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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1402, 8 March 1917, Page 24

DANNEVIRKE RACING CLUB. AUTUMN MEETING. TEKA WINS THE CUP. Ideal weather prevailed on Wednesday for the opening day of the Dannevirke Racing Club’s autumn meeting, and a large crowd witnessed the racing, which proved both interesting and enjoyable. The track was in good order, and with satisfactory fields engaged some keen contests resulted. Patrons were fairly accurate in their calculations, three favourites winning, while a similar number of second favour.tes scored. The arrangements in connection with the meeting were carried out in a thorough manner, the capable secretary, Mr. R. Takle, being entitled to a special word of praise for his untiring efforts in assisting to make the gathering the great success it proved. The totalisator investments foi' the afternoon amounted to £15,883, as compared with £15,689 for the opening day of the 1916 autumn meeting. A start was made with the Maiden Plate, in which Sabana was made a better favourite than the Aucklandowned pair, Cardrona and Princess Bee (who were bracketed), while Reydale and Step were most fancied of the other thirteen starters. After some trouble at the barrier the field left to an uneven despatch, the favourite immediately taking the lead, but she was displaced by War Maid. The latter headed the field until nearifig the straight entrance, where Sabana again took charge, and though challenged by Cardrona, the Rokeby filly won by a clear length from the Aucklander, who was a length and ahalf in advance of War Maid.

Ten lined up at the post for the President’s Handicap, the Poverty Bay owned filly Sheila being entrusted with most support, while Sweet Tipperary, Sea Lord, Zeus and Sarah Grand were all accorded good support. A tiresome delay of fully twenty minutes was experienced at the start, Sweet Tipperary being placed on the outside of the field on account of her fractiousness. This did not affect her chances, however, for she was quickest to find her feet, and at the half-distance had command from Sheila and Sarah Grand. The last-named was the first to turn for home, and in an exciting race to the post managed to defeat the favourite by half a length. Sweet Tipperary was a length away, third, while Zeus was fourth. Mystified was made the medium of very strong support in the Tahoraite Hack Welter, in which Spain, Rylstone and The Baronet were most fancied of the other seven starters. The last-named was early in the lead, and galloping resolutely scored a victory from Mystified by a length and a-half. Rylstone was three lengths away, third. Seven went to the post for the Dannevirke Cup, Indigo, who ran prominently at the Wanganui meeting, being installed favourite, with the consistent Gisborne representative, Teka, second in request. Ladify and the disappointing Beltane were also well backed. Settler and Dribble were in the lead passing the stand the first time, and the pair still had charge go’ng along the back, and showed the way into the straight, closely attended by Teka and Indigo. A splendid race ensued, in which Teka, capably handled by Manson, secured a head victory from Beltane, who finished with great dash, with Indigo half a length away, third, a head in advance of Trials. It was a sterling race, and the winner and his rider were heartily cheered. It was early evident that Parisian Diamond would occupy the position of favourite in the Electric Hack Handicap, in which his half-dozen opponents failed to receive much support on the machine. The public’s summing up of the capabilities of the son of Charlemagne 11. was Y ell justified, as he soon had the measure of the field, and won without being unduly extended by a couple of lengths from Pall Mall, with Goldbearing third. Only a trio were saddled up for the Ruahine Jumpers’ Flat, in which Black Heart was better fancied than Sir Fisher and Jem. Sir Fisher piloted the field over the first mile; but coming into the straight the favourite raced up alongside the son of Maniapoto, and, finishing strongly, won by a couple of lengths from Jem, who just got up in time to defeat Sir Fisher by a head for second honours. A quintette lined up at the barrier for the Tamaki Welter, the Hawke’s