Napier Park Races.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 140, 30 March 1893, Page 6

Napier Park Races.

(From our own Correspondent). First Day. — Wednesday, March 22. There was fine weather experienced for the first day’s racing at Napier Park, and there was a large attendance. The Trial Handicap Hurdles was the first event to engage attention. Owing to accidents Criminal and Tontine could not start, and Tim was scratched. Worth was a pronounced favourite, Sir Tatton being next fancied. At the fall of the flag, Worth was first away and got over the first hurdle, after which he was pulled back. At the scraping sheds the order was Warrigal, Sir Tatton, and T Hose, with Gladiole last, jumping badly. At the hurdle in the straight Risk fell. In front of the stand for the first time Warrigal still led the field, with T Rose

lying second, Sir Tatton close up third, Worth fourth, Shearer and Gladiole next. At the back T Rose had command, but Worth’s head was let loose, and he went up to her, and was not long before he had wrested the lead from her. Before the next hurdle was negotiated Sir Tatton commenced to go up. In the turn he had got closer to the leaders, and at the scraping sheds had passed T Rose and was near Worth. He made a great effort to pass Mr Ormond’s horse, who, however, was jumping well, and was first over the last jump. It looked a moral, but Sir Tatton came with a great run on the flat, and getting closer and closer just suffered defeat by half a length only. T Rose was a good third, Shearer fourth, Gladiole next and Warrigal (who won a couple of hack hurdle races in Poverty Bay and one at Wairoa) last. The time registered was 3min 35 3-sth sec, and the dividend £2 6s. The Sapling Stakes saw eight two-year-olds don colours, and Norsemaid was made favourite, Zanella being next in demand, and the top weight Noyade third on the list. Zanella, Pinrose, and Norsemaid were the first off the mark, and the first-named, who had the inside running, took command. In the turn Mr Rathbone’s filly still had a slight lead, and she seemed to come away at the scraping sheds. Norsemaid was coming well on the outside, and in the straight looked decidedly dangerous. Donovan on Zanella kept his mount at it, however, and she came on and won by half-a-length from Norsemaid, who ran a good mare. Noyade could only get third. The rest were some distance behind, Allanadale being last. Time, Imin 6 3-sth sec. Dividend, £3 4s. In the Napier Cup Handicap, the scratchings were Rosefeldt, Krina, Maid of Lorne, and Stockfish. After a short delay the field formed into line, and Queen of Trumps was the quickest away when the flag fell Muriwai’s rider, owing to some cause or other, fell off his mount, and she took no part in the race. When the grandstand was reached the grey horse Pani was in front, with Crackshot lying next. Then came Queen of Trumps, Scot Free. St. Katherine, Musket, and Merganser, all close up, with Musketeer a bad last. This horse appeared to be out paced. At the turn Crackshot, whose leg appeared very big, went to the front. At the back there seemed to be a rush to get the lead, which was secured by Queen of Trumps. She was galloping well, and some thought she would stay there. Pani was close up, as also was Scot Free, followed by Free Lance In the turn Boulanger commenced to go up, and Merganser improved her position. When the straight was reached and Merganser closed up it was all over, for she went on full of running, and won easily by a couple of lengths. Ua came up very fast in the straight and got second place. Good old Boulanger was third, Scot Free fourth, Queen of Trumps fifth, and Free Lance next, with the rest tailing off Time, 2min 44sec. Dividend, £3 9s. Merganser’s performance was a good one, and the way the daughter of Nordenfeldt and Albatross won made it appear as if the race was a gift to her. The Second Handicap Hurdles was the next event decided, Empire being favourite. Chester took the field along after Mr Powell sent them on their journey, and he led right round till opposite the stand, where Disturbance and Tiritea were almost together second, Aorere last. Chester and Disturbance raced together at the back, Tiritea lying handy. Empire was in front of Gondolier, Kaimanawa lying next, and Aorere still last. When it came to racing home Tiritea was all there, and coming on won easily from Chester, with Disturbance third. The dividend paid was £7 2s, and the time registered 4min 6sec. As in the Hurdles seven started for the Redcliffe Stakes Handicap, for which the Nordenfeldt—Spinakercolt Spinfeldt was made favourite, Prairie Grass being next on call. Link was first to move away, but Brown Bell had secured the lead before the back was reached. In the turn Spinfeldt was next to last. Before the sheds were reached the field closed up, and Prairie Grass went to the front. It now seemed all over, but Spinfeldt made an effort to get up on the inside. He could get no nearer than second; however. Link getting third on the post from Water Lily. Jewel and Brown Bell were last. Time, Imin 52sec. Dividend, £3 19s. Thame, Pani, Link, Spinaway and Haeata were knocked out of the Flying Handicap. Dreamland would not join her horses, and the starter had some trouble with her. Eventually Krina

jumped off with the lead, followed by Rangiatea, Como last. At the turn Rangiatea got in front, and soon had a nice lead. These three were very close to each other before the scraping sheds were reached, where Rangiatea still led. Krina came up and passed him, however, and despite his efforts under the whip won nicely. Como was a good third, Dreamland fourth, and Loch Ness last. The unlucky Krina thus at last won a race, which was more comforting to her owner than the half a dozen consecutive seconds she placed to his credit. The time was Imin 18sec, and the dividend paid out £5 9s. The day’s racing concluded with the Welter Handicap, which saw a field of ten horses face the starter. Kapua, 9.12 (Mute-Uira) annexed the event; Musket, 10 7, and Maid of Lome, 10.2, running a dead-heat for second place. The other starters were Fleta, Stockfish, Kupenga, Zaccho, Worth, Disturbance and Eclipse. There were 756 investors on the totalisator, of which 76 were on the winner, who paid the nice dividend of £8 16s.

Second Day—Thursday, March 25. It rained on the morning of the second day, but cleared off at noon. The Earl of Glasgow and party visited the course and were well received, flags being displayed all round the stand, a portion of which was specially fitted up for the viceregal party. The retiring room was draped and nicely furnished. The luncheon, provided by Mr Glassford, of the Cafd, was first-class, and he and his assistants deserve great credit for the spread. The Second Trial Handicap Hurdles saw six saddle up. T Rose and Sir Tatton jumped off with the lead, Risk last. At the hurdle in the straight T Rose “ turned a seven,” but her rider, F. Price, was not hurt. In front of the stand the order was Criminal, Sir Tatton, Warrigal, Worth and Risk. Criminal had increased his lead before the back was reached, aud added another length to it before he crossed the hurdle there. Then Worth went in pursuit, and took second place. It was thought at the turn that he would beat Criminal, but weight told, and the Gisborne horse was'.still going strongly. Mr Ormond’s horse tried to get up in the straight but failed, and Criminal was hoisted as winner, with Worth a good second and Sir Tatton pulling up third. The other two were some distance behind him. Dividend, £3 2s. Time, jmin 2 2-ssec. Eclipse was scratched for the Novel Handicap, which left four in. Stockfish was made favourite. At the fall of the flag the ever-disappointing Man Friday, a son of Robinson Crusoe and Charity, got away with the lead, Fleta being last. At the back he still had the lead, but at the turn Jessie had displaced him. Stockfish was in front at the scraping sheds, and held the lead in the straight. Fleta, who had a big gap to lessen, came up but could never reach Stockfish, who won easily, Man Friday getting third place on sufferance. The dividend paid on the son of Piscatorious and Lacteal was £1 9s. Time, imin 36 2-ssec. Then came the City Stakes Handicap, for which seven numbers were hoisted. This race was indeed a grand one, as up to within a short distance of the post it was anyone’s race. The start was an even one, and in front of the stand Boulanger, the top weight, was in command, and made the running with all his 9.6. Ua was next to Boulanger, with Krina third on the outside. At the back Scot Free went up and took second place, Queen of Trumps lying close behind, while Ua was in a good position, having inside running. In the turn St. Katherine, who had been last, commenced to improve her position, and Kotuku fell back last. Scot Free and Queen of Trumps led into the ; straight, Boulanger being done with. Scot Free appeared to have a good show of winning, and his victory was proclaimed, but Ua came sneaking up on the inside. Near the post a slashing race was promised between the pair, but Krina, who was all of a lather before the start, drew up on the outside, and passing the pair won by a length. St. Katherine came with a great rattle and secured second money, while Ua beat Scot Free on the post by a nose for third place. It was a race worth looking at, and the genial Squire of Flaxmere was congratulated on all sides on securing first and second money Krina paid 2s and the time was 2min 19 1-sth sec. The going was heavy. There were four starters for the Two Year Old Handicap of six furlongs, and of course Noyade was made favourite. Norsemaid was secondl favourite. At the fall of the flag Norsemail and Noyade

got away, Allanadale being last to leave the starting post. At the turn Haeata was in front, but shortly afterwards the whole four were together. They soon tailed off, however, for Noyade went to the front, Norsemaid taking second place. Captain Russell’s filly led to the post, and Haeata came up and passed Norsemaid, suffering defeat by three parts of a length. He will turn out a good colt I think. Noyade, who paid a dividend of £1 19s, did the distance in imin 23300. The Second Handicap Hurdle Race was next discussed, Empire being a slightly better favourite than Aorere. Chester got away at the fall of the flag, followed by Empire, Gondolier lying third. At the hurdle in the turn Gondolier and Disturbance came down. Criminal led into the straight and in front of the stand, Chester lying second, Empire third, with Tiritea next. At the back the Poverty Bay horse ran off, and was consequently out of the race. Chester took the lead, and kept it into the straight, Kaimanawa and Worth lying handy. In the straight Worth came up and passed Chester, and coming away won easily from Kaimanawa, Tiritea getting third on sufferance. The favourite was not in it. Time, jmin 37 2-sth sec. Dividend, j£ig 18s, the largest paid out during the meeting. Jessie was scratched for the Hurry Scurry, for which Chris was made favourite. He ran a good race, and although Spinfeldt made a big effort to get up at the finish, the son of Mute won hard held in an easy fashion. Dividend, £2 4.5. Time, imin 52sec. The last race of the day was the Waverley Stakes Handicap, for which there were a dozen starters, and the City Stakes Handicap winner, Krina, was made favourite. Most of the others were well backed, however. After a little delay Mr Powell sent the field off well together. Pani, who had the inside running, jumped away first, Man Friday being the slowest to move, and whatever chance he may have had was thus lost. Round the turn Pani led the field, his closest attendants being Dreamland and Noyade and Krina. In the straight it looked odds on the grey, but Krina came up fast and won with comparative ease from Pani, Dreamland being third, Rangiatea fourth, Link last. Dividend, £4. 17s Time, imin 21 1-SHI sec. The winning sires during the meeting were —Foul Play three, Natator two. Mute two, and Apremont, Nordenfeldt, Hippocampus, Albany, Piscatorious, and Lord of the Isles one each.