THE TURF

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6606, 24 August 1908, Page 7

THE TURF

WELLINGTON PONY AND GALLOWAY RACING CLUB. OPENING OF SEASON. Tho \i clliugton Pony and Galloway Chib were favoured with gloriously hue weather for their opening meeting of tae nev,- sc-isuu on Suturuay at -niramai. ine attendance was, as nught be expected with such inviting weather cun-.si-uons. quits saUsiaclory, unu there m,.uuve Lei-ii i’uuy Umo persons prest-m.

The sport pro viced as a wiioiu was interesting, and although m several u.eiiiß the issue was never* in cvuut after heads were turned for home, on ibe other hand, in tiie Ailba-mo aua -ij-CDoful Handicaps, two raltuug goou finishes were witnessed. An eaeii instance, iiHiy, responding gamely under punishment, overhauled me leader in the last c-Trides and won by an extreme*.) short margin. , . « Another double winner during the alter no on was the Musketry mare Miretta, who used to compete at tiie registered meetings* She was turned out in capital bucivie, and won bold her races with great case. She effected somewhat of a surprise iu the principal event, stylishly termed tho r * U inter Gup,” for which Veroiuquo and Herculean, were strougiy fancied, but tlio former’s prospects were practically extinguished by her dwelling badly at the start. Iter subsequent running, however, in the Galloway Handicap, in which the Seaton Helaval marc finished a bad last in a field of four, vfhen Mirella romped homo on her own, suggested that the ex-Auekland crack was net herself. The going, despite comparativclv recent rain, was good, with the exception of a soft bit near tho four furlong poet.

Tfie meeting was under the control of the club’s, new secretary, Mr 3. M. Gumming. in the role of managing steward. There was little to cavil at in the conduct of the sport. An unsatisfactory incident, however, occurred in tlio Maiden Plate, owing to an oversight on the part of an assistant official. YVadham had weighed out to ride Billy for that event, and the bookmakers had laid a number of bets against him, he being an early favourite. This the o.wncu apparently resented, and strenuously voicing his grievance, ho relieved hisVfeelings by paying the labs scratching line of ono sov. and withdrew Billy at p.Viuctically tho twelfth hour, Tho bookmakers declared all bets already laid ou. returned the mbnc}% and commenced operations afresh, the only tiling to do under tho circumstances, thus avoiding any dissatisfaction among backers.

Tlio duties of starter were performed for the first time at Miramar by Mr W. Talbot, and with a little more practice ho should acquire greater proficiency, although his dispatches ou Saturday left utle room for complaint. The management would, however, be wise to introduce the barrier.

The six events were run off promptly to time, the last being concluded and lx© public homeward bound a few minutes after 5 o’clock, the majority travelling by tram, the accommodation of which, with the pony patrons, football and hockey players, was taxed to its utmost capacity. Sixteen bookmakers .an equal number inside and out. supplied tlio medium of speculation. They paid fees of =£s and <£3 respectively, tlnut contributing a revenue of .££l* to the club’s funds.

A sum of £145 was given away in stakes.

In the Maiden Plato overweights of lllb Lady Louise and 71b Cheat were carric-a, while Miretta wa-s penalised 71b, Kauhce 101 b and Billy 51b whe.u contesting events subsequent to winiiung. Besults;

Junior Pony Handicap, of 20 sbvs (U. 3 and under); six furlongs. Miss Breakell’s ch m Kauhoe, by Captain Webb—Puriri mare, Syrs, 8.7 (Walden) ... 1 W. A. North’s ch m'Firefly, Gyre, 9,12 (A. Thompson) ... 2 W. Richards’ b m Lady Dauphin, 8 (Bagar) 3 The only starters. Firefly got badly left. Going down the back Kauhoe was a length clear of Lady Dauphin, with Firefly a long way out. Kauhoe was out by himself entering the straight, and Firefly, who overhauled Lady Dauphin on the home bend, failed to get within striking distance. Kauhoe won in hollow fashion by sis lengths. Time, Imin 25£eec. Maiden Plate, of 15 sovs (weight for inches); four furlongs.

Miss Miller’s b m Dorina, by Mauser— Doreen, 4yrs, 8.7 (A. Cooper) ... 1 Miss Clarke's b g Prince Koy, Gyre, 9 (B. Forrest) 2 A. Gordon's gr m Silvery Ocean, Gyre, 8.7 (A. Thompson) 3 Also started—Marquis 9, Lady Louise 8.7, Cheat 8.7, Cornstalk 8.7. Marquis had all the best of the start, but Dorina quickly displaced him. Marquis falling going on to the top turn loft Dovina with a commanding lead from Silvery Ocean. Prince Roy finished fast and ran into second place, but Dorina remained unchallenged, winning by a largo margin. Time, oGeec. Winter Cup, of 40 sovs (15 hands and under); six furlongs.

J. McLaughlin’s b in Miretta, by Musketry Maybud, aged, 9.12 (Sweeney) E. R. Myer’s b m Inspiration, aged 9.0

(M. Dermuth) 2 L. Royden’s ch m Veronique., aged 10 (J, Blair) Also started—Weka 9.7, Herculean 9.3, Lady Mason 8.10. Miretta was first away and led past tho stand from Inspiration. Going down the back Herculean went up into second position, but Miretta maintained her lead throughout, and won very easily by four lengths from Inspiration. Verouiquc, who got away badly, made up a good 'deal of lost ground in the straight, and squeezed into third place. Time, Imin 24sec.

Hilbirnie Handicap, of 25 sots (14.2 and under); about five furlongs. S. Cross's b g Billy, by Lupin, 4yrs, 8 (L, Wadham) 1 Hies Miller’s b m Donna, 4yre, 8.10 (W. Cooper) - W. A. North’s ch m Firefly, 6yrs, 9.13 (J. Pritchard) 3 Also started—Wee Nannie 9.8. Dorina quickly assumed a substantial lead and endeavoured to win from end to end. Billy, however, came with a rattle over the last furlong, and in an exciting finish the latter secured the verdict bv a head. Time, Irani 7 3-seec.

Galloway Handicap, of 25 sovs (15 hands*and under); six furlongs. J. McLaughlin’s b m Miretta, by Musketry Mnybud, 10.5, aged (Sweeney) ... ... . ••• ••• 1 Corneal and Garnhara’s oh m Lady Mason, 6yrs, 8.10 (Walden) ... 2 Miss Clarke’s b g Prince Roy, Gyre, 8 (B. Forrest) 3 Also started—Veronique 10. From an oven dispatch Lady Mason was rushed to the front and allowed to remain there on sufferance until the home turn, where • Mirotta overhauled her, drew away and won with a lot in hand by two lengths. Time, Imin 25$sec.

Hopeful Handicap, of 20 eovs (14.2 and under); four furlongs. S. Cross’s b g Billy, Lupin, 4yrs, 8.8 (Wadham) 1 W Rushton’s br m Herculean, syrs, 9.13 (T. Todd) 2 Mis* Break-oil's b g Kauhoe, 3yrs, 9.7 (Sweeney) ... 3 Also started— Firefly 10.2, Wee Nannie 9.11, Lady Louie© 8.8, Lolta 8.3. Herculean showed the war down the back from Lady Nannie. Billy mov-cd up" on the home bend, and responding gamely under punishment, gradually wore Herculean down, and after a keen

set-to from the distance won all out by a neck. Time, 56£sec. CHRISTCHURCH HUNT CHUB. POINT TO POINT STEEPLECHASE. PRESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, August 22. Tho Christchurch Hunt Club's X-’oint-to-Point Steeplechase was held at Templeton Ibis afternoon, in the presence of a large number of spectators, many of whom journeyed Christchurch in mortor-cais and other vehicles. Mr G. Murray-Aynsley was starter, and Mr W. B. Cowlishaw judge. The following is the result of the race;— POINT-TO-POINT STEEPLECHASE. About four miles.

Miss I. E. Rutherford's Jack Snipe (Mr J. 11. Selby) 1 Mr A. S. Bhvorthy's Craigmore (Mr XI. Ehvorthy) ... 2 Mr D. Westenra’a Zenda (Owner) ... 3 Mr P. Acton-Adams' Prince Charlife .(Owner) 0 Mr\A. S. Elworth/s Brisk (Mr P. Ehvorthy) 0 Jack Snipe. Craig-more, and Zenda were in front all the way. About a mile from the finish, all three refused at a fence leading flora a road into a paddock. Jack Snipe was brought back quickly, and was a long way on the road for home by the time the other pair cleared the obstacle, eventually winning by nearly a hundred yards from Craigmore, who was a similar distance in front of Zenda.