WAIPUKURAU JOCKEY CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1459, 11 April 1918, Page 21

WAIPUKURAU JOCKEY CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING. (From Our Napier Correspondent.) Alarm clocks were ringing in the homes of many racegoers on Easter Monday morning, and there was a very general order of “Call me early, mother, dear,” on the part of Napier sports, for the day was the day of the Waipukurau Jockey Club’s annual race meeting, and the only train by which one could be sure of being in time for the first race left about 6.30 a.m. Consequently if the racegoer did not wish either to miss the first race or his breakfast he had to be early astir. The Waipukurau meeting is always one of the most popular of the year with Hawke’s Bay sportsmen, and no matter how inconvenient the train arrangements may be the public will find their way there somehow. The Waipukurau meetings have long since gained the reputation of being the. most successful held by any one-day club in the Dominion. Judging by this year’s meeting, the reputation is not likely soon to be lost. In spite of all the drawbacks of an indifferent train service, of the distance from town, of two days’ steady rain on the previous days, the attendance was actually a record, and there must have been between 6000 and 7000 people on the ground. The meeting was, as it always is, admirably run; in this respect it yields to none that I know of, and can give points to most. There is no more capable secretary than Mr. W. G. Nightingale, there are none, I think, with a greater knowledge of the racing game. There was one drawback to this year’s meeting, and one only — the state of the track. It was so sodden by the continuous heavy rain of several days before that horses sank into the soft spongy ground right up to their fetlocks. None of the races were run faster than what would be good three-quarter pace on an ordin-

ary track, but the horses were doing their utmost and they were all very tired when they finished each race. To say that the form at the meeting is likely to be very much altered later on is only to state what is obvious. Some of the competitors simply could not act in the sticky going. The totalisator investments were about £lOOO below last year’s figuies, but this result must really be regarded as most satisfactory, as there were practically no commissions and big betting during the day, and many backers arrived on the ground too late for the first race and missed the second also because the horses were late in being sent down to the starting post. The starting of Mr. R. E. Harley was particularly good, and Mr. Harley came in for a good deal of congratulations for his efforts. Mr. R. H. Aidworth, as judge, was also the right man in the right place. The racing commenced with the Maiden Race. There were eight starters, with Torchlight carrying most bullion. Transmission was also well backed, with Antler a quiet tip in certain circles. Asterial looked well, but it was no two-year-old’s job to win a seven furlongs race in such going, and after showing a bold front with Torchlight for five furlongs Asterial dropped back. Transmission had most left in her at the finish, and she won handily from Belgian Maid. The field for the Easter Handicap numbered six. Haumakaka was installed favourite. Maraetotara following him in the betting. Neither appeared to find the track to their liking, and after Tavistock had endeavoured to make a runaway race of it Hylami caught him in the straight, and, galloping over him at the business end, won by three lengths. Mysteriarch was a poor third. What has been written about, ihe Easter may be written about the Hack Handicap, with just the alteration of names. Of the six starters Whakahoki was in most demand. Kahumanga coming next. Powder King, like Tavistock in the previous race, made all the running to the home bend, where Whakahoki came along and settled him without an effort. Cleft was the outsider of the three runners for the Waipukurau Handicap, the favourite being Perfidy. Cleft led all the way and won without being pushed in the slow time of 2min 51 4-ssec for the mile and a-quarter. Perfidy was second, and Silver Tongue, who was somewhere about the home bend when Cleft finished, was third —and last.

The five two-year-olds in the Oringi Handicap were by no means a select lot, but the public went for Pavilion, who looked strong enough to- carry the grandstand. Marula and Barcarolle were next in order of favouritism. When the tapes were released Barcarolle jumped back' and lost several lengths. This enabled Pavilion to get a good break on, and he entered the straight with a commanding lead, but he tired to nothing in the last furlong, and Barcarolle, coming from the back with a surprisingly strong run, won by three or four lengths from Pavilion, with Marula still further back in third place. Eight was the main in the Ladies’ Handicap, and the public seemed undecided what to make favourite. Eventually Sabrenui finished up in that position, True Gun being second fancy. Neither of the pair struck the front at any stage of the race. Idealism led off, and, bowling along at an even gait, it looked as though he might not be caught, but he had to pay the penalty of lack of condition (he had only been in training a few weeks) and the more seasoned Belgian Maid, hard ridden, caught him a hundred yards from home and sealed her first win. The largest field of the day (nine) faced the starter for the Hatama Hack Handicap. Queen Lizzie, with Hewitt as pilot, was the most in demand, but Humorist and Pao each carried a lot of money. Queen lizzie led most of the way, and won rather easily from Gold Shot, with Humorist close up thrnd. Queen Lizzie <\as the only favourite of the day to have her number hoisted in first position. The last race of the day, the Flying Handicap, was, as often happens, the biggest betting race. With only five runners. Sheila, who had Hewitt

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in the saddle, was sorted out as the best of good things, but there was always plenty of good money forthcoming for Vermillion, while Cleft was well befriended, despite a 71b penalty. Vermillion and Tavistock struck the front early, but the latter failed to stay there, and when heads were turned for home 'Vermillion was left alone in her glory, the hopes of the others being buried. Cleft came on the scene in the last furlong, and though he failed to make any impression on Vermillion’s lead, he just got up in time to beat Tavistock for second place by a head. The results were: — MAIDEN HANDICAP. Seven furlongs. 2 — Transmission 1 s—Belgian5—Belgian Maid 2 3 — Torchlight 3 Also started: 9 Remote, 8 Copyright. 6 Multum, 10 Best Man, 7 Taleteller, 3 Antler, 4 Asterial. Won by four lengths, with two lengths between second and third. Time, Imin 53 4-ssec. EASTER HANDICAP. Once round. 5- 7.5 1 6— Tavistock, 8.6 2 2 — Mysteriarch, 7.0 3 Also started: 1 Haumakaka, 3 Pursefiller. 4 Maraetotara. Won by half a length, with Mysteriarch six lengths away. Time, 2min 28sec. HACK HANDICAP. One mile and a-quarter. I—Whakahoki, 8.3 1 6 — Powder King, 7.11 2 s—Blackall,5 —Blackall, 9.1 3 Also started: 2 Kaihumanga, 3 Sensitive, 4 Mania. Won by ten lengths, six lengths between second and third. Time, /mm 42 3-ssec. WAIPUKURAU HANDICAP. One mile and a-quarter. 3 — Cleft, 8.13 1 1 — Perfidy, 8.11 2 2 — Silver Tongue, 8.3 3 The only starters. • Won by six lengths, Silver Tongue being two lengths away. Time, 2m:'n 53sec. ORINGI HANDICAP. Five furlongs. 3— Barcarolle, 7.9 1 1 — Pavilion, 7.9 2 2 — Marula, 7.9 3 Also started: 4 The Speaker. 5 Brown Aster. Won by two lengths, with Marula five lengths away. Time, Imin 21 4-ssec. LADIES’ HANDICAP. One mile and a-half. 7 — Belgian Maid, 10.8 1 3— Idealism, 11.6 2 s—Mysteriarch,5—Mysteriarch, 11.10- 3 Also started: 4 Zeus, 8 Jem, 1 Sabrenui, 2 True Gun, 6 Tarn. Won by six lengths. Time, 3min 40sec. HATAMA HACK HANDICAP. Five furlongs. 1 — Queen Lizzie, 8.11 1 s—Gold Shot, 8.4 2 3 —Humorist, 9.0 3 Won by a length, with a head between second and third. Time, 2min 21 sec. FLYING HANDICAP. Six furlongs. 2— Vermillion, 7.13 1 3 — Cleft, 8.11 2 4 — Tavistock. 8.8 3 Also started: 1 Sheila, 5 Mazama. Won by two lengths, with Tavistock half a head away. Time, Imin 35sec.