OUR TARANAKI LETTER.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 87, 24 March 1892, Page 3

OUR TARANAKI LETTER.

(from our own correspondent.) New Plymouth, March 18. The annual hack meeting of the WaverleyWaitotara Racing Club was held on Thursday. The wet weather in the morning affected the attendance, and also made the going a bit heavy, which fact no doubt accounted for the many “ boil-overs ” that occurred during the day. The Hurdles, if miles, was a walk-over for The Masher, by Captivator—Day Dawn mare, who had gst ylb to carry. Baccarat, the other acceptor for the Hurdles, was reserved for the Cup, in which his following backed him up to the handle on the strength of a trial, but were disappointed. The Flying Handicap, 0 furlongs, was won by Bradshaw, by Castoff— Lady, 6st gib, Armoury, 6st ylb, being second, and Tramore, Bst sib, third. The winner paidthe nice dividend of his owners, Messrs. Goodson, having four out of the five tickets on the board. This is the first turn of luck Goodsons have had since they started to run horses. Pat Eva rode the winner. Time, 1 min. zjsec. The New Plymouth mare Armour, by Armourer —Garry Owen mare, won the Catch Weights, four furlongs, being ridden by C. Riley. The dividend was 11s. Sirius, Sst nibs, by Australian — Tracjucer mare, another New Ply-

mouth rep., won the Railway Handicap, ij miles, in zmin. 2i£sec.. Tetori being second and Waipiro third. The trio were the only starters. D. Crozier rode the winner. The Cup, miles was won by Entry, yst 41b, by Ascot—Mountain Hare, with Stranger, gst jib, second, and lonic, Bst izlb, third. Time, 2min. 48sec. Dividend, 7s The Post Stakes, four furlongs, was carried off by Ngarauhoe (P. Johnston), the dividend being 7s. St. Patrick’s Handicap, 7 furlongs, was won by Cyrus (by Volunteer), 6st 1 jib, with Tramore, Bst 51bs, second, and Bradshaw. 6st gib, third. Time, imin. 37Jsec. Dividend £ls. The Forced Handicap, 1 mile, fell to bld Corsair, who paid 9s. The slow times recorded are accounted for by the heavy ground. Dan O’Meara trains Bradshaw, Volley, and the two-year-old that Messrs. Goodson purchased at the Sylvia Park breaking-up sale. . “Mr. Keswick’s’’ gelding by The Mute — Tocaster is now being ridden by Billy Arnold. The gelding is a compact-looking animal, but rather on the small side to please me. The gelding by Governor—Moka Moka, which Jay Russel] is now working, should be Heard of by and by. He is a full brother to Lady Onslow, the pony. New Plymouth, March 21. The weights for the first day’s events at the Taranaki Anniversary Meeting were issued on Saturday. I have hot time to go into a review of the weights, but must content myself with trying to unearth the winners, as the races will be on before the next issue of the Sporting Review is printed. For the T.J.C. Handicap, i| miles, thirty-three have been weighted. I like the following, taking into consideration the probable starters only :—Lochness 7st I2lb, Krina ;st 61b, The Dreamer ;st 51b, Queen of Trumps 7st 51b, La Petite Fille 6st lolb, and Hakimana 6st gib. For the Welter Handicap I like Weka gst 71b, Musket Bst 71b, and Fleta 7st 71b. There are only six in the Ladies’ Bracelet, of which I prefer The Dreamer 11st 71b, and Melas lost. There are twenty-four weighted for the Flying Handi cap. Huerfana 7st 61b, Weka 7st 61b, Prestige 7st 61b, Cretonne 7st', Hakimana 6st iclb, She 6st nib, and Tit bst 91b read to me the best. There are twenty in the Hack Flat, 1 mile. This is an open race. Miss Cole ought to have a good show, at Bst slbs. lonic gst 21b, Sirus gst 21b, Flukem Bst 21b, and Armoury 7st 21b also read well. , In the Hack Hurdles, i| miles, there are eleven handicapped. Recruit, lost I2lb, has had an enforced spell, which will tell against his chance. Cingalee, lost I2lb, on Hawera running, ought to have a big say in the finish. Baccarat, lost 21b, is too uncertain, as he is addicted to striking his fences and falling. Lady Onslow, lost 21b, and Atlantic, gst 71b, read well. For the Pony Race there are thirteen weighted. I like Poppy Bst 21b, Nox 7st, and Rodney 7st. . With fine weather the meeting should prove a great success. A regular case of meanness has come to my knowledge. At a certain recent country race meeting on this Coast a horse got home and paid a very substantial dividend, so substantial in fact that the owner pulled about/h 80 out of the machine. The owner rewarded the jockey with the sum of /3, which, as the lad belonged to a stable situated in New Plymouth (about 100 miles away), would not cover his expenses. The illiberal spirit displayed by the owner cannot be put down to want of funds, as he is remarkably well off in the matter of broad acres and bawbees. Such munificence should be chronicled.