WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 822, 7 December 1905, Page 9

WANGANUI.

Wanganui, December 4. The Feilding Jockey Club had the misfortune to experience wretched weather for their spring fixture, which to a certain extent interfered with the attendance, and in conseq lence there was a slight falling off in the totalisator returns. Notwithstanding this disadvantage the gathering was a very good one, and the racing was excellent, splendid dividends being the order of the day, proving thereby that the handicapping had concealed >the various winners in good style. The various officials are to be heartily congratulated on the manner in which they carried out their duties, which were none too pleasant under the unfavourable climatic conditions prevailing. Dave Chapman has Contingent, Blessbok and the hurdler Flanagan looking wed, but the latter was given a run at Feilding, but failed to show up in the heavy going. The other two have been nominated for the West Coast Christmas fixtures, and may go down that way at an early date. Mr. McMahon, the Reefton sport, who owns Blessbok and Contingent, has not had much luck for some time past, but no doubt he will secure a good share of the liberal prizemoney offered on the goldfields. The defection of Sir Tristram for the Auckland Railway Handicap came as a blow to selectors of doubles here, as the Hawke’s Bay sprinter had been freely coupled with Paritutu, Mahutonga, Quarryman, and Gladstone. Paritutu and Lady Annie appear to be the most fancied selection here for the Cup and Railway, and no doubt it is a pretty good one. Harry Jackson’s long spell of bad luck was broken at Feilding, when Armistice ran the race of her life, and annexed the big event on the opening day, returning her supporters a nice price. Tha x her win was no fluke the daughter of Mahaki proved on the concluding day, when she again showed a clean pair of heels to the opposition. The little black mare was in great buckle, and her win was well received here, where her owner, M.r Moore, and her mentor are very popu-

lar with the sporting public, who are not slow to appreciate the slice of good luck which has fallen to the connections of Armistice. No doubt should she journey to Auckland she will find good support in her engagements there. Jackson’s other charge, St. Lyra, was not started at the fixlture, her leg being not yet properly healed. The Fordell-trained Delamere was looked upon by her connections as a moral for the Flying Handicap on the first day, but she gdt left badly and failed to get a place. On the second day, however, she fared better, and getting a good run won nicely from her opponents, and paving £6. The remainder of Tilley’s team that took part in the gathering did not run up to expectations, Asteroid, St. Joe ar.d Handsome Rose each being well sunported in their various races. Probably the going did not suit the former, or she may have been closer up in the St.. Andrew’s Handicap. Tautoru, another moral, did not come off the first day, but the son of Lethe ran better on the following day, and gained second berth in the hack event. He was well supported here on each occasion. The pencillers had all the best of the argument over the Feilding meeting on the opening day, but punters got on to the winners in a splendid style the next day, and after settling up the metallicians found things just about balanced. The price paid by Submarine when he ran second to Armistice was a surprise to his supporters, the son of Torpedo paying £4 4s, or £l2 12s to win. The principal event here thL week is the Parliamentary Stakes, .for which there are five acceptors, and all appear to find solid support. Party, Labour, and Prohibition are equal favourites, while Opposition has sprung into favour the last few days on the strength of a splendid gallop last Wednesday with Premier, in which he appeared to hold his own. The starters, with pedigree and riders, are:—Party (Government— Lobby), Willis; Prohibition (Water— Okehu), Bissett; Labour (Workman— Union), Hogan; Opposition (Freehold— Backblocks), Hazeldean; and Blue Flag (Chemistry—Enterprise), Gatenby. The result may be—Party, Labour, and Prohibition in that order.