LATE SPORTING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2361, 25 May 1899, Page 35

LATE SPORTING.

DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB'S MAT

MEETING. First Dat — Wednesday.

The first day's racing in connection with the Dunedin Jockey Club's May meeting took place at the Wingatui racecourse yesterday, under very unfavourable circumstances. The weather looked threatening in the early morning, and before the races commenced the rain

began to fall and continued at intervals throughout the remainder of the day, the last event being run in a drizzling mist, which made it impossible to distinguish the colours of the riders until near the conclusion of the race. But despite the bad weather, there was a good attendance at the course, which, as can well be imagined, was in a decidedly sloppy condition. There were altogether seven events, the favourites in three instancea succeeding in landing the stakes. The big event of the day — the Birthday Handicap — for which there were six starters, was .pulled off by Starshot, who went to the head of affairs just before the straight' was reached and narrowly beat Skirmisher, the favourite (Double Event) not getting a place. Hipponus being scratched for the First Hack High Weight Handicap, left a field of six, of which Visionary was held in highest esteem. The winner, however, turned up in Witchcraft, between whom and SiLvercrest there was a very close finish. For the First Hurdle Hatidicap there were alao six candidates, Windermere securing the largest number of backers. The favourite, however, unseated his rider, and thus lost whatever chances he had of winning, while Talune and Glenore also met with mishaps, and the raee"*eventually resolved itself into a struggle for supremacy between St Hiko and Waikaia. These two kept close company for a " considerable distance, but Waikaia drew away from Mr Smith's gelding in the straight, and beat him with plenty to spare. Only four faced the starter in the Maiden Plate, for which Benzoin was most fancied, and he fully justified the faith that was reposed in him. Jupiter was a warm favourite for the Winter Welter Handicap, for which seven saddled up ; but he just succeeded in snatching a victory from Gitanella. Of the six starters in the Selling Race, Nihilist was considered by the majority to have the be.st chance of winning, but the race proved rather an easy thing for Proposal, Nihilist getting second place. The Tradesmen's Handicap brought out a field of eight, and Brisa, who was favourite, won all the way. Mr H. Piper (of Christchurch) acted as starter, and appeared lo give general satisfaction. The Engineer's Band was in attendance at the races, and played a number of operatic selections at intervals during the clay. Speculation was pretty brisk throughout the day, Messrs Mason and Roberts putting £4874 through the totalisator. as against £2822 handled by them on the first day of last May meeting. It should, however, be borne in mind thai the second day of that meeting fell on the Queen's Birthday, when £4209 10s was put through the machine. The details of the day's racing are au follows : — . FIRST HACK HIGH-WEIGHT HANDICAP, Of 30sovs; the second horse to receive ssovs

from the stakes. Six furlongs. 101 —Mr D. Napier's b m Witchcraft, by St. Clair — Legerdemain, 3yrs, 7.9 [carried- 7.11] (King) „ .. A 1 60*— Mr E. Flynn's br g Silvei-crest, syri 7.11 [carried B.l] (J. Gray) . . . . 2 87 — Mi H. Lunn's br h Vulcan, 4yrs^ 8.10 [carried B.ll] (A. Ayers) 3 225i — Mr S. Bishop's br f Visionary, 3yrs, 8.3 (T. Buddicomb) 0 33J — Mr C. Clarke's br m Lakefield, 53'rs 7.13 (W. Hunter) 0 18 Mr E. M'Kewen's b g P.P.C., aged, 7.8 (T. W. Cotton) ." 0 5251 Visionary was the first to show in front, but Silvercrest soon assumed the lead, and at the bottom of the" course led a bunched crowd, P.P.C. being some lengths in their rear. Silvercrest led into the straight, but when about half a furlong from home he was overtaken by Witchcraft, who won by a neck, Vulcan being half a length away third. Visionary finished fourth, Lakefield fifth, and P.P.C. iasl. Time, lmin 24sec. Dividends, £A 10s and £2 9s. FIRST HURDLE HANDICAP, Of 70sovs ; the second horse to receive lOsovs from the stakes. One mile and three-quaiters. 142£ — Mr J. Biggins's b g Waikaia, by Epicure, 6yrs, 9.12 (J . Cotton) . . . . 1 90j— Mr G. Smith's br g St. Hiko, 6yrs, 9.7 (J. M'Grath) 2 62 — Air G. Livingstone's b g Dundee, aged, 10.12 (Coihrane) 0 7U— Mr O. R. Wise's b g Glenore, 10.5 [carried 10.6] (G. Robertson) .". ..0 187 — Mr ,G. Hendrick's b g Windermere, 6yrs, 10.3 [carried 10.5] (Owner) .. 0 37 — Mr E. Carter's eh g Talune, aged, 9.0 [carried 9.4] (Bowie) ... .. .. 0 594£ St. Hiko went away with the lead, and was followed by Windermere. At the first hurdle at the bottom of the course Talune fell with his rider, and when the field passed the stand the order ot the first four horses was St. Hiko, Windermere, Waikaia, Glenore,. Halfway down the back stretch Waikaia changed x'laces with Windermere. The later, however, soon afterwards went to the front, but coming into the turn at the bottom of the course Glenor<? id Mi teya; with ih« leader. M the next

hurdle Glenore ran round, and Windermere disposed of his rider. St. Hiko' and Waikaia subsequently raced almost side by side till within about 50 yards from home, when the lattei gave his companion the go-by, and won by about four lengths Time, 3min 44sec. Dividends, £i Is and £1 13s. BIRTHDAY HANDICAP, Of 200sovs; the second horse to receive 13sovs from the stakes. One mile and a-half. 193 — Mr M. Hobbs's b m Starshot, by Chainshot—Veno, syrs, 8.12 (Wilson) .. 1 95* — Mr R. Reay's b h Skirmisher, aged, 8.7 (T Buddicomb) 2 190 Mr D. O'Brien's b c Malatua, 3yrs, 7.8 (M'Leer) 3 217 — Mr H. Friedlander's blk h Double Eveut, 6yra, 8.10 (Cocbrane) .. ..0 104£ — Mr E. Cutts's br g Djin-Djin, 3yrs 8.9 (Matthews) 0 43i— Mr J. Tennent's b g Glenelg, 4yrs, 6.9 (M'Eldowncy 1 " 0 845 i. Double Event was quickest away, Starshot being the next to get going. Passing the stand the first time Double Event, Djin-Djin, and Starshot were together, the rest of the field lying handy. At the end of the straight DjinDjin fell back into the rear division, and Glenelg took the lead, running in that position alcng to the end of the back stretch, followed by Douule Event, Malatua, and Skirmisher. At the bottom of the course Skirmisher took second place, and just before entering the straight St.ir.4iot assumed the lead, and, keepin<* theie for the rest of theT&ay, won by about a length. Malatua was several lengths away third, while Glenelg finished fourth, Double Event fifth, and Djm-Djir last. Time, 2mm 54sec. Dividends, £3 10s aud £2 ss. MAIDEN PLATE, Of 50sovs; second horse to receive ssovs from the stakes. One mile. 314 —Mr M. Hobbs's br c Benzoin, by Friar's Balsam — dam by* Bendigo,

3yrs, 7.2 (O'Brien) 1 126?.— H0n. G. M'Lean's b f La Reine, 7.10 " [carried 7.11] (T. Buddicomb). . .. 2 124 Mr F. Holmes's eh g Hypnotist, 4yrs,

8.4 (T. W. Cotton) 3 38 —Mr R. J. Crossan's b m Corvette, oyrs, 8.5 (Tree) 0 602J , Benzoin got a slight advantage at the start, but La Reine soon took premier position, and when the field were got thoroughly going Hypnotist was third, and Corvette last. The same order was preserved till half way down the straight. Benzoin then took command, and won by nearly a length, about the same distance separating La Heine from Hypnotist. Coia^tte finished a -long way in the rear of the latter. Time, lmin 55sec. Dividends: £1 11s and 19s. The starter fined each, o! the jockeys £1 for breaking away before the start. WINTER WELTER HANDICAP, Of 70sovs; the second horse to Teceive ssovs from the stakes. Seven furlongs. 246J— Messrs Ellis Bros', eh g Jupiter, by St. Clair— Evening Star, 8.12 (M'Comb) 1 45^ — Mr R. Brown's b m Gitanella, 4yrs, 8.0 (King) 2 103J — Mr J. R. Mackenzie's b m Red Banner, 4yrs, 8.2 (Rae) 3 100* — Mr J. Fitzgerald's blk g Vandyke, aged, 9.12 (Cochrane) 0 122j — Mr H. Goodman's b g Clinker, syrs, 8.7 (T. Buddicomb) 0 29 — Mr P. Toomey's b f Refugee, 3yrs, 8.5 (Rainbow) 0 17 —Mr J. Cook's blk g Blackpool, 4yrs, 8.0 ' (T. W. Cotton) 0 664£ Gitanella was the quickest to move, but Jupiter was soon after her, and these two were followed along the back stretch by Clinker and Red Banner in company. At the bottom of the course Red Banner took third position. Gitanella led into the straight, and a good race between her and Jupiter then'ensued, the latter winning almost on the post by a neck. Red Banner was about a length in the rear of Gitanella, and Clinker finished fourth, Blackpool fifth, Refugee sixth, and Vandyke last. Time, Imin 39sec. Dividends, £2 lls and £1 Is. SELLING RACE, Of 40sovs. The winnei to be sold by auction with all his engagements, and any surplus to go to the club funds. One mile. 120 —Mr B. Curtis's eh f Proposal (£3O), by . St. George — Apropos, 3yrs, 8.0 (M'Comb) 1 339 —Mr J. Brett's br c Nihilist (£4O), 3yrs, 8.9 (T. Buddicomb) 2 186 —Mr F. Holmes's br g Wedlock (£2O), aged, 7.11 (T. W. Cotton) . . . . 3 31 —Mr M. Hanley's eh m Irish Girl (£3O), syrs, 8.5 (Tree) .. .'. .. .. 0 26i— Mr R. Duncan's eh g Stimulant (£2O), aged, 7.10 (King) 0 23 — Mr D. Munro's eh g Blizzard (nil), aged, 6.11 (Dawsouj 0 7284 When the field were got going Stimulant was at the head of affairs, Proposal being second, and Wedlock third. The same order was preserved for a few furlongs. At the bottom turn Proposal assumed command, and, being kept going, won by nearly three lengths. Nihilist, who went into &econd place in the straight, came in about a length and a-half in front of Wedlock. Stimulant finished foutth, Irish Girl fifth, and Blizzard last. Time, lmin 57sec. Dividends, £6 15s and £2 3s. At the conclusion of the race the winner was bought in for £66. TRADESMEN'S HANDICAP, Of llOsovs ; the second home to receive lOsovs from the stakes. Six furlongs. 834i— Hon. G. M'Lean's b f Brisa, by St. Clair— Mistral, 3yrs, 7.9 (T. Buddicomb) 1 64* — Mr J. Curran's blk m Vanilla, aged, 7.12 (King) 2 206 i Messrs Ellis Bros', k m Edelweiss, 4yrß, 7.6 (Duncan) 3 58 —Mi F. Doris's b g Tiger Lily, Oyrs, 8.0 (M'Comb) 0 414— Mr J. Fitzgerald's blk m Gladys 11, Cyrs, 7.10 (O'Brien) 0 141 — Mr D. O'Brien's br c Peerage, 3yrs, 7.Q (Telford) 0 47 — Mr G. Magorian's eh g Quickshot 11, 6yrs, 6.12 (Mathie) 0 20 — Mr A. R. Ward's eh ni Britannia, syrs, 6.7 (M'Eldowney) 0 913 This race was run in a drizzling rain, which prevented the colours from being distinguished. So far as could be made out, however, Brisa led all the way, and won by about a length. Time, lmin 23sec. Dividends, £2 8s and £1 ss.