SPORTS AT OROUA BRIDGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 453, 18 March 1909, Page 3

SPORTS AT OROUA BRIDGE.

The Oroua Bridge Sports were held yesterday. There was a good attendance, and the fields throughout the day were good. Several local horses competed in the various races, but the only win scored was by Mr W, Cook’s Fireball, which won the Radies’ Bracelet.

During the day a “ bookie ” plying his calling under the name of Jas. Martin, was unable to pay out the dividends in the Cup, and a mob of about too followed him about the course until he found it necessary to seek the protection of the police. He was taken into the Secretary’s office, and the money in his bag was divided amongst the backers. The amount was found to just pay back the amounts that had been invested without dividends, After the - ‘ bookie ” had been relieved of all the money, he was ordered to immediately leave the course. The police escorted him to the outside gates, the crowd following, and had the constables not been in attendance, would have certainly dealt very roughly with him. Mcßaughliu the owner of Moretta was disqualified for the meeting for interfering with the running of the Cup. It appears that as the horses were turning the corner coming into the straight Mcßaughlin ran out with a sack and threw it at the first horse’s head, causing him to swerve into the second horse and knocked it down. The rider received a nasty fall and was rendered unconscious for over an hour. The following are the results :

Flying Handicap;—Moretta 1, Sweet Deaf 2, Chappel 3. 15 starters.

Pony Race. —Kilty x, Cassina2, Truth 3. 9 starters. Trot—Birdie 1, St Kilda 2, Viva 3. 11 started. Cup. —Himatangi 1, Sweet Deaf 2, Flying Cloud 3. 9 started. Pony Race. —Kitty 1, Miss Dolly 2, Munjet 3. 6 started. Radies’ Bracelet.—Fireball 1, Flying Cloud 2, Ruin 3. 8 started. Trot. Viva 1, Birdie, 2, St Kilda 3. 8 startedMangawhata Handicap. Kai Krrin 1, Himatangi 2. 10 started. This race was run in the dark and it was impossible to see the third horse.