(Notes by Maecenas.)

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 21 May 1923, Page 2

(Notes by Maecenas.)

WANGANUI, May 19. As a fair amount of rain had fallen since Thursday, the track was much heavier tor to-day's racing. Considering the wintry conditions, the attend- . anee was good.. On the second day | last year £33,563 10s went through th» ' totalisator against £33,200 to-day. ' A j light rain fell throughout the programme, making thj& conditions uaj pleasant. • 1 The racing opened with the Balgowj nic Hack, for which event Kaotane had \ most followers, while Megan and Birkenella each were well backed. Megan. was the early leader from Sunny Vale, Ribbonwork and Silver San. At the f half-mile post Megan still had charge j from Ribbonwork, Sunny Vale and Sii--1 ver San. Megan led Silver San into ! the straight, but the last-named imnie- | diately went to the front and won very ; easily from Kaotane, which came with j a great run. Megan, close up, was | third and Country Life fourth. | j Of a good field which contested the j Hack Hurdles, Price went out favouri ite, but Militaire was almost as well I supported, and The Curragh, too, was in the market. When the word "go was called, Savoury jumped out in front and, attended by Husker, Complimentary, Militaire and The Curragh, carried on the running over the first mile. After passing the half-mile post Militaire and The Curragh singled themselves out. Militaire was first over the last jump and went on to win by three lengths from The Curragh. In numbers the May Hurdles was a disappointing race, but a good contest eventuated. Of the starters En Route carried nearly twice the amount invested on the Kemball bracket (Giadful and Vagabond), which pair were the second choice. Gold Star also curried a lot of money. From a good start Gold Star was first to show out, I but Ruddy soon took charge and, tol- | lowed by Complex, En Route, and Vagabond, led for a mile. Four furlongs from home En Route went to the front and, making no mistakes, won very easily from Vagabond, which only beat Mervotia.

Several of the contestants for the Grandstand .Steeples came in for solid support, but when the totalisator closed ■Oakleigh was the elect of the bettors, with Whipcord almost as well supported. Next in order were Silent Dic-k and Ramii. First Line was first to become prominent when the field was despatched, but Te Maire was first over the initial fence, followed by Ranui, First Line and Silent Dick. Opposite the Stand Te Maire, Ranui, and Silent Dick were together, but gaining an advantage at the double Ranui went on in front with Te Maire, Silent Dick, and Whipcord. There was little alteration during the next mile, during which Ranui gained lengths at every fence, which would be reduced by Te Maire on the flat. With a mile to go, Ranui went on to lead Te Maire. First Line, and Silent Dick. Ranui was just in front of Te Maire at the double by the half-mile post, but while Ranui flew the jumps Te Maire lost si?/ lengths. Rauui led First Line over the concluding stages and, after a fine exhibition, Beat First Line by six lengths, with T« Maire four lengths away. Silent Di«k was fourth. '

Quest carried about twice the amount C^o-^e Kfluen's -~,t nt>er f flr th 6 Elrf _ • pire Handicap, hM other well supported horsos were Zircon and Loehson. When the tapes rose Lady Kotoripo, Boomererday, Quest, Zircon and Roman began well. Passing the stand, Roman and Lady Kotoripo led Quest, Boomerday, and Zircon. The order was unchanged going down the back, but after passing the half-mile post Zircon ran up to the leaders and led into the straight from Lady Kotoripo, Quest and Rouen. Zir- ; con was well clear of Quest in tho ■ straight, and looked a certain winner when Rouen came with a fine run and just got up to beat Zircon. Kareao, which also came from a long way back, beat Quest fo.r the third position. Veil carried £100 more than Alabama in the Farewell Hack, with Lady Glissas, Tinohari and Doleful Ditty iVSXt in the order of favouritism. When the field was despatched Veil, Alabama, a*<s Tinohari were the early leaders, with Doleful Ditty at the tail end of

the field. Alabama was in charge when heads were turned for home, but halfway down the straight Tinohari assumed control, and looked all orer a winner when Doleful Ditty came with a great run and just tjot up in time. Tinohari beat Alabama by a coupl© of lengths. The racing finished with the Winter Oats, Martian Miss being made a slightly better favourite than Triboulet, with Leithfield third choice. Triboulet was the first to find his feet when the barrier rose, but Leithiield soon hit the front, and, followed by Martian Miss | and Sir Burnett, led into the straight. in the run home Leithfield ran on to win nicely from Sir Burnett, Island and Martian Miss.