EVENTFUL RACE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 July 1931, Page 2

EVENTFUL RACE

PARK STEEPLECHASE. SPECTATOR. AS RIDER. The Park Steeplechase at Napier on Saturday was an .eventful race. Seven started, and the first Jump saw them charge down together at a hot pace. In landing Bon Aryan received a bump that knocked him over. Disrank and Dapper Boy survived two more fences, and then Disrank toppled over and brought down Dapper Boy behind him. This left Kapkaoroa, Pangolin, Winter Day and !Rigoletto in the race. Winter Day and Rigoletto survived another circuit and then both fell together at the fence where Disrank had crashed. Kaokaoroa and Pangolin, with three fences to complete the journey, raced neck and neck. ■Pangolin blundered at the second obstacle, and left Kaokaoroa in charge at the last. Here Kaokaoroa sipped on landing, and all but fell, Pangol n sweeping past him to gain a very hollow victory. The incident of the race seemed about over when the riderless Rigoletto was caught and mounted by a spectator. Rigoletto had three fences to jump and pass the post to complete the course for th:rd money, and he was taken back to the correct starting place. He jumped the first two fences all right at a slow pace, easing up between jumps, but at the third land last he baulked, much to the artutsement of the crowd. Being taken back and urged on by Ids rider hitting him with his hat, 'Rigoletto again refused, and the Crowd roared. Ail <>nlodked then walked out with a stick, aryl with this persuasion Rigoletto negotiated the fence all right,' am’dst cheers which were nvngled with laughter when it was seen that he had taken charge and bolted. H ! s chance rider, however, turned out to be an experienc'd jockey. ■G. Carmont, who had him under control soon after passing the post. Bis numb v "went up, and he weighed in correctly for third money amidst applause front the crowd. It had certainly been an entertaining race, even if disappointing as a contest.