AFTER THE RACES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 747, 30 June 1904, Page 8

AFTER THE RACES.

HAWKE’S BAY JOCKEY CLUB’S WINTER MEETING-

The Metropolitan Club of this district can assuredly congratulate themselves over their venture, good attendance, spirited speculation, and excellent finishes in the majority of instances being the case at Hastings this week. True, the class engaged were not of a top bunch lot, but no doubt this fact had a great deal to do with the good results accruing .from the fixture, for the even nature of the contestants made the task of selecting winners a difficult one. The diversity of opinion led to good betting, for when the figures were totaled up for the two days, it was seen that the good total of £11,147 had passed through the machines, this amount being £3102 in excess of the sum handled at a similar gathering last season. All of the officials were au fait in the discharge o f their many duties, and the willing waj m which they were aided by the stewards, who were ever on the alert to make matters pleasant for their patrons, made business hum during the two afternoons. With a good meeting in the Autumn, folic wed by the one under notice, it appears as if the Club had turned the bad luck corner, and brighter days are in store for this ofd-established racing institution. I presume the wish is father to the thought, that when the Hawke’s Bay executive draft their programmes for next season, they will find them.selves in a position to distribute more stake money. The Hawke’s Bav Steeplechase attracted a field of seven, Stockman being the only defaulter from the acceptors. Papatu was selected a solid first favourite, Victory and Eclair filling the second and third choices respectively. Backers sized up the matter with a good deal of accuracy, for the abovementioned two occupied the places, though the second pick, Victory, was hailed the conqueror. There is not the slightest doubt that the Dreadnaught gelding had luck on his side, for had Papatu been ridden with more judgment and made more use of in the earlier stages of the contest, honours would have come his way. The Crackshot gelding looked in fine fettle, and when he was allowed to dandle along while Touhatu and Victory were out by themselves in front, it seemed to fie a poor display of intelligence on the part of his rider. If he had been hampered with a big impost the riding could have been understood, but as he only had lost 91b, which, it must be admitted, is only a fair racing weight, it was naturally expected that he would have been kept within striking distance of the leaders, Touhatu and Victory, more especially when the fact is taken into consideration that when Papatu was hitting out that he fenced better than he did in the first mile, when he was going at a poor pace. At the sod wall the last time round, Evening toppled over, and before reaching the next obstacle it could be observed that Eclair was making bad weather of it. Victory, who had practically speaking, been in command from the fall of the flag, was the first over the fence, and though 'Burns was putting in some arduous work on Papatu, the Ashburton representative stuck to his guns like a Trojan, and saluted the judge with a half-length’s advantage. Touhatu, who swerved badly in the run home, just got snuffed out for third berth by Eclair, who battled on gamely to the bitter end, ten lengths separating him from Papatu. Victory was bred by the Hon. J. D. Ormond. His dam, Victrix, is a halfsister by Gladiator to Morag, who ten years ago won the same event. The two Open Hurdle Races were productive of a keen argument, more especially on the opening day, when Creusot and Aroha fought out a great d tel for supremacy, the latter getting the best of the deal, though Creusot at a critical moment swerving from the whip just at the distance post. Had Sand got the big gelding on terms with Aroha before he applied pressure, he v ould have had no opportunity of gett’ng on the inside of Rollo’s representative. A mishap which cost him the race, for the time taken to get Creusot straightened up again gave Aroha the advantage when he required it the most. D- foe, who had in company with Sunr os, been in the van for a mile and a (matter, when the latter caved in, and a bit further on Defoe surrendered to / roha and Creusot and, though the Robinson Crusoe gelding never flinched vrier punishment, he could not get v thin two lengths of the winner. Evening did not run as well as she • raviously has in this class of events, a:d no doubt her indifferent display was in a measure due to the fact that .schooling over country has taught her t get up in the air at the obstacles, t hich necessarily caused her to lose t me at the hurdles. The Gucsser, who was a good deal fancied in some quarters, was never

prominent, a remark which also applies to the balance of the runners, with the exception of Sunmos, to whom I have previously referred. He was very erratic in his lepping, and showed a tendenc' * o run his fences down.

On Th-fsday, Creusot, Aroha and Defer were again the leading lights, and the former, getting a clear run, experienced no difficulty in placing the stake to the credit of Mr T. H. Lowry. Aroha just as easily silencing Defoe as Creusot had accounted for him. Evidently the Torpedo clan took kindly to the obstacles, for it is only the other day that Creusot made his debut over the impediments, his record being—five starts, one win, two seconds, and twice unplaced. Like Roseshoot, another scion of the Torpedo family, he made his first appearance and first score on the Hastings convincing ground. Another novice, also a Torpedo, was successful at the venture, this being la, who without an effort triumphed in the Hack Hurdles on the opening day Ostiak, the favourite, fenced very slovenly, and ran himself to a standstill after going a mile and a half, and finished a bad fourth. Ontario, who secured second berth, fenced and galloped well, but his efforts were handicapped by his rider, who delayed his run rather long. Arthur Ford, a bygone lightweight of some celebrity, had the mount on Ontario, and this was his first public ride over the sticks.

la gave a meritorious showing, for she never laid toe on the obstructions, and the superior pace that she is endowed with landed her a comfortable winner. Her owner, Mr Lowry, must congratulate himself upon the possession of such a good trio for fencing purposes as Comfort, Creusot and la, and this efficiency shows conclusively that Arthur Goodwin, their mentor, is deserving of a deal of praise for the ability and cleverness that his jumping brigade are showing.

Warwick, another debutant over hurdles, succeeded well, and with more schooling should be heard of as a winner in the future. Valima made a poor display, and No Shot, who showed a bold front for a little over a mile and a quarter, soon succumbed. A couple of promising candidates for chasery honours in Rhyl and Nadador, both conquered at the meeting. The former gained his success in the Trial Steeplechase, in which event he gave a finished exhibition of lepping, and, though the class opposed was not of very high grade, he did all that was asked. In his second attempt, Rhyl had to strike his colours to Sabruer, who showed more pace on the flat. Nadador, who was a good deal hampered by the inferior fencing of some of the other opponents, showed a lot of cleverness in getting out of difficulties, and coming away in the straight had matters all her own way. The cattle opposed to her were of a decidedly poor order certainly, but the comfortable style in which she annexed leads to the impression that when pitted against a superior lot that she will be quite able to hold her own.

Cavill, a useful sort of gelding, by Natator, who last season was pottered about by Mr R. H. Skipwith, when he was following his profession in this district, got away easily with the Hunters’ Handicap Hurdles, but the others were of a poor class, with no recommendation for future success.

As usual the Ladies’ races produced a great deal of interest. That gay deceiver, Optimist, was on his best behaviour, and, well handled by Mr P. Neagle, gained the coveted ornament for the second time in succession for Mrs W. Rathbone, of Waipawa. Kaipetipeti, the favourite, was made too much use of, and it seemed to be the height of absurdity to ask the Monaco gelding to hump 12st at a solid pace in front for one and a-half miles. As might have been expected, he failed, and when Optimist was asked for his best it was beaten horses he was coming at, which did not require any very strenuous efforts on his part to silence. This was no doubt the chief factor in his capture of the Bracelet, for he is a horse of peculiar moods, and has always given me the idea that he does not like the battle to be too strong or fierce.

Rags, who was piloted by Mr A. Hyde, came with a big rush in the last distance, and it seems strange that such a genuine stayer was not put the question in earnest earlier in the journey. As if was he beat Kaipetipeti for second place on the post. Bandmaster occupied a leading position for a mile and a-quar-ter, when he subsided. Tyrone, who was coupled with his stable pal, Mahiti, ran the race in patches, but this must be put down to his pilot, who did not display any talent in the management of his mount. Dick Turpin, ridden a la Sloan by his owner, Dr. Paget, was amongst the first three for a little over a mile, when he fell back.

In the Necklace, on Thursday, with aquarter of a mile less to go than on the preceding afternoon, Bandmaster proved

equal to the occasion, and well handled by Mi- J. D. Ormond, jun., had no serious difficulty in stalling off the desperate challenge thrown out by Mr P. Neagle on Sleepwell ; Joe Chamberlain third. A Bracelet run at Hastings would not be correct without one of Sir William Russell’s apropos speeches, and the gallant knight’s oratory on Wednesday afternoon was received as usual with a hearty burst of cheers.

The resuscitated Paria, whose front pins had an unhealthy appearance, never left the issue of the Final Handicap in doubt, for the Gisborne bred gelding, who had the assistance of his trainer in the pigskin, was first away and first home by a good margin from Rungarawa, who had a length and a-half advantage from Repulse, the favourite. Ice put up as usual a consistent performance, for she got second on the initial day in the Winter Hack, and had one better on Thursday, when a clever run in the June Hack fell to her. Her trainer, W. Whitaker, had the mount on St. Andrew’s daughter. Talune, who looks all the better for the travelling and racing that has been his lot for the past month, accounted for Ice in the Winter Hack.

British Navy, a big son of Torpedo and Fair Nell, started in both the Winter and June Handicaps, his opening effort being the most meritorious, for he led the field a merry bat for nearly six furlongs. On Thursday he was never prominent, mayhap the first day’s exertions having had a detrimental effect upon him. Notwithstanding his rather indifferent display in his second attempt, I prophesy a good future for him.

Many rowing supporters seem to be interested in the times of races (writes “ Trident,” in the “ Sydney Mail ”). These, of course, are influenced by circumstances, but in a general way they are instructive. The best time made on the Parramatta course was by C. Nielsen in September, 1892, when he rowed the mile in omin 26sec and the full course in 17 min 46|sec. It was a very good performance, although the conditions were favourable. The next best time was made by T. Sullivan, who beat C. Dutch, June, 1891. He rowed the mile in smin 19sec and the course in 18min 41 f. see, having very fast water. In Searle’s race against Stanbury, July, 1888, he covered the mile in sinin 35sec and the course in 19min 53£sec. It was a fine performance, and took a lot of rowing to do it. Edward Trickett, in a westerly gale, beat AA. Beach, July, 1883, rowing the mile in 6min 2sec and the course in 20min llsec. Trickett’s watermanship was much admired, and it was a great performance. Beach was not clever enough for the following sea. C. Stephenson beat C. Dutch in very good time, January 1891, covering the mile in smin 58sec and the course in 19min When Beach beat Hanlan the first time (August, 1884), the latter led at the mile in 6min 9sec, but the former won in 20min It is worthy of comment that when Stanbury beat O’Connor, the Canadian (June, 1890), the mile was 6min 7sec and the course 20min Hanlan led Clifford in the mile in smin 38sec, and completed the course in 21min 4sec (February, 1885). Kemp beat Hanlan in May, 1888, rowing the mile in 6min lOsec and the course in 21min 25sec. In June, 1859, James Punch beat H. White, an English sculler, over the top mile of the course in smin 35sec. This was in fixed seats and in what would now be considered out of date boats. The races mentioned above were rowed with a favourable tide, excepting one or two of them. A race which must be included in this list was that between Nielsen and M £ Lean (July 1889), when the former covered the mile in smin 37sec, and the latter completed the course in 20min 37sec. The slowest race of which there is a record was when George Perkins, of England, beat D. Libeau, in December, 1888. The time was half-an-hour. On the Thames course what is believed to be a mile was lowed by Niel Matterson in 4min 40sec ; by G. Bubear, in 4min 45sec ; by Matterson, in 4min 50sec ; by Beach, in 4min Msec ; by Searle, in 4min 53sec ; and by Sullivan, in smin 13sec. Hanlan’s time for this mile is unknown.