RACES AT THE PARK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19247, 12 February 1937, Page 13

RACES AT THE PARK

TURF OLUtf MEETING

MAIDEN TO HUNTING SPY

PENNYCOMEQUICK WINS

The promise of excellent racing at the Poverty Bay-. Turf Club's summer meeting drew a large, crowd to the E*«F Domain course this afternoon,, and the early events on the ffrst day's programme certainly fulfilled the expectations so far as close and exciting finishes were concerned. The first and second horses in each, of the. first three races were separated by margins of not more than a neck and. in, the Telegraph Hack Handicap the third and fourth horses were also within half a length of the second.

The increasing general prosperity of the district was again reflected in a rise in the totalisator turnover, the first three races being not far oft double the ligures for the same three events last vear. -THe- quality of the racing »*uUv warranted;-the interest the public displayed, and there was.; every expectation that the totalisator investments for the whole day would maintain the increase shown on the early portion of the day's sport.

Another close contest was provided l>y the Maiden Scurry; oyer a distance of five furlongs. Hunting Step and Asset were the jUst favoured among the Vi starters, and though the first-mentioned was onlv narrowly beaten, Asset was a disappointment, getting away well tout fading.quicklv. Hunting Spy took up the running in the first furlong and though strongly challenged was never displaced, the favourite, Hunting Step, going down to defeat by a margin of a head. Jay Bird put up a fine finishing run, moving faster than either of the other placed horses on the home turn and picking up a lot of ground.

SUNDERLAND STAKES HANDICAP, of £120; second horse, £2O; third, £10: 1 mile. 2-PENNYCOMEQUICK, J. W. Nixon's b.f., 3yrs., Hunting Song —Autumina, 8.0, 51b allow. (.1. Kellett). •■• 1 I—LEGATEE, E. Fitzgerald's b.c, 4yrs., 9.6 (N. McKenzie) 2 4—BOTHWELL, W. J. Gomm's

ch.g., aged, 7.7, 51b allow. (H. C.

Murray) ... .••• 3 Also started.—3 Wasteland, 7.7, Jib over (S. Anderson). -

Of the 12 acceptors for the Sunderland Stakes, only four were paraded, these being Legatee, Pennycomequick, Bothwell and Wasteland. The toplweight, Legatee, was the first in the favour of the investors, carrying a little more than Pennycomequick, while neither of the other runners' chances was thought much of.

The race developed virtually into a tussle between ; Legatee and Pennycomequick, the first-mentioned getting a good start on the rails and holding a small margin practically all the way to the finish. Pennycomequick never got out of touch, however, .and-in the final dash she showed her mettle by easily outdistancing the top-weight. In- the'early stages Wasteland was third, but half-way through the race Bothwell picked up ground and for a time near the half-mile peg was almost on terms .with Pennycomequick, who at.that stage was half a length behind Legatee. At the turn, however, Bothwell went wide, and Legatee, also swinging out, carried Pennycomequick over a little.Pennycomequick recovered first, and came oh to win by three-quarters of a length without feeling the whip. Wasteland had a great chance of a run on the rails from the turn, but did not havo the pace to use it to advantage and was beaten out of third money by Bothwell, who finished three lengths behind Legatee. Time, Imin. 41 l-ssec.

BUMMER HACK HANDICAP, of £BS; second horse, £10; third, £5; I mile. S—HAPPY HUNTING, W. Gosc'omb's b.m., 6yrs., Hunting Song --Sanctuary, 7.12, 51b allow. (T. . Dor'ndn) ... 1 1-LUCULLUS LAD, C. E. Twist's

br.g., 4yrs„ 8.9 (R. Marsh) 4—WANANGA, W. Hogan's b.g., 4yrs., 7.9 (S. Anderson)

Also started.—2 Small Boy, 8.10 (N McKenzie); 3 Silver River, 7.13 (H. Gilmer).

Of the seven accepted for in connection "with the Summer Hack Handicap, five went, to the barrier, and Lucullus Lad, on his form at Wairoa, was immediately promoted to the head of the betting. Small Boy was second choice, nearly 300 tickets behind Lucullus. Lad. and both Silver River and Wananga bad support.

I£rom the start ,Happy Hunting got right into her stride and seized the lead from her favourable inside position at the barrier. Small Boy got in behind the leader on the rails and Lucullus Lad seemed to be content to lie in behind also, the other two runners, Wananga and Silver River, being at the rear almost all the way. Happy Hunting appeared to hold the lead on sufferance and along the back the pace seemed only moderate, but they cracked it on near the half-mile and Lucullus Lad moved up on Happy Hunting a little near the three4urlong peg. Happy Hunting surprised everyone by the tenacity she showed when challenged by the favourite, and in the last half-furlong she actually improved her position to win by two lengths. , Lucullus Lad beat Wananga by a length and a half; and Silver River filled fourth. place, Small Boy being n poor fifth. Time, lmin. 40 2-ssec.