THE WANGANUI MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 33, 14 March 1891, Page 4

THE WANGANUI MEETING.

The Wanganui Jockey Club’s Autumn Meeting commenced last Wednesday. The weather was fine, the course in good order, and the racing interesting. Before the Cup was run Mr. Hunter asked what weight Cynisca should carry. It will be remembered that when Mr. Hately first issued the weights her impost was Bst. At this she was certainly leniently treated. It is supposed that there was a cry out among the sporting division at her getting in so lightly. 'l’he consequence was that the next day the handicapper published in the morning papers that her weight was Bst gib, and a local appeared stating that Mr. Hately had made a mistake in transcribing his notes. In answer to Mr. Hunter’s question the stewards decided that Cynisca’s weight was Bst gib. Both the handicapper and the stewards, according to all precedent, were decidedly wrong, for when a handicap leaves the handicapper’s hands it cannot be altered, unless there has been a clerical error. The stewards erred in supporting their official in the blunder he had made. Cynisca carried the extra weight and ran second. It is generally believed that Mr. Hunter will not proceed further in the matter, but has expressed his determination not to enter another horse for any future meeting of the Wanganui Jockey Club. In this he is quite right. The Wanganui meetings, though the Club give plenty of added money, are gradually falling away as regards the size of the fields. This may, in a great measure, be put down to the handicapping. Crackshot, to everyone’s surprise, was weighed out for the Cup, but he was so lame and manifestly unfit that Mr. Butler, at the remonstrance of his friends, had his number taken down. Tirailliere and Cretonne, by their running, show that they may be nearly classed in the front rank of two-year-olds. In the Flying Handicap, Tommy Hodson, the rider of Lochness, was had up before the stewards for foul riding in blocking Boulanger, and they suspended him for the remainder of the meeting* Hodson ought to think himself lucky in getting off with such a light sentence, and should take warning by it. Mr. S. Powell was and on the whole was successful. About was passed through the machine, which is considerably more than last year. The races commenced with the Hurdle Race, two miles and a quarter, resulting as follows Sentinel, gst 71b, 1 ; Montrose 11., gst-zlb, z‘:--Myrtle, gst, 3 , Chemist, izst 81b; Comet, lost, The Peer, gst 61b, and Koromiko, gst, also ran. Chemist was made the favourite. Sentinel laid well in front all the way, arid on : entering the straight came through full of running and won by four lengths, a length between second and third, Chemist a bad fourth. Time, 4min. 55secs. Dividend, 16s. The Wanganui Cup only produced a field of five, and resulted in an easy win for Dudu, Bst izlb : Cynisca, Bst gib, z ; Weka 7st zlb, 3. Recluse, Bst zlb, and Kiekie, yst, also started. Dudu was made a hot favourite. From a good start Weka rushed away with the lead at a tremendous pace, and soon placed six lengths between her and her followers. At the end of a mile Cynisca and Dudu began to close up. Soon afterwards Matthews took Dudu to the front. The race was then never in doubt, and she ran home an easy winner by three lengths. Half way up tne straight Clifford eased Cynisca, when he found he had no chance, and she finished four lengths in front of Weka,- Kiekie a bad fourth, Recluse being last of all. Time, 3min. Bsecs. Dividend, £2 is. The Wanganui Two-year-old Stakes brought out a field of four. From a bad start, of which Cretonne got the worst of it, Rosefeldt and Fraternite made the running, but on entering the straight they were done with and Tirailliere assumed the command, and appeared to have the race in hand, when Cretonne, who Was supposed to be done with, came again. After a good race Tirailliere succeeded in getting home by a length, Rosefeldt a bad third. Six faced the starter for the Welter Handicap; After a good race, Fleta, Bst gib, won pretty easily by a couple of lengths, a neck separating La Petite Fille, Bst gib, and Pyramus, gst jib. Weka, lost zlb, Montrose 11., gst 71b, and The Peer, gst 51b, also ran. Time, 1 min. 46£sec. Dividend, 12s. The Flying Handicap brought out a field of seven. They finished as follows :—Retina; jst rolb, 1; Boulariger, Bst, 2 ; Lochness, jst glbj 31

Whisper, Bst, Thackeray, 7 st iolb, Queen of Trumps, 7St zlb, and Rufus,. 6st gib, also ran. There was a bad start for this race. Retina got away in front, and won by a length, the same between second and third. Thackeray, who got badly away, was last. Time, imin. i6|sec. Dividend, / 4 3s.