WOODVILLE DISTRICT JOCKEY CLUB’S ANNUAL MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 342, 11 February 1897, Page 7

WOODVILLE DISTRICT JOCKEY CLUB’S ANNUAL MEETING.

[By

Gipsy King.]

It was thought by many that when the Woodville Club only received 61 acceptances out of a total nomination of 124 that a poor meeting would be the result, but looking down the list of entries it was evident the acceptances could not be i i proportion to nominations, as several horses were engaged in three or four’ events on each day, and it would be impossible to start for all. This I mention in fairness to the handicapper. The weather was very favourable for the enjoyment of the racing until the concluding event on the second day, when it. became showery. The attendance was very good, the ladies mustering in strong force. At the conclusion of the first day’s racing the stewards were surprised at the shrinkage of £360 in the totalisator investments as compared with last year, but this slight deficit was pulled up next day with £126 to the good. The total investments for this year were £8627, and last year £B5Ol. The expulsion of the bookmakers this year apparently did not affect the investments, where a £lO license fee for the meeting would, I think, have increased the club’s revenue account. The course appointments looked very tidy, and the buildings having recently been painted, everything, including lawn and paddock, were looking gay and fresh. The business of the Woodville Club always seems to go along like like clock - work, due to the methodical way Mr Nicholson (the secretary) has of arranging his work, and I am confident he could manage any of the metropolitan clubs with every credit to himself. The officers of the club are very hearty in their cooperation, consequently, if it were not for the number of protests the stewards have to listen to they would be a happy family without trouble, but owners and trainers, somehow or other, always seem to rake up a protest of some sort when they get to Woodville. However, there is not likely to be so much of this “ win, tie, or wrangle” business in the future, as the stewards will give no encouragement, and on the least excuse for doing so will have the protest deposit money of £2 forfeited as often as possible. Several of the protests heard, to which the Press were admitted, were very frivolous. The Woodville Club now provides every convenience necessary for properly conducting its meetings, but I would suggest, if funds will permit, that the weighing room and secretary’s room should be enlarged. The present building could be used for a stewards’ luncheon room. A room close to the secretary’s offi< e should be provided for the Press, also a small grandstand, as it is impossible at present

to get a desirable position, owing to the crush on the members’ and people’s stand. The meetings of the club are increasing in popularity and attei dance every year, and something will have to be done to meet the increase of business. Lhe new liquor booth is the most convenient and complete I have seen on the coastal courses. The racing was very interesting, and a better class of hacks than I have seen at. recent meetings were present. It was plainly noticeable, especially in the open events, that one or two had been pre-arranged, and with less experienced horsemen engaged, some of the little swindles must have been upset or exposed ; but. this did not prevent several close finishes taking place. By winning the Hack Handicap. Oracle (by Cast-off) proved his win at Wellington to be no fluke, such as some tnought it, as in the race under notice he smothered his field at the finish, galloping as strong as a lion. He is a nice cut of a horse, and judging by his beautiful oblique shoulders, should be a fast horse over hurdles. He very much resembles Tongariro (by Cast-off), who won many races on this°coast. Flirt (by Foul Play), who won the Hack Hurdles, had quite a hunter’s appearance, owing to her bang tail. She paid a £22 5s dividend. Notwithstanding her appearance, she is a good mare, and I was quite prepared to see her defeat the more-fancied Much Ado. On the second day Flirt’s running in the Welter Hack Flat proved her to be more than useful. Toriki, syrs, by Torpedo —Kopeki, Mr Douglas’ latest hurdle candidate, like most of Torpedo’s stock, has plenty of size and substance, aud with a good man on his back would nearly have won on the second day. Mr Quinlivan, senr., got nearly half the purchase money back which he paid for Petroline, when she won the Grandstand Hack Handicap, but with 9st 21b on her back she had a tough job to beat the improving Calmarine, 6st 101 b. It was a great race, and caused heaps of excitement. Voltigeur was favourite, but ran like the gay deceiver he is. His performance shows what an inferior class is nominated for the New Zealand Cup at times. Another New Zealand Cup candidate, Sabreur, failed to get nearer than third in a back welter race. When it. came to racing in real earnest in the Woodville Cup, The Miser was too game for the others, and although he appeared to win easily, all one side had been pretty well punctured with the spur.

With a stronger horseman on The Brook I think she would have made a better finish, although she suceeded in beating all the others. She is a fine young mare, built on stouter lines than her full-sister, Rivolet. She is on the improve, and will win shortly. Rip Van Winkle just seems good enough to run into places He is very sore, and m ist give his trainer some trouble. It was thought that Loveshot (7st 111 b) had only to travel over the seven furlongs in the Borough Handicap to get the stake, but The Miser (9st4lb) wore the big Cliainshot. horse down at the finish. In the Welter Hack Handicap it was only Alick McCormick’s horsemanship that squeezed Voltigeur home by a head from Sylvan us, the Cuirassier three-year-old colt, Sabreur, filling third place. On the second day the Ruahine Hack Handicap caused more trouble than two or three races, and protests in connection with the race were quite numerous. After a dead-heat between Nero and Sylvanus, the representative of the former entered a protest against Sylvanus for boring Nero on the rails half-way down the straight. The stewards decided that both horses were equally to blame. I watched the race very closely, and with all due respect to their opinion I must differ from them. It was the nearest case to putting horse and rider over the rails I have seen during my racing career, and it was noticeable to all those occupying positions on the stand. In fact, the occurrence took place nearly opposite the stand, and consequently its occupants were in a better position to see than the stewards. I do not wish to infer that Parker was doing any foul riding, as his mount, Silvanus, was under severe punishment and may have been getting away from the whip, but Nero was on the rails all the time, ami had no room to bore Sylvanus had his rider wished to do so. Parker’s luck seemed to have left him during this race, as the starter fined him £1 for disobedience at the post, and the stewards fined him £2 for using obscene language, and he was further disqualified for the rest of the day. The dead-heat was decided after the last race, when Nero never gave his opponent a chance and won easily. White rode Sylvanus most vigorously, but all his efiorts were futile. Nero is a useful sort, for country racing. Another of Mr Douglas’ horses acted as runner-up in the principal race or. the second day, which was won by The Miser. I allude to Waterstone (Waterfall —JSgyptilla,

by Ingomar—Onyx), who carried 6.10; he is susceptable of improvement, and with a resolute horseman, in a welter race, would take some beating, but he is not a boy’s horse. The Dreadnought. — Straightshot three-year-old filly, Target, has a lot of pace and finished third, but she seemed too much for her jockey at the finish of the Midsummer Handicap, otherwise the result would have been in hex 1 favor. The Miser was giving her 2st 71b, so that country meetings should be her place. King’s Bowman showed poor form and was last all the way. An unfortunate accident occurred in this race. Aphony (W. Jones) fell at the back of the course, where Jones was picked up unconscious /and was taken to the Palmerston North Hospital by the evening train, where, I hear, he has regained consciousness, but is injured internally. Aphony was pulling hard and racing just behind the other two horses, and galloped on their heels, and this brought him down. Rip Van Winkle, who was just behind, I fancy struck Jones. Loveshot made amends for his defeat on the first day by easily accounting for the Railway Handicap. The imported Australian gelding Calmarine (by Calma —Nectarine), who is trained by Alf. Shewsbury and is improving fast, was made a big pot for the Farewell Hack Handicap of one mile, and the goed thing duly came off, but only to the tune of £1 17s. Violet, who finished third, was ridden by a stable lad, otherwise must have been close to the winner. The next big pot for the Hish-weight Handicap was The Brook (9.5), but the Australian importation, Return (by Prodigal) slipped the field a few’ furlongs from home, and, the boy keeping him going, he won by two and a half lengths, paying £ll 13s.