THE WHANGAREI RACING CLUB’S SUMMER MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 14 January 1909, Page 5

THE WHANGAREI RACING CLUB’S SUMMER MEETING.

The Whangarei Racing Club held their annual meeting on Friday and Saturday last. A good many sportsmen went up from Auckland by the Ngapuhi, but the local people did not support the gathering as they should have done, the result being that the attendance, despite fine weather, was only moderate. Mr. Dent, the secretary, had made satisfactory arrangements for the smooth running of the meeting, and everything passed off well, the worst feature being one o r two cases of bad starting, which spoilt the chances of some of the competitors. Eighteen bookmakers were licensed, and they did a fair volume of business, but it could not have been very profitable, owing to the continued success of the favourites. Business at the totalisator was far from brisk, the small total of £638 being all that was handled for the day. Proceedings opened with the Railway Handicap, six furlongs, for which Discoverer was made favourite. Denbies jumped off in front, but Paul Beaver soon passed him, and, going on won easily, Wairuhe filling third place. A nice field of seven contested the Hurdle Race, iy 2 miles, punters spotting Mozart as a likely winner. It was a good race between the favourite and Quebec for most of the journey, but Mozart had too much foot at the finish, and won by a length, with Lockard third.

Wellcast was picked out as • the right thing for the Kensington Welter (one mile), a very correct forecast, as the son of Castor won from end to end, Gipsy Queen and rfweet Marie filling the places. There were six starters for the big event, the Whangarei Cup, one mile and a distance, that smart pony Manapouri being favourite. There was much delay at the post, Sweet Alice as usual, playing up. Ultimately she was left at the post, the field going off in straggling order. Quebec and Manapouri cut out the running, but with heads turned for home the pony came away and won comfortably. Kaitangata beat Quebec for second place. The Settlers’ Handicap, six furlongs, gave rise to something of a. bungle. After a delay at the start, they were despatched in very ragged style, Regain being several lengths out in front by himself. Regain won anyhow, but the stewards declared it “ no race.” At the second attempt Regain won from Denbies and Discoverer. Jolly Tar had an easy task in.the Publicans’ Purse, one mile, winning comfortably from Nervine. Another easy win was seen in the Flying Handicap, five furlongs, where Paul Beaver experienced but little difficulty in defeating Sweet Alice and Kaitangata. SECOND DAY.

The weather quite spoilt the second day of the meeting, rain falling all the afternoon. This naturally had the effect of keeping people at home, and the attendance was the smallest for years. Under very depressing circumstances Mr. Dent did his utmost to keep things going. The racing proved rather more interesting than on the opening day. Eighteen bookmakers were licensed, and from this source the club netted £l9O for the meeting. The totalisator was almost neglected, only 1500 going through the machine. Mr. J. S. Dent acted as starter.

The racing was resumed with the Maiden Handicap, seven furlongs, Denbies being most fancied of the five runners. He ran in close company with Lochlea to the straight, and then drawing out won by a length, with Luros third. A protest entered for cross ng was not sustained. Mozart was a good favourite for the Hurdle Handicap, 1 miles, but his rider allowed Midcyr to get a big break on him, and although Mozart finished with great gameness the outsider beat him home by a head, with Lady Lanta third. D.scoverer was considered the right pea of the four runners in the Ladies’ Bracelet, one mile, and the event proved a cake walk for him, for after leading all the way he romped home with a dozen lengths to the good. For the Park Handicap, one mile, Manapouri was served up piping hot, and here again punters showed good judgment. There were four runners, and after Jolly Tar had led a bunched field to the straight, Manapouri came through an won by two lengths from Jolly Tar, with Kaitangata third. Oliver, who rode the second horse, reecived a caution for interfering. Only three contested the Marsden Stakes, five furlongs, Discoverer being made favourite. He jumped off in front, and he led from Wairuhe until close home, when Whakatupoto came with a rush and won on the post by a short head. Half a dozen turned out for the Hack Handicap, seven furlongs, this provmg a soft thing for Gipsy Queen, who started favourite, led all the way, and won easily from Lady Lanta and Lochlea. The meeting was concluded with the Farewell Handicap, five furlongs, for which four started, Paul Beaver being dropped on as a good. thing. After the favourite and Sweet Alice had misbehaved and delayed the start, they were sent away in rather straggling order, Paul Beaver winning from end to end, with Jolly Tar second, and Sweet Alice third.