After the Races.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 512, 11 October 1900, Page 13

After the Races.

(By oub Wanganui Coebebpondent.} THE WANGANUI JOCKEY CLUB’S SPRING MEETING. Fibst Day, Tuesday, Ootobeb 2nd. After a succession of wet weather, the above Olub was very fortunate in getting fine weather for the above popular Spring fixture, and although the attendance was not so good as I have seen, speculation was very brisk, as is proved by the amount which passed through the totalisator for the.- two days, which showed a substantial increase of £2063 fr.:m the same fixture last year. Those having the management must be complimented upon the manner .in which the Meeting was conducted, especially the secretary, Mr Frank Moffatt, who, along with his assistants, Messrs George Murch and Davis, worked very hard. Mr Chas Chavennes was very happy in his various attempts at starting, and got his fields away m first-class style. Oracle was the hero of the first day’s racing, winning the Spring Handicap like a racehorse, and adding further to his laurels by annexing the Flying Hapdicap later on in the day. Renown easily accounted

for the Guineas, which, was a strongly run race throughout. . r • ' Racing commenced with the Spring Handicap, for which a good field of thirteen started. The runners .were dispatched to a splendid start, and. Rosella and Crusoe, who got away well, and were leading passing the stand, closely followed by The B empie, who Was going along in a very determined style and racing well. Racing along the back, Crusoe was showing the way and had a< good lead at this point, his nearest attendants being The Hempie and Gowrie, also showing up well, Bluejacket lying about fifth amongst the bunch, and with Oracle gradually getting into a good position. Passing the six furlong post, the son of Cruiser was still holding his own and. going strongly, but here Oracle and Rosella, who had come through her field, made determined efforts to get up, and gradually down Crusoe in the straight, Oracle, to the great surprise of the backers of the Auckland mare * BEATING HER ON THE POST ' by a bare neck, and rewarding his backers with the good dividend of £25 16s, in which his owner had a good share. ' After the excitement had worn over backers ; turned their attention to the Trial Hack Handicap. Coma was given good solid support, and I can quite understand the public following this* horse, as he is a clinker and must be closely. ■ watched. He, however, rah nowhere, and also Ngatihuia, who came with good accounts sufficient to make him favourite. Another large dividend was in store for the public, who had quite overlooked Queen’s Quard and also Westguard, both by Vanguard, and it was left to the lastnamed to pass the post first, closely pursued by Queen’s Guard in the good time of Imin 19 4.5 th sec.

Nobility was the only abseritee from the Wanganui Guineas, leaving six starters to face the barrier. All the contestants were eagerly* scanned in the paddock, and the general opinion was expressed that Renown was the one most, likely to win, as he looked trained to the hour. After the preliminaries were over the publip sent out the Hon J. D. Ormond’s colt a strong ite, For nosan following in the betting, and Heiress being the outsider, there only being £52 invested on her number. After a slight delay at the post the youngsters got well away,-Gallagher on Beddington immediately taking the lead, but not without freely using the whip to get him into p jsition, which he kept running along the back, when having put half-a-dozen lengths between himself and his nearest attendant, it looked as if he would not be caught At the half-mile post Davis on Renown now made his effort and soon reduced the gap, getting on level terms before heads were turned for home, and it was now apparent that Beddington had shot his bolt, as be would nob respond to Gallagher’s calls, and Renown had '

NO DIFFICULTY IN HOLDING HIS OWN and winning very easily, Oannie Ohiel getting into place, and Formosan, who surely could not have shown his true form, a bad last. Hurdle races are always popular at the Wanganui Meeting, and from a splendid acceptance of ten all faced the starter. Kaimate looked as if he had come through a splendid preparation, and was head and shoulders above the others as regards condition, and the odds were freely laid on his chance of scoring, 325 investors pinning their faith to him From a fairly good start he was at once taken to the front, but his efforts were soon supplanted by Waiwera, who led past the stand closely followed by Troubadour and Light, Kaimate being handy, but blundering at the next obstacle he spoilt his chance, and Cochrane pulled him up. Going along the back of the course Silver Ray came to grief, and Hangfire also came down, leaving Troubadour with a good advantage, but it was now noticed that Whetu was coming through his field, and was being well handled by W. Wigg : ns. who is a veteran at Hurdle racing and knows exactly when to bring his mount along. Coming round into the straight Billy applied the whip to hie mount and soon had Troubadour in trouble, and

RAN HOME AN EASY WINNER by two lengths, the last to finish bjing Derry, who came to light on the second day. . The Hack Hurdles which followed was a chapter of accidents, five out of the nine competitors coming to grief, Parker, who was riding Coral, sustaining concussion of the brain, and being taken to the Hospital, where I hear he is doing well. F. Cochrane had also a very narrow escape, his mount rolling completety over him. Ngapuhi, who got away with the lead and was going well fell at the hurdle in front of the stand, and at the next obstacle Wharangi, Madman, and Coral came down, leaving four to fight out the finish, in which Frost easily settled his < opponents, and won after a good finish with Hautonga, who was brought along at a good bet and r early got up. Another'good div was paid out in this event, as Wharangi carried most money. ; ,

Perhaps the best start of the day was the Handicap Hack Race, in which the eleven contestants were sent away in a line, and it was very difficult to say which was first as they swept past the stand in a bunch, but after going along the far reach Mazona showed out and kept the lead along the back, the rest being all together, and a very pretty race ensued. Coming round the bend for home, he v ever, it was seen that Haydn had the measure of Mazona, and going to the front .at this stage he ran along and romped home

A VERY EASY WINNER by two lengths. Myra, from whom I expected good things, bringing up the rear. The last race on the card, the Flying Handi-’ cap, caused considerable speculation, backers going for a recovery on Sentry, who was given out as the correct pea, but they were again left in the lurch, as Oracle, even with his penalty, had no difficulty in again winning easily, and rewarding his backers with a substantial dividend of £l2 18s.

i must; admit that I was really disappointed with the form shown by some of the horses in this event, such good performers as Gowrie, with such a nice handy weight as Bst 01b, and Last’ ’’g not making any show whatever. Second Dav

The weather was all that could be desired for the second day and a large attendance was the result. Speculation was very brisk. The lawn and surroundings looked in beautiful condition, and a large number of the fair sex were present in their spring costumes, giving the ground a very pleasant appearance. Advance was given a great reception on returning to scale after his ■ easy victory in the Wanganui Stakes, in which v he was never extended, winning in a common canter. He is a great horse, and it looks as if the Canterbury Cup and also the Jubilee Chip at the Christchurch Meeting were tins for him after C his display in the Stakes. The four acceptors lined up ror me start in the Hack Stakes Handicap, in which Cora Linn had no difficulty in winning in Imin 19sec, carrying Set. This is one of the West Coast hacks which has made her name since coming out at the Patea Hack Meeting when, it will be remembered, she was disqualified. After her running of the previous day, it looked a good thing for Maxona in the Hack Plying, but. the public pinned their faith on Xlusion, trained by F. Tilley, of Tisdell. She, however, swerved at the six furlong post, and appeared to run off, losing all her chance. Tukapa ran well, but could not get into a place at the finish. The public had evidently overlooked the fact that Mr Evitt had taken great liberties with Derry in Second Hurdle Race, in which he had only given him 9st 51b, one mile and three* auarters, which is Derry’s best distance. Why hould Gowrie, a maiden at hurdle events, be asked to give Derry weight ? A good start saw Waiwera in the lead, closely followed by Gowrie, who was fencing well. At the back the first time round, the field were closely bunched, and Hangfire was running well up in company with Waiwera, Gowrie still holding a good position. Kaimate, running at this stage about fifth, and going well .within himself, looking as though he was waiting his opportunity of getting through, but Derry .now showed out of the ruck, and got into second position five furlongs fiom home, and along with Hangfire at the head of affairs and, after a good set to in the straight, A SPLENDID FINISH SAW

Derry first past the post by a good length and •-half. All the acceptors for for the Hack Hurdles faced Mr Ohavannes. Puanga was given out as the one most liked, and upset the good thing in Wharangi, but the first named was short lived, as he came down at the first fence, giving his mount (Wall) a severe shaking. Frost repeated his victory of the first day, and AGAIN WON EASILY from Madman, who was paying a big price. The next event caused considerable interest, and all the contestants were eagerly inspected, the event, the Wanganui Stakes, being of the value of £250. Advance was a perfect picture, and just played with his field coming through when wanted, and romping home in the easiest of manners without being asked to gallop or the whip being applied. Cannie Chiel went to the front from an even start, being followed by Oracle and Cceur de Lion. After six furlongs bad been covered Bluejacket put in a challenge, which was only short lived however, as Crusoe soon supplanted him and was racing for the lead. Oannie Chiel here dropping back almost last, which place upto this had been occupied by Bush Rose, who is altogether out of form. Here Jenkins on Advance made a forward move, and taking Oracle’s measure soon had him settled and Cceur de Lion also, who had been running a splendid race, and shaking Advance up he came away and

WON IN THE COMMONEST OF CANTERS by three lengths in 2min 43 2-ssec with 10st 51b up, so the racing public can form their own opinion of what I call a second Carbine. I looked upon Haydn to win the Final Hack event, but Queen’s Guard got away and made the pace a clinker, having them all in trouble turning into the straight, and winning easily from the top weight. After Advance’s display in the Wanganui Stakes nothing would go double but Tortulla his stable mate—in the Marangi Stakes Hondi cap, the final race of the meeting, which she won almost as easily as Advance did his race. She is looking in great condition, and must have a say in the settlement of the New Zealand Cup.