Napier Park Club’s Summer Meeting.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 130, 19 January 1893, Page 5

Napier Park Club’s Summer Meeting.

(BY WIRE —FROM OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wednesday, January 11. After postponements the Napier Park Racing Club struck a fine day for their usual New Year’s Meeting, and they deserved it, for their luck in the matter of weather has been decidedly bad. There was a good attendance of the public, a half - holiday having been observed in town.

Chester went to Gisborne to compete there, and this left Gondolier (by Foul Play—Brunette), Worth (by Natator— Grecian Bend), and Sir Tatton (by Tattler —Dolly Varden) to go for the Trial Hurdles of a mile and a-half. It was noted a good thing by some for Gondolier, but others stood by Worth, who has won innumerable Trial Hurdle Races on this course An even start was effected, but before the first hurdle was reached Worth dropped back. Gondolier and Sir Tatton were together opposite the stand, Worth some lengths away. Before the back was reached Gondolier led the field, but Worth went up, and passing Sir Tatton, challenged the leader at the bend. At the scraping sheds they were together, but Gondolier drew away slightly. In the straight, however, Worth was seen to have the race in hand, and he came in a winner by a length and a half, Sir Tatton, pulling up, ten lengths away. Time, 3min 2 3-sth sec. Dividend, £2 Ils. The next race was the Midsummer Handicap, for which Kapua was scratched. At the fall of the flag Free Lance, who had the inside running, went to the front and kept there, St. Malo being second, Rangiatea third, and Aronoel last. St. Malo improved his position before the turn was reached, and got alongside Free Lance. Rangiatea also commenced to go up, and at the scraping sheds he and St. Malo left Free Lance to fight out the finish themselves. Rangiatea won comfortably, however, by a length, Free Lance third, and Aronoel last. The time for the mile was Imin 47 l-sth sec. The dividend paid over the son of Somnus was £3 2s.

The top weight Haeata was scratched for the Two Year Old Handicap, which left in Noyade (by Lord of the Isles — Lorelei), Zanella (by Apremont — Flatter), Purepo (by Ariel—Waewaehapi), and Spinaway (by Nordenfeldt-— Spinnaker). At the fall of the flag Spinaway was the first to move, Noyade being next on her legs, and Purepo last. Purepo was speedily ten lengths behind, and I didn’t pause to look for him after the field passed the post. Why a horse should have been started in the condition he was Ido not know. Spinaway led at the turn, being closely pressed .by Noyade. Zanella, who was not going well and who had got blocked, came up on the outside. There was a great race home, Spinaway just beating Noyade, Zanella, who came with a fast but late run, being only half-a-length away third. Time, Imin 6 l-sth sec. Dividend, £2 17s.

For the New Year Handicap Zaccho and Huerfana were knocked out, and this left Rosefeldt, St. Katherine, St. Malo, Queen of Trumps and Kotuku to do battle for the big money. There was a little delay before the field were despatched, St. Katherine moving about in front of her horses in a restless fashion. Eventually she got away last. Queen of Trumps assumed the lead, and was holding it in front of the stand the first time, Rosefeldt and Kotuku being almost to gether, with St. Malo a head behind them, St. Katherine close behind, last. St. Malo managed to get up on the rails at the town bend, and was nearer the leader before the back was reached, where Rosefeldt, the top weight, took the second place. There was no sign of a diminution in the pace, however, and she was done with before the turn was reached. Here St. Katherine made her effort, Kotuku being last. Before the scraping sheds were reached St. Malo was the leader’s nearest attendant, and here Kotuku made her effort, but she

did not last. Queen of Trumps came on full of running, and won easily by a couple of lengths, in 2min 41 2-ssec, and paid £2 9s dividend. St. Malo was second, Kotuku third, St. Katherine fourth, and Rosefeldt last. The only defections in the Hurdle Race were Tiritea and Tauraekaitai. Half a dozen were consequently left in. Disturbance was favourite, Beggarman being next fancied, Kaimanawa being third favourite. Kaimanawa and Gondolier were first to jump away, and they went at a smart bat. In a very short time the field tailed right off. The rear horses did not appear to be going at all. Gondolier very soon took the lead and led by two lengths. In front of the stand the first time the order was —Gondolier, Beggarman, Othello, Kaimanawa, Disturbance and Worth. At the back Gondolier still led, Disturbance going up. The leader did not diminish his pace, however, and coming on won easily by three lengths from Beggarman, Disturbance third, Worth next, and Othello last. Kaimanawa fell. Worth carried a 71b penalty for winning the Trial Hurdles. Time, 4min ssec. Dividend, £ll Bs. A protest was entered by Alexander, who rode Beggarman, against the winner on the ground of sudden reversal of form, having been beaten easily by Worth in the Trial Hurdles. The stewards met and considered the case, and after hearing evidence decided in favour of Gondolier.

The Flying Handicap saw Ua drop out. Krina got away at the fall of the flag, Free Lance being slowest to move. At the turn the order was —Krina, Stockfish, Free Lance, Dreamland and Kotuku This was maintained to the scraping sheds, where Dreamland commenced to go up. Krina could not be caught, and won easily from Stockfish Dreamland was third, Free Lance and Kotuku were close up together, next. Stockfish carried four pounds overweight. Krina paid £5 13s dividend, and got home in imin 19sec. She appeared to me to be not in the best of condition, and I let her pass. The Settlers’ Handicap, the seventh race on the programme, was then got off. Tell Tit and May Flower did not start. Five faced the wielder of the flag, and when he gave the word “ go” they were all in a line, but Water Lily hung at the post. She raced up to second position, however, Chris leading the lield. At the back Water Lily had gone up to the leader, and was even with him at the turn, when Jewel went up. Rangiatea made his effort before the scraping sheds were reached, and led when in the straight. Water Lily and Jewel fell back beaten, and Rangiatea came in an easy winner, but the lazy Prairie Grass came with a great rush and snatched second money on the post. Chris was third, Jewel fourth, and Water Lily last. Time, 7min 1 3-ssec. Dividend, £2 13s.

The last race of the day was the Green Meadows Handicap, for which the weights were declared on the ground. Those who started were Dreamland 8.9, Spinfeldt 6.10, Man Friday 6.7, St. Malo 8.0, Link 7.7, and Aronoel6.ll. Man Friday went off at the start, and led until the straight was reached, where Dreamland displaced him and won. Spinfeldt ran a good second, and Man Friday was third. Time, Imin 32 4-ssec. Dividend, £3 13s.