WEST COAST NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2199, 23 April 1896, Page 31

WEST COAST NEWS.

By Totara. "* Hokitika, April- 16. The West Coast racing clubs have been singularly unfortunate as regards the weather this autumn. The Greymouth Jockey Club was the I chief sufferer in this respect, haying to postpone on two occasions. Postponements as a 'rule seriously affect the revenue of a club. The Kumara Racing Club, although not having to postpone, suffered by the heavy rain on the morning of the second day's races, which kept quite a number of the public away from the day's amusement. The Westlaad Racing Club had to postpone its first day's races owing to the .heavy downpour. Probably the Fate 3 are marking their displeasure at the amount of crooked practices that are tolerated on the Coast, and are now meting out judgment by sending bad weather for the races. Saturday, the 11th of April, was a fine day overhead, and a large number of visitors from Reef ton, Greymouth, Kumara, and wayside stations journeyed in the train to attend the concluding meeting^bn the Coast. Tha attendance the first day might be estimated at 900. The Eokitika public did not patronise the races to the same extent as I have noticed in the past. The course was not in such bad order as one would imagine from the amount of rain that fell the previous day. The going was holding, and the chances of the horses slipping were slighter than if there had beqn le<is rain. The iport from a racing point of view was not a success, the fields were small, and, the finishes, except on two occasion;, were not at all exciting. From a financial point of view I am sorry to «ay the club will not make a large profit over the meeting, but all the same I am pleased to state that the club will come out clear. The races were not enlivened by the music " that charms the savage breast " (cave it was Jimmie Lynch'e melodious voice trying to induce the public on the stand to make further investment! on the totalisator), the band being conspicuous by its absence. The air was rifa with rumours of dead ones at the meeting. It wa3 a common remark to hear— "Well, I intended backing So-and-so, but I hear he is in thfl box for something else." The stewards had occasion to call Birkett before them for the suspicious riding of Johnny Faa in the Hokitika Handicap, and the decision arrived at was that Birkett was to stand down for three months.

Proceedings were opened with the Trial Stakes. Seven figured on the card, but fire had the pea drawn through their names, leaving Epilogue 8.12 and Harkaway 6.7 to go to the post. This race was nractically regarded as a'foregone conclusion for Epilogue. The barrier was released to a fair start, Epilogue going to the front. At the hill Harkaway stumbled and nearly came down. All the same he had no chance with Epilogue, who won easily. Time, Imin 40 3-ssec. Totalisator, £78. Dividend, £1 9s. The local Hack Race, seven furlongs, brought out a field of five, Dolly beiDg most in demand. To a good start Tyrant jumped away with the lead, and keeping his position, won easily from Miss Guy, who in turn was some lengths hi front of Dolly. Time, lmin 44 2-s:ec. Totalisator, £158. Dividend, £4 145. The Hokitika Handicap, one mile and a-quarter, was the next item for consideration. Silver Rose was scratched, leaving Johnny Faa 8.11, Epilogue 8.3, and King Lear 7.1 to face the barrier. A considerable amount of suspicion existed over this race. The indication at the opening of the totalisator pointed to Johnny Faa as being the correct pea, but at the last moment a big commission in favour of Epilogue was rung on the machine, which brought the daughter of King Cole up' very close to Johnny Faa as far as the investments were concerned, King Lear being entirely neglected. To a fair start Johnny Faa and King Lear led, Epilogue close handy. After passing the stand Johnny Faa and King Leas opened out and let Epilogue up on the inside, thus allowing the mare to gain a distinct advau« tage, which she maintained to the end, Johnny Faa making a very feeble effort to catch Epilogue; King Lear Borne distance away third. The public from the stand indulged in a gentle hoot as Johnny Faa was passing the po«t. Time, 2mia 23 l-58eo. Totalisator, £310. Dividend, £2 4s. Immediately after the .horses h»d » i ?>> <1 in the stewards met to consider the virii ■ , . "■ -hnny Faa, and decided to disqualify Ha V. tea '< ea mouths.

The Hurdle Race, one mile and three t, i , attracted a field of only three, Oour.mto anil .mcic being scratched. Jacob Faithful and Regalia

■were evenly backed, Minerva betng the outsider of the party. Jacob Faithful went to the front, and led to the last hurdle, when the pace began to tell on him. Over the last fence both Regalia and Minerva passed Jacob Faithful, and a good lace resulted in Reenlia winning by a neck from Minerva. nn->. 3min 41 lfisec Totalisator, £294. _ D,i',.i<-?,(5, £2 2i. It was said that this araee did uoi lesult aa the knowing ones anticipated. Jacob would have been more acceptable to their banking account. ' Eight figured on the card for the Hack Race, one mile, but on the appearance of the weights three were struck out. The treatment of Straightehot was decidedly nnfair, and no wonder the pan vat drawn through her name immediately the handicap appeared. The race needs scarcely any ■description ; sufficient it is to cay that Tonganui *»ad the old bridle on, while smns of the others had very strongs bridles. Time, lmin 663e& Total'sator, £289. Dividend, £1 13s. i The President's Handicap re»ulted in a walk ever for King Lear. The second day turned out nice and fine, but the attendance was muoh smaller than on Saturday. The course, considering the steady rain of the previous day, was in fair order. Out of seven acceptors for the FJying Stakes, cix furlong?, only three w.ent to, the post—Tutanekai 8.3, Jack 7.6, and King Lear 7.5. This race •wan regarded as a foregone conclusion for Tutanekai, and so it proved. To a good start Tutanekai showed the way. At the turn into the straightKing Lear challenged Tutanekai, and the whips \we out on both, but half-way down the straight !putanekai had settled King Lear's pretensions, and won fairly easy ; Jack, soma lengths away, third. Time, Imuf23 l-53ec, Totalisator, £89. £1 8s. The fivejgeeptors faced the starter for the loc»l Hadcßace," six furlongs. Miss Guy was -whispered about as a real good thing, and was strongly in demand, while Tyrant was quietly supported. On the release of the bVrrier Mis 3 Guy..w3s quickest to move, but Wanganui rushed to the front and soon established a good lead, and it looked as if he would not be caught, but at the turn he tired very fast. When their beads were turned for home Miss Guy and Wanganui were hard at it. Some lengths away Tyrant was Been to be making up a lot of ground, and by dint of determined horsemanship on M'Tnggart's part Tyrant won in the last few strides. Miss Guy had by this time settUd Wanganui, and secured second place by a neck. Time, lmin SBeec. Totalisator, £211. Dividend, £2 9s. Johnny Faa, Banner, and Tonganui were withdrawn from the Westland Handicap, nine furlong's which left Epilogue 812, Tutanekai 80, and King L»ar 7.3 to contest the race. Tntanekai ■was accorded most support, Epilogue being also veil backed, but King Lear waß very much neglected, there being only £16 invested on him out of £217 on the machine. The horses were out on the cowrse for a considerable time before they ■were started, the dwlay being to get further investments on the totalisator, which is altogether a bad principle to adopt. To a fair start King Lear led past the stand. A little past the six furlongs post Tutanekai went to the front. Gding up the hill King Lear raced up to Tutanekai, and the latter literally stopped and refused to race. Entering the straight King Lear and Epilogue -were fighting it out, but the superior horsemanship on King Lear was seen to advantage, the latter winning by a length ; Tutanekai along way behind last. Time, 2min 9 3-ssec. Totalisator, £217. Dividend, £12 4s. Jacob Faithful 10.10. Regalia 10.10, and Minerva 9.8 were the only starters for the Hurdle Race, one mile and three-quarters. Regalia was more than an even-momy favourite. Jacob Faithfal •was somewhat troublesome at the post, but all got off well. Regalia led, Minerva next, and this order was maintained for the first timo round. Going dowa the hill for the last time Minerva forged ahead, and jumping well kept her position to the finish, winning by a length ; Jacob Faithful - leveral lengths away. Time, 3min 40 3-ssec. Totalisator, £280. Dividend; £2 165. The Hack Race, one mile, saw a field of four face the starter. Tonganui, who was particularly favoured by the handicap, was made an odds-on favourite. The is3ue was never in doubt, Tonfmui winning as she liked from Harkaway. ime, lmin 529ec. Totalisator, £86. Dividend, £18s. The Final Handicap, one mile, was the concluding rac« of tte meeting. Epilogue 8.12. Tutanekai 8.3, and King Lear 7-12 were the only starters. Epilogue was a slightly better favourite than Tutanekai. This race was run in semi-darkness. Epilogue kept in a good position throughout the race, and won fairly easy. Tutanekai turned it up again before entering the straight, but took it into his head to r«ce again, and coming with a great rush defeated King Lear for second place. Time, lmin 52 l-53e,c. Totalisator, £175. Dividend, £1 19s. The Hokitika racecourse seems to be the hanpy hunting ground for improper practices. This may be attributed to its being the last of the series of meetings on the Coast. Many of the horses are knocked out at the previous meetings, consequently the fields are small and are easier to manipulate. Then again the boys lay themselves out to make a hr.nl recovery ; and, lastly, the stewards do not exercise a bu Client observance over the strong-armed fraternity. Had. Silver Bose, Banner, and Home Rule started at the meeting, it would have put an entiivly different complexion on affairs. The disqualification of Birkett was certainly correct, the stewards dealing out a lenient punishment. The whole proceedings were most palpable to the public— first, • the indication of the totalisator; then Birkett opening out to let Epilogue ujs on the inside ; and, lastly, the very feeble effort to ride Johnny Faa at the finish. So disgusted were the public that they hooted as Johnny Faa passed the post, thus showing their indignation. The Wetfland Racing Club was very late in starting the races both days, consequently it was neatly datk before the public got avray from the coarse. The principle of waiting till the last pound is drained out of the public by the totalisator before starting the horses is altogether a wrong one, and the sooner it is rtmedied the better for the club. The clubs on the Coast argue that they must get as much money through the totalisator as possible in order to bring them out on the right side of the ledger. I grant this to a certain extent ; but all the fame, if the clubs inserted on their programmes stipulated times for each race to be started at, the public would soon get educated to the system, and all the available money would be invested by the advertised time for starting. Certainly the clubs might lo«e a few pounds on the first introduction, but they would make it up in the end, besides conferring a groat boon on the public by enabling them to return to 1 heir homes at a decent hour. As it is now, the clubs have allowed the public to get into such a dilatory custom that they know the races will not be started until a fair amount of money is on the totalisatsr, and consequently th«j? Flo not hurry themselves. I really believe if the clubs waited two hours for a race you would find a straggler come along wanting to have a pound on at the last moment. I commend the time-starting sjsiem to the clubs on the Coast. The Greymonth Jockey Club is the only club on the Coast that has adopted the system of starting races punctually, and I am satisfied it is greatly appreciated by the public. The starting at the meeting was good. Certainly the fields were small, but all the sama there was no room for complaint, and I take this ! opportunity of congratulating Mr Thompson on his success with the machine. The handicapping was in some instances decidedly bad. The treatment of Straightshot in the Hack Races was an example. No wonder the pen was drawn through her name when the weights appeared. Just take this case as an illustration, and 1 could give other inconsistencies in the handicapping. Straightshot won the Hack Race at Kumara with 7 6 on her back. Tohgnuui was adjusted at S. 10, but ran unplaced. In I hat race Straight* hot was receiving 181b from 'ionganui, but the Hokitika haudicapper asked St_raight=hot to give Tonganui 81b, Jthuß making a difference of 261b for Straightshot's win at Kumara ; yet we find Tonganui is only raised 21b the second day for her win the first day, but Straightshot is raised 151b for her vriu at Kumaia. She was immediately scratched again, as was only to be expected. There was something radically wrong behind the scenes, otherwise such adjustments as the one I have referred to would never have been issued. Had Straightshot received fair imposts the very fact of her presence on the scene might have -been the means «f upsetting certain OArdraUr Wd plans.

Mr BrimVle has fceen singularly unfortunate with his mare Silver Rose through meeting with accidents. This time she pot injuries in the train while on her way to attend the Hokitik* races ; consequently she was an absentee at the msedng. Mr Olaughesy adhered to his resolution not to race Home Rule at Hokitika. It is to be regretted that the hatchet was not buried before tho Hokitika racas, as a club can ill afford to lose the support of sportsmen of Mr Claughesy's class. I trust before the next meeting comes round that the little difference between Mr Claughesy and the club will be healed. Prior to tha Hack Race the second day Jacob Faithful and Harkaway were put up by public auction. The former was purchased by Mr R. Adamson for £14 lOj, and the latter by Mr Meharry for £13 10s.