THE OAMARU MEETING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2672, 31 May 1905, Page 50

THE OAMARU MEETING.

This year's winter meeting of the North j Otago Jockey Club must be credited with ! being one of the most successful gatherings, both from a sporting and nnancial point of view, held at the White City in receirij years. In the first place, the weather each day was perfect, and there was a goodly attendance, in addition to which the various events attracted comparatively large fields, which appeared to honestly contest their races, and in many coses provided the close and excitir*^ finishes which are by many deemed necessary before a race can. be described as good. Financially, the meeting pans out well, as the total for the two days was £4086, as against last year's £3042 ; whilst £106 was received in license ' fees from the bookmalkers, who were licensed J at figures which left no cause for complaint j on the part of the fielders. Since the spring meeting the club's course has been improved by having the buildings, etc., painted, and, most important of all, the track has not escaped attention. The inside of tne track has been top-dressed over the last six furlongs, and the other portion of the inside has also been in receipt of treatment calcixlated to improve the going, but the outside has apparently been harrowed too much, and in its present state is rough, bumpy, and unfit to be galloped on. Harrowing is suitable for dirt tracks, but grass gallops are easily ruined by them, because, instead of improving the turf, the effect of their use is to break it up by tearing out the young grass and leaving the tough roots. These form into bunches and tufts, which became: more and more prominent as the track is harrowed, and also by the blowing away of the loose soil by the wind. If the inside of the course is given a chance it should furnish excellent going for next season, but if it is harrow-ed it will become as bad as what the outside is < at present. The first important race on the card wap tho Empire Handicap, which attracted a field of four, three of which were closely backed by speculators. Aa a matter of | fact, there was only half a sovereign between the first and seoond favourite on the machine, whilst the third favourite carried within 10s of those who received "the most attention from punters. [Looking over the field when the horses were going out, De la Key looked very well to the eye, Convoy a trifle on the big side, Tinole somewhat lightish in condition, and Lilystone not so taking as she has been previously roticed, even after making allowance for the season of the year. Lilystone' was the first to break the line from the start, and, making haste, showed the way up to five furlongs from home. Three furlongs from home the quartet was running in close order, but Lilystone was evidently in trouble, and when heads were in line for home, less thau two furlongs from fhe post, De la Rey was j-ust showing clear of Tirole and Convoy. The whips were out on the last-named trio a hundred yards from the judge, and De la Rey, sticking gamely to his task, stalled off Convoy, and beat him by a neck ; whilst Tirole finishedi on the girths of the Vanguard horse, who failed to sustain his effort after appearing! to J poissess a good winning chance when, running about a furlong from home. In the principal sprint event on the first day's card, Regiment was always prominent, and fir-ally won by three lengths without being all out. Master Allx, who was conceding the Bangle gelding 28b, ran. well for four furlongs, and then faded away. On the second day the principal event was again contested by a quartet, -which was formed by three of the starters on the first day, with St. Michael completing the list instead of liilystone. With a. distance chipped off the journey, Convoy went up lib and De la Rey lllb; whilst Tirole was dropped 31b, the first day's •winner consequently being fined 101b for beating Convoy a neck, whilst Tirole was allowed a stono for a half a length defeat by Cbnvoy, or in all three parts of a length away from the winner. The first^ day's gallop was generally calculated to improve Oonvoy, and he was elected first choice, whilst De la. Rey ranked as second favourite, with Tirole third in de- I mand. Slfc. Michael's chance was almost ! entirely overlooked by punters. Convoy made play from the start, and whilst appearing to be going well -within himself

piloted the way over the fiist half, whicK was negotiated in 51 2-ssec. The rest were close T.p, but 3>e la Rey was acting aa rearguard instead of assisting the pace aa en the first day. Th*. field was running in close order as it reached the foot of the hill, and Convoy was still at the head of affairs, with Tirole as his nearest attendant. The Vanguard gelding appeared to quit when he was halfway up the hill, and Tirole drew away, and won by a length after stalling off a challenge from St. Michael. Convoy, who stopped to nothing in the last furlong, finished over four lengths behind the second horse. Regiment confirmed his first day's form by registering a win in the Shorts. Handicap, with something to spare, and a pleasant meeting was concluded, after a fine race, by a popular win on the part of Master Alix in the Redcastlo Handicap by three parts of a length from Petrovna, who was followed at a similar distance by the penalised Regiment. The meeting was very creditably managed, the various events starting well up to time, and the officials, under the secretaryship of Mr G M. Procter, worked hard to achieve the success which, it is pleasing to note, rewarded their efforts.