Poverty Bay Turf Club’s Annual Meeting.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 130, 19 January 1893, Page 6

Poverty Bay Turf Club’s Annual Meeting.

[from our own correspondent. - ]

First Day—Tuesday, Jan. io.

The Poverty Bay Turf Club commenced their annual race meeting on the above date in fine weather, and there was a capital attendance, including a fair sprinkling of Aucklanders.

Business was started with the First Hurdle Handicap of 6osovs, one mile and a half, for which the whole of the five coloured on the card came to the post. Caitiff, io o, was made favourite, but Chester, 10.5 (who had been brought up from Napier) pressed him closely in the betting. From a bad start Engakuri, 9.0, was left at the post. Chester led over the first two obstacles, at the second of which Takapuna fell and gave his rider a bit of a shaking. Caitiff soon ran up to Chester, and then assumed the lead. Chester, however, collared him again at the back of the course, and as Caitiff was fencing in a slovenly style it appeared that he had had enough of it. Half a mile from home Engakuri set sail after Chester in a most determined fashion, but Chester was full of running, and

coming on won easily by four lengths from Engakuri, with Caitiff a bad third. Time, 3min zsec. Dividend £2 16s. There were four starters for the Hack Hurdle Handicap of iosovs. one mile, and Criminal, 11.5, and Warrigal, 10.4., were the only ones backed in real earnest Warrigal led all the way, and won easily by two lengths. Dividend, £2 us. Only the poor field of three contested the Flying Handicap of Bosovs, 6 furlongs, and a regular plunge was made on Loch Ness, 9.2, his opponents being Ua, 7.10, and Leopold’s brother Albert, 6.10. Out of a total of £536 in the machine was on Loch Ness. Ua made play as soon as the flag went down, and led Albert a length in the first furlong, Loch Ness lying off. Just before entering the straight Loch Ness made his effort, but the filly was too full of running to be caught, and she won in a canter by three lengths from Mr McKinnon’s horse, who was two lengths in front of Albert. Ua was bred by her owner Mr W. Douglas, and is by The Mute out of Waitiri, the mare that finished second to Nelson in two Auckland Cups. Ua’s time for the six furlongs was imin i7Jsec, and the dividend was 12s. The Maiden Plate of 40S0VS, one mile, brought out a quartette, Tell Tit being a slightly better favourite than Pekapu. This pair made joint running till half the journey had been covered, when Pekapu got her head in front, and never being headed from that point won easily from Ormonde, with Dangar third. The time was imin 49 3-ssec, and the dividend £2 4 s The Half-mile Scurry of iosovs, was won by the favourite Mr A. Sharp’s Jack, with Kaha second and Freny third, the other starters being Idiot, Namu, Cynosure, Waggoner, Tam O’Shanter and Esca. Time, 51 3-ssec. Dividend, £2 ns.

Albert was the only scratching for the principal event of the meeting, the Tauranga Stakes Handicap of zoosovs, one mile and a half, leaving the following seven to go to the post: —Loch Ness, Brigand, Scot Free, Pani, Huerfana, Kapua and Zanzibar. Pani and Scot Free carried the bulk of the public’s money, Scot Free having a slight call. Zanzibar and Pani made the running together past the stand, with Brigand next, and Loch Ness last. Brigand supplanted Zanzibar as they ran towards the back of the course, and shortly afterwards Kapua went through and assumed command. Huerfana next made her effort, and led into the straight with a clear advantage from Pani. The latter, however, by sheer gameness got up inch by inch, and beat Captain Russell’s mare by a neck, with Loch Ness (who came late) third. Pani, who was ridden by Banks, carried 7.9, and being a horse well known in this district for a long time his win was very popular. Huerfana had 7.3 up, and Loch Ness 8.11. The time of the race was 2min 42 i~ssec, and the dividend on Pani £3 7s. The County Stakes Handicap of 40 sovs, one mile, saw seven assemble at the post, including the Auckland representive The Sharper. It looked a good thing for Pekapu after her win in the Maiden with lolb more than she had now to carry, and she was made a warm favourite. She and Engakuri were first away, The Sharper hanging at the post. Pekapu, 7.3, indulged Engakuri with the lead for a bit at the back of the course, but when called on at the home turn she came away and won in a canter by three lengths, Zanzibar, 8.9, furnishing second, and Dangar, 6.7, third. Time, imin 48 2-ssec. Dividend, £1 16s. Pekapu is by Daniel O’Rourke out of Frivolity. In a field of half a dozen for the Hancap Hack Flat Race of iosovs, 6 furlongs, Retribution 7.2, Dancing Master 8.12, and Hexham 7.13, were very evenly backed. Retribution took command when half the journey had been negociated, and won by a couple of lengths from Dancing Master, with Hexham third. Time, imin 19 4~ssec. Dividend, £5 is went through the totalisator during the day, which is less than was handled on the same day’s racing last year.

Second Day.—Wednesday, Jan. iith. The weather for the second day’s racing was fine, but the attendance was not very good. The handicaps had attracted but very poor acceptances, which most probably accounts tor the small interest in the sport evinced by the public. For the Stewards’ Handicap of 70S0VS, seven furlongs, only Ua, 8.6, and Glenora, 6.7, faced the starter. Glenora was allowed to lead on sufferance up to the home turn, where Ua put on steam

and won in a canter. Time, imin 32 z-sth sec. Dividend, £1 ss. Again was there a miserable field of two in the Second Hurdle Handicap of 6osovs, two miles —Chester, 11.13, an d Herbert, 9.10, inc. lolb over, being the only runners. Both were well supported in the machine, Chester having 122 supporters and Herbert 93. Though they ran together for a good way, it was evident that Chester could leave his opponent whenever he liked, and he ulti mately won in a canter. Time, 4mm 18 4.5 th sec. Dividend, £1 11s. There were but three starters for the Hack Hurdle Handicap of iosovs, one mile, viz., Criminal, Warrigal, and Kahoe-e-Kaha, and Warrigal leading all the way, won in a canter from Criminal. Criminal was a slightly better favourite than Warrigal, who paid £2 12s. dividend. The time was 2min 3 i-sth sec. Brigand being scratched, only Pani, 8.5, and Huerfana, 7.7, were left to goto the post for the Sunderland Stakes Handicap of 1 iosovs, one mile and a quarter. Out of on the totalisator, were on Pani and on Huerfana. The pair kept very close company all the way, and they entered the straight with nothing to choose. A slashing race home ended amid great excitement in Huerfana winning by a length. Time, zmin 21 3-sth sec. Dividend, / 2 4s. Captain Russell’s success was received with great enthusiasm. He bred the mare himself, and she is by Vasco di Gama (imp.) out of Sydney, by Javelin (son of Yattendon) out of Mina Mina, the dam of Rewi.

The Hack Handicap of iosovs, one mile, was won by Jack, 7.0, with The Joker, 6.12. second, and Retribution, 8.7, third. It was a grand finish, Jack only getting home by a head. Time, imin 49|sec. Dividend, £3 is. The Publicans’ Purse Handicap of 70 sovs, one mile, though only producing four starters, furnished a good contest. Huerfana, 7.12, though getting the wors/t of the start, won by half-a-length from Pani, 8.8, and Avis, 6.10, who ran a heat for second place. Kapua was fche only other runner. The time was 4&sec, and the dividend £2 11s. ( The Post Stakes of iosovs, sixfurldmgs, brought out a field of seven. Benyanzer was made a warm favourite, but /didn’t get a place, a grand finish between Freeny and Kaha ending in/ Freeny winning by half -a - length/. Tam o’Shanter third. Time, inpn 2o£sec. Dividend, 15s. / The Forced Handicap of one mile and a distance, which brought the meeting to a tame conclusion, only attracked a couple —Ka£>ua, 8.2, and Pekapu, 7.12, Kapua favourite. Kapua got to the front just before rounding the home turn, and though Pekapu stuck to him gamely, he won a bit comfortably by two lengths. Time, zmjn 5 3-sth sec. Dividend, £ 1 13s. \ .£1,707 went through the totalisator, making a total of for the whole meeting. This, I am sorry to have to note, is a falling off of on last year’s total, which means a good bit out of the Club’s pocket. ' The meeting was well jk conducted throughout by Mr J. H. Aisla’oie, and his brother officials, who deserved better fortune than attended them.