Gisborne Park Steeplechase Meeting.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 207, 12 July 1894, Page 9

Gisborne Park Steeplechase Meeting.

[from our correspondent. I The annual race meeting of the Gisborne Park Steeplechase Club was held on the grounds of the Poverty Bay Park Company, Te Haparu, on the sth inst., and was attended with every success. There 5. was a large attendance, the racing was ’ good, ana the arrangements excellent, ; and taken as a whole, the gathering may ' be set down as the best that 1 has been V held on the Park Company’s grounds for a very considerable time. On the eve of the races the weather was somewhat threatening, but the morning of the sth broke clear, and during ~' . the day the atmospheric conditions were : * everything that could Be desired. Napier sent a number of sportsmen, and their presence materially added the success of the meeting. The starting, which was in . the charge of Mr Maynard, who acted in the absence of Capt. Winter, was quite successful, and no one questioned the judging of Capt. Tucker. The secretary, Mr Nasmith, carried out his duties with courtesy and ability, and to his exertions a great Pleasure of the success accomplished is due The day’s sport was opened with the Handicap Hurdle Race of 6o sovs, two miles, for which Disturb; ance was favourite, and Roscius and The Bishop were a well-backed pair. The outsider was Jibboom, and Raven and Tricky Jack were withdrawn. Several breakaways were experienced before the starter dropped his flag, The Bishop generally managing to lead the jumping off contingent. At last a fair start was obtained, . and The Bishop reached the initial hurdle first, and was followed by Roscius and Waterlily, who had got away badly but now made up her lost ground. At the back of the course The Bishop and Roscius were leading together, but after six furlongs had been left behind Roseius took the lead, and when the stand was reached the Napier gelding was in the van, and going strongly, while The Bishop led Disturbance, after whom came The Turk, Rimu, Beauley, Waterlily and Jibboom, who was hopelessly out of it. Going ujp the back stretch The Turk improved his position to second place, and Beauley also made a forward movement. A little , way further on The Bishop displaced The Turk, but could not get up to Rosicus, who was going very well. The Gladiator gelding led into the straight by a length and a half, and although Beauley, who had wrested second position from The Bishop, came very fast he could not get on terms with the leader, who passed the post with an advantage of a clean length. The Bishop was third, a length behind Beauley. Rimu was fourth, and Jibboom pulled up. Time, 4tnin rssec. Dividend, ys. Glenora and Lancer declined the Hack Hurdle Handicap of rosovs, one mile, for which Caitiff was a hot favourite, but failed to run up to expectations. A dozen.starters faced Mr Maynard, and from an even start Warrigal was the first to show to the front. At the back The Mute gelding had a substantial lead, and Glenora coming down at the first hurdle was early put out of the race. As the entrance to the straight was approached the favourite, Caitiff, had a good lead, and looked a certain winner, but Te Whakahawea came at him in the run home and beat him. Warrigal also came with a fine effort and got past the favourite, but Te Whakahawea, after a game struggle, got his nose in front and passed the judge’s box with that advantage over Warrigal. The favourite was a good third, being only beaten by half a neck. Time, zmin 4 j-ssec. Dividend, j£iz 13s. A field of five contested the Ladies’ Bracelet of 20 sovs, one mile and a distance, for which The Bishop was scratched. The starters were Baldie, New Year, Malton, Whariti, and Popgun, and New Year was a fairly firm favorite, and repaid the confidence of his backers by winning by a length and a half. New Year, who stripped in fine condition, was ridden by Mr 8. Williamson. When the field reached the stand Mr Shaw had Baldie to the front, and at the back of the course he was still in the lead, but four furlongs from home Mr Williamson took New Year to the front and from this out the issue of the race was never in doubt, SNew Year easily defeating Baldie, who just beat Malton for second place. The ■ time was 2min 21 sec, and the dividend £2 9s. The fine field of thirteen started for the Winter Oats Handicap of 40 sovs, 6 ; furlongs, none of the acceptors being

affected by the scratching pen. Jewe was a hot favourite, but showed a disappointing fight. After a couple of false starts a good line was obtained and Hukatere was the first to detach himself from the rest. Hukatere kept his advantage and when the head of the straight _was reached all the riders were hard at their mounts, Ashdown, who was upon Royal} making vigorous efforts to close with Hukatere. Redmond had to draw the whip on the leader, and managed to reach the post three-quarters of a length in advance of Royal, who was the only other horse placed, the judge being unable to say who got the third position. The six furlongs took Imin 23|sec to traverse, and Hukatere paid the fair dividend of £l6. The attraction of the meeting was the next item on the programme, viz., the Gisborne Park Steeplechase Handicap of 75 sovs, about 3| miles. Raven, Disturbance, The Bishop and Jibboom were scratched, and these defections left a field of nine to fight out the finish. The starters were Criminal 10.8, New Year 10.8, Pani 10,7, Rimu 10.5, Waterlily 10.4, Roscius 10.4, Uncle Rastus 9.7, Cloth of Gold 9.7, and Midlothian 9.7. Roscius was well fancied on his win in the Hurdle Race, and New Year was made second favourite. There were several falls during the race. After the first jump, the brush fence, was passed by all in safety, New Year’s and Roscius’ colours were seen to be in the van, and when the water jump was crossed the top weight, Criminal, was on terms with the leading pair. Passing the grandstand Roscius was in the lead, with Criminal close behind ; but at the bend Criminal led, with Roscius and New Year as his nearest attendants. The water jump was safely negotiated a second time, but the next obstacle, the sod wall, brought down Roscius and Criminal, who both jumped at it together, and New Year went away with a big lead. Pani came down at the brush.' and Waterlily at the sod wall, and Rimu and Cloth of Gold chased New Year, but could only secure second and third places. None of the riders were hurt. The time was 9min 3 3 sth sec, and the dividend £4 ss. The Hunters’ Steeplechase Cup Handicap of 25 sovs, about 2£ miles, saw Lascar and The Bishop almost level favourites. Eight qualified hunters, with gentlemen riders up, faced the starter, and on the fall of the flag Mr S. H. Gollan, who was up on his Dilke gelding Lascar, went to the front, and after a fight between him and The Bishop, the verdict was given to Lascar by The Bishop falling at the double in front of the stand. At the finish Lascar passed the post with a fair advantage of Hurricane, who led Malton past the box. A dividend of £2 12s was declared on Mr Gollan’s horse. t The last event on the card was the Final Handicap of 45SOVS, one mile and a distance, for which Royal was favourite. Hukatere on his win in the Winter Oats received good support, and he followed up that victory by winning the Final by a clear half length. Eleven started, and Hukatere had the race won after six furlongs had been traversed. Emerald and Avis had a big fight for second place, the former only gaining the minor money by a nose. The dividend on Hukatere was 1 is.