FOXTON RACING CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume V, Issue 236, 31 January 1895, Page 5

FOXTON RACING CLUB.

[from our own correspondent.] The above-mentioned club held their annual meeting on January 22nd, when a large attend tnce resulted. The racing all through was of a very interesting character, some close finishes being witnessed during the day. Speculation on the machine was very brisk indeed, and up to the last race the sum of £3,020 had passed through in seven events. Some very acceptable dividends were paid during the day, the largest (£l5 14s) being declared on Canard in the Trial Hurdle Race, while the Welter Handicap, the last race of the day, returned the lucky investors £lO 17s each. The starter’s flag was wielded by Mr E. Woods, who succeeded in dispatching his fields in nearly all cases to good starts. Mr J. R. McMillan, the hon. secretary of the club succeeded in carrying out his duties in a most efficient manner, and no hitch occurred to mar one of the best gatherings that has been seen on the Foxton course.

The ball was opened with the Flying Handicap, for which event seven contestants weighed out. The two to fall out were Lorelei and Dart. Directly the machine opened the grey son of Foulshot —Flirt, Flying Shot, who has shown good form since he came out at the Manawatu Meeting, was installed a warm favourite, with Gunboat next, whilst The Toad, Trickery, and Veracity were very evenly backed, Vagrant being the outsider. When the word go was given, Trickery was the first move, with 'Che Toad and Flying Shot next, Vagrant getting badly away. The leader at once made the pace and continued in the lead all down the back stretch, with The Toad and Flying Shot second and third, while the second favourite, Gunboat, was a long way in the rear last. On nearing the entrance to the straight, Vagrant had improved his position, and was fast catching Trickery, who now had the whip drawn on her. From this out a good race down the straight was witnessed, and after an exciting finish the verdict was in favour of Trickery by half a head. Had Vagrant got well away he would certainly have won, and it was hard luck for Mr Keith to see his horse just beaten, especially as he was paying the splendid dividend of £l9 9s. The time for the race was lmin 19 3-ssec. Dividend, £8 14s. The Trial Hurdle Race was the next event, and eleven candidates faced the starter’s flag, Snapcap, another son of Foulshot, being made favourite, having three more investors than Barman, a full brother to Waiter who performed so well in Australia. Snapcap and Flirt led for half the journey, when W. Laing brought Canard (by Voltigeur—Kate Coventry) to the front, and stalling off a desperate rush by Aotea, managed to get his mount home by a head. Time, 2tnin 17sec. Dividend, £l5 14s.

Six went to the post for the Handicap Hurdle Race, the three top weights— Narrate 11.4, Kahurangi 11.4, and Spreydon 10.11, being very evenly backed. Spreydon made most of the running, and took his field along at a cracker, but a quarter of a mile from home Narrate

and Kahurangi closed ou him, and the last mentioned (who is a well-bred one, being by Somnffs—Gem by The Painter) putting in one or two of»his sweeping strides, soon put the issue beyond doubt, winning comfgirjiably by a length from Spreydon, with Narrate a couple of lengths away third. Time, 2min 50 3-5 sec. Dividend, £3 16s. The next race on the programme was the Foxton R.C. Handicap of 12550v5., distance.il miles. For this event the following ten came to the post, viz : —217 The Artist, 9.8, McCormick; 67 Hotspur, 8.11, G. Powell; 25 Gunboat, 8.10, E. Barnes ; 46 The Toad, 8.7, D. Herd; 33 Strayshot, 8.6. G. Laing; 74 Flying Shot, 8.5, Walls ; 49 Flaneur, 7.12, Griffith; 202 Lorelei, 7.7, Jenkins; 9 Finesse, 6.11, Dawson ; 10 Juanita, 6.7, Price. When the flag fell, Flying .Shot immediately went to the front and led the field past' the stand with The Toad, Flaneur, and Hotspur all handy. Going down the back stretch the top weight improved his position, and from the stand it looked as though he was going to have a big say at the finish, but shortly after he retired having had enough, and here Lorelei made her way to thefront followed by Hotspur, Flaneur and The Toad. Despite the efforts of Powell on Hotspur, and Griffith on Flaneur, the daughter of Cruiser —Laurel entered the straight with two lengths to the good, and going strongly shook off all challenges and eventually won comfortably from Hotspur by two lengths in the fast time of 2min. 45.4-sth sec. Dividend, £3 ss. The Anniversary Stakes produced a field of thirteen. Out of 294 investors in the machine two horses carried 221, viz., Tuhiwai 130 and Vagrant 91. This race needs little description as the two favourites waited on their field until a quarter mile from home, when Vagrant shot to the front and looked all over a winner, but Tuhiwai came with a rush and caught Vagrant half way down the straight, winning by a length. Time, lmin. 58sec. Dividend, £2. A protest was entered for a cross, but was disallowed.

Four went to the post in the Electric, Marama of course being favourite. He jumped off with the lead and soon put daylight between his field and led right into the straight, but here Puawai, a three-year-old daughter of Puriri, challenged him, and the rider pulling out the whip he immediately shut up, the filly getting home by a length. Time, lmin. 6.1-sth sec. Dividend, £7 Is. The Stewards’ Handicap was won rather easily by Mr Keith’s Bushboy, who shot to the front shortly after passing the quarter mile post, and despite George Laing’s efforts on Strayshot, won comfortably by two lengths. Time, 2min 18sec. Dividend, £3.

The Welter Handicap was the last race of the day, and it resulted in a surprise as Juanita, a five year-old ch m by Ascot out of Musket’s dam, who was nicely ridden by Teddy Barnes, got home with a bit to spare from Dart who was favourite. Time, 2min Bsec. Dividend, £lO 17s.