THE TAHUNA PARK MEETING

Otago Witness, Issue 2856, 9 December 1908, Page 54

THE TAHUNA PARK MEETING

The Tahuna Park Trotting Club were, favoured with glorious weather for the concluding day of their es>ring meeting,

and there was an excellent attendance, which included An unusually large man- - bey of the iair sex. Ljight harness 16 very popular with the- Christoirareh ladies, but there, in addition to the sport, they bave a beautiful lawn, on which to see a»d be seen. The Tahuna track was in good order on Wednesday last. It was on the hard side, aaid consequently fast. This was evidenced by feme of tne tiroes put up during the day. The business of the card oommon'oed with the Suburban Pony Handicap, which attracted a field of eeven, and Murad, principally owing to Pringle being in the saddle, mas installed favourite. Murad frequently decJajj-es to strike his gait whom he is boo-ked to leave the mark, but Pringie leant over and gave his mount a twitch- on the oif ear, and the equine, probably having his mind temporarily distracted, went off kindly enough, to -subsequently catch tho judge's eye as a winner. Neglected amd Dayshift were going fairly well for about * mile, but they were " boa ten at' that sis^e. \tajor Taylor was lajne behind, and was beaten eariy in tb& race, but Bright gave a very poor display indeed in comparison to his first day's form. Lizzie G., a good-looking- daughter of George M. P-atchen, quickly got to the ' front, ar.d although she had to be kept busy ovier the first part to keep clear of^jjfcJwjft, the latter, however, tired after • g-cung- a mile. The others in the field gave . a pooF display. The -la-Ties Memorial was - regarded as being a fairly open, raoe, but in the actual contest no-thing -got near First Pet, .who made good use of her handicap, and won from end to end. Kelly was her nearest attendant until a few strides irom tho post, but here Vitella got 'up and ; pipped him for second money. Neither Prince Warbeck and Exchequer got near '. the leaders, n&d were about a furlong away as the winlner raced past the post. Exchequer made a couple of skips during the race, but in failing to moke any appreciable reduction; in the gap which Fiiafc Pet gained in her handricap did not showup as well as when he went 4.56 2-5 on ! tho first day Kelly, who was making his second appearance in haroees, shaped a bit better than on the opening day. Mar •T. Ritchie is fairly formidable in, Amateur events, anfl he won with General Babington with a good margin 'n his favour. An interesting race was witnessed in the Publicans' Handicap. Ima D. was out in front from the outset, and had Timothy in hot pursuit throughout the race. The latter just got to the leader at the home turn, and in a. good finish gained tho judge's verdict by half a. head. Wilikd© was carded to go against the watch for a track record. After being jogged and sprinted he came down at top for the word, and getting well away with a runner at his wheed got to hoe first quarter in 32 3-5, and first half in 1.6. Entering the back stretch the great pace he had on made him put in a slight mix just as he entered the back stretch after negotiating the sharp tuna, but E. M'Kewen kept his horse ia hand, and jj»t to the post in 2.16 1-5. When the official verdict was made- kewn - tho spectators became enthusiastic, and bestowed some well-merited applause on the owner, driver, and house. Wilkie ia " only a pony in 6fca*ure, »nd probably the I best of hie inches in Australasia. The Kentucky Wilkcs pony proved that there was nothing in the nature of a fluke about liia record by winning tho Electric Handicap in 2.18 from scratch after passing:* four others on the track. This, together with his record of 2.17 2-5 on the first day, was a very consistenit showing-. Wil- • kie only caught Vitella a few strides from the post, and the latter would have probably won had she not mixed just as Wilkie was getting to her wheel. Motorist was unlucky in breaking his gear, as he ■would have only required to muster a 2.30 gait to have won, and there is not much doubt about has ability to do so; in fact, iv getting beat a head in 2.17 2-5 when in reoedp* of 12eec. makes him ,at least a 2.30 horse. E. M'Kewen had another winning turn in the next race, when ho steered Little George first past the post in the Waverley Handicap (for trotters only). It was pl-sasi'n-g to note that this race attracted a field "of nine, which was tho second largest seen out during the day. The meeting was concluded with the Reoow&rv Handicap, i.n which Mantle was well fancied, but broke her gear, and tha winner turned up in Captain Tracy, a, promising tbree-vear-old colt by General Tracy. Throughout the meeting* the management, under the control of Mr H. L. James, was excellent, and the various events were got off without a hitch. Mr ■ L. C. Hazlett was, as usual, very succeselul . i,t 'starting the various fields, and the other officials of the club lent valuable assistance towards making the gathering a success.