AFTER THE RACES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 820, 23 November 1905, Page 8

AFTER THE RACES.

TE AROHA J.C. MEETING.

The Te Aroha J.C. annual fixture took place on Friday and Saturday last, and in every way proved a complete success. Good fields and some very pretty finishes were witnessed, and the club also came out on the right side, the first time for many years. Mr. Al. O’Meagher was quite at home with the flag, and made some beautiful starts. Mr. F. W. Edwards also come in for a lot of praise for his handicaps, especially for the second day’s events. Some owners thought that their horses were harshly treated, but subsequently admitted that they were wrong in their estimate and the handicapper was right. Racing started with the Maiden Plate, and punters made no mistake in selecting Kola Nip as the right pea, as the son of Soult—Helen McGregor, after lying in a good position, won easily at the finish, Stepney and Lady Clements filling the places from six others. Five was the main in the Hurdle Race, and the public quickly pounced upon Sol as the good thing, and did not err in their judgment, as with 9st 51b in the saddle he never left the issue in doubt. Mr. Wynn Brown’s Pierre was second, and Roseplot third. The winner is closely related to Waiuku, and is full brother to Sandy. Te Papa was fourth, while Whakahihi fell in the early stages of the race.

The Jockey Club Handicap brought out the nice field of eight runners, and King Paul, after his recent Ellerslie form, was sorted out as the good thing, with Kola Nip and Le Beau pretty even in the betting. Kola Nip, nicely handled by Ben Deeley, had a good position right through the race, and won fairly easily from King Paul and Agrapus. The going did not seem to suit Le Beau, who only started in this race at the meeting.

The Domain Handicap came next, and the consisten Lucrece made no race, bolting in (pulling up) by a dozen lengths. Lady Clements and Agrapus filled the places. Four others started.

Haeremai accounted for the Hack Race, which had the biggest field of the day, no less than a dozen facing the flag. Bromide was made favourite, but had rather a bad passage, and ran unplaced. This horse will see a better day. Fortification and Frankton filling the places. A few years ago Hairylegs, trained by a flax hand, pulled this event off, and paid a hatful for half a sovereign, only one ticket being on the machine. The Flying was a close shave, the winner, Desdemona, just lasting long enough to win on the post from Lucrece by a head. This little mare carried a 101 b penalty. Lucrece for some unaccountable reason went back from 2 to 1 with the bookmakers to 20 to 1 on offer Probeida ran rather green, and Fieramosca coming very fast with a late run, finished up close to the leaders. a lot of rain fell during the night the course was in fair order. The rofler was kept going, which made the going good for Saturday’s racing. The weather was lovely for the second day’s racing, and the sports rolled up in goodlv numbers from the surrounding districts. J b ? J£ ursion f rain from Paeroa, Waihi, ?n d fi^ a ? leS + K 1S % brOUght a £° od crowd in time for the first race. There were quite a number of surprises in the different events, and most of the first faZt badly beaten - Sou ?tfish, able ti™ not , won a race for a considerthl C^„ ? SOt Way Wltb a good break in for about the £ the diminutive Willie Chaafe, and the srpS&ns 7 Clemenis twß Kt" te’ ing, and after a long delay of nearlv tuX d -% bal , f W decided no? to dis_ turb the judge s placing. After a n-ood nW °. f , growl . in S the backers of plot, the racing was continued with the p» -ricipal event of the meeting the Cun for which Kola Nip was made a mJnd rite ’/^ g PaUl being “ext d£ W 9nA d k the x Pencillers were crying fish 2 b 1 bar two. The winner, Soulthsh. had a good many supporters at this lavish price, as he only suffered a head neteat last year in the same race (won by Maro). The race needs little description, as the winner was never headed, King Paul second, and the favourite beaten off by 50 yards. Three others started.

Solitary was jumped up 271 b, and won much easier than she did the first day. The punters selected Stepney as the good thing after his second to Kola Nip in the Maiden Plate, but the handsome son of Stepniak does not like being asked too many searching questions, and finished anyhow, while the two others were beaten off. The Publicans’ Purse had six starters, and Probeida carried most of the money. The placed division came with a rattle on the post, and the favourite swerving under the judge’s box was placed third, although most people thought he had just got there. The judge, Mr. T. Gavin, placed Lady Clements and Fieramosca both before the favourite, and there was a lot of dissatisfaction about the decision. Frankton, owned by Mr. Wallace, the popular Thames boniface, scored in the Hack Race, with Freehold and Fabannie second and third. Four others also ran. All the top weights were pulled out of the Walter Handicap. Lucrece was handicapped at 3st 121 b more than the first day. Franklin made a runaway race of the closing event, and carried the public confidence and cash. The race as never in doubt, while Soultfish, with V. Cotton up, ran second. Three others started.