PAPAKURA RACING CLUB’S ANNUAL MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 939, 5 March 1908, Page 5

PAPAKURA RACING CLUB’S ANNUAL MEETING.

Last Saturday the Papakura Racing dub held its annual meeting under very pleasant weather conditions. The special train required no less than fourteen coaches to carry visitors from Auckland, quite 700 going up from town by rail. All had to undergo a tedious wait at the start. It appears that.owing to a shortage of engines the 12.45 train, an unusually long one, was sent away with insufficient hauling power. The inevitable result was a stick-up near the tunnel, and, this delayed the departure of the special for over half an hour. This meant that the races were started nearly three-quarters of an hour late, but Mr. F. Yonge, the secretary, and his staff bustled things along and finished up in time to catch the return special. Thirty-one bookmakers, licensed at a fee of three guineas each, were calling the odds, and business was fairly brisk. The racing proved interesting, although it might have been expected that with such large nominations the fields would have been bigger. This did not apply to the opening event, the Maiden Plate, six furlongs, for which eleven saddled up. Mr. Scott’s gelding Explosive (Explosion —Nellie) was made favourite, a good selection, as he was in front all the way, and won handily by a length from Epsom Lass, who was brought too late, but finished very fast. Three Kings was third. A trio contested the Flying Handicap, five furlongs, and once again punters dropped on to the good thing. This was Mr. Irwin’s Cyrenian gelding Lochbuhie, who jumped off smartly, paced the others throughout, and defeated Waihou by a length. San Paulo was beaten off. There were five contestants in the big race, the Papakura Cup, one mile. Cyrettus jumped away smartly with Landlock next and Le Beau last. Before the straight was reached Landlock moved up into the lead, but with heads turned for home Le Beau came with a rush, Ryan getting the Leolantis gelding home by a length. Seven weighed out for the Hack Race, four furlongs, and this gave rise to a very pretty finish. Confide made the early running, attended by Engraver and Flint Island. Below the distance the latter was in front, but Whittaker, bringing Ngapuka with a great rush, landed Mr. Wallace’s gelding a half-length winner from Flint Island, with Tua Kitua third.

On the strength of his previous win, Lochbuhie was made a strong favourite for the Railway Handicap, six furlongs, and, as it turned out, backers were on the right track once more, but it was a fairly close call. Lochbuhie and Epsom Lass were at it all the way round, but at the end the favourite had a little more steam left than his opponent, and, drawing out, he won by nearly a length. Land-

lock seemed unable to pace It with the other two, and finished well back. There were four runners in the Welter Handicap, seven furlongs, and the result seemed open. Sonoma got off the mark very smartly, and she led into the straight. Philosopher and Cyrettus made unavailing efforts to catch the pony, who got home by a length from Philosopher, with Cyrettus third and Kapakapa last. This brought an enjoyable afternoon’s sport to a close.