WINTER RACING BEGINS

Taranaki Daily News, 9 May 1930, Page 5

WINTER RACING BEGINS

SUCCESSFUL FIRST DAY AT HAWERA, PONJOLA WINS EGMONT STEEPLES MCRAE HANDICAP TO MERRY DAMON . The winter racing season was ushered ,in at Hawera yesterday under most auspicious circumstances by the opening day -of the Egmont Racing Club’s winter meeting. . With splendid fields, spirited racing and close finishes tbc meeting was most successful from the viewpoint of sport, whilst with the attendance equal to that of last year and the totalisator also showing a slight increase financial success is assured. The Egmont Steeplechase attracted a field of seven and a spectacular race saw the Hawke’s Bay gelding Ponjola win well, with the Trentham gelding Matu and the Hawera-owned Airtight filling the minor places. The Mcßae Handicap was annexed by the Awa-puni-trained Merry Damon, with the New Plymouth-trained Manly and The Swell filling the minor places. The. Flying Handicap attracted a big field of 15, and New Plymouth-trained horses filled all the places, Te Atiawa winning and paying the biggest dividend of: the day, with Melissa and Havering filling the places. .