THE TURF.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 18, 21 July 1900, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE TURF.

LBy Cuackshot.j

RACING FIXTURES. 25th July— Hawkes Bay Hunt Club Meeting. 14th, 16th, and 13th August,— New Zealand Grand National Meeting. RACING AT THEy HUTT. Under more favourable circumstance* the opening day oi the Wellington Raaing Club's Winter Meeting on Wednes- j day would have been a gigantic sucaess, for the splendid fields had drawn an musuaily large number of visitors from til parts of the colony, and would have enticed a great many city folk to the Hutt. The threatening morning interfered greatly with the attendance, which, nevertheless, was good, and considering the wretched day the club has cause lor congratulation that the day's racing panned out as well as it did. Although the course was in a very bad state, backers mustered in force, putting £1391 more through the legalised channels of betting than was received at the corresponding day last year. It was icy cold on the course, but this did not deter visitors from taking a deep 'iuteresfc in the sport, which was decidedly good, for which the handicappers (Messrs. J. O. Eyett and J. E. Henrys) are to bo complimented. In the first event on tha card — tha Maiden Steeplechase — Pipi and Dr. Bill declined their engagements, and it looked a good thing tor Cairo. He -was in fine fettle, and Laing took him to tha front from the jump. He fenced capably, and Tui was the only one who could keep anywhere near him. With half a mile to go, she was about six lengths from the favourite, but she stumbled after clearing the second to last fence and dislodged P. Johnson. Silver Ray, who was a long way behind thus was enabled to gain second money. The big weight and the heavy going stopped the lightlyI built Capapie gelding. The rain began to fall previous to tha Stewards' Handicap, and continued mora or less all the afternoon. St. Peter was picked out as a prime thing for the short race, being backed down to about a 7 to 2 chance despite the soft going. He appeared dangerous at the home turn, but failed to come on, slipping about a deal when under pressure. St. Clements' brother also had a bad run round tha bend. "Jerry" George, the shrewd" Taranaki trainer, supplied the winner in Lasting, one of hia own breeding, by Sylvia Park from Durus, a mare which won numerous races for him in her day. Lasting hopped off first, and kept "lris position to the end, his rider (a son of J. George) thus making use his light impost. The winner is a good stamp of a horse, resembling his sire a deal in conformation and his dam in colour. There were several who appeared to have a good chance at the turn, for just behind Lasting came Indian Shot, The Mirier, St. Peter, Quiltina, and Derringcotte, the latter being' on the extreme outside, having had to make* up a lot of ground through being slow to get away. This settled his chance, and ,he could not see it out. The Miner, Derringcotte, Quiltina, and iluby Twist were cased up towards the finish. Indian Shot who was very bright in the coat and never looked better, was always prominent, and but for the heavy going might have won. He waa paying close on a £20 dividend, and his owner-trainer (Mr. J. O'Driscoll) would have made a haul, had lie scored. King's B&wman"was witE the leaders for five furlongs and then collapsed. The Taranak'i people had a good win over Lastinsfs victory, the dividend being £9 12s. Leah's repeated failures did not prevent backers from staking heartily on the Foulshot-Sula mare in the Maiden Hack Race, and this time she pulled through all right. She and Dum Dum were first to begin, and they remained in front to the straight. Here Leah drew out, but when Dum Dum threw out a challenge Leah' momentarily showed signs of wavering, but Jenkins nursed her splendidly, and she apparently won easily, although I doubt if she -frould have done much better if punished. It was I time Prosser had a win with the mare, for she has been in commission for over 14 months without winning a race. Dum Dum is a nice cut of a gelding, by Remington from Mr. James Macara's old favourite Minnie Palmer. Ha should be heard of again; and so should Sir Redvers, who finished third. The latter is a half brother to Coin and Tui, by Fiske. Turanganui, the fifth horse, is a six year old gelding by Voltigeur, owned by Mr. James Orr, of Martinborough. Smithy a chestnut Treason gelding, trained by I. Freeth at Tauherenikau, was a" strong Wairarapa fancy. He got Dadly away, but ran up to the leaders with a fine spurt around the bend. This pumped aim out. He, however, showed his ability to ijet up The Guard and Stockade dropped out of the Winter Hurdle Handicap, leaving a field of thirteen competitors. Commission money made Chevalier a trifle over an even money chance, the next best backed being Coin, Black Dust, Plain Bill, and Dr. Bill. The favourite, perhaps, was the best conditioned of the whole, but little fault could be found with the condition of Plain BUI, Hauriri, and uoin. Plain Bill was very niuscu^r and healthy. Coeur de Lion Avai an improved horse to what he was ob Napier P«ik, and he will go on improving. Dr. Bill looked well, but his< preparation was rather hurried, in consequence of his displaying soreness some time back.' which necessitated a respite from work. Coin and- Hauriri acted as pace-makers, and the field soon began to tail out. With half a mile to go, ■the only ones to have a chance were Hauriri, Chevalier, Coeur de Lion, Coin, aad Voltaire. Coin by this time had had enough after keeping with Hauriri from ilie start. Chevalier, who ha& been jumping splendidly, and was going weh within himself, then began to creep up to Hauriri, and was within a length and a half of him at the second and last fence, when he made a bad jump and lost at least three lengths, rie, however, soon made that up, and the pair % rose at the last hurdle almost f-imull'aueously. The favourite again made a faulty jump, losing about two lengths. Being righted he rushed up to the outside, and soon after turning for home ranged himself on the right a.ongside Hauriri. Johnson had up to this not moved on the favourite, but at the distance he sat down and rode him for all he was worth. Both riders were lhai'd at it, and as the pair ran locked together, the excitement ran high. Hauriri appeared to just keep his head in front, and .sticking to his task manfully appeared to have a slight advantage on Teaching the judge's chair. The judge, however, declared a dead heat. It was a fine struggle, and both riders md horses received a cheer. Hauriri displayed fine gameness, for, despite the fact that he made nearly all the pace, he struggled under extreme prapsura for the last two furlongs. His rider (J. Walls), however, was unable to use his whip when Chevalier came alongside him, or else he might have caught the judge's eye first. Both horses finished a.- straight as an arrow. Chevalier undoubtedly spoiled his chance through his two faulty jumps, due, it appears,, to. the hurdles being partly knocked down. His only defeat over the small sticks — at Takapuna— was also caused through one of tha fences being canted, and he appears tq dislike jumping at obstacles

partly knocked down. On Wednesday he twisted one of his plates when he struct a iiurdle, and this caused ' him to slip somewhat. Of the others, Coeur dft Lion shaped best, but he had no chance- with the d»ad-heaters, finishing ten lengths off them. He could nob cut in the geiag, but he fenced well. Voltaire was close on to the Lion at tie finish, and Plain Bill and Coin were nob far away from VolWire. Voltigcur ran a duffer, being last all the way, and he and Black Dust finished almost a dead heat for last place. Dr. Bill ran. fairly wevl for a mila and a half, but then died out of it. Taplow looked well, but came a croppar at the second fence. The Hon. J. D. Onnond's representative Teineraire had the reputation of having done a splendid trial at Hastings j while the connections behind St. Ursula and \Vilv-o'-the-\Wsp were very confident as to the result of the Parliamtntary Handicap. This trio carried the most money. Turning for home tuere was not much to choose between Derringcotte, Will-o'-the-Wisp, Crusoe, Temeraire, and Sundial, but the two former came on in the straight, and young Robinson, on his father's horse, Will-o'-the-Wisp, waited on Derringcotte to the •last few strides, and beat him by a long neck. St.\ Ursula, Ruamahunga, Gobo, and Volley each had a bad passage, and they would have given a better display under more favourable conditions. Ruby Twist lacked brilliancy, and had too much ground to make up in the latter part of the rac». The Hack and Hunters' Steeplechase was delayed some time in the rain on account of Menaderva falling in the preliminary jump at the water, and throwing Arnott, she careered around the course. Curipusly she was th» only competitor which' negotiated the course without a mishap in- the race, and finished by herself. ICaiwhakaroa, the favourite, appeared to have the race in hand when he toppled over in front of the stand. Maparu, who dwelt at her fences, was running second five furlongs from home, but threw out at the post and rails. F. Cochrarie re-mounted her, and having more pace than Lottie Collins (who had also been re-mounted), beat the latter at the end for second money. Gipsy Prince? who ran off at the second fence, is a good sort of a 'chaser. A big surprise was effected in the Hack Race, a complete outsider in Wairaka streaking to the front at the start, and winning all the way. Ngatahuia came with a nice run round the bend, but list 91b in the mud proved too much for him, and he would not see it out. Wairaka is a nugetty gelding, by Wonderland from Waihora, and much resembles Rata in appearance. Many thought it was Mr. Orr'a gelding winning. Wairaka was tried with his stable mate Roney on the morning previous to the race, when Roney beat her by half a dozen lengths over six furlongs. The other competitors were never in the hunt.