After the Races.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 395, 17 February 1898, Page 9

After the Races.

EGMONT RACING CLUB’S SUMMER MEETING [By Our Own Correspondent.l The annual summer fixture of the Egmont Racing Club eventuated on Wedntsday and Thursday of last week. The Club was favored with beautifully fine weather, and consequently, the attendance of the public was good. Speculation on the machine was brisker than at the same meeting last year, Messrs Spriggens and Neylon handling £8,400 as against £7,300 for 1897, or an advance of £llOO, whilst a number of licenses at £5 apiece were issued to bookmakers, so that - the meeting should turn out profitably for the Club. Two separate machines were worked the inside tickets being £1 and those outside 10s, and distinct dividends were declared. A sensational dividend of £B2 was declared on May Day, winner of the First Hack Flat, all the five tickets inside being held by the stable, who were caused some anxiety regarding their big coup, by the impounding of both stakes and dividend, pending an enquiry by the stewards as to ownership, however, satisfactory proofs were forthcoming and the long price backers got their stuff. The starting in the hands of Mr Martin Baird with the machine, was all that could be desired, and the racing redounded much to the credit of the weight adjuster, Mr J. E Henry. Thanks to the recent rain, the course was in splendid order, and owners had no cause to fear of their horses cracking up, as is so often the case at this season of the year.

The programme opened with the big sprint event of seven furlongs, the Waimate Handicap, from which the ex-hack, Waterbury’s full brother, Sundial, was the only absentee. Sedgebrook and Ben Varrey, both appearing in the nomination of J. P. Belcher, although their ownership is quite distinct, were bracketed on the machine and made favorites. Rex did not appear to like the machine, and when it went up the Auckland owned son of St. Leger was last to move. Sylvia Park was quickest away, and Jenkins sent him along. Eton and Kanaka gave chase, but could not foot it with Mr Goodwin’s speedy chestnut. Rounding the home turn Rex made up his lost ground very fast, but failed to

get to Sylvia Park, who won by a head, Ben Varrey cluse up third. Sedgebrook died right away in the straight pulling up last very lame. Time, Imim 31sec. Dividends, £ll 18s and £7 10s. , ... Punters were afforded ample scope m the First Hack Flat, for out of the fourteen colored on the card there was only one withdrawal, old Disraeli. Vibration was best supported, The Major and Splinter pressing close in the estimation of punters. Marvellous was very slow to commence, as also were Tommy Atkins and The Major. Rubin acted as pacemaker, and flattered his backers till turning into the convincing straight, where Vibration, Karakapai, and Uhlan looked as if they would play a prominent part at the finish, but they all retired in favor of the rank outsider, Mayday, and Nipapu (both Foulshots), and the top-weight Lady Helena. After an interesting set to Mayday got the verdict by half a length, and paying the thumping good price of £B2 12s inside, whilst those outside only drew at the rate of £33. The journey was done in Imin 18 3-ssec. All five acceptors faced the music for the Handicap Hurdles, two miles and a distance. Plain Bill went out at a very short price, just a point better than even money, the top-weight, Rangipunehu, who was conceding Plain Bill only Ist 51b, being next most sought after. As they swept past the stand at the commencement of their journey King of the Downs led the way, and turning into the back stretch was joined by Plain Bill, Muscatel lying last. Plain Bill came down ths straight in the lead, going strong, with King of the Downs next, Secrecy third. Down the back Plain Bill held a good lead. Rangipunehu began to move up, and passed King of the Downs, but failed to stay it out. Plain Bill ran home a comfortable winner, with King of the Downs and Rangipunehu in the places. Time, 4min 14 4-ssec. Dividends, £2 2s and £1 4s. A field of nine lined up for the Hack Hurdles, for which the fine upstanding son of Natator—Jo, Vanish, was voted (he good thing, St. Hiko being also much fancied. St. Hiko cut out the pace, Adam joining issue soon after getting under way, and the pair crossed the jump in front of the stand together, Vanish lying third. Rounding the turn, Adam got a couple of lengths lead of St. Hiko. Half way down the straight the Taranaki gelding, Riot, was taken up by Higgins, and wresting the lead from Adam rounding the home turn it looked a good thing for the inmate of the Waiuku stable, but the son of Castor and The Jilt was not yet done with, and Riot tiring in the last 100yds, Adam just got up in time, and won, after an interesting race, by half a length, St. Hiko filling third place. Time, 2min 57sec. Dividends, £9 8s and £4 3s. Next came the Egmont Cup. When the numbers went up Irish Twist was the only missing one. The ten contestants, as they paraded the lawn, were closes? scanned, and Swordfish was undoubtedly a cut above the rest in looks, and when the preliminaries came on he moved in most pleasing style, but the good deeds of little Lorelei at Rangitikei wrre evidently fresh in the minds of punters, and she was the only one to reach treble figures on the machine wffh 149| chances, Swordfish, with 98, coming next. When they got going Klima was in the lead, and then Vanguard’s black representative, Guardfish, took command, Crusoe and Swordfish bring ing up the rear. As they swept up the straight Guard fish still led the way, followed by Legion of Honour and Tirant d’Eau, whilst Crusoe had come up closer to the leaders. Swordfish was still in the rear as they rounded the bend info the back, McTaggart having an uncomfortable ride on Hotchkiss’ black son. McTaggart slowly but surely got Swordfish up, and as they came into the straight he held a good position. Half way up the straight little Crusoe was in front with Swordfish at him, and a ding-dong go saw the Egmont Cup of ’9B, after a splendid tussle, appropriated by the A uckland representative, Swordfish, by half a neck, Coronet a length and half away third. Time, 3min 9sec, or 2 l-ssec slower than The Brook’s time last year. Dividends, £7 7s and £3 6s. The Egmont Sires’ Produce Stakes always attracts considerable attention, it being liberally endowed. As the field passed the stand Bowsprit was in fronts followed by Kaimate and Whitney. Turning into the back Bowsprit was moving too fast for the others except Whitney, who joined issue, and the two raeed to the home turn together with several lengths lead of the field, and it looked for a time as if Whitney would prove a tough nut for Bowsprit to crack, but as they swept round the home bend the Vanguard filly proved too fleet for Whitney, who also had to succumb to another Vanguard in The Don, who passed Whitney in tne straight but could not get anywhere neai’ Bowsprit, who won comfortably by two lengths. After the event Bowsprit was decorated with the customary Blue Riband by Mrs Win. Brewer. Time, 2min 17 2-ssec. Dividends, £3 Is and £1 10s. The top weight, Sedgebiook (9.5), having pulled up lame in the Waimate Handicap, was withdrawn from the Welter Mile, leaving seven to go to the post. After some little trouble, owing to one or two of the boys being inclined to rush the barrier, Martin Baird sent them away to a beautiful start. The bright colors of Australina were seen in front as they left the straight with Crusoe in close attendance, and the pair showed the way until the home bend was reached, when Jenkins brought Indian Shot up, and the result was never in doubt, Torpedo’s speedy representative winning very comfortably from Crusoe and Panoply. Time, Imin 45 4-ssec. Dividends, £2 18s and £1 7s.

The day’s sport concluded with the Second Hack Flat of one mile and a distance, for which Mainboom was scratched. The top weight, Surrey, was most thought of by punters. Rounding the home turn Kaeaea showed the way, the rest of the field, except Squatter, being bunched in close attendance. When fairly in the straight Adam put in a determined claim, and fairly smothered all opposition winning in a hollow fashion from Surrey and Kaeaea. Time, 2min 6sec. Dividends, £5 3s and £1 14s.

Day. Fine weather again favored the club, and the attendance was good. Hostilities were re-com-menced with the Flying Handicap, of six furlongs, for which Indian Shot, Kanaka, and. Bowshot were scratched, leaving six to go out. Guardfish and Rex were most fancied. As usual, Telephone was quickest away, Guardfish also getting off well, but Sylvia Park was slow to begin. Telephone and Guardfish led into the straight, but Jenkins made up his lost ground on Sylvia Park very rapidly, and St. Leger’s finelooking son soon had them all in trouble, and though Rex made an effort Sylvia Park won comfortably by half a length, Ben Varrey being third, the placed horses thus being exactly the same as in the Waimate Handicap. Time, Imin 18sec. Dividends, £6 Ils and £3 ss.

A field of eight faced the starter for the Second Hack Flat, and most confidence was reposed in the top-weight, Adam, whilst Riot also had many friends. Vanish made nearly all the running. Riot made an effort in the straight to get up, but Vanish, full of running, had too much foot, and ran home a very easy winner. A protest was entered against Vanish for inconsistent, running, but the stewards, after lengthy consideration, dismissed it. Time, 3min 34 4-ssec. Dividends, £5 7s and £2 9s. Bowsprit being withdrawn left only four to contest the Third Hack Flat, of one mile and a half, and Mainboom and Uhlan carried most money. Mainboom led till entering the straight, when Uhlan came very fast on the outside, and nothing had a chance with him, getting home with a good two lengths to spare, Rubin and Surrey, with half a length between them, filling the places. Time, 2min 49 3-ssec. Diviaends, £2 16s and £1 Bs.

The field for the Atkinson Memorial Stakes, of one mile and a half, was much the same as that which contested the Egmont Cup, Tirant d’Eau and Guardfish being the only two who would not have another go. As Lorelei was meeting Swordfish on lOlbs better terms than in the Cup, with a quarter of a mile less to travel, punters expressed their opinion that the daughter of Cruiser and Laurel was the best in it, and when the machine ceased to do business on the race there were 229 chances on Lorelei and 164£ on Swordfish. On the barrier going up Coronet shot to the front, and led Panoply into the straight, with little Klima on his quarters. Passing the stand the order was Coronet, Klima, with Panoply a close attendant. Rounding the top bend Panoply went to the front, and led down the back stretch from Klima and Coronet. Merry Maid then made a forward move, but could not keep up with the leaders when she got to them. Turning into the straight Panoply and Klima were still at the head of affairs, the rest bunched. Crusoe began to move up, whilst McTaggart brought Swordfish up right on the outside, and these two came on full of running, and it could be seen that the issue, as in the Cup, would lie between them. Swordfish settled the question of supremacy in an unmistakeable manner, McTaggart bringing him up with an uninterrupted run on the outside, getting to the box with a clear length to the good from Crusoe, Panoplj filling third position. On returning to scale the crowd lustily cheered both the winner and his rider. Time, 2min 45 3-ssec. Dividends, £4 Is and £2 Is. The Second Handicap Hurdles was robbed of a good deal of interest by the scratching of the top weight, Rangipunehu. Punteis, of course, went very strong for Plain Bill. Napoleon pursued his usual tactics and rushed to the front, quickly establishing a four lengths’ lead from the rest. Napoleon was still in front crossing the jump opposite the stand, Plain Bill and Sultador being nearest to him. Turning into the back Higgins took Plain Bill to to the front. Sultador gave chase but he could not live with the Flintlock horse, who was never afterwards headed. King of the Downs made a big effort to get up in the straight, but Plain Bill, full of running, won without being moved on by a length from King of the Downs, Napoleon five lengths away third. Time, 3min 31sec. Dividends, £1 16s and 19s. No better proof can be possibly adduced that the hack races on this coast should be more liberally endowed than they are, than the Fourth Hack Race, six furlongs, at the Egmont meeting. In the Cup with a £250 stake, £7Bl passed through the machine ; in the Atkinson Memorial £752 went through ; whilst in the Hack Race under notice, with a £35 stake (£3O to the winner), no less a sum than £Bll 10s went on to the tote. Not only were the investments bigger, but the contest was far and away the best seen at the meeting, as all the eleven starters swept into the straight in a bunch, and a magnificent finish was seen, all the whips being out from half way up the straight, and the result was in doubt till the judge put his numbers out. As the field swept down the straight it was seen that the top weight, Lady Helena, was on the rails, and Thelma had a bit the best of it, with Mayday on their quarters. Turner on Lady Helena, though jammed on the rails, rode a most determined finish, and by good horsemanship obtained the victory by half a head from Thelma. Mayday finished third only half a length away, whilst a sheet would have covered the rest. Time, Imin 19 2-ssec. Dividends, £8 17s and £5 12s.

Crimson Streak and Guardfish were withdrawn from the concluding event, the Normanby Stakes, leaving five to saddle up. Indian Shot ran in his new ownership, Mr “ Jerry” O’Driscoll, and as he had been reserved, for this event he was sent out favorite. Lindsay took him to the front after passing the stand, and Tommy Scott’s castoff was fairly pulling the Napier horseman out of the saddle. Coronet and Voltigeur gave chase, and turning into the stiaight it could be seen that Voltigeur would trouble the leaders. An exciting finish saw Voltigeur, favored with his light impost, just squeeze up on the post, and the judge was unable to separal e him Irom Indian Shot, Coronet filling third position. Time, 2min 3sec. Dividends —Indian Shot, £1 Is and Ils; Voltigeur, £3 12s and £2 6s.