TURF GOSSIP.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 4955, 5 January 1883, Page 2

TURF GOSSIP.

MARTON-RANGITIKEI MEETING (by spectator.)

The 1883 meeting of the Marton- Rangitikei Jockey Club, which commenced on New | Year's Day and terminated on Tuesday afternoon so successfully, is now a matter of history, but I cannot allow it to pass without making a few comments, as it was undoubtedly, for good fields, close finishes and fast time, the* most successful meeting held on this Coast for years, and ran away the best fixture conducted under the management of the Marton Rangitikei Jcckey Club. In other respects it eclipsed all its predecessors, the entrance fees, sale of privileges, and money received from the totalisator being much in excess of any previous gathering, while the attendance, taking both days, was fully up to the avenge, and has probably only once been exceeded. This, taking into account the numerous small fixtures aud counter attractions during holiday time, is proof of the position of the popularity of the j time honored gathering of the MartonRangitikei Jockey Club, which, with good management, promises to become one of the most flourishing Clubs in New Zealand. It is said that the Club started this season in debt, owing to losses sustained through prosecuting a defaulting collector, but 1 think the Treasurer will be able to present a creditable balance-sheet at the next meeting of tho Club. About the management a few words may not be out of place, and I think every one will admit, that Mr J. G. Wilsoi is the right man in the right place as Secretary. There is no doubt that since his election to the position he has had a up hill task sethim.and he deserves every credit for the manner in which he has pulled the Club through their difficulties. Of course he has been ably backed by members of the Club, who have shown what can be accomplished by energy and perseverence. I shall await with interest the annual report. A word or two about the actual racing by way of retrospection may be* of interest. Staiting with the weight-for-age Hurdle Race on the first day very little could be taken from the performance, as the Maori horse Hinu was the only one that went straight. The native jockey showed his paler rivals that he was not afraid to ride at the timber, and I think he taught them a lesson for they had no business to let him get so far away from them. Mr Stevens' horse Parikarangranga who was purcha-ied recently by Mr J. H, Pollock (who may possibly give him a shorter name) got second money by a fluke, Hinu's jockey coming in short weight by a £lb. It will be remembered that Hinu got the hack hurdle money at the Wanganni Spring Meeting owing to Dhudeen's jockey losing weight, but on that occasion the totalisator paid on Hinu. This time, however, the dividend was paid on Hinu, » decision that gave very general dissatisfaction ; indeed before the jockey had been weighed the totalis&tor proprietors acting on the advice of the judge commenced to pay out. The horses should not be placed until it has been ascertained that the weights are correct, otherwise the door will be opened to all kinds of swindles. The backers of Parikarangaranga had good cause to complain. I was hardly prepare Ito see the Painter, Mystery Girl filly, run into second place in the Sapling Stakes.butin my selection, Artist, finishing first in a fast run race, Leonessa getting a good third, this mare was first favorite. In the Flying Race Hinemoa whom I had selected to win was scratched, and my next fancy Hippodamia won by a couple or three lengths from Ringleader my next selection. It may be as well here to mention that George Laing who rode the black mare never gave the others a chance, but jumped his mount away on the flag falling, and had all the best of the start, Laurel ran up at the /right end of the race in very good style, proving at once to my mind that the idea of her being a non-stayer was all wrong. The' hack race introduced a splendidlot of horses, and so well-known were they that £270 passed through the totalisator in the race, and in the "big event of the meeting, so equal were considered the chances of the horses, that Lirry, Dan, and Leonora had each over £100 invested on them, the respective amounts being £113, £112, and £10S. Hippodamia was well supported also, and had the greatest outsider won, he would not have returned a dividend of more than £9. The total amount put through on the race was £557, aaid to be the biggest pool ever put through the machine by the proprietors of it, though £988 passed through on one occasion when the tickets were £2 each. The actual running showed Larry to be a bit off, or otherwise he does not run so well in shoes as without them. His trainer, Birchall, however, would not risk running him without his shoes, owing to the way in which he got his feet broken at Manawatu. To the surprise of not a few he was beaten by his stable companion Hippodamia. Dan was kept too far away in tlie early part of the race, and lost a little ground at the top turn, otherwise, I think would have beaten Leonora, who did not. win with anything to spare, as has been reported. Neither is the report correct that St. Clair started and finished sixth. The horse was scratched. The time was very good, viz., 3tnin 42secs. My tip for the Maiden was a correct ope, but the public went on Daphne, and the totalisator showed Fame 64, on Buzard 81, and on Daphne, whose name I did not mention 111, thus showing .that my fancy was entitled to more respect than that of the public. The other starters were led home by Parnell and Hipporina, who were so close up that very little importance can be attached to the wiD, though Fame won completely and is evidently a very good mare. A very good sort of horse called Fisherman won the hack race at the close of the first day's running. It is a singular coincidence that the sum of £1883 went through the totalisator on the first day of 1883. On the second day the Hurdles Handicap was a good race between four out of the five starters, the first three, Dhudeen, Hinu, and Parnell, being within a length of each other, while Parikarangaranga, who made up lost ground at the finish, wa3 not more than five lengths away from Parnell, who appeared to run very sore lail the way, the hard ground after his gruelling on the first day being too severe on his feet. The hack hurdles met with mishapssome baulking and some falling. Lady Bab, who jumped cleverly, had all the best of her opponents in this respect, while showing her usual dash of foot. The St Leger was really a grand race, and as Last Chance and The Gem were expected to fight their battle of ' Waverley over again, the appearance of those animals was eagerly scanned, and though both looked light, there was evidently little between them in point of condition. The Gem had the services of Kaiser, who, I think, could have won with her at Waverley had he been up. After the race I wrote stating my belief that aFordhom or a Archer could have won with her, and in tipping for the St Leger I placed the first and second horses, but here again the public differed with me, and made Last Chance the favorite. Now it ia all over, and I don't hesitate to say that I think Laurel should have won the race, and it was only on hearsay that I was led to discard her. I selected her as the best two year old I saw last year, and in tipping stated that if she had improved as she should have done, all the Painters would go down before her, and, though the stable did not think she could stay, I think she was just as fit as anything that started, and the Painters should have been beaten. Mystery was the only mare that gave evidence of not having done sufficient fast work, and she appeared very big in condition, while Maid of Eccleston had only undergone a short preparation. Considering this, I think she ran remarkably well, and it is very evident is one of the right sort for staying. Mystery lost a lot of ground at the start owing to getting off the course on the inside ; and on passing the stand the first time was fully 100 yards behind the leader. At the back of the course she closed up, and got near the leaders, showing that she has pace ; but want of condition told its tale ere the finish was reached. Maid of Eccleston, Mystery, and The Orphan all finished close together, some eight of ton lengths away, but the struggle between the first three was the closest I have ever witnessed, their white faces showing prominently all up tho j straight, the three horses behind being lost to view as they followed in the rear. The race was run in the good time of 3min 303 ec», which, considering that each of the fillies carried Bst 71bs, is a good performance. The District Race was a surprise. Larry, the favorite, was never in it after a mile had •been traversed, and St Clair, Banshee, and

Last Chance ran a slashing race home, Minerva and Larry a close fourth and fifth, and the time was lmin 19 4-sth sec. In the Railway Handicap, considering the running oi Ringleader and Armourer on the first day. and that St Clair had just run in the District Race, many were not prepared to see those horses forward at the finish. Leonora, a very warm favorite, after the runuing in the first day, and Dan, who was about second in demand, finished fifth and fourth respectively, thesetwo and the placed horses being all well together, this race being perhaps the best of the handicap events. Again the' time was good, the distance being covered in 2min 45secs. Lany ran very forward for a mile and a quarter, but Hipporina was not in it after the first three-quarters of a mile had been run. Daphne started out first favorite for the Consolation, Dan having some £20 odd less invested on his chance, while Banshee, Armourer, and Result were each well backed. Mr Chatham's horse wore the filly down at the finish and won by two lengths. A hack race worth £15 was won by Mr Scott's Ricochet. Further notes on this meeting will appear in another issue.