THE TAPANUI RACING CLUB'S MEETINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2603, 3 February 1904, Page 46

THE TAPANUI RACING CLUB'S MEETINGS.

The Tapanui Racing Club is avidcntly one from whom Fortune is at present withholding her smilco, as by n< stretch of imagination can the club's recent meetmg bs deemed a success ; and d-espito the fart that splendid weather and a carci wh:ch promised to furnish decent sport weie in hand the attendance was very small and disappointing. The amount of money speculated on eeve-rol races practically same to zero both with the metallicians and the machine, and in the majority of races which furnished a decent speculating medium the bulk of the business done was recorded by the fielders, whilst the totaHsator was almost entirely neglected by punters, except with regard to tho trotting events, in which the numerical strength of the fields allowed of a dual dividend being paid. The track was in fair order and covered with a fairly generous growth of grass, winch somewhat counter-balanced rjia harclness of the ground. The attendance on the first day was exceedingly small, and eport commenced with the deciding of the President's Handicap, which was won with a bit to spare by the Apremont mare Bsaley. She was followed home by Toney. The ereend race on the card was won by a neat filly named Redstart, a three-year-old daughter of Casket ana the Le Loup mare Red Riding Hoed, which scored easily from the well-bred colt Legion, the son of St. Leger and Tho Witch. His dam is a full eister to Glad-Dome's dam, and claiming such relationship one would have expecte.l Legion to make a batter show, particularly as he looked in fairly good order for bu.smess. Speculation on the First Open Trot showed a decided improvement on that which was registered on the preceding events, and punters were not far astray in making Yankee Doodle and Slavey first and second favourites. The latter led over the first mile, but t>red to nothing, and Yankee Doodle beat her easily in the last four furlongs. Golrlspur was too Finartly off the mark for his opponents in. the Tapanui Hardicap, and ho obtained a six-lengths' lead before the field had traversed a furlong of the race. He finally won by foullength's, but did not appear to have too much in hand at the finish. Patron an-

nexed the Novel Handicap after a goo<3 iaec' v. lih Epic, and was knocked down, to Mr G. Lefclie after tlie race at £?A. Spladin wwoa o made favomite, hut after ho had been prominent jn tlio ttiny stages c f the race he dropped Lack, and pulled up very sore. The District Trot was won oy fehgo, which, with the assistance- of K. M'Kcwen in the saddle, put up a different performs nee to that he displayed in tho first trot with a different rider up. The North Island-bred marc Kea (Captain Webb — Kle Kio) won tho Welter Hack by a long neck, but could ha\e increased the winning margin had her rider been disposed to do so. The day's racing was brcught to a conclusion by Southerly Buster winning the Grand Stond Handicap with the greatest of ease from Legion. Transport, the other starter m tf.& race, came down at the fir^t turn and gave hie rider (J. Ruthvon) a severe shaking. A shower of rani which foil prior to the race, made the track a bit greasy, but rpart from that the turn is an extrcmtly dangerous one, and 100 sharp to be raced over.