Rangitikei Racing Club.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume V, Issue 219, 4 October 1894, Page 5

Rangitikei Racing Club.

The Spring Meeting of the above mentioned Club took place on September 26th, when a most enjoyable day’s racing was witnessed by those present. The finishes for most of the events were very close, the field for the Spring Handicap being in a cluster at the finish, the winner, Cyrus, just getting home by half a head from the New Zealand Cup candidate, Westmere, who came with a rush at the finish. The times for the different events were not very good, owing to the heavy state of the ground. Nevertheless, the racing was most exciting, and good fields started in all of the events with the exception of the Final Handicap, for which only four went to the post. Proceedings opened with the Flying Handicap, for which event eight contestants faced the starter’s flag, the Hawke’s Bay representative, Allan-a-dale, being the public fancy. He failed, however, to gain a situation, the winner turning up in Mr Calthrop’s Castor —Nymph colt, Orion, who won with a bit to spare by two lengths, the ex-hack Kalmea being second with Lebel third. Westmere showed up prominently half way down the straight but he then fell back beaten. Orion then put in his claim and fairly smothered his field, being nicely ridden by Oonnop. The time for the race was 1 min 23 2-sth secs. Dividend, £5 Bs. The next race on the programme was the Hack Flying, which produced a field of twelve starters. Bloomsbury and Lady Ascot jumped away with the lead, but when half the journey had been covered The Artist went to the front and led into the straight with Bonovoree and Sylvia Park close handy. One hundred yards from home Sylvia Park made his effort, and just managed to get up with The Artist on the post, the judge being unable to separate them. Bonovoree was a good third. Had Sylvia Park made his effort sooner he would have got home and returned his backers a good dividend of £l7 10s. The time for this event was the same as the big Flying, Imin 23 2-sth secs. The dividends were The Artist £2 7s, Sylvia Park £8 15s. The Hunters’ Hurdles was au easy win for Ahua’s son Awarua, who led all the way, winning as he liked, with Venture second and Kaffir third. Time, 3min 4sec. Dividend, £2 ss. All six acceptors for the Handicap Hurdles weighed out, Chatterbox being the public Fancy. On the fall of the flag Pamoana and Chatterbox jumped to the front and led over the first hurdle with Unity, Oaklands, Nanakia and Sunbeam following. At the back of the course Chatterbox was in the van and remained there until a half mile from home when Nanakia ran up alongside him. They raced together till the quarter-mile post was reached when Sunbeam, who had been kept a long way out of it, came right through her field and led over the last jump. Her victory was loudly proclaimed, but half way down the straight Unity, on whom J. McTaggart had been riding a nice race was seen to be closing up, and about one hundred yards from the post he had the race won. If Sunbeam had not been rushed to the front all at once she would certainly have placed the race to her credit. She is a splendid jumper and is sure to be heard of later on in the season. The time for the race was 3min 9 2-ssec. Dividend, £ll 16s. For the Hack Hurdles eight went to the post, and the race turned out to be a soft thing for Hopeful who is trained by Mr D. Knight of Hawera. Rangipai and Besant were the two that the public considered the race lay between, and they showed up prominently until coming to the last hurdle when Hopeful shot to the front and despite the efforts of Jack Anderson to keep him back to his field,

he romped home an easy winner by a dozen lengths. Lady Clare was second, and Rags, Cretonne’s full brother, third. Time, 3min 7sec. Dividend, £l6 7s. A protest was entered against the winner, the allegation being that he ran off, but after a lengthy consideration the objection was disallowed. The big event of the meeting brought out the following field: Johnny Faa 8.2, Westmere 8.2, Cordelia 7.10, Lebel 7.9, Stranger 7.3, King John 7.0, Allan-a-dale 7.0, Cyrus 6.11, and Pihanga 6.11. The ex-hack Cyrus was rumoured about as a good thing, and was therefore made one of the favourites, Cordelia and King John being also in big demand. When the word go was given Cyrus at once went to the front and appeared to be an easy winner, but eighty yards from the winning post Westmere and King John came with a terrific rush, and it looked as though the N. Z. Cup candidate was going to snatch the victory on the post. He just failed however and had to be content with a lose by a bare half head. King John was a length away third. Time, 2min 21 l-sth sec. Dividend, £3 12s. If Westmere had won he would have returned his backers over £2O of a dividend. The Hack Flat of one mile was another good race between The Artist and Sylvia Park, the first-named getting home by a length after a good race. Time, Imin 51 sec. Dividend, £3. The Final Handicap produced a field of four, and Musket, 9.6, who is in splendid buckle, had no difficulty in disposing of his three opponents, King John, Cordelia, and Kalmea. Musket led from the fall of the flag, and won by two lengths from King John, with Cordelia third. Time, Imin 49sec. Dividend, £2 4s.