Town and Suburban R. C.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 201, 31 May 1894, Page 9

Town and Suburban R. C.

QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY MEETING.

‘The above Club held their annual Queen’s Birthday Meeting at Taradale on the 24th .inst. The meeting was financially a great -success, and the sport provided was of the highest class, the different events Being well contested, and the finishes ■ throughout the day verv exciting. The weather, despite the threatening aspect -of the morning, turned out splendid, and -as the day wore on it grew more like a -midsummer day than a day in the fall of the autumn. The attendance throughout the day was large, and speculation was brisk. The totalisator was under the management of Messrs. Cohen & Stock, who put through the sum of 14 which is j£399 more than was handled at the •same meeting last year. The fields in nearly all the events were large, and the ■ close finishes bore testimony to the ex •cellence of Mr Binnie’s handicapping.

The big event fell to Mr Donald McKino non by the aid of his sterling gelding -Scot Free, who, with 9.9 on his back -carved out the mile and a half in The Hon. J. D. Ormond had a winning turn at last with Midas, the full brother to Merrie England. Mr Ormond has ■evidently got a rare animal in this colt. He is endowed with great pace, and from ■ the determined manner in which he fought •out his finishes there can be no suspicion of soft heartedness about him. Mr. . Douglas’ gelding, Aphony, who is a full brother to Pasha, and a half brother to Rosefeldt, scored in the Maiden, in which he defeated, amongst others, Iliad, (Albany—Helena) and Curio, (St. George . —Charm). Mr Rathbone was the unlucky -owneratthemeeting,hisrecordbeingthree and two thirds out of six races. Mr Cheer weilded the starter’s flag, and, with the exception of in the Flying Handicap, performed his duties well. The largest dividend during the day was _j£29 1 os, which was paid out on Samoa in the Flying Handicap, the last race of the day, and his backers returned homewards well pleased with their day’s sport. Six saddled up for the Maiden Race of 30 sovs, gst up, about 1 mile ; the scratchings being Pamoana, Martini, Enfield and Eady Hamilton. Aphony was selected favourite. Paki Paki led the field past “the stand the first time, but was soon . -displaced by The Parson, who maintained 3bis lead until entering the straight, where -Aphony came through and challenged iiim. A severe struggle ensued and resulted in favour of Aphony by a head ■from The Parson, Iliad half a length -away third, the rest close up. T Rose was the only scratching in the . ‘Queen’s Birthday Handicap of 50 sovs, ■about seven furlongs, leaving nine to go to "the post. The public picked on Arch•eress as the best treated animal in the race, but she had to play second fiddle to Midas. A lot of time was wasted at the post chiefly by the disobedience of some of the boys. Silvermine and Magazine were the first away, the favourite lying •fourth. The same order was maintained "till rounding the bend into the straight, -where Magazine shot out, but was immediately challenged by Midas and Archeress. Another fine race was witnessed all down the straight, the judge’s fiat being in favour of Midas by half a length from Archeress, who was a length in front of Magazine. Midas returned Iris backers £6 13s.

The Handicap Hurdle Race of 50 sovs, about two miles, fell to the public fancy, Pamoana, who cut out the pace from the start, and won very comfortably by a dozen' lengths from Merman, Nightshade the same distance away third, and Waterlily, who was second favourite, fourth. A field of nine went to the post for the big event of the day, the Taradale Handicap of 100 sovs, about one and a half miles. Scot Free was the favourite, Ua and Krina being next in demand. Musketeer was the first to show in front from a good start, but Queen of Trumps soon wrested the lead from him. Passing the stand the light-weights, Samoa, Brown Bell, and Jewel were racing together a length ahead of the Queen, who was just clear of Musketeer and Scot Free. The field closed up at the back of the course, but Queen of Trumps held pride of place when the horses turned into the straight. Scot Free immediately challenged the Queen and the latter retired beaten. A furlong from the post Zanella and Musketeer came at Scot Free, but the top weight held his own to the end, winning fairly comfortably by a length from Zanella, Musketeer half a length away third, the rest pulling up. Rayfeldt and Emancipation dropped out of the Meanee Handicap of 50 sovs, 6 furlongs, leaving eleven to fight out the contest. Aio was made the favourite by four pounds from the ultimate winner, Midas, Magazine being next best backed. Midas got the best of a bad start, closely followed by Archeress. The former was at once pulled back, and Archeress and Kiritai led the field at a great bat. Half a mile from home Piano shot out, and as she was going very strongly the race looked all over, but when fairly in the straight Midas was brought up, and coming with a great run snatched the race from Piano on the post, Archeress being close up third. Then came Kiritai and Magazine, the rest easing up. A field of eight saddled up for the Welter Handicap of 30 sovs, If miles, Spinfeldt, Lady Hamilton and Pamoana being scratched. Bangalore was made a hot favourite, Prince Charlie being next in demand. The favourite assumed the lead at the start, and led the field past the stand closely followed by Kauri Gum and Prince Charlie, T Rose being last. At the back of the course Lobelia was taken to the front, and coming on full of running won easily by two lengths from Sylvanus, who just beat T Rose for second place, Bangalore next, and the rest in a bunch. Lobelia rewarded her backers with the nice dividend of £9.

The Flying Handicap of 40 sovs, 6 furlongs, brought out a field of nine, Aphony being the only one to decline the contest. Scot Free and Zanella were the public selections. The start was the worst of the day. Fully 15 minutes was wasted at the post, and when the flag fell Salisbury was left. Zanella, Samoa, Magazine, and Queen of Trumps got all the best of the start, while Dingo, Musketeer and Scot Free were almost left at post. Zanella made the pace to the back, where Magazine showed momentarily in front, only to give way to Samoa. Samoa was the first into the straight, Dingo and Queen of Trumps being on his heels. When fairly in a line for home Musketeer and Zanella challenged Samoa, who, however, maintained his advantage to the finish, winning bv a short head from Musketeer, Zanella half a length away third, the rest close up. The dividend on Samoa was a handsome one, viz., £29 10s.