After the Races.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 511, 4 October 1900, Page 12

After the Races.

THE GERALDINE MEETING-

[By ottb Oantebbury Correspondent.']

Racing men have had plenty of racing lately, for meetings have been held at Amberly, Umaru, Oamaru, Ashburton, and Geraldine, during the past month. The Geraldine fixture was successfully carried out last week. Sport on the first day started with the Squatters Handicap, but only two went out, First Blood, Bst 12lb, and Proposal, Bit 41b. There were eighteen and ahalf tickets on each, but First Blood could not raise a gallop and his opponent won in a canter by three lengths. Dividend £1 16s. The field for the Geraldine Handicap, one mile and aquarter, consisted of Nihilist, 9st 131 b, Proposal, 7st 121 b 71b penalty, Seabrook, 7st 91b, and Clytie, 6st 91b Nihilist was made a strong favourite. Proposal was in front until six furlongs had been covered, when she gave way to Seabrook, who in turn was displaced from premier position by Nihilist. Clytie challenged the favourite when heads were turned for home, and after a rattling finish beat him by half a length. Proposal was three lengths further away, third, just ahead of Seabrook. Dividend £4 Bs. The Hack Selling was easily won by Constance, a six-year-old mare by Young Cheviot, Sun Rose second, and Heliograph third Dividend £1 10s. The winner, who was bought in for £l4, won the Disposal Stakes on the secohd day, beating Nor’-Wester by a head, while Sun Rose finished third. This time Constance returned her supporters a dividend of £ll4s, and was again bought in for £l9 St Denis, carrying 9st 101 b, was too good for his three opponents, Warrington 9st lib, Lady Killer 7st 111 b, Mitra, 6st 91b, in the Flying Handicap, and won easily by a couple of lengths from old Warrington, with Mitra a good third. Dividend £1 Bs. The Belfield Handicap, seven furlongs, brought out Huku, 9st 131 b, First Blood, lOst, Cameo, 9at, and Relic Bst 21b. Huku received most support. First Blood cut out the running for three furlongs, when he was joined by Huku, and the pair came on into the straight together, but at the distance they were passed by Cameo, who beat Huku by a length and a half, First Blood being several lengths behind. Dividend £3 6s. On the second day Clytie, 7st9lb (Phsethon —Neroli) a>ain carried off the principal handicap, beatirg Nihilist, 9st 121 b, by half a lenth, Seabrook 7st 81b, occupying third place, two lengths behind Nihilist. H ku. 7st 131 b, and First Blood, 7st 101 b, were the only other starters. Huku stumbled badly at the top turn, and lost whatever chance he may have had of winning. Dividend £8 4s. The Railway Handicap was won by

The Orphan, 9st 31b, beating Lady Medallist, 9st Warringion lOst 111 b, and Mitra 7st 71b. The winner led from start to finish. Dividend £2 18s. Retreat, a four-year-old mare by Apremont — Cannonade easily carried off the Winchester Hack Handicap, beating Nor’-Wester by a length. Grand Shot ran into third place, and behind him came Aldershot, Valentine, and Lady Gorton. St Denis carrying lOst 91b, accounted for the Farewell Handicap, getting home in a canter from The Orphan, Bst 41b, First Blood, Bst 21b, and Warrington, 9at 71b Dividend £1 14s.

WAIPAWA COUNTRY COUNTRY RACING CLUB’S SPRING MEETING.

|[By our Hawke’s Bay Correspondent.]

First Day, Wednesday, Septembeb 26.

Jupiter Pluvius has evidently got it in for the above Club, for he has been over attentive to them for several meetings past, and on the opening day of this season’s gathering, he again turned the tap on, consequently the attendance was poor and speculation limited. The ball was set moving with the Trial Hack, one mile, all the acceptors, six m number, lining out for argument. Cajabianca, the half-brother to The Shrew, was first choice in betting transactions, Bonnie d’Eau next best. Neither of these neddies got into a place, victory resting with Eau-de-Vie, a six-year-old son of Jet d’Eau (sire of Tirant d’Eau and other* good ones). His supporters were well rewarded for their allegiance to him, for the dividend returned to holders of the tickets was £22 2a.

A quartette weighed out for the First Hurdles, Moifao, a half-brother to Ruby, the hurdle and steeplechase mare, having a strong pull over his opponents in the betting quotations. The public were on the spot, and their selection for the favourite was in front the whole journey. Will-o’-tho-Wisp, who bad got pricked when being shod after the late Rangitikei Meeting, and Torpina, whose chance was not fancied by her connections in the heavy going, were withd awn from the W.C.R.O. Handicap, their defection leaving four to go forth to battle for supremacy. Daphne, who had twice before captured the stake, was elee'ed first favourite by a good majority, Tirade beating The Miner by a solitary pound for the second favourite’s position. The event needs but little description, for Daphne, quite at home in the going, was always well up, and though McKinnon had to get at her from the home bend to avert the determined and vigorous attack of Bonnie d’Eau, she greeted the judge by a length, with The Miner, who apparently bad enough of it at a mile, a poor third. The Maiden Hack Race only attracted a trio of starters in Miss Wester, Ogle and Assay er. The two latter were equal favourites. Assayer, who is owned and bred by Mr W. Rathbone, was first out of the slips, and making every post" a winning one never left the situation in doubt, winning comfortably from Ogle. The biggest field of the two days’ meeting, nine, weighted out for the Electric Hack of five furlongs, Nelson’s half sister by Carbine—Mongonui, being a strong first order, the ultimate winner Roer coming next, Lady’s Gink third pick. The winner got well away, and though he surrendered to Mongonui after going a few strides she only retained the premier position for barely a furlong Roer then took charge, and had matters all his own way, securing the verdict easily from West Guard, Purimu third. Torpina and Kissmary were struck out of the Flying Hancicap, and their elimination reduced the field to three, Lady Lorne, Donovan and Whitirea. Mr Robinson’s mare had a very solid following, the investments on her number being nearly twice as much as that on the other pair combined. Donovan, who looked bright and hearty (he was the outsider of the party), let out from the word go, and strode along gaily in front with a three lengths’ lead to the home bend, which is a very short distance from the winning post Robinson, who rode Lady Lorne, seemed to be impressed with the idea that he only had to send his mount along for her to win. Such might have been the case had he got at her sooner, but he delayed too long, and Donovan, sticking to his work like a Trojan, just got there by the barest of heads.

Only a brace, in Passion Fruit and Waitio proceeded to the post for the discussion of the Welter Hack, the former being favourite. He did not go back on his fanciers either, nor did he give them an uneasy moment, as he led the whole way, winning without an effort by several lengths.

Second Day— Thursday, 27th September.

A greatly-improved climate greeted those who wended their way to the convincing ground on Thursday, for the sun got going at his best early, and made matters pleasant and cheery for all interested. Speculation was again of a very feeble and limited order, £2,500 passing through the machines for the two days fixture. Hostilities started with the Stewards’ Hack Handicap, only three going forth to do battle for the event. Westguard, being picked as the proper solution of the problem, Purimu next best supported, The Pony, the outsider of the trio, the punters got at it all right. For the horses finished in the order in which they were supported on the automatic dispenser of’odds. Mephisto was taken out of the Hurdle Race, leaving four to contest the race. The previous day’s victor, Prodigal, found most support, despite the fact that he had been risen 2at 21b over the weight carried by him on the proceeding day. True the distance was a quarter of a mile shorter. Waitio cut out the pace merrily from the send-off, and soon had a good substantial lead, and moved in much better style than on the opening day, and won comfortably from Moifaa.

The Miner, Bonnie d’Eau, and Daphne, comprised the opposing forces for the Spring Handi-

cap. Bonnie d’Eau having a£2 better following than Daphne in the betting transactions, The Miner having a trifle more than half the amountinvested on his bshalf, than that risked on either of his opponents. G. Price, upon this occasion, rode The Miner, and he brought him to the front after going about seven furlongs, and kept in there to, Daphne getting second money. Three was again the main in the following event, the Homewood Hack Bonnie d’Eau ag*in being one of the contestants. He had a bit of a steadier too, for he was carrying 9st 111 b, Passion Fruit being m receipt of 29 b, and. Tiraillement (a full brother to tirade) 391 b. Notwithstanding his load, Bonnie d’Eau was only three pounds behind Passion Fruit, the favourite, in the machine investments. McKinnon, who had the leg up on Douglas’ son, took him to th© front just before reaching the straight, and then it was all over, the fiat being secured by him in a ridiculously easy fashion, Tiraillement a poor third.

Eight filed out for the Riversdale Hack of four - , furlongs. Roer filled the position of first choice, Mongonui a fiver behind him, and Lady’s Link third pick. Blank was first out of the slips, and he never gave v ay, but coming on at full steam ahead all the way crossed the line a couple of lengths to the good in advance of Eau de-Vie, with Roer third.

A quartette proceeded to the post for the decision of the Grandstand Handicap, Lady Lorne having a strong following which placed her in the first favourite’s position, The Miner next choice. The latter never left the issue in doubt, for he rushed to the head of affairs directly 1 iper gave the word, and though Whitirea came at him very determinedly in the last furlong, he was able to shake off the attentions of the black. Donovan was third.

The meeting was rung down with the Highweight Handicap. ’ Tiraillement and Roy being: withdrawn, a trio was thus left to go out. Eau-de-Vie had the largest following, Coolgardie next choice. Two furlongs from home he pulled to the front, with Eau-de-Vie close up. Just before coming to the straight, the latter got the lead, but the Derringer gelding was not yet done with, and "Redmond, getting to work on him in earnest, landed him a winner by a bare length.