SPORTING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 8 January 1931, Page 9

SPORTING

REEFTON JOCKEY CLUB GOLD BAG WINS REEFTON HANDICAP MEMBERS’ HANDICAP TO WISE CHOICE (By Telegraph—Press Association! REEFTON, 7th January. The concluding results on the first day of the Reefton Jockey Club’s Meeting were as follows : Junction Trot Handicap, of 95 sovs; one mile—2 Dusolina, 12yds bhd (Frost), 1; 3 August Pointer, scr, 2; 6 Kawana, scr, 3. Scratched: Hakari, Allanora, Carol Nelson, Flood Drift, Pointal. Won by three lengths, a neck. Time, 2.21 2-5. Reefton Handicap, of 155 sovs; one mile and a quarter—4 Gold Bag, 7.6, (Messervey), 1; 2 Sapient, 8.3, 2; 1 Black Duke, 11.11, 3. Also started: Miss Mercia, Fairy Tidings, Pari. Won.by a neck, two lengths. Time, 2.10 4-5. I Members’ Handicap, of 95 sovs; five furlongs—2 Wise Choice, 8.10 (Powell), 1; 6 Matu, 7.0, 2; 3 Saggitarius, 9.5, 3. Scratched : Takutama, Landmark, Bright Spear, Fine Finish. Won' by half a head, two lengths. Time, 1.2 1-5. Maruia Handicap, oj 100 sovs; seven furlongs—l Charmeuse, 9.12, 1; 3 Jael, 7.0, 2; Quantum, 8.6, 3. Also started: Arch Arrow, Shining Star. Won by half a length. Time, 1.28 4.5. Soldiers’ Trot, of 100 sovs; one mile and a half—Pat Logan, scr, 1; 4 Cold Rush, 36yds bhd, 2; 5 Alpine Melody, 36yds bhd, 3. Also started: Tini Uria, Matchglow, Jester, Great Thought, Location. Won by half a length. Time, 3.52 2-5. Progress Handicap, of 100 sovs; seven furlongs—4 Coll, 7.0, 1; 1 Assemble, 9.12, 2; 3 Killigrew, 8.3, 3. Also started: Fortalice, The Dove, Buoyant, Quillfire, Eaton Hall, General Assembly. Won by a head. two lengths. Time, 1.29. Totalisator investments amounted to £6471, as compared with £7512 10s for the first day of the meeting last year. THE REEFTON HANDICAP GOLD BAG DEFEATS SAPIENT (By Telegraph—Special to “The Mail"! CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The withdrawal of Ravine from the Refton Handicap owing to shoulder trouble robbed the race of a certain amount of interest. Black Duke was the strong public choice, but although he ran a good race and looked likely to unwind one of his characteristic finishing runs when he entered the straight behind the leaders, his big burden settled him at the business end. Miss Mercia shot away with a lead and acted as pacemaker for a mile. She then weakened and Sapient headed her, with Gold Bag and Black Duke close up. Sapient led into the straight from Miss Mercia, Gold Bag and Black Duke together. Miss Mercia was soon done with, and Gold Bag challenged Sapient. The pair drew away and in a close finish Gold Bag got in the deciding stride to win by half a length. Black Duke made one promising effort a hundred yards from the post but failed to go on, and was three lengths away at the post, beating Fairy Tidings by a neck. Miss Mercia and Pari were beaten off. The race was run to suit Black Duke as not much pace was on over three parts of the journey but the weight told. Sapient with her peculiar action would have done better with the outside running, as she was handicapped over the last few strides on the inside of Gold Bag. Miss Mercia took a lot out of herself by struggling with her rider for over half the race, and probably would have done better if allowed to run along.

WESTLAND TROTTING CLUB

LOMAR TAKES CHIEF HANDICAP TODD BINGEN HOME FIRST HOKITIKA, 7th January. The following were the concluding results at the Westland Trotting Club’s Meeting:— Rimu Goldfields Handicap, of 80 sovs; one mile and a half —2 Todd Bingen, 1; 5 Golden Spray, 2; 7 Merry Peter 3. All started. Won by three lengths, three lengths. Time, 3.50 1-5. Westland Trotting Club Handicap, of 140 sovs; two miles —2 Lomar, 1; 7 Auto Minto 2; 4 Young Author 3. Scratched: Tahoe, Dollar King. Won by there lengths, two lengths. THE CHIEF EVENT DESCRIBED LOMAR LEADS ALL THE WAY (By Telegraph-Special to “The Mail”) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The Westland Trotting Club Handicap provided the most interesting race of the day, being won by the well-fancied Lomar with the greatest ease. The early leader was Chancellor Boy who in the first circuit had a break of fifty yards on the field, his nearest attendants being Stowaway, Dillon Logan, Lomar and Donard. In the second circuit the field was bundled, Stowaway, Lomar, and Young Author being the leaders. At the back Dillon Logan led from Stowaway and Lomar. The last-named ran to the front entering the straight and came on an easy winner by three length from Donard, with Young Author two lengths hack. Then came Stowaway and Dil.oi Logan.