SPORTING

Levin Daily Chronicle, 17 May 1917, Page 2

SPORTING

MANAWATU RACING CLUB, THIS WINTER MEETING. (Written for The Chronicle.)

Manawatn Racing Club had beautiful weather, a very fair muster of the public, but a "holding" course cn the occasion of the winter (meeting at Awapuni yesterday. The-lawn was a picture made in seasonal flowers and shrubs, while the precincts were enlivened by excellent music played by a Regimental Band ("Queen Alexandra s Own.") The net profits from the meeting are to be given to patriotic purposes, and a substantial sum already is assured. The racing is being concluded to-day. Yesterday's events provided some most exciting finishes, and -the barest possible margins separated the placed horses in quite half of the events.

The Karere Hurdle Handicap was the first race on the card. Nine of the seventeen acceptors were scratched, including the two top weights, and the next three highest on the cairA as well might have been, .fori all the racing was done by Leonta (10.3) whose lepping abilities liavo improved greatly this .season, won fairly easily from Sir Fisher 10.3. This one mile and threequarters race.occupied 3min. 28sec. in running, the going beina; really heavy.

[Fourteen rraiden horses -lined -up for Hie Mairlen Plate of seven furlongs. The O'rmo'.nd Lstable mprefimtp)|iv« (Bagdad, a 2-ypar-old) gained the =take, with Polynesian as his nearest nttendanb. This event took Imin. 34soc. in running.

The big handicap race of the day fell l o Multaine (7.2), who was the actual topweight in the race. iHe carried lib over the liandicapper's estimate of hi,<s ability; this was to 6ecure for himself Roy 'Reid as pilot. Second place fell to Gang Awa (7.4); the- iLcviniwned Detroit was third' and Multifual fourth. Good 'Hope (by Oannde Oriel -To-morrow) ran dn a way that would justify cannie cliiels in waiting for several to-morrows before backing him again. 'Hendra, who won some small races in Hawke's Bay lately, put up a sixteen-pound penalty in consequence. He finished with the "also starteds." Rewi Poto, as a result of his good showing at Taranaki the other day, carried a lot of money for baokers. He wias fractious at the post, ' hut jumped out with the lead at the word "go." The -similarity between the words "lead" and l "lead" was plainly visible to him at the end of a mile; his 9st. 21b. anchored him in the heavy going. Chalrvvana and Blyllus also gave disappointing displays. Detroit finished gamely and Liadify did not disgrace herself in any way, though she failed to find a place.

The Sires' Produce Stakes fell . to Estland, with Vagabond and Silver Tongue las followers. .The brilliant Gamecock seems to be a top-of Tthegronind horse, for lie showed up to no advantage in this race, though it was at w-ffljghib-tfoivnge. 'Estland I 's (win was meritorious because he met with some mishap at the back of the course and lost some lengths thereby. He wore down Vagabond over the last few lengths and won handsomely.

Seventeen horses had been accepted for in the Linton Hack Welter (one mile and a distance), but only seven went to the barrier. Captain Glossop, a favorite, won from Rongora and Silenus, with Hastie fourth; time 2min. 5 l-ssec. A most hearty reception was acoorded to Desert Gold when she won the Awapuni Gold Cup. This wag lier second win in successive years. Only four (horses sported silk: 'Bee 8.13, Desert Gold 8.12, OBjorneberg 8.4 and The Toff 8.4. The little horse from Canterbury ran as gamely and well yesterday as he did at the New Zealand Cup meeting when he defeated Desert Gold's stable companion, .but hei wa6l 'unable to overhaul Dissert Gold, who led from start to finish. Nkme tile less, he footed it as fast f„s she did up the straight, and ran her to within a length Bjomeberg was only >a head away, third. Th~ ra-o yesterday took Qmin. I4sec, in tlie running. Last year Desert Gold won the same race in 2min 7 1-53 m.

A baker's dozen contested the WoodKey Hack Handicap, of six furlongs. Hupana lead from barrier rise' to Hartgill, and the issue never was in doubt, though he was kept moving by successive challenges along the straight. The minor places went to May mora and Woodlark. Woodlark wals absolutely last' to leave the mark, -and his gaining a place in these circumstances was meritorious.

The concluding event was the Telegraph Handicap, of sis furlongs, in which there were fourteen runners. Lady Black, ■who is one of the best of the All Black bree'd now running (we except 3>esert Gold, of course) ran a; great race and landed the money handsomely. - Centre, who had to make up good deal of ground in thei straight,- gained second place after a rousing set-to with Revocation, wlio was beaten by the shortest of heads.