SPORTING.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8401, 15 February 1894, Page 2

SPORTING.

Egmont RC Summer Meeting. President : B H Nolan, Esq. Vice-Presi-dent: A W Badge, Esq. Stewards : Bobert Hicis, J Heslop, Wm. Adamson, HJO Coutts, H M Woodward, Thomas Mason, James Davidson, H B Good, Dr Weeteura. Starters . Clerk o£ OotUBe : J T Stone. Clerk of Scales : H W Button. Handieapper : T E Henry. Timekeeper : M F BaCrd. Judge : Wm. Brewer. Treasurer: W A Nairn. (By Our Special.) Better weather could hardly hare been experienced for the Egmont B.C. Summer Meeting, whiob. commenced yesterday (Wodnesday), and ifc was apparent, on visiting the course (about two miles ftoai town), that the gentle rain of the previous day had materially beuefitted the track. Comparison may be invidious, but after all that has been said and written on the matter, yoar special does not hold the opinion that the Club is so far in advance of others in the matter of appointments. It is concedod that the stewards, and indeed all the office-bearers, are übiquitous in the discharge of their duties, and Mr A. &. Brett is a Secretary of whom any raoing club may be justly pwid, indeed his management is .excellent, but thera has been a certain over-ratiDg all round not borno out by facts concerning the course and its accessories. The attendance, which included settlers from far and near »nd a large number of Wanganuites, was not estimated as up to the standard of last year's meeting, but as will be seen below the sinews of war were freely forthcoming when the mechanical bookmaker was brought into requisition. General dissatisfaction was expressed with the starter (Mr M. F. Baird), for in nearly every instanoe where his services were in requisition he either frittered away time with his fields, or through evident want of knowledge allowed some one or other of the horses to steal a march on him. Principally was this noticeable in the very first race — the Waimate Handicap — where the speedy St. Laura, ridden by James was allowed to gain sucfi a lead from the fall of the flag, that the filly Bimply played with her field, and running home with her mouth wide open she gave joy to her 95 admirers by returning them a dividend of £4 16s each and outting out the seven furlongs in lmia 33seo. TJa from whom great things were expected was last, but Freelance and Swordbelr, the placed horses, in that order, ran well. The other starters were Lottie and Variety. The Handicap Hurdle Bace was a particularly funny one. There were only two starters — Couranto and Vaeco, the former ridden by Gteo. Hope and the latter by Redmond. Couranto was a pronounced favorite, and he led over the first and iecond obstacles, but at the latter Vaeco made a bad mistake in negotiation, and unseated his rider, who was usßisted into the enclosure. The Napier gelding, however, persistently baulked at the fourth hurdle, and Vasco having been pluokily remounted, went in pursuit with the result that he succeeded in giving Couranto » lead over the obstruction. Tasoo led till half a mile from home when Coaranto assumed the lead without apparent effort and won oaaily by two lengths, the dividend boing £1 13s, and the time smin Issec. The "race" caused considerable amusement. In the Hack Hurdles there was a field of five, including Cingalee (Cook), Tramore, Pumau, Borneo, and Cutlass. They finished in that order, but Tramore would no doubt have altered the verdict only for stumbling near the winning post. Out of 650 investors, 70 were on the winner, the rtivi* dend being £7 2s and the time being 2min 27 and 2.5 th sec. Luncheon having been fairly discussed, there was a general bustle to view the nino contestants for the Egmont Handicap. A better conditioned lot of horses has not been seen on a racecourse for some time, and as evidence of public opionion, each and every animal had Ub admirers. The race itself was well worth witnessing, for after Noyade, Spinfeldt, Prioress, Mu9ket, Koyal Rose, Coalscuttle, Pinroae, and Pill, had all made play, Lindsay, on Bosefeldt, put in a claim, there wus no denying and to the joy of the Nordenfeldt mare's admirers, she won rather easily at the end after a slashing set-to, in 3min 41 and 3 slh sec. Boyal Bose second, and Pill third, were well up, and Pinroae was fourth. Alick MuCormich, on Prioress, rode a determined raco, but the black mare was buried for pace at tho finish. There were 875 investors (214 on the winner), and. the dividend was £3 13s. The Sapling Stakes brought out a quartette of youngsters, Pom Pom being the favourite, and Mr J. Paul's nomination justified the confidence of backers by winning handsomely in lmin 20aec, and returning tbo somewhat meagre dividend of £1 143. A handsome filly in this contest was Mr Ormond's Malure (by Malua. —Timidity), and she will bo well-worth watching in the aweeb bye-and-bye. McCormick had anything but a nice rida on Man-o'-war (Nelson — Muskeriua), for the youngster was decidedly green, and would not budge a yard, having to bo pulled up. The Hack Flat brought out a field of 14, and some pronounced signs of dissatisfaction were indulged in by the crowd at the time cut to waste by tho ev&rter. Whifller, ridden by MoCormick, was a big order, but contrary to punters' opinion the uuthought of Hark registered a win for Mr A. Morse, and the judge being unable to separata Whifller find Cyrus gare it aB a dead heat for second place. The time was good — train 46 l-sth sec — and the dividend better — £20 12s, — that is, to those lusky enough to draw it. The last race of the day, the Welter Handicap, brought out .Kent, Variety, Musket, Lottie, Freelance, and Pill, and they finished in that order. Sent- simply made hacks of his field, and with 9at 111 bup cut out the mile in lmin 47 l-sth eec, paving £1 17 a. The races wore all gob over ia good time and nothing in any way occurred to mar the harmony of a well- conducted meeting.

SECOND DAY.

(Per United Press Association.)

Hawbba, February 15. The weather io threatening, but there is a good attendance. Results :—: —

Flying Handicap — St. Clements, Bat 121 b, 1 j Prioress, Bat 71b, 2; St. Laura, Bit, 3. Lottie and Swordbelt also ran. Won by a length. Time, lmin 19 2-sth 36C Dividend, £2 ss.

Handicap Hurdles— Strephon, lOat 131 b, 1 ; Oouranto, 12Bt 131 b, 2.

(Special to Hebaid.) Atkinson Memorial Stakes — Boyal Rose 1, Pinrosa 2, Bosefeldt 3. Time, 2min 40aec. Dividend, £4, 16?.

Patea-Kanoi J.C Weights.

The following weights have bfjen declared for the above race meeting * —

Handicap Hurdlos, of 26 soya, two miles — Dainty, 12st 21b; Premium, list 41b; Prospoct, list 21b ; Poscador, llBt; Haoromai, lOat 131 b ; Rufus, lOat 121 b; Athlete, lOat 81b ; Tuka, l,Ost 41b ; Eaiwaka (Kelly's), and Witiaro, lOst 21b ; Whakawatea, lOat ; Hawiti, 9at lalb ; Xtiiwaka (Luzmare's) and Hailstone, 9st lOlb.

MoawhaP'ga Cup, of 40 bovb, 2 miles — Dainty, lOat 121 b; Pronrrnm, 9at 101 b; Joe-is and Pescador, 9st 91b ; Bangalore, 9st ?lb ; Haeremai, 9at 6lb ; Prospect, 9sfc <tlb ; Sea Form and Ahi, 9st 21b; Athlete, Bsb 101 b; Bangatira. Bst 81b; Esca, Bst 71b; Financier and Ko Ko, 83fc 4lb; Hailstone and Quiver, Bst. Flying Handicap, of 18 soys, 6 furlongs — Euf us, lOBt 4lb ; Premium, lOst; Joous, Oat 101 b; Man Friday, 9st 9lb ; Bangalore and Haeremai, Oat 71b ; Prospect, Oat 61b j Ahi, 9at 51b ; Martonetle, 9st ; Starlight, Bsb 101 b j Bangatira, Bsf 91b j Witiaro, Bst 81b ; Athlete and Eaca, Bsb 71b ; Mouni, Bst 41b ; Tunangere, Erewhon, Financier, and Quiver, Bst.

The Foxton B.C. programme appears on fourth page. Owners and trainers of racehorses are reminded that nominations for First and Seoond Hack Flats and First Hack Hurdlcß. cloie to-night (Thursday), at 9 o'olook.