Racing Reviewed.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1065, 4 August 1910, Page 7

Racing Reviewed.

HAWKE’S BAY HUNT CLUB’S ANNUAL MEETING. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The hunting brigade were real lucky to have such a favourable ; day granted them from a weather point of view as last Wednesday turned out to be, for the climate for a week before the venture was of a villainous nature, the natural result being that the going was a good deal on the heavy side.-- The attendance was up to the usual standard, and, judging by the business done by the pencillers, those present had come well prepared to back their fancies. Of the sixteen bookmakers licensed, one turned out a defaulter after Niwaru had won the Second Open Flat Race. He took liberties with Torpedo’s daughter to the extent of stretching the odds against her, and when his clients rallied around for their “ shekels,” he had recourse to the ancient ‘system of “balancing,” returning them the amount of their investments, with a promise to pay in full at some future date —not specified. I have seen a few crowds who have been “ balanced,” but without doubt the punters who had patronised this particular bookie and therefore got beat, took their medicine with a better grace than I have ever seen before, not a murmur, not a fierce gesticulation, but they all lined up in a modest, reticient way to get their own coin refunded them. One —I suppose he would be called a keen backer, but who might easily be called by another name —went up with his ticket, and upon receiving the amount he had staked was handed back his pasteboard with the amount owing to him marked upon the back of it. He immediately set around on a hunt to get a pencil eraser, so that he could obliterate the markings on his ticket for the purpose of again making use of it, reckoning, I presume, that the penciller would be too flurried to notice the number on the ticket. His little plan missed, for pencil erasers were at a premium on the Hastings racecourse on Wednesday.

The executive of the organisation were on the spot in the administration of affairs, and therefore a pleasant afternoon was participated in by clients. Mr. Arthur Goodwin, who in years gone by trained for Mr- T. H. Lowry, and who has also filled the position of starter to some of the local racing clubs, dismissed the fields on their missions, and in the main his efforts were of an equitable nature. Ruabon was a slightly better favourite than Watershed for the initial item, the Hunters’ Bracelet Handicap Hurdle Race, but when it came to a finish the brace had no chance with Spaniard, who was the third selection, for, well handled by Mr. J. Ellingham, Torpedo’s son conquered, in a very easy style from the favourite. Spaniard is the property of that good sport, Mr. F. Armstrong, of Akitio, who has not won a race for some time. He was bred by the Douglas Brothers at Te Mahanga station, and trained by R. Gooseman. As a yearling the gelding was sold for 15 guineas. Like his full brother Espartero, Spaniard can gallop in a convincing style, and as he came at the right end of the two-mile route, conclusions point to him as a stayer. Later on in the afternoon Spaniard came out again and proved invincible, his success being achieved in the Hunters’ Flat Handicap, for which contest he was a solid favourite, and as the line was crossed there was only one in it, and that was the son of Torpedo. Watershed, who got second berth, is an aged son of Waiuku- The third position was occupied by Rangitira, a five-year-old son of Te Hapuka and Black Rose, who had the services of Mr. George Hirst- Amongst those lined out against Spaniard in this event, in addition to the placed horses, were Flavia, an aged mare by St- Ilario; Peaceful, a half-sister to Comfort, by Mahaki; and Ronald, a son of Strenuous and a Papapa mare. Spaniard was capably piloted by Mr. j. Ellingham, who was the only gentleman rider to pilot more than one victor during the afternoon. Amato, who was turned out in good style, comfortably;-placed the First Open Flat to the credit of Messrs.

Lingmer and McKay. Sim Fran’s son is a bit slow to get going, but is a desperate finisher, and though he was giving Artie 32 pounds and a good lead he put in some telling strides in the last half-furlong, and the honours came his way by a good length from Daunt’s son. Idealism, who was only a point behind Amato, the far tbira te ’ ? she5 he b ? tting ’ flashed a poor tnird. Artie, who is educated by the one-time well-known horseman, Dug. Watt showed a big burst of speed for Stter f h S „ 1 f X H an . d a ’ half furl °“S3. but atter that distance was compassed he could not go on. Centaur, who is now a stable comrade of Amato’s was never prominent.' Am ato s.

a + fiu artette weighed out for the Hun„ Club Steeplechase, Oakley M?° F Wa t backed b y bis owner; Mr. F. Martin,, maintaining the posi- ‘™ ° first choice from the time the cS er th to flag fal1 ’ T he Chief, who had secured this event nartv year, Ai S g outsider of the At . double the second rS.h around > Qaktey, Yaldhurst and Ronda ra noff, which gave The Chief who was labouring behind, his oppor™lty ’ t never turned his head at the obstacle, and though the other horses were got over quickly, Mr. H lago managed to land the ancient son o f Jet d Eau a victor by a length and a-half. Had the mishap not have occurred, I am inclined to the idea that the favourite would have got his quietus from Yaldhurst, an aged son pf Strow’an out of a Sou’-wester mare owned by Mr. J. W- White, and trained by J. Munn, for the gelding was coming fast when he ran off. He made a very creditable display considering that he has only been in work a few weeks, and got second berth behind The Chief. It would be a libel to describe Yaldhurst as a beauty, but notwithstanding his plain appearance, he can go some, and there is not the slightest question his heart is in the right place. Goldemar was quickly settled upon as the correct, article for the Trial Hack Race, and the weight of metal from his supporters quickly made the price cramped regarding him. His supporters were doomed to disappointment, for the best he could do at the finish was to get third, the winner turning up in Waitoke, a good-looking filly by Waiuku out of the Sir Launcelot mare Tire, bred by Mr. S- H. Gollan at Mangatarata station, and who last season was purchased for. 20 guineas- Kithara, who ran into second place, is a two-year-old filly by Birkenhead out of Guitar, and had she left the mark as quickly as the winner, would have proved very troublesome. A stable chum of hers is Falsetto, who also carried the cerise of the Hon. J. D. Ormond, was one of the runners, but her prospects were not so highly appraised as those of Kithara. Falsetto is a half-sitser to Terror, Camelot, Trent and Sir Percivale.

Of the eight weighed out for the Second Open Flat, Niwaru was always a firm first favourite, and, running up to expectations, experienced n© difficulty whatever in landing the stake- Ortygia was second and Artie third. Amaru, one of the contentants, could not be expected to do justice to herself, for she has not been long in work, and ran as her appearance suggested she would- Raupare, though looking in good heart, was never prominent, and Seraphic, who was well supported by his owner, Mr. A- F. Douglas, never at any portion of the route possessed a winning chance. For the Hunters’ Final Steeplechase Ruabon was slightly a better favourite than ever, but the halfbrother to Moifaa shaped in a very poor style over the big fences, and never seemed to be at ease in negotiating the obstacles. It was, practically speakings-a one-horse affair for Yasmak, who started at a remunerative price. She was first to get going, and, never giving the opposition the slightest opportunity to get on terms with her, scored an easy victory by three lengths trom Ever, Th« Pebble third- The winner is a solidlooking aged daughter of Castor, and was prepared by R. Gooseman, who thus had the satisfaction of leading in three winners at the meeting. The only fall during the afternoon took place in this event, Ronda toppling over the last time around at the brush fence in the straight. In the gentlemen class, Mr. J. Ellingham piloted a brace of winners, Messrs. H. lago and A. McKenzie each scoring a success. Amongst the professionals the list was topped by W. Kirk with two winning mounts, ELane being the only other jockey to steer a victor.