Rangitikei Races.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7916, 23 September 1904, Page 5

Rangitikei Races.

Second Day.

Eough and cold weather prevailed on the second, day of the Eangitikei Eacing Club's" Spring meeting and the attendance was adversely affected by the unfavourable conditions. The meeting had given every promise of being the most successful Spring gathering: yei held by the Club, the acceptances and quality of the horses engaged being far superior to preceding years.. However, unkind Fortune intervened and the Club had to face a deficit of £1029 in the totalisator returns, -the climatic conditions having that very marked effect. Otherwise the meeting was most enjoyable, the fields were large, only one race taking place in the two days in which one dividend was paid, and the racing itself more than ordinarily interesting. The management was all that could be desired, the secretary (Mr Goodall) and the rest of the officials working energetically and methodically to secure the success of the meeting. During the day £'2924 was put through the machine, making a total of £7352 for the meeting as against £S3SI the previous year. Proceedings commenced yesterday with the Ngaio Hack Hurdle race, from which Hokio and Jewel Gun were ihe only withdrawals. Morelli, whoso first appearance it was for some time past, went away with a big break, and was not collared by the top weight till the last Hurdle had been negotiated, but in the run home .Defoe prevailed easily. Ontario ran into third place a couple of lengths away. Intrigue was the • only one to make a mistake, coming down at the hurdle opposite the stand. He slid along for several yards with Whitehouse, and the latter sustained a broken collarbone. The rest all fenced well but Saraband. Delight and Moeraki were never dangerous.

Matuku had no difficulty in disposing of her field in the Telegraph Handicap, getting away first and finishing without being headed. Parkshot was the last to move, and lost several lengths which he made up with a fast run in the straight, beating Auratus on the post by. a head for second place. Sanfoin was prominent to the distance, where he retired beaten. Promotion was early done with, as was, also, Tambourina. '

The Clifton Steeplechase did not produce the same big field that contested the big jumping event the previous day, though all the acceptors, six, went to the post. „ The .erstwhile Aucklander, Bfoccasin, had to strike his colours to Te

Kohau, a Wairarapa horse, that was going remarkably well when he fell at the post and rails the first day. Both first and second horses laid well behind the field for three-parts of the journey, and then moved up to the front together, Te Kohau leading over the last jump, the hen-coop, and winning by a length. Moccasin carried his 12st 81b remarkably well, especially so, considering the tenacious nature of the going. Hutaria jumped very slovenly, and made a desperate attempt to run off at the second jump of the double in the straight. He struck several jumps, but Walls kept him on his feet. Umslopogaas was in front and j going as well at anything in the, race when he struck the post and rails. lie fell back last immediately, and did not get going again, pulling up after jumping another fence. ■■. Eclair put in a great run along the back stretch with Towhatu, but died away before the real business was commenced.

The Welter Hack race produced the best finish of the meeting, Tbgos scaring a lucky win from St. Albert by a long neck, while a head separated* the latter from Benmore. Togos shot out from the ruck -when opposite the stand and coming up on the inside scored as stated. Had Walls closed on the rails when finishing with Benmore, Togos could not have got up on the inside. 3?urneaux ran a good horse for half the distance but condition did not last.-

Peruvian had the easiest win at the meeting in the Hack Steeplechase, going away with a lead of fully ten lengths and maintaining it to the finish. Juanita was the only one that at all approached the winner, the rest tailing off at irregular distances.

The September Handicap was another good race, v half a length . separating Lass O'Gowrie from Hardwork, who beat Jeanne d'Arc by a head for second place. Armistice was fourth a length away. The winner put in a good run from the distance.

The final event of the meeting, the Killeymoori Hack race, fell to Marinella, with Te Hauke second and Sea Lion third. A great race took place from the distance between the placed horses and

they finished with only half a length between them. Sea Lion fell back almost last two furlongs after starting and did not make up the lee way till well down the straight. His effort, despite Jenkins* energetic riding, could, not get him on even terms with the leaders. Te Hauke did not race up to her track reputation. Had she done so,- or at

least reproduced what she is credited with, she must have easily accounted for Marinella. Hamua did not run as well as the previous day," and Tainbourina also put up an indifferent performance. On the first day of the Eangitikei meeting the chestnut gelding Tirole, by Captain .Webb—Tireuse, was offered for sale by auction. Offers up to £175

guineas were received', and at that price was withdrawn. Yesterday Major-Gene-ral Babington's hunter, Union Jack, was also put up but withdrawn at £50. The 'Catesby-Fay horse Sanfoin was sold to Messrs Jefferson Bros, for £65, and the hunter, Juanita, that ran second to Peruvian in the Hack Steeplechase, was also passed in at £35.