The Wellington Carnival. THE FIRST DAY’S RACING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 288, 30 January 1896, Page 6

The Wellington Carnival. THE FIRST DAY’S RACING.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.J The summer meeting of the Wellington Racing Club, which opened at the Hutt Park Racecourse on Wednesday last, was perhaps the most successful reunion ever held here. The weather certainly might have been pleasanter—it blew hard all day and rained a little — but the sport throughout was of an interesting and, in some cases, exciting character ; Hie attendance was large and speculation brisk. The usual rush for rail accommodation was again noticeable, though in a much less degree as compared with former years. Mr Harry Piper officiated with the flag and machine for the first time, and in each case was seen to advantage. The way he made the field of thirteen in the Hack Race stand in front of the grandstand (with crowds of people on either side) until he was ready to dismiss them, gained for him a hearty round of applause, and brought back recollections of the late Sam Powell. Another person to whom praise is worthily due is I he club’s handicapper, Mr J. O. Evett : he baflted the public to pick winners in nearly every case, and good finishes were the order all day. Mr Evett’s abilities are not properly recognised as compared with the newspaper space devoted to other weight-adjusters down this way, but I believe in giving honour where due. In Mr H. M. Ly on the club lias a secretary second to none in the colony ; his energy and affability to everyone—local people and strangers alike —have naturally made him a very popular official at the Hutt. As to the means for speculating, the public seemed at times over-anxious to get their money on, especially in the Cup race. Some time was taken up in putting on telegraphed money —a considerable amount of which was received —but doubtless this was done as expeditiously as possible. The amount handled during the day (£10,488) was an increase of £7 on last year; the total invested on the Cup (£2,897) was £57 less than last year. Some improvement was noticeable in the grandstand luncheon-booth, under the supervision of Mr H. Price, of the Trocadero. There was plenty to eat, but not enough attention for the great number of people present. To get to the racing. Of the fourteen acceptors for the Anniversary Handicap, an appropriate title for the opening event, Saracen, Silver-Spec, Revolution, Strathbraan,and Sea Serpent—all of whom had later engagements in the day—were withdrawn. The Auckland mare, Doris, received steady support, and at flag-fall was a slightly better favourite than the Hawke’s Bay mare, Torpina. The latter was prominent at the start, the cerise of Solitaire being noticeable as a slow beginner. Doris held a handy position from the start, which was improved at the top of the straight, where she looked a likely winner. The three-year-old colt, Orion’s Belt (Castor —Bangle),

came with a rush in the straight, and after a ding-dong finish beat Wright’s marc by a long neck, Loveshot being a fair third. Orion’s Belt was a bit of a disappointment last season and everybody was pleased to sec Mr Lowry have, a bit of luck. The colt paid the acceptable dividend of £lO 10s and ran the eight furlongs in Imin 45 l-ssec.

The Northerners, although not the same stake, supplied another favourite in the second race, the Nursery Handicap, six furlongs. This was the well-bred, but disappointing Antares (J. Chaafe). He was again beaten by his stable companion, St. Elmo (C. Chaafe). the pair were beaten by the Hon. -J. D. Ormonds Dreadnought — Legacy colt Defiance, whom Stuart Waddell has back to his early spring form. He certainly had only a moderate field to beat, but carried top weight. The peculiarlycoloured Bi-metallist, from Riccnrton ; Lorenzo (Mr G. Hunter’s colt by Armourer—Lenorc), b?th of whom won racesat the Hutt, and Bavaria (a filly by Forerunner--Starwater), were the other starters, and why the latter had to give weight to St. Elmo, Antares,and Bi-metaliist, all winners, Mr Evett knows best. Defiance had none too much to spare at the finish. He paid £3 55., and took Imin 2Usec to come from the six-furlong post. Lady Zetland was the only withdrawal from the fifteen Cup acceptors, the stable relying on Saracen, generally voted only a sprinter, and the unlucky horseman, Percy White, who last year got into a place on North Atlantic, was given the mount. Derritt’s mount, The Shrew, was best backed. The veteran horseman has already won five Cups, viz., Foul Play in 1880, Natator in 1881, Tasman in 1885, Cynisca in 1892, and Vogengang in 1894. Messrs D. O’Brien and G. Hunter, owners of Tasman and Cynisca, were present, the latter’s colours being carried in the race by Searchlight. The colours of the late Hon- W. Robinson, owner of Natator and Foul Play, were represented. Mr P. Campbell, the late owner of Strathbraan (by Aprcmonf—Engagement), was present, but Mr 11. D. Bell, president of the Wellington Racing Club, also a sonin law of the deceased sportsman, was among the absent friends. C. Stratford, who rode The Poet to victory in the race so far back as 1884, was riding Bessie McCarthy this week. Lorelei, on account of her Manawatu victories and the fact that the stable had withdrawn a good performer like The Artist in her favour—l maintain that the winner of the C.JC. Metropolitan is capable nine times out of ten of winning the Wellington Cup—also received considerable support, and was second in public estimation when Mr Piper despatched them on their journey. Stepfeldt had continued to do good work since her arrival here and her party were very confident. Satman rode the mare, while F. Davis was up on Panoply, whose mission was not understood. He was the biggest outsider and paying nearly £5O. Bessie McCarthy would have paid about £l3. After parade the horses lost no time in getting to the post. There was a short delay, caused by Rangipuhi returning to the paddock to get his plates removed, he having shifted one of them, and then the starting machine got out of order, and Mr Piper used the flag. The colours of The Shrew and Stepfeldt were prominent at the start, Kent bringing up the rear, a position he never improved upon. Stepfeldt led into the straight the first time round, The Shrew, Panoply, Bessie McCarthy, and Skirmisher close up, and Brooklet, Saracen, and Dreamland in the rear. /Lt the back of the course Bessie McCarthy was in front and appeared going well within herself. Panoply had dropped back into the ruck and Stepfeldt was headed by The Shrew and Skirmisher, and three furlongs from home the “ all black'* of Brooklet was seen to make a forward move, and at the turn into the straight was the immediate attendant of Bessie McCarthy and Skirmisher. White here was at work on Saracen, and although he rode all he knew could not cateh Brooklet, who finished full of running and won by a length, Spindrift, who came with a late run, beating Skirmisher for third place. The time for the race (2mins 3G|sec) was the best on record, Mahaki’s 2min 39sec last year coming next. Brooklet paid £l2 25., and eleven to one seems a fair price. She was a bad one for the books, one local peneiller laying her heavily from 100 to 1. Dreamland did not appear to be able t o keep with her field at the pace they went.

Couranto was withdrawn from the Hurdles, two miles, leaving eight contestants, including the veteran Liberator (under 12.10), and Steel King, a likely sort who was making his first appearance out of hack company. Also Hopeful, who carried the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s colours. P. McGrath was associated with Revolt for the first time in public, and Mr Freeth’s horse also carried that horseman’j colours, borne a couple of seasons back by The Idler and Jacob Faithful. Revolt looked well, jumped faultlessly when making the pace, and proved himself a stayer, which he has not hitherto been regarded as being, He led from the start, one after another of the opposition trying to head him, but he won at the finish by a couple of lengths, Hopeful second, Osman third. Mutineer ran off at the first fence. Old Liberator pulled up apparently sound, and Mr Butler will likely score more races with the old battler. Last year in this race Revolt ran second to Clarence. The two miles was left behind in 4min Hsec, s£-sec longer than Clarence took last year. Dividend, £5 10s. Panoply, Hotspur, and Legislator were withdrawn from the Wolter, six starting. This proved a runaway victory for the big Apromont gelding, Strathbraan, who had only 9.6 to carry, and whom W. Davis has improved out of all knowledge as compared with the way he behaved in the South. Riccartonites would not have him at any price, and still he won all right, Silver Spec, who made favourite and had 151 b the worst of the weights, being unable to get a place. The lightweights, Tuhiwai (Rangipuhi’s halfsister, by Ascot) and Slaiden, the ex-hack, whose parent is defunct Grand Duke and not Tim Whi filer as stated in the card, were placed, Salvo and Johnny Faa being the other starters. The latter is very sore after a lot of racing and travcll-

ing on the West Coast, and might have been taken home instead of being brought here. The time was 2min 15sec. Dividend, £3 1 Is. Rangipuhi, Doris, and Slaiden, who had each already one gallop into them, were withdrawn from the President’s 1 landicap, and Lady Zetland (Percy White) was made a great favourite, especially after the capital display shown by Saracen in the Cup. Leda, who held a poor position to the distance, finished gamely, and ran Hobbs’ mare to a half length, Orion’s Belt (who carried 71bs penalty for a win) third. The only other starter was Revolution, who has lost a lot of dash. Zetland p iid£l 1 Is, and ran the mile and a distance in 2min 2sec. The public cheered the marc and her rider. The absence of Springtime and Wairoa reduced the hack field to thirteen. Ebor 11. was made a big favourite, but was beaten by King’s Own, a. five-year-old brother to Princess Cole (King Cole —Contessa, by Puriri). Hillstonc, another member of the family, also contested the race. The grey mare Field Gun (by Remington The Field, by Opawa—Lady Jane, dam of Treason, sire of Revolt) finished third. It was evident some of flic others were not anxious. Time, Imin 59 3-ssec, better than Lady Zetland’s, who carried the same weight as Ebor II- Dividend, £l5 2s. The Telegraph Handicap, 6 furlongs, saw Geo. Wright’s stable receive another disappointment this time at the hands of Acone (Davis), who was a good favourite, k ing’s Bowman (Jenkins) jumped off the mark quickly, and although the Aucklander was ridden hard could never catch Mr Tancred’s gelding, who won by a length, Searchlight third. Although in quality and quantity King’s Bowman docs not compare with his sire (Forester), he promises to be quite as useful over short courses. Solitaire and Loveshot, were saddled a second time in this event, but failed to show to advantage.