EGMONT RACING CLUB’S HACK MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 407, 12 May 1898, Page 9

EGMONT RACING CLUB’S HACK MEETING.

[By Our Own Correspondent.}

The Maiden Plate, weight-for-age, six furlongs, served to introduce the Winter Meeting of the Egmont Racing Club. Amongst the candidates was a full sister to Ruby Twist and Richmond Gem (Gipsy Bing—Torori), New Venus, appropriately called so, the dam’s name being Maori for fragrant weed, and New Venus, that of a well-known brand of tobacco. Her chances of success, however, were practically nil, for she was as lame as a cat, and Jim McTaggart had difficulty in getting her out of a trot in her. preliminary. The Wanganui owned Taplow, by Puriri out of a Gipsy King mare, on the strength of his go at Wellington, when the Petroleum horse Rochester just defeated him, was installed a very warm favorite 155} out of 346} on the machine being against his name. Onutae, Amazon, and Banshee being next in demand at even figures. The start terribly bad one, the field of eleven moving off in a long line, Guntae last to leave, being over two chains to Banshee was quickest away and led from Amazon till rounding the turn, when Amazon displaced her, and led into the straight, with the favorite, Taplow, rapidly closing up. Half way up the straight Taplow ran past Amazon, whilst a rank ousider in Puanga did likewise, Taplow winning comfortably by two lengths, Puanga half a length in advance of Amazon. Mr P. E. Dover was fined £3 3s for failing to scratch Gowrie. Mahoe was the only absentee from the Maiden Hack Hurdles, in which the little Vanguard— Creeper mare, Klima, made her first appearance over the small sticks. St. Hiko was served up a warm favorite, whilst Klima was the only other one decently supported. St.i Hiko, as usual, took command when they went away. Dandy being next, and Klima third, and they came past the stand in that order. Star King nearly came down at the jump below the lawn, but Attwood made a clever recovery. In the back straight Klima moved up alongside St. Hiko, and the two let out for home, quickly putting daylight between themselves, and the rest of the field. A good finish between Klima and St. Hiko saw the former win by a length and a half, Star King six lengths away third. Next came the piece de resistance in the Hawera Hack Cup, one and a half miles, with the good stake of 150 sovs attached to it. When the numbers went up Mainboom 7.11, an'dKaeaea 7.9, were not amongst them, leaving a good field of eleven for punters to worry over. Needless to say, Ruby Twist was most sought after, but the .big son of Gipsy King and Torori hardly looked at his best Stockade stripped very fit, and with Jim McTaggart in the saddle, had many friends, whilst the Cuirassier horse, Uhlan, on the strength of good track work was also soundly backed. . Nothing though had such a thoroughly wound up appearance as the exceptionally well bred Tasman —Rubina gelding, Rubin, and had it been anywhere but Hawera, Where, before going into Fitzmaurice’s stables at Wanganui, he had'so often failed after such good working gallops on the same track, he would have been better supported, only carrying 67} out of a total of 931} on the machine, in fact, the practically untried Wapiti colt, Tupuhi, in Holmes’ stable had a better following. The result went to show that my statement in my last week’s Wanganui notes, that Rubin was a vastly improved horse since his change of quarters was fully borne out by his running. When the barrier went up, Tupuhi shot to the front and led down the straight past the stand, with Queen’s Quard and Calmarine his nearest attendants.. Rounding the turn Tupuhi still led from Queen’s Guard, whilst Calmarine made a forward move, but quickly fell back again. Tupuhi continued to take the field along at a merry bat round the home bend, the rest fast closing up, Stockade, Rubin, and Ruby Twist all being handy. Entering the convencing straight Tupuhi had had enough, and Stockade took up the running, and looked all over like a winner, but Rubin came with a great rush, and despite McTaggart’s vigorous riding of Stockade, the former came away and won fairly comfortably by a clear length, Ruby Twist also put in his claim, but had to be content with third place, a similar distance behind Stockade.

The Mokoia Plate, seven furlongs, came next, from which Navigator (Lady Spec’s half brother by Cruiser), Intrepid, Pairawata, New Venus, and Taplow were withdrawn. Punters quickly pounced on Battleaxe, doubtless being attracted by seeing that Hotchkiss and Queen Cole were responsible for his existence, but he grieviotisly disappointed his numerous followers by never being prominent; the only others decently supported were Royal Guard and Wavelet. After the barrier had been broken the field got well > away together, Wai-iti being first to show in front, though she quickly gave way to Royal Guard and Faugh-a-ballah, who carried on the running till half way round the bend, when Wai-iti again took command and was never afterwards headed, winning comfortably by a length from Royal Guard, Riverdale filling third place. Wai-iti, who is Che property of a well-known Stratford sporting t medico (Dr. Paget), rewarded her fourteen supporters with handsome prices—£2l 13s per £1 '<• inside and £l7 Ils for 10s outside.

The Waihi Handicap, one mile, was reduced to the somewhat small field of six by the scratching of Kaeaea, Tommy Atkins, Taplow, and Tupuhi. Betting on four out of the six was exceptionally 7 even, the figures on The Major’and Don being _' ? respectively 73} and 73, Guardfish 64}, and Lady Helena 60, Onutae and Capture being almost neglected The Don was quickest away, followed by Lady Helena, The Major, and Onutae, the ' latter three racing abreast. The Don made every post a winning one and got to the box without ever being troubled a good three lengths ahead of The Major. Guardfish came with a late runand got into third place. The only one to decline the First Handicap Hurdles was The Friar’s full brother, St. Hiko. The most casual observer could not fail to notice the great improvement in the ex Rangitikei hunter, Sinner, and as his j umping abilities have been clearly demonstrated before, it was no matter for surprise to find him sent out a warm favorite, King of the Downs (with 12.10) coming next in demand. Sinner was rushed to the front and took a strong lead. Nayborn fell at the first fence, Tom O’Brien getting off without a scratch. Passing the stand Sinner still led, and it could be easily noticed he made a lot of ground by his extra proficiency at every jump. Riot and Great Britain lay next. Turning into the back stretch the positions were the same. At the home turn Sinner still held a strong lead, but Klima was not going to let him go unchallenged, and though she \ made up a lot of ground she failed to get further than Sinner’s quarters. Great Britain filled third place four lengths behind Klima. King of the Downs broke down, finishing a long way behind, * and it will probably be some time before he will again see the post. Owners were busy with the scratching pen for the concluding event (the Telegraph, six furlongs), The Major, Wavelet, Amazon, Navigator, Tupuhi, and We Guard all going out. Punters had evidently heard of the quality of Norton’s half sister, The Hempie, and when they saw her stripped no one could deny that she is axhandsome-looking mare, and she was sent out a considerably better favorite than First Shot. 1 he top-weight, Spjinler, ; looked particularly well, and with a good horse- < man (George Laing) on his back his chances were considerably underestimated. Splinter was quickest off the mark, old Disraeli being next, and the first mentioned led into the straight, with First Shot, Vibration, and The Hempie moving up. A slashing “ go” saw The Hempie and Splinter dash past the post locked together, and the judge was un- /, able to separate them. Vibration filled third place. First Shot, who finished fourth, walked back to the paddock very dottily. Second Day—Thursday, May 5. Racing was recommenced the second day with the Trial Handicap, seven furlongs, in which the - well-bred and handsome-looking daughter of Natator and Romp, The Hempie, met very weak ; z opposition. Needless to say, she was sent out at a very short price, as out of the small total of 219| on the machine 1291 were on her number. Discount was the first to move, followed by In- . trepid and Wavelet. Flying Jib quickly got on terms with the leading trio, and the quartette raced together till half-way round the bend, ■ when The Hempie moved past them, and the result was never in doubt, Norton’s half-sister winning very comfortably by two lengths from Flying Jib, who was four lengths in advance of Capture. ' \ On the strength of having carried the,; field along at a merry bat for a mile and a quarter in the Cup Tupuhi (9.5) was quickly dropped on by punters as the good thing for the High-Weight 7 Handicap, one mile, Riversdale and The Major, ~ who were next in the betting, having.only half as - many investments against them. Taplow and Black Rose were the first to move, Tupuhi getting a bad position amongst the ruck.. Black /<- Rose shot out on entering the back stretch, Tupuhi being several lengths behind; but McCormi,ck gave him his head, and he dashed past the field as if they were standing still. Tupuhi held a . ' decided advantage rounding the home turn and looked all over like getting home, but both Taplow and Black Rose had yet to.assert themselves, Thomas bringing the former up on the outside with a particularly brilliant run, winning by half / a length, whilst Black Rose defeated Tupuhi for / J third place by a bare neck/ Next came the principal event, the Manaia Handicap, one mile and a quarter, from which Ruby Twist (9.3), Daphne (7.11), and Amazon (6.10) were withdrawn. Stockade was made only a slightly better favorite than Rubin, who - had the big impost of 9.13 to carry, the-figures <■' respectively being 142s} and 128, whilst the Nanguard gelding, Tommy Atkins, was soundly supported on account of the prominent position / be held up to the distance in the race for the Cup on the previous day. The way the race [ / was run leaves little room for description. Tommy Atkins hopped off the mark the quickest, ' and galloping in resolute style took command of field, Uhlan being his nearest attendant passing the stand. Going down the back Tommy was still striding away in front, handling George Price out of the saddle, and it looked as if- nothin 7

would get to him. At the turn little Lady Helena came away from the ruck, and gave chase to Tommy Atkins. When heads were turned for home Lady Helena came on full of running and cut the leader down, winning an exciting race by just a length. Stockade also made up a lot of ground in the straight, and finished close up third. Protests were entered against both Lady Helena and Tommy Atkins for inconsistent running as compared with the first day. A lengthy enquiry was held by the stewards, and an adjournment made for further hearing after the Hurdles were run. Both protests were dismissed, and the thirteen backers of Lady Helena inside drew the nice dividend of £24 15s and the eight outside £l2 9s. All the five acceptors faced the music for the. Second Handicap Hurdles, Riot being top weight with 11.0. The easy manner in which that wonderfully improved horse Sinner disposed of all opposition yesterday, resulted in his beihg sent out a hot favorite despite his rise of a stone and 21bs. Sinner adopted similar tactics by going to the front, but this time he had a companion in St. Hiko. Nayborn would not gallop a yard, probably feeling the effects of the fall the first day, and when Sinner and St. Hiko went down the back stretch, Nayborn was hopelessly out of it. As the leaders neared the bottom turn Percy Johnson had to use the whip on St. Hiko to keep alongside of Sinner. Before the home run was reached, however, Sinner had , drawn right away from St. Hiko who fell away beaten. Dug Watt managed, by a[| free use of the flail, to drive Great Britain up to within a length of Sinner, who strode past the post a winner by that distance, with Alick Hall sitting still on him. St. “Hiko was fully six lengths - away third. All the eight acceptors had a go in the Opeke Handicap, six furlongs. Though The Hempie was sent out favorite there was no great difference in. the figures against her, Splinter, Tommy and May Day. Splinter got badly left, turning roupd wrong way when the barrier went -up. The Hempie and Tommy Atkins rushed to the front, and ware several lengths clear of the rest at the railway bend. The Hempie gradually drew away from Tommy Atkins, and won very comfortably at the finish by two lengths. Tommy Atkins and" May Day filled the other places, with only a head between them. The presence of Stockade in the Borough Plate (welter-weight-for-age), one mile, accounted for numerous defections, the pen going through the names of Mahoe, Lady Helena, Black Rose, Ruby Twist, Pairawhatu, Intrepid, and Taplow, whilst Foudroyant was added to the list of acceptors on the card. Faugh-a-Bal la gh, a rank outsider, flattered his few supporters in the early part of the race by rushing to the front and going down the back with eight clear lengths’ lead of anything else. Foudroyant and Stockade, however, closed up a good bit of the gap before heads were turned for home, and at the finish it was only an exercise canter for Siockade, who won anyhow by twp lengths. Wai-lti came with a very fast late run, defeating Foudroyant by a neck for second place. The popular sporting medico of Stratford, Dr. Paget, rode his own horse (Wailti) in this event, and was the subject of a little good-natured “chaff” from the boys, which the doctor took in ■ good part. On fiis returning to scale he was lustily cheered.. He certainly rode an excellent finish to get the position he occupied at the judge’s box. Punters evidently thought The Scout must be a second Telephone, the way they piled it on to him.for the final flutter, five furlongs, as out of '47l| rio less than 213 tickets wero entrusted to Vanguard’s representative. May Day and Amazon were very evenly backed, with only a difference of If between them, whilst Vibration had a respectable following. Of the all-important dispatch Vibration got a good two lengths advantage of The Scout, and the well known black body and red cap of Mr Joe Paul (of Foxton, Boulanger, and Company associations) were safely borne to the front to the end of,the short journey by the son of Wapiti and Echo. May Day, who got away badly, made up a lot of lost ground in the straight, finishing close up on The Scout’s quarters.