Egmont Winter Meeting.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 199, 17 May 1894, Page 10

Egmont Winter Meeting.

(from our own correspondent.)

On Thursday last the Egmont Club held their Winter Meeting under very unfavourable atmospheric conditions, ram descending almost the whole time the racing was on. Tbe rain interfered with the attendance, which was set down at about 800, and also made the going soft and slippery, and proved very inconvenient to those who patronised the fixture. So bad indeed was the weather early in the morning that the stewards met io consider a postponement, but as •there were signs of it clearing up they decided to proceed. The officials of the club worked hard. Mr A. G. Brett was as usual courteous and obliging to all, and carried out his duties with character- . istic thoroughness. Mr M. Daird wielded the flag, and performed well except in the Second Hack Flat, in which he had the -large field of sixteen to handle. Mr F. Hill, assisted by Messrs G. Spriggins and F. Neylon, worked the machine and handled the money in a manner satisfactory to investors. *■ The racing was started with the Handicap Hurdles, two miles and a distance, for which Strephon 11.7,' Pill 10.6, Cyrus 10.0, and Chatterbox 9.7, were saddled up. Union Jack was scratched, being kept in reserve for the big steeplechase. The betting on the board was pretty even. At the fall of the flag Chatterbox made play, with Strephon, Pill and Cyrus in order. At the back Pill and Cyrus moved up, and Strephon fell back last, and at the next jump popped over the rails into the trailing track and took no further part in the hunt. Chatterbox, who was being nicely ridden by P. Johnston, led into the straight, but here Pill moved up on him, and the two raced for the hurdle in front of the stand almost on level terms, This obstacle was cleared by the pair, but Pill on landing went right down on his belly with his hind legs spread out, and when he got up (A. Hall, the rider having kept his seat in in the saddle) it was seen that the son of Sou’-wester—Romp had broken his near hind leg above the hock, the limb dangling and swinging like the pendulum of a clock. Chatterbox was followed by Cyrus till the back was reached, when the latter jumped into the training track when taking a hurdle, and this left Chatterbox to simply cover the distance to win. Cyrus was jumped back and finished for second money. The time was 4mins 43 3-ssec, and the dividend is. Chatterbox fenced really well, and galloped as if he liked the new game to which he had been put. Cyrus, the other maiden hurdler, did not fence nearly as well as Mutiny’s brother . Pill was destroyed about an hour after the race, the delay being occasioned through having to telegraph to the owner, Mr Bristol, at Wanganui, for instructions. The loss will be a severe one to the owner, and to the trainer, Mr W. H. George, who had the half-brother to Norton in great nick. Had Pill not met with the accident I think he would have got home, but only after a big fight, for Chatterbox galloped strongly. • The Hack Hurdles, one mile and a half, brought out Strike 112, Cingalee »o. 10, Tramore 10.2, Nugget9.ll, Egmont 9.0, Matariki 11. 9.0, and Pembroke 9.0. Cingalee, Strike and Tramore were well backed. Pembroke took the lead shortly after the start, closely attended by Tramore and the others handy. At the back hurdle Matariki came over, and gave his rider (C. Willis) a big shaking. Pembroke led all along the back, but at the.bend Tramore wrested the lead from him, ’and kept it into the straight, and Cingalee here tackled him, but Tramore could not be denied, and won by a couple of lengths.- A good fight for second place, whips being out on both. Time, 3mins 5 i-ssecs. Dividend, £4. 12s. Matariki 10.3, Nanakia 9.10, Belle 9. jo, Rambler 9.7, and Te Ari 9.7, were saddled up for the Trial Steeplechase, about two miles. Te Ari turned over at the second jump, and Nanakia baulked at the jump leading into tbe paddock at the end of the straight, but Johnston wheeled him round quickly and got him over. In the meantime the little Australian mare, ridden by Fletcher, Belle, had taken the lead, followed by Rambler, Nanakia next, and then Matariki. Belle maintained her lead, jumping like a cat and wanting to pull away from her rider. Going down the centre of the course Rambler set sail after Belle and decreased the lead, but he could not live with the mare, who came away and won comfortably; Nanakia, the favourite, a poor

third. Matariki came oyer in the last round. The time was 4mins gosecs, and the dividend / 3 18s. All on the card started for the First Hack Flat, one a half miles, namely, Kai Iwi Lady, Strayshot, Bonovoree, Starlight, Itch, Buckler, Nile and Actress. Strayshot was made a warm favourite, with Buckler and J Itch next in demand. Starlight, the winner of the same race last year, who was ridden by G. Myers, made the pace merry all the way, and although tackled hard by Buckler in the straight he lasted it out and won by three-quarters of a length; Nile a good third, Bonovoree last. The time was 2min sbsec, and the dividend £l2 19s. Five weighed out for the big event, the Egmont Steeplechase, namely, Booties 10.13 (G. Laing). Union Jack 10.7 (P. Johnson), Crazy Kate 10.6 (A. Williams), Dick 9.10 (Cook), and Kamo 9.7 (Anderson). The race is easily described. Before the field had gone far Crazy Kate, Dick, and Kamo came oyer, the rider of Dick sustaining concussion of the brain. Union Jack assumed command and held the lead throughout, winning with a bit to spare in 7min ssec. Booties hung to the Liberal gelding well, but had not the pace. W. Cook, Dick’s rider was attended to by Dr. Westeura, and was then removed to the Hawera Cottage Hospital. The dividend on Union Jack was £3 ~s - Sixteen started for the Second Hack Flat, six furlongs, namely, Kai Iwi Lady, Waiutu, Nugget, Starlight, Rewa, Snowdrop, Goldenlock, Buckler, Nile, Glorie de Dijon, Campasph, Splitlink, Wahamoko, Cataract, Cloudshot,. and Ling. Shortly after the fall of the flag Waiuku took command, and losing the others for pace, won with a bit to spare from Buckler, Rewa being third, Time, imin 24sec. On returning to scale the rider of Waiuka could only fill the handicap weight, 8.12, whereas the clerk of the scales stated that he had gone out declared 31bs overweight, and the declaration was made in blackboard outside the office. The stewards considered the matter after the programme was completed, and awarded the race to Buckler who paid 18s. The Final Steeplechase, about two miles, brought to the post Whalebone 12.7, Crazy Kate 10.12, Nanakia 9.9, Matariki 10.0, Romeo 9.7, and Kamo 9.7. The race resolved itself into a contest between Whalebone and Crazy

Kate, and after a slashing go the judge declared a dead heat. Many were under the impression that the mare had won. Dividends—Crazy Kate £1 us, Whalebone £\ ios.