WATCHING THEM.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1520, 16 August 1912, Page 7

WATCHING THEM.

HOW THE HURDLES WERE WON. SENSATIONAL INCIDENTS. THE NATIVE WINS AND LOSES. (By Telegraph — Special Correspondent.) Christchurch, .August 15. ■ What may.safely bo described, as. tin most sensational National Hurdles eve; i'ua at Biccarton took place to-day in per feet weather and before a huge, concoura of people. Fields were numerous, bu ■despite, this backers- were well on tin mark all day. Tho course had dried ui a lot, and provided sound going. Fourteen runners went to the post ir the Hunt Club Cup, but the jumping was not good. Outside the placed horses, onlj Tho Chief, Pukeroa, and Max finished thi course. The race was run at a clipping pace for the whole way, and tills broughi about the downfall of mast of the ritu- ■ nets. The Hastings horse, Morihikb, gave a good exhibition, but in tho run home Shillelagh was more, than a match for . him.-.'Hakari was out in front, and was going well when he ran olf at the second fence of the Kennels' double, Brown. Trout and Ngatimuru were the public fancies in the Summer Handicap, but another surprise was in, store for backers, as . tho little-fancied Kilmeny stole a march at tho ■ bottom of the straight, and was not caught. Agitato, who seems unable to go more than fivo furlongs, was in command across the bottom of. the course, but then Kilroeny took charge, and despite a strong challenge by Ngatiinuru, Brown Trout, Ilusso, and Taketuniu, tho Kilcheran gelding held his own and won *by two lengths. • Crown Pearl was at a very short price in tho August Handicap, and he won very easily nt the finish, though,' contrary to expectations, be did not get his head in front till well down, the running. When the field reached , the course proper, Crosbie and Query were ahead of the others, but then Crown Pearl made a forward move, and he- quickly placed the race beyond doubt. Crosbie tired to nothing, but Ladrone finished strongly, and beat My Lawyer for third place. Stepmeter arid Prosper were the last to finish. A sensation was caused some, little time before the Grand National Hurdles by ihc. Rover's number being taken off the ■board, this signifying that' the favourite, was scratched. Since he won the Jumpers Plat Dace, the Adyancc gelding was a staunch, favourite, but, for all that, there were ominous rumours afloat concerning him, and at the eleventh hour hm ß v vas a rus ' l to "hedge" on him. Iho climax enmo when he was'scratched on the course. Tho stewards held an inquiry, but, after examining C. Price, who was in charge of the horse, an adjournment was made till to-day. It appears that Mr. T. H. Simpson, the lessor ot tho uorse, stipulated in the agreement to lease that The lioyer was not to raco over fences. This has been known for some time, but it was given -but that &' new lease was in course of preparation. Meanwhile the pencillers laid freely against tho hoW,'':bu'fc."it- is ; -unlikely' that the wagers will'be paid.'' It ciin hardly be contended that backers, could win when the horse was not eligible to run.. A.lesser commotion occurred when it was found that W.'Young was not to ' ride- The "Native. First of all M'Plynu was engaged, but then C. Price was sub- | stituted, ■ and Young's services were secured for Paisano. In each case tho boys, who stood down, were paid losing fees. The sensations did iiot end here, as will bo seen later. Prom a good start Uranium led Sandy I Paul and The Native to the first hurdle, but, at the next obstacle, the three were practically in line, these being followed by White Cockade. Passing the stand Sandy Paul was showing the way to Uranium and White Cockade,-with The Native, Koran, -and -Nescot .close up, and Darby Paul and Bully-'last. At Cutts's, where Jack Ashore .fell, Sandy Paul was still in charge, Paisano moving up into fifth place just behind .Uranium, The Native, and Koran. Sandy Paul and Uranium were together at the mile post, three lengths clear of The Native ■ and Paisano, with, Koran, Nescot, and Leolanter at the bead of the others. Sandy Paul made a faulty jump at tho next hurdle, and, at the five-furlong post, Paisano and Uranium were showing out from Sandy Paul, The Native, and Nescot, with i Waterworks moving up fast. A little further 1 oh Paisa.io and The Native drew away together, and, at the half-mile post they were well clear of Uranium. Waterworks, and Nescot. Pacing lor the straight,, Paisano stumbled and uenrly fell, thus losing u lot of ground. This left The' Native with a good lead, which he maintained to the la-?t hurdle, where Waterworks was just in front of Paisano. la the run home The Native was never troubled, and he won comfortably by two lengths from Waterworks, who beat Paisano by four lengths. Uranium was fourth, followed by Darby Paul,' 1 Nescot, Sandy Koran, Bully, White Cockade, Leolantfiy and Black Northern, with AVaikaraka last. It,was of course patent that there would be an inquiry into, the jostling which took place. After a lengthy hearing, the stewards disqualified C. Price, rider of Tho Native, for twelve months, and awarded tho raco to Waterworks. Opinions aro divided about the merits of the case. It was the sole topic of conversation during the remainder of tho day. There was a good exhibition of jumping in tho Beaufort Steeples, which resulted in a clever win for Glenmore, with Hautore, who fenced a lot better to|day,\in second place. Sir Lethe was third. Tui Cakobau and Hawick wero the only others to finish. Continuance' ran off at-the second fence of the double ithe last time, when well up. ; On his Trial Hurdles form,, the Sprey,don Hack Hurdles appeared to be the. best-of good things for Beacon, and so it proved. He jumped his fences perfectly, and was not extended at the finish. Nedra, when running well, fell, and Bandolero, though at tho post, could not start owing to the sudden indisposition of his rider, P. Flynh. , Sea Queen and Serenity wero the favourite- selections in the Islington. Handicap, which - resulted in a splendid struggle right to the post. At flie start Genius, was quickest into his stride, and led from Sea Queen, Brown Trout, and Magdala. At the bottom of the straight Marline and Countermine challenged the loaders. Genius quickly dropped out of it, and Countermine appeared to be winning, but La Reina camo with a magnificent run, and just got up in tiine to win by a neck, with the whole field close up. They were a poor lot which went out m the Woolstou Plate, and the public rightly sized up their chances. Medallist was a slightly better, favourite than Clanmenn, and they finished first and second, though in the inverse order to that indicated on the machine.