THE LATE RACE MEETING.

Evening Star, Issue 11252, 28 May 1900, Page 3

THE LATE RACE MEETING.

[By The Admiral.] After last week’s experience those croakers who have averred that nothing would induce the Dunedin public to patronise a meeting at Wingatui are likely to have a still tongue. These detractors had been met with the answer that given line weather and a certainty of having a run for their money—in other words, confidence that the starting would be in capable hands—racing folk would patronise the new course quite as readily as had been their visits to the Fovhury. And have not their words been fulfilled? The attendance on both days was large, speculation was brisk, the field's were above tlie average, the finishes (as a rule) bore testimony to Mr Dowse’s admirablyframed handicaps, and it is safe, in conclusion, to say that the meeting will pan out with a considerable balance on the rigid side of the ledger. No starter can hope to get his field away every time like a troop, of cavalry. but Mr Piper managed to effect some admirable send-offs—notably in the principal race of the meeting—and the blemishes were few and far bet ween. It is to be hoped that the chib will fix their dates for next season so as to be able to avail themselves of (his official’s service. To do so, a. change will have to be made in the time of the autumn meeting. Napier having a prior claim for the third week of March on Mr Piper. The weather is unsettled at the present dates of the autumn gathering, and I venture to suggest that the D.J.C. again revert to the last week in February. Another matter I hope to see (alien into account in regard to next season’s racing is the advisability of including a steeplechase for each day in the winter programme. Wingatui affords a natural steeplechase course ; good entries could be relied on without launching out into an extravagant stake for a beginning; and, what is more to the point, wo should have a fair sprinkling of North Island candidates if the governing body would only popularise hack racing by doubling the present inadequate stakes given for this class of events. These are reforms that, if adopted, cannot fail to make Wingatui one of the most popular courses in the colony. This much by way of preface. Now' for a few comments on the racing. Funneii. as the winner of the Birthday Handicap, liist claims attention. This son of Castor seemed to lose all his pace after acting as runner-up in Jet D’Eau’s New Zealand Cup, and last season he proved a veritable frost, even as a selling plater, .Some months ago he was purchased by the gentleman whose racing name is Mr Boreland, but who, it is an open secret, is Mr J. Hopkins, a thorough sport, and shortly afterwards placed in Hankins’s hands to train. “ Ted ” has built him up wonderfully in a short while, and those who recollect the wonderful improvement this capable trainer effected in another cripple, Captive, are prepared to tind Fulmen winning over a distance in even more aristocratic company. Derrett handled his mount with rare judgment, wining his run to a nicety. The Birthday winner again sported silk on .Saturday, 'when, raised 91b, he managed to beat all but Brisa. This lady was dressed in her best, and when well she is not much short of a top-sawyer. What sort of a furlong did she cut out in the Winter Welter? In this she was about the last to move, yet she ran through her field at such a bat as to have everything in trouble long before the halfmile post was reached. Many backers of the president’s mare were ill at ease, thinking that she had bolted, but she was steadied as soon as the issue was placed beyond doubt, and once the straight was reached all but (lie rider of First Blood recognised the hopelessness of giving her chase. Those who expressed the opinion after the race was won that a mistake had been made in not sending Brisa for one of her more important engagements in preference to the Welter had the satisfaction of seeing their judgment endorsed on Saturday. Nothing could be more decisive than the wav in which she romped over her field in the' last couple of hundred yards in the Provincial Handicap. Another win was scored by the Zetland spots by La Heine in the .Second Hack High-weight Handicap, and it goes without saying that whenever-the Hon. G. M’Lean’s colors are in the van a popular demonstration follows. After Messrs M'Oinness and Hankins, the most successful trainer was George Smith, who scored by the agency of Witchcraft and Bracken, besides having the ill-fortune to provide the. runner-up for the Hurdles on each dav. What an in-and-out performer the Maiden Plate winner is was shown by his beingmade a perfect hack of by Hippomenes oil Saturday. This once brilliant sprinter fairly wore bis two opponents down by the pace he set in the initial stage of the race. There was a good deal of sentiment in Mr L. G. Haz.lett’s ownershin—Hippomenes was long the mainstay of (he HazlettStephenson successful racin'- establishment • —and the impression was that he would return to his nominator’s bid. But ’(was ordained otherwise. Mr J. M’Knv had evidently sot his mind on acquiring the pntched-up gelding, and at a bid of £35 the Novel Pace winner was knocked down to him. Another resuscitated speedy one was Goldspur. who effected a surprise in the Wairongoa Handicap. Taking charge of affairs from the outset—reminiscent of the way in which this Faster Handicap winner used to race—the issue was never after in doubt. In recognition of the manner in which Mr T. Godfrey has stuck to Goldspur since he broke down a couple of years ago, and has persistentlv plodded along with him. he was accorded a special cheer when weight was pronounced: A number of the knowing division planked their dollars ,on Romanoff—who was reported to have defeated St. Denis in a trial —and he ran up to expectations.- He, however, had the misfortune to bump up against Goldspur. and thus prevented Mr Crossan from landing a good 'stake. To find two Yaldhurst cast-offs—and particularly two Welcome Stakes winners—sporting silk in a race was a coincidence. Conqueror

’was. No. 2, and nothing on. the course stripped looking more like* a racehorse. Mr 1 Grigg’s ' candidate was’’unfortunate at theS start,: and bowing so-much taken out- of;: him to make up lost ground extinguished any chance he might .have had.. Wingatui is not a happy hunting ground for Sir George Clifford. On the present occasion lie was represented by Scottish Minstrel and Glenogle, and with such a formidable pair he was expected to annex a fair, share of the stakes, but a couple of seconds was his portion. The severe finishes that both were called on to battle out on the .Queen’s Birthday seemed to have told a tale on the second dav. as neither could then raise a decent gallop. The failure of the Northern candidates was, indeed,, quite marked. "Voltaire (Hurdles),'Warrington (dead heat in the Selling), and First Blood . (Tradesmen’s), were all the fish that came’ to their net. The dead heat, by the way, was the subject of much controversy—not the placing, which everyone admitted was sound—but the merits of the horses. My view' is that Derrett was caught napping,’ and that had not Hippomenes faltered, which caused “ The General ” to take matters too leniently, Warrington would have won with a fair margin. Ellis Brothers were represented by Edelweiss, Abercrombie, and Jupiter, and the sole success of the new familiar red, gold stars was in the concluding race. Jupiter’s other appearance was in the Birthday, where he was responsible for the puce set in the first mile. St. Denis scored a meritorious victory in the best race of the meeting. Young M'Kewen has got this horse so well just now that had not tire lint season been closing it is safe to say that ho would have scored further successes. There was not a solitary protest lodged, and the stewards were only called together once; and that was in connection with a complaint made by Mr Claridge alleging that in the Maiden Plate Telford, the rider of Galileo, had deliberately caught hold of Bonaparte’s bridle. After investigating the matter the charge was held to be established. and Telford was ordered to stand down for the rest of the season. Telford is an Clamant jockey in Mr Sowell’s employ. Although no protests were entered, there was one palpable case where a horse was only out for an airing. This was so freely commented on that it is *o be regretted that the stewards did not feel called on to demand an explanation from the owner or trainer of the indifferent form shown.- * The one regrettable incident in connection with the two days’ sport was the accident, to T. Buddicomb. It occurred in the First Hack Race. Buddicomb was on La Heine, and noticing that she was about to cany him on to (ho starting machine at the fivefurlong post he ducked his head, with the result that he sustained a flesh wound in the head and was forced on to the woodwork, the consequence being that his right arm was badly injured. Buddicomb at present lies in (he hospital, and is progressing favorably. Although the club have two honorary surgeons on their list of officebearers, neither of these was present, nor was there a doctor on the ground. Messrs H. Goodman and J. M’Gianess, were indefatigable in their attentions, and succeeded in rendering first aid. Would it not be as well if a few of our trainers and riders were to attend ambulance classes and receive instruction in first aid, ns what is more likely than the absence of medical men at country meetings ? •In riding honors first position is claimed by L. Hewitt, who rode Brisa in both her victories, Goldspur. and La Reine. Derrett was responsible for the winning “double” on Thursday—Fulmen and First Blood—and was on Warrington in his dead bent. Ring and M’Comb each steered a couple of winners. Several of the jockeys were fined for disobedience at the post, and for breaking away. On Saturday a person whose name,appears on the unpaid forfeit list was order)d off the course. The club had private detectives present to deal with “ tote ” layers, but their services were not required. The course was in capital condition, reflecting credit on Caretaker Fletcher. Miff. M‘Donald made, an assiduous-clerk of scales, the decisions of Mr Milieu were accepted without demur, and the secretarial duties ..were capably performed hv Messrs Sydney and H. L. James. Messrs G. Williams and G. Harris promptly posted the totalisator results, and the striking of.one dividend was generally admitted to be a step in the right direction. Some people, however, were obtuse enough to argue that hackera of Warrington could not-have-lost four shillings on each investment had the coupling system not been in vogue. The following table shows the amount of stakes payable in connection with the meeting :

£IOO7 0 The totalisator tax on £9,482 10s at lit per cent, was £142 4s 9d.

Hon. Geo. M’Lcan.—1st Winter WeiA 8. . ter .Handicap. £G1 15s; 1st Provincial Handicap. £133; 1st. Second Hack Handicap. £33 5s ■ 228 0 J. Boreland.—1st Birthday Handicap, £175 15s; 2nd Provincial, £9 IQs' ... 185 5 R. Plaits.—2nd V. inter Weller Handicap, £4 15s; 1st Tradesmen’s Handicap, £85 10s ... 80 5 L. C. Hazlelt.—Head heat S'ollinst Race, £19 ; 1st Novel Handicap, £47 ids: 2nd Second Hack Handicap, £4 15s W. Oossan.—1st Invormay Welter Handicap. £47 10s; 2nd Handicap, £9 10s : 2nd Farewell Handicap, £9 10s 71 5 66 10 Thos. Godfrey.—1st Waironuoa Handicap ” 66 IQ Geo. Smith.—2nd First Hurdle Handicap, £9 10s; 1st Maiden.Plate. £42 15s; 2nd Second Hurdle Handicap, £9 10s61 15 C. Burt.—1st First Hurdle Handicap 57 0 W. Godfrey.—1st Second Hurdle Handicap 47 10 H. Napier.—1st First Hack Handicap 33 5 Eilis Bros.—1st Farewell Handicap ... 33 5 Sir Geo. Clifford. —2nd Birthday Handicap. £14 5s ; 2nd Tradesmen’s Handicap, £9 10s 23 15 S. Brown. —Dead heat Scllin: Race.., 19 0 J. Toomey.—2nd Invormay Welter ... 9 10 J. M’Kcwcn.—3rd Farewell Handicap 4 15 B. Curtis.—2nd First Hack Handicap 4 15 J. R. Sewell.—2nd Maiden Plate 4 15