RACING.

Putaruru Press, 5 January 1928, Page 8

RACING.

TIRAU MEETING. ' Successful Event. There was a record attendance for the old-established Tirau Racing Club’s fixture which was held on the course of the Matamata Racing Club last Monday. The .weather was ideal, and the scores upon scores of cars parked along the bank facing the straight were each at one and the same time the centre of a family picnic party and an impromptu grandstand from which a perfect view of the races was obtained. Despite the fact that harvesting operations were being busily pursued along all roadk leading to the course it was evident that the Tirau meeting is looked, upon as being something of a ’local institution, for in view of the numbers engaged in farm work it was amazing where all the people came from. The social nature of the meeting is evidently the big attraction, and it was manifest on all sides that the opportunity to meet old friends and acquaintances had as big an attraction for most as the actual racing. The course was in excellent order, and the various races were run off promptly, after a late start, in a manner which reflected great credit on the Secretary (Mr. T. J. Underwood) and the committee.

Spinks (two firsts and three seconds) and Quin (two firsts) were the most successful jockeys. The gate takings were £75, while the total receipts will amount to close on £2OO. Details of the races are as follow : MAIDEN HANDICAP, of £l6 10s, six furlongs. Master Lu (Martin) 1 Cometary (Spinks) 2 , Waimarie (Savage) 3 Time, 1.16 2-5. Eastbourne, High Flight and Valerie failed to face the starter. The field got away to a good start and Master Lu quickly took the lead, which he maintained throughout to win by two lengths from Cometary. Waimarie was third. SHORTS HANDICAP, of £l7 10s, six furlongs. Muscari (Quin) 1 Owen (Hill) 2 Ring Potoa (Spinks) 3 , >r Time, 1.15 2-5. ] Following a fair start Muscari J showed Out and led by a length all I along the back. At the bend this I lead was doubled, and, though pres- j sure was applied to Owen, Muscari j was never troubled and won easily J Jby two lengths. Ring Potoa bccu- j pied third position, while Highrose j tailed the field. Prince Abbey and The Jack Jumper Were scratched. OKOROIRE HANDICAP, of £l7 10s, seven furlongs. Roman Abbey (Spinks) 1 Nation (Muir) 2 Oscar (Martin) 3 Time, 1.29. From a bad start, two horses being left some lengths behind at the post, Roman Abbey shot to the front and made a one-horse race of it, passing the judge’s box without pressure six lengths in the lead. There was a great race for second position, Nation just beating Oscar in the last chain or so by a long neck. TIRAU HANDICAP, of £4O, one mile and a-quarter. Mr. J. McNicols’ Rarakau, 9.7 (Gili) i Messrs. Hennessy and Brown’s The Author* 9.5 (Spinks) ... 2 Mr. J. C. Gerrand’s Rarangi, 9.5 (Savage) 3 Time, 2.9 1-5. Pekatahi, Tinokaha and Muscari were scratched, leaving a field of five, which was got away to a good start. The Author was the first to show up and was soon joined by Owen, iwho had drawn an outside position. These two led the field out of the straight, the rest of the field being bunched and close up. Owen soon dropped back, and Rarangi and Rarakau moved up along the back, the latter taking the lead at the turn. On pressure heing applied at the straight Rarakau responded in fine style, and, stalling off a determined challenge by The Author, won by a length, Rarangi being three lengths further back. PATETERE STAKES, of £l3, five furlongs. Red Day (Ferguson) 1 Joy Day (Burgess) 2 Eastbourne (Spinks) 3 Time, 1.5 1-5. j Seven horses, the biggest field of

the day, faced the starter, only Whawhainui being scratched. A very poor start resulted, Kineton, Waimarie and Valerie being left at the post to such an extent that they had no chance in the race. High Flight shot out in the lead and looked to have a good chance as the straight was entered. Eastbourne, Red Day and Joy Day, however, put in a determined challenge and gradually wore down High Flight’s big lead, Red Day proving the best stayer, to pass the post a popular winner by a lengtu, with a head between second and third.

COUNTY HANDICAP, of £2O, six furlongs. Muscari (Quin) ... 1 Roman Abbey (Spinks) 2 High Rose (Martin) 3

From a fair start the field quickly strung out with Roman Abbey in the lead, Muscari, High Rose and Rarangi following in that order. At the bend to the straight Muscari challenged, and running alongside, entered the straight with a slight lead. Roman Abbey failed to respond to pressure, and Muscari drew out to win by three lengths. High Rose was three-quarters of a length away third, and Rarakau was last. Rarangi, Master Lu, Cometary and Owen were scratched. FAREWELL HANDICAP, of £2O, one mile. The Author (Spinks) 1 Rarangi (Savage) 2 Master Lu (Martin) 3 Time, 1.44. Following a good start The Author rushed to the front at the back and gained a two-lengths’ lead, which he held to the straight. Rarangi could make no impression and the lead was increased to three lengths by the time the post was passed.. It is interesting to note that the winner of the Railway Handicap at the A.R.C. meeting on Boxing Day, Awarere, was bred by Mr. F. J. Marshall, of Morrinsville.