SPORTING. OTAKI WINTER MEETING. FIRST DAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXVII, Issue 132, 4 June 1904, Page 9

SPORTING. OTAKI WINTER MEETING. FIRST DAY.

Three factors contributed to the success of the first day's races of the Otaki ■Maori Racing' Club's Winter Meetingbright, exhilarating weather, a numerous attendance, and interesting racing. Thfe element* were particularly kind. A clear, crisp atmosphere, made invigorating by a fresh breeze, conspired to place the public on good terms with itself, and the general results following on tho day's outing— unsuccessful backors, perhaps, oxcepted—accentuated its pleasure. The course, considering tho heavy rain experienced during the past weok, wan iv , good condition, though in places tho ground was a trifle slippery— a fact which was- mado unpleasantly manifest in tho hack event, in which three horses camo down, nnvl resulted in ouo of the joekoys having his collnr-bono broken ana another being very seveiely shaken. The officials of tho club had tho arrangements in good working order, thu Secretary (Mr. Ocean Death) being especially painstaking. Tho starting was satislactorily carried out by Mr. C. Chavannea. The fields in all of the events wore large, and the handicapper (Mr. Pollock) set speculators a fairly difficult task. Sixteen faced tho starter in tho first race, Land o' Cakes being selected as favourite in tho betting i market, with Tomairangi next on tho' list. Waukakaho was the first to get clear of tlie line, but by the time the rest of the field had got into its stride Pnrkshot and Woura. were in dommand, closely followed by Rungarawa and tho favourite. Entering the straight Tomairangi throw out a strong ohallenge, but- wns unable to head Parkshot, who won by a short head, Scrap-iron Jack (lato Greenstone) close up third — so close, in fact, that there was some doubt as to which passed tho pout second. Parkshot,, .who was only carrying 53 tickets out of 1162, rewarded his supporters with a dividend of £14 15s. Nino out of fifteen acceptors stripped for the Hurdlo Race, and the majority of tho speculating 'public picked The Gueaser to win. They were not disappointed, for the Enchanteft.-' gelding mado a comparatively easy thing of it. Tho Dauber set out as pacemaker, and whon the grandstand was passed in tho first round The Guesser was lying third, but the latter did not leave' tho matter long in doubt, for ho was soon on even terms, and when tho straight was reached thero was a fair amount of daylight between him and the rest of tho field. Ho continued running strongly, and won by threo lengths from Valkyrie, who wan between four and five lengths in front of Tho Dauber. No Shot, by Crackshot — Empress, finished fourth, and Seaweed fifth. Tho Cup brought out twelve starters. Investors promptly sorted out Shrapnel Shell as "a good thing," though Waimoo, Regulation, Hinetaura, and Good Intent had a fairly largo following. .Capulet wan the first to get away from the tapes, with Shrapnel Shell, Siartdra, and Good Tnleiifc as his nearest attendants. At tho back of the course the .favourite dropped back, and did not again come into prominence. Waimoe took up tho running with Capulet, and tho two gardually increased the lead. Coming round the bend into the straight Waimoe, who was ridden by Young, held pride of place, and posted the post an easy winner. by several lengths from Capulet, Regulation finishing third and Inglewood fourth. Of tho remaining races on tho programme, the Maiden, which was won by Chola, and tho Rangiuru Handicap, won by N.-vrootic, furnished tho most interesting finishes. During the day the sum of £8347 was put through the totalisator, or £922 less than on the corresponding day last year.' Following are the concluding results ; Otaki Hack Handicap, of 90 soys ; one mile. 316 Mr. J. H. Prosser'o b f Waitarexe, by Torpedo— Rivulet, 7.10 (Jenkins) 1 94 Mr. R. Micken'a b g Lo Beau, by Loolantis^ — 80110, 7.0 (Conquest)... 2 194 Mr. C. F. Grimloy's b e Starina, by Daystar-Minterina, 7.13 (Tait) 3 Also started — 76 Sardonyx 8.10 (McMorran), 39 Ngatarua 7.13 (Phillips); 68 Pantaloon 7.12 (Prico), 107 Vigoro 7.6 (Young), SilvcrlinA 7.2 (J. Carroll), 45 Coxswain 7.2 (J. Oliver), 176 The Ruler 6.12 (A. Oliver), 13 Detonation 6.12 (Hodder), and 66 Slcepwell 6.7 (Gray). • Waitarero, Hatley, and Lo Boau set the pace at the start. When several furlongs had been left behind, Coxswain rushed to the front, but his reign wus brief, for Le Beau and Wait&rere again took up prominent positions. Just be w foro the bend was reached Coxswain fell, bringing Hutley and Silverlene down with him. Waitarero was then in command, and, holding the position, to • tho finish, won by three length* ; Starina, who came with a late run along tho rails, a length away; Ngatarua finished fourth. Time, Imin 494 sec. Dividends, 2G3 Is and £3 Bs. Maiden Flat Race, of 60 soys ; seven furlongs. 147 Mr. J. Goodson's b f Chola, by St. Cyr— Gondola, 8.8 (W. Price) 1 324 Mr. J. Quirk's gr m Athol Brose, by Hotchkiee — Maid of Athol, 8.12 (Jenkins) 2 82 Mr. T. Bovan's eh f Seagull, by St. Legcr— Garnet, 8.8 (J. Collins) ... ' 3 Also started— l 42 Levant 8.12 (Pritchard), Excuse 8.12 (Gib Son), 81 Pupu 8.12 (Tait), 88 Queon Bess 8.12 (Price), 13 Locked 8.11 (Lloyd), 50 Do Wet 8.11 (Carmont), and 78 Bourrasque 8.7 (W. Young). Athol Brose left the tapes first, followed by Bourraßque and Seagull, the others being bunched. Chola soon asserted herself, and when the bend leading into the straight was readied she was in the van, with Athol Brose in close attendance. The two fought out n good finieh, the St. Cyr filly passing tho post half a length in front; a abort distance separating second and third horses ; Bourrosque fourth, and Levant fifth. Time, Imin 57seo. Dividends, £4 13» and £1 14s. Ranghiru Handicap, of 100 soys-; six furlongs. 196 Mr. J. M'Grath's b g Narcotic, by Lethe — Morehu, 7.8 (Lindsay) 1 124 Mr. J. MTarlane's br m Maluku, by Gold Rcof — Kotuku, 7.3 (Toung) 2 88 Mr. H. Rore's gr g White Ribbon, by Merrie England — Blue Ribbon," 6.12 3 Also started~-236 Replete 8.0 (Jenkins), 135 Sanfoin 7.4 (Hodder), 211 Mu*scll 7.0 (A. Oliver), 89 Waiteti 612 (Murfitt), 107 Matemua 6.10 (Gibson), 30 Siandrn, 6.7 (Olarebutt), and 89 Tattle 6.7. Replete loft the mark first. Matuku ami Muss el I were the first to enter the straight, but at the distance Narcotic came with a great run, and smothering all opposition won by two lengths. White Ribbon was a length behind Matuku"; Milfoil finishing fourth. Time, Imin 19sec. Dividends, £4 9s and £2 7s. Birthday Welter Hack Handicap, of 70 «ovs ; fceven furlongs. 211 Mr. J. H. Prosser's eh g Elibauk, by Medallion — Gavotte, 8.10 (Jenkins) VM , fJ „. 1

236 Mi. R. M'Micken's b tr Le Beau, by Leolantes — Belle, 8.12 (Lindsay) 2 88 Mr. C. H. Smith's b g Woucrlei^h," by Merrie. England — Subetlv. 8.J2 (Watson) 3 Also ataited— 3B Clovelly 9.3 (M'Artnoy), 169 Parkshof 9.3 (Stewart), 71 Delight 9.0 (Connon), 99 MnlaJcokiri 8.12 (Kingan), 80 Rotigamoo 8.12 (Price), 19 in-the-V.in 8.12 (Uiggins), 40 Moura 8.12 (Wilson), 24 Baldie 8 10 (O'Brien), 16 Athul Maid 8.12 (Kirk), 16 Highland Nell 8.7 (Itetter), 42 St. Albeit 8.7 (McMorran), and 122 Sorap Iron Jack 8.7 (Price). Mouru. was the firat to show clear of the line, with St. Albert and Paikshot in close attendance. Coming round tho Wnd, Parkshot moved up, but by the timo tho straight was reached Elibank hnd auseited himself, and ho parsed the post a little over a length in front of Lo lieau, who was a lengtl* in front of Woodh-igh, Park-shot finishing fourt. Timo, Imin 374scc. (Dividends, £4 Is and £1 4s.