AMATEUR RACE MEETING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 63, 15 April 1946, Page 5

AMATEUR RACE MEETING

TE TEKO’S GALA DAY

FITTING WINDUP TO PRINCESS CARNIVAL RECORD CROWD ASSEMBLES The weather, combined with the social aspect to make the *Te Teko amateur race meeting, held last Saturday in aid of the R.S.A. Welfare Memorial Ap-

peal, an outstanding success. Between three and four thousand people assembled in the Te Teko Domain, and covered the natural slopes west of the course with an enthusiastic mass of patrons, who watched the events with the keenest interest. All nine races were run off to schedule and presented some of the cleanest racing anyone could wish to witness. On the whole, the meeting was a genuine compliment to the promoters, and the large army of officials which had been utilised to ensure its smooth running.

Last year’s advertisement had no 'doubt placed Te Teko on the map, -and the competitors included the pick' of the province as far as horse breeding was concerned. Entrants were received from as far north as -Auckland, and south of Gisborne, whilst numerous others travelled from the Waikato, Thames Valley and Rotorua districts. The popularity of the meeting is thoroughly established, and lends further strong ■ argument in favour of an annual meeting run by a properly constituted and permanent Amateur Jockey Club. If this were achieved

there could be no doubt but that the warmest support would be readily forthcoming from the whole of the Eastern Bay. The actual handling of Saturday’s meeting left little to be desired. All •department functioned smoothly and well, and it was difficult to believe that the staff, which must have numbered well over a hundred was completely compdsed of voluntary workers,, in most cases, new to the job. On the equaliser, approximately £3OO was invested on each race, •and the total amount handled, reach-

ed the surprising figure of £2348. Punters were unusually enthusiastic,

and took the keenst interest in picking their fancied This proved in practically every instance, a most ■difficult undertaking for the horses were, as we have noted, a particularly fine looking lot, and ,must have given the average investor more than a passing moment’s thought. That the meeting was being devoted to the interests of the various Princesses was very obvious, by the large number of booths and tents •erected on the grounds. Each of

these were run for the benefit of one of the candidates from either town ou country. From the appearance of most booths, we have no doubt but' that each was liberally patronised, and the respective funds of the Princesses concerned must have improved substantially. Once again Mr Freddie Burt added afresh to his reputation as a -commentator of the first water. Mr Burt has that happy knack of holding any gathering together by creating a homely family atmosphere, which automatically ensures its success. He was at his brightest best qn Saturday. The warmest congratulations must be extended the President, Mr D. S. Radcliffe, his capable secretary and his hard-working committee. The other officials, including starters (R.

Turpin, C. W. Douglas and D. McDonald), Judges (C. McKenzie and J. Thomas), Handicappers (C. Eivers and J. Moody) and the numerous other officers are to be warmly -complimented on the manner in which they carried out their various responsibilities. During the process of the afternoon’s activities, Mr L. H. Brown, President of the local branch of the R.S.A., extended his thanks and appreciation to the committee and patrons as a whole. He complimented especially, the district ladies who had staffed the stalls on the ground. Another feature was the broadcasting of their reactions by the variour horse owners, whose entries had won the events of the meeting. Details of the races were as under: — (1) Princess Beverley and Pam Flat Race of 6 furlongs, weight lOst: Ist ‘Waterhound’, owner J. P. Evans (Waitakaruru).

2nd ‘Ruahess’, owner T. E. Melrose (Pukehina). 3rd ‘Red’ owner L. Jessop (Opotiki).

Won by 6 lengths and 2 lengths Time 1.18 2-ssecs.

(2) Princess Ellen Flat Race of 6 furlongs. Entries to be ridden and owned by Maoris. (Catch weghts):

Ist ‘Yank’ owner C. Anderton (Frankton). 2nd ‘lrahana’ owner R. Nicholas (Rotorua).

3rd ‘Runapia’ owner S. Williams (Edgecumbe). Won by 6 lengths and 4 lengths. Time 1.25 2-ssecs. (3) Princess Kathleen Hurdle Race, of 1 \ miles (weight lOst): Ist ‘Yank’ owner E. Anderton (Frankton). 2nd ‘Pasa Roubles’ owner P. A. Cuft (Te Kowhai). 3rd ‘Dashup’ owner K. Conway (Te Puke). Won by 10 lengths and 4 lengths. June 2.58 2-ssecs.

(5) R.S.A. Memorial Stakes of 1| miles (weight lOst 71bs):

Ist ‘Ninth Spy’ owner R. E. Dernier (Morrinsville). 2nd ‘Geff’ owner W. Donaldson (Opotiki). 3rd ‘Surveyor General’ W. Sullivan (Edgecumbe). Won by 1 length and half a length. Time 2.17;, secs. (6) Princess Ivy Juvenile Race of 6 furlongs (for boy or girl riders between ages of 14 and 18 years). Catch weights.

Ist ‘Gay Musk’ owner F. Jamieson (Morrinsville).

2nd ‘Miss Ruthen’ owner I. Vercoe (Te Puke). 3rd ‘Sharp Steele’ owner C. G. Steele (Opotiki). Won by 3 lengths and a head. Time 1.23.

(7) Princess Betty Jumpers Flat Race of 1| miles for horses that have competed at Shows or Gym,<s khanas (lOst 71bs): Ist ‘Pasa Roubles’ owner P. A. Cuft (Te Kowhai). 2nd ‘Yank’ owner E. Anderton (Frankton).

3rd ‘Grand Vaals’ owner R. Adams Won by 1J lengths and 2 lengths. Time 2.19 4-ssecs. (8) Princess Josephine Farewell Sprint of 6 furlongs (weight lOst 71bs): Ist ‘Waterhound’ owner J. P. Evans (Waitakaruru). 2nd ‘Geff’ owner W. Donaldson (Opotiki). 3rd ‘Survey General’ owner W. Sullivan (Edgecumbe).

'Won by a neck and 3 lengths. Time 1.17 2-ssecs. (9) Saddle Trot Handicap of 1\ miles (weight lOst 71bs):

Ist ‘Katene’ owner A. Thompson. 2nd ‘Ranger’ owner G. Dawson (Opotiki). * 3rd ‘True Trust’ owner G. W, Johansen (Hoe-o-Tainui). Won by 1 length and 4 lengths. Time 3.51 4-ssecs.