THE TAUHERENIKAU GATHERING.

Evening Post, Volume LXI, Issue 86, 13 April 1901, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE TAUHERENIKAU GATHERING.

The Wairarapa Racing Club was very successful over its Autumn Meeting, despite the showery and cold day on Tuesday. The totalisator ran up .to £9363, an advance of £679 on last year's. J. Cress's little mare Valley secured the Easter Handicap, after a great finish with Sir Geo. Clifford's cast-off Mackintosh. On the second day Volley met her full-brother, Ruamahanga, on 111b worse terms, and the going just suit-ing F. Barry's horse he beat her pretty easily at the finish, although she looked very dangerous at the top of tho straight. Ruamahanga only paid £1 17s. The stewards had Mr. Cress before them to •account fdr Volley's running in tho straight, but a satisfactory answer was forthcoming. Ruamahanga is a wonderful old horse, and is about the best second-rate horse in the country. When he is well he can cany a ton of weight amongst second-class and' win. He finished up at the meeting by winning three races.. In his first win he carried list 71b in "the Welter, and pub down a red-hot pot like Sir Agnos, who was backed for pounds, shillings, and pence by the' Wairai'apa folk. Ruamahanga therefore paid a good price (£4 4s), and his connections had a good win. The Voltigeur horse had 9st 9ib to .carry in the Stewards' Handicap on Tuesday, Westguard being in at 'Bst 131b, Sir Agnes at 7st 91b, and Dewdrop at 6st 71b. The result was the old horse ran away from them in the straight. There was dissatisfaction at tho running of Queen's Guard on tho first day. She was favourite for the Easter Handicap, bub ran last all the way. The owner explained to the stewards that tha person in charge of the mare had forgotten to remove her shoes previous to the race, and a notice to that effect was posted up for the information of -the public. The mare was brought out with her shoes, off in the Telegraph Handicap, to run against her stablemato, Westguard, and also Osborne. Westguard was heavily backed away from the course. Osborne, however, was on his best behaviour, and beat the good thing by a head. Queen's Guard again finished last, and the removal of the shoes did nob seem to improve her running. Mourner, a full brother to Kohinui, won the Maiden Hack Race from Benefactor, Ostiak's brother. Mourner is a fair sort, and should, make a decent hurdler. Bonne Esperance showed a lot of pace in his races, and ho ought to win before long. He is by Puritan from Antelos. Mustella bore oufc my opinion of her by winning the Flying Hack Handicap on Monday from*a well-backed lot, and paid a great nrice (£ls 10s). Gipsy Jack, Jemima, Rebounding Lock, Lord Raglan, and Racina carried most money. Forest Oak, by Forester-Belinda, won the Hack Welter comfortably on the first day, and ran 'a dead-heat with ' Ruamahanga's brother, Cavalier; in the High-weight Hack on' Tuesday. Forest Oak, however, would have won easily had his rider been more energetic from <the distance. He apparently tried to manage a "flash" finish, and nearly " missed the 'bus " in consequence. t I have been waiting for the Treason horse Smithy to strike form, being perfectly satisfied that he would win races .when he did. very big in condition, he managed to see the Moroa Hack (seven furlongs) out, and won from J. Gravestock's gelding Racina by a head. Smithy paid £18 3s. Now that he is in form he- is worth watching. Valkyrie, Whari'o's half-sister, came out in a new light. It has taken her all her time to get five furlongs, yet she went out in the mile Country Hack and led all the way. Still, she was ludky to win, as the boy on Sylvie was watching Mackintosh, and not taking notice of Valkyrie. When he went after the leader he found that he could not catch her in ' time. Valkyrie's dividend was £14 3s. Little Sylvie came out again in tho Farewell against open company,- and won from Mustella, Westguard, and Osborne. Sylvie is a nice little mare, and will be handy at country meetings. Lottie Collins, now in Pilbrow's hands, upset calculations in the Hurdle Race on the first day, paying £9 19s. "Paddy" M'Loughlin races the Voltigeur mare. Lottie, receiving 121b from Puhana, had to play second filly to Mr. Cross's horse on the second day, after a good race. Puhana has been a good investment for Mr. Cress, who has won four races with him on end. M\r. M'Konzio, the owner of Cyclist, the second horse, 1 protested against Lottie Collins when she won on protest was dismissed, and -, M'Loughlin was in the unpaid forfeit list. The protest was dismissed, a»d M'Laughlin was fined £2, and ordered to stand down for the rest of the meeting.