MARTON JOCKEY CLUB’S ANNUAL MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 810, 14 September 1905, Page 9

MARTON JOCKEY CLUB’S ANNUAL MEETING.

The racing season was ushered in on this coast on Wednesday last, when the Marton Jockey Club held their annua] gathering, which was a great success. The weather was beautiful, and the attendance highly satisfactory, while speculation was very brisk and the fields exceptionally large. The racing was very interesting throughout, and some excellent finishes were witnessed, and the handicapper (Mr. G. Morse) was warmly congratulated on all sides on the result of his work. The club’s officials worked hard together to ensure success, and they are entitled to great credit for the excellence of the arrangements, especially the secretary (Mr. G. F. Bishop). Mr. Saywell, with the barrier, was in splendid form, and got his large fields away nicely. The sum of £ll-531 was put through the machine for the two days, which is an increase of £3527 on the amount handled last year. G. Price, D. Price, and W. Young each rode two winners, while C. Jenkins, F. Hannon, E. Moran, D. Watt, W. Kemp, W. Price, F. Whitehouse, W. Galbraith, J. Boyd, and Airs. Gaisford each scored a win. Racing commenced with the Trial Stakes, 23 facing the starter, Compass being made a hot favourite, with Papu and Lady White next in demand. The winner, however, turned up in the Grafton—Navarine filly Truce, who was nicely handled by G. Price, and beat White Squall by half a length, paying £8 2s, while supporters of the second horse received £7 6s. St. Lyra was installed favourite for the Trial Hurdles, Tilson and Numa also having a large following. The favourite ran very well, but received a nasty bump entering the straight, which lost her several lengths, and although she came again, could not overhaul Lady’s Lin'-t, who won by a couple of lengths and paid £8 7s.

Eleven were saddled up for the Flying Handicap, the Fordell-trained Tuponi being the popular selection, while Te Kanui’s chances were also favourably looked upon by a large number. Although the favourites ran up to expectations, they were no match for Alarinella, who won from end to end, her supporters getting the nice price of £9 15s. Tupona was second and Te Kanui a good third.

Ngatarua, with Jenkins up, was heavily backed for the Crofton Handicap (an open event), Assayer also coming in foi- a lot of support, and these two, with a rank outsider in Coxswain, fought out the finish, the Gold Reef gelding winning by a length, the favourite just defeating Coxswain by a bare head. Assayer's fanciers received £4 4s. Fifteen numbers were hoisted for the Hunt Club Cup, Hikairoa and Jackeroo holding pride of position in the betting. John Peel, Columbine, and Haerekama being next in demand. This proved a splendid race, the favourite, Hikairoa, leading over the last jump, but Columbine and First Lesson here put in their claim, and after a splendid finish Jessica’s daughter won by half a length from First Lesson, the favourite a head away third. Jackeroo ran off in the early stages of the contest, and then rejoining the chase came down at the he i coop and broke his neck. Sir Percival, Operetta, and Opiti were the best supported of the sixteen runners in the Alaiden Plate, and these three fought out the finish, and -/though Sir Percival looked all over a winner 100 yards from home, the Merriwee filly got up at the finish and won by a neck, Apiti a fair third. The win was mainly due to Kemp’s good judgment, although Mo ian took things rather easy in his mount.

Baltic was backed in the Hurdles as if the “ race was all over bar shouting,” and so it proved, for after keeping in a handy position all through, the Crackshot gelding came away in the run home and won nicely, paying £1 12s in a field of eight. Another favourite, in Kuroki, landed the Tutaenui Welter in very easy style, the supporters of the Wanganui representative getting a return of £2 16s for their outlay. Le Vent, with Jenkins up, was well backed, but ran nowhere. The first event on the second day, the Shorts Handicap, saw 12 face the starter, Sir Percival and Paper being the popular pick, while Compass and White Squall were also well supported. The winner turned up in Red Cross, a daughter of Sun of a Gun —Caritas, who won easily from Apa, paying the nice dividend of £l2 Ils, while the second horse paid £3 ss. Later in the day Red Cross put down a hot favourite in Te Kanui in the Electric Handicap, returning once more a good dividend, viz., £8 6s. In this event Marsellaise, Tupona, and

Truce, who were all well backed, finished amongst the unplaced division. The Hunters’ Hurdles saw 12 go to the post, Hikairoa being installed favourite, John Peel, Flanagan and Betty following in that order. An aged son of Doncaster named Hararau, who was the least fancied of the field, led all the way and won comfortably, returning supporters £lO 10s.

Jenkins’ mount, Ngatarua, was made the mutuum e' heavy wagering for the Marton Handicap, and the r .blic proved right in their choice, as the son of Sou‘--i.es:er von easily from Rustique, the -’’■mini-trained Amaryllis gaining Ngatarua paid the small price of £1 14s. The finish of tile Ladies’ Bracelet was ohe of the finest of the meeting, Tilson defeating a better favourite in First Lesson by a head. Mephisto, another wellbacked candidate, being a neck away third.

Marinella, who was made a slightly better favourite than Operetta for the Railway Handicap, repeated her performance of the previous day by winning handsomely from end to end. The daughter of Handsome Jack—The Baby was splendidly handled by W. Young on each occasion.

Lady’s Link was made a hot favourite for the Second Hurdles, Lady’s Link being next in demand, with Wild Cat the best of the rest. After a fine race St. Lyra won nicely from the favourite and an outsider in South Star, who deadheated for second place, paying £6 Ils. The gathering was brought to a close with the Final Welter, for which Kuroki was greatly fancied, Apiti and Sir Percival also coming in for solid support and although the favourite ran up to form, he had to strike his colours to the Sir Launcelot gelding, Apiti again finishing third.