Town and Suburban (H.B.) Meeting.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 150, 8 June 1893, Page 3

Town and Suburban (H. B .) Meeting.

(FROM OUR NAPIER CORRESPONDENT.)

A well attended meeting was held at Taradale on the Queen’s Birthday, when there was a good attendance, despite the showery weather. The going was a trifle heavy, and some horses did not seem to relish it at all. The sum of £3721 was passed through the machine. Mr J. Cheer acted in the capacity of starter, and, on account of the large fields, had a troublesome day of it. Mr W. Heslop acted a,s judge. The meeting was got off smartly and in a manner which reflected credit on the able secretary, Mr L. Binnie. and the other officials of the club. There were 14 starters for the Maiden Flat Race, which was not much of an exhibition, that is to say from a racing point of view. There was an exhibition of another sort though, as some of the contestants were out of it from the fall of the flag, and were never in it. The heavy going was palpable. The winner turned up in St. Anthony, who is by St. Leger—Fanny Fisher, and is in the stable of the Hon. J. D. Ormond. There was some delay at the start, but eventually a fairly even one was effected. The Parson was first away, but Gladiole was in front of him at the stand, St. Anthony next. The latter ran wide at the corner. Gladiole led to the back, where Secret commenced to improve her position, as also did St. Anthony. In the turn Goodwin’s mare was in front, but St Anthony was going very well indeed, and it was not very long before he took command. Huia did not appear to be done with, though, but in the straight it was seen to be all over, and St. Anthony won comfortably from Huia (Foul Play—Fairy Queen), with Secret (Mute -— Mystery) third. Then followed Gladiole (Gladiator — Argentine), Piana (Opawa — Patriarch mare), The Parson (Mute —Bonny Blink), Vasco (by Vasco di Gama) Turomoe (Ariel), Lorna (St. George—Leonora) Mayflower (Itepo -May), Risk (Young Dundee—Monarch mare), and Pohehe (Randwick —Lady Mary). Landscape (Foul Play — Watercolour) fell during the race. The field straggled out fearfully. There were 443 on the machine, 153 on the winner. Dividend, £2 11s. Aoteo (by Black Rose) did not start. Owing to an accident Wherike was not present to start in the Queen’s Birthday Handicap of a mile and a half, but all the rest faced the starter. Equi got the worst of it when the flag fell. Welcome Nat went to the front and commenced to make the running, and at the back was followed by Brown Bell and Equi, who had made up lost ground. Equi afterwards went to the front. The field was somewhat scattered, Moi being a bad last. When the stand was reached Equi had a lead of Welcome Nat, Jack going well on the rails, and Waterlily on the outside. Prairie Grass did not seem to relish the heavy going at all and was never prominent in the contest. Equi

was collared at the back, where Welcome Nat was done with. Waterlily made a move forward, as did J ack, and it did not seem' certain which would win, both mares being called on. In the turn, however, Jack went away, and it was odds on that he would win. He led all the way home, winning very comfortably from Sunlight (Ascot —Sunshine), who came fast at the finish and beat Waterlily (Foul Play—Water Colour) for second place, Link (Mute —Swiveline) was fourth, Brown Bell (Hiko —Black Bell) fifth, Welcome Nat (Johnny Faulkner —Lady Florence) next, and then followed Equi (Patriarch —Day Dawn mare), Moi (by Mufti), and Prairie Grass (Albany— Speargrass) last. There were 592 on the machine ; 219 on the winner. Dividend, £2 7s.

The Hurdle Race was a very good one. There were six starters, Inanga being scratched, and Arawa not being allowed to start, a sum of £5 being owing to other clubs. Pettersen weighed out, but the horse’s number was taken down. When the flag went down Warrigal went to the front, T Rose falling. At the first hurdle the latter fell. In front of the stand the order was Warrigal, Pamoana, Hawaikirangi, Risk, and Shearer last. At the back Warrigal was passed by Pamoana, but shortly afterwards Warrigal was again in front. When the stand was reached for the second time, Warrigal led Tamoana, Hawaikirangi being third, Risk next and Shearer last. Risk pulled up, but went on again. He was never in it. Warrigal and Pamoana raced together at the back, where Shearer commenced to go up. In the turn it was thought that he would collar the front pair, and he did make an effort, getting second place, Pamoana falling back third. Warrigal managed to hold his own to the finish, contrary to expectations, and beat Shearer, whose pedigree is unknown, Pamoana (Natator —Early Bird mare) third. Then followed, some distance away, Hawaikirangi (Mangle) and Risk last. He was at the last hurdle when the rest of the field had passed the post. There was 474 on the machine : 141 on the winner. Dividend, £2 19s.

The Taradale Handicap was only an exercise canter for Scot Free. Zaccho was scratched. This left in Scot Free (Sterlingworth—Dainty Ariel mare) 8.4, Free Lance (St. George—Becky Sharp) 8.2, Osman (Crawford Priory —Ruth) 7.12, and Eclipse (Foul Play — Little Fidget) 67. Eclipse was the first to move from a good start, Free Lance going up second. When the stand was reached these two were in the positions stated, Scot Free third, and Osman last. The latter would not gallop a yard. Scot Free passed Free Lance at the bend, and at the back was racing alongside of Eclipse. The race was now practically regarded as over, and this conclusion turned out correct, for the Sterlingworth gelding went to the front and assumed a good lead. It was just a procession from this point, and rather uninteresting. Scot Free came on and won in a common canter by five lengths from Eclipse, who just beat Free Lance for second place, Osman a bad last. • There was 541 on the machine ; 162 on the winner. Dividend, £2 19s.

There were originally fifteen in the Meanee Handicap, but Wheriko, Prairie Grass, Welcome Nat and Landscape did not weigh out. Time after time did the starter endeavour to get his horses away but failed, Brown Bell; J ack, and one or two others always rushing to the front. When the flag eventually fell J ack and Brown Bell were the first to move away, the first named getting a splendid start. He went to the front and established a good lead. Flutsam was last. At the back Playmate was up in second position, with Waterlily just in front of Cold Steel. In the turn Jack was going strongly, and Link was going up, being in fourth position. In the straight Cold Steel was second, and was under the whip. Jack came on, and was hard held from Cold Steel, whose pedigree is unknown, Link (Mute —Swiveline) being third, Sunlight (Ascot —Sunshine) fourth, Waterlily (Foul Play—Water Colour) fifth, Brown Bell (Hiko —Black Bell) sixth. Then followed Mayflower (Itepo —May), Playmate (Foul Play—Miss Dargon), Secret (Mute —Mystery), and Flutsam (Castoff —Monarch mare) last. There were 587 on the machine, 248 on the winner. Dividend, £2 Is. Jack was penalised for his first win, and carried 9.5.

The Welter Handicap saw Link, Dainty, Juno, Aoteo, Gladiole, Pohehe, and Pamoana drop out. Warrigal was penalised seven pounds for his win in the Hurdles. The start effected was a bad one, Huia getting the best of it by a

good deal, and The Parson next. Wheu the stand was reached Huia led The Parson, Warrigal being third, Inanga and St. Anthony being,next. Huia led all the way to the back, where St. Anthony commenced to go up. In the turn he was level with Huia, but fell, and Inanga also came down. T. Rose then went up and challenged Huia, but in the tussle got the worst of it, and at the finish Huia (Foul Play —Fairy Queen) beat, Primrose’s daughter. The Parson (Mute —Bonny Blink) was third, and Warrigal (by Mute) fourth. Then followed the rest of the field in a straggling order. There were 549 in the machine, 83 on the winner. Dividend, £5 17s.

The Flying Handicap was the last race of the day. Scot Free had to put up a seven pound penalty, but that did not deter him from winning. Free Lance, Osman, and Zaccho were scratched. The race is soon described. Kathleen went off at a great rate and led until in the straight, where Scot Free came with a rush an 1 won by about three lengths. Kathleen was s* cond, Dreamland third, Eclipse fourth, and Playmate last. The dividend was £2 6s.

The successful sires at the meeting were Foul Play (three), Sterlingworth (two), and Mute, Foul Play and St. Leger one each • G-

Lindsay rode three winners during the day, Wright two, and Parker and Redmond one each.