TARANAKI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 885, 21 February 1907, Page 8

TARANAKI.

NEW PLYMOUTH, Feb. 20.

The Egmont Racing Club held its summer meeting on Wednesday and Thursday last. The weather on the opening day was unpleasant, rain falling at intervals during the afternoon. On the second day, however, the weather was fine and some very interesting racing was witnessed. Speculation was fairly brisk, the total put through the machine on the two days amounting to £12,725 as against £13,648 last year. The club have recently purchased a totalisator similar to that which the Manawatu Club lately installed, and twenty assistants were employed to work the machine. Mr. O’Connor’s starting of the different events was excellent, although he had some fairly large fields to despatch. Only one enquiry was held during the meeting, which was in connection with Rookby’s running in the Hurdle Race on the first day, but after hearing evidence from the jockeys, the stewards accepted the explanation given as satisfactory. There were one or two other instances which might have attracted the attention of the stewards, but no action was taken. There was an impression, however, that all the horses which competed at the meeting were not triers on both days. In the opening event Ballarat was the favourite selection, and the mare had no difficulty in 'winning under her comparatively light impost. The much-boomed Pearlie was heavily supported in the Mere Mere Hack Flat, but could only manage to get second to J. B. Williamson’s Engraver, who paid the good price of £6 4s. The same owner annexed the Whareroa Hurdles with the assistance of Aqua Regia. Makikihi was the only withdrawal from the Cup, nine horses facing the barrier. From a good despatch, the first to show out was Pearl Necklet, who was still in the lead passing the stand, Polycaste lying second and Star Rose last. The positions were practically unchanged till entering the straight, where five horses raced abreast for some distance, until Marguerite shot out and won fairly easily by a length and a-half. Star Rose finished about two lengths behind the field.

The Produce Stakes was reduced to a field of three, but provided an interesting race. The winner turned up in Envoy, by Musketry—Squib, the least-fancied candidate, and paid a dividend of £4 17 s.

Kuku was made a strong order for the Hawera Welter, in which race Glenullin and Rustlque, after competing in the Flying, were again saddled up, the latter running a much better race than he did in his previous attempt. The gelding made a splendid run in the straight, but could not manage to head Kuku. A field of nineteen lined up at the barrier for the final event, the Waipapa Hack. Climax (a quiet paddock tip) scored rather comfortably at the finish, and paid the decent dividend of £5 Ils.

In the opening event on the second day, Kitchenmaid, who acted as runner up to Ballarat the previous day, got a good start, and was never headed, although Cyrene made a bold bid for victory in the last hundred yards. The Inaha Hack, the second race on the programme, provided food for a considerable amount of comment. After considerable delay at the post, caused by the usual performance of Kaimere, the field were eventually despatched to a good start. The race was won by Waitapu, who scored rather easily, with Seaman second and White Lie third. On returning

to scale the first and third horses fa'led to draw the weight, and the race was awarded to Seaman the second horse, the second money going to Highden, who was placed fourth. As no horse was placed third, the money was added to the first stakes. It is difficult, however, to understand how a horse which has weighed out correctly can fail to weigh in correctly, without losing or adding to the weight. Prior to the start of this race Stayboy took charge of his rider and galloped three times round the course, eventually being pulled up by Edgar Russell, which caused a cheer from the spectators.

The next event was the Eltham Hurdles. Aqua Regia and Catapult were the only starters. The former won the Hurdles on the previous day (run over the same distance) and Catapult ran last all the way. But in this event Catapult won comfortably in 2 l-ssec faster time than the race was run the previous day, and for a field of two paid the splendid dividend of £3 2s.

Polycaste, on her running the first day, was made favourite for the Atkinson Memorial Stakes, but the mare was never in the hunt, the winner turning up in Glenullin, who was first away and never headed, winning comfortably and paying £7 Bs. On the previous day the Lochiel horse ran badly in each of his two races, and consequently very few people fancied his chance. After the first day’s racing the horse was handed over to the care of K. Heaton, the Auckland trainer.

Although a field of fourteen contested the Hack Scurry, the public would have nothing but Moscow, who ran home an easy winner. In the final event of the programme the disappointing Pearlie was backed as if she could not possibly lose, but the mare could only get a bad second to Fishermaid. Pearlie has yet to demonstrate that she can successfully negotiate six furlongs. C. Jenkins was the most successful rider at the meeting, with five wins,

G‘. Price coming next with four. The excellent finishes ,in many of the events reflected great credit on the handicapper, Mr. Geo. Morse.