Feilding Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 176, 7 December 1893, Page 7

Feilding Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting.

The above mentioned club held their Spring Meeting on Wednesday and Thursday last, and although the weather looked threatening in the morning, it turned out a most desirable day for racing. The course itself was in splendid condition, and some close and exciting finishes took place, the times registered inmost of the events being very good indeed. Owing to the absence of Mr Goodbechere, the Club’s popular secretary, who was contesting the mayoralty election, his duties were undertaken by Mr Carr, who carried everything out without a hitch occurring. The starter’s flag was wielded by Mr E. Woods, and although the starting was not all that could be desired, some fairly good starts were made, but I fancy had Mr Woods been firmer with the jockeys at the start of the meeting, he would have made a better success. The attendance was a long way short from what generally patronises this club. This was probably caused by the general elections, which took place the day before, but notwithstanding this the speculation was fairly brisk, the sum of being passed through the machine during the two days. The ball was opened with the Flying

Handicap, for which six faced the starter, Mr Knight’s Prioress being made a warm favourite, with Avis, Poinsettia, and Musketeer evenly backed. The favourite led until the straight was entered, and until a hundred yards from home it looked a moral for her, but here it was seen that Musketeer, who had been one of the last to get away, was coming through his field with a terrible rush. Galloping strongly to the end, he just managed to beat Prioress by a head, the time being imin 18 i-sth sec. Dividend, 1 is. The Spring Hurdle Handicap also had a field of six, as all who accepted went to the post. Couranto, 12.11, was at once voted a good thing, and he justified the confidence placed in him by winning as he liked, being admirably handled by Geo. Hope, the time being 3mm 31 4--sth sec. Dividend, £2 ss. The Hack Hurdles was contested by six, and the winner again turned up in the first favourite, viz., Waituna, who won with a bit up his sleeve from Morag (Lord of the Isles), who was brought over from Hawke’s Bay, and considered a good thing by the party behind him, but he had to put up with second position. Time, 2min sqsec. Dividend, £ 2 17 s. The big event of the gathering was the St. Andrew’s Handicap of 2oosovs, one and a half miles, for which the eight accepted came to the post. Krina was made a decided favourite, with Monte Carlo, Ua, and Musket next in demand. After some delay at the post the field was despatched to a good start, from which the colours of Monte Carlo and St. Laura were the first to show in front, and the field settled down with these two in the van, while Krina and Musketeer brought up the rear. This position was held until the horses were a quarter of a mile from home, when Krina, Musket, and Musketeer were seen to be forging their way to the front, but on entering the straight Krina had fallen back again, a’nd Monte Carlo was bringing them along at a great pace. Once fairly on the straight run for the winning post,however, Musket shot through his horses, aijd going well within himself, ran home a winner by half a length, with a bit up his sleeve. Musketeer was a good third, having made up a lot of ground during the last 200yds. The time for the race from post to post was 2min 4.1 4-~sth sec. Dividend, £6 Bs. The two Hack Flats on the first day were won by Irish Twist (Ingomar — Torori), who paid £1 13s in the one and a quarter mile event, and £4. in the five furlong event, in which a field of eleven started. The Kiwitea Stakes had only four starters, and it was voted a good thing for Cordelia, but as the result turned out she could get no nearer than third, the winner being Prioress, who certainly ran with great consistency during the whole meeting. Time, imin 48 2~sth sec. Dividend, £2 19s. The Welter Handicap brought the first day’s racing to a close, the winner of that race being King John, who defeated his other two opponents, King Harry and Poinsettia by a length. Dividend, £2 6s. On the second day the weather was slightly showery, but not so much that it greatly interfered with the racing, which was commenced by the Shorts Handicap, four furlongs, for which four started. Prioress won easily by two lengths, and was nicely ridden by Alick McCormick. Time, 51 4-sth sec. Dividend, £ l I 7 S - The Second Hurdles only produced a field of four, and Unity was pronounced a favourite, with Eclipse next. The last mentioned led for all the journey until the straight was entered, when Oaklands, who had been lying last, got on terms with him, and eventually won by two lengths. Unity, who was coming very fast a couple of hurdles from home, was run off the hurdle by Caloola, otherwise I think the finish would have been different. Dividend, £4. Bs. Time, 2min 57 4-sth sec. Morag won the Second Hack Hurdles from a field of six, Lonely being second and Waituna third. Time, 2min 58 i~sth sec. Dividend, £3 is. T. Scott, who was riding Waituna, was brought before the stewards for suspicious riding, and was disqualified for six months, as was also the horse, but as the stewards had not taken f evidence on behalf of Scott, it was decided to rehear the case, and-it was proceeding after the races were finished. The Manchester Handicap was a splendid race, and despite Musket’s weight, 9.3, he was as good a favourite as anything in it. St. Laura and Pointsettia were first to show in front, but on reaching the back of the course the field were all in a bunch, and it looked a very

open race, but a quarter of a mile from home Lett brought Monte Carlo to the front, and galloping in grand style, eventually won easily by a couple of lengths. Time, zmin 13 2-s th sec * Dividend, 3s. . Pihanga was successful in both hack events, paying /15 12s in the mile race and £ 3 is in the five furlongs. Prioress was again successful in the Railway Handicap, beating a field of seven, King John being second and Daisy Clipper third, Time, zmin isec. Dividend, /'4 Bs.