AFTER THE RACES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 698, 23 July 1903, Page 6

AFTER THE RACES.

WELLINGTON E C- WINTER MEETING. FIRST DAY. The Wellington Racing Club’s Wimer Steeplechase Meeting opened under l •mewhat unfavourable circumstances. The course and lawn, owing to several days rain, was in a very si dden condition, rendering locomotion difficult for b~th bipeds and quadrupeds. His Excellency the Governor and party, together with a fair number of members of both the Upper and Lower Houses, put in their appearance. Members attending the Racing and Trotting Conferences also largely availed themselves of the club’s kind invitation, and considering the conditions both O' crhead and under foot the attendance "as satisfactory. The totalisator investments for the first day were £8974, being ouiy £47.3 less than last year.

The meeting opened with the Stewards’ Handicap, for which Ostiak was sent out a slightly better favourite than St. Olga. The Porirua horse was smartly away, and Jenkins letting him run along was never headed, and won by four lengths. St. Olga early got into second position, and the pair finished four lengths in front of Rangitata ; the others raced up.

The Miramar Hack Race had fourteen starters. The Porirua representative, Position, was favourite, while Roseshoot and the winner were next in demand. Position was quickest away, but Royal Blue, however, soon got to him, and led after going three furlongs. Position, vigorously ridden by Jenkins, made a game effort in the straight, but Royal Blue, under punishment, held his own, and won a good race by a length. Lady Field, Rebellious, and Commonwealth were the next three to finish, the balance being strung out.

The Wellington Steeplechase brought out eight contestants. The veteran Nor’-west was a pronounced favourite with the touts, although the Canterbury rep., Sultana, had £8 more invested on him in the totalisator. The race, however, was a chapter of accidents. Sultana was taken to the front, and was going strong when he reached the sod wall, over which he toppled. -Gobo and Straybird, who were just ; in his wake, collided with the fallen horse, and both lost their riders. This left Marine in front, and he led right -round to the sod wall in front of the Stand, where he came down. Gryphon and P.pi then carried on the running. The former, however, mistook the course when leading, and lost quite half-a-furlong. Nor’-west then joined the leaders, and going on won with something in hand by several lengths, Pullack and Pipi finishing close together ; Gryphon, who had made up considerable ground, some twenty lengths away. Nor’west, who fenced faultlessly, was nicely handled by D. Wright, and the victory was very popular. The Parliamentary Handicap, the principal flat event of the programme, was dontested by a capital field of thirteen horses, Exmoor was withdrawn in favour of his stable companion,, Ostiak, who put up a 71b penalty. Shrapnel Shell was a slightly better favourite than Sanfoin, Ostiak was also well backed, whilst St. Olga was neglected. This (quartette, however, were prominent all through. Shrapnel Shell and Sanfoin were in command at the end of two furlongs. St. Olga headed Sanfoin at the turn, but failed to reach Shrapnel Shell, who won by a couple of lengths, Sanfoin and Ostiak finishing in that order at intervals of a couple of lengths.

The Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechasehad seven starters, and produced an interesting race. Counterbine and Kaitere alternately led, but nearing the turn for home, Kaloo and King Lear joined them, and quickly assuming command, finished in that order, Kaloo winning easily. All the acceptors faced the starter for the Winter Hurdle Race. Haydn and Waiwera were best backed. Southern backers, however, strongly favoured theprospects of Slow Tom, and they, were more than justified, as Mr R. Harley git once took him to the front, and thereafter the race was practically over bar accidents. The heavy going appeared to suit him,' and although Haydn, Mourner, and Tradewind made attempts to get on terms, Mr Harley had only to sit still to win by several lengths ; Haydn was a. couple of lengths in front of Mourner. The Te Aro Hack Handicap saw a field of twenty face the starter, Matuku, Rapids, and Commonwealth being withdrawn. The large field were spread right across the course at the five furlong post, those on .the outside being placed at a great disadvantage, inasmich as they h a d to stand on rough, uneven ground, and in consequence those on the inside had a lot the best of the going, and quickly put a gap between themselves and the outside division. Clovelly, the Porirua representative, who was ridden by- Jenkins, was made favourite, Repulse arid'Parkshot being next in demand. Silver Star, Repulse, Sandy, and Black Squall formed the leading division, but the former failed to stay the race quite out, and Repulse soming strongly won by three lengths, the favourite, Clovelly, being: never prominent. SECOND DAY. The second day opened in capital weather, and the attendance was an improvement on the first day, the lair sex especially being strongly represented. The going was -very holding, but was not so sloppy as on the opening day ; thototalisator investments were £9693,. bringing the total for the meeting up to £18,194 for the meeting. The racing was excellent, the opening event, the Onslow Handicap, being one of the best finishes, ever seen on the course, Plalypus, Ostiak, St. Olga, Rangitata, Sandy, Sanfoin, fighting out a desperate finish. The halfdozen raced up the straight arid past theJudge’s box like a charge of cavalry. The Winter Oats Handicap was also an exciting race, Exmoor, Sanfoin, Tupara, St. Olga, Rangitata, and Menura, all appeared to have a chance half a furlong from home. The handicapper, Mr J.. Chadwick, had reason to be satisfied with his adjustments for the flat events especially. Eleven faced Mr Piper for the Onslow Handicap, St. Olga being best backed, Goldspur and Ostiak also having numerous supporters. Platypus againgot away first with Goldspur next, Ostiak and Sanfoin being the last pair to leave the barrier. They, however, soon made up their lost ground, and at the turn were at the leading division. Goldspur was the first to give way, leaving, the placed horses and Sanfoin., Rangitiata and Sandy to fight out a desperate race, which resulted in a win for Platypus by a short neck, a like distance between second and third, the other three in a cluster. There is n.o doubt but that Ostiak would have won had he got away on even terms with the winner. The Trial Plate had sixteen, runners,. Lee Enfield, a stable companion to Lady Lillian, being installed a strong favourite. The race was interesting. Black Squall, Royal Blue, Silver Star, and Lee Enfield appeared likely to furnish the winner until Fred Davies was seen to bring Mr O. Driscoll’s colt Commonwealth along on the outside at a great pace, and keeping him going he got up and won by a clear length, .Black Squall a length in front of the favourite.

The July Steeplechase Handicap had five starters, Nor’-west being withdraw?!. Sultana fell at the first fence, and Scallywag slipped into the sod wall and came down, this leaving Gryphon, Straybird and Pipi racing in that order. The former compounded half a mile from home, and Straybird won easily, with Pipi some distance away. The Winter Oars Handicap brought out a, field of fourteen, Exmoor and St. Olga being about equal favourites. The latter, however, evidently felt the effects of her previous exertions, and for the first time out of four starts failed to gain a place. Although she led Sanfoin and Exmoor for the first three furlongs, she just failed to stay the race out. Tupara joined Exmoor and Sanfoin at the turn, but the Porirua colt won nicely by half a length. The Final Hurdle Race saw ten horses weigh out. Slow Tom and Rags were Well backed, the latter losing his rider at the first hurdle, but continued the race and finished in front of the winner. Kharki and Smithy made the pace, Slew Tom and Boko running. Smithy retired after a mile and a quarto’*, and Slow Tom compounded shortly afterwards, Boko then joined Kharki, an 1 coming on won by four lengths. Mourn;”*, who was in a good position through<;ut the race, was three lengths off, Waiwera a bad fourth. The Second Hack and Hu liters’ Steeplechase had half-a-dozen, starters. Kaloo, Kaitere and King Lear were most prominent. Kaitere came strongly after reaching the straight apd won nicely. The Thorndon Hack Handicap saw another large field, fifteen facing the starter, Matuku and Repulse being most fancied. Matuku was soon in command, and stalling off a determined challenge by Repulse, won by a length. This was Matuku’s first appearance at the meeting, and the owner and his friends supported the filly loyally, and a number of Wellington residents went home happy.