THE TAHUNA PARK MEETING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2647, 7 December 1904, Page 50

THE TAHUNA PARK MEETING.

Th© second and concluding day of the Tahtina Park Trotting Club's spring meeting was held in fine weather, ami the attendance was very satisfactory; in fact, judging by the -'appearance of the. crowds in the enolosures at recent gatherings held by the club, there is apparently solid reason for slating that the sport is growing in popularity in this part of the world. From a financial point of view the recently concluded meeting must be deemed a success, as the totalisators handled a total of £3437 during the two days as against last year s total of £2730. In addition to this, the dub received a yum of -3120 15s in bock-

makers' fees, so that the receipts from the betting part of the piogramme must read very satisfactorily to the club's officials. It was noticeable in several instances that a gcod deal of money was tihut out of th© machine owing to speculators holding back until the horses were just about to start, and this fact did not tend to increase the receipts. The public was not particularly ai'xious to bet on the Advance Handicap, and the total investments on a field of six_ readied only £73. Miracle Jack had the assistance of A. Pringle in the saddle, and under his pilotage the horse acted so well ii hia preliminary that he was made a good favourite before the field was started. He put in one bad break during the race, when running along th© back stretch, and the mix cost him a lot of ground ; but Pringle got his mount going 1 kindly in the last lap, and just managed to get up in time to snatch winning honours from Kliaki within the last couple of strides. Dosie, who was well fancied for the race, broke several times, and* did not appear dangerous at any stage of- the game. Darling was a strong order for the Pony Race, tout despite the fact that it was won in slow time, shs was never dangerous, and was just able to wrest second honours from the fast-tiring Joan Gilpin in the run home. The lattsr began fairly well and .had a good lead at tho end of half a-mile, but then stopped badly. The piebald mare Neglected, who is a well-known performer at tho track, showed that the race is not always to the swift, us she had something in hand when she crossed the mark in 2.57£. Darling showed about a shade better than even time, and if that is the best she can do it is hard to iay why the public so staunchly supported her in both her races at the meeting. Kohuru finished up an even money chance in the Publicans' Handicap, and the odds were in ®roat jeopardy when Victory headed the Topthorn gelding in the Jast few strides from the post, but the A T ancleve gelding ran over his gait and mixed. This allowed Kohuru to get up and cbtain a luoky win by half a length. Kohuru was out by himself in the early .part of the race, but commenced to tire after going a, little over a. mile, and the energetic horsemanship of E. M'Kewen was in a great measure' responsible for the horses win. With the exception of Victory noce of the field had winning chances at any part of the race. A larg-e field _of indifferent performers contested the Ladies' Bracelet. Reprieve slmwed more pace than anything in the fields, but broke several times, amd also did not have his chance enhanced by having to carry an apparently 281b saddle and a 16-stone rider. Ravensdale racad in an old-fashioned, high-wheel svlky, and was always near the leaders. In the last couple of furlong's the result lay between Alamra and Kavensdale. The ifiornW broke when about 20yds from th© post, and this allowed Ravensdal-e. who was travelling at a faster gait than Alamra, to gee in front, and apparently win by at least half a length ;^ but the official verdict was in favour of Alamra. The decision caii_ed considerable astonishment amongst the spectators who were gathered about the winning post, and they were unanimous in the opinion that the judge had made a mistake. The writer was right under thejudge's box during the running of * the>. race, and was posiave that Ravensdale had \»on by at least half a length. The judge, however wars not doubtful about the result, and when questioned, stated that Alamra won by the barest possible margin. Vick&ry was made favourite for the James Memorial Handicap, but although she p<ut v.p a good performance, the daughter of Specification had to bo content with third -place at the fhi>'sh, behind Queen V. and Bill. Queen V. maintained a level gait throughout, and acted much kinder than she did in her race on tihe. first day. when she broke several fcinies. She wa.j nicely handled by M. Allen, who drove a patient and careful race iv front of his field Verity put xip a good performance, a? after the first quarter, she raced on tho outside of Viokery for about a mile ancl a-half, and evidently there ia not much between the pair. Vickery was tiring a bit at the finish, and Bill struck a good gait in the fiist lap, and' managed to «-ci second money. It was alleged that Bill left the track wb?n 'Slotting past on the inside of Vickery, but the inquiry which was held into the matter did not disturb the judge's platings. Reprieve a^aan showed pace when runnine in the Wavoricy Handicap, and looked as if she would have given serious trouble to General H., when a break put her out of court. General H. did not have anythh?!? to trouble him iii the last quarter, and it must bs said that the entire, field showed broken gaits, and ran considerably below their form. Stewardess qujckly placed the result of the St. KiMa Handicap beyond doubt, and her ta.sk was made easier by" the breaking up of several of the otherg who would otherwise have» been dangerous. Another jrood favourite .in Miss Burlington annexed the final event on the programme. She did not come into the market until the eleventh hour, when there was a strong desire to back her. The gaits shown by those- behind her were not particularly brilliant, and the time put up by the vnnnar suo-goste that the others acted a bit below form. The various items of the programme were got off punctually, and taking it altogether it wns a very enjoyable meeting.