THE UNITED HUNT STEEPLECHASE MEETING.

New Zealand Mail, 21 July 1892, Page 26

THE UNITED HUNT STEEPLECHASE MEETING.

President—W. 11. Levin. Officers : Judge— A. E. Rhodes. Starter—S. Powell. Handicapper—J. Henry. Clerk of the Course—J. Mills. Clerk of the Scales—F. Dyer. Timekeeper —N. Grace. Stewards —Messrs 11. I) Crawford, D. G. A. Cooper, Dr Cahill, G S. H. Cunningham, W. Lingard, A. Wylie, W. W. Oox, D. G. Riddiford, J. W. Maddox, E. O’Rorke, C. Skerrett, Dr Gillon, F. Wells and H. Lance. Secretary— D. H. Mackinnon. The second Steeplechase Meeting of the United Hunt Club was held on the Racing Club’s course at the Lower Bult on Saturday and was a groat success. The weather was tine and there were about 2000 people present, the number in tbe enclosures being exceedingly satisfactory and the ladies being specially prominent. His Excellency the Governor, attended by Mr Clayton, A.D.0., arrived while the first race was being run, and was reoeived by the Master, Air H. D. Crawford, Dr Cahill, and Messrs Cunningham and Lingard, on behalf of the club. Three cheers were given for His Excellency who remained and saw the whole of the events, the full programme of which he was supplied with in the shape of an elegantly bound volume. His Excellency was entertained by the Master and the Stewards at a sumptuous luncheon served in a marquee in the weighing enclosure, and supplied by McEwen and Churchill. The visitors included several well known racing men from other parts of the Colony, including Messrs D. C. Riddiford, F. Wells and W. E. Bidwill, Masters of the Raugitikei, Danevirke and Wairarapa Hunts respectively. Mr McDermid, secretary of the Wairarapa Hunt Club, was also present. Jenkins' Baud discoursed excellent music during the day. Mr Walter Johnston, of the Waverley Hotel, catered very libera'ly in the grand, stand, and was in turn very liberally supported. Mr Joseph Ames administered the two totalisators very efficiently, and during the afternoon put through £3812, which should enable the olub to show a substantial profit. The various officers, notably Mr D. H. Mackinnon, the secretary, worked hard to make the meeting a success, aud they must be congratulated on having completely attained their object. The sport was of a most interesting nature, almost all the events bringing out good fields, while the finishes were, in most cases, very close. The victory of Hunts> man Roake’s horse, The Banker, in the Maiden Steeplechase was very popular, and the horse and owner were loudly cheered. The scene was repeated when Mr Ward’s horse Flintstone scored a very meritorious victory in the Open Steeplechase, and when Mr N. Grace’s horse Sir Tatton landed the Bracelet for Mias Vennell, of the Wairarapa. The Hunt Club Steeplechaae produoed a very interesting race between Mr Chapman’s Morok and Mr GolLn’s Mara gal.but Morok, being in the better condition of the two, won a good race at the finish by a couple of lengths. G enelg, of whom much was ex pect< d,ran badly both in tbe HurdlesandOpen Steeplechase.the former race being won, after a rasping anish, by Mr McElwain’s Empire. I he hack mare Traitress, who has so often disappointed her friends, was for once in a good humour, aud she won the Hack Huidks from end to end. The sticky state of the ground rendered the going very treacherous, and to this is no doubt due the fact that not a single favourite won during the day. Tho largest dividend was that of £l7 2s paid on Flintstone in the Open Steeplechase. The following are the details : Maiden Steeplechase, of 25 sovs ; weight-for-age. About two miles. 31 Mr R. Roake's, bile g Banker, aged, by Hippocampus, 12st 31b ... (Robinscn) 1 28 Mr J. Kennedy’s b g Glenthorne, aged, 12st 31b (Woods) 2 35 Mr J. N. Wei ford's b g Billy, aged, 12st 31b (McLean) 3 Also started —3 The Liar, 12st 3ib (Mr A. Cooper); 21 Harkaway, 12st 31b (FT. Peters) ; 54 Baronet, 12st 3lb (Cowper) : 122 Qui Vive (late Friendship), list 61b (Gallagher); 44 Vivacious, 12st (Gravestock). (Winner trained by owner.) All got safely over the first jump, but Baronet came to grief at the gorse and rails into Eglington’s. Qui Viva also baulked but was soon set going again. Along the back Glenthorne, Banker and Vivacious were in the van, and The Liar was last. Harkaway was first out of Ward’s on to the course, and took the water jump four lengths in front of Glenthorne, Qui Vive, who had made up bis lost ground very quickly, being a good third and Viva-

cious, Billy and Banker well up. Qui Vive now took the lead and appeared fco have the pace of everything, but he came down at the fence into Ward’s, and Vivacious sticking up at the gorse out of the plough, Bauker, Harkaway and Billy were left in the front, with Glenthorne, who had mot with some mishap that threw him back, coming up strongly, fourth. Banker had the best of his rivals in the run home, and won by three lengths from Glenthorne, with Billy a fair third and Qui Vive fourth. Time, 6min 44|3ec. Totalisator, £338 ; dividend, £9 13s. Open Handicap Hurdles, of 45 sovs ; second horse to receive 5 sovs from the stakes, About one mile and a half. 85 Mr E. Me Biwain’s br g Empire, syrs, by Natator, lOst 41b ... ... (Pell) 1 23 Mrs A. Coulter’s br g Bide-a-Wee, aged, 9st —carried 9st 61b (H. Peters) 2 40 Mr W. E. Bidwill’s b g Cyrus 11. (late Cyrus), syrs, 9st 21b ... (Seccombe) 3 Also started—2B Sir Garnet, lOst 131 b (Murtagh); 218 Glenelg, lOst 101 b (T. Cameron) ; 48 General Gordon, 9st 13lb (Walden) ; 74 Hiamoe, 9st 121 b (Redmond); 45 Chance, 9st 101 b—carried 9st 121 b (McMinamin); 6 Houpla (late Balmaceda), 9st 21b (Arnott); 15 Ben B, 9st (Griffiths). (Winner trained by owner.) They got away well togother, but Bide-a-Wee aud Houp-la were in front as they passed the stand, with Empiie third, Glenelg fourth, and Hiamoe last. Bide-a-Wee held command all round to the old gate, where Empire joined him, and the pair went away from the others, a slashing race in the straight ending in Empire getting home by half a length, three lengths between second and third. Time, 3min 10 1-5 sec. Totalisator, £582 ; dividend, £6 Is. United Hunt Club Steeplechase Handicap, of 50 sovs ; second horse 10 sovs from the stakes. About three miles aud a half. 87 Mr W. Chapman's r g Morok, aged, by Rapid Roan, 12st 91b ... (Hope) 1 187 Mr S. H. Gollan's br g Marangai, syrs, list 101 b (Hickey) 2 23 Mr K. McKenzie's ch g Jack, aged, list (Gravestock) 3 Also started - 12st 31b (McLean); 68 Donovan, list 91b (Mr F. Pearce); 8 Matchless, list 91b (Mr F. Matthews) ; 47 Mataiwhetu, list 81b (Cameron); 23 Banker, list 61b (Hughes); 47 Dhudeen, list carried list 131 b (Mr S. Gollan); 14 Halicore, list (Robinson); 7 Sawdust (Mr J. Mills); 27 Tarquin, list (Poulson), and Baronet, list The two last named were coupled together in the machine. (Winner trained by Kingan.) Sawdust went at once to the front, and for the first two miles the order of tlia leaders was, with scarcely any variation, Sawdust, Banker, Morok, Jack, Dangerous, Tarquin, and Marangai, the last horae being Halicore, who looked well but travelled badly. All the horses with this exception jumped well, but the pace was very slow through the plough and stubbie on the far side. Marangai joined Sawdust in Egling* ton’s in the second round, and, going to the front after getting out of Ward’s, led Mr horse ten lengths over the water jump, where Morok was third, and Jack, Dhudeen, Banker, Tarquin and Dangerous the only ones within range. At the sod wall Ta'quin fell, and in Englington’s Sawdust refused, and Morok drew upon Marangai, Jack going into third place. Banker now gave way, a d Morok, passing Marangai about a quarter of a mile from home, won a good race by a couple f lengths. Time, lOmln 12seo. Totalisator, £602 ; dividend, £6 2s. Hack Hurdle Handic'P, of 20 sovs. About one mile and a quarter. Mr R. Campbell’s g m Traitress, aged, by Traitor, 9sb 31b—carried 9st 91b (H. Peters) 1 Mr H. Knight’s ch g Corsair, aged, lOst 71b cvvied 10 st 101 b (Chambers) 2 Mr J. Downer's b g Burglar, 9st 4ffi—carried 9st 91b ... ... (Laing) 3 Also started—lo 3 Auroa, lOst 41b—carried lOst 91b (Cameron); 11 Nimrod, 9st 41b carried 9st 61b (A. Peters) ; 6 Stockman, aged, 9st (Macmorran); 16 M. 8., 9st—carried 9st 101 b (Hughe-) ; 19 Mollyhawk, 9st (Lindsay). This race admits of very little description, as, after going half a mile, Traitress drew right away from the others and romped home a winner by a dozen lengths, hard held, the others widely scattered. Tima, 2min 43 2 ssec. Totalisator, £378 ; dividend, £7 88. Open Steeplechase Handicap, of 100 sovs; second horse to receive 10 sovs from the stake. About three miles. 38 Mr W. T. Ward’s b g Flintstone, syrs, by Flintlock, 9sfc 111 b (Humphries) 1 68 Mr C. Mack’s b g Chance, syrs, lOst 51b ... ... - • (McMinamin) 2 140 Mr E. Shove's ch g Booties, syrs. lOst 131 b ...(Gilpin) 3 Also started —157 Ingorangi, list 61b (Williams) ; 76 Glenelg, lOst 101 b (Cameron) ; 69 Auckland, lOst 61b (Pell) ; 38 Canute, lOst (Seccombe); 112 Gladius, 9st 101 b (Mr Hathaway); 35 Bismarck, 9sfc 71b (Macmorran). (Winner traired by Humphries). The field was sent away without delay, Gladius aud Ingorangi being the first to apt»oii in front. Auckland cime down at the post and rails in Eglington’a. All the rest got safely over, and Ingorangi aud Gladius carried on the running merrily for the first round, with Char-ce close up. All negotiated the double very cleverly, but going into Eglingtou’s the second time Gladius lost his place owing to a stumble, and Chance, going np to Ingorangi in Ward’s, led across the course, Flintstone being a good third, with Glenelg 20 lengths away by himself fourth, the last lot being Booties, Gladius, Bismarck and Canute. The three leaders took the water jump and the sod W3ll nearly abreast, and wore all Lunched going through Egfingtou’s for the ia t time. Here Canute came to grief, an : P' iutatone took the lead. Chance ma’i*- a gallant effort to keep up with AC Win d’s horse, but the latter had too much left in him, aud drawing away in the last quarter of a mile won easily by 10 lengths. Booties passed Ingorangi in the run home ?and finished third 20 lengths behind Chance. Two or three others cam 6 in at long intervals. Time, 7min 563ee, Totalisator, £694 ; dividend, £l7 2s. Ladies’ Bracelet Handicap, for hunters only. First to receive a bracelet value 25 guineas ; second to receive a bracelet value 5 guineas. Gentlemen riders ; minimum weight list. Two miles on the flat. 66 Miss Alice Venn ell's br g Sir Tatton, aged. by Tattler, list 101 b (Mr J. Vallance)

32 Mr# J. Armstrong's g g Vivacious, syrs, list (Mr Pilmer) 2 56 Miss Hutton’s b g Cyrus 11., syrs (Mr F. Pearce) 3 Also started—67 Hiamoe, 12s 71b (Mr T. Scott); 30 Obed, list 91b (Mr Donald); 40 Gladstone, aged, list 81b (Mr J. Prosser); 45 Auroa, list 81b (Mr Hathaway); 192 Qui Vive, list 71b, carried list B|lb (Mr S. Gollan); 21 Playboy, list (Mr Buick) ; 26 Sawdust, list (Mr J. Mills); 0 Halicore, aged, list (Mr A. Cooper). (Winner trained by Mr N. Grace.) Qui Vive jumped to the front soon after the start, and led for nearly a round. In the second round the field divided, one lot, consisting of Qui Vive, Auroa, Hianuoe, Sir Tatton and Cyrus 11. going on in a compact body fully 50 yards in advance of the others, who were also well together, A splendid race ensued between the placed horses, Sir Tatton ultimately landing the prize by half a length, while Cyrus was two lengths away third. Time, 4min 24sec. Totalisator—£s7s ; dividend, £7 14s. Open Welter Handicap, of 30 sovs; second horse to receive 5 sovs from the stakes. One mile and a quarter on the flat. 112 Mr J. Freeth’s ch m Violence, 4yrs, by Treason, lOst ... (J. Reed) 1 71 Mr E. McElwain’s br g Empire, syrs, 103t41b (Hathaway) 2 ill Mr G. W. Smart’s ch g Paramu, syrs, list 21b (Pell) 3 Also Btarted —45 Prairie Grass, 103 t 131 b (Gallagher) ; 7 Houp-la, lOst (Arnott); 58 Flywheel, lOst (J. Pilbrow); 223 Caloola, syrs, lOst (Griffiths); 16 Bismarck, lOst (Maemorran). (Winner trained by owner.) Caloola, who was a hot favourite, was taken to the front as soon as the race began and led to the home turn, where Paramu, Empire and Violence challenged and passed him at the half distance. Empire looked like winning a dozen lengths from home, but Violence oame with a great run and won on the post by half a length ; a length between second and third. Caloola was fourth. Time, 2min 30aee. Totalisator, £647 ; dividend, £5. The following is the list of winning owners, and the amounts won by eaoh at the meeting -Mr Ward, £BS 10s ; Mr McElwain, £42 15s; Mr Chapman, £3B; Mr Vennell, £25 ; Mr Roake, £23 15a ; Mr Freetb, £23 Ids ; Mr Campbell, £l9 ; Mr Gollan, £9 10s ; Mr Mack, £9 10s; Mr Armstrong, £5 ; Mr Coulter, £4 15s; total, £286 10s.