PATEA PACES.

Patea Mail, 20 November 1880, Page 3

PATEA PACES.

The Spring Meeting of the Patea District Jockey Club was hold yesterday, in lovely weather, on the course two miles north of town. The sport was fairly good, although the entries were few, and not all of the best class that the West Coast can produce. As a public holiday for the locality, this meeting was a success, in spite of the thin attendance. The public would have realised more enjoyment if the several races had been run closer together, terminating about 3 o'clock, and avoiding a sense of wariness on Hie part of nine-tenths of those who were present. It is the last hour that is most tiresome at a slow meeting. It was nearly six o’clock when the final race was run.

Another suggestion may bo worth considering hy iLe Jnckey Club. It wus evident that the Wavorley race meeting of last week had “ taken the cream” oil' tins one. Datea people went in largo numbers to Waverley, but liow many Waverley people returned the compliment yesterday ! Only a tew good fellows. Two meetings in the district within ten days must injure each other. Cannot the two clubs cooperate to this extent, that the one shall hold a spring meeting and the other an autumn meeting ? (LIV out; sroKTINO CUXTUIIiUTOK.) The stewards were Messrs Mcßae, Chapman, A. Gower, Rowdreli, C. Syme, Morccroi't,and Dr Cruft. Judge—Major Turner. Starter, Mr John Burke. Clerk of scales, Mr Tapliu. Clerk of comse, Mr H. 1. Davis. Handicappcrs, the stewards. Treasurer, Dr Croft. Secretary, Mr W. Cowcrn, The racing to-day (T'Titlayj was much better than I had anticipated, and the tine weather made the meeting a most enjoyable one ; and I am glad to say that it was very orderly throughout. It was generally supposed that the gate speculators had given quite enough for that privilege, but when they came to reckon up their Jinauces, I believe they were on the right side of the hedge after all. The k’rect card vendors had no reason to complain, The purchaser of the games must have done very well, although it took him all his time to look after the proprietors, who were numerous. The canary equalisator was one of the chief, and the owner of “these pretty little birds” sounded their 2'i - aisos to perfection, and evidently did his share. The other cqualisators or spinning machines attracted little crowds during the intervals between the events, and the visitors cheerfully parted with superfluous cash to those who “ran” these and other “ little games.” Mr Alexander, of Wellington, bad the totalisator, and about £2OO passed through, but although the instrument was worked to the satisfaction of all who patronised it, it was a very poor concern, but, as I heard remarked, “ quite good enough for a gate-money meeting. The stewards and other officials carried out their duties well, and the clerk of the course is entitled to special praise. Messrs Mullen and Wolston supplied thirsty souls at their respective booths, and the former provided a good luncheon for his patrons. Mr ' Ilowitt had the refreshment booth. The course was in very fair order, and year after year seems to be improving)

although there arc several sandy patches

yet requiring to be turfed over. A few remarks on the races, and 1 shall detail the events. No one seemed to regret seeing Mr Gower’s horse win the hurdle race, and he was locally well supported, but although he won it with nothing to spare, fit and well as he certainly was a long way from being, how easily he might have won remains to be seen. Old Ireand, the favorite, was never able to get up, and Gazelle, the hero of a score of battles, but now the favourite buggy horse of Mr T. Lloyd of Hawera, was only put in work a fortnight since to fulfil this engagement, and he fulfilled it creditably by running a respectable third behind Raven, who, had he not lost ground at his jumps must have won. The Derby was simply a boil-over. The winner, St. Clair, was always my fancy, but he was so lame on Wednesday that I, with many others, thought he would be unable to start. As it was ho started very sore, and 1 take credit for having advised my friends at the last moment not In make too sure of the filly winning. The Railway Handicap turned out as .1 always thought it woukb but Redeemer showed a wonderful dash of foot at the finish, although ho never caused

mo any uneasiness. Confidante was outweighted The Maiden 1 also selected the winner of, and over a mile and a quarter course and under the weights of Patea Club races, 1 should always prefer her to to Chandler as a four-year old. Raven has improved vastly, and 1 confess I was somewhat surprised at the gameness of this animal. The Forced Race was all between Redeemer and Hailstorm, and receiving a stone the chestnut succeeded in putting Mr Powdrell’s horse away over the short course, .and although 1.0 won by a length or two it was a hard won victory. The green jacket, as 1 predicted, wen. The. hack racing brought another Day Dawn to light, hy name Black Bo}’, who besides being a jumper lias at least a little pace. I trust that next year the Club will see its way clear to issucagood programme. llANtm Af Hurdle Hack of 20sovs. Distance 2 miles. Mr Gower’s Bimrav, fist lUlb ... ' Cl-1 mull ton) 1 Mr J. H. Pollock’s Raven, lOst, ... ... ... ... (Lumsdcn_) 2 Mr T. Lloyd's Gazdle. lOst 101b (Bailey) 3 Mr Melvor’s Old Ireland, list ... (Melvur) 0 Mr Mcßae’s Monarch, Ust 71b... ... 0 Chandler was scratched. Totalisator helling about equal on Sunray, Raven, and Ireland, Gazelle being also well supported. At tlie tall of the flag Gazelle, Raven, and Sunray jumped away together, and negotiated the first hurdle pretty well together, Ireland being fourth, and Monarch last. At the second hurdle Monarch ran off, and Sum ay, Raven, and Gazelle kept well together, first one and then the other showing in front, Old Ireland being clean outpaced. Passing the stand the second time Sunray and Gazelle led, Raven third, and this order was maintained until approaching the Inst hurdle, when both Raven and Gazelle faltered and lost a few lengths at the jump, giving Snnra}' an advantage of some three lengths, which however, was decreased to a length in the straight run by Mr Pollock’s horse, who ran in a length in front of the old veteran Gazelle, Ireland about 15 lengths off. Hack Hurdle Rack of 5 sovs. Once round and a distance. Mr Sergeant’s Blaekboy ... (Owner) 1 Mr Baird’s Meremere ... (McElwaine) 2 Patio a Derry of 100 sovs. Closed with six entries. Mr E. Collins’St Clair ...(Danahay) 1 Mr Durie’s b f Frivolity ... (Belcher) 2 Mr J. D. Powdrell’s r c Tally-ho (Wright) 3 More on Frivolity than the others. Tally-ho second in demand, St Clair being least supported. (Soon after starting Tally-bo bolted off the course, leaving it a match between Mr Durio’a filly and St Clair, who ran together until a quarter of a mile from homo when Danahay called on Mr Collins’s colt, and answering well he was landed a winner by a couple of lengths. Railway Handicap of 25 sovs. Distance 1-1- miles. Mr Powdrell’s Hailstorm, 9st Gib ... ... ... ... (Campion) 1 Mr Quinlivan’s Redeemer, Bst 131b ... ... ... ... (T. QuinlivaiiJ 2 Mr George’s Confidante, Bst 71b ('Belcher) 3 Odds on Hailstorm ; Redeemer second in demand. Hailstorm jumped away smartly, and took a commanding lead until joined by Confidante at the back of the course, Redeemer running fully ten lengths behind the pair. Half a mile from home Redeemer decreased the gap, and coining very gamely in the straight caught and settled the mare, and Campion was obliged to shake up the roan to stall off a very determined rush. Ho won by a clear length. Time, 2min 50sec. WooDSiDE Sires Cup of 25 sovs. Distance 4 mile. Walk-over for Mr Mcßae’s Flora McIvor.

Hack Rack of 5 sovs. Once round. Entrance 1 sov., at the post. Mr O’Brien’s Larry ... (Kaiser) I Five others ran.

Larry, who was most backed, gave his supporters a turn, and, well ridden by young Kaiser (?), won all up up the straight from a smart little mare called Just-in-Timo, who made nearly all the running. Hanlon bolted, and several others ran.

Maiden Plate of 20 sovs. Ij miles

Entrance 2 sovs. Mr C. E. Brewer’s Camelia, 4 years ... ... ... ... ... (Belcher) 1 Mr Mclvor’s Chandler, 4 years (Robinson) 2 Mr J. H. Pollock’s Raven (Hamilton) 3

The totalizator shewed more on Camelia than cither of the others, but Chandler carried more money than Raven. The mare got away first, ami pulling double passed the post the first time three lengths in advance. At the mile post Raven and Chandler caughther, and criesof “Camelia’s done” came from the crowd, but Belcher had lots in hand and was only casing up over the rough ground. A quarter of a mile away he set her going again, and although the other pair were running a desperate race after Her she managed to land the prize by two lengths. Forced Handicap, 15 sovs. Once round. Mr T. Quinlivan’s Redeemer, Bst 101b (Quinlivan) 1 Mr J. D. Powdrell’s Hailstorm, 9st 101b ... (Campion) 2 Mr J. George’s Confidante, 7st 81b ... ... (Kaiser) 3 Brower’s Camelia 7st Gib, and Tally-bo Gst, also ran. Hailstorm best supported ; Redeemer, Confidante, and Camelia all carrying about the same money. Tally-bo friendless. Hailstorm got the bcst_ of the start, but Redeemer got on his girth at once and the pair made a short gap between Confidante and Camelia, Tally-ho (ailing off. A quarter of a mile from home Redeemer rushed to the front and got a load of two lengths from the roan, who, I hough urged to his utmost, could not again got on terms and the chestnut son of Gladiator and Vencssa obtained a length and a half verdict. Time, Imin 53secsfor the mile and two chains. Confidante,about seven lengths away, ran in a short distance in front of Camelia.

Hack Rack, 1A- miles. Seven started, Mr Sergeant’s Black Boy winning easily from Just-in-Timo. This concluded the racing.