THE OHINEMURI MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17113, 19 March 1919, Page 9

THE OHINEMURI MEETING.

NOTES ON THE RACING. [from OUE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Prom a financial aspect, the Ohinemuri Jockey Club's fixture at Paeroa on Saturday and Monday last proved a success, though there was room for .improvement in many respects. The totalisator arrangements wore not quite no to the mark, delays occurring in payine out and the adjustment of machine figures, which it should be possible to avoid- In a measure these delects were attributed to inadequate room and facilities at the totalisator house, and the club would do well to consider the advisability of bringing the totalisator building up-to-date, while the general public conveniences should also engage attention, The horse paddbek accommodation is faulty, and before next meeting a modorn enclosure should be in use. On Saturday and Monday last the horses and general public were mingling together, and in, the case of fractious animals this is certain to lead to accidents if allowed to continue. The presence of tho chief Government inspector of totalizators was noted at the meeting. The judging did not meet with general approval on moro than one occasion, which is hardly to be wondered at in the case of close finishes, for the angle is so peculiarly situated as to leave the general public near the main stand with a false impression. However, there was delay in the hoisting of tho numbers which could be improved upon under a more systematio method, whilo the services of a professional offioial are called for. Many matters engaged the attention of the stipendary steward during the meeting, but other serious matters were passed by and there was indeed some Bcopo for further inquiries. The fines in Aided in connection with tho Northland incident were certainly in accord with racing l rules, but under the circumstances the | stewards may easily have taken a more j lenient view of the matter, especially as regards the rider Hendorson, who apparently , dismounted for no other reason than to | relieve his horse, who was lame after pulling up in fourth position, having broken down in the race. The fining of Henderson was adversely commented upon- An interesting case was that of two spectators beii'g hailed J before the stewards to explain the reason of their freedom at tho starting post with a prominent horseman, but nothing more serious than a caution was tho result. Two < instances of clear cutting across the fielrjs by different horsemenone each day—wore allowed to go by without notice from the r sh't quarter, and unless some check is made shortly some of tho boys who are beginning to tako risks under lenient stewardship will bo causing a serious accident in big fields. It is time to cry a halt to Buch tactics before something serious does really happen, and those horsemen who seem inclined to take matters into their own hands should take note. Lenient stewardship is dangerous when it comes to allowing horsemen to continue malpractice during the riding of a race, and more stern methods will have to be adopted, if only as a check on possible accident lenacious proved a very payable proposition, scoring throe victories out of ttiree Stalls, iliu bou ol Oiu.iu q.u uoi iu«l anything ol rune in the steeplechase events, which should prove great education trials for moro serious engagements during tuo appruaountj jumping reason. Ihe agod son of Gluten is parucu.any well soasoncu, auu with the prospect ot mere not oeing a brilliant lot ol crosß-country perlormers out duung the winter, it vmJj not be surprising to note Mr. E. J. Roe's goiomg p.ck.nj up ft stake or two. The country at Paeroa was certainly easy to negotiate, but '.tenacious cleared the brush fences in good sty.c, itius indicating that he may take kindiy to other steeplechase obstacles. lie has now won about £500 in stake money on the country tour. Noiuuauu was going particularly well in tho oecuuu llano., ay tiuruies on Monday wuen he broke uowu, out lor whicu it icxjuod as 11 no wu.-> nanus, cei.a.u m uau un.sutd in a dividend piave. it is rather unlorlunate lor uis puny Uiai the avu oi tutemoot is unsound. Urphoum, who won the hurdle event on Monuay last, is an aged dauguter ol Spalpeen, and is on the improve, more was noiu.u. uieUWrlotlßaoout tor victory, though she ooouid be expected to perioral creu.uiuor in the same ciass again, ami is a uiemuer 01 uuo town presided over oy (... uouoer, the returned soidier who was shipwrecked Willie tttaUlg imorinai and to- across to Sydney in the ili-tated Winiuieisi last winter. bignaturo showed improvement on his past enorts by returning a Becund dividend last Monday, lie appears to bo tailing to tho hurd.o game with more confidence in each race. Mantoitov looked really well and was elected favourite each day at I'aeroa, but fall in Uer urst attempt and wis taken on on Monday by another failing in front of hen. . . . When Active made good by winning the Humtau Handicap on Monday ho did so id such a sty.e as to augui we.i lur las future. On opening day. when Elyan headed him off, he woae a (jaoio urn i«i 'he uunOUrs, but that race worked wonders with him, ami he never gavo the opposition much cminte onto ho s.ruck the trout in his second attempt. The son oi Boniiorm and .hiiorl ahoud go on improving. Escaped, who was generally voted a moral for uic ...Kutaia .Handicap on Monday, afte' his btoodess victory ot opening day, finished in a distressed fashion, after being m second position up to me business end. tit received Borne attention oarly in the race from another competitor, wmch evident./ did him no good, and it may prove unwise to ostimate his true value on his lourtu place last Monday. It is said a fair figure was offered for the son of Genoral Latour a little while back, but that his owner pro ferrod to retain possession of the geiding. It will be unfortunate if Earl Marshal develops tho fract.ous habit as displayed at the starting post on Monday, for on opening day the son of Marshal boult and Unique gave some promise that he would Win shortly when he finished in a place to Escaped and Debutante. Tama-a-roa finished on nicely in second place whon ho acted as runner-up to Active in tho Hikutaia Handicap on Monday, and the five-year-old son of Penury and Elec. trum may yet prove that his owner had some reason to refuse the oiler mado for his purchase. Taiamai must bo proving a great invest ment to the sportsman wno holds her on lease, The daughter of Tile Nut and Lady Molly was always moving very freely when she accounted tor the ttaitekaun Handicap field on Monday. She had no more than fist 13lb to cany, whioh appeared strange to those who realised that she had four successive victories to her credit; but it* reality she was entitled to no more, for sjio has been particularly well placed, and so far has not met a really first-class performer in her recent engagements. In Monday's engagement ahe was set to give the well-performed Mossman and Caballero Weight, but this pair were witndrawn. hum made her task rather easy. After her decisive defeat of Queen Abbey, when con ceding the latter 141b, it. would seem that Hannon's representative is not quite SO good as was thought to bo the case. Or is It that Twamai is classy'/ Mr. J. H. Edwards is to bo sympathised with in the loss of his Marble Arch—Monella gelding, Shining Light, who was beginning to give promise of paying his way when placed right. The threc-yoar-oid did not last long once he fell, and after letting out a few kicks, died almoßt where he came down. The home turn at Paeroa courßo is altogether too sharp, and may be unpiovcd. When the pace is on it is no uncommon sight to notice fields of horses being practically carried out to a nxuiceablo extent, and the wonder is that something serious does not happen each year Fulica was a member of H. Telford a team who failed to score on the country trip, and it looks as if the imported mare must have met a bad lot whon sho won the hack event at New Plymouth. The other members of the Trentham team each won a ; race and earned P>ce money on the trip. Ihey comprised Bo Peep, Active, and Philomela. Though defeated in the I'aoroa Handicap on Monday, the three-year-old Bozonian filly Bo Poop ran a creditable race, but was not I BUited by the turns. However, she may i figure prominently over a mile course at I some future date. She was giving away poundage to all of those who finished in front of her, including fair handicap performers. Rockfield, who was generally considered to be handsomely treated in the Paeroa Handicap on Monday last, won that event in very attractive fashion and has evidently thrived on the racing indulged in on the country circuit. This son of Monoform and • Golden Roso has paid his way handsomely ' on tho country trip, having won three.races. Royal Chef showed a lot of pace in hie racos at Paeroa, and at ono part of the principal handicap on Monday the son of Coronet and Ctiis no threatened to bo . among the money-earners. He was fourth, just in front of Bo Peep, and can surely be placed to 8 profit shortly. There is no doubt that he is on the improve. .... ... Garryowen upset the calculations of the supporters of both Housewife and Fabriquette on Monday bv running away with , the Waikino Weltor Handicap almost from barrior rise. The winner is dcerving of creflii,, and is undoubtedly a good hack when right. Housewife did not reli-ih her welter impost, while F&briqnotte, who looked improved wi'h her race on opening day. did no better with H. Goldfinch in the saddle than with W. Ryan, who rode her on opening day. In both her starts she ran out wide, and was finishing on. l»avine th«-impression that she may have be«n suited bettor on a different track, or over an extra furlong. She is evidently not done with yet awhile. The eood form displayed by Mn»9man. who won both six furlong open sprint events at (ho meeting, must have rwen fully anticipated by his own«r after his forward showing at Clniide'anda. Re was turned out in grost heart, and *cm both dny« in a fashion which suegosts that he is rHt at Hie ton of his form at present. He gnv« »» ? poundage and a decisive boating to Kekanui , on Monday. ,1 NOTES FROM ELLERSLTE. Mr A Hill, the Auckland Racing Club's chief'officer at Ellerslie, left for Stratford i last night in conn»ction with the scheme ol • improvements to be brought about on the , Stratford Racing Club's property. While lj that quarter he will visit the New Plymouth ' and Wanganui courses. He expects to b« . away about a week. i R. E. Edwards, tra'ner of Flying Gown* and Glenval. while ridin? the latter on th< plough at Clnude'.ands during last week, en countered some sheen straying across th< track which bron?ht his mount down, cans 1 ing injuries to both horso and rider. Ed wards was present at Paeroa, carrying nil ' arm in a sling. 5 A. J. McFlynn is getting back to his bes ' form" in the saddle, and rode winnerb ai both Te Aroha and Paeroa. He is engager ■ at the Woodville meeting to-day, beini i booked to ride members oi the Short stabh , when tho weights suit. I