WELLINGTON RACING CLUB’S SPRING MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1077, 27 October 1910, Page 6

WELLINGTON RACING CLUB’S SPRING MEETING.

FIRST DAY.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

The first day s gathering of tiie above fixture was ushered in on Wednesday last. The weather although inviting enough, bore a very threatening appearance, but notwithstanding this detect the trains to the course were well filled with sporting enthusiasts who were anxious to see whether they could detect the winner of the N.Z. Cup amongst the horses running at the gathering Thanks to the care bestowed on the ' grounds by the Club’s caretaker .fir. McGlasham, the grounds and enclosures were looking splendid and from the remarks- one heard the grounds promise to develop into one of the most picturesque racecourses in New Zealand.

The work of the governing officials of the Club, viz., Messrs. J. H. Pollock (Handicapper), W. H. Harigill (judge), and C. O’Connor (starter), and Mr. Griffiths, of the secretarial staff, was very favourably commented upon, and the high econiums bestowed on tnese gentlemen testified that they had emerged from the ordeal with credit to themselves and the Club.

The returns from the totalisator at the close of the day’s racing, disclosed the fact that the sum of £9678 had found its way through the machine compared with £B3 57 that was dealt with at the corresponding day’s gathering last yean

Operations commenced with the Rimutaka Handicap run over a distance of six furlongs. After her good showing at Otaki Dearest was install-

ed favourite and Jenkins who always had the filly in a nice position won easily at the finish from Merrie Frank, who was just in front of Torpoint. The latter who was paying a dividend of considerably over half a hundred met with some interference in the race or else he may have troubled the winner.

The Shorts Handicap, of five furlongs, resolved itself into a duel between Penates and Boanerges, who both possessed too much pace for tbeir opponents and Penates began very smartly, and entering the straight it appeared as if the Ruenalf horse would win comfortably, but it was ordained otherwise, for by superb horsemanship, Olliver got Boanerges up in time to win by a neck. The latter’s performance was a good one and his many supporters will not hear of his defeat in the Stewards’ Handicap. Bally Shannon ran well but was obviously not class enough for such a pair of speedy rivals. All the acceptors, viz., twelve went to the post in the First Hack and Hunters Steeplechase, for which Waiohika was made favourite. There were several mishaps in this event some of the horses refusing to jump and some of the riders thought discretion the better part of valour by pulling up and thus obviating any risk of personal injury. Star Lass Was winning comfortably when by a mischance she ran off, this made the way clear for Lon Carlos to run home a winner with Mahara. and Hill Lass, in second and third place respectively. The winner paid a nice dividend, which was very acceptable to Don Carlos’ supporters.

The piece de resistence, the Wellington Handicap, of 350 sovs, of a mile and a quarter, was voted a good thing for Lady Medallist, and as events turned out the prediction came true. This St. Alwyne mare had been responsible for such excellent track work that is was no surprise to find her rushed in the betting and as a consequence she finished up a hot favourite. She was always in a good position, and at the distance she had everything beaten and ran home an easy winner by about two lengths with Sir Antrim, and Wimmera, filling the other positions. Her performance was a good one and stamps Mr. Prosser’s mare a very useful sort. The Spring selling race is not a popular event, and it was a surprise to find only five horses competing with the unlucky Idealism installed a hot favourite. The race needs very little description for W. Price always had Grand Jewel in a handy position and when the final pinch came, Mr. Smart’s mare ran home a easy winner from Succession with the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s Idealism in third place. At the conclusion of the race, Grand Jewel was submitted to auction and was bought in by Mr. Smart for £5O. .« ’Tribulation was the only one inquired fcr by backers in the Wainui Handicap and the colt’s supporters would not hear of his defeat. The event resolved itself into a fine race between the favourite, Bridge, and Teotane. The race appeared to be at Tribulation’s -mercy two hundred) yards from the post, but by vigorous horsemanship <Gray landed a winner by a small margin from Tribulation, with Teotane very handy. Mr. Watt’s Cup candidate paid a very acceptable dividend, whilst supporters of Tribulation received back from the totalisator half of what it cost them to purchase their tickets. The Wellesley Stakes was robbed of a lot of interest by the scratching of the speedy Bootle, the Karamu stable relying on Miscount to do the trick. inis event requires very little description. F. D. Jones hopped Miscount off very smartly and this Birkenhead colt entered the straight with a commanding lead and it looked any odds on him landing the money. H Gray had been biding his time on the favourite Pierene, and when this rider called on the Achilles filly the race was all over, Mr. Greenwood’s representative winning rather easily from Miscount, who was followed by Avarice. The latter is not quite ready, but she may do better later on in the season. The day’s racing was brought to a conclusion with the decision of the Final Scurry Handicap, a flutter of four furlongs. St. Toney, who had been withdrawn from another event earlier in the day was quickly installed a favourite and the St. Clements gelding just lasted long enough to win by a small margin from another descendant of St. Clements in Bow Bells, with Ebonite, who was paying a substantial dividend in third place. Poictiers was a competitor in this event, but he ran a long way below bis form.

SECOND DAY. The climatic conditions were well nigh perfect in town on Saturday last when the concluding day’s meeting came up for decision. Judge of the club’s patrons surprise on reaching Trentham to find that a steady drizzle was in progress. After the first three events had been run, the weather cleared and remained fine for the rest of the afternoon.

As on the opening day the racing again was of a very interesting description and some good finishes were witnessed testifying that Mr- J. H. Pollock had put some of his best efforts into the weight adjusting department. When the last event had been run it was discovered that the sum of £14,503 had been handled at the machines during the day, against £12,344 that was handled at the similar day’s meeting last year, making an aggregate for the meeting of £22,202, against £20,701 that found its way through the totalisator at last year’s spring meeting. Proceedings began with the Tararua Handicap, an event run over seven furlongs. Dearest, on the strength of her first day’s efforts, was made favourite, with Kilosteri in next demand. Dearest, who is always a good beginner, was the first to leave Mr. O'Connor, and entering the straight it look as if she must win. A surprise was in store, for H. Gray brought Domino along with a splendid run that landed the Aucklander a winner with two lengths to spareDearest was next, with Kilosteri on her girths. The latter is a promising filly and should win races this season.

Miscount was made an odds-on favourite in the Juvenile Handicap, run over four furlongs. The Birkenhead colt was never really entended and beat his other opponents very comfortably. The time 50 l-ssec indicates that Miscount is very speedy.

Merrie Frank was made “hot stuff’’ for the Spring Trial Stakes, of six furlongs. Backers of the favourite were doomed to disappointment for Inspection, a typical Birkenhead colt, beat the popular fancy by a length, with Deploy, who ran a good race, in third position. The other runners were all well together.

The Pearce Handicap of 2 50sovs, run over a mile, was voted a good thing for Wimmera after his excellent showing on the opening day. As events turned out the selection proved correct, as the Merriwee gelding won by a length from Sir Tristram, with Merrivonia two lengths away third. John and Iranui both ran creditably, and should seen be getting on the winning list.

All the acceptors figuring on the card, viz., ten, faced Mr. O’Connor in the Second Hack and Hunters' Steeplechase. This event caused a lot of merriment and it appeared as if some of the runners had never seen an obstacle. Some of the riders were not taking any unnecessary risks, and they appeared to be ill at ease on their mounts- This was particularly noticeable in the case of Flamingo, who is usually a safe conveyance. This event was a chapter of accidents. Of ten competitors only five horses, Mahara, St. Amelia, Whimper, Oakley and Sylvia Maid, were the ones to finish. None of the riders whose horses fell were very seriously hurt, although it was noticed that C. Cochrane, who rode the favourite, Star Lass, had a nasty cut on the head, whilst C. Price, through his parting company with Rosegrove, sustained a bruised shoulder- The injuries will only be of short duration and they will soon be in the pigskin again. To return to the race, Mahara, who was always in a good position, won very easily from St. Amelia, with Whimper in third place. ...is jumper was turned out in good trim by J. Cameron, of Feilding, whose friends were glad to see this old-time cross country rider preparing a winner.

The withdrawal of Sir Frisco, who had shown signs of soreness, and Lord Kelvin reduced the field for the Champion Plate, of a mile and aquarter, to five runners of whom Danube was made a warm favourite. The race needs very little description, Lady Medallist streaked away to the front and placed considerable daylight between herself and her competitors, and at the distance she had a very commanding lead, but Gray had not moved on the colt. When heads were turned for home Lady Medallist was well in front, but Gray pulled Danube out for a final run and in a few telling strides the Martian colt had taken Lady Medallist’s measure and he ran home a very easy winner by several lengths. Both horse and jockey received an ovation on return-

ing to the enclosure, an event that usually occurs when the favourite wins.

At the conculsion of this race the handsome trophy, donated by the w.K-C., was handed over to Mr. G. D. Greenwood amidst the cheers of the assembled onlookers.

Through, no doubt, of Mr. Greenwood’s colt Danube running with such success in the Champion Plate, the public picked on Directoire as being the best of goods in the Ruahine Handicap, run over a distance of five furlongs. Their prediction was doomed to disappointment for never once during the running of the contest did Mr. Greenwood’s filly have a chance of earning distinction. After several of the runners had taken a hand at pace making J. Buchanan brought Rongomai along and this Conqueror gelding won by about a couple of lengths from Longstep, who was just in front of Ebonite, who wag more heavily supported than in his first day’s engagement. None of the others ran with any prospects.

The curtain was rung down on the meeting by the decision of the Nainai Handicap, run ovex' six furlongs. Four horses were nearly all evenly backed. The comprised Gipsy Belle, Hohungatahi, Theodore and Bally Shannon. The backers of this quartet were doomed to disappointment, for the winner turned up in the unthought of Penza, with Sea Queen, who was the outsider of the party, in second place, whilst Humming Bird, who was neglected in the betting department, in third place.

This race was a fitting wind up to a successful meeting and proved that Mr. Pollock had set backers a conundrum in finding the winner of the last race. This event was a triumph of the handicapper’s skill. Hector Gray, the successful Auckland rider, was the luckiest jockey at the meeting with four wins to his credit. Others to secure successes were C. Jenkins (2), W. Price (2), whilst A. Olliver, W. Naylor, F. Coleman, F. D. Jones, C. Brown, E. Abbott, J. Buchanan, and M. McDonald saluted Mr. Hartgill on one occasion apiece. WINNING OWNERS. The principal winning owners at the meeting were : —Mr. G. D. Greenwood (including £lOO cup), £325; Mr. J. H. Prosser, £340; Mr. E. J. Watt, £320; Hon. J. D. Ormond, £250; Mr. W. Smart, £130; Mr. H. W. Parata, £110; Mr. G- Scales, £100; Mr. Highden, £100; Mr. W. E. Bidwill, £100; Messrs. M’William and Sullivan, £9O; Mr. J. Buckley, £9O; Mr. W. C. Vincent, £80; Mr. W. Pallister, £7O; Mr. W. C. Ring, £7O; Sir George Clifford, £6O.