Good Form at Waipapakauri

Northland Age, Volume IX, Issue 56, 23 April 1940, Page 1

Good Form at Waipapakauri

Horses Benefit From Extra Month’s Training With an estimated crowd of 1200 on the grounds, the racing and sports programme which had been postponed at Easter owing to rain, run off on the Waipapakauri Aerodrome or. Saturday. Although late in the year for an outdoor gathering, brilliant sunshine and a slight breeze made perfect conditions from the spectators’ point of view and from the horsemen’s standpoint, a track made heavy by recent rains was offset by the obviously better from of the horses owing to the extra month’s training. A much more general sports gathering than the previous meeting, horse races were interspersed with foot races, horse novelty events and a special challenge tug-o’-war. That a great deal of preparation had gone into both horse and foot events was obvious from the keen barracking and lively comment as both horses and men made their round. Beys—and Horses ! If it was a notable day in the lives | of a number of very useful hacks, it was also very much a grand outing j for a number of boys. Jockeys and owners had no difficulty whatever in finding many willing “apprentices” to lead about or rub down mounts and those who succeded in obtaining permission to lead or hold a race-horse had to run the gauntlet of many an envious eye ! “Say, bo, where’d you get that scrubber?” was the remark, rather wistfully put by one of the unsuccessful to a boy temporarily elevated to the pinnacle of assistant groom. The Homely Touch And though in a number of cases horses showed a “finish” and glossiness which would have done credit to a much bigger gathering and some jockeys actually wore colours, a typically homely touch was given by Mr. R. G. (“Dick”) Smith who was in charge of calling entrants for the various events. neddies saddled, it’ll soon be cowr.eddies saddled, it’ll son be cowtime !” remarked that gentleman on a number of occasions amid much back-chat from bystanders. The Maiden Hack With ten entries, a beautiful start was made with the Maiden Hack of five furlongs. The horses left the starter in a bunch but quickly fanned out, leaving the race to A. C. Jameson’s Blazeaway and Mrs. T. J. Fleming’s Rangiputa with Mr. Nathan’s Pereana lying third most of the way round. After an exciting sprint, Blazeaway passed Rangiputa to win by a short length, Pereana being about a length behind Rangiputa. The time was 1.12. Also started : Dreamy Nui (E. Berghan), Merry Lu (A. Gibbons), Flash (R. Masters), Monty (H. Harrison), Punch (S. Muri), Miss Speedy (McGregor Wright) and Silver (J. Yates). Flying Hack Handicap Seven horses were entered for the Flying Hack Handicap which had a distance of six furlongs. The winner, A,. W. Masters’ black horse, Sunspot, was never in doubt as he led most of the way round to canter in with four lengths to spare. The honours for second place were closely fought out by C. Evans’ King Cole and L. Sloane’s Bonny, King Cole beating Bonny by a short neck. The time was 1 min. 24.4 secs. Also started : Small Speck (Mrs. Bourke), Star (P. Davis), Trusty (P. j Rarawa) and Tony (S. Muri). The Welcome Stakes With a field of nine, the Welcome Stakes was one of the best races of the day. The distance was seven furlongs and though the winner, D. McKenzie’s Oranui, broke through early, the field remained in a bunch, the second and third places being very closely contested. Oranui, for whom this was the first race of the day, left the field almost from the jump and came straight home with six lengths to spare, none of the other horses drawing up on her at any point. A. C. Jameson’s Blazeaway, who cam; in third, was not in evidence during the r.rst part of the race but appeared well to the fore when the horses entered the straight, passing J. Yates’ Silver and rapidly drawing up on A. Morrison’s Pancho. Pancho however, beat him 1 by a neck for second place. The j time was 1 min. 40. 6 secs. | Also started : Sparta (A. Maria), ] Merry Lu (A. Gibbons), Rangiputa , j (Mrs. T. J. Fleming), Miss Speedy (McGregor Wright), Silver (J. Yates), , and Dreamy Nui (E. Berghan). The Waipapakauri Cup The big race of the day was the

! Waipapakauri Cup Of one mile which was greeted with a field of seven. I That the race belonged to A. W. Mas- | ter’s Sunspot was obvious from the ! first fanning out of the field, though D. McKenzie’s Oranui was prominent throughout and beat C. Evans’ King Cole by three easy lengths for second place. Sunspot, who finished in a hand-gallop, came in three lengths ahead of Oranui. The time was 1 min. 55.4 secs. Also started : North Queen (C. Berghan), Sparta (A. Maria), Small Speck (Mrs. Bourke) and Dreamy Nui (E. Berghan). Presentation of Cup The Waipapakauri Cup trophy was then presented to Mr. A. W. Masters, the owner of Sunspot, by the judge, Mr. T. S. Houston. Mr. Houston congratulated Mr. Masters on his horse’s performance and reminded those present that Mr. Masters’ family had been noted for its sporting spirit as well as pioneering work in the district. Runners Also In Good Form In the foot events ( which had taken place between horse races) some fine running was witnessed. The 100 yards Maiden Race was won by V. Flinn with M. Milich second and W. Hemi third. The time was 11.8 secs, and Flinn had an easy win by three yards. The field numbered five. Five runners again took the field for the 75 yards handicap which was won by Joe Murray with A. Milich second and W. Hemi third. Murray had an easy win from Milich, who likewise had plenty to spare from Hemi. The time was 10.6 secs. Also started : M. Milich and S. Sharp. The 120 yards handicap began to see a greater interest displayed in the running and received seven entries. Very closely contested by J. Lloyd, A. Milich won by about half a yard while Lloyd beat A. Dysart by three yards. Also started : J. Murray, S. Sharp, P. Whittaker and R. Murray. Six runners entered for the 220 vards handicap which was won easily by S. Noble with A. Dysart second and R. Murray third. The time was 24.6 secs. Also started : J. Lloyd, S. Sharp and A. Milich. The biggest foot race of the day, the 440 yards handicap, received six entries and was closely contested part of the way though at least two men finished in a walk. S. Sharp was first, A. Milich second and J. Lloyd third, the time being 1 min. 57 secs. Also started : M. Milich, A. Dysart and M. Ducevich. They’ve Still Got It ! A special tug-o’-war challenge by the Power Board team brought echoes of other sports gatherings since which the team’s prowess had assumed proro; tions which were at least locally “tall.” The 8.1.E.P.8. team contained Messrs. T. Marinkovich, P. Newton, G. Bcatson, C. Thorne, L. Holemby, E. Berghan and V. de Sweet with C. Jackson as coach, managed to retain supremacy after two contests with other teams. Two Novelty Horse Events Two little-known novelty horse events were also run oflf. In the first —the Night Alarm—the ri ler< had to place their boots in a pil j, sprint a hundred yards, nut on their boots, mount hcr.es (which were he’d in readiness) and gallop i nee around the course. The ter* was a very fine one when considered in terms of the temperament of horses and the versatility if riders. Some very speedy work was done by both horses and men, the winner being M. Nathan on Pereana while Arthur Gibbons on Merry Lu was second. A third rider on Grey Momus appeared well in the running for a while but pulled up unexpectedly, it being later found out that his saddle had become ungirthed. The time was 31 secs, and Pereana came ■ in three quarters of a length ahead 1 of Merry Lu. A Bending Competition to test the smartness of stockhorses, was won by S. Muri’s Punch with G. Evans’ horse second. Although both were big [ horses, their docility and training en- | abled them to gain many points on ponies which might have been expect- ’ ed to make a better showing. A very large crowd had assembled ; through the afternoon and gate keeps ers were able to announce that tak- ' ings had exceeded £6O at the close of the day. i