TIRAU RACING CLUB.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 63, 3 January 1918, Page 3

TIRAU RACING CLUB.

Annual Meeting. Large Attendance. OFFICIALS. J.r: '■ i Patrons, Hon. W. H. Herries, M.P., H. J. Clifford, Esq.; president, W. F; Bell, Esq; vicepresidents, Messrs J. W. Anderson, R. H. Bailey, S. Banks, W. Bowers, W. G. Barnett, F. C. ' Barnett, R.. Carruth, W. P. Clarke, G. Dallimore, D. Ganley, C. D. Dawson, M. Harrison, Capt. J. Etolwell, H. Ibbotson, T. Little, R. G. Lewis, F. C. Litchfield, H. Lewis, H. Milleken, W. Messana, J. Price, P. Quinlan, F. C. Shannon, C. Snell, J. Taylor, A. Weeks, M. Barry, and J. Whybrow; Handicapper, Mr J. Dalgleisli ; Judge, Mr. E. Garrett ; Starter, Mr J. W. Anderson ; Clerk of the Course, ' Mr S. J. Bear; Clerk of Scales, Mr W. Craig; Hon. Treasurer, Mr W. F. Bell; Hon. Auditor, Mr T. Little; Secretary, Mr E. W. Jordan; Executive Committee, Messrs R. Ashley, W. H. Allen, A. Barden, S. J. Bear, P. Barden, L. Bell, P. Burke, P. Corcoran, W. Craig, M. Harrison, H. Hepburn, T. Jones, J. Ross, M. Strong, and J. Middleton; Stewards, Messrs J. W. Anderson, S. J. Bear, S. Banks, J. Callaghan, M. Harrison, T. Little, and M. Strong. When the residents of the district decide to pay a visit to the •v-faces at Tirau on New Year’s Day they recognise that there the true sporting spirit is always displayed. It is usual for racing clubs to “make hay while the sunshines” at the time of their race meetings, but during the war period, despite the growing popularity of the fixture, the Tirau club has donated its profits to

patriotic purposes. The club is not richf'but the . members feel that thp’ir duty is towards their "'•no unfry in this respect. One striking feature of the meeting on January Ist 1918, was the great improvement in the quality and condition of the horses entered. Although some were of little more than pony size, the breeding was in them, and the love of racing for honour was so imbued into the owners that they had spent muclr money in landing their horses to the post as well as time and conditions would admit. As far as the actual racing was concerned it provided a capital day’s sport, carried through without a fault in any direction It was regretable that Gold Bird, after finishing first in the County handicap, did not obtain the race, but, after hearing the evidence, J the stewards had no option but to award the money to the second and third horses. The incident . was the only one likely to cause any ill-feeling, yet the result was accepted in the true sporting ■ spirit by the owner and thus •fv: there was not a “fly in the ointment.” Apart from commendation to the secretary,' Mr E. W. Jordan, and the club officials, special congratulations should be offered the starter, Mr J. W. Anderson, on the ability displayed by him in managing the horses at the post. Notice riders and grepn horses alongside professionals and seaS* soned racers present a difficult ’ * charge to the man with the flag,* and the general satisfaction expressed with the starting is an in : dication that a firm yet fair man was in charge. The result of the L fixture .should mean a further improvement in the horses bred in the district, and even more numerous.entries next year* The ' outing was enjoyable in every respect arid a great credit to the \ club. • ' f RESULTS. MAIDEN HACK HANDICAP. \V/k sovs. Six furlongs S. J. Brindle’s Gold Bird, Bun-yan-Lady Gipsy, 9st 71b, (Runciman) 1 J. H. Mellar’s Lady Extractor, . 9st 71b, (Anderton) 2 r J. Geddes’ Waiora, 9st 71b (D. Ganley) 3 ) SHORTS HANDICAP. sovs. Five furlongs ■ 17 , ' Leo. Ganley’s Glendina, by Glenapp, 9st Blb (D. Ganley) 1 R. Burke’s Dandy Breeze, list k (J‘. Anderton) 2 Carmont’s Polly Distin, 9st Q'^/ i> 3lb (Carmont) 3 ) TIRAXJ CUP. 20 sovs. 1% miles C. Penitito’s Lismore, StrowanBonnieDoon, 9st (Anderton) 1 F. Marshall’s Kuranui, BunyanCuiragness, Bst 101 b (Runci- , man) 2 Ul A* Tui’s Kametoa, GlengowrieGirl, Bst 101b(Hamilton) 3

LADIES’ BRACELET. (Trophies presented by W. F. Bell, Rose Bros., Ltd. and S. J. Bear) Six furlongs A. Dihar’s Fire by Firearms, 9st 41b (Anderton) 1 J. F. Holwell’s Piarere, St. Cris-pin-Tasman mare, 9st 71b (Mutuwhaiapu) 2 F. Kneebone’s Gilbert, 9st 41b (Burns) 3 COUNTY HANDICAP 15 sovs. Six furlongs. Leo. Ganley’s Glendina, lOst 101 b (D, Ganley) 1 C. Penetiio’s Lismore, 9st 71b (Anderton) 2 C. Carmont’s Polly Distin, 9st, (Carmont) 3 Gold Bird, the only other starter, passed the post first but was disqualified. \ SETTLERS’ HACK 10 sovs. One mile J. F. Holwell’s Pairere, lOst (J. Anderton) 1 F. Kneebone’s Gilbert, 9st 41b (McArthur) 2 H. Fisher’s Quicksight, lOst 7lb (H. Fisher) 3 WELTER HANDICAP sovs. One mile 4 R. Burke’s Dandy Breeze, Spal-peen-Sou’wester mare list 41b (Anderton) 1 J. Whybrow’s Blue Eyes, Spal-peen-Battleship, 9st 41b (Postlewaite) 2 A. Richards’ Jack-the-lad, by Waiuku, 9st 41b (Burns) 3 NOTES ON THE RACING The scratching pen went through the names of six horses for the Maiden Hack leaving eight to face the starter. The experienced rider on Lady Extractor, J. Anderton, got a break of a couple of lengths on the field when the flag fell but before a furlong had been covered the Matamata horse, Gold Bird was in the lead, which it increased to the finishing post eventually winning by five lengths from Lady Extractor, which was fifteen length in front of the Morrinsville horse, Waiora. The rest of the field never had a chance with the placed horses. Gold Bird, the winner , showed real good pace and should show up favarbly when racing in better company.

There were three defections of the nine horses carded for the Shorts Handicap of five furlongs. Master Ganley’s Glendina, which had won hack races at “tote” meetings previously, was the public favorite, with Dandy Breeze second choice. Glendina had the services of the gentleman rider D. Ganley, and J: Anderton was on R. Burke’s chestnut. Glendina and Hape More gave a deal of trouble to the starter, the latter especially being shy of the flag. When eventually let go Glendina and Lady Bitrion were in front, but Dandy Breeze showed his customary pace as a sprinter and was in close attendance on Glendina when they rounded into the home turn. Glendina won by three-quarters of a length, with a bit in hand from Dandy Breeze, which was several lenghts in front of Polly Distin, who came from a long way back and finished strongly.

The big event of the day, the Tirau Cup, over a mile and a quarter,, drew five horses to the post, Merry Dan, which broke down at Te Awamutu* Silverlode,

Seastorm and Royal Signet declining the engagement. From a good start Lismore led with the Morrinsville owned Kuranui on his quarters. The race was simply a battle between the two, mentioned horses although with threequarters of a mile covered there seemed a possibility of Jack-the-lad catching them. Lismore caught the judge’s eye being two lengths in front of Kuranui, with Kametoa thirty lengths behind, third. The latter came very fast, just catching Jack-the-lad on the post. Quicksight was the other starter. Kuranui, the second lorse appeared to be a trifle ireen, but raced with a good turn >f speed for six furlongs.

Brown Soult, Sir Clive, Bitter Sweet, Piarere, Fire, Gilbert, and Lady Romantic were the starters for the coverted ladies’ bracelet, Fire being the popular selection, with Piarere next in favor. The latter was favorably placed when the flag fell, taking up the runring with Fire (J. Anderton) in attendance. Anderton got to work to get the lead with the favorite and once attaining his purpose was never further troubled, winning by two lengths from Piarere, with the Hinuera horse, Gilbert, third, three lengths away. Fire, with a good horseman up, ran a race consistent with that on the same course last year, although not in the best of condition. Gilbert showed promise.

Few owners accepted with their charges in the county handicap, for which race Glendina was rehandicapped with 10 lb, and Lismore 7 lb on account of previous wins. The only four of thirteen acceptors to start were Glendina, Lismore, Polly Distin, and Gold Bird. Glendina led for about three furlongs, with Gold Bird running up. Gold Bird caught the leader before the straight entrance and a good battle home resulted in the latter just beating Glendina to the post. Directly upon entering the jockeys’ tent Ganley, the rider of Glendina, entered a protest against the race being awarded to Gold Bird on the grounds that the horse ran inside a post. The stewards on hearing the evidence of both riders upheld the protest, disqualifying Gold Bird. The only other starters thus became the placed horses.

There were six acceptances for the Settlers Hack Handicap (of one mile) two of which, Royal Signet and Brown Soult failed to face the starter. Sir Clive, Quicksight, Piarere and Gilbert were the contestants and on previous running it looked a “ good thing ” for Piarere with Anderton up. The race bore out the correctness of the public estimation for Piarere was never troubled and won by three lengths from Gilbert, which travelled over the last three furlongs faster than the winner. Quicksight was the only horse to race with the winner in the early stages but could not sustain its ,effort being beaten for second money a half furlong from home.

The best contest of the day was provided in the Welter handicap, for which Dandy Breeze, Blue Eyes, Jack-the-lad, Seastorm, and Waiora started. Dandy Breeze and Waiora got the best of the start, but after racing for a furlong Dandy Breeze was out clear three lengths in front of . Blue Eyes. Passing Jordan’s Gully Blue Eyes ranged within striking distance of Dandy Breeze arid it looked as though the former was likely to suffer defeat by Mr. Whybrow’s chestnut. Condition,

however, told, and in the run to the post the gelding beat the mare by a half-head. Blue Eyes appeared as though a race would make all the difference to her,but nevertheless acquitted herself well. Dandy Breeze ran out the mile when hard pressed in a good manner. The other starters never looked winners at any part of the journey. J. Anderton, the popular Auckland professional, was the most successful horseman on the day, securing a place in every event on the programme. Anderton secured four wins and three seconds, an even better record than that put up by him last year when he obtained four wins, two seconds and a third. The winning horsemen to share the honors vyith the professional rider were the Morrinsville men D. Ganley (two wins, a second and a third) and Runciman (one win, a second and a third.) Another rider to attract attention was E. Burns, who did not get mounts of the calibre to land him a winner yet did exceptionally well with the horseflesh under him. Matamata owned horses accounted for two races, and those from Morrinsville two. The other winners were from districts in the vicinity of Tirau.