slower than the 3min 47 2-ssec which Royal Spark recorded the year before. The cup was the fourth race on the programme. Royal Spark was produced again in the fifth event and carried 12-0 to beat his eight rivals over one mile and a half in 2min 51sec.

He was again required to carry 12-0 in the seventh event, over one mile and a quarter, and he was a good second to Miss Miltiades (10-10) in a field of 15. Miss Miltiades also won the Waitangi Plate, six furlongs, with 11-0, and the onemile Publicans’ Stakes, with 10-4. This chestnut mare repeated her record of winning three events the previous year. Other winners on the programme were Mihimai, Royal Prince, and Lucky Star.

In Ninetieth Year The Chatham Islands Club is now in its ninetieth year, and it has had a twomile race since its Inception. The club races under Racing Conference Rules, and has to apply for a permit and submit a. programme each year, in the same manner as clubs in New Zealand proper.

The fixture is, for most of the inhabitants of the islands, the big day of the year. The attendance at the meeting is always very nearly 100 per cent, of the population. The track, just under seven furlongs, is situated between Waitangi and Te One. The course is quaint. The corrugated iron and old timber grandstand makes claim to be the smallest in the world. With 150 spectators on it, it is loaded. The course has no rails and is marked out with posts. No barrier is used, the fields being brought into line by flags held by starters on both sides of the track.

The stake distributed for this year’s Auckland Cup was £12,500; the Chatham Islands Cup was worth £37, with £9 for second and £5 for third. To overcome the shortage of lightweight jockeys, weight-for-age races were run at the Chatham Islands scale, aged horses carrying 10-9 over one mile, as against the standard of 9-1. No totalisator was operated, and betting was done by 2s 6d sweepstakes. From these sweepstakes the club takes a percentage.