HAWKES BAY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 396, 24 February 1898, Page 10

HAWKES BAY.

The clash between the Napier Park and Polo Clubs—Prevalence of influenza — Gold Cup—Hawke’s Bay fixtures—Departure of Napier horses —A Lochiel mare savaged —Hope’s string—Lotion— The Monk—Polo.

Napier, February 17. At a committee meeting of the Napier Park Club held yesterday, Mr J. C. McVay in the chair, the following resolution was passed and gent to the bon. secretary of the Polo Association .— “ The committge of the Napier Park Bacing Club having learnt that it has been decided to hold the Polo Tournament at Hastings on the 21st March and following’ days, request the executive of the Polo Association to postpone the opening until the 24th March, and thus avoid clashing with the autumn fixture of the Napier Park Racing Club, which will be held on the 22nd and 23rd March. Several of the horses in training in this district have been having a bad time lately with influenza, one of Oonnop’s string, Hobart (the Cuirassier •—Tasmania colt), having been severely afflicted with the epidemic. Gold Cup, who only arrived from Wellington last week, where she has been since the late Wellington Meeting, leaves to-morrow morning for Palmerston North to fulfill engagements at the Manawatu Meeting. Ascot’s daughter looks in rare buckle. Alick Mitchell, who for a considerable time has been associated with S. Cuneen’s stable, has left that trainer’s employ. Twenty-four horses remain in the Hawke’s Bay Stakes for 1898. .The number are liable for the full subscription of sgs. Fairly good nominations were received by the Napier Park Racing Club for four of the events on their autumn card, a total of 77 being received as follows : Cup, seventeen, and the Flying, City, and Waverley with a score a-piece. With the running of several of the contestants at Wanganui to guide him Mr Danvers ought to be able to allot the weights in a satisfactory manner. Mr R. J. Neagle secured the first prize in the leaping competition at the Woodville Agricultural Show by the aid of his hunter Rasper.

February 22. On Saturday Maid Marion and Gold Cup left Napier by the early morning train for Palmerston North to fulfill engagements at the approaching Manawatu Club’s Autumn Meeting. Yesterday the following horses left Hastings for the same place : —Golden Plover, Douglas, Tirant d’Eau, Daphne, Great Britain, Toriki, Derry, and Primula.

Lady Lome, the Lochiel filly that George Hope sold to Mr W. Robinson, of Te Aute, at the thejconclusion of the Hawkes Bay Jockey Club’s Summer Meeting, got badly bitten by a mare who was running in an adjacent paddock to her. The wound showed signs of poisoning matter, and had to be lanced, which, of course, threw

Lady Lome back in her preparation She is now, however, on the convalescent list, and will be able very shortly to resume the active pursuit of her vocation. Another inmate of the stable, Te Hapuka, has been giving Ben Nicholls a rather uneasy time of it, the attack of influenza that he contracted a couple of months ago seeming to hang about him and interfere with his return to labor. He is better than he was. and it is to be hoped for his trainer’s and owner’s sake that the critical stage of his sickness has been passed over. Missfire has had tome trouble with his feet, and is being treated to a spell. Hope has the other members of his string — Mutiny, Tiritea, Donald McKinnon, and the Queenrose filly—going and looking well. While passing thro’ Hastings last Sunday I called in at Stratford Lodge, which establishment is now presided over by Alf. Ellingham, who showed me a fine-looking two-year-old gelding son of Natator and Denbigh. He is a massive-quartered, well-backed chap, with great fore-arm, and nicely ribbed up. A rather plain figure-head detracts from his otherwise good appearance, but as they do not gallop with that part of th;ir anatomy as a rule, this part of him may be passed by as not being detrimental to him. He has just been broken in, and appears as tractable and docile as an old one. Should he be destined for the jumping business he will have an excellent mentor in Ellingham, whose capability in the preparation of customers of this class is too well known to need reviewing. I had looked forward to seeing the half-brother to the gelding under notice by Robinson Crusoe,, but I was disappointed, as I am informed that he. had been sent up to —Kaikora, where he will have the run of extensive paddocks, country, and bills and flats, a style of country that should tend materially to develop him for the Hastings track. I noticed Lotion walking about. The game and consistent son of Sou’-Whster looks very big upon it, and, judging by appearances, it will be some time before racegoers will have the opportunity of seeing him compete again. I also saw 7?be Monk, who is trained along with Daphne, Great Britain and Tally-Ho by their owner, Mr J. T. Blake, do a serviceable two-round go on the plough over the little sticks. He got through his task all serene, galloping and jumping in a taking manner. Douglas Watt piloted him in his performances. By this morning’s express train, Mr C. Bennett, of the Wharerangi Polo Club, proceeded to Palmerston North in readiness for the polo match. Messrs Kennedy and Peacock, two other members of the team, leave here by to morrow’s train. Mr S. Bennett, the fourth member, is already on the ground. The team take thirteen ponies with them.