Napier Park Club’s Spring Meeting.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 168, 12 October 1893, Page 6

Napier Park Club’s Spring Meeting.

[by WIRE. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Napier, Oct. 10. The Napier Park Club’s Spring Meeting commenced to-day, when there was a large attendance. Fine weather was experienced during the day. The Trial Hurdles opened the day’s racing, and the race saw all start but Recruit. Oddfellow was favourite, but Jack and Quilt were almost equally as well backed. Natatrix was very fractious at the post, and broke away a few times After going about a quarter of a mile on the last occasion Griffiths got off her and elected not to start her, so she went back to the paddock. The Joker and Jack were first to move when the flag fell, but Quilt and Maid of Lorne displaced them after the first hurdle had been negotiated. However, when the stand was reached the order was Joker, Quilt, Auckland, Vasco, T Rose, Jack, Maid of Lorne, Avis, and Oddfellow last. Quilt and Jocker were almost locked together going to the back, where Avis dropped back to last position. Going into the turn Quilt led, and after the next obstacle had been surmounted he was three lengths in front of the next horse. Jack then commenced to go up, but his effort was not of a brilliant character. Quilt led into the straight and over the last hurdle, which he touched slightly. T. Rose came up at a great bat, and passing Vasco, raced at Quilt under the whip, but could only get within half a length of him. Vasco was third, Maid of Lorne fourth, Jack, Auckland, Joker, Oddfellow, and Avis following in that order. The time was 2min 58sec and the dividend £4 13s.

Rosefeldt, Dreamland, and Dingo were scratched for the Criterion Stakes, which left a field of six in, St. Malo being top weight with 7.10. Mystic went off with a slight lead, her closest attendant being Zaccho. The pair still led the field at the back, where Flaneur was last. In the turn the order was Mystic, Zaccho, and Fleta. Como now asserted herself, and ran up, taking second place, and in the straight she looked dangerous. But though the pair raced away from the field, Mystic was not to be caught, and ran in an easy winner. Como eased up, and Flaneur was allowed to get second . place on suffrance. Zaccho was fourth, Fleta fifth, and St. Malo last. Dividend £2 16s, time Imin 49 2-sth sec. The big race of the day was the Park Stakes Handicap, for which Porepo was the only defection. Rosefeldt was favourite, but Rangiatea, Dreamland, and Krina were well backed. Noyade had the inside and Dreamland the outside running. The latter was taken in hand by the starter owing to her propensity to hang at the post, and after a little delay a good start was effected. In front of the stand Midas had charge of affairs, Rangiatea, Noyade, Krina, Rosefeldt, and Dreamland being bunched up in about that order. Noyade was lying second in the turn, and Rangiatea third. This order was maintained to the back of the course, where Krina commenced to improve her position. At this stage while Ua was last in the turn, Dreamland commenced to go up, and Rosefeldt dispossessed Midas of the lead, and coming on, was never caught. The only animal that challenged her was Ua, who got second by a half length. The time was 2min 13 2-sth sec. Dividend, £3 15s. In the Hurdles Jack and Oddfellow were scratched. Eclipse got away with the lead, Couranto, Satyr, and Dromedary following. This was the order at the back, but shortly afterwards Satyr took second place. At the bend Eclipse increased his lead to four lengths, Quilt being a long way in the rear last. Eclipse led all the way up the straight, and in front of the stand Satyr was second, Auckland third, Chester fourth, and then followed Couranto. Dromedary, and Quilt last. Auckland was in the second place in the turn, but at the back Couranto ran up and got level with Satyr, while Dromedary fell back last, and Quilt commenced to go up. At the bend Quilt was right amongst his horses, and at this stage Couranto took the lead, Quilt being second, Chester third, and then Satyr and Auckland. Mr Doug-, las’ pair then came away, and had the race to themselves, Couranto l eing in front. After the last hurdles had been negotiated, however, Auckland came up on the inside with a rush, and though he passed Quilt he could not get up to Couranto, who won comfortably, Chester was fourth, Dromedary fifth, Satyr sixth, and Eclipse last. Time, 4min ssec. Dividend, £4 6s. Forme was scratched for the Sapling u

Stakes, and this left three in. Nixie, who was favourite, jumped off with the lead, Tarten and (St. Kevin, being the last to leave the post. Nixie proved better than the grey filly, and coming on won easily by two lengths, St. Kevin six lengths away last. Nixie was favourite. Time, 52sec. Dividend, £1 15s. Of the fifteen acceptors for the Railway Handicap, Da, Goosander, Scot Free, and Fleta, were scratched. The race is very easily described. Stanmoor got left at the post, Mystic, who wore almost the same colours, getting away first. At the finish the great North Atlantic won easily, and nothing else had a show with him, He won anyhow, and paid a good dividend of £9 6s.

The last race was the Ahuriri Handicap, for which there were six starters. It was a great race, and at the finish Chris was winning, but Prairie Grass came at the finish and just beat him on the post. Dividend, £3 19s. Time, 2min 2sec.