WAIPAWA COUNTY RACING CLUB BIRTHDAY MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 487, 23 November 1899, Page 17

WAIPAWA COUNTY RACING CLUB BIRTHDAY MEETING.

(By Otte Napieb Cobbespondent.) This Suburban Club held a meeting on the Prince of Wales Birthday, but it was not a great success from a financial point of view, for the attendance was but limited, this is caused by the long way that patrons have to walk after doing a couple of hours ride in a railway carriage, and, I am sure, that the club must now recognise that they made a great mistake in altering the locale of their meetings from Kaikora. The speculation was very limited, and though the club tried the innovation by a 10s ticket machine outside, the return did not show that more was passed through than had previously been done, when both totahsators issued £1 tickets and amalgamated the totals, and right here it may be mentioned, that for weeks before the club had advertised that both machines would pay out separately, but the race books contained a notice to the effect that “The sum invested on the totalisator will be amalgamated and one dividend paid out.” This fact did not show a very careful revisal of the correct card pre of, and a notice had to be displayed, stating that both machines paid separate dividends. The weather was fine, indeed it was a bit too sultry, and the absence of any shelter of come sort or another, must have been keenly felt by the ladies who patrolled the encksures, certainly, they had the advantage of the grandstind, but the horsey female, and there’s tons of them in evidence at every meeting, like to scan their fancies before they risk their bullion, and they could not well do this, perched aloft, in the grandstand I know, I felt too warm to be comfortable, and it takes a power of sunshine to give me the heart-burn. Mr T. Cameron’s starting was not first-class throughout, though, in some instances, he made very good dismissals, but I reckon that it is want of practice that sometimes frustrates his efforts with the flags, besides, it must be borne in mind that he does not rub up agianst the jockeys so much at meetings as does Harry Piper, who meets the horsemen here, there and everywhere, and he is up to their each individual peculiarites, as regards btating the man with the flag, and this must give Harry Piper a bit the best of the deal when he takes his place at the starting post. A bungle had been made in the conditions of the Hurdle Race, for the programme in the Official Calendar gave it out that it was a Handicap Hurdle, whereas, the card of events that had been sent to owners, stated that it was a Handicap Hack Hurdle Race, with a generat'definition added, showing what constituted an eligible hack, that was a horse who had net won over £4O in one stake at time of starting (Hack and Hunter races excepted). En Avant, one of the nominees for the event, had won over this amount (the Maiden Steeplechase at the last Winter Meeting of the H.B. Jockey Club), but his nomination was accepted and his weight declared, the other entrants were eligible accord ing to the reading of the cards and posters issued to'owners and the public, and consequertly

matters looked a bit mixed, more especially, as En Avant had accepted, and was on the ground. He went to the post in company with Pistol Shot, Toramai, and Clovis, and won with a bit in hand from Toramai, when a protest was entered against him on the ground that the race had been started from the mile post instead of the If mile, this was verified as correct by the stewards at the meeting held, and they decided to run the event at the confusion of the day’s card. Impounding the money invested, the public certainly had GOOD CAUSE TO GRUMBLE, for here, at the start of the proceedings, they found their money locked up, through no fault of their own, but through the laches of the club’s official who was responsible for the proper placing of the starting poets It was also hard luck for the owner of the winner, for he had fairly and squarely won, and now he was forced again to contest, simply because the administration of the club was faulty. It was more especially severe upon En Avant, as he was carrying list 91b, his nearest opponent in weight,

Pistol Shot getting an allowance of 261 b from him, Tiamai 301 b, a r d Clovis 371bs. No blame is attachable to starter Cameron, for he assured me that he had been told to dismiss the hurdle field from the post he did. Consequently, upon this blundering, the patrons ot the club were in none too good humor, mere especially ihose who bad supported En Avant, fcr there is no d’sputing the fact that had the tace been a quarter of a mile further En Avant would have had an* easier v'etory than he did. Eleven proceeded to the post for the Maiden Plate (9st up all round). Eketerini Passerop <ulo —“ "What an infernal name this is to write,” no one ever tries to pronounce it, “PASS ALONG THE SPUDS,” is how the boys mangle it, and it is decidedly easier to get it out that way than in its original form —was elected a firm first favorite, Bulrush was second choice. Nothing, however, had a chance with the winner, Philanthropist-, a good looking five year old son of Renata (Albany—No Name), full-brother to Oudeis and Nonsencd,

who comfortably accounted for Bulrush in the run home, considering that the latter has only done three r ays work over short spiints since the Park Meeting last month, his showing was very meritorious. Eketerini Passoropoulo was a poor third. No fault can be found with the winner on the score of Pedigree, the sire, I have touched on abo»e, and his dam is by St. Leger from a full-sister to Carbine, besides being well got, he is a g>od one to look at, and he paid the nice price of £8 16s inside, and £4 3s outside. 3 he half-dozen acceptors for the W.0.8.0. Handicap lined out for the fray, Amoureux being a decided first favorite. Amphion, who looked brighter and more muscular than he did when seen out last month at the Park, filled second favorite’s position, the winner, Te Hapuka, being the outsider of the batch. He won by a head, after an exciting go with Ampbion for the last fifty yards of the journey; but he had bad luck at the home bend, where he got pocketted, and if such had not happened to him he would certainly have had a bigger margin to his credit when he crossed the line. His party did not fancy his chance, for he has not done any fast work since he was taken up a few months, back, and they did not know what he was capable,, of. His owner only had one ticket on him, Dave Munn (his trainer) not having a copper on him. This accounts for the splendid return from the machine —fourteen guineas inside, and £5 3a outside. The Stewards’ Hack Handicap attracted a field of half a dozen, Jewel Gun being elected first favorite by a good majority, Nukurau coming next in estimation The erratic Gold Cup, however, was on her very best behaviour, and, well handled by W. Jones, who had neither whip or spurs, she easily mastered Jewel Gun when heads were turned for home- Coming on full of running, she received the verdict by half a length, Eketerini Passeropoulo a poor third. Ascot’s daughter paid £7 4s inside, and £3 2s outside. Lady Lome had the greatest number of financial supporters of the five who weighed out for the Birthday Handicap, Amoureux filling the position of second choice, and The Frenchman having £l4 less invested on his number on the machine. Ted Woolley hopped Crawford Priory’s son quickly off the mark (it cost him £3 for his eagerntss at the post) at the word “ go,” and he made no race ot it, winning without exertion. Daphne was a good third, the well-bred Mistra (by Apremont—Nautilus, and full sister to to Cjnisca) being last. The Frenchman paid £3 16s inside and £2 Is outside, and this must be considered a good price for him. Lady Lome was a bit irritable at the post, and this doubtless interfered with her chance. She, however, is not so bad as she used to be, and this, I have no doubt, will quieten her down. She is a good sort, and WILL PAY TO FOLLOW. Philanthropist, who put up a 101 b penalty in the Welter Handicap, bringing his weight up to 9.7. had a pull in the betting from Uila, Musk and Titter (the other starters) being buM little fancied It was only an exercise gallop of a mild form for Philanthropist, as he was never asked to put his best foot forward, and won, pulling up, by a couple of lengths. The automatic dispei ser of odds paid his fanciers £1 18s inside ana £1 Is outside. Defiance and Defiant’s s ster, Bequest, were in most demand for the Electric Handicap’ Jewel G un and The Dude ranking as second and third favorites respectively. Gold Cup and Mongonui were on the same mark in the betting market. Mongonui held a good advantage coming round

the home bend, and it looked as if the half sister to Seahorse wus going to score, but Gold Cup came at her STRONGLY HALF UP THE STRAIGHT, vanquishing her by half a length. The winner carried 9.13, and cut out the journey in Imin 5 3-ssec, which shows that she is coming back to her old form. There is no doubt that a lot of her succt is due to Jones, who handled her better than I have seen her ridden for a long time. Truly, he is not the prettiest horseman I have seen, but he gets down on his mounts in a desperate style, and gets every ounce out of them. The favorite was never prominent, nor was The Dude, for they suffered by the start, which was a very straggling one. Gold Cup paid £8 inside and £2 16s outside. The original quartette En Avant, Pistol Shot, Toia Mai, and Clovis proceeded to the post for the Hurdle Race, En Avant having six pounds more invested on his number than Pistol Shot (this it must be remembered was the original investment, for though the totalisator was opened afresh no betting was registered). Clovis, who is an aged gelding by Fitz Hercules, was third choice. En Avant made play, and was in front to the third hurdle from home, when he fumbled upon landing, nearly unseating Redmond, who was hanging right over his side, he MADE A WONDERFUL RECOVERY for which he was vouchsafed a great round cf cheering from the spectators, the accident gave Pistol Shot and Toiamai a three lengths advantage, but on coming to the straight Redmond put in some of his best on in Avant and was soon on terms with Pistol Shot, who this time was ridden by Carey. Just as they reached the post, according to my views, and I was in a good position to see right against the jndge’s box, I made En Avant the winner by a half a head, the judge, however, was not of my v ay of thinking or seeing for he sent up Pistol Shot’s number which ruling did not give general satisfaction. I may mention that one owner (I may as well tell his name for it is nothing to be ashamed of) Mr W. Robinson, owner of Pistol Shot, offered to scratch his horse if the others did the same and allow En Avant to walk over for the stake, which was an expression of practical sympathy with Collins in his hard luck. Pistol Shot paid inside £2 10s, outside £1