HAWKES BAY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 297, 2 April 1896, Page 5

HAWKES BAY.

Rough weather at the Napier Park Meeting — Successful starting by Mr H. Piper—Downfall of the favourites —Success of Auckland horses—Liberator’s rider loses his whip—Aucklanders win £370 in stakes—The Hon. J. D. Ormond’s team, also Bessie McCarthy and King’s Bowman, shipped to Christchurch“ More trouble about totalisator permits — The Hawke’s Bay Autumn Meeting a financial success. March 28. What terrible hard luck the Napier Park Racing Club have in the way of weather, and their late meeting was no exception to the rule. For months previous there was no sign of rain, although everyone -was crying out for the needful showers, but directly the date for the Autumn fixture arrived, the usual signs of approaching bad weather were observed. The first day was not so bad, as with the exception of a good shower late in the afternoon, the weather was bearable, but upon the second day from the fall of the flag, it was atrocious. Whips of rain, without intermission, with plenty of thunder and lightning thrown in, just to relieve the monotony of things, was the order of the day. In fact it got so bad at one portion of the day, the time fixed for the starting: of the High Weight, that the horses engaged in

the race, who were being duly marshalled at the starting line, had to make a bee line for the saddling paddock to seek shelter; and I can assure you that the clerk of the course, the mounted troopers, q,nd genial red-faced jovial Harry Piper were not far behind them. Jptojw of Piper he was the recipient of lots of congratulations on bis appointment as starter to the C.J.C. It will be remembered that some time ago I informed my readers that he had received the post of starter to the Waipukurau Club, but they, in a good sporting spirit, waived their claims on him immediately upon receipt of the information that the Canterbury Metropolitan Club were anxious to avail themselves of his services, and as both Clubs hold their meeting on the same date, he was very thankful to the Waipukurau Club for their thoughtfulness The Napier Park upheld their previous prestige for good dividends, as on the first day only one favourite, Spindrift, got home, and Paddy O’Rourke’s victory in the Redclyffe Stakes was the cause of a sensational div., but his stable connections did not profit by the win, in fact, Edwards, his trainer, thought so little of his chance that he backed another horse in the race. I was standing alongside of him when the start took place, and as Paddy shot away to the front I said, “ Edwards they will never catch him, he’ll win.” “ No fear.” he replied ? “Why, the further they go the further he’ll leave them behind,” I rejoined. “ If he does get home I will fall down dead,” said he, but he won, and Edwards is still alive. So from this you can gather that trainers, although usually the most knowing of men, sometime make mistakes. I was sorry that Captain Russell was not on the ground to see his horse’s victory. George Wright, of Auckland, who bought his half brother (Van Dieman, by Vasco de Soma) purchased him after the race for 40 guineas. A Taradale sport who had the refusal of him the previous night for 30 guineas with his engagements looked a bit glum after his victory. On the second day the success of the Auckland owned horses was one of the main features of the day. The weather, I suppose, was the cause of their improved form, although there were lots of people who said very rude things about them. Old Liberator’s clinking good go with Dante in the hurdle race, was another feature that stood out like a lighthouse on a stoney beach, or a good deed in a naughty world. What an ovation the old chap wc.:ld have received if he had got there. I think that l ad Holmes not had the bad luck to lose his whip, Betrayer’s son would have had his number hoisted by the man in the box. Holmes as he was coming up the straight passed Ashdown hard at work on Donald McKinnon, and he wanted Ashdown to let him have his whip as he considered that the Gisborne horse had no show, blit Ashdown did not see it in that light. Its a pity he didn’t, for I fancy if Liberator’s rider had given him one, two, three with the bat, the second hurdle race at Napier Park would have gone to Christchurch. Still the straightforward racing man, Mr Moore, who for the love of the sport follows it, scored, and what more do you want, in a race. The judge gave the wrong number, that of Zaccho, and it was hoisted on the board, and people —more-especially backers—commenced to wonder what was up, but it was speedily rectified. And in the Waverley Stakes King’s Bowman instead of Stepfeldt got third place, although he was an indifferent last. The lucky stallions at the meeting were Nordenfeldt, Castor, Souwester, and St. Leger, with a brace of winners apiece, while Bothwell, Medallion, Hippocampus, Daniel O’Rourke, Gladiator, and Ascot each • ad a single winning representative. The successful horsemen were headed by Davis with three victories, Satman came next with a couple to his record, and Sweeney, J. Delaney, Redmond, S. Delaney, J. McTaggart, Stone, Parker, S. Laing, and Lindsey each added a single to their winning account. The Hon. J. D. Ormond came out on top of the list of winning owners with £275 10s, and tha two other owners who got into treble figures were Messrs Davis £251 15s, and L. D. Nathan £llB 15s. Bessie McCarthy and King’s Bowman, Percy Martin and J. Gravestock, respectively, in charge, were passengers by the Tasmania which left Napier on Thursday afternoon for Lyttelton, and this morning Stuart Waddell left with the Hon. J. D Ormond’s team, consisting of Trentalto, Hopeful, Dauntless, Fearnought, and Spindrift, for the same place. On Wednesday, at Napier Park, a meeting of the Metropolitan Club was held to consider the refusal by the Colonial Secretary to grant a totalisator permit to the Waipukurau Club. It was agreed to leave the matter in the hands of Captain Russell who was at that time present in Wellington. Subsequently the combined committees of the Hawke’s Bay and Napier Park Clubs met, when it was agreed that the Waipawa Club’s programme, which the Metropolitan Club had the power to refuse to pass, should be passed on the condition that the other arrangement made by the Metropolitan Club should not be interfered with. It is to be hoped the Colonial Secretary will fall in with these views so that the Waipukurau Club will be able to keep faith with horse owners re their advertised programme. A meeting of the committee of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club was held on Monday morning, when there were present — Captain Russell (chairman), Hon. J. D. Ormond, and Messrs Logan, Hunter, Gaisford, Sunderland, Douglas, Loughnan, and Lowry. An application from A. Patterson, to have his jockey’s license restored, was refused. Mr H. H, Jackson was granted an owner’s permit. A doctor’s fee of 2 guineas and an allowance of 10s a week (for three months) was allowed to Thos. Kilcoyne, a disabled jockey. Consideration of the Waipawa Racing Club’s programme was deferred for the present. The balance-sheet of the H.B.J.C. was considered highly satisfactory, the total receipts amounting to £2,518. The Waipawa Racing Club held a committee meeting last Saturday night, at W aipawa, Mr White presiding. The Parliamentary member

for the district, Mr A. Hall, had a vote of thanks accorded to him .for his services m getting a totalisator permit for the coming meeting. A proposition that, in view of the complications that have arisen with the granting of the totalisator permit, for the autumn meeting, that the programme submitted to the Metropolitan Club be withdrawn, was discussed at great, length and rejected by a large majority. A well-known horse owner told m- to-day that he had received news that a tote per m il nas been granted to the Waipukurau Club for their fixture on Easter Monday. Up to the time of wiring, I have not heard officially if such is the case.