NOTES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 17, 3 January 1920, Page 2

NOTES.

(By “Trenton.” The Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’t summer meeting proved to?be the most successful, from a financial point oi View, yet held. On both , days the attendance of the public Was larger than in preyious years, owing no doubt’’tc the large influx of visitors to Hastings for the boxing contest, and the totalisator receipts constituted a record. As regards the racing, some capital sport was witnessed, but it must have been palpable to everyone that il the club is to maintain the popularity ot this fixture, it will have to offei better inducement in the way of prise money in order to attract some of the best horses to the meeting. Outside clubs have already recognised the importance of doing this, and it is nc wonder, therefore that some of .the horses thaE should have been competing here were conspicuous by their absence. I am not making this statement in an antagonistic spirit, but am forced to do so purely in the interest of the sporting public, who, after all, provide the major portion of the sinews of war for the carrying on of racing, and it is only right that they should be given something equivalent for their money.. Then again the Hawke’s Bay .Club is looked upon as one of our most prominent metropolitan institutions, but if only third-rate horses are going to comprise the programme of events at what should unhesitatingly be One of, if not the best, racing fixtures of file season, then undoubtedly' It' will soon deteriorate in the high estimation is now enjoys. The dub has now an excellent opportunity of endowing at least two of its events with such emoluments that' will tend to keep our own horses in the district and at the same time pyWfcijjfe racing that will prove of more< -tHan ordinary interest to the racegobc- On the first day, despite the factthat the scratching pen was a noticeable feature in- the majority of events, - the facing was of an interesting character,: and some dose finishes were witnessed. The arrangements were carried out almost without a hitch, and the races were ah started in good time, thus enabling the public to .catch trains, etc., in good time. One mistake occurred, however, which I hope will not'be again repeated, although it may not be perhaps looked, upon as a very serious one. I. refer to the wrong horse’s number being hoisted in third position in the first race.

Raffle being placed third instead oi Heather Sprig. Another matter ' 1 would like to refer to is the dissatisfaction that was expressed On all hands in regard to the catering arrangements. As regards the catering itself there was nothing to cavil at, but the accommodation facilities provided, on New Year’s Day was altogether inadequate. The result was that large crowds were kept huddled together on the landing at luncheon time waiting a considerable time in order to gain admission to the luncheon room, and much irritation and annoyance were thereby, caused'to patrons of' both sexes. There was no reason for Chis whatever, as the. club could certainly have obviated ■ this by throwing open the spacious public dining-rooms it has under . the main stand. 1 heard it remarked that such a large attendance was never anticipated, but to this the argument. «an safely be used that an up-to-date racing body would surely foresee, thia under the present, exceptional circumstances and not wait for the bored to be stolen before locking the stable door. ■ 2 . : The racing opened with, the Maiden Hack, for which the good fidld of 13 faced the starter Sycorax was made favourite, but-Guanaco was not far, behind. Bed Edna wa sthe most warmly supported of tfie others. The race fdsolved itself into a battle royal between Sycorax and Guanaco, the latter eventually gaining the verdict by. a long neck, HeatherSprigbeinga.fairthird- • Croesus was installed favourite for the Christmas Handicap, but Dribble, Tari and Hyinarty were also substantially supported. Croesus looked.: all over a winner half way up the straight; but his heavy impost-told its tale and he had to give way to both Tari and Dribble,.the former landing,the 'stake by a neck in the good time of 1.13 The scratching pen was freely used in this race, no less than five going out. The Welter proved "a good thing for Arch Salute, who was made a hot favourite. Warrawee and Gatha were also substantially supported.' Seven horses started.-

Seven hones were withdrawn front the big race—the President’s Handicap —-leaving a field of eight. lovematch was favourite, with Impediment,, Bagdad, Pacific Slope-rand Cleft ahm w«l supported, Impediment and Chillies made the early running, bnt thia -was only on sufferance, for when the real crisis came Bagdad, Cleft, Lovematch, and Pacific Slope were' the only ones 1 with any claims to consideration.. A good set-to between the quartette saw Bagdad win by a head fromLovematrii, who beat Pacific Slope comfortably. Cleft was close up fourth. In the Jumpers’ Flat Maraetotare, which was installed a. hot favourite, justified the confidence placed in her by easily accounting for ’Prince iDela- ■ ware and the other three opposed .to, A held of 13 youngsters comprisedthe field for the Two-year-old Handicap, for i which Handy and Verbosity were warmly supported. The first-named had' no difficulty 'in annexing the race, and Verbosity easily defeated* - Polini-for second honours.. " The scratching pen was once again freely in evidence m the.Flyihg Handicap, 13 horses being withdrawn, leaving eight to go to the was favourite ,with Hepta;Tmpdrt and Makers supported in that order. The race proved a_gpod thing for Makere, who defeated Hepta .by a-bare jength; Import was a fair third. The favourite was never prominent. . Only five horses -were saddled umft* the New Year Handicap, for whlpfi Surveyor and Lingerie - - were fancied. The former, wholooksd rertiy well after his recent .lustrahan paign, accounted for *his opponents in easy fashipir. . The programme on the second day -Opened with the Adtea Jumpers’ Flat, in which Zeus, who was_ warmly supported, easily defeated Tuticprn and Prince Delaware, both of whom were also greatly fancied. , Only three horses were saddled up for the Grandstand Handicap, for which Early Dawn carried the bulk of the money. Sweet Cofii, who was nicely handicapped with 8.9, , a surprise-, by comfortably winning and pay Sg a nice price tor a three-horse race. indi ran disappointingly. - • Bed Edna was made a hot favourite for the Maiden, but again the favourite went down, Mirk, who was, also well supported, lowering her colours. Raffle, who was second favourite; was never in the hunt. The Summer Handicap produced a field of eight, Dribble and Lovematch | sharing the favouritism in that order, with Pacific Slope next in demandLord Muskerry made most of the rub- ' ning, but eventually had to give-way to ; Dribble, who gamely answered -every ! I call and won by a head. Lovematch-did I not show up as well as on the first .day, f and probably would have been, better i for a longer spell.' Pacific Slope also j failed to -run :up to.expectations, aL | though looking really well. . I The Nursery proved, an easy, thing j for Handy, who downed a hot favourite in Gasbag. Handy is a fine stamp of a horse, and will again be heard of ,in his future racing career. He whs undoubtedly the; best of the two-year-qldsseen out, at the meeting. ’ The Scurry Hack resulted in a close finish between Guanaco and. Verbosity, , the former returning a* good dividend. Hymarty and Asterina were the-fav-ourites to the extent ■ of over, four figures, while Hepta received mote-sup-port than the two: that finished in front of him. . - ■ TheMatapitO Hack, saw tho defeat of two . mare, warmly-f!s.ncied_ ones in , Reparoa, and Pavilion,’ the winner turn- * ing up in Heather Sprig. Prior to this ] event, Patukia bolted round the coarse, and when, the race started was left at the post An enquiry was held, when the jockey (France) stated he was to pilot the horse as he bad pains in -his inside and the; horse .was too exhausted to take part in the race. The stewards accepted his explanation. '.The January Handicap brought the meeting to a close. Only four horses competed, and Lingerie, had over £2OOO invested on' him, Lionskin .also. being well-supported- ‘ The first named won as she lixed. . The most successful jockeys Were G. S- McLean,' 3 mins.,- L. Goodwin, L. Berry, R-". Manson and R. Thompson, 2 each ;E. Manson, C. Stowe, A. Laurence,' M. Shore and C; France, 1 each. - ' 1 > ~ ■ This trainers who scored successes were as follows:- —L. Wilson, P. Smith, V. H. Colello and J. Oldfield; 2 each; J. McCracken, S- Waddell} W. Woods, G. Jones. M. Thomas, J, Sullivan, W. Stone and J. Cameron,.! each.■>: .