Sporting.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 2, 2 January 1914, Page 5

Sporting.

THE STRATFORD RACES.

CUP WON BY RED LUPIN.

SUCCESSFUL OPENING DAY

Officers.—President: A. W. Budge; vice-president, W. H. H. Young; stewards, A. VC Budge, W, J. Morrison, W. H. A. Young, S. Pitt, A. Stewart, jE. B. Stolv, J. B. Richards, G. Syrae, F Webb, Hugh Good, D. S. Glas-

gow, W. P. Kirkwood, D. J. Malone, J. F. Watson, F. P. Uniacke, S. M. Porritt, E. C. Robinson, H. E. Abraham, J. R. L. Stanford, and G. S. Hobbs; handicappar, J. E. Henrys; clerk of scale?, C. D. Sole; judge, J. R. L. Stanford; starter, T. Cameron; clerk of course, A. David; timekeeper, E. B. Stohr; hon, surgeon, Dr. T. L. Paget; hon. vet. surgeon, Mr E. Mason; hon. treasurer, S. Pitt; secretary, Alfred Coleman.

Yesterday the Stratford Racing Club held a very successful day’s opening meeting. The weather was beautifully fine and there was not a cloud in the sky. The attendance was increasingly large compared to previous gatherings, while the totalisator investments amounted to £15,928, an increase of £5021 over the first day last year. The proceedings passed off without a hitch, and the Club is to be congratulated on its management. Mr A. Coleman, as head of the secretarial department, was correct, concise and considerate as possible, as well as congenial in so doing. The starting by Mr T. Cameron, of Rangitikei, upon whom the Club placed the responsibility at the last moment, so to speak, claimed undivided congratulation. It was a fact there was not even an indifferent start all day, which consummation racegoers know quite well puts everybody on the best of terms I right away. The more material com- | forts of the day were catered for by I Mrs Brooking, who held all the lun-j-cheon and eating house rights on the {ground, and who provided, in partieujlar, a luncheon beyond reproach for the occasion. Mr Mitchell, of Haw era, 'did good business in the liquor booths (The crowd was orderly and sober, I which might mean anything or nothing germaine to the case. Cases of | attempted and even successful pocketpicking were recorded, and in this connection somewhat of a sensation was caused at the close of the day by the arrest of a man on alleged theft. The Xlth Regiment band rendered selections during the day, their excellent playing being commented on on all sides.

Mr J. Henrys’ Chadwick’s handicapping in producing such a number of exciting finishes were highly commented upon.

NOTES ON THE RACING. Proceedings opened with the Tariki Welter, of seven furlongs, in which a | field of nine faced the barrier. Wild | Lupin was made a hot favorite and I justified his selection, winning comfortably by a length in the decent time lof Imin 30sec, carrying 9.1 U. Three ) chestnuts filled the places. The start jwas a good one, Sylvan Bale showing |up momentarily in front, but Sweet (Van, Glen Tullock, Pikitaepa and Florjist were leading when a furlong had I been left behind. Along the back | the order was unchanged, with Minora j well back in the rear. Wild Lupin j was first into the straight, Sweet Van I next, and in a good finish held a I length advantage at the post, three lengths scpaiating Sweet Van and Florist. Glen Tullock was fourth. The winner was trained by P. Coffey. The Borough Stakes of furlongs, produced the thumping field of eighteen, who caused a deal, of delay at the harrier. praefectus broke the line I once, but eventually the lot got well away. Praefectus and Lady Ami showed up first, and were immediately joined by Dr. Paget’s representative, the fashionably bred Carloman, Charlemagne ll.—Ambush. Half way home the order was Praefectus, Carloman, Lady Ami. Carloman ran wide entering the straight and Lady Ami led, Praefectus dropping hack. A fine race up the straight saw Lady Ami win by half a length, a length separating Carloman from Patronata. The winner, who was trained by If. Barlow, was first favorite.

The big money of the meeting, the Stratford Cup, of 200sovs., really needs little description, as it was practically a one-horse race. lied Lupin, Mr S. Pitt’s aged bay gelding (Lupin—Porangi) -made the running

| from the jump out, and won by three lengths, cutting out the mile and a- ■ quarter in 2min 12 2-ssecs. Draft was first out with Red Lupin, and j passing the stand the first time the (order was Reel Lupin, Draft, Aruake, with Invader whipping in. Along the back Red Lupin was three lengths in front of Draft, with Styrax, Aruake, and Tetikura close handy. At the gate Styrax was half a length behind Red Lupin, Aruake a length away and Manawakaha moving up. Here White Crane dived up from the rear. Styrax raced up the straight in pursuit of Red Lupin and beat Tetikura by a length for second place, Invader being fourth. Manawakaha and Draft were last. The favorite, White Crane, was never prominent, nor did the second fancy, Manawakaha, flatter his backers. Red Lupin was eighth in order of favoritism and returned a two-figure dividend. Styrax was sixth and Tetikura third favorites respectively. The sum of £2431 was invested on the machine. .

The Midhirst Hack Handicap, of 30 sovs one mile and 110yds., was com-

peted for by six “noddies,” of whom 1 Rewi Poto was most fancied by th® public. From the barrier Patronymic led from Patroness and Crawford, in which order the field ran to th® straight, where Crawford held pride of place from Patroness, Patronymic and Rewi Poto. Here Henderson, on tho last named, settled down to business and brought the black son of Mania* poto—The Boyne cleverly to the front and won nicely by two lengths from Patroness, who was half a length in front of Crawford. The time taken was train 50 4-osec. Patroness was third favorite. The winner was trained by R. Johnson. ,

The scratching pen made rather a mess of the Ohura Hurdle Hack Handicap, of lOOsovs., one mile and a-half, four competitors being left in out of ten acceptors. Timothy (11.9), iKurualpi (10.13), Muleteer (9.13), and Tirohanga (9.4) jumped off well in line from a beautiful start, Muleteer showing out first. Tirohanga was last over the first jump, and for a time the field simply cantered. The pace improved going round the back, the order being Kurualpi, Timothy, Tirohanga and Muleteer. Timothy’s fine jumping gave the impression that he would land in the lead at the last fence, but Kurnalpi won comfortably by three lengths, Tirohanga being a length and a half behind Timothy. The winner was trained by P. Coffey, and was the public fancy for the race. The time taken for the journey was 2rain 55secs. An inquiry was held into the running of Timothy, and the jockey’s explanation was deemed satisfactory.

1 In the Farmers’ Plate, of oOsovs., | one mile and 110yds., eight gentlemen j riders displayed their prowess in the I saddle. .Mahlstock was best backed ion the machine, Royal Loop being next fancied, with John Willie and Ambassado having a big folowing. Royal Loop was fractious at the start, breaking the tapes twice before the crowd got away to, a capital start. Mahlstock was first out, but was displaced by Mill banks by the time the stand was reached. Then the order was IMilbanks, Warea, Mahlstock, Roy. al Loop, the others bunched. Going along the back, Warea moved up to the leader, and there was a general impression that Millbanks must come back to the field, hut in a ding-dong finish he held a length advantage from John Willie, who with Ambassado cut out Warea in the straight. Ambassado’ failed to reach within half a length of John Willie. Warea was fourth and Patronise last. The winner was trained and ridden by the owner, Mr J. Wade, who received a popular ovation on returning to scale. A trophy valued at £o goes to the rider of the winner, and was duly presented in front of the grandstand hy Mrs A. W. Budge, ! wife of the Club’s popular ■ president. The Flying Handicap, of ToOsovs., six furlongs, was a fine race' between six well-known performers—Sxliilax) Astor, Simple Sam, Rector Girl, Boronia and Bradamante. From a good start Boronia showed up first, but there was little to choose for position between the Merriwee mare, Astor and Conney, the last named being third after a furlong had been covered. Simple Sam had a break on the field at half-way, and his nearest attendants were Rector Girl and Astor. Astor had a nice berth next the rails for the greater part of the journey, and a capital race down the straight saw the Coronet—Clompett gelding pass the post half a length in front of Bradamante, who with Smiiax came fast from the distance. Smiiax was beaten out of second place by a length. Rector Girl was fourth, Simple Sam fifth, and Boronia last. The winner was second favorite, pride of place on the machine being held by Smiiax, upon whose running the stewards held an inquiry, with the result that McCarten was fined £5 for careless horsemanship. Astor was trained by hexowner, C. Jackson.

The day’s programme closed with the Railway Handicap, of 90sovs., six furlongs, for which eight saddled up. Lord Lupin was a red hot favorite, more so, probably, for the reason that three Lupins figured in the winning places in the front three events, about half the number of tickets on the machine being on Gerberga. while Manaiaroa was a slightly better favorite than the daughter of Charlemagne ll—Annabel. A good deal of time was wasted at the post, the chief delinquent being Gerberga. However, a splendid start eventuated, much to the delight of the many friends of the Rangitikei sportsman and starter, Mr T. Cameron, who had during the afternoon not laid himself open to the slightest reason for complaint in his duties. When the barrier rose Lord Lupin was first out, [with Gerberga and Conney (carrying a lot of money on the machine) lying close. Lord Lupin had the inside running, and it looked as if he would b© hard to beat. Gerberga and Patroon were his nearest competitors on entering the straight. The former got the judge’s verdict by a bead, although it was stated in other places not in as good a position to judge that Lord Lupin was not beaten. This just goes to show what a close thing it was. Manaiaroa.who got rather badly left at the post, made a fine run into third place, and with anything like a square deal at the start must have got further into the stakes. The winner was trained by R. Barlow and returned a fair price. Mr Pitt’s win in the Cup was particularly interesting. Since Master Tupuhi won the same event last year this sportsman’s colors black, white sash gold cap) have hot caught the judge’s eye. Fnder the circumstances Mr Pitt’s win was received with many congratulations.

j The investments on the various j events were as follows:—Tariki Welter, £1335; Borough Stakes, £1771; Cup, £2431; Midhirst Hack, £2021; Ohnra Hurdles, £1591; Farmers’ Plate, i£1907; The Flying, £2371; Railway, £2501. Details of the various events will be found on page 2.