HAWKE’S BAY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 852, 5 July 1906, Page 7

HAWKE’S BAY.

Napier, July 5. The winter meeting of the Napier Park Racing Club opened on Wednesday. It was a gloomy morning, but during the afternoon the sun shone brightly, and with the exception of a bit of a gale late in the day, the spectators had ho cause for complaint. The attendance was satisfactorily large for a winter meeting, and the sport was in every way enjoyable. The various events were keenly contested, and though it is true that some of the victories were rather easy, betting was lively and speculation well sustained. The amount put through the totalisator was £6591, as against £5Bll on the first day of ast winter meeting, an increase of £7BO. In the Napier Steeplechase Mr. T. H. Lowry’s Comfort met with an unfortunate mishap, striking one of the fences in rising to the jump. The skin of a foreleg was stripped from the knee upwards. Comfort finished second, but so severe was the injury that Mr. A. T. Danvers, veterinary surgeon, had to put in several stitches. The Napier Park were favoured with fine weather for the second day of their winter meeting on Thursday, and there was a good attendance. The interest of the day’s sport was only marred by a couple of accidents. There was a general tumble in the Waiohiki Hurdles in which Gold Seal

came down and brought down Oryx Rechabite, Earth Stopper, and Jacl Pot to grass with him. Kiatere, whc started a strong favourite in the Pari Steeplechase, and looked an almosi certain winner, blundered at the soc wall on the last round, leaving West ward to toddle home as he pleased the only other contestant, Black berry, being at no time dangerous. The other races were well con tested, and in several instances the fields were comparatively large. The sum put through the totalisator was £6432, as against £5257 on the sec ond day of last winter meeting. Foi the two days the total was £13,023. as compared with £11,068 in 1905, an increase of £1955. Benair has finished his racing career, having run his last race on the concluding day of the Napier Park Racing Club’s winter venture. Ben Godfrey’s son has been purchased by Mr. F. Armstrong, of Akitio Station, who intends to use him as a stallion on his estate. Florio has completely recovered from the mishap that prevented him from putting in an appearance at the Wanganui fixture. Geo. Collelo has him looking in fine buckle, and successfully coping with his exertions on the track. Collelo has lately taken in hand a coming three-year-old colt by The Possible out of Rotomahana. He is a fine big lump of a horse, but is yet too green to give any indication of galloping powers. Mr. E. J. Watt left last week for Wellington en route for Sydney and Melbourne, where he will be absent on a pleasure trip for about a month. P. Moore has joined W. W. Jones’ establishment, and as his employer has got a strong team in work, every prospect will be given Moore to demonstrate his ability in the pigskin. Mr. F. Martin, owner of Rechabite and Moata, leaves shortly on a trip to the Old Country. Merriwing has been purchased by a client of W. Stone’s. The Squatter is shortly to be added to the list of geldings. Monarque and Oasis are under orders for Trentham with the object of assisting at the Wellington Racing Club’s venture this month. Captain Shannon is striding along satisfactorily in his track work at Napier Park, and it is probable he will put in an appearance at Trentham this month. Harry Moore has secured a lease of Martindale Lodge at Hastings, the quarters from: which Percy Martin used in days gone by to prepare Mr. H. Gollan’s string from. A. Woods is sprinting along the coming two-year-old daughter of San Fran and Mongonui, and the San Fran—Amoureux colt. Both youngsters show a lot of pace and determination in their gallops. Mr. W. H. Davis’ Starlight and Dawn after Dark were railed by their trainer, W. G'lue, to Masterton this morning to take part in the coursing meeting. Another unnamed dog was also forwarded to make a maiden run on the same occasion. These dogs will also compete at the Martinborough meeting.