After the Races.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 526, 23 August 1900, Page 12

After the Races.

THE NEW ZEALAND GRAND f NATIONAL MEETING .1 Second Day, Thubsday, August 16. RECORD REIGN’S GREAT PERFORMANCE. | [By oub Oantebbuby Cobeebpondbnt.l Racegoers and other visitors who attended the Canterbury Jockey Club’s second day’s racing at the National Meeting will long remember the | principal race of the day, the National Hurdles, and the brilliant performances accomplished by 1 the winner, Record Reign, and the two placed horses, Coeur de Lion and Torpina. The victory of the Auckland-owned gelding Record Reign stamps him as one of the most brilliant race horses ever seen in the colony. To carry 12st 121 b for two miles over hurdles and do the dis- 4 tance in 3min 46 3-ssee is a performance which | will probably stand for some time to come. Cceur de Lion and Torpina both put up record performances, but they had no chance with -j’ Record Reign. When it came to a finish on the Jj flat the son of Castor simply romped home. The rtC.ng was held in delightful spring weather, and as may be expected the course was in splen- > did order. A start was made with the Summer Handicap, "S one mile and a-quarter on the flat. Ten animate saddled up, Phryne going out favourite. Some delay was caused at the post owing to the Ji fractiousness of Proposal. When the barrier was raised this mare rushed through, and soon had a couple of lengths’ lead. St Ronald and Gold were Proposal’s nearest attendants at the end of the first two furlongs, when Khaki and Zeehan drew up, and Cora Linn led the others. Proposal entered the straight three lengths ahead of the field, and MAINTAINED THIS ADVANTAGE TO THE 1 FINISH. f Cora Linn was second, several lengths in front of 31 Zeehan.

The Hunt Club Cup, two miles and a-half over the Steeplechase course, brought out ten smart looking hunters, of whom Zither, The Whip, and Popgun were most fancied in the

betting, the first-named starting strong favourite. The Whip ran off at the first double fence, Jack and Johnny fell at the stand double, while Mainstay and Victor refused. This left five in the race, but Wahoo, who was behind from the ffart, broke down. Zither, Huntingdon, and Popgun were running in close company down the back stretch, but Huntingdon drew away at the seven furlongs post, and had a three lengths lead. Before the last jump was reached Zither •verhauled the leader and RAN HOME AN EASY WINNER by half-a-dozen lengths, Popgun easing off 100 yards, away. The fine field of fifteen went out to contest the August Handicap, six furlongs. Conqueror started a better favourite than Goldspur, while Ideal, Spider, and Dundas received more support than the others. Directly the barrier was raised Goldspur shot out and soon established a lead of three lengths from St Dennis and OorusaWarringdon was soon left in the rear, and had Dundas as a companion. Goldspur maintained his advantage until well into the straight, when Conqueror and spider almost drew level with him. A fine race home resulted in Goldspur just LASTING LONG ENOUGH TO WIN by a neck, a similar distance separatiag Con queror from Spider, with Ben Farley fourth and Benson fifth. Next came the great race of the day, the Grand National Hurdles. Much interest was taken in Record Reign, who looked the beau ideal of a racehorse. Visitors could not help being struck with the. appearance of the son of Castor, and despite his crushing Weight the public at once installed him a strong favourite Old Ilex, who has now made five attempts to win the National, caught the eye, and was considered to be Record Reign’s most dangerous opponent. Torpina, looking remarkably bright and well, came next in the betting. Halcyon and Dundee were quite neglected. When the flag fell Kaimate forged ahead with Torpioa, and they jumped the first hurdle together. Here Ilex ran off, and took no further part in the race. At the next obstacle Torpina was in front, with Haunri and Record Reign next in order; then came Kaimate and Coeur de Lion, and in this order the four ran down the back stretch. Torpina was still striding along in front at the six furlong post, where Kaimate was running second, the favourite being a length further away just ahead of Coeur de Lion. The lastnamed ran past the leader before the next jump was approached. Record Reign took second position, Torpina third, Hamate, fast tiring, next, the others several lengths in the rear. Coeur de Lion, running strongly, got to the last hurdle just clear of Record Reign, but once on the flat the latter SOON SILENCED ALL OPPOSITION, and quickly overhauling the leader ran home a very easy winner by half a length. Torpina was three lengths behind Coeur de Lion, and then came Dundee, Kaimate, Halcyon, Roller, Hauriri, and Light in the order named. J ime, >min 46 3-ssec, a record for the race. Scarcely had excitement over Record Reign’s victory in the National Hurdles subsided bef< re the horses were at the post for the Beaufort Steeplechase, for which there were eight starters, including the veterans Morag and Blackberry. The public selected Straj bird as the most likely one to win, but he could only get second to Kauri Gum. From the early part of the race Stray bird and Kauri Gum were in the lead. At the sod

wall Kauri Gum commenced to draw away from Straybird and Morag, and in the end beat Straybird BY TEN LENGTHS. Morag was fully twenty lengths behind Straybird, with Tally-ho fourth. The Second Hunters’ Hurdles was won by the rank outsider, Crash, from a field of six. Crash, who is a six-year-old gelding by Foulshot —Squib, occupied the leading position throughout, and won by two lengths from Long Tom, with Hairtrigger a length further away third. The Merivale Hurdle Race was won in the easiest fashion by Paria, a five-year-old gelding by Albert, out of Flirt. The winner led off at a slashing pace, and before going half a mile had drawn right away from the rest of the field. Right Metal and Ejector were ridden hard to overhaul the leader. Their efforts were futile, PARIA FINISHING UP EIGHT LENGTHS in front of Right Metal. A field of twelve saddled for the Islington Flat Handicap, one mile. Sir Lancelot was once again made favourite, but although he ran well he could not finish closer than third, being beaten by Strathnairn and Nihilist. Strathnairn was in the lead NEARLY ALL THE WAY, and defeated Nihilist by a couple of lengths. Sir Lancelot finished close up, just ahead of Huku. Thibd Day, Saturday, August 18. A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION. Seldom has the Grand National Meeting been held under happier auspices than the Meeting just concluded. The weather could not have been better, and the racing throughout was quite interesting enough to please the most fastidious of sports Saturday’s racing on the whole was, if anything, more exciting than that witnessed on the first and second days. Proceedings commenced with the Hunter’s Steeplechase, for which eight saddled up. Huntingdon; who had previously shown some of his old form, was most fancied, and after jumping all his fences in finished style, he came right away on the flat, beat Glenogle by three lengths, Rawai was close behind.

The flat races, right through the Meeting, attracted large fields, and no less than fourteen went out for the Heathcote Handicap, seven furlongs, on Saturday. Included in the number were Conqueror, who went out favourite, Strathnairn, Crusoe, Ben Farley, Spider and Ideal, When the barrier went up, the colours of Conqueror and Ideal were prominent, while Proposal was left at the post. Ideal gave way to Falka, Ben Farley and Phryne before the straight was reached, and when heads were turned foi 1 home, Conqueror was leading the above division. Falka was the first beaten, but Phyrne and Nihilist both tackled Conqueror, who, however

MAINTAINED HIS POSITION and finished a length ahead of Phryne, who was a neck in front of Nihilist. Next came Ideal, Strathnairn and Ben Farley. Several Grand National horses faced the starter in the Sydenham Hurdle Race. Two of them. Coeur de Lion and Torpina, who finished second and third to Record Reign in the big race, now occupied first and second positions. The rac„‘ was a pretty one to watch and resulted in a desperate struggle between three admittedly great hurdlers. Cavaliero was top weight with 12st 91b, and the resolute way he finished proved that he is one of the best in the land. Roller, Torpina and Dr Bill led the way over the first hurdle, when the lastnamed went to the front and began to cut out the pace at a merry bat. He kept in front till Cutts’s was reached, when Torpina passed him and showed the way down the back At the six furlong post Torpina was just in front of Dr Bill, with Cavaliero and Coeur de Lion coming fast. Captain Russell’s horse had run into first place before the straight proper was reached, and although he blundered at the last hurdle, he managed to keep his head in front to the post BEATING TORPINA BY THAT DISTANCE after a great, tussle. Cavaliero was two lengths further away, Kaimate fourth, Ilex fifth, Roller sixth and Dundee last. Another exciting race awaited those present in the Hunter’s Hurdles, Skipper just gaining first place by a head from Zither, while Hairtrigger was only half a length behind them. The Lincoln Steeplechase, two miles and a-half, brought out, among others, the three placed horses in the National Steeplechase, The Guard, The Friar and Straybird. This time Straybird finished first, with The Friar second and The Guard unplaced. Barbarossa refused at the first fence and Stray bird jumped away with the lead, cutting the pace out smartly throughout and taking his obstacles in neat style WAS NEVER HEADED, winning by four lengths from the Friar, Sylvan u 0 the same length away third and Apremete fourth. The Guard, who was favourite, was evidently troubled with his heavy impost and fell. In the Selwyn Handicap Goldspur showed hio form of two years back. He was quickest off the mark, and after leading throughout,.won by half a length from St Dennis. Sir Lancelot was placed third but only the judge could say whether he was really in front of Conqueror and Quiltina when the winning post was reached. Goldspur was favourite and won with plenty to spare. Torpina made amends for his previous defeats by scoring a popular win in the Final Hurdle Race. The Torpedo gelding carried the confidence of the majority of backers, and he beat Ilex by half-a length. Hauriri was third, Kaimate fourth, Right Metal fifth and Kanaka pulled up very lame. Ihe Hunter’s Plate 11 andicap, one mile and a-half on the flat, produced an exciting finish between Proverb and Rex 11, the former gaining the verdict by a head. Hairtrigger was four lengths behind third.