FOXTON RACES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2837, 24 January 1925, Page 3

FOXTON RACES.

ANNUAL MEETING. Ideal weather conditions for both days favoured the local Racing Club’s annual meeting held on Wednesday and Thursday last. The club make a point of catering not only for the attractiveness of the racing, but for the convenience and comfort of the public. In this connection the grounds and appointments were in first-class order and family groups were scattered about under the shade of the trees and were able to watch the racing from the natural rise which overlooks the course without crowding the lawn or grandstands. The attendance on the second day about doubled the off day and compared favourably with the previous year’s despite the natural falling off caused by' the Health restrictions as to children. Despite this fact, there was a sprinkling of youngsters present. The Foxton Silver Band under the conductorsliip of Mr J. Golder, discoursed music on both days, the bands men appearing in mufti, owing to some disagreement re the non-ar-rival of the conductor’s uniform. The officials without exception, discharged their duties to the entire satisfaction of all concerned and there was no hitch in the conduct of the meeting, which speaks well for the club’s administrative control. The fields on the first day were good and speculation was brisk'. Compared with the totalisator investments of the first day last year’, this year’s first day total showed a shrinkage of £3,349 —the figures being last year (the holiday) £22,246, this year £18,897, but as compared with last year’s off day showed an increase of £5,357.

During the course of the first day’s racing the judicial committee had two occasions on which to consider the actions of riders. In the Himatangi Hack Handicap S. Anderson, the rider of Carnbee, was fined £2 for the injudicious use of the spurs, while in the Novice Stakes, J. Olsen, the rider of Bezau, was disqualified for one month for crossing Vuelta. The judge’s placings were, however, not upset. FIRST DAY’S RACING. Fourteen acceptors went to the post in the opening Hack Hurdles. Waimatao proved somewhat fractious and when the tapes were released was the last to get away. When heads were turned for home the favourite ranged alongside Good Mark and in the run to the post had the measure of his opponent and won nicely by a length and a quarter with the Emperor three lengths further back, just in front of his stable mate, Sling Camp. Night and Waimatao were next. In the Himatangi Hack Handicap Cushat, Empire Camp, Mountain Bell, Slump and Gardant were withdrawn. leaving a field of seven runners. From an indifferent start, Beaumont was slow to move and Lucrative, Asleep, The Strand and Bevis had a four length break aftei the field had gone a furlong. Racing down the back, Bevis ranged alongside Lucrative with The Strand and Pleasure in attendance. Positions were unchanged at the entrance to the straight, but in the run home, Lucrative held his position and went on to win nicely by two lengths with Pleasure a length’ further back. The Strand was fourth. Helen Rufus was the only withdrawal in the 1 Cup, leaving a field of nine runners. From a good despatch the field with the exception of Correspondent and Santiago, were well together, passing through the straight, Santonio on the rails, being just in front of Tari with Para and Happy Days together next. Irapuka which had been in the frontal division at the bend ran wide and lost his position. Going round the top bend Tari ran to the front and opened up a three length break, but opposite the stand going down the back, the field had again closed up. Santonio, and Tari being together, with Stream next. Rounding the bend into the straight Irapuka ran past the leader and landed first into the straight. Finishing full of trunning the Taranaki representative went on to win by a good four lengths from Happy Days with Stream a length further back. Para was close up fourth. The withdrawal of Paula, Kyla, Bonnie Louisa, Doyleston and Town Mail in the Novice Stakes, left a field of 18, the public electing Bezau favourite with Vuelta second choice. At the five furlong post Bezau was clear of the field with Vuelta, Awa, Charleston and Olympic bunched. At the bottom bend the favourite held an advantage of four lengths and in the run to the post he maintained his advantage with Birthmark which finished strongly in second place, a nose in front of Awa. Charleston and Idanoe were together close up behind the placed horses. '

In the, Awahou Hack Welter La Reve proved very fractious and the field was finally despatched without her. When heads were turned for home Cushat was still in the van with Gardant and Fillette closing up. In the run to the post Fillette 'gathered in the leader and went on to win by a length and a-quarter from Cushat with Gardant a length further back. Dignity and Lucrative which did not experience the best of passages, were next to finAll eight' acceptors went to the post in the Anniversary Hack Handicap, and after some delay were sent away in fair line. The order entering the straight was Ruby Ring Birkie, Treadwell, Some Red, and Yoma. In the run to the post, Ruby Ring opened up a commanding lead and won comfortably by three lengths, with Birkie a head behind

Crown Gem, which finished with a strong run.

In the Marotiri Hack Handicap La Reve again proved fractious and the race started without her. In the run to the turn, Luarne was piloting a closely bunched field. When in line for the post, Loyal Maid got a lucky run on the rails, and Dombroski lauded his mount home a winner by a length and a-half from the unlucky Luarne, with Mountain Bell half a length further away. Eurella finished fast on the outside in fourth place a shade in front of Sea Kist. In the Himatangi Welter the two top-weights Correspondent and Imperial Spark were the only defec lions. At the bottom bend Mangawhero took command from March On with Stream and Probate close up. March On and Stream disposed of the- leader at the bottom of the straight and in a great run to the finishing post Stream held her position, winning from March On by three-quarters of a length, with Royal Gift one and a-half further away. Helen Rufus after running in the bunch for the greater portion of the journey finished fast in fourth place. SECOND DAY. For the second day the totalisator handled £20,485, as against £l3540 for the corresponding day last year, making a total of £39,382 for the meeting, as against £35,786 last year. Blanche, the rider of Probate in the Wharangi Handicap after being cautioned by the stipendiary steward, was suspended for two months and Rosewarne, rider of The Strand in the Wharangi Handicap, for striking Crown Gem with his whip, was fined £5.

Waimatao was favourite in the Hurdles, but Sling Camp, under pressure, beat Good Mark and Waimatao at the finish. In the Wliirokino Hack Carnbee was favourite with Bevis second on. Bevis, however, was never seriously troubled. Irapuka was the only withdrawal leaving a field of eight starters in the big event, Yoma being an £B2 better favourite than Happy Days, which was £7 in advance of Para. From an excellent despatch, Treadwell led the field, passing through the straight, with Happy Days and Para just in front of Printemps. The bottom weight held his position along the back, where Correspondent, Stream and Yoma who had been tailing the field, improved their positions. At the entrance the field closed up and the leader was done with, Para landing first into the straight proper. When looking all over a winner the Fordell representative was challenged by Correspondent and in the run to the post the latter had the measure of his opponent and was a length to the good as they flashed past the judge. Santiago came with a strong finish and beat Happy Days for third money.

The Motuiti Maiden proved exciting with Luarne a strong favourite. In the straight Kyla and Charleston fought out a great finish, the last named getting the verdict by three-quarters of a length, with Awa half a length away third. Mr Kirkland, local owner of Kyla, was warmly congratulated and Rfla’s followers were well rewarded. Fillette was favourite in the Carnarvon Welter, hut was challenged by Idanoe and the pair raced past (lie judge on almost equal terms, the .judge awarding the race to Fillette by a bare head.

Crown Gem was favourite in the Wharangi Handicap. When heads were turned for home the favourite came with an electrical burst of speed and overwhelming the opposition, landed a winner, threequarters of a length in front of Birkie, with Some Red a neck away just in front of Probate. The Rangiotu Handicap was very exciting and provided a demonstration against the judge’s decision at the finish. Cushat landed first into the straight, Carnbee and Birthmark immediately putting in challenges. The last-named was quickly done with, but Carnbee actually wrested the lead from Cusliat and looked all over a winner. Cushat, however, came again but appeared to fail to regain the advantage as Ihe pair flashed past the post. The judge, however, gave the verdict to the favourite. The general opinion was that a dead heat would have met the case.

Santonio was favourite in the last race. From a good dispatch Santonio, Mangawhero and Amber Tips, who came across from the outside, led a closely bunched field. The order underwent little change until the straight had been entered where Amber Tips shot to the front. Helen Rufus came with a late run and got to within a length of the winner with March On in third placo a neck away. Probate was fourth. WINNING OWNERS. H. Hickey, the Hastings ownertrainer, headed the list of winning owners for the meeting with £340 as the result of a win with Correspondent in the President’s Handicap, and a first and second with Cushat. G. Tremlett, the Taranaki owner, who secured the big event on the opening day with Irapuka, was next with £3OO. A. M. Campbell, as the result of two wins with Fillette, secured £2lO while other stake-winners were: —F. Armstrong £155, J- Bull £l4O, A. Wilson £l3O, R. S. Hammond £lls, A. Mitchell £lls, J. Hannan £llO, W. Hastie £llO, A. W. Olsen £IOO, W. I. Lovelock £IOO, Dwan Bros. £IOO, E Penman £7O, J. Gillies £6O, A. G. Havill £55, Mrs A. M. Blackmore £SO, C. Louisson £SO, H. Lake T. Bevan, F. E. B. Lovelock, and F. C. Faber £3O, J. B. Jolly, L. B. Doig,‘ A. Shurstrom, J. Dealy, C. W. Wilson and A. J. Havill £2O, W. Hill

and G. A. Watt £ls, Airs A. S. O’Kaaro and J. Grant £lO each. SUCCESSFUL JOCKEYS. Hiding honours at the meeting were well divided. L. G. Morris being the only horseman to steer home three winners during the two days. 1 1“ J. Mackie and C. N. Carmont placed two wins to tlieir credit, while A. McDonald and E. Copestake shared the honours over the “sticks” with a win apiece. Single winners on the flat were: B. H. Morris, R. Alorris, B. Rosen, J. O’Shea, •J. Dombroski, C. Butler, A. MeCormac and W. Witchell. Details of racing on pages 1 and 4.