WEST COAST NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2302, 14 April 1898, Page 33

WEST COAST NEWS.

March 28.

The Reef toniJockey Club was as'unfortunate as the other West Coast clubs in striking wretched weather for it 3 race meeting. On the morning of March 25 it poured down, so much that only those most ardent supporters of the turf journeyed to Reefton. On arrival at Reefton the rain mode rated, and in the afternoon it cleared up nice and bright. The attendance was very poor indeed, principally due to the rain in the morning and also the fact of the mines not closing to allow their employees to attend the meeting. Proceedings opened with the Flying Handicap, six furlongs. Seven figured on the card, but Slaiden, Reveille, and Tonganui were withdrawn, leaving four to face the barrier. Miss Charm was soon established a veiy warm favourite. To a fair start Miss Charm was first to move, Seabreeze next, and Reality last. At the back of the course Seabreeze was in command, Miss Charm second, aud Geraint third. At the turn into the straight Seabreeze and Miss Charm were together, but half way up the straight Miss CharmTput in her claim, and soon settled the pretentions of Seabreeze, winning very comfortably by a length, Geraint fpur lengths away third, Reality, outpaced from the jump, last. Totalisator, .€179; dividend, £1 11s. Time, Imin 21sec. - For the First Hack Race, six furlongs, eight went to the post, Geraint and Countess Cole being the only scratchings. Tonganui was made favourite, but she was never dangerous. Surplice was the first to move, but in a few strides National rushed to the front. At the back of tbe course National was out by himself, Reveille second, Sbylock third. At the turn into the straight National was still at the head of affairs, Shyiqok having taken second position, Rustic lying handy. About 100 yards from home Rustic made his effort, but could not get up to the son of Home Rule, who lasted long enough to win by a length from Rustic, Sbyloek third. Totalisator, £231 ; dividend; £7 13s. Time, Imin 22sec. Tonganui appeared to me to be thinking of the future. The Autumn Handicap, one mile and a-half, was the next item for consideration. Haria was favourite. In the preliminary gallop? Surrey went very free, and was certainly very well. Haria, on the other hand, went very sluggishly, appearing to me to be stale. Speculator looked fairly well, but he was not in the forni of last autumn. Geraint and Review in their present form were outsidei-3. The five lined up to the machine, but they got away on very uneven terms, Surrey getting much the best of il, the order being Surrey, Geraint, Speculator. At the back of the course Geraint went to the front, Surrey second, and Speculator third, Review and Haria last six lengths away. Passing the stand Surrey was again in front, Speculator second ; Haiia by this time had improved his position. At the back of the course the last time round Surrey and Haria were away from the reat. Haria made his effort at the turn into the straight, but could not get up to Surrey, who, going on, won very essily by one and a-half lengths ; Haria second, Speculator several lengths away third. Totalisator, £356 ; dividend, £1 Is. Time, 2min 45sec. Bor the Hurdle Race, one mile and a-half, fire was the main, Cheque being the only withdrawal. Cla.-ence was installed favourite. Couranto was tie first to get going, Cyrus next, and Siaiden thi.'l. Clarence was last. At the back of the co- we Cyrus wa3 in front, Couranto second, and Sisiilcn third ; passingthe stand Slaiden bad gone icio second place, Bloomsbury some lengths away la&t. About half a mile from home Slaiden got his nose in fiont, Cyrus second, and Couranto third. Turning into the straight Cyru3 wa3 once &gain in the lead ; at the last hurdle Slaidt n got alongside of him and botb jumped splendidly, but once on the flat Slaiden smothered Cyrusforpace, winning easily; Couranto pome lengths away third. Clareaca was next prominent in the race. BloDmsbury finished a long way out of it last. Totallcator, £273; dividend, £2 16s. Time, 3vain. Thirteen figured on the card for the second Hack Race, seven furlongs, but only a trio weighed out. Ah aura was an odds on favourite. Reality jumped away with the lead ; Ahaura and Taipari 3n that order. At the back of the course Aiiaura look command from Reality, Taipari sailing off. Ahaura landed into the straight first, and going 015, won very easily, Reality easing up whf-a pursuit wes hopeless, and only finished a neck in front of Taipari for second place. Totalisator, £112; dividend, £1 13<*. Time, Imin 35aec. Only a quartet lined up for the Reefton Plate, one mile. Speculator, nearly a2to lon favourite, was quickest away on the rise of the barrier ; Rustic second, and Crescent third. Passing the stand. Speculator, Rustic, Eeview was the order, and these positions were unaltered for the rest of the journey. At the turn into the straight the whips were brought out on Rustic and Review, but Speculator simply cantered iv, winning easily by a length and a-half from Rustic, lleviey/ third ; Crescent not showing anything like his form in this race. Totalisator, £226 ; dividend, £1 Us. Time, Imin 49sec. The sum of £1427 passed through the rnaehin? during the day. The second day being more enticing to visitors to travel, the race 3 were better patronised than ou the first day. For the opening event, the County Plate, seven furlongs, six saddled up. Seabreeze was a very strong lacer on the machine, but the "knowing ones" were quietly backing Tonganui, and had she got home t.hay would have had a fair win to reward them for their patier.ee. Truly, patience is a virtue. There is another axiom that is always worthy of consideration, aud might well be birne ia mind by certain connections— viz , "A bird in hand is worth two in the bush." There was a very bad start, Slaiden being left through getting caught in the tape 3. Review was first away, and Seabreeze secoi-d, Tonganui tbird. This order was continued to the 'back of the course, where Seabreeze improved her position. Enteiing the>straight, Seabreeze was in charge of affairs, Tonganui coming very fast, and a good race up the straight resulted in Seabreeze getting horne r by half a length from Tonganui, Review third. Totalisator, £285; dividend, £1 13s. Tims, Imin 353tc. Two protests were entered, one by the owner of Tonganui against Seabieeza for crossing, and the other by the owner of Review against Tonganui for incondkteat running. Both protests were dismissed. The Hurdle Race, one mile and a-half, only attracted a field of three, Slaiden having been withdrawn. Clarence was the supposed "good thing," but he was never prominent. At the rise of the machine Cheque was first on his legs, Cyrus next. At the back of the course Cyrus was in front of Cheque, and this order was continued passing the staud, Clarence beiDg four lengths away, l?.st. At the bs.ck of the course Cyrus and Cheque were together. Clarence here improved his position, tout it was only momentary, as she soon fell back beatsn. Cyrus led into the straight and jumped the last hurdle safely. Won easily by two lengths, Cheaue second, Clarence third, six lengths away. Totalisator, £288 ; dividend, £& 10a. Time 3inin 4Jsec. Certain matters did not turn out ss anticipated in the above race, and some of the countenances of the bettors were a study.

The principal event of the day — the Jockey Club Handicap, oce mile and a-quarter — only brought out a trio— Haria, Seabreeze, and Slaiden. !lhe first-named was best supported on the machine. To a fair start Seabreeze was first to show out. Passing the stand there was little difference between the trio.N At the back of the course Seabreeze was in command, Slaiden second. Entering the straight Haria went up to Seabreeze, and was soon in front. The whip was out on Seabreeze, but it was of no avail, as Haria kept going and won fairly easy by a length. Sladin came with a das=h iv the Btraight and actually got past Seabreeze, but the latter coming again gained second position, Slaiden thiid. Totalisator, £203 ; dividend, £1 15s. Time, 2min 18 4-ssec. Five weighed out for the Hack Race, one mile. Tonganui was made a ie<3 hot favourite, but went down again. Good start. Ben More was first away. Passing the stand the order wssßfn More, Reality, Tonganui. At the back of the course Rustic ran into second place, Reality and Tonganui elosß up. Beu Moic landed into the straight first. Rustic then put in his claim, and a real Rood KKje ensued, Bubtic eventually winning £y

half-a-length from Granit, who was a head in front of Touganui, Ben More a head away fourth. The best race of the meeting. Totalisator, £479 ; dividend, £3 Is. Time, Imin 51 3"ssec. Eighteen figured on the card for the Miners' Handicap (six furlongs) but only four went to the post. Miss Charm was "the good thing," and it came off. Bad start, the tapes catching Haria and Shylock. National was quickest on his leg-, Miss Charm next. At the back of the course National was still in front, Miss Charm tying handy, Shylock third, Haria last, the Latter two not troubling themselves very much. Miss Charm collared National at the entrance to the straight, and from this out the issue was never in doubt, winning comfortably, National second, Haria third, Shylock last. The two last-named made very feeble efforts during the race. Probably the heat of the afternoon may have been too exhaustive to their constitutions.

Four faced the barrier in the Farewell Handicap, one mile. Spectator \va3 an odds-on favourite, the punters falling over one another to get on in time. Spectator went away with the lead, Bloomsbury second, Geraint third. At the back of the course Spectator was still in front, Review second, Bloomsbury third. Entering the straight Review improved his position, and a good go between Spectator and Review resulted in the latter wearing the favourite down and winning by two lengths ; Geraint third. Totalisator, £250 ; dividend, £5 9s. i'ime, Imin oOsec. The sum of £1961 passed through the totalisator duriDg the day, thus making a total of £3388 for the two days. Mr H. James worked the machine, giving general satisfaction. The starting was extremely poor, the starter not seeming to have control of the horses. Mr J. F. Clark was a most energetic secretary, being particularly attentive to his duties. . ,