THE OTAKI MEETING.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2885, 25 September 1916, Page 5

THE OTAKI MEETING.

The Otaki Racing Club's spring meeting will eommenco to-day. Special trains will leave Thorndon Station at 7.15 a.m. and an hour lator. Excursion fares will bo available on these trains. Big fields will be seen out in all tho events, and the racing promises to provide plenty of excitement. Tho course is in splendid order, and if the weather holds good some very fast .times will be recorded in the different events. Visiting horsea arrived from all parts yesterday. Tho special train from Wanganui wan well patronised, and took 20 horses; while

a like number travelled by road from Levin, and the Trentliani contingent iras railed north on Saturday. In the Maiden Plate the Maniopotolilly .Polynesian, who (was so unlucky at .Miuton, will be a good iavourile, tor the run she put in after getting left at Marto.n proves her to be very' fast. Birkenetta is useful, and so is Black Lake. The locally-owned Mascot will not be a starter. Hylatus is top weight in the Dominion Day Hack Handicap, but he is liable to be roliandicappod, and as he had two hard races at Wauganui, lie may bo allowed to forfeit his' engagement to-day. In his absenco Lady Frisco (W. Bell) may bo a good favourite with strong support for Cleft. Marton, tho top weight Jn the Hack Steeples, will have to shoulder a penalty, but ho will be a runnor, and may start favourite. Critic and Tho Hound will be absentees, but Tauira is there, and if 'lie can. see out the distance tho old Mahaki gelding will be hard to shako off. Merry Jaclc has his Marton- aud Pahiatua form to recommend Turn. The big handicap is a very open race, but tho fact that Montana is to liavo the services of A. Oliver will probably mako 'him the machine favourite. Gold Soult (B. Deoley) -has. been off tho tracks for some time, hut lio is looking and going well. .Square Deal's party are. vory confident, and track watchers at Otaki speak glowingly of the work dono by Red Ribbon since 'arriving at headquarters. Master Moutoa showed up well at Marton, and lias previously won on tho Otaki course. '. In the' Steward's Hack, six furlongs, Splcndiilus (late Aiwnc) will bo favourite, and as tho lot opposed to him is veryweak the Onaki gelding may win. Avon Park will' carry most money in tlio Firing Handicap with- Marimba, Must"!-" Achilles, who looks very well, and Meiielaus next in public estimation. There will be several defections from the iconcluding ovent, and the field is likely to thin down considerably. Lady Multifid will he a hot order on tho totalisator.