HAWKE’S BAY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 845, 17 May 1906, Page 7

HAWKE’S BAY.

Napier, May 16.

Pink-’un, Gaiety, Gatenby, and Hiki were shipped back to Gisborne by the Manuka last week. In accordance with general expectations, the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club had a most successful opening for their autumn meeting at Hastings, except that the weather was not quite so fine as the club usually enjoy. A heavy shower fell jnst before the third race, and another later in the afternoon. There was, however, a large number of people on the ground equal to that of any previous autumn gathering, and as the sport was excellent they had no reason to regret the temporary discomfort coused by the rain. In the matter of big fields the club put up a record, there being 92 starters for the eight races, an average of over 11. The greatest number was in the Poukawa Hack Handicap, no • fewer than 19 horses out of 21 acceptors being despatched by Mr. Piper. In no race were there fewer than eight starters, and in two there were 13. It will be gathered from these figures that the starter’s position was by no means a sinecure, and it is extremely creditable to Mr. Piper that his duties were so efficiently -performed. Another record of the day consisted in the amount put through the totalisator. The sum invested was £10,441, as against £6885 last year, an increase of £3556. As a rule the dividends were substantial, and that •n the Nursery Handicap was highly gratifying to the lucky winners, Grand Slam paying the handsome sura of £l7 Ils. The big event of the day—the Hawke’s Bay Cup—proved an easy thing for the favourite, Solution, ivho practically won as

she liked. The other •-?ces weie well contested, and afforded ample opportunity for active speculation.

The arrangements were all that foresight and careful consideration for patrons could make them, and they were carried in a manner that left, nothing to be desired. The additional accommodation provided for press representatives was greatly appreciated, and the other improvements met with general approval.

The second day of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s autumn meeting at

Hastings was largely attended, and proved successful in every respect, The fields, though not so big on the whole as those of the previous day, were yet of sufficient proportions to excite keen interest and lively speculation, and they resulted in excellent sport. The weather was not altogether favourable. No rain fell, but the sky was almost continually overcast, and the latter part of the afternoon was gloomy and cold. Few left the ground, however, until the last race had been run. and the meeting closed as it had begun, in a most satisfactory manner. The sum of £9275 was passed through the totalisatoi- as compared with £7195 on the second day of last year’s autumn meeting. The amount for the two days was £19,716 as against £14,080 in 1905, an increase of £5636. A meeting of the metropolitan committee of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey, Club was held on Saturday, Mr. G. Hunter presiding. It was decided to hold a special meeting on Monday, 28th inst., to consider notices of motion for the annual Racing Conference. The sum of £5 5s was voted to the Napier Park Club for a gentleman rider’s trophy in connection with the winter meeting. It was decided to post all horses, owners, and officials who took part in the last unregistered meeting at Waikaremoana in March. It was agreed not to recommend the Ongaonga Club for registration, and to recommend the Conference to cancel the registration of the Tokomaru Bay Jockey Club. At Hastings on Friday Cassiopea, Moral, Anadeja, and Mrs. Crawley were offered by public auction, but passed in, the bids not reaching the owners’ ideas of value. Hyde Park, a chestnut gelding by Sylvia Park out of Misfortune, was also passed in at 60 guineas. King Billy’s withdrawal from the Cup was due to the fact that Merriwee’s son had caught a very severe attack of influenza a few mornings before the meeting. Although Porcelain won the Hawke’s Bay Stakes rather comfortably, at the finish Zimmerman was asking him to do his best for quite six furlongs, and from the good showing that the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s colt made, it seems feasible to argue that had the race been a three-quarters of a mile one that it would have taken a good judge to separate the pair. There is not the slightest doubt that the last half-furlong was where Porcelain gained the advantage, and although he won by a length it was not due to an extra bit of speed on his part, but rather to the fact that Zimmerman was stopping.