After the Races.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 384, 2 December 1897, Page 10

After the Races.

WELLINGTON RACING CLUB’S SPRING MEETING.

[By Our Wellington Correspondent.] Beautiful weather and a good attendance favored the opening of the local Spring Meeting at The Hutt. Lord and Lady Ranfurly and party were the guests of the club, and were entertained at luncheon by the president, Colonel Pearce. Although the amount put through the machines (worked by Mr Joseph Ames), viz., £6,504, was £873 less than the corresponding day last year, it must be borne in mind that the Hurdle Race w r as reduced to a match, and on this event alone there was a falling off of £574. Besides, from bookmakers’ licenses, the club received £92 Bs. There were seven metallicians inside at £7 7s, and thirteen outside at £3 3s. The most prominent of these was Fred Lovelock, of New Plymouth, who made the most noise and did the biggest business. The other firms represented were —Messrs Proffitt and Wilson (Napier), E. Yuile (Wellington), Paterson Bros. (Wellington), M. Livingstone (Christchurch), J. H. Simmonds and H. Shotlander (Wellington). The prices on offer against the winners at flag-fall were as follows :—lO to 1 Quiltiri (November Handicap), 8 to 1 Jim Campbell, 3 to 1 Target, even money

Rhino, 7 to 1 Stockade, 10 to 1, Nightingale, 7 to 1 Chasseur, 10 to 1 Guardsman. Several of the stewards were watching how the innovation worked.

Marino (who had incurred 51b penalty for winning at Christchurch) was withdrawn from the November Handicap, Mr Sefton relying on Quiltiri. Slaiden, who was present at the meeting, was also struck out. For some reason or other Quiltiri was allowed to go to the post the outsider of the six runners. Maybe he was not supported by his connections ; at all events the machines did not show it. Sir Agnes was indulged in the lead to the distance, where he had two lengths advantage. Down the straight he was ridden hard, but Quiltiri, who had run through from last place, won comfortably by a couple of lengths. Zanella, who held a good position throughout, finished third. This is the second time she has run in two seasons.

In the intervals between the races on Wednesday Mr Lovelock, whose eloquence attracted numerous admirers, bet on the Nightingale protest—even money against Hillstone — and the Auckland Cup. Messrs J. E. Henry, Walter Armstrong, J. Coyle, and J. O. Evett (who beat the public bad during the day, only one favourite getting home) were the “ weight lifters” present. I was very pleased to see Walter Armstrong about again in good health. Private report from Martinborough, that Jim Campbell could down Christmas Eve in their gallops, was proved correct from the decisive manner in which he downed fifteen opponents in the Maiden Hack Race. Wi Hutana was very confident in his belief that the colt would win. He was capitally ridden by A. McKay. This was the most noteworthy piece of riding I saw during the day, and was won in the last twenty yards. He is a very handsome colt, pretty forward, with the only fault that he is a roan in colour. He is one of Mr G. P. Donnelly’s breeding, by Patriarch —Princess Royal (sister.'to Administrator), from whom he gets his colour. Of the others Wish the same age as the winner, shaped well. Of Rimlock good reports was heard. This mare is now racing herself into form, and may, before the end of the season, prove as good as her brother, Stockade. Right into the straight Sylph looked all over a winner, but she failed to finish. Mr Tompsitt’s Compulsion (one of the first of the Bay Kings) was fourth, and would have paid a £6O dividend. Of the others some have been trying a long time to lose their amateur status; while Gobo (Natator —Germaine), Katerfelto (Randwick —Remorse), Te Taiha (Torpedo —Swivelline), and Te Huru (Quilt—Jeuzail) have good breeding to recommend them, and will be served with time. The two-year-olds, Moreze (St. Leger—Lady Wellington) and Conspirer (Catesby — Spring Creek), shaped no better than at Christchurch. Te Huru and Sylph were the favourites. Ruamahunga will have to show great improvement on his running on Wednesday to have any show in the Wellington Cup, for which there nave been enquiries lor him lately. Harry Piper, the starter, was in good form, and for the excellent send-off of the Welter Handicap, in front of the stand, he received a round of applause. The Wellington Handicap, which event was last year known as the Exhibition Handicap, for a pretty valuable prize, was well contested. Target, on her recent form at Riccarton, was spotted as a good thing. Ridden by G. Price, she drew away coming into the straight, and won easily by six lengths ; Leda was second, with Pompom a good third, while The Artist, who would appear to have lost all form, whipped the field in. H. Myers, who has recently been riding up Auckland way, was mounted on The Guardsman. The jumpers at the meeting were poor quality and no quantity whatever. Sea Serpent was too sore to start on the first day. Rhino made his own running, and when it was expected that King Lear would draw away he failed, and the outsider (ridden by Redmond) won comfortably. King Lear, who struck the hurdle in front of the stand, ran in a bandage, and pulled up lame. Missfire’s presence at the meeting must have meant, bar accident, certain victory on both days. The totalisator returns would also have been considerably increased. Chasseur (who shaped creditably in the Wanganui Derby) showed a lot of pace m the Shorts. He assumed the lead shortly after the start (Boreas being quickest off the mark), and, being indulged with a lead of two lengths at the distance, he kept going, and won by nearly that distance from the topweight (Boreas), who was a hot favorite. Langdale, who was slow to begin, filled the other place. Although seen to advantage earlier in the day Jim Campbell had a fresh horseman in the Hack Handicap, one mile, 31b overweight being put up to secure F. Kingan’s services, while McKay stood on the ground. Jim Campbell finished last. Yellow Rose, who carried 21b over with D. Herd, was a big favorite. Stockade, who improves with the racing he is receiving, sailed away in the straight, and won by two lengths from the favorite, who dead-heated with Oracle. The two Wairarapa candidates, Whario and Roseleaf, came to grief shortly after the start, near where Acone sustained injuries last season. Running on the inside, it is supposed Roseleaf, who is a strong puller, was galloped on the heels of something in front of her. In endeavoring to pull her off, young Hercock (son of a well-known Master ton settler and breeder of draught horses) pulled her head over the rails, and she collided with one of the distance posts, causing such injuries as to necessitate her being destroyed. She was owned by Mr H. W. Clay, of Carterton, who is somewhat unlucky with his horses. Young Hercock was stunned, and was brought in on an ambulance, but has since recovered. "Whario fell over Roseleaf, and J. Ayers (his rider) was somewhat shaken. Rudini was among the other starters.

Choroid displayed some of the flightiness of his dam (Retina), and kicked Chasseur at the start for the Shorts Handicap.

Some time was spent in considering the protest against Nightingale for inconsistent running, but to stewards decided that there was not sufficient evidence to warrant them altering the decision of the judge. On his running at Christchurch recently, and taking a line through his stable companion’s (Quiltiri) running earlier in the day, Marino was a good favorite in the Welter Handicap. He looked well, but failed to get a place. Nightingale (who had failed to get a place in the November Handicap earlier in the day), ridden by Joe Gallagher, won by a length from Hillstone, Australia third. The Artist was among the other starters, but failed to run prominently. Still another favorite, with Riccarton form to recommend him, viz., Defiant, got a downfall in the Flying Handicap. He was backed down to less than even money, and ran last. Chasseur, who carried a 71b penalty, was prominent into the straight, and then died away. He is evidently not so forward as he might be, having had a mild attack of influenza a little while back. That he will prove himself one of the best of his age up to a mile before the end of the season I do believe. The Guardsman (who had O’Neill for a rider), showed some foot in this event and won by three lengths from Langdale, who runs a better second race than he does a first, but maybe the pace set in the first race was too good. It is not often one sees two Cuirassiers win on the same day, but this occurred on Wednesday (Chasseur and The Guardsman). Alf. Crossie, the local publican, had £4O on The Guardsman. This win will compensate him for the poor form shown by the horse at Otaki. He had a different horseman at The Hutt, which may have had something to do with it. G. Price was the only horsemen to ride more than one winner. Alf. Rore was somewhat unlucky with his pair, Hillstone and Yellow Rose, both being second. The latter is not much to look at. The only favourite to win on Wednesday was Target. Mr Evett looked quite pleased with himself. The general arrangements for the meeting were carried out by Mr H. M. Lyon in the most satisfactory manner.