OTAKI MAORI RACING CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1104, 8 June 1911, Page 6

OTAKI MAORI RACING CLUB.

FIRST DAY. GUNBOAT WINS RAUKAWA CUP. .(From Our Wellington Correspondent.) The first day’s gathering of the winter meeting of the Otaki Maori Racing Club which took place on Saturday last will long be remembered as the most successful and best attended meeting hitherto held by this racing institution. There was a record attendance, visitors being present from all parts of the Dominion, whilst Wellington sporting enthusiasts, who hold the Maori club in the highest esteem, were represented by such a crowd that one would imagine that races were being held at Trentham instead of at Otaki. The attendance was easily a record for the club and among those present were the ActingJ-Premier (the Hon, J. Carroll), the Hon. J. Millar and Mr. J. M. Johnston, secretary of the Racing Commission. The racing throughout was decidedly interesting, the finish in the Cup, when Gunboat defeated Merrie Zealand by a head, was a treat to witness. The finishes in several of the other events caused Mr. Hartgill some anxiety, as the horses came thundering up the straight, but as usual his verdicts were given promptly and met with the approval of all present. The weather was delightful and as a consequence racing was carried on under perfect conditions. The Club’s handicapper (Mr. J. Pollock) was deservedly complimented upon the result of his verdicts in the weight department. It was conceded on all sides that the veteran had put forth his best efforts in the interests of the club. Mr. T. Cameron was very successful at the barrier, his send offs being marked with precision. People came well provided with the sinews of war, for at the close of the day’s racing it was found that Mr. J. Ames and his staff had handled £13,371 through the machines. This amount is largely in excess of the figures for the similar day’s meeting last year, when only £7856 was dealt with. The arrangements at the totali sator were woefully deficient and but for this circumstance several hundreds of more pounds would have been handled. Proceedings commenced with the Maiden Flat Race and backers in sending Monologue out favourite showed some discretion, for, getting to the front early, Mr. O’Neill’s chestnut stopped in front to the finish, winning very easily by two lengths from Kingswell, who was a neck in front of Otahu, with Recipe and Lady Mildred next. Monologue gives promise of turning out a profitable stakeearner foi’ the owner of Gladiole. Parewanui was the smartest to find his feet in the Flying Hack Handicap, but after travelling a furlong Longstep assumed command, and, galloping along in good style, won by a clear half length from Varna, with Undecided a similar distance away third, while St. Bee’s was close up fourth, the others being tailed off. The winner paid a two-figure dividend, whilst Varna also paid a big price for getting into second position. Several new aspirants for hurdle honours were making their first appearance in the Hack Hurdles, for which Whitestone was made a firm favourite, with Te Ru next in demand. Mr. Cameron despatched the field to an excellent start, for which

Taft was the first to show in front, but was, after a furlong had been passed by Lanark, who led past the stand from Te Ru and Boyne Water, with Whitestone and Passive next. Half a mile from home the. latter went to the front, and entering the straight had a good lead, but she tired to nothing in the run to the post and had to be hard ridden to win by a neck from Mallet, who came with one of his well-known runs over the last portion of the journey. Te Ru was twenty lengths away third, Clemain fourth and Whitestone fifth. Aberration did not run too kindly and appeared to loose ground at his fences. Taft’s performance was disappointing, but the run should help to make him conversant with the obstacles. Passive’s performance was very meritorious, and Mr. Vincent, the Pahiatua sportsman, appears to have shown some discretion in putting the black to the hurdle business. Woodhey was a firm order with backers in the Raukawa Cup, but Bliss and Gunboat also had many admirers. All the acceptors with the exception of Vibration faced the starter. Deploy was the quickest to begin and she led past the stand from Bliss and Hermia. Going out of the straight Bliss took command, and led up the back stretch from Hermia, whilst Mulga Bill was in hot pursuit with the others some distance away, with Merrie Zealand coming fast. Eentering the straight the latter got his head in front and it looked any odds on the gelding landing the money, but it was ordained otherwise, for H. Gray had been biding his time on Gunboat, and in one of the best finishes ever seen on the Otaki course the successful Taranaki horseman snatched a victory for Gunboat by a head on the post. The finish was very exciting, the only person in a position to say with certainty who had won being the judge. Mulga Bill was a good third, whilst the others were bunched three lengths further back. Lady Volley, on the strength of some excellent track work, was installed favourite for the Otaki Hack Handicap, but the chestnut did not succeed in getting into the placed division. The start saw Voca at the head of affairs, and the brown mare was in front for half the journey when several others disputed supremacy. Three furlongs from home Projectile cleared away and entering the straight was a clear three lengths in front of Black Reef and a bunched field and coming on won comfortably by half a length from Merrie Emerald, who was two lengths to the good of Cork, whilst Black Reef was fourth and Floater fifth, the last to finish being Turna. A capital field of thirteen runners contested the Rahui Handicap, for which St. Toney occupied the position of favourite. The start was a capital one, the colours of St. Toney, Faunus and Mon Ami being conspicuous, whilst Zealand was slow to find his feet. Entering the straight St. Toney and Faunus singled themselves out, and in a great battle all the way up the straight the latter won by a head, with Tumut two lengths away third. The others were close up with the exception of Eclogue, who was a bad The day’s racing was brought to a conclusion with the decision of the Birthday Welter Hack Handicap. The start was perfect and Septimus was soon in front, bowling along in good style, but entering the straight the gelding faded out of it and San Pan, Rongomai and St. Brandon joined issue, and in the run to the post St. Brandon lasted long enough to win by a bare head from Rongomai, with Sam Pan a good third. Aruake was favourite, but was never dangerous. This event was a brilliant windup to one of the best gatherings yet held by the club.

Okaihau scored such an easy victory in the Maiden Steeplechase on Saturday that it would seem as though he only has to keep sound to win more races before the season ends. sr ® ** ** On Saturday the amount handled on the totalisator at Ellerslie was £22,681, compared with £14,713 on the corresponding day last year, when £738 was received in bookmakers’ fees. w w ® * Herb Price, the well-known mercer and tailor, 54 Willis Street, Wellington, intends, (giving two more 18ct. gold chronometers to the most successful ockeys over the fences and on the flat for the season 1910-1911.*