THE GERALDINE MEETING,

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 55

THE GERALDINE MEETING,

The Geraidine Ra: ; ng Olub were fortunate in having fine weather for their spring meeting, and as that important auxiliary to the probable success of a race- meeting was coupled with a card that suggestrd good Ipori, it resulted in gathering together the "»>est attendance the writer las s'irfHi at the Orari track. The train arrangeir.ents from iimaru wore very bad, as the visitors from that town did not arrive until after the first race had been decided, and the clnb would be studying their finances if they made a much-to-be-desired improvement in that respect. Since last spring the club has effected several alterations and improvements to the course. The totalisaior, which formerly used to obscure a portion of the view of a finish, has been shifted back; a scratching board, giving the names of starters and riders, has been erected on the far side of the track, and a good deal of new fencing has sprung up since last year. The track was a bit on the rough side, and it would be an improvement if the rails -were carried down ■nearer the home turn. An unfortunate accident happened during the running of the first raoe on the card by the fall of Agitator, on whom Mr &. R. Macdonald Sad the mount. The horse fell, and rolled over his rider, whom, it was found, had sustained a concussion of the brain. Mr Macdonald was promptly attended to by some medical gentlemen who were present, and it is pleasing to be able to record that at latest advices the injured horseman had regained consciousness, and was progressing satisfactorily towards a complete recovery. In bygone years the form displayed at the Geraldine meeting frequently gave a good line as to N.Z. Cup prospects, and it still hfis some value in that restject, but not so much, as formerly. Several Cup candidates were seen out during the two days, but although a couple of them displayed winning form they did not do anything which tended to make one feel enamoured of their chances in the big race to be decided at Riccarton in November. Oalibre, who looked brighter and more muscular than he did at Ashburton, also presented the appearance of having lightened a bit and improved in racing condition. In the Geraldine Cup, after De la Rey and Thunderer had made play in the early stages, during which he was always handy to the leaders, Calibre moved up, and at the home turn he looked to have the race at his mercy; but when M'Comb first commenced to shake his mount up when running a little over a furlong from the post the son of Light Artillery did not appear to respond too generously. , A little later, when Clanburn arrived on the scene, it was only after being ridden very vigorously and in a don't-spa're-^he-rod-or-ybu'll-lose-the-race •style, that M'Comb squeezed Bis mount home by a narrow margin from Clanburn, who was travelling much faster than the winner as they raced past the post. De la Rey was almost upsides with Oalibre and Olanburn at- "fche finish, but Ability, who began, badly, never looked dangerous. - In the Spring handicap, run on the second day over a course a quarter less than the Cup, Calibre was sent up 91b. Clanburn" 7lb. Be la Rey 71b, and Ability went up 21b. Calibre ran piggishly ail tnrough, and by the time the back of the course was reached he had fallen away to the rear, and M'Comb was hard at him in an attempt to get him up to his field, but without success. SterjasHc made the pace as warm as she could, and landed in the straight about two lengths clear of "Veneer, who had raced unsuccessfully earlier in the day. When the rider of Stepasid© saw danger coming from Veneer, he took out his whip, and the filly lost a bit of. ground through swerving, but the brother to Mahutonga had her measured off at a little less than a furlong from home, and going on won jvith something in hand by a good length. Veneer's previous showings at the meeting hardly prepared one for his win. but evidently the galloping he had had in his races worked an improvement in him, as he is said to be a sluggish track horse. In his first couple of races at the meetingVeneer was ridden by W. Brown, who was ifprcing the pace in the Belfield Handicap, and only faded out in the last bit, although Black Diamond was always travelling the better horse. In the Stewards' Stakes nothing got near Black Diamond, but "Veneer was travelling at the finish. He had R. King in the saddle when he won the Spring Handicap, and was not made quite so much xise of as in his previous races. There was a good deal of weight oft tiis back, and he won comfortably, but although both h© and Calibre will have comparatively light weights to carry they will have to 3o something better, and in tie case of the latter ace more generously, before they can be considered as Cup possibilities. There is, however, a month's training to be got; through, but even so their chance lpoks by no means attractive at present.