WHANGAREI SPRING RACES CREATE NEW RECORDS

Northern Advocate, 31 October 1949, Page 6

WHANGAREI SPRING RACES CREATE NEW RECORDS

PREDICTIONS came true at the Whangarei Racing Club’s spring meeting held at Kensington Park on Friday and Saturday. Records were broken.

First and foremost was the totalisator turnover which aggregated £113,693 for the two days.

This was £10.590 above the previous record of £103,103 established at the last autumn meeting in April. It was also £17,666 ahead of the £96,027 invested at the 1948 spring meeting.

On Saturday, the machine handled £61,842 10/- as against £54,124 10/- on the corresponding day last year. Saturday's figure was a record for a single day. Although it is impossible to give an accurate figure, club officials were unanimous that Saturday’s attendance was a record for a V/hangarei meeting.

In each case the trophy-winner was decided ou a draw from the hat

G. Goulsbro (Te Rapa), and originally of Whangarei, was the lucky trainer, and W. R. Hooton (Auckland) was the lucky rider.

Coincidentally, Cimbrette, which gave Goulsbro his two wins, was ridden on each occasion by Hooton. The other trainers in the draw were C. H. Clotworthy (Whangarei), Probator twice, J. D. Frew (Te Rapa), Alderman twice, C. Tapp (Matamata), Major twice, and J. Logan (Takanini), Miss Fiona and Mignonette. J. R. Gillies and N. B. Holland were the other jockeys in the draw with Hooton. Hooton rode Cimbrette twice and Silver Treasure, Gillies rode Probator twice and Beaute, and Holland was on Major twice and Patuone. WHANGAREI HORSES Another point of interest was the fact that two of tne double winners were Whangarei horses Probator races in the colours of Mr R. G. Hosking, and Major in those of Messrs Edgar and Albert Wood. Probator is trained by C. H. Clotworthy, of Whangarei. To win the Kauri Handicap on Saturday, he slipped in behind the pacemaker, Little Acre, half a mile from home, followed him across the top, and once straightened up for home, went away. Probator was fourth fancy on both machines and returned his supporters a very acceptable dividend. The Titoki Handicap provided a very exciting finish between Sheba and the favourite Whynot, with Sheba prevailing by a nose, according to the photo-finish camera. Sheba hit the front going along the back, was three lengths clear of Whynot crossing the top, and just held on in a desperate finish. That race was for apprentice riders. MERITORIOUS WIN Take-a-Lot scored a meritorious victory in the final event, the Farewell Handicap. He and Beaute were smartly away from the barrier and Take-a-Lot was always in the first bunch, which included Happy Issue, Scotch Meadow, Beaute and Sir Sydney. Take-a-Lot passed Scotch Meadow crossing the top to lead round the home turn, and quickly established a clear break. He won comfortably by two lengths from Foxfable, with the topweight, Beaute, a first-day winner, in third place. Happy Issue, the pronounced favourite, was fifth, in behind Sir Sydney.

This fact, and the uniformly large fields in every event, enabled the club to set a new high on the totalisator. The Whangarei Racing Club is deserving of hearty congratulations on its fine achievement. Officials and members have the satisfaction of knowing that the club has reaped as it has sown. ALL-ROUND SUCCESS

Organisation that defied criticism, weather worthy of summer in any land and wonderful support from the public and from owners and trainers throughout Northland and the Auckland Province formed the foundations of the club’s feat.

From the public point of view, too, the meeting was a great success. The fact that not one horse paid a dividend approaching a score during the two days showed that the public was not far from the mark in its assessment of prospects. The even nature of the dividends proved that winners and placed horses were always well backed.

This fact, too, would be conducive to big pools on the last few events. Actually only four double-figure dividends were paid out at the meeting, and two of these were on the first day.

The consistency in form shown was reflected in the registering of four winning doubles. Horses which succeeded on each day were Cimbrette, Alderman, Probator and Major. Many others which were prominent on Friday gave repeat, performances on Saturday. A notable exception was Silver Treasure, which won the Whangarei Cup on the opening day and finished last in the L. W. Nelson Handicap next day. Silver Treasure had obviously felt the strain of his hard cup race, as he ran scratchily at the rear of the field all the way on Saturday. TROPHY WINNERS The keen contests for the trophies donated by the Northland Owners, Trainers and Breeders’ Association for the most successful trainer and jockey at the meeting, added to the interest. Five trainers tied with two wins apiece, and three jockeys finished equal with three winners.

The apprentice, B. Peliing, rode the last two winners of the meeting.