OTAKI MAORI RACING CLUB.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 4 June 1919, Page 3

OTAKI MAORI RACING CLUB.

ANNUAL WINTER MEETING. A BECOKx) GATHERING. It was plainly evident by the large crowd present at the' opening day of the above club's meeting held yesterday, that the local race meeting is still gaining in popular favour. The crowd is estimated as an easy record .for the course. Visitors were . present from many parts. All trains—special and otherwise—-were crowded with a sporting throng, the fine weather and the holiday tempting many who were looking for a day's outing. The arrangements, thanks to the secretary (Mr O. J. D'Ath) and the stewards of the club, were complete. In his - secretarial duties Mr D'Ath was ably assisted by j Messrs M. 11. Ayre, A. A. Lnndall, and J. Griffiths, while Mr Southcy Fowler had the gate arrangements, and owing to his business ability everything went with a swing that did him credit. His able supervision was very highly commented upon. The course, which had previously been very hard, w r as, thanks to the recent rain, much improved, and the sting was taken out of it. There were no complaints in this direction, and all owners appeared well pleased with the going. The handicapping J gave satisfaction, most of the fields i were evently despatched, the racing t was good—several very close finishes resulting. In two races a small portion of the crowd was inclined to be hostile against the judge's decision, but lie had, however, the backing of the large majority.

Following are details of the racing

MAIDEN FLAT, of 100 ?ovs; second horse 15 sovs, third horse 5 sovs from the stake. Six furlongs. Mr 11. Barrett'* Kyoto, B.S. (P. Kaynor) 1 Mr T. A. Duncan's Festival, S.S (C. Trice) : . , - Mr L. H, Collinson's Achilleon, S.S (W. Bell) 3 Also started: Blighty 8.12, Moutoa Boy 8.11, Hautawa 8.11, Dixie Boy 8.11, Master Qurran S.S. Deacon, after doing the preliminary, was brought back to the paddock, suffering from an internal complaint. MoutjDa Boy led the first distance, then gave way to Festival, who eventually fell back in favour of Hautawa and Achilleon.' Fairly into the straight, however, Kyoto put in a fine run and won by half a length, a length separating second and third. Time, 1.16 1-3.

FLYING HACK HANDICAP, of 100

sovs; second horse 20 sovs, third 10

sovs from the stake. Six furlongs. Mr H. Barrett's Idle Talk, 7.10 (P. Eaynor) 1 Mr C. WoolstoVs Tari, S.lO (Stowe) 2 Mr H. G. Taylor's Black Mark, 5.9 ■ (Bagby) * • 3 March On, Lady Kilworth, Occasion, Esperance, Prince Formby, Stutter and Pcrvolo were scratched. Gonziska headed the field from the rise of the barrier, followed closely by Tari and Black Mark, and in this order the raec continued till Idle Talk moved up in the straight. A fine finish resulted, and Idle Talk won by a bare head, a length separating second and third. Time, 1.1-1 2-3.

TAIIIOA STEEPLECHASE, of 250 sovs; second horse 30 sovs and third horse 20 sovs from the stake. About

21 miles. Mr F. S. Easton's Gang Awa', 11.2 (Lorrigan) Mr W. Bevan's Gwynne, 9.7 (Meagher) 2 Mr J. Tyldesley's Master Webster, 10.3 (Dillamore) tlisc lAlso started: Kurupai 10.0.. Tamo 10.6, Hoatu 9.7, Kingston Boy 9.7, Sail Home 9.7. Negative 9.7. From a straggling start Gang Awa' led. with Gwynne next. This order was maintained for some time, the only variance being that Bail Home fell at the first hurdle. Gang Awa' m*creascd his load by some lengths and

led well into the straight, jumping ■ faultlessly. Master Webster and King- i ston Bov ran off at the back, while Kurupai was running third. Neanug ! the straight Gwynne forged into third place, but Gang Awa' and Master j Webster were never headed, and a good . race resulted in Gang Awa' winning i by, a head. Master Webster, however, | was disqualified for running off. and ■ second stakes were awarded to Gwynne. . Negative pulled up in the straight,.thc jockey dismounting. Tarero finished ] last, well behind. Time, 4.20 3-3.

BAUEA.WA CUP. of COO sovs; second : ' horse 70 sovs and third SO sovs. One j rnile and a-quarter. I Mr P. Selwood's Yolo, 5.12 (H. Johns) 1 I Mr'-P. Soames' Battle Song. 7.12 j (Eaynor) " j Sir W. Smart's Pacific Slope. 7.10 j (E, Eeed) 3 j 'Also-started:'. Bewi'Poto 9.2. Noble- j man 9.0. Marctueteur 5.5, Kilrush 5.2, pctroit 7.9, Master Moutoa 7.9, Rose, Pink 7.7. Baghdad 7.2, Elocution 6.13, ; Tiranga 6.11, Arrowfield G. 7. After a long delay at tho post the , Ebfies got away fairly well together, the locally trained horse, Detroit, being among those to get the worst of the Start. 0 Rose field.'btit at the five-furlong post Yolo moved up »nd took command, with. Battle Song and Eose Pink following. Volo had a big lead, but on entering in* straight' the field closed up, but Volo managed to hold his own and won by a head, the same distance separatZg Second and third. Time, 2.S l-o. OTAKI HACK HANDICAP, of 150 Sovs; second horse 20 sovs and third E 10 sovs from the stake. One V.Mr H. E. Card's Momac, 7.12 (Barry) '.' Mr J. Hi Beaton's Transmission, l B,© (Nodaer)' ..ri> .jr.* ..• """•'

* Also started: " Consultation 7.13, Pomcroy 7.2, Warmth 7.0. ■ From a good" start "White Ranger and Momae led the field, the former ha%-ing an advantage of several lengths. Momae then joined the. leaders, while in the straight Pretty Bobby and Transmission closed up. A good race resulted in Pretty Bobby being beaten by Momae by nearly a length, a head separating second and third, Transmission just beating White Bangor for third position. Time, ljfi 3-5.

,TAIPUA HANDICAP, of 330 sovs; ' second horse 30 sovs and third horse 20 sovs. Six furlongs. Mr' T. Higgans' Lady General, 7.S (Corlctt) ' 1 Mr Q-. A. Palmer's Astinonc, 7.5 (A. Reed) 2 Mr F. Preston's Oratress, 6.9. (Barry) 3 Scratched: Comment, Hastie, Sir Agnes, Hyginas, Moutoa Ivanova, Wonder and Vaseovia.

The large field was badly despatched, Torfreda getting nicely away, followed by Astinonc At the bend there was a bunch, and from the ruck Lady General and Oratress became prominent, the former winning by a narrow margin from Astinonc, while Oratress was a good third, Potentiality fourth. Time, 1.13 4-5.

BIRTHDAY WELTER HACK HANDICAP, of 1-10 sovs; second horse 20 sovs and third horse 10 sovs from the stake. .Seven furlong's. MrR. A. McKenzie's Sacramento, 0.9 (Hatch) 1 Mr W.'McKegg's Utmvai, 9.2 (L. Morris) 2 Mr G. West's Glentour, 9.5 (Lorrigan) '..■: 3

Transmission, Beloved and Warmth were the only scratching. 1 *, leaving eleven to face the barrier. Toddy was the first to show in front, leading Sacramento, an order that was maintained for fome distance. The latter, however, was full of running and won nicely by a length, the same distance separating second and third, Justification next. Time, 1.29. SECOND DAY, ' The light rain which fell last night has made the course somewhat sticky, and a trifle on the heavy side, but the rain was not sufficient to materially affect the course. The day being threatening, and there being no holiday, the attendance is nothing like that of yesterday, but is, on the whole, very fair. The acceptances are good and the arrangements complete. Following arc the results available iij) to the time of our going to press: —

TELEGRAPH HACK HANDICAP, of 120 sovs. Five- furlongs. Mr J. Cock's Prince Formby, 7.S (A. McCormick) 1 Mr W. Grey's Tomikoke, 7.S (L. Morris) " Mr G. Penl'old's Beloved, 7.S (A. Reed) 3 Scratched: March On. Tomikoke and Beloved led the field from a bad start, followed by Prineo Formby. On coming up the straight the latter came with a well-timed dash and won by a length, same separating second and third. Time, I.S 2-3.

ITB ROTO STEEPLECHASE HANDIiCAP. of 200 sovs. About two miles. Mr J. Tyldesley's Master Wcbs.tcr, 10.11 (A. Ward) 1 Mr W. Bevan's Gwynne, 10.0

j (Meagher) 2 (Mr F. S. Easton's Gang Awa', 12.1 J (Lorrigan) ..■ 3 j All started. Gang Awa'. Kurupai, ' and Sail Home were the first in front. | when Master Webster moved up. On ' entering the straight the latter and Gwynne took command, and Master Webster, jumping well, won comfortI ably by four lengths, five lengths sepa- ! rating second and third. Tarero pulled ' up and Negative ran off. Time, -1.53 3-3. 'hDIA HANDICAP, of 400 sovs; second i horse CO sovs and third horse 25 sovs. I One mile and 53 yards.

Mr MeAuley's Kilrush, S.l (A. Heed) 1 Mrs Campbell's Baghdad. 7.2 (McCarlen) 2 Mrs Coupcr's Potentiality, *S,2 (Stowe) 3 Marqueteur. Play Off and George were scratched. Kilrush and Baghdad led from start to finish, the former winning comfortably by four lengths, the same distance separating second' and third. Elocution for a time was near the leaders, but failed to get in the ran. Time, 1.44.

jSTEWABDS' HACK HANDICAP, of j 130 sovs; second horse 20 sovs and ■ third horse 10 sovs. Seven furlongs. Mr E. A. MeKenzic's Old Gold. 9.3 I (Hatch) X 'Mr C. Louisson's March On, 5.6 j (Corkill) •' 2 'Mr C. Woolston's- Tari, 9.1 (O. i Stowe) 3 t Scratched: Black Mark and Mayi morn. *• Tari got the best of the start, led jtill well in the straight, when he was ■ challenged by March On, followed by ! Old Gold. A hundred yards from the [judge's box all three were being hard .ridden, but Hatch, by fine horsemanj ship, forged to the front and won by ' half a length, same distance separating I second and third. Time. 1.29 2-5. NOTES. I In the. steeplechase Master Webster, ' ridden by Dillamore, ran off. but con- : finucd to take part in the race, and in the run home challenged Gang Awa' i ! for first position. A fine race resulted. : . but subsequently the officials of the , ; club met and disqualified the horse for . the race and fined the jockey £!>. t\ There were several small fines inflicted during the day. the chief offence the wearing, of wrong colours. . I There were no accidents to maT the ' t proceedings, and even in the Stec-pie- • ch»*o there was only one fall. Bail

Homo striking the first obstacle and dislodging Caddy without serious effect.

The gate takings proved easily a record, amounting to no less than £9-16 lis, as against £7OB 19s for the first day last June, an increase of over £237. The amount put through the totalisator was also a record, no less than £30,04(5 being put through the machine. Had the "pay out" arrangements been on a larger scale there is no doubt but that even more would have been invested.

Mr Gordon, stipendiary steward, was present at the mooting in his official capacity, but on the whole had an easy day. There was an absence of disorderly behaviour on the course yesterday, and the "limbs of the law" had a remarkably easy time. A well-known owner, for offensive language to an official, was yesterday fined £2. The favourites at the meeting failed to get home in many cases, and in consequence sonic of the dividends were good.