RACING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 389, 26 May 1908, Page 3

RACING.

Wanganui Winter Meeting. Delightful weather favoured the Wanganui Jockey Club for the opening day on Saturday, The sum of ,£9474 went through the machine as against ,£12,220 last year, a decided falling off, but a lot of money was shut out of several races, and an army of bookmakers, 40 strong, 16 inside and 24 out, was set up in strong opposition to the machine, the Club deriving an additional revenue from this source of £ 560, the equivalent of another on the tote, gauged by 'per centage results. Results: —

Borougix Handicap. Rittle Mary 1, Ballarat 2, Erl King 3. Time 1 15. Wanganui Steeplechase. Tilsou 1, Kaipetipeti 2, Nadador 3. Time, 6.4 1-5. Electric Hack.—Penates 1, Advantage 2, Hydraulic 3, Time, 1.3 2-5-

May Hurdles.—Prospector x, Immolation 2, Aeolus 3. Time, 3.18 2-5. Kaitoke Hack Hurdles. —The Stake 1, Snip 2, Mt. Cook 3. Time, 3.15. Connolly Handicap. Daisy Paul 1, King Billy 2, White Die 3. Time, i O 7« . Purua Hack Flat.—Waxkaraka 1, Wailethe 2, Tiptoe 3. Time, i-44-Concluding Day. A drizzling rain fell almost continuously yesterday but it did not affect the attendance, which was again very large. Bookmakers, to the number of 24, competed with the machine, making a total of £954 from this source on the two days. The sum of .£18,793 went through the totalisator during the meeting, against .£23,360 last year, the deficiency being more than made up by the fees derived from the metallicians. Results: — Winter Oats.—lrish Rifle 1, Ballarat 2, Waitapu 3. Time, 1.47. Grandstand Steeplechase. —Kaxpetipeti 1, Tilsou 2, Fretwork 3. Time, 5.4. Balgownie Hack.—Damsdorff 1, Mallet 2, San Jose 3. Time 2. 1 3-5-

Rata Hack Hurdles. —Snip 1, Immolation 2, Defeat 3. Century Hurdles.—-Waipu 1, Compass 2, Prospector 3. Time, 4-2 3-5-Final Steeplechase.—Faro 1, Moonshen 2, Toddy 3. Time, 4,7 2-5-Farewell Hack Flat.—Tip Toe 1, Yosami 2, Hydraulic 3. Time, x,iß 2-5

A Dream That Dame True.

A Strange Coincidence. One who was in the press room on Saturday writes as follows to the Wanganui Chronicle regarding the above fatality : There is no doubt that when W. Fahey mounted Arahura on Satur* day he felt within his innermost self that he would never again don the silk or cross the saddle. Yet who among the thousands who witnessed the Wanganui Steeplechase guessed —or, if they guessed, what did they care —that Ahaura was carrying to his death a jockey who already felt the sable wings flapping above his head ? The horses are saddled and promenading the “ bird-cage,’ ‘ and hundreds of eyes are fixed upon them in the hope of “ picking the winner.” I am the sole occupant of the Press room balcony, and I, too, gaze upon the promenading horses. The jockeys are unfamiliar to me, and in none of them am I particularly interested. One, however, catches my eye as he passes beneath me. The horses complete another circle, and agaih I find myself watching the face of a jockey who wears blue and canary sleeves and a cardinal cap. What is there about the man to divert my attention ? I know not, yet again and I find myself

studying him. I look up my official card and find that my object of scrutiny is W- Fahey. The jockey is evidently thinking deeply and taking little heed of the spectators. A trainer crosses the bird cage and accosts Fahey, who merely nods his head and replies with a monosyllable. Of what is the jockey thinking ? and what is the picture in his mental vision ? Who knows? The horses go to the post and are started on their journey. I’ see my jockey riding far in the rear ot the field, and by and by I see him fall. The crowd, however, are not troubled about the fallen, and discuss frantically the chances of the remaining contestants. I, too, follow the fortunes of the others, and then blissfully ignorant of the tragedy that has been enacted, make my way to the dining room. On returning to the press room I ask who was the injured jockey? “Billy Fahey.” “ Good heavens, you don’t say so. How is he ?” “ Dead ” is the staggering answer, and my mind Hashes back. to the incident of a few short minutes before. I recount my experience to some friends, who may or may not think much of it. Rater in the evening the problem which confronted me when my attention was drawn to the jockey is solved. I meet a man who was with Fahey tie previous night. He asked for a match and the jockey,! handing him a box, said “There you are old man, take that; its the last thing I shall ever give you. lam going to ride Arahura to-morrow, but it will be my last race. I dreamt the other night that I would be kicked during the race.” The other laughed, and the fateful words were forgotten till news of the accident became known. But did Fahey forget his dream ? As I think of him ridiug slowly round the bird cage, I answer —No.