TARANAKI J.C. ANNIVERSARY MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 89, 7 April 1892, Page 2

TARANAKI J.C. ANNIVERSARY MEETING.

(from our own correspondent.) The Anniversary meeting of the Taranaki Jockey Club was opened on Thursday, under most favourable auspices. The weather was splendid, the attendance exceptionally large, speculation on the machine was brisk, the fields were big, and the finishes were all of an interesting description. The officers of the Club all worked well in carrying out the programme, which was got through without a single hitch. The starter’s flag was wielded by Mr. Sam Powell, who was asked to officiate at the request of Mr. Jas. Paul, the Club’s starter. In every 7 instance Mr. Powell effected an even start, and thus maintained the reputation he has achieved as a starter. The handicapping was good—the race for the big Handicap being the best instance of this, as the nine starters were all fair in it half-way up the straight, Mr. Evitt must have felt gratified at the splendid results of his adjustments. The totalisator was worked by Messrs. Cohen and Stock, of Napier, who gave general satisfaction to the patrons of the machine. During the day they put through a total of which is over more than the first day last year. Mr. R. G. Bauchope, the hon. secretary of the Club, carried out his duties in a manner that left nothing to be desired, and the success of the meeting in a great measure was due to his energy and tact. Business opened with, the Hack Hurdles, for which six weighed out. On the fall of the flag Recruit set out to make the running, closely attended by Baccarat, with Flukem, Atlantic and Security handy, and Cingalee (whose rider was apparently making a waiting race) last. At the third jump Baccarat struck heavily, and carried away a section of the jump, but managed to keep his- feet. At the back, about three furlongs from home, Recruit and Baccarat still led, but here Pell brought Flukem up, and running past the pair took the lead over the next jump. Cingalee was still a long way in the rear, and appeared to be out of the hunt. Flukem came on, full of running, and negotiating the last jump clear of Baccarat and Recruit won by about two lengths. Cingalee, who was ridden in a peculiar way, came very fast at the finish, cut down Baccarat and Recruit, and secured second place. Had Collelo ridden Cingalee with a bit more judgment she must have won, but the excuse was that he was instructed to ride a waiting race, and he did so. Flukem paid £4. Time, 2min jjsec (if miles). The Hack Scurry Stakes produced a field of

six. Playboy, who was neglected on the machine, managed to do the trick after a tough tussle with Badger, an importation from Auckland. The dividend was £ 18 45., and the five furlongs were cut out in imin 5 secs. The winner was submitted to auction, but was passed in. For the big Handicap nine weighed out. Whisper was made a great favourite, with St. Malo next in favour. Krina, The Dreamer, and Prestige were also well backed. The Manaia mare Weka rushed to the front as soon as the flag fell, and led her field along at a merry bat for ij miles. So strong was she going that it was reckoned she would stay all the way, but two furlongs from home the field closed on her, and a most interesting struggle ensued. As the nine turned into the straight they were all of a heap, and whips were being freely used. Within the distance, however, Prestige, the Wanganui rep., shook himself clear of the cluster, and established a lead under the whip. At this point Scot Free made a bid for victory, but could only get within three-quarters of a length of Prestige. St. Malo was third, about a length away ; and the rest were all in a cluster at his heels. The iA miles was cut out in zmin jg 2-jth sec., but several private watches made it 2min jߣsec. Scot Free must have just got home if he had not been kept in the rear too long. The backers of the half brother of Dudu were rewarded with a dividend of £7 12s. Awarua Rose pulled up lame after the race. Twelve horses went out for the Hack Flat. Armoury made the running for six furlongs, when Nugget collared him and assumed the lead. Nearing the home turn, however, Flukem put in his claim, and Nugget and he ran locked together up the straight, Flukem squeezing home under the whip by a head. Time, imin 48|-sec. Dividend, £7 igs. Six contested the Welter Handicap, which fell to Torpedo, who won with a bit to spare from St. Malo ; Musket a good third. Time, imin 4g 2-jth sec. Dividend, / 2 6s. For the Pony Race, five furlongs, thirteen ran. Rodney assumed command on the fall of the flag, and although hotly chased up the straight by Fly and Poppy, managed to get home by a length. Fly got blocked in the early part of the race, otherwise she must have won. Time, imin Dividend, / j is. For the Flying Handicap six competed, the winner turning up in Prestige, who beat Lochness on the post; Weka a good third. Time, 1 min. 16 j-jth secs. Dividend, £3 15s. This concluded the programme. Full particulars will be found in our Turf Record columns. A protest was entered against Rodney, the winner of the Pony Race, on the ground that he ran at an unregistered meeting at Auckland in September last. The stewards considered the protest, and dismissed it on the ground that such disqualification had been removed. Prestige, I hear, has been sold for £3OO. McKeague, the Wanganui light-weight, had four wins. Two on Prestige, one on Flukem, and one on Rodney. P. Johnston had one win, McLauchlan one, and Pell one. The weather was cloudy for the second day’s racing, and about noon a drizzling rain set in and made things uncomfortable for a time, but about two o’clock Old Sol asserted himself, and the rest of the racing was witnessed in comfort. The attendance was again large, and speculation brisker than the first day, as £2 845 was put through, making >£5,498 for the two days—the best on record for the Club. The starting was again splendid, the start for the Grandstand Handicap being warmly applauded from the Stand. Mr. Powell acknowledged the compliment by doffing his hat in the orthodox manner. Mr. Evett’s handicaps produced some close finishes, as close as one could wish to have them. The excitement began with the Hack Hurdles, for which four started. Baccarat went to the front at once, with Recruit as his nearest attendant, Flukem next and The Masher last. Baccarat led all the way, and won with a bit to spare from Flukem, who came with a fast run that was timed too late. Recruit finished third. The winner paid his backers £3 7s. Time, jmin. 5 i-jth secs. For the Grandstand Handicap six contested, the winner being Weka, who won by a length from Heather Bell; Torpedo a good third.

The dividend was/'s 135., and the time imin--31 3-sth secs. Three weighed out for the Ladies’ Bracelet. The Dreamer, ridden by Mr. C. Enderby, just pipped Durus (Mr. F. Watson) on the post. Tattler (Mr. Jas. Hooker) was the other starter. The winner was paraded on the lawn, and his rider presented with the bracelet by Mrs. A. Standish, the President’s lady. Cheers were given for the winner and rider, and the band struck up “The Red, White and Blue.” Dividend, £1 us. Time, zmin. 53|secs. There were eight in the Second Pony Race, the second favourite, Poppy, winning after a good set-to. Time, imin. 54 3-sth secs. Dividend, £3 2s. The big money, the Autumn Handicap, brought out a field of six. Prestige again asserted himself, but just collared Heather Bell on the post and won by a head. Price, the rider of the latter, was called before the stewards for foul riding. It was alleged that he crossed Scot Free, and also struck Prestige on the head with his whip. Price said that it was an accident. The stewards administered a severe reprimand to the erring jockey. Time, 2min. 12 2-sth secs. Dividend, £ ss. Six went out for the Second Hack Race. lonic won by a couple of lengths from Miss Cole, the other four being almost on level terms just behind the latter. Time, 2min. xisecs. Dividend, 16s. The Farewell Handicap brought out a field of six. Torpedo, who carried level weights withWeka(7St nibs.), was returned the winner, but I am of opinion that it was a dead heat. Fleta was third. Time, imin. 172-5111 secs. Dividend, £2 15s. McKeague was again to the fore with two wins on Prestige and Higginson had one, P. Johnston one, G. Collelo one, and Gall one.