WELLINGTON NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2454, 27 March 1901, Page 45

WELLINGTON NOTES.

' - - March 23, The Masterton Racing Club's meeting was partly spoilt by wet weather on the first day (Thursday), which is the half Holiday with business people. The weather was bad enough to stop district settlers, and townspeople do not appear to give the club the support they should. The totalisator turnover for the two days was £7409, which amount is £754 less than was handled last year. The falling off was on the first day, which was £1300 behind. Very fair sport was provided. The Voltigeur horse Kohunui accounted for botn hurdle races ana $ .Welter Handicap. He, was ridden bj his

owner (Mr E. J. tfssher), who gets the most out of the horse, and wins all his races at the nght end. Mr Ussher was asked to put a price on the gelding at Masterton, and asked £250. The class of jumpers — excepting Kohunui — was poor. The maiden hacks included a brother to Kohunui named Mourner, who is owned by the Maoris. Mr James Macara (one of the vice-presidents of the club) had a win with Greensleeve (by Forester— Brookfield's dam) who paid £15 3s. War Dog (Remington Minnie Palmer (brother to Canet and Dum Dum, and also one of Mr Macara's breedmg( was second, and Zisca (Flintlock — Thelma) third. They are three useful sorts. In the Masterton Hack Handicap Waterfoid is m such great form that 9.8 failed to stop him. The Petroleum pony Sylvie was only overtaken at the half distance. The St. Patrick's Handicap, worth lOOsovs to the winner, only attracted five runners. Two of these had little chance, though Waingawa might have been expected to finish better. The Yoltigeu-r mare Volley was slightly better backed than the Taranaki mare Gipsy Queen, who would have given trouble had the going been firm. As it was Volley won with something to spare. Rosette won the Telegraph Handicap for Mr Clay, but had to put up with a protest. Mr Macara was not satisfied with T. Wilson's display on Plaidie in the Masterton Hack Handicap (in which she finished third), and put up Gosnall, who rides Gipsy Queen. Plaidie wns going faster than anything else at the finish, and tried to get Tip on the inside of Rosette, but T. O'Brien blocked her. O'Brien stated that there was not room for Plaidie to come up on the inside, and he was therefore perfectly justified m blocking her. Tie stewards were of the same opinion, and dismissed the protest. Mr Macara is a vice-presi-dent of the club, and another body of stewards might have come to a different decision. All meetings of stewards at Masterton are open to the press. Frank Higgott had a win in the March Handicap with. Lady Af-nes, who won anyhow. Her brother, Sir Agnes, was favourite, but made a poor show. The Tara-naki-owned gelding, The Bugler (VanguardVolunteer mare), owned by Tas. Campbell, a former resident of Wellington, got the Dash Handicap by the smallest of margins from Te Pake (Quilt — Jeuzail), who ran four times unsuccessfully at the meeting. Valkyrie (Forester — Poily) and Gr'eensleeves were the favourites, but both finished in the ruck. The placed horses in the Hurdles the second day were all by Voltigeur (King Cole— Fenella), who has been dead about four years. Meeting Waterford at a difference of 81b better terms Sylvie won by half a "length from FiTeball. Waterfordwas a big favourite, but was unplaced with 10.5. Public opinion balanced in favour of Gipsy Queen against Volley in the Autumn Handicap, one mile. The latter had 101b the worst of it compared with the previous day. Although Mr Lambert' 3 mare defeated Volley she was no match for Sir Agnes 6.13, who won from flag-fall, and showed a glimpse of his old form. Everyone was glad to see Bill " Corlett, who has been having no luck lately, score a win. A protest for inconsistency was unanimously dismissed. Stewards are sometimes inclined to be sympathetic, which is, however, a better fault than deciding cases in which they are interested. They are a real good lot of stewards at Masterton. SFroni what I know of them I do not believe any would sit on a ca.se in which he was interested. It seemed hard for both Messrs Macara and Lambert. In the Railway Hack The Bugler scored again with 8.10, and paid £4 13s. Like most of the Vanguard family lie is useful. He gave Gipsy Jack lib and a beating, but the going .was too soft for the latter's liking,, which somewhat discounted the, performance. Mr Lambert had a winning turn in the Telephone Handicap, in vrhith Gipsy Queen was ridden by A. M'Morran. The veteran owner-trainer, R. Knox, had a turn with Roney (Piscatorious — Lass of Glenshea), who had not won for over a year. There were only six tickets on her in the machine, and the dividend was £52 19s. Two pounds of the money was wired from Wanganui, but Mr Knox had nothing on the mare. Although only a few benefited by the result a cheer was raised for the owner. The people were in a good mood, and treated Mr Usshev (owner and rider of Kohunui) and Mr C. F. Vallance (owner and uder of Raenia). a vicepresident of the club, in similar complimentary manner The run Raema put in surprised everybody, even Mr Vallance. Raema, is a three-year-old by Derringer — Ruth, and has so far shown better form than his sister Roslyn. Ruth is half sister to Rosefeldt. and gol several winners. The runners in the Final included Diplomat (Stepniak— Adulation), who was the subject of a lot of newspaper coirespondence a short time back in the south. He was ridden by J. Gravestock, and showed a bit of pace. The weights wore all 8.7. so he had a bit the worst of it. A Taranaki hack named Exception (who can keep Bugler Roinß on the track), by Tim WhifHei— Primrose, brought down by Mr Laurent, owner of Full Cry, ran badly. Zisca beat War Dog somewhat easily, but the latter should scora .shortly. Nightmare, a pony gelding by Lethe, ran well. The meeting was capably managed by Mr Thomas Duncan.

The Horowhenua Racing Club had a beautiful day for their annual meeting on Monday, and the outing -was a nio3t enjoyable one. The course overlooks the famous Horowbenua Lake, and the turioundings are most picturesque. At present the course is only about sixfurlongs reund, and the turns into and out of the straight are daagerou3. The disappointing Art Jewel (Artillery— Crown Jewel), who has been going to win for ever so long, hsd great luck in capturing the Cup after he had run second to Kaiwhakawa (the black Sou'-we3ter gelding in Fred. Tilley's team). Kohunui put up a stone penalty (12.5), and would probably have won but for striking a hurdle in the straight the first time round. He hit it particularly hard, went down on his nose, but Mr Ussher kept his seat. Kohunui's "bundle,"' made up of sacks, rubbers, etc., shifted, and he failed to finish in h.s usual resolute manner. Tom. Scott started Blueberry (Flintlock — Mistletoe), brother to Redbeny, but he did not make a good impression. Jim M'Taggart had Ngatihuia, owned by Mr J. R. M'Donald (president of the club), out for two successive races, but the nearest he could get was two thirds. A bkely soit of gelding named Missile (Flintlock — Tera Ascot, Ascot — Vera, by Puriri — Cornelia, dam of Aiiua) came away in the straight, and won the Trial pointless. Hokio (Strephon — Pihanga), who lan ■second, will score soon. Mr D. Scott had Gold Cord (Gold Reef — Cordelia) in two races, but she could not gallop on the course. She may, HOW^er, be useful. She is related to Missile, who was bred by Mr Scott. Aquinaldo (Flinders— Dolly) won the St. Patrick's Handicap, defeating Gipsy Jack and others, but the latter won the Flying. Tirea, who ran second in the last-named race, was unlucky to lose the Electric Handicap. He had a good lead entering the straight, but either crossed his legs or they went from under him round the turn into the straight. Nabaucklash (Haere — Nil Desperandum), half brother to Sudor, beat the lest somewhat easily. He will probably be heard of as a hurdle racer later on. His half brothers, Sprcydon and Somnambulist, were pretty good at the game. After the Cup race Mr J. R. M'Donald presented Mr James with a silver cup, value £15 15s. which he had given for the winner. This season the club increased the stakes flora £220 to £300, and the totalisator tuin-over bounded from £1652 to £2733. Mr George Morse is handicappsr, but the club should get a better starter. Mr C. K. .Wilson, makes sui obliging secretary,

F»shion has bep,i engeged at tlie Auckland* Christchurch, Wairarapa, and Feildinj meetings at .faster Messrs Ormond and Watt havaf also patronised Christchurch, Auckland, an<l Feilding. The Porirua- stable will be represented at vim Napier Park meeting this week by Tortulla, Ostiak, and Laureate. Messrs J. W. Abbott (one of the le.pees ol Advance) and R. Tumbull ( a steward of the Wellington Racing Club) returned here this week. Mr J. F. Clark, who has been appointed secretary of the Wellington Racing Club, has gone to Reefton to say good-bye to his West Coast racing friends, and takes up his duties at the beginning of next month. Mr V. M*» Braund is acting as secretary pro tern. Mr W. Davis takes Waterford across to Blenheim for the Hack Challenge Stakes, wineh 1 event he shoulc 1 have no difficulty in winning Previous winners of the race are . 1897 — lota ; 1898— Te Taiaha; 1899— Waipuke. The Wairarapa contingent is usually well represented at Blenheim. This year the horses engaged are Pukana, Volley, Prologue, Te Pake, Roaewater, Forest Oak, and Rosette. They were shipped across the straits to-day. Art Jewel follows to-morrow. Jemima and Stepina, two of Stepniak's progeny, are entered at the Wairarapa. Racing Club's Easter meeting. Jim Cress has leased Fireball from Mi 1 Bacovitch. Young J. Wallace, who won a race on Lethargy at the Levin meeting, does not appeal" among the licensed jockeys. Be was, however, a.pi>r enticed to J. Lowe. A. Shearsby took Westguard and Benefactor to Masfcerton, but did not start them on account of the track. Benefactor, the Stepmak, — Charity colt, is doing well at the Hutt, and can be expected to make a good show whenever he starts. Boreas i 3 to take pait in the Auckland Rac ing Club's meeting at Easter. Ho*is on his way to Auckland, if he has not already arrived there. The two-year-old Spun Gold has been sent home. Mr J. Bacovitch's lease of Warnote expired recently, and she is now in Mr Macara's stable. The only race tho Lochiel mare won while she was in Carkeek's hands was on the second day at Martin borough.