WAIRARAPA.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1502, 6 February 1919, Page 10

WAIRARAPA.

Form of Local Horses at Pahiatua — Retard Now in J. T. Jamieson’s Stable —Local Clubs to Revert to Two-day Meetings During Autumn —Taratahi - Carterton Racing Club May Hold Meeting This Year —Mr. W. R. Kemball’s Visit to Australia. MASTERTON, Friday. The local lightweight, R. S. Bagby, who is riding very well at present, was successful in the two leading events on the second day of the Wellington meeting. He also scored on Rebekah in the concluding race of the meeting. Red Ribbon has been given 9.5 in the Dunedin Cup, which is a weight Mr. Dorset is not likely to accept with. Still, the minimum is 7.0, and the daughter of Elevation and Blue Ribbon has won twice over the distance recently. Chimera was taken on to Trentham after the Foxton meeting, but did not get among the money. Chimera gallops well at Opaki, but not in his races. The course at Tauherenikau is being put in order in view of the club’s approaching autumn meeting.

For several years now part of the course has been periodically used by the troops at Featherston camp. Lady General was taken to Pahiatua by T. Higgins along with her stable companion, Zabism. It was her first outing since the accident which laid the daughter of General Latour and Romola aside just previous to the Christmas meetings. Affectation won his second race this season for Mr. A. McDonald, and put up a good performance in carrying 8.13 to victory in the Fitzherbert Handicap on the second day of the Wellington meeting. It was pleasing to see the veteran trainer R. Knox lead in a winner at Pahiatua. This was Penury Rose (Penury —Merrie Rose). This gelding had bad luck during the holidays, and was galloped on in two of his races.

Ben. Nichols took Multaine and Railand to the Pahiatua meeting, but Mr. Kemball’s horses did not get into the money, although they both ran creditable races. Multaine was fourth in the principal handicap. Retard, who ran two seconds at the Hawke’s Bay meeting at New Year and a second at the recent Wellington gathering, is now an inmate of J. T. Jamieson’s Opaki stable.

Masterton-trained horses accounted for a couple of races at the Pahiatua meeting, the winners being Zabism and Penury Rose. Both were well fancied and the wins were popular. Comment, after unsuccessfully competing at Foxton on Anniversary Day, was taken on to Trentham for the second day’s races, and accounted for the Open Welter in good style. W. Galbraith’s charge did not win out of her turn.

Had Damien won the Metropolitan Handicap on the second day at Trentham she would have paid a large dividend. Mr. A. Cameron’s mare ran a really good race, and finished third to Silver Link and Kipling.

Mr. W. R. Kemball, of Masterton, whose horses were shipped to Australia during the week, will leave the Dominion in a few weeks’ time for the purpose of seeing his colours carried on the other side. The local sportsman is showing a plucky spirit ip sending a team across just now and when several of the candidates have failed to show their true form in New Zealand. However, this will be in their favour when handicaps are declared, and Hymestra will escape a penalty in the event of his contesting weight-for-age events. Nanna would appear at present as the best of those sent across, but Scornful showed up well in his only start at Trentham, and is coming back to form. Mr. Kemball intends to remain in the Commonwealth until after the autumn fixtures, and will do the Caulfield, Flemington and Randwick meetings. His many Wairarapa friends will wish him a profitable journey with his horses.

A special meeting of the Masterton Racing Club is being held tomorrow (Saturday) to draw up a programme for its autumn meeting, in the event of the dates being passed. It is likely that there will be a two-day meeting in March, and following this will come the Wairarapa Racing Club’s autumn meeting of two days, so this district will be well catered for in the next few months.

Another Wairarapa Club to be reinstated under the new conditions will be the Taratahi-Carterton Racing Club, and there is a prospect of this club holding a one-day meeting this year. The officials of the Carterton Club have waited patiently for their turn, and it is to be hoped that the flags will be flying on the old course shortly.