TALK OF THE DAY

Otago Witness, Issue 2849, 21 October 1908, Page 54

TALK OF THE DAY

Br Sentixei. '. THE DUNEDIN SPRING MEETING. \ The Dimedin. Jockey Club's unlucky star ; was again in the ascendant last week. The 1 antagonistic weather which had been, in « evidence for the two or three days pre- '. ceding the dates of their spring fixture '. .gathered force on the morning of the first 1 day, with the result that a heavy shower * chased a large number of people into the ] 12 noon train, and no doubt decided many* < others to give Wingatui a wide berth on < that particular occasion. Still, there was ]

an excellent attendance, ami this fact created the idea that under more favour- v able circumstances a record would have been easily obtained. This may be taken ao a further indication of the growth of the popularity of Wingatui meetings, and the club can. reconcile themselves with tha. idea when they are commiserating themselves upon their bad luck with the weather. On the second day the weather, although not particularly inviting, was by no means worthy of being dubbed bad, but the attendance, at least in the paddock, was disappointing. One does not like to we tM front seats sparsely populated at any show, and in- order to help to nil the paddock it might be worth while for this dub to consider the advisability of making a concession to purchasers of lawn tickets for a full meeting. It is safe to say that the Wingatui track and its surroundings never looked in better order than last week. -i.be coarse proper carried the best growth of grass it' has yet sported. This was "» trifle unfortunate in a way, as it held the *uin, &<nd the going was consequently a bit heavier than what would ihave been the case if the weather had permitted the mower to get to work upon, it a, day or two before the meeting. The sport, taken ■ all round, was of a high order, and it will be seen from the detailed reports of the various events that close finishes were of common occurrence. The principal race on the first day attracted a field of she, and Probable continued his series of successes by winning in pleasing "style* although, es usual, he had to be shaken up at the finish «to stall off a challenge from White Ccckade. The latter ran a good race imder difficulties, and the pair had practically < the 'battle to themselves -when once ~th« straight ,was reached. The writer cannot call 'tp mind a race in which so much chopping and changing and shifting of positions occurred- Tficre was a good deal of crowding when running to the first turn, and both Probable and White Cockade, who had raced to the -front, bore marks of the scrimmage vrhsn they returned to the paddock. A protest was lodged againefc the winner for alleged crossing at this stage cf the proceedings, and after con — sideratipn was dismissed by this stewards. The chief 6print event resolved itself into ■a duel at the finish between D-abchick anal fclweet Angelus. The latter led to the straight, and inside the distance was joined by Dabchick, who wore down the Multi* form fiUy, and won with something in hand. None of ifche others were dangerous m the last hundred yards. The day's sport* was ccnclud-ad with the October Welter, in which the winning honours went to Lone Star aiter an excellent race between the , half dozen horses which were first past tfce post. On the second day the Ran fur ly Handicap provided &ii Interesting race, and it waa unexpectedly climaxed 'by Saga, who wa3 lying in behind until the Jnome turn, putting in her claim in the last iew. strides and winning in excellent style. Her form created an inquiry, at which the stewards expressed themselves as 'being satisfied with the explanation -tendered by the owner. Apoiioctc-ris ran a race, and Armamento showed improved form by finishingcloio up, whilst Harvest /finished close up, fourth. Lupulita won the short event after running- into a oiir lead", and Petrovna linished close up, r"urd, after lesing over three lengths ai the start. The meeting was concluded with the Telegraph Welter, which was won by Mango after a close iuus,h between the placed horses. The totahsa-tor returns were £1609 10s less thai Jast year, but this Ehrinkag© would be more than compensated for by the license leee received from the bookmakers.