After the Races.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 414, 30 June 1898, Page 10

After the Races.

HAWKES BAY JOCKEY CLUB’S WINTER MEETING. [By our Napier Correspondent.] First Day-Wednesday, June 22. For the middle of winter the weather was exceedingly bright and pleasant upon the occasion of the initial day of the metropolitan club’s winter fixture. lhe special race trains were well patronised, and when the bell rang to start proceedings the enclosure and outside showed a goodly number of patrons, who were evidently in a betting mood, as the totalisator investments exceeded by £2BO the amount received last season upon a similar meeting. The fields were so well weighted that punters had no easy task in dropping upon winners, o.ily three first favorites scoring throughout the day, and one oj these was in the Ladies’ Bracelet, for which Mr Henry’s services are not required. Harry Piper’s starting was admirable the horses in the majority of cases moving away with a machine-like precision at the word go. 1 had fully expected to see some circus business with Castashore, as I had been led to believe that he was an unruly customer, but with the exception of a bit of a hoist with bis quarters, just to show, I suppose, that he was anxious for the fray, be never treated the onlookers to anything fanciful in the way of performing at the post. Each and every one of the executive of the club worked strenuously to

make matters hum, and punctuality in the despatch of the various events was well observed. It’s not a bad performance to be able to leave Napier at 11 in the morning, witness seven races, and be back in town at a quarter to six in the evening, more especially when you have to allow an hour and a half for taavelling. Hostilities commenced with the Maiden Steeplechase, a quartette going to the post. Backers soiidly backed three of them, Alpine, Great Britain, and Rangipunehu, in the order named, Greenstone, with 28 fanciers out of 418 on the machine, being the neglected one. He did not give his supporters much of a go, either, as he refused at the obstacle at the back, shooting his rider (Goodwin) off, who, however, only got a shaking. Alpine fell at the same fence, but was soon remounted, and went in pursuit, but her mishap completely obliterated any chance that she had of success. Great Britain piloted the way, with Rangipunehu being handy for the greater part of the trip, and the former’s rider, not making sufficient use of him, when half a mile from home allowed the Maori-named neddy to get on terms with him, the result being in the latter’s favor by a length, Alpine a long way behind third.

Ten marshalled up under the starter’s hand for the Winter Handicap, the Otaki double event winner, Bush Rose, being the chosen one of backers, Tauhei, with three pounds more on the machine than Brennan, coming next. Pistol Grip shot out at the flag-fall, and soon had a good command, the rest of the field, with the exception of Female Franchise, who nearly upset her jockey just prior to the start by sliding over to the rails, being bunched. Half a mile from home Castor’s grey daughter (Tauhei) made a move, and soon had the measure of Pistol Grip. Bush Rose, just as the home stretch was reached, also made a bid, but could not last it with Tauhei, who held pride of place when half the straight had been traversed. About fifty yards from the convincing post White could be seen making desperate efforts to get Brennan out from the crowd that hemmed him in. He succeeded at last, but the judge’s box was too near, the grey mare getting over the line all out by a bare length, Pistol Grip, who had come again, a good third. The winner’s price (£G 7s) was the biggest dividend of the day. Moonraker got bumped about considerably during the journey, his neck showing signs that he had a rough time of it, and Rubin’s rider (Thomas) had one of his legs skinned as a result of his getting jammed on the rails.

Miss Ada Ormond’s nomination, Hussar, had the easiest of things in his capture of the Ladies’ Bracelet, his rider (Mr T. Ormond) never having to ask him for an effort, leading his opponents from the fall of the flag and passing the deciding point a comfortable winner. Katoomba, on whom Mr A. Hyde used all his influence and persuasion, was second. After the winner had done his gallop on Monday morning he pulled up lame, but on the day of his triumph no effects of that could be seen.

Plain Bill, whom reports have it is amiss, and Spreydon were the only scratchings from the eleven colored on the card for the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles. Opai, whose owner complained of the harsh way in which his horse was treated by the handicapper, had the largest number of followers on the automatic dispenser of odds, Rhino, who never looked better, heading Golden Plover, whose appearance was of the best, by three pounds in the amount invested on the machines, the winner (Dante) being next choice. Directly the order was given Rhino skipped off with Tangaroa, and made the pace a craeker for a mile and a half, when the former subsided, leaving the outsider, Tangaroa (who had only £35 invested on him out of a total of £851), in charge. No sooner was Rhino done with than Laing rushed Dante along, and directly he got at the leader’s head it could be seen thet it was all over, for while Tangaroa was palpably tiring Dante was going as strong as a lion, the rest of the field being practically murdered by the extra strong bead of steam that Rhino and Tangaroa had treated them to at i he outset. Dante crossed the line with ease two lengths ahead of Tangaroa,. Social Pest third four lengths away, Opai coming with a big burst of speed in the last half-furlong just got up to Ahua’s son. The winner paid the second best dividend of tha day, £6 6s. Hilda 11., who has been showing a great deal of proficiency in the hunting field lately, accounted for lhe Hunt Club Steeplechase, none of her antagonists possessing a chance with her when her rider (Mr P. Neagle), who rode a well-judged race, let her have a say a couple of furlongs from home. The ancient Puketoi got second honors, and Coastguard third, the rest being nowhere. Several spills took place during the race, but none of the riders got hurt, for which let us be truly thankful, as there is no doubt that these amateur-ridden races do a lot to popularise the sport, and if disastrous mishaps occur they tend to abate interest in the game. Blackberry and Alpine were the only two backed with any fervour out of the six who lined up to do battle in the Trial Hurdles, the former being elected favorite. What an unlucky one this Blackberry is, to be sure, for when the event sei-med to be in his keeping he blundered at the last fence, allowing Alpine to win in very hollow fashion. 1 used to think that it was because I supported him previously that Biackberry had bad luck, but as 1 did not back him this I reckon I am not to blame. This L expressed to Jones, his trainer, who, 1 may say, felt a good deal aggrived at the performance of Douglas’s half brother. Maybe, if I had backed him upon this occasion I would not have mentioned it, but you know, you never can tell. Brennan, who, by the way, 1 christened, and who never won for me whenever I took the odds about him, annexed the final item of the day’s programme, the June Handicap. White took no risk about getting blocked this time, and in the run home he got to work on Torpedo’s noble son to some purpose, securing the verdict comfortably from Te Hapuka, who had always been in a prominent position, by a length, Moonraker, who came very fast in the last furlong, third. I cer-

tainly gave Brennan a chance in this race, as I did not back him, which I consider was a point in his favor.

Second Day—Saturday, June 25.

That the above club was wise in postponing the second day’s racing in consequence of the frightful weather that occurred upon the original daie fixed, was prove! by the good attendance and the spirited betting that ensued, the revenue from the totalisators being £49 more than upon the second day last season of a similar meeting. Punters discovered ere the day was out that Mr Henry had done his work well, for the location of winners w r as extremely bard, not a single first favorite coming to the relief of backers.

Hostilities commenced with the Hunters’ Hurdle Race, nine being up for the fray, Troubador being a pronounced favorite, but lie never had any sort of a chance with the veteran, Cheque, who came away when he was asked, placing the stake to the credit of Mr Jackson, who, by the way, acts as huntsman for the Hawke’s Bay Hounds, in a most easy fashion. The favorite was second, while Druggist, a good looking black son of Turquoise, got third place. • Two of the contestants,'Phantom and Ruby, both passed out at the first fence, but luckily neither of their riders were hurt. Cheque paid the nice working price of £7 14b. -latoomba, who was sold after his run in the Bracelet on Wednesday to a patron of J. Maher’s establishment, was the only elimination from the nine colored on the card for the Necklet, Rioter and Orizaba being the only two backed with any fervour. However, they did not have much to - do with the settlement, Riverdale, a six-year-old son of Cap-a-pie hailing from the other coast, taking charge at flag fall and continued in authority to the judge’s chair without much effort on his part. Rangimokai, aLe Loup mare who comes from Wairoa, was second, and had she managed to triumph she would have returned her supporters the substantial dividend of £5O odd. Hikomai and Rioter dead-heated for third place. Riverdale’s fanciers got a good price about him, collecting £7 5s for each sovereign invested on his chance. The good display that Riverdale had made for a mile and a half in the Bracelet on Wednesday had evidently been overlooked by backers on Saturday. Of the ten acceptors for the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase Plain Bill’s number was the only one missing when the numbers went up. Like his stable mate (Opae) on the opening day in the Hurdle Race, Toriki was selected as the correct solution of the enigma, but the sod-wall the final time round gave him his quietus, and he had been jumping villainously throughout, taking his fences in a half-hearted sort of style. The only good bit of fencing that he displayed was in his negotiation of the waterjump, which he got over really well. With the exception of the first furlong Rhino led from start to finish, Tangaroa, Morag, and Great Britain being his closest adversaries for nearly three miles, where the former gave out. From this out The Dauphin’s chestnut son sailed away in a commanding manner from his field. The greatest surprise of the lot was the good fencing and galloping power displayed by Great Britain, who should, when well matured, be heard of to advantage in similar contests. Tally-ho, through jumping too soon after Great Britain at the double half a mile from home, came down, and she and The Sinner, who broke down during the race, walked in. lam glad to say that T. Jones, who trained the winner, threw in for a good stake. He is one of the most painstaking and unassuming trainers we have -in this district. J. Redmond (the rider) came in for a great ovation when he returned to scale. It will be remembered that last year he steered Morag to victory n the same race. £lO 15 was the dividend disbursed over Rhino.

’Frisco, an aged son of Gladiator, had a soft thing in the following race, the Hunters’ Steeplechase, in which Mr Hyde rode a capital race on the winner. Hilda IL, the favorite, was severely handicapped by the soft going, and the heavy weight that she carried told its tale when she attempted to defeat ’Frisco. This was Mr Jackson’s second win during the day, as ’Frisco is an inmate of his stable. The winner, who was fourth favorite, paid £4 Ils. A quintette ranged up for the Hurdle Race, the first day’s hurdle winner, Dante, occupying the position of favorite, but though he made a forward move when a mile and a half had been compassed he soon retued, leaving Missfire in command, who easily held the premier position to the convincing post, Golden Plover under the whip all the way up the straight, failing to make any impression on Maxim’s son. Opou was a poor third. Sultador, the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s nominee, fell at the hurdle at the back, breaking his neck. The accident was caused through his standing too far off the hurdle. Morrigan, his rider, as a result of the accident, had his collarbone broken. Sultador cost his owner last March £l5O, so that what with purchase money, nomination fees, and the incidentals connected with training, lie must have cost the Squire of Karamu over a couple of centuries. Missfire, who was second favorite, paid £3 15s. It is rumored that J. Hickey has bought him on behalf of Mr Gollan, and when Hiekey returns to England Missfire will form one of the contingent that will accompany him over the seas. A wellbred one and proficient jumper as he is. Missfire must take a power of beating judging by. the way Ebor settled his antagonists at Home, for I consider Missfire a much better horse than Ebor. Of the eighteen colored on the eardin the Welter there were only three withdrawals, Pistol Grip, who is not suited in heavy going, Katoomba, who 1 explained before has found a new owner, and Waterstone. From a good send off Straybird was always there or thereabouts, and it was a remarkable sight to see the three following him all trained from the quarters of the Quinlivan family, the placed horses and nominators being Strav bird, I’. Quinlivan, jun.; Donovan, Mw Quinlivan; Bush Rose, Mr H. Lemon; Stockville, Mr H. Rathbone. The stable did not, I believe, partake very largely of the £3l 10s dis-

tributed from the automatic machine over Straybird’s success. Several Maoris and Chinamen were to be seen at the pay out window collecting. One Napier punter had a couple of tickets on Straybird, the price taking his fancy. The concluding item of the day’s bill of fare, the’ Final Steeplechase, saw that wonderful pony, Alpine, succeed, Morag, the favorite, being unable to beat her, although she gave him a great chance by running down the last jump, which allowed him to head her momentarily. Quickly straightening up the little mare buried him for paca in the rush for the turn from the last femce. Spreydon, who had been accepted with for both hurdles and who was scratched on the ground, was whispered about as a good thing, but the informants were bad judges, as all he could get was a moderate third. The machine put through for the two days £9,294, as against £8,965, w’hich was the amount taken at the winter meet ing in 1897.