HAWKE’S BAY

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 911, 22 August 1907, Page 7

HAWKE’S BAY

Dannevirke J.C.—Napier Bark J.C. Increase Their Stakes —Regret at Hearing of Eairbrother’s Death —Burial of a Popular Jockey—Foalings in H.. 8. up to date—Death of the Brood Mare Mount Ida—John Rae Takes up Duties of Trainer to G.F.D. —Needle and Denuku—Hickey and Eclair—Pleasure at Sir W. Russell's Win—The Tikokino Hack R.C. —Death of E. Beresford.

NAPIER, August 2i. At the annual meeting of the Dannevirke Jockey Club, Mr. Gordon Lloyd presided. The election of officers had been proceeded with when a point arose regarding validity of nomination. After discussion, it was decided to call another meeting 21 days hence for the purpose of filling the offices. A committee meeting of the Napier Park Racing Club was held on Thursday afternoon, Mr. John McVay presided. The spring programme, as drawn up by the Programme Committee, was ordered to be printed. It was decided to increase the stakes from to being an increase of Six new members were elected. The usual bonus of £2 2s was granted to the “Christchurch Press” Company for the production of the “Turf Register.” When the sad news came through from Wellington on Thursday that Harry Fairbrother had crossed the great divide, universal regret was expressed b-y the army of fr ends that “Fairy,” as he was popularly called, had endeared himself to. For no matter how the week was going with him, he always had a hearty greeting for you and a genial smile. He was courteous both in and out of the saddle; straight as they make them in the pursuit of his calling, and always proud to look on the good side of a comrade’s character rather than pass adverse comment upon him. Such was Harry Fairbrother personally. I have known him since he was a little lad, and as years advanced our friendship had grown solid and firm; and as I pen these few lines to the memory of the best comrades I cannot help but rebel against the power that removes the best from us and lets the derelicts float about on this planet of ours when they might easily be called and never missed.

The remains of the late Harry Fairbrother were interred in the Hastings Cemetery yesterday, and the funeral procession, which was quite a mile long, was representative of all classes of the community, and formed a sad tribute to the esteem in which the deceased was held. Over a hundred wreaths were received by the family from all parts of the colony; and the special carriage retained for their conveyance was unable to hold the full number of floral offerings. The Rev. Mr Hobbs conducted the funeral service at the church and the final rites at the graveside.

The following foalings have taken place in .hie district to date. At Crissoge, Pearl Ppwder (Captivator—Pearl Ash) a filly to Gold Reef. At Mangatarata Station, Hinenui Tepe (Carlyon— Namoa) a filly to Waiuku. At Karamu, Temera’re (Dreadnought—Sister Mary), a filly, Trentallo (Trenton —Montalto) a filly, Snooze (Flintlock —Lullaby), a filly, all to Birkenhead.

Mount Ida, one of the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s brood mares, passed away last week at Karamu ; she was in foal to Renown at the time of her death. Mount Ida, who was bred by her owner in 1891, thus making her 16 years of age, this foaling was best known to fame as the dam of Ideal, whose son Idealist annexed the Winter Cup last week at Riccarton. John Rae arrived here last week from Auckland to take up the position of private tra ner to Mr. G. P. Donnelly. Rae was accompanied by his son Herbert, and he a'so brought down a couple of equines in the shape of Needle and Uenuku, and the latter will form one of Rae’s pupils here. Needle, who is an old pensioner, will be put to the humble though useful calling of a harness horse. Mr. Donnelly has just erected a splendid establishment at Taradale for his string, and a spacious and commodous home for his trainer, but has decided to let the ground attached to it to settle down before making use of it in the meanwhile. Rae and his charges are domiciled at Ngatarawa. Had any one, when the chasing season started for the 1906-7 term, prediced that the three principal steeplechases at the Grand National Meeting would have come to Hawke’s Bay, they would have been looked on in the light of being poor judges, but the unexpected has happened, and Eclair and Nadador have proved equal to the occasion. Sports throughout the land would I ween feel pleased when the signals went up that Sir William Russell had done so well with his home-bred mare. Harry Hickey is deserving of praise beyond a doubt for the loyal way in which he has stuck to Ec-

lair, and also for the perservering manner in which he has laid himself out to get the old gelding (he is ten years of age) well. Hickey has never tired of celling me that he would be sure to catch a big steeplechase some day with Mystical’s son, but I did not profit by the advice which was constantly given me. Eclair won his first race at Wairoa, a Ladies’ Bracelet, five years ago, his only start that season. He was then the property of Mr. Robert Smyth, a wellknown member of the Wairoa Racing Club. Some time afterwards he was bought by Hickey, who has had him ever since.

At the annual general meeting of the Tikokino Hack Racing Club held last week the balance-sheet showed a profit of £35 over the last race meeting. The executive intend to greatly increase their stakes for their next gathering. Mr. W. G. Nightingale was unanimously re-elect-ed handicapper to the club.

Mr. E. Beresford, who a few years back was associated with Messrs. Profitt and Wilson in the bookmaking business in Napier, died suddenly last Saturday night. Thes accuracy with which punters have been getting home of late has decided one of our leading metallicians to quit the game, as he argues it is no good working for years to get the ducats together, and then get up against it all of a heap. The sameness of the proceedings of la e, only two horses in a race backed, and this couple finish first and second, makes it rather monotonous from a layer’s point of view.