DANNEVIRKE RACING CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1482, 19 September 1918, Page 12

DANNEVIRKE RACING CLUB.

SPRING MEETING.

(From Our Wanganui Correspondent.)

The Dannevirke Racing Club’s spring meeting was held on Wednesday in perfect weather, in the presence of a large crowd. The fields were large and the racing of an interesting description. In the two big events the finishes were exceedingly close. In the Spring Handicap Multaine and All Over had a rare setto over the last quarter of a mile, the former getting the verdict by a narrow margin, while later on in the day All Over again suffered defeat by a short head. Rose Pink beating Mr. Bull’s gelding in the Otanga Handicap after a most exciting contest. It was bad luck for the Hunterville sportsman to miss two such good races by so narrow a margin. There was an unfortunate incident in the Jumpers’ Flat Race, as the rider of Fisher (H. McSweeney), which gelding finished first, weighed in 11b. 6oz. short, and the horse was distanced. This was particularly hard luck for both the owner (Mr. J. ,B. Mac Ewan) and backers of the gelding, as he was paying a good price. There was a lot of delay in checking the totalisator figures, and the last race was run over an hour behind time, which meant that many left the course before the event started in order to catch the trains. The inspectors who were acting on behalf of the Government were, rightly or wrongly, blamed for the delay, but whatever the cause of the loss of time it was very annoying. Mr. Angus Gordon was present

as stipendiary steward, but only minor matters came under notice. Mr. Angus Keith did uniformly good work as starter, getting the big fields away very smartly once he got the order “Tote clear.” Mr. J. E. Henrys had good reason to be well satisfied with the result of his handicapping, which resulted in good fields and interesting racing. Speculation was brisk, the sum of £26,661 being handled by the machine, over £lO,OOO more than last year. . There were nine scratchings in the opening event —the' Trial Stakes in which Hallow was made a slightly better favourite than Mandrake, due to the fact that Hector Gray had the mount and had drawn the rails for the three-year-old son of Hallowmas. There were thirty other starters. The big field took some getting into line at the post, and the start was somewhat ragged. The first to make play were Toddy and Samarang, but Hallow and War Scot ran to the front at the turn into the straight, and were fighting out a great finish when Mandrake came fast from the back and cut them both down, winning nicely. March On was coupled with the winner, due to the size of the field. Samarang was fourth. Prior to the start of the above race Dangerous got away with his rider and made a rush for a six-foot wire fence on the outside of the track. She ran right into it and was stopped dead, her rider shooting over her head through the air and landing on all fours on the other side of the fence. Luckily, neither horse nor rider were hurt.

Twenty-two lined up in the Hack Welter, for which Utuwai was sorted out as the most likely winner, Matatua and Sabine being the best backed of the others. Pagan and Sunbright were prominent in the early stages, with the favourite close up. Trombone and Matatua ran up to the leaders at the bend, and the last-named looked likely to win a furlong from home, when Willy’s Knight challenged, and then H. Gray brought Sabine with a great rattle on the outside and got the verdict comfortably. The favourite was fourth.

Rose Pink and Cyresian were withdrawn from the Spring Handicap, leaving fourteen to go to the post, AH Over winding up a slightly better favourite than Astrophel. There was also solid backing for Elocution and Croesus. Glenroy, on the rails, was first out, followed by All Over and Croesus. The latter raced to the front after going two furlongs and was first into the straight, but in the run home found his big load too much in the heavy going and had to be content with fourth place, Multaine, All Over and Glenroy finishing in front of the topweight in the order named, the finish being a good one. There were sixteen starters in the Flandicap Hurdles, Bjorneborg carrying nearly double the amount invested on Tornea, the most fancied of the others. War Maid and Ore Ore fell at the second hurdle, and the next brought down both Undecided and Woolhard. Atuatoro led from Sar.bonite for five furlongs, and then Janitor and Bjorneborg got out in front and had the race to themselves for the rest of the journey. They led alternately until the last fence was reached, which they took together' and ran neck and neck right to the post, Janitor getting the verdict by half a nose, with Vacuum close up, third.

There were fifteen starters in the Umutaoroa Hack Handicap, in which Penury Rose carried one pound more than Maiora, Tigritiya being the most fancied of the others. There was some delay at the barrier, but the field got away on fairly even terms. Gold Problem and Maiora were in front to the bend, where Penury Rose got up to the leaders, the three named racing down the straight together. Maiora drew out over the last bit and just got the verdict from Tigritiya, the three-year-old daughter of All Black coming with a splendid run down the straight. The winner is a very fine-looking three-year-old gelding by Hallowmas —Fairy Gold, and was turned out in splendid fettle. The topweight, Paraoa, was the popular pick in the Jumpers’ Flat, for which eight lined up. Fisher and Gladful were both well supported. Dancaster was the quickest to begin, Lord Ainslie being his nearest attendant, with Classification next. At the bend the latter ran into the lead, with Fisher and Blackall closing up. Blackall had his head in front 150 yards from the post, when Fisher came through on the rails and won comfortably. Paraoa finished fourth and Gladful fifth. Fisher weighed in 11b. Coz. short and was distanced, Blackall being placed first, Classification second and Paraoa third.

Depredation, Orleans. Sea Lord, Hastie, War March and Ladify were withdrawn from the Otanga Handicap, thirteen going to the post. Despite the fact that he was making his second appearance for the afternoon, All Over was made a warm favourite, Karo and Teka being the most fancied of the others. Teka, Haumakaka and Mazama led in turn, the latter being first into the straight, where the field closed up, and a great race to the post was witnessed. Rose Pink (on the outside), nicely handled by Ashley Reed, came with a fine burst of speed over the last 50 yards and got up in time to beat All Over by a head. Mazama was quite close up, third, and then came Hydrus, who had a bad passage, fourth. For the concluding event, the Te Rehunga Hack Handicap, fifteen were saddled up, Torchlight being entrusted with most money, though Persian Prince, Penury Rose and Master Iney were solidly supported. Toddy shot away to the front, and at one time was nearly 100 yards ahead of the field, but was done with five furlongs from home, where Persian Prince, Willy’s Knight, Torchlight and Penury Rose were racing together and rounded the turn on even terms. Splendidly handled by H. Gray, Persian Prince got home by a nose from Willy’s Knight, Penury Rose being fourth. The results were: — TRIAL STAKES of lOOsovs. Five furlongs and a-half. 2— Mandrake, 8.7 (H. Robinson) .... 1 j o—War0 —War Scot, 8.7 2 1 — Hallow, 8.7 3 Scratched: Cadet, Katmandu, Livland, Marooma, Old Gold, Orison, Trombone, Omahu, Simmons. Won by a length. Time, lmin 12sec. HACK WELTER HANDICAP of 130sovs. Seven furlongs. 3 — Sabine, 8.7 (H. Gray) 1 7 —Willys Knight, 8.0 2 2— Matatua, 8.4 3 Scratched: Gold Problem, Cadet, Orison, Hallow, La Pucelie, St. Demetrius, Sarbonite. Won comfortably. Time, lmin 3 2 l-ssec. SPRING HANDICAP of 200sovs. Six furlongs. 7 —Multaine, 6.11 (W. McEwen) .... 1 I—-All1 —-All Over, 7.8 2 6 — Glenroy, 7.7 ° Scratched: Rose Pink, Cyresian. Won by about a length. Time, lmin 17sec. HACK HURDLES of 150sovs. One mile and a-half. 4 — Janitor, 9.3 (A. McDonald) 1 1— Bjorneborg, 9.12 2 3 — Vacuum 3 Scratched: Paraoa, Lord Ainslie, Dancastor, Whetoki, Classification. Won by a nose. Time, 3min 5 3-ssec. UMUTAOROA HACK HANDICAP of 120sovs. Six furlongs. 2 — Maioha, 7.12 (H. Watson) 1 3— Tigritiya, 7.3 '• 2 I—Penury1—Penury Rose, 6.11 3 Scratched: Madame Ristori, Quinn s Post, Falstone, Tata, Hessian, Livland, Admiration, Jane Douglas. JUMPERS’ FLAT HANDICAP of 150 sovs. One mile and a-quarter. 7 — Blackall, 10.0 (W. McKinnon) ... 1 5— Classification, 9.0 2 I—Paraoa,1 —Paraoa, 11.3 3 Scratched: Bjorneborg, Tornea, Waipunoa, Vacuum, Janitor, Jiu Jitsu. Fisher was placed first, but failed to draw the weight, and was disqualified. Time, 2min 15sec. OTANGA HANDICAP of 200sovs. One mile and a furlong. 7 — Rose Pink, 7.5 (A. Reed) L 1 — All Over, 7.13 2 8 — Mazama, 6.10 ° Scratched: Depredation, Orleans, Sea Lord, Hastie, War March, Ladify. Won by a neck. Time, 2min. TE REHUNGA HACK HANDICAP of 130sovs. One mile and 50 yards. 2 — Persian Prince, 7.13 (H. Gray) . . 1 s—Willys Knight, 6.9 2 I—Torchlight,1—Torchlight, 7.13 * Scratched: Wapping, First Line, Arihia, Dick. Won by half a head. Time, Imm 4 Bsec.