WAIPUKURAU JOCKEY CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1564, 15 April 1920, Page 30A

WAIPUKURAU JOCKEY CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The Waipukurau Jockey Club topped all previous records at their annual race meeting, held on Easter Monday. The gathering has always been very popular with racegoers, and this was abundantly borne out by the large crowd which came from all parts of the province to attend the fixture. The trains from north and south brought a lot of visitors, but a very large number came in motor cars, the day being beautifully fine. The nominations received were a record for the club, every possible competitor having apparently been drawn in by the indefatigable secretary. The fields were much above the average, while the racing was easily the best seen on the course, the finishes with one exception being very close. The totalisator put through £26,737, which is the largest' amount yet recorded by the club, while the £4103 invested on the last race is the biggest amount handled on one event on the course. The handicapping of Mr. J. E. Henrys, and the starting of Mr. Angus .Keith left nothing to be desired.. Mr. T. H. Gordon Lloyd officiated as judge and his decisions notwithstanding the closeness of the finishes gave every satisfaction. The secretary, Mr. W. G. Nightingale, had the arrangements well in hand and the meeting was as usual admirably run. Several innovations were introduced by the secretary which were much appreciated and likely to prove very. acceptable ’ elsewhere. Alongside the horses’ names on the totalisator Were numbers indicating the positions at post. This was in addition to the same information placed on a blackboard but it enabled investors when making their investments to see what position their iancy had drawn. Dividends were displayed on a blackboard hinged so as to face in three directions, thus showing the figures on two sides and straight in front of the machine. For the press representatives cards were provided showing not only the totalisator investments on each horse together with the - placings, time, and dividends, but also the total on the same race, at the previous meeting, thus enabling comparisons of the investments, at the respective meetings being readily made. The totalisator was particularly well worked by Messrs. Marett and Fox, but it was evident that additional windows will be required in future to cope with such a large amount. The meeting was not only the most successful in the history of the club, but it was one of the most enjoyable that it has been my pleasure to attend. Mannikin and Hindi were the best backed of the ten runners for the Maiden Race. The finish was confined to the two. Hindi, who now races as a gelding, always had the measure of his opponent, and he won rather easily at the finish. Import carried most money in the Hatuma Hack, of five furlongs, but Asterina and Hymarty were also well backed. Gay Lady was a bit too gay and she did a three-mile preliminary before the start. Prince Randall was a quiet tip, but he did not seem able to go the pace set by Asterina in the early part of the race. Asterina made light of the hill, and entered the straight with a commanding lead. She tired in the run home and Import and Hymarty had her doing her best to win by half a length, the other two finishing a dead-heat for second. Prince Randall was fourth. Mumble was a strong order for the Hack Handicap, but not a few pinned their faith to Antler and Sensitive, the latter having a first and a second in this race to his credit. Mannikin, saddled up a second time with only an interval of one race between, made all the early running, with the favourite making heavy weather of it some distance back. Raffle and Sensitive were the first to challenge Mannikin, but in the straight Ethiopian and Antler came fast, and an exciting finish ended in favour of Antler by a neck, with a head between Ethiopian and Mannikin. Patetohga was the “pea” for the Waipukurau Handicap, for which five weighed out. The favourite led nearly all the way, but the rider was quite done at the finish, and could not get the last ounce, out of him, so in a close go Eheipa scored by a nose from Voluble, who again was only a head in front of Patetonga. Woden was the best backed of the six runners for the Oringi Handicap, for two-year-olds. Kikini, a handy

little filly by Merry Moments from the Merriwee mare Ariom, came near bringing off a surprise. She was quickest out and soon established a good lead, with Wamba running second. Woden made his effort in the straight, but the leader stuck to her task well, and all he could do was to make a dead-heat of it. Wamba was third. Warstar was first choice for the Ladies’ Handicap, with Rylstone second in demand. ■ The favourite was never in the fighting line. Ore Ore was in front nearly all the way, and his owner-trainer-rider kept him going long enough to win by three lengths from Manhattan, who had Rylstone at his quarters. Asterina put up a 71b. penalty for the Purinui Hack, as also did Antler. It was thought' Mosthenes would win, and he was backed down to a short price, Asterina and Dunstan Rush being the best supported of the others. Asterina again set out to win all the way, and nearly did it, but Prince Randall came up well in the last hundred yards, and won by nearly a length. Asterina beat Mosthenes by a neck for second place. For the Flying Handicap, Marula ruled as favourite, Parisian Diamond coming next. The Speaker split this pair at the finish, but Marula won with something to spare. Parisian Diamond should benefit by the race and he should be ticked off as likely to win before long. Mystification and Merry Moment each sired two winners, Hindi and Antler representing the former, while Asterina and Kikini claim Merry Moment as their papa. California, Hymettus, Signor, Our King and King Mark were each responsible for one winner. The results were: — ' MAIDEN RACE of 140sovs. Seven furlongs. 2 —G. Hunter’s, M. P., ch g Hindi, 3 yrs., by Mystification—Mungista, 8.8 (A. Loader) 1 1— Mannikin, 9.1 2 6 Larkspur, 9.1 3 Also started: 10 Tatton Park, 8 King ' Albert, 7 Pokanekane, 5 Strangeways, 3 Mokattam, 9 Haraki, 4 Ringakaha. Won by three quarters of a length. Time, imin. 30 4-ssec. HATUMA HACK HANDICAP of ISO sovs. Five furlongs; 2 — G. D. Beatson’s b f Asterina, 3« yrs, by Merry Moment —Asteroid 8.10 (L. Berry) 1 3— Hymarty, 9.2 and 1 Import, 8.4 dead heat, ... 2 Also started: 4 Prince Remdall, 5 Lady Wolawa, 6 Pohehe, 9 Royal Gift, 11 Gay Lady, 8 Kaimotu, 10 Cuddle Doon, 7 Bernadotte. Won by three-quarters of a length. Time, Imin. 2 3-ssec. HACK HANDICAP of 165sovs. One and a quarter miles. 2— S. Marshall’s ch g Aulter, syrs, by Mystification—Eland, 7.8 (R. Morris) 1 4— Ethiopian 8.12 2 6 —Mannikin, 7.13 3 Also started: 1 Mumble, 5 Diamond Nap, 3 Sensitive, 9 Ore Ore, 7 Raffle, 8 Chit Chat. Won by a neck, a head between second and third, and the same between third and fourth. Time, 2min. lOsec. WAIPUKURAU HANDICAP of 250 sovs.. One and a quarter miles. 4—Mr. Thomas’ br g Eheipa, 6yrs„ by California—Sweet Helen, 6.10 (R. Morris) 1 3— Voluble 6.7 2 I—Pa.tetonga1—Pa.tetonga 6.11 3 Also started: 2 The Speaker, 5 Silver Tongue, Won by a nose, a neck between second and third, Time, 2min. 7 4-ssec. ORINGI HANDICAP of ISOsovs. Five furlongs. For two-year-olds. 1— -J. Ormond’s b g Woden, by Hymettus —Freya, 7.9 (L. Berry) and 5 E. Edgecombe’s b f Kikini, by Merry Moment —Ariam, 7.0 (F. Reid) dead heat 1 3 — Wamba, 7.2 2 Also started: 6 White Hope, 4 Duo, 2 Mountain Chief. Third horse was half a length behind the dead heaters. Time, Imin. 2 4— LADIES’ HANDICAP of llOsovs. One and a half miles. 6—-Mrs. E. T. Batt’s br g Ore Ore, 6yrs, by Signor—The Brook, 11.3 (Mr. E. T. Batt) 1 5 — Manhattan, 10.13 2 2 — Rylestone, 11.13 , . 3 Also started:.? Shaki, 1 War Star, 9 Woollahra, 4 Mania, 11 Vermil, 12 Mabine, 3 Patukia, 8 Yuetan,' 10 Bernadotte. Won by thirteen lengths. Time, 2 min. 41 2-ssec. , PURIMU HACK HANDICAP of 165 sovs. Six- furlongs. 5 —C. Norgrove’s’b g Prince■' Randall, 3yrs, by Our King—Monaco mare, 8.2 (E. Manson) 1 2 —Asterina 9.0 (inc. 71b. penalty), 2 I—Mosthenes,1 —Mosthenes, 8.7 3 Also started: 4 Orawai, 6 Mumble, 10 Lord Laddo, 3 Dunstan Rush, 8 Hotoke, 7 Antler, 9 Larkspur. Won by a. neck, a similar distance between second and third. Time, Imin. 15 2-ssec. FLYING HANDICAP of 2 lOsovs. Six furlongs. 1— M. Thomas’ ch m Marula, syrs, by King Mark —Parula, 8.13 (C. France) 1 s—The Speaker, 7.9 2 2 — Parisian Diamond, 9.13 '. 3 Also started: 4 Import, 3 Blissfulness. Won by half a length. Time, Imin. 14 3-ssec.