TE KUITI RACING CLUB.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 438, 10 February 1912, Page 5

TE KUITI RACING CLUB.

A SUCCESFUL MEETING

Beautiful weather favoured the Te Kuiti Racing Club's first totalisator meeting on Thursday, and a most enjoyable gahering was the result. Prior to this season the club has had to be content with the bookmaker as the betting medium. However, with the passing of the Gaming Bill bookmaking as a calling was abolished, and in consequence the first essential to the existence of any club is the obtamng of a totalisator permit. The Te Kuiti Club was fortunate in securing a permit on the recommendation of the commission appointed for the purpose of making an equitable allocation of permits throughout the Dominion. In granting the permit to Te Kuiti it was recognised that the town was the centre of a very large and rapidly growing district, and that the meeting would probably grow into something of much greater importance than the usual days races of a back country township. This opinion was thoroughly justified at the opening meeting, and on all hands Thursday's gathering

as voted one of the very best day's sport possible. Fine weather ensured a good attendance, and about two thousand people attended during the afternoon. Messrs Fisher and Bell, M'a.P., for Wellington Central and Wellington Suburbs respectively, and Mr Okey, Taranaki, were present, and also Mr C. K. Wilson, member for Taumarunui, together with Mrs Wilson. Among others were Mr Boddie, Mayor, and Mrs Boddie; Mr Scholes, county chairman, and Miss Scboles, while a large number of visitors from Waikato and Taumarunui came along by the excursion trains. Financially the meeting must be rated highly successful. It was anticipated that about £3OOO would pass through the machines, and that amount would have rendered the meeting a success. However, with well over five hundred pounds invested on the first race it was quickly recognised that the estimate was to be exceeded, and when the bell ceased ringing for the the last race it was found that £5432 had been invested on the machines. Not a hitch marred the racing. The fields were good in every instance; the racing was excellent, and tbe finishes well fought out. The

opening event was the Maiden, which """NWas well won by Rutter. The popular fancy in Blue Mountain accounted for the Hurdle race. Royal Irish won the Otorohanga hack race in fast time, and the Cup went to Jolie Fille after a really good race with the Waikatoowned pair, Taketumu and Miss Livonia. In the Welter. Waiotahi defeated a good favourite in Scotch; the Rohe Fotae Stake 3 went to Mahinga and the Farewell to Hikuai. All the arrangements worked smoothly, thanks to Messrs Howarth (secretary) and N. B. Lusk (chairman of the committee). Mr R. B. Lusk officiated as judge and Mr Jackman as starter, while Mr G. Berry made an efficient clerk of the course. Following are the results of the various events MAIDEN PLATE HANDICAP, of 35 sovs.; 7 furlongs. T. A. Williams' b g Rutter, 4yra, Cuirassier —Reproach, 8.2 ... 1 J. McFarlane's ch g Romantic, 7.12 ••• 2 A. Bent's brg Pukewera, 8.10 ... 3 Also started —St. Wood, Matipo, Clipper, Mokauiti, Merrivine, Kaimanaku, Miss Rua, Koterepo. Rutter began well and led all the way. Romantic made a good effort in the straight, but could not reach the winner, who won by a length. Time, 1.82 2-5. HANDICAP HURDLES, of 50 sovs.; If miles. H. Weal's ch g Blue Mountain, aged. Leolantis Fairytale, 10.13 1 A. N. Dingle's br g Golborne, 9.7 2 K. McCardle's ch g Siolo, 9 0 ... 3 Also started Kaiwaka, Golden Glow, Panama. Kaiwaka led for the first mile, the field jumping beautifully. At the back of th course Blue Mountain and Golborne moved up and tfie former coming away in the straight won by three lengths. Time, 3.24.

OTOROHANGA HACK HANDICAP, of 35 sovs.; 5 furlongs. J. Williamson's br g Royal Irish, 3 yrs, Soult—Asthor,e, 7.6 I A. Watkins' br g Haku, 710 ... 2 W. Hubbard's b g Fremantle 8.2 3 Also started—Manurere, Avaunt, Moonbeam, Coolstream, Korirangi, Gibson Girl, Kaimanakau, Ma Jack. Haku was soon prominent with Fremantle and Royal Irish well up. Entering the straight Royal Irish took command, but in the run to the post Haku came again and whips were out in a good finish, Haku being half a length behind the winner. Time, 1.3. TE KUITI CUP HANDICAP, of 100 sovs.; 1 mile. J. Kemp's b m Jolie Fille, 4yrs, Soult— Merry Maid, 9.0 ... 1 W. Ring's b m Taketumu, 7.8 ... 2 G.*Battley's ch m Miss Livonia, 8.5 ••• 3

Also started Zinnia, Waiotahi, Dainty Maid. Pip. The field was piloted by Miss Livonia for the first six furlongs with Taketumu and Jolie Fille handy and the field bunched. Rounding the bend Taketumu was in command, but in the straight Jolie Fille came with a well sustained run and won a good race by a length the same distance fseparating second and third horses. Time, 2.10 1-5. TAUMARUNUI HACK HANDICAP, of 40 sovs.; 6 furlongs. A. Watkins' br g Haku, 6rys, Freedom Castanette, 7.10 1 W. Cook's Zuleima, 7.2 ... 2 J. Twohill's Impulsive, 7.12 ... 3 started —Blue Mount, Rutter, Condamine, Romantic, Cl°m Sein, Mnkauiti. Blue Mount showed out along the back stretch with Haku and Zuleima well up. Three furlongs from home Haku moved up and headed the leader entering the straight. In the run home Zuleima and Impulsive

put in claims but could not head the winner,who woo by a length with half a length separating second and third. Time, 1.16 2-5. WELTER HANDICAP, of 40 sovs.; 1 mile. C. Ross' ch m Waiotahi, Bluejacket—Lady Emily, 8.10 ... 1 A.Mack's b g Scotch, 9.10 ... 2 A. Bent's br g Pukewera, 8.8 ... 3 Also started Dainty Maid, Pip, St. Wood. When the barrier lifted St. Wood rushed to the front and led for half a mile followed by Scotch and Waiotahi. Scotch was first into the straight with Waiotahi on his heels and a good battle home resulted in the mare winning by a length, with Pukewera well up third. Time, 1.47. ROHE POTAE STAKES HANDICAP, of 60 sovs.; 6 furlongs. C. Maxwell's br m Mahinga, Soult —Spitfire, 8.4. ... 1 J. Kemp's b m Jolie Fille, 8 12... 2 T. Wilson's b m Manurere, 7.12 ... 3 Also started —Zinnia, Blue Mount, Poictiers. The winner shot out when the barrier went up and led all the way. Jolie Fille and Manurere each made a good effort in the straight, but could not reach Mahinga, who won by a length. Time, 1.18. FAREWELL HANDICAP, of 40 govs.: 4 furlongs. C. Winder's b g Hikuai, aged, Tasman —-unknown, 8.7 ... 1 W. Hubbard's b g Fremantle, 71.3 G. Battley's ch m Mis 3 Livonia, 8.0 ... 3 Also started—Master Lane, Clipper, Avaunt, Matipo, Coolstream, Miss Errant, Moonbeam, Mokauiti, Ma Jack, Abner. Hikuai was first away, and galloping it out in good style, won by a length, with Fremantle and Miss Livonia close up. Time, 50 1-5.