Totalisator Turf Topics.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 105, 5 July 1902, Page 21

Totalisator Turf Topics.

By 'Krect-Card.

The winter fixture of the Hawke <= Bay Jockey Club took place last week and was a big success from every point of view . A new departure in the w orking of the totahsators was tned at the meeting— one machine paying out on the first horse only, while the other paid out on first and second. lne arrangement, however, did not meet with much favour, backers preferring to risk their money on the double chance rather than on the straight-out principle. The fields in each of the events were fairly large, and the finishes close, which spoke volumes for Mr. Henrys handicaps. A. held of six contested the Trial Steeplechase, for which Great Scott was the public fancy. Euchans and Mangatera were also well supported. The winner turned up in the outsider Phantom, which got home in the last few strides from Kuoharis, and paid a dividend of £14 12s. The Hon J D. Onnond's representative Ideal, was backed to win the Winter Handicap, as if the race was all over bar shouting, but she took no part in the finish, and left her backers lamenting. The light-weight Dexterity nicely ridden by G. Price, succeeded in annexing the stake, after an interesting set-to with Loch fcnn. l£e winner paid £16 2s, and got over the distance in lmin 58sec. A field of five faced the barrier for the ladies' race— the Bracelet— which was won somewhat easily by Miss Ormond's representative, Kelpy. lhe winner claims an engagement in the New Zealand Cup, and is by defunct Dreadnought,, out of Waterbaby. On the strength of his success m the race under notice, Kelpy has been already supported for the big race in November but it is a far cry to Cup day, and backers should be chary about taking lone prices about a horse which is only one of a number of representatives of the Karamu stable Another outsider in Vathek was seen to the fore m the Hack Hurdles, for which Ogle and Locbade were most fancied. The winner put up a very good performance in getting over the mile and three-quarter Hurdles in <3min 35sec and, as he won somewhat easily, he should be capable of better things when he becomes more seasoned. \athek returned each of his supporters £13 19s. The big event on the card — the Hawke's Bay Hurdles— was contested by a field of eleven, amongst which were Kaliuwai and Reliance, who were making their debut at the illegitimate game The latter was most in demand on the strength of his reported good track form, but, although he jumped fairly well, could not pace it with some of his opponents. The performance of Kahuwai was much more meritorious, for she succeeded in gaming a place. The winner turned up in The Hempie, who easily held her own in the run home from Rufus and Kahuwai Dr Bill ran weil for a mile and a halt, but could not see the journey out The Hempie was in splendid buckle, and her connections were very sweet on her chance and, as she paid a dividend ot £8 4s no doubt they profited to a considerable extent by the mare's success. Jack O'Lantern had no difficulty in silencing the opposition in the Hunters' Hurdles, for which he started a pronounced favourite The only other contestant to get on anything like terms with him was Chance. The largest field of the day contested the Oomnthian Stakes, run over a mile and a quarter, and was won easily by Convoy, who was followed home by ' A B.N. and Defoe. The winner paid a dividend of £5 and, by his performance, proved that in fairly good company he can always hold his own. On the second day, there was again good s,port and the winners were fairly well concealed. A splendid finish was witnessed in the Hurdle Race, all the contestants jumping beautifully. Arter getting over the last Hurdle, the battle commenced in real earnest, Great Scott, Kahuwai, and The Hempie fighting out every inch of the way. Just on the post' the former got his nose in front, while The Hempie was only a neck away third. The winner paid the substantial dividend of £13 18s, while backers of Kahuwai received £19 second money.

£13 19s

Foi his previous day's success, Dexterity w as raised 71b for the June Handicaip, but this did not pi event him winmrg easily and paying another fancy puce— £l9 13s A field of five contested the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase, for which Gobo was made favourite. All the contestants kept together for about three miles, w hon Gobo lost his rider through bungling at the gorse fence Fiom this out Lochade went to the front, and, not being headed, won easily by three lengths fiom Plain Bill. The winnei paid £5 1.35, and covered the distance in 9min lOsec A.B.N , the Poverty Bay representative, had no difficulty in silencing the opposition of Defoe and Borax. His victory was anticipated by backeis, and they received a dividend of £2 Is In the Hack and Hunters' Steeplechase, the Phantom easily repeated his first day's performance, his nearest attendants beang Chance and Jack-o'-Lan-tem. The winner paid a. dividend of £1 ss. Assayer, Mr. Rathbones representative, easily accounted for the Final Handicap, run over six furlongs, after an interesting set-to with Brilliantine and Rain. The time occupied— lmm 2fisec — was rather on the slow side but, no doubt, the course wasi responsible for this. The winner paid £4 16s. and backers of the second horse received £1 16s. It was stated at a meeting of the Masterton Racing Club that a strong syndicate- was beine formed by horseowners to test legal points in connection with the placing of owners' names on the forfeit list. When the last English mail left, the King's stallion Persimmon headed the hat of winning sires with £10,642 and of this sum Sceptre has earned all but £142. Carbine was second, with five winners of nine races. The New Zealand Cup candidate, Renown, who broke down after the Wellington Cup of 1901, underwent an operation with the firing iron His trainer now entertains hopes that the chestmut so" «f Dreadnought will be nt to stand a strong preparation. Mr. Leslie Macdonald, the wellknown "gentleman trainer/ of Victoria intends to settle down at Caulfield, and Wakeful, Aurous, and Co. will be trained there in future. Carabine (by Carbine), the winner of the Chester Cup, two miles and a quarter, is considered one of the finest stayers in England. He was sold at 100 guineas as a yearling. The ex-New Zealand steeplechaser, Volcanic, while being schooled over the steeplechase fences at Rosehill, got too close into a, fence, and came a cropper, throwing his rider heavily, with the result that the jockey had one of his shoulders dislocated. A Sydney writer thus refers to an erstwhile New Zealand steeplechaser, who is engaged in the V.R.C. Grand National — "Regalia 11. has made no end of improvement in condition, and in lumping- He goes very fast at his Wdles, and gets over them quickly and cleverly, and, as he. has plenty of pace, he is sure to give a good account of himself." Mr. Dakin, the V.R.C. handicapper, m making his adjustments for the two principal items in the Grand National programmes has taken good care of the New Zealanders entered. For the Hurdle Race, Battleaxe is at the top of the list, with list 121b opposite his name, and this for a maiden performer over sticks is a pretty severe impost, while The Guard has the flattering impost, of 12st 71b in the Steeplechase. The latter has 1 declined the contest, but Batbleaxe was shipped before the weights appeared, and, should he see the post fit and well, will give a good account of himself.