A LARGE ATTENDANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 January 1926, Page 4

A LARGE ATTENDANCE.

ONLY ONE FAVOURITE SCORES. TOTALISATOR FALLS SLIGHTLY. WHETUNUI COLLAPSES AND DIES. The Stratford Racing Club was. particularly unfortunate yesterday in that the weather, which had been gloriously fine for the holidays, should have broken un the eve of the opening day of their annual meeting. However, though the weather in the morning was threatening and the wind somewhat cold, there was a very large attendance, representative of the whole province, as well as from outside districts, the trains being well patronised; whilst no less than 853 motor-cars and 26 motor-cycles were parked in the enclosure and in addition numbers more were parked outside. In the afternoon the wind dropped find rain came on, making matters somewhat unpleasant. Despi'ie this the crowd had an enjoyable day’s sport, as the racing was interesting throughout. The scratching pen was freely used, reducing the somewhat unwieldly fields, and, with perhaps one exception, useful fields paraded in the birdcage, eliciting keen speculation. Mr. W. P. Russell, the handicapper, had the winners well concealed, only one first favourite paying the first dividend. He also brought the fields close together, the judge (Mr. C. H. Washer), having some very doee finishes to decide, but hie decisions were given correctly and promptly. Mr. A. Morse was in splendid form at the barrier and he was the recipient of congratulations on his splendid despatches, which added greatly to the enjoyment of the racing. The 'totalisator staff, under Mr. W. O’Callaghan. were kept busy, the machine handling £31.321 IDs, as compared with €34,050 for the first day Last y>-ir, a decrease of £2758 10is. Considering the weather, however, the decrease is a very small one. The Stratford Cup produced a fine field of twelve. The Christmas Handicap winner at New Plymouth, Income, aaid the Hawke’s Bay horse, Olympic, were the favourites, but neither was placed, the winner turning up in the Waikato horse Bright Day, the Day Comet gelding winning nicely, with the {Stratford-owned Yoma second and Vaward third. On returning to the paddock, Whetunui. owned by Mr. H. Rothery, of Te Kuiti, and a winner at New Plymouth, was seen to be in a bad way, and it shortly after collapsed and died. The cause of death is thought to be a rupture of an internal blood vessel. The loss is a severe one -for Mr. Rothery.

The Douglas Handicap, the open six. was contested by a field of eight, and the Stratford-owned Ponma was the popular fancy, but it also was beaten oat of a place, ihe Bisogne gelding Bonogne gaining the verdict from Gaillard by a very narrow margin. At the conclusion of this race there was an inquiry into the alleged interference of Papaponga with Pouma. and as the outcome. N. F. Johnson, rider of the former, was ordered to stand down for the day. Mr. Gordon was the stipendiary’ steward, this being the only inquiry held during the day. At the start of the Juvenile Hack Handicap Blend unseated his rider, but P. Healy escaped injury. The that have been effected to the course were greatly appreciated by patrons, and Mr. S. Pitt, the club’s president, and his officials, were the recipients of numerous laudatory remarks on the progressive spirit bliow’n by the chib. As usual the secretary (Mr. W. Power) bad his department up to the moment, and so complete were the arrangements made for the conduct of the gathering that everything passed off smoothly. rhe races being despatched right to time. The new course, too, was in splendid order, a tribute to the care on it by the custodian. The Stratford Citizens’ Band, under Conductor F. Kear, rendered a verv acceptable programme of music. HOW THEY RAN. THE RACING DESCRIBED. Scratchings reduced the field in the Trial Stakes from nineteen to thirteen. A duel for favouritism ensued between Green Bonnet and So vena, the former winding up with two tickers a<lvnnl:-»g<\ Blue Sky and Kiwini were also well supported. A good start saw Green Bonnet and Sovena quickest to find their feet, and they led over the early stages from Epistle, Kiwini and Paifoni>. At three furlongs Green Bonnet was in the lead, clear of Sovena. Epistle bring a couple of lengths further back, with Kiwini and Pa it on it next G:c<n Bonnet had a good advantage Inrnin® for home, but once straightened up

Epistle came fast, ami getting on terms with the leader 100 yards from the post went on tc win by half a length from Green Bonnet, who was tiring, vyith Sovena two lengths away third, followed by Kiwini close up. A ONE DIVIDEND FIELD. , r The scratching pen was freely used in the Tariki Welter, reducing the field from fifteen to five. A good betting race saw Sunny Vale made a warm favourite, carrying over 100 more tickets than Empire Camp, the next in demand, a little better than Elysianor. The others were well supported. Gold Collector was quickest into his stride from Daddy’s Girl and Sunny Vale, but at five furlongs Daddy’s Girl was in the lead from Elysianor, Sunny Vale and Empire Camp. At the turn the field closed up and entering the straight were practically in line. Once headed for the judge Elysianor went to the front and thereafter was never headed, .winning comfortably by two lengths from Empire. Camp, which beat Gold Collector by a length for .second place. Daddy's Girl was close up fourth. FINE FIELD IN THE CUP. The Cup was contested by a fine field of twelve, the defections being Admiral Codrington, Killoch, Troilus and Aropeta. In a heavy betting race there was a duel for favouritism between Olympic and Income, the Hawke’s Bay horse winding up about 100 tickets better backed than Income, each carrying four figures. Then followed Yoma, with some 500 tickets less, and there was also good support for Bright Day and Whetunui. A splendid despatch saw the field move away in line, which Yoma was the first to break, holding a slight lead past the stand from Olympic, Whetunni. Crossfire, Ora’s Delight and Bay Dighton. Nearing the seven furlongs Yoma and Crossfire were together in the lead from Ora's Delight, which assumed command from Crossfire and Yoma, with Vaward and Income moving up. Then Vaward moved to the front, and with half the journey completed was still in the van, followed by Ora’s Delight. Olympic, Crossfire. Yoma, Bay Dighton, Income and Arch Opal. At the four furlongs Bay Dighton was in second berth, followed by Olympic, Bright Day and

Crossfire. Here Bright Day moved up and entering the straight was handy to Vaward. In the run home Bright Day took command, and stalling off a hot challenge by Yoma, who came again very fast, got the verdict by; half a length, with Vaward a length away third. Opa was close up fourth. HURDLES TO SOME FASHION. There were nine defections in the Hirdies, reducing the field to ten. the defections, including San Fera, Kareao and Elva Rosa. Araby was made a hot order, carrying 250 tickets more than Some Fashion, with good support for Goll Peak. Awake and S.ansalino. Sony?. Fashion and Awake were quickest over the initial obstacle from Frizzier and Spy. but Ratapiko then assumed the lead and passed the stand in the van from Frizzier, Sansalino and Some Fashion, the last-named losing ground at the jump. Entering the back stretch Sansalino was in front. but Sonic Fashion, which had quickly made up ground, was in command along the back from White Ranger. Sansalino, Frizz’er and Gold Peak. Four furlongs from home Some Fashion had a commanding lead from Sansalino and White Rang.'r, with Araby and Ratapiko moving up. Going on, Some Fashion was never troubled and won comfortably by three lengths from Ratapiko, which finished fast over the last bit and beat the tiring White Ranger by a similar distance for second place. Gold Peak was fourth. A CLOSE FINISH. There were three withdrawals in the Juvenile Hack, including the top-weight, Bisox. The public made Merle a hot. order, carrying oyer four figures. Windbag. with 300 less, was next in demand, with good support for Seastar and Royal Damond. Seastar was quickest, out, but once settled clown Flying Shot got on terms with the Stratford filly, and the pair led over the early stages from Windbag, Royal Damon and Toapaiti. Flying Shot had a slight advantage from Spastar, Windbag, Royal Damon and Toapaiti at the home turn, but in the home stretch the last-named came through and in a great finish got the verdict by a neck from Royal Damon, which came fast over the concluding stages and beat Partaga by a length for second place. Seastar was just, beaten out of a place on the post. WON' IN THE LAST STRIDE. The defection of The Lamb. Avolt, Velueiform and Willow Wai left a fb.'ul t'! - eight in the Douglas Handicap. The public installed the local mare Pouma as favourite, carrying over 100 tickets more than Papaponga, 'Rehutai, Miss Egypt and Gaillard, who were evenly hacked. Pouma and traillard took the lead from barrier rise, but with half a furlong gone Rehutai was in front of Pouma and Gaillard, with Papaponga and Snatcher next. At the four furlongs Papaponga was almost on terms with Rehutai. Gaillard and J’ouma.

Snatcher and Solferange were handy, with Bonogne moving up fast. Rehutai was just clear of Papaponga, with Gaillard and Bonogne next, when the field straightened up. In the run home Gaillard established a slight advantage, but at the distance Bonogne put in an undeniable claim, and in a great struggle to the post got up to snatch the verdict in the last stride by a nose. Rehutai was half a length away third, followed by Papaponga and Pouma. FIRE BRIGADE SCORES NICELY. Very heavy scratchings reduced the field in the Midhirst Hack Handicap from, nineteen to six. In a good betting race Glengariff was made a hot order, with Troilus next in demand, but there was good support for the rest. Again the field moved off in line, but leaving the straight Royal Mint held command from Glengariff, Troilus and Mountain Ore. Along the back Royal Mint drew away and established a lead of four lengths from Troilus, who was closely followed by Glengariff and Ben Nevis. At the half-mile the field closed on the leader, and at the home turn Fire Brigade was on terms with Royal Mint, with Troilus and Glengariff handy. Once straightened up Fire Brigade moved to the front, and though the favourite put in a strong claim, Fire Brigade held him safe to win nicely by a length and a half, with Royal* Mint a length away third and Mountain- Ore fourth. FAVOURITE AVINS ALL THE WAY. Scratchings soon obviated any risk of the Railway Hack Handicap being run in divisions, and finally only ten out of (he twenty-eight carded faced the starter. The public sorted out Bright Knight for favouritism, with Benzo.’a nearly as heavily backed. Bevis was best backed of the others. Bright Knight soon showed the wisdom of the public’s choice, as he hopped out smartly from the barrier rise and led all the way to win comfortably by a length. Athenry and Sunny Vale were his earliest attendants, the latter running into second place after a couple of furlongs. At the home turn Benzora had run into third place, with Athenry, Lucernal and Master Lucerne close up. Benzora finished very fast over the last bit to beat Sunny Vale by. half a length for second place, but could make little impression oil the leader, who won comfortably. Athenry was fourth.