NOTES ON THE RACING.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13728, 17 March 1915, Page 3 (Supplement)

NOTES ON THE RACING.

Amidst steady rain tho meeting started with the Maiden Hack, for*" which theie were sixteen entrants, but the scratching peai was used freely and eight horses only went to the post Tekura and Blue Blood got the worst of tihe start. Otakura and Elopement were the first to show out, with Gold King and Aohilleus next. ' Elopement soon established tho lead, and was never headed, winning by a length. In the straight Gold King ci.jne through and finished second, with Achilleus, about a length away, third. Orianda was fourth.

There were only two withdrawals from the Handicap Trot, L' miles, and fourteen horses went out. Before the start Woodwild returned to the paddock, a punctured Tyre preventing him from taking part in the race. Miss Molly led for the first time round, with Molly Brae ? Special Lass, and Maid of Darringall in that order. At the back, Molly Brae and Maid of Darringall closed up*, and entering the straight were in front, with Miss Molly in third place. A great race ensued between the first and second horses, and Molly Brae looked like winning, but broke when Hearing the winning post, and finished second two lengths away. Miss Molly was several lengths away, third. Major Election was fourth Campaign, \vho was made a. warm favourite, was never prominent. There were six defaulters from the Nelson Cup, the withdrawals being Plunder, Prince Laddo, Royal Dragoon, Rcrehau, Roumania, arnl Moirette. Plunder, Prince Laddo, and Iterehau were scratched owing to mishaps. There was considerable delay at the post, caused principally by tho refusal of Kina and Mount Victoria to face the barrier. When the tapfis went up Mount Victoria was left behind. Merton was the quickest, to begin, and going up the back of the course was in front, with Immer next. Gold Soult, who was slow to move, was running third. Coming to the sea bend Gold Soult ran to the front, ami Immer^ put in a challenge, Merton dropping back to third place. In the straight Immer held the favourite, and won comfortably by two lengths. Merton was several lengths away, ttiird, Monologue was fourth, and Kina fifth. Five of the twelve acceptors started in the Hop© Hack Handicap, and Want, who won a double at Dannevirke, was established favourite. A splendid start was effected. Killaloo was the first to iihow out, with Want in close attendaiica. Along the back Moirette moved up, and Killaloo dropped back. Want lee! at the sea, and iluinatioii and Roumania closed up, the field entering the straight in a bunch, Killaloo being m the rear. In the home stretch Ruination and Roumania challenged the leader, and a good race ensued, the former beating the favourite by threequarters of a length, with Rouman;.a half a length away, third. There were fourteen staiters in the Handicap Trot. H miles, and the Christchurch-owned Bandy was backed down to a very short price. Delia Norval, on the limit, kept well in front until entering the straight on the run home. Maid of DarrincaH, who was penalised for her win in the two-mile trot, was virtually the scratch horse on the 4sec mark. Trotting steadily throughout, she overhauled the leaders, and when she caught Delia Norval a "•reati race ensued. Neck and neck the pair raced together, but coming; near to the post Delia Norval ftumbled, and finished second, half a length away. Goldseeker was six lengths away, third. The favourite was never sighted. Killaloo and Kirrikau were the withdrawals from th© Telegrapfi Hack Handicap. With the exception of Crochet Maid, the field got away to an even despatch. Royal Sleeves who was made favourite, went to tho front, with Portland Flame next, and the rest ot the field bunched. At the sea Portland Flame moveVi up and showed the way into tho straight, where Wailand put in a strong challenge. A fine race ensued, Portland Flame pa«^g. th® Pf fc half a length in front of Wailand. Excitement came through from the rucK and finished the same distance in tront of Hap Dha. The others were close up. There was a field of four runners m the Grand Stand Handicap, Goldstrea'n and Mowbray being scratcttod I<rom a good start Royal Bragoon and Mount Victoria went to the front, and oc, Kma and Merton by several .lens -hs. The front pair maintained their ndvantatre and fought out a good finish, Royal Dragoon winning by a bare length; Kina, a .long way back, was . third. Merton was a bad last, *nd evidently felt, the effects of his effort m the oup. Seven horses sported si!i£ in the Welter Hack Handicap, wh.di concluded the first day's racing, an.l Mollymawk was made a good favounte. Elopement-, who won the Maiden and incurred a penalty of 71b was also well supported. From a good start Totaranui was the first- to show out, closely followed by Hap Dha and toe favourite At the sea bend Totaranui dropped back, and Hap Dha and Mollymawk entered the straight together, the fornt-r winning comfortably by a length, lotaranui, a length away, was thud, and Otaknra fourth. An inquiry into tho running of the winner was held by *he Judicial Committee, but after investigation it was decided that, tho evidence was insufficient to take action ihe rider (Lowe) was cautioned by tho stipendiary steward.