RAGING CHAMPIONS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14839, 17 February 1919, Page 4

RAGING CHAMPIONS.

DEFEAT OF DESERT GOLD

Very ke,en interest was -again' manifested), at .Hawera on Wednesday, in the Becond'- meeting of ,, the two New-Zea-land 'champions, Desert Gold and^loaniing, in theJEgnKtot; Stakes at;. Hawera. Unfortunately, the race.^was not'fconcluded without. iricident,?for during!., the ninning Croesus, the ; third ' competitor fell, $ interfering to ... some ,„ extent " with Desert Gold, i at least to such' 'a, extent ; ; it , prevented ' the possibility v of a repetition .of that keen and.iexoitmg fin- , ;. ish f witnessed Tin the Tararfaki : Stakes '; when > the -brilliant daughter of v All '.'; Black ; and gained : • a narrow • verdict over her rival. 'After the .acci- : dent in Wednesdays' contest, : Gloaming „ xvas left,* to score rather easily. Tliere- '.'. fore it seems that there is r still a doubt .<} as to which is the better of, the pair, ■i, !A.j sporting Avriter states :' "They are v bopked to meet again in the rtawera Stakes of one mile to-morrow 'afternoon \ (Friday), when Desert Gold will be 4 fcaUecl,upon to concede the treble Derby .winner 31b., and concerning the prob- * able 1 result interest is quite as Ueen as' if the pair*- had never met. The contests between these raciiYg idols have proved great magnets to the Taranaki meetings, both at New Plymouth and Egmonfc, tlie attendances nn<l totalisafcor receipts showing marked increases on previous fixtures. It is to be hoped that in their third contest to-morrow nothing ■will happen to prevent the result being . accepted! as a fair test of their merits.'

The following is a description of the third race on Friday : —

\ Birkenvale was the only one to oppose Desert Gold and Gloaming •in the. Hawera Stakes. The crowd watched • Gloaming enter the birdcage in silence, but when Desert Gold appeared she was loudly cheered, applause being, also beBtowed on Birkenvale. The two cracks were very evenly backed, Desert Gold Carrying £14 more than Gloaming. Birkenvale was neglected. It was a splenN idid start, Desert Gold being on the inteide and Gloaming in the centre. The three-year-old was the quickest to gather Up. paoe, and at the first bend, 150 yards from the start, had taken the rails. Desert Gold drew up to within half a length when racing round' the bend, and -so they raced along the back. Three furlongs from home Gray made his effort and the mare drew level with hei rival, amidst great excitement. When heads were turned for home, Gloaming had again ■ drawn in front, and coming away eventually won all out by a length and) a half. 'Birkenvale was nearly 100 yards away. It was a true run race, • gallantly won by. the < better of the pair on the day. It was pleasing to see that the public recognised this f dct, and loudly cKeefed Gloaming and Deeley as they returned' to the eracJosufe. Needless to say, Desert Gold was also given ttn ovation.