THE TURF.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 139, 11 December 1908, Page 2

THE TURF.

NOTES ON THE WOODVILL6 MEETING. {By Tei.egbafh.l (From Our Special Reporter.) PALMERSTON X., This Day. Tho greatest trier at tho Wccdvilld meeting; was tne wind. ,It hopped out fi om the barrier, and was always pulling double. Its form was irresistible, and it payed joyfully with all manner of hcadf,?ar. It blew right in the teeth ot the horses in the run along the top stretch, and may have been the contributing factor in wme woeful horsemanship that might htpe been observed by tho keen-eyed. Hatch piloted three winners, aijd as two other of his mounts ran' seconds nis numerous followers w&re on good terms with themselves. ' Jenkins rodj two winners, his finish on Loiret being a masterly effort. The three bookmakers who took out licenses "did a roaring ti\ide, and as only two favourites scored, they sent punters empty "away. The rinishes fox' thc'Stewards' Handicap and the Hark Scurry almoFt compensated for the discomfort of the howling gale. In the former event sevon out of th» eight runners were head and head when they Hashed past the judge, and in the'Scuii-y an equally narrow margin separated; Iho placed horses. Mr. O'Connor \\a.H in good form, and some oi his despalbnes could scarcely b^ improved upon. Particularly fine efforts were the s-t.ti-ts. for the- Ru'ahiue Walter and High Weight Handicap. .411 the accepters weighed out for the St swards' Had;. Theie was plenty of backing for Seaion Dale, Lochiela, Shannon Lass, and Sir Possible, the last-named a well-put-togcthor gelding who was. credited with having run a smart six furlongs on, the track. ShanEon Lass appeared more strung up than on the opening day, and she won in a manner indicating further wins in, her own class. On this occasion the Merriweo filly battled out the finish -very gamely. Seaton Dale was ,a good fourth and Thalei" close up fifth, and the former isf so I very fit that it will be hard luck for Jack Cameron if he misses, a stake at tho Christina? meetings. Prince Hassan was withdrawn '.from the Hack Hurdles. Tonderghie was b strong tip, the Daunt gelding pyidently being expected to improve on his third place. He looked on the big side, and was a trifle sore. Master Douglas,- who has an ungainly style of galloping until ho is fully extended, was a solid favorite, and> there was money for, Don. Carlos and Belario. After Taupo, Diplomatic and Belario had forced < th« running, Wbjtehouse took Don Carlos to the front, and, he had a good break on. the field down tho back stretch. Jack O'Gonnell was riding an exemplary race on Master Douglas, and postponed calling upon his mount until well _ into the- straight, when, he did ask Master Douglas a question. The- issue was quickly settled, the half-brother to The Rand romping home in most impressive style. This fellow should win in tho bost of company. Belario was a close third, then coming Lebeccio and Ton- ! derghic. In the Ruahine Hack Eclogue was withdrawn, his owner not wishing to be tco severe on the -big" Sylvia Park colt. Backers fastened on to Rose Lethe, but Seakr, who had the assistance of Jenkins, upset the good thing. Sealer is. a good cut of a. welter, horse, and lib had no difficulty in shaking ofl Rose- 'Lethe's challenge. The Summer Handicap was regarded - as a fair thing for Woodhey, who moved very freely in her preliminary. 'Backers accepted a short price about Woodhey, Moral and Taagimoana also having plenty of friends. As in the Woodville Handicap, Woodhey tried to win from end to end, but she met more than her match in Iranui, who wore the Birkenhead mare down in the last half furlong. Tangimoana ran better than expected, and was a close third. Like most of the Soults, Iranui was all the better for her gallop on ths first day in the Borough Handicap, in which she was unplaced to Ikon, Aberration, and Skye. A nasty kick at the post ia' that race may also have soured her. Moral found the wind and his big weight ajj effectual bar to victory. Moloch was running on at the finish" and is now cherry ripe. Shannon Lass's form should hava made Longner favourite in tho Telegraph Handicap, but The Saint was first choice, and thero was money for Cute, a winner at Timaru. After The Saint had made play for a couple of furlongs, Longner took charge, and Cuta, though hard ridden, could mako no impression on him. Remission .was finishing almost as fast as Cute. ' Tho winner's style of galloping won him many friends. Vi was the only scratching- in tho Railway Handicap, for which those oH antagonists Naumai and Tumut were almost evenly backed. Naumai moved rather listlessly, but Tumut stripped a better horse £han he did in the Electric Handicap. The Wairarapa-trained gelding began quickly, whereas Naumai, contrary to his usual practice, dwelt on the mark, and' had to be pushed along. Tumut never gave the opposition a chance. Naumai stopped nearly to » walk in the last few strides, and Mussol, ridden out, secured second place. Eleven moderates provided the "best field of the meeting in the Hack Scurry. Miscast, who had made no show at all in Uie Maiden Plate, was installed favourite, Marton, a plain aort, and Twinkle, a big Davstar gelding, al3O coming in for support. Miscast ' was always in the front, but Jones hr.d to ride him all he knew to win by a head from Kimmerian, a sister to Full liite. Vinco would have paid a very lar^e dividend if he had got up, as he would have done in another stride 1 or two. Marton got tho worst of the start, but made up a 10l of ground. Aberration and" Snndstream were almost evenly backed in the concluding event, but Loiret, a charming mare by Seaton Delaval, was a strong fnncv. Lethean made nearly all tho running, and after shaking off Aberration ho in .turn succumbed, to a great run by Loiret, who is back to her bsst form again. San»tream was a strong fourth, and Gaelic 7 fth.

The children of St. Peter's Mission Sunday School were given a Christmas treat yesterday afternoon. Mrs. Henry Smith and the young ladies from Oiilton House School entertained the children. The first nart consisted of glees and rounds and a recitation. Tho children then each received tlwiv present from the piles of gifts, each child's nam© having been attached to the present before they were hung They also received a bag of lollies. Afterwards lea was given to the children. The girls from tho Cottage Homo (St. Mary's), Karori, also took part. Mrs. 11. Smith, assisted by Sirs Rutherford, Mrs. Wulton, Mi*s . FJ,tzgerald,, and the other teachers, is 16 be congratulated on the success of the affair. About eighty children revived gifts ,