Rangitikei Races.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7402, 18 September 1902, Page 3

Rangitikei Races.

Con-ideriiiL'thi' v ry iri_leiiieii( wether that has been pr\-\-:iiliii-j ihrimgli-. iUt the dislrict. Hurin. tli" pa-t week, . he Eangiiikei Kni-ini* Club may be teemed forlnrm.v i» obi'lining fine | rotlier for tin- opennu* tiny of their pring meeting. Tin* altewliir co wns ] ml particularly Itrgi.*. due no doubt to oinu I'Xti'iil, to the threatening nppearnee of tho weal herd v ri 111; tlio morning, nit that, money wus plentiful may be lathered from the fuel thai Ts2l_'was ml through the iimi-him* during the lay. :iu inci-eiis« of £1700 on lust year's unoiiiit for ihe (irslilay. The ruing v lie whole «a . particularly good, the mly _easy wins of ihe day being Luu•eiito's win in the l.:it-l_ l;!ying, .fuck J Lantern m the Sleeplechiisc^iiiul Coney in th- Spnnu Handicap. In each >[ tho oilier event- the finishes were ,'ood, while in the events indicated there Acre keen struggles for places In the I'lviuil Handicap tiie New /_ .aland Cup :iintlid«to, Melwood, won all out by 11 length from Mr Patterson's smart mure Ringlet, who was only a length in advance of Midia. The local, cup horse. Sensation, trained by Mr Alf. Shcarsby, wus considered by bis connections to have more than an ordinary chance, but he was not prominent at any part of the race after tlio field had settled down. The Maiden lI.cU Race produced a big field, filtceu horses facing tho starter. The winner turned up in tlio liUle fancied Armistice, by Mahnki—Melinite, well enough bred tor anything, and she showed herself quite eqiul to disposing of tho pretensions of Kinsman, another New Zealand Cup horse, who will have to improve considerably to have any chance in the big handicap. He was made a big favorite by the public, but despite a last run in the straight, could not catch the leader, who won all out by hulf a length. The Haul.- Hurdle Race produced an interesting contest between Merry Boy and Inchcape who finished first and second respectively, The latter, on [dip strength of I.is southern performances, wins mado favorite, and run a good race, but was not equal to lowering the colors of Merry Boy, who was riddi n in determined stylo by G. Walls. Old Gun, who finished second, ran a good liur.-e. and as he is still improving, should "iv n nice before long. The Handicap Hack Flying proved a' si.ft snap for Mr C. L .ughii'in's Laureate, who, trained by Air T. Quintivuii, sen, looked in perfect condition, mid romped home an easy winner from Murnlo, now trained by A. Shcarsby. The consistent In-lhc-Van filled third place. Dodova was the public fancy, but she wus neve, prominent. The Rangitikei Steeplechase, of 110 soys, attracted some of the best jumpers on Iho const, and the race was well north watching. The Captain Webb gelding, The Swimmer, was installed first favorite, Siiylcifk being next in demand, the ultimate winner, Jack-o'-Laiitern, being third favorite. As far as the race itselt is concerned, Mr Wultou'x gelding hud it won at any distance, hut i. might have been made more'int. resting for him if The Swimmer hud lu.cn left nearer the leaders. Entering the straight on tbe home run he made up a lot of ground at a very fust pace, and though he got up iv time to beat Sir Athol a head for second place, ho'did not trouble the winner, who hud drawn away nfter landing over the last hurdle and finished by himself. Shylock run off at the second jump, Eucharis getting rid of his rider in the same ob tacle, while Tui and King L"ur fell at the log jump the second time round. The course was through the paddocks adjacent to the course, several pos(-ai;d-rail and gorse hedges being negotiated. The big flat event of the clay wus a gift to Convoy, who won without an effort by throe lengths from Bowman, half a length separating the latter from Minerve. a daughter of Major George's hero Nelson. Tho topweight, Halberdier, also a New Zealand Cup hoise, displayed very poor form, running absolutely last some portion of the distance. Judging by yesterday's performance, his chance in tho big handicap ra:"*y bo set down at nil. Fakir, another Cup horse, led into the straight on equal terms wiih several others, but died away in the homo run, as did also Beau Ideal. The Wapiti marc iN'Oiti ju-tified her win at the Wanganui meeting by appropriating the Hick Flat race from .Vlarianthus, a stable companion, a dual winner nt the recent Wanganui meeting. Tho little mare finished full of running and is evidently in great heart. Jenkins appeared to take matters very easily on Muri-.inthus and only just got up in time to beat a local horse, Muisol, by a hea.t. Blaekwing was much fancied for the eveni, but finished out of a place. Mussel ran a good horse and should score before long.