WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 792, 11 May 1905, Page 8

WELLINGTON.

Wellington, May 9. Local-owned horses fared somewhat badly at the recent Easter Meetings. Hydrant (Wairarapa Easter Handicap), and Sardonyx (Hack Handicap), were the only winners at the Wairarapa Meeting. Aorangi, the property of the Hon. W. W. Johnston, secured the Trial Plate, w.f.a., at Feilding, but although a large number of local-owned horses including Gold Crown, Chivalry, Flamen, Solution, Ballarat, Matuku, Black Reynard, Black Squall, La Torpedo, Levant, Defoe, and Kohunui were engaged not a single stake fell to a Wellington rep.

Strong exception was taken to the .custom of the club in permitting the official handicapper to carry out his •duties through the aid of a visiting newspaper reporter ; it is plain that .owners are not disposed to tolerate this kind of treatment in the future, several having declared that unless the official whose name is on the published programme attends and adjusts the second day’s handicaps, they will demand a refund of their nomination fees. There seems ample ground for their so doing, as it is .an open secret that men who are entrusted with the framing of many of Mr Henrys second day handicaps are unlikely to amend his first day’s adjustments. The consequence is that horses that are badly defeated on the first ,day are made no concession for their defeats, and dual winners are numerous..

A prominent owner, who saw the Feilding races, points out that Wet Reef, killarney, and Sir Geraint, first day’s winners, all won again with ease on the second day ; whilst Rapids and Roseal, who filled the places in the Feilding Cup, ran first and second in the principal event on the second day. Sleepwell, the first day’s runner-up in the Hack Hurdle Race, won on the second day. He states that the second day’s adjustments were not handicaps at all, but simply a reproduction of the first day’s adjustments, with inadequate penalties for winners and placed horses. The Feilding Jockey Club is one of the most progressive in New Zealand, and it is noted for the richness of its stakes, but it is a poor consolation to horse-owners to find the best stakes thrown at the feet of some owners, whilst others are precluded from participating in the good prizes offered. The old adage that “a fellow-feeling makeS us wondrous kind,” was strikingly exemplified during the Feilding Meeting. A popular Manawatu pressman owns Sir Geraint, the colt that was runner-up to the flying Maniopoto at the recent Manawatu Meeting. Sir Geraint was, on that performance, much too leniently treated for the Feilding five furlong Hack Race, and in consequence won easily, paying a small dividend. The ‘Wellington sporting scribe, who adjusted the second day’s weights, was either tied down < by! instructions from the absent official handicapper, or was influenced by a ’kindly feeling towards a brother pressman. From whatever cause, Sir Geraint’s weight was only increased by 101 b for the second day, the result being that another easy victory was achieved. The public were not slow to note the generosity of the weight-adjuster, as Sir Geraint only paid £1 17s. A number of prominent owners have recently been discussing the advisability of forming a Horse} Owners’ Association on similar lines to the South Island Trotting Horse Owners’ Association. There are many matters, it is said, that could be rectified were racing men to take united action. Railway, hotel, and stabling accommodation are totally inadequate considering the high charges made, and there are many other matters of vital importance to those who train and race horses that might be placed on a better footing were owners to act in concert.

The locally-owned horses are having an easy time since the Easter Meetings, a few strong gallops will, however, fit *■ them for the Wanganui Meeting where upwards of twenty are engaged, including ten from the Porirua stable. Mr Prosser has nominated his old favourite ’chaser, The Guard, for the Wanganui Steeplechase and Century Hurdle Handicap, so there seems a prospect of Lis once more being seen out with the colours up.

Achilles has retired into his winter quarters, and all being well should strip next season in good fettle. He is still as sound as a bell, and his mentor hopes to get many more good races out of the son of Medallion and Nereid.

Roseal who was runner-up in the Feilding Cup and Toaster Handicaps, was taken over to Blenheim for the Marlborough Cup, but finished out of a place, behind Royal Blue, Wind, and Waitoa. Roseal’s owner withdrew his horse as soon as he saw the weights for the second day. Royal Blue, who was leniently treated, had another easy victory. Matuku, Sardonyz, and several other horses were not started on the second day, their owners alleging that they were, unfairly treated through the first day’s winners. The club’s official handicapper was not present, being engaged at the Hawke’s Bav Meeting. Visitors to the Marlborough races were surprised at the improvement effected by' the executive of the club. A handsome and commodious grandstand has been erected, and as the railway runs right on to the course a visit to the racecourse can be made without inconvenience. His Excellency, Lord Plunket, was present on the opening day, and was fittingly entertained bv

the stewards. The meeting drew a much larger attendance of the public than usual, and, although the fields were small, the club’s patrons appeared to enjoy the racing. Despite the vigilance of racing stewards, suspicious riding seems rife at provincial race meetings, and the Marlborough Meeting was no exception. F. Barry, the jockey who rode Ngatarua in the Cup and Presidents’ Handicap, was replaced by another horseman when Ngatarua ran in the Telegraph Handicap, and the result was that Ngatarua won by nearly a dozen lengths. The improvement in the horse’s form was a surprise to his owner, and the stewards immediately notified Barry that he would be required to explain his riding of the horse in his early engagements ; at the time of writing, I have not heard the result of their enquiry. The Westland (Hokitika) Racing Club had occasion to take action in a case of suspicious riding. The delinquent on this occasion was Delaney, who rode Slow Tom, the winner of the last N.Z. Grand National Steeplechase. • Delaney rode a peculiar race on Zealous at Kumara a couple of days prior to the Westland Racing Club’s Meeting. He was told on the first day by the stewards of the latter club that suspicious riding would be put down with a strong hand, but the warning was apparently* not taken seriously, as Delaney made no apparent effort on the second day after allowing the only other runner to obtain a break of some twenty lengths. The result was that he was disqualified for twelve months. Delaney protested his innocence, but eye-witnesses state that if he did not purposely try to ride a losing race, he deserves to stand down for his exhibition of bad horsemanship.