HAWKESBURY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2325, 22 September 1898, Page 36

HAWKESBURY.

Once on a time this New South Wales fixture possessed considerable importance. ~ It was the first guide of the season to the form of horses engaged in leading spring events. The winner of the Guineas and the winner of the Hawkesbury Handicap were regarded with respect. 'Of late 'all this is changed. Hawkesbury is a mere name. The nieeting is of no greater consequence than any one' of a dozen ; of others that could be mentioned. This year the results are of even less value than usual, owing to the accidental circumstance of tho ground being very heavy, thus making the times slow and the performers unreliable, except to those who like to take an off-chance and find out what horses can manage to gst along in the mud. The slippery track was responsible for several accidents. Three riders came separately to grief, but fortunately all got off with whole bones, tho only man who sustained a serious hurt being S. Callinan, who fell with Rock Hose in the last race and was severely bruhed- For the chief event a fairly strong field started. Linda, a -winner at Bosehill, was made favourite. Prince Carbine and Cromaboo being mildly supported, whilst half a dozen were backed at 10 to 1. An outside price was taken about Waihine by her owner. After a preliminary bolt for a mile Waihine was got back to the starting barrier. Then she went off in front, and made the running in company with Cromaboo. The latter was beaten half a mile from home, when Shaughran, going up under pressure, left the straggling field and woiked up to Waihine. He was with her at the home turn, and a good race ensued, Shaughran getting home by a head. Aliie was a bad third, ana a dozen lengths separated the next comer, Bona Fide, whilst The Captain and Fitzroy whipped the lot in. The winner, Shaughraun, is a five-year-old by Lochiel. He was not strongly supported, backers who might otherwise have fancied him being put away by his defeat in the Stewards' Mile, the nrst race of the day, when he had to take second place behind Wanda. This Wanda., by the way, is evidently one of the Messrs Lee's breeding, being by Trident out of Eleanor, therefore sister to Black Pool, who was brought to New Zealand by Mr George Smith, of Dunedin. The club lost money over the meeting.