SPORTING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 85, 16 March 1916, Page 5

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. March 16, 17.—Masterton R.O. Autumn. March 17.—Opunake R.C., Annual. March 22, 23.—Rangitikei R.O. Annual. March 29. —Pahiatua R.C. Annual. April 6, S— Wellington R.C. Autumn. '-J ,k- A-’-; : ._ii -J®

OPUNAKE RACES. (Notes by “Cicero. Stratford promises to be well represented at the annual fixture of the Opunake Racing Club which takes place to-morrow. With the exception of the Flying and Opunake Handicaps (in which events five only accepted) good fields will face the starter, and a capital day’s sport should eventuate. The good crowd of fourteen figure on the card for the Maiden Plate. Sized up, the aspirants are a “rough” lot. Henry Clay is well seasoned and should start favorite. Nine accepted for the Hurdles and an even lot they appear. Nita is i well forward, and showed fair form at New Plymouth last month. Of the five who remain in the Flying Handicap, Veto should start a good favorite. The s Club deserved a. better response from owners for their Cup, a handicap which carries a stake of £l5O. Analogue will 'touch a very short, price,. apd is consided useful by those who profess to kriow. 'A large'field will line up for the.. Electric. Roderick and Silver Web claim supporters. The .Welter is considered by raanyyla# a good thing for Calais, but if reserved Maid O’ Gowrie, will surely give the Waverley horse a good race. If started Analogue must again command a large following for the President’s Handicap. In his absence Sylvan Dale is entitled to respect. The Farewell Handicap will find punters /‘going for evens;” Possibly Coropet and Antwerp will carry the bulk of the bullion.

■|i. : |' ps j-'i A ' (“The DreaW’fl M ’ tie'igOpkinake i V |i ~1 had | trie* to jraeft into .Dreamland, or'] that oOt jlwhero I they dream about ricjihorscK- a:|d see them winning faces/'and, after jmany succeeded. dreafejt I was j!ip .the Pihama grand; looked down upon the ‘ cfjbwd. .The- band 'did play and; everyone Iqoked. gay. Then a shoitfj “they're orf” . and the field in the Maidem-aas the names of Mahlstick,-’ Leah Kleshna, jam! Henry Clay I heard. “No,” 'shouted a Maori, it is not Clay or mud on the board, it’s -Fleckels (or Freckles), rjOh, v the Maori shouted the'hkme so. cleai'-J-Tirohanga in the Hurdle race—that he drowned all opposition,,. huh j I could see berg and Vestalis racing close together at the last hurdles, but I don’t know how they finished as the , r Maoris drew my attention to their isator bell rang off, and Zion, Veto and Antwerp qapie. racing down, the. straight in the Flying Handicap,. .There was a little more hobnobbing ‘ and band playing, and the horses were out for the Cup. The people seemed to he very much interested as all the horses were good gallopers. The people sang I thought “Tho Bowrie,” but I afterwards found it • was “Maid o’Gowrie.” My own impression was that it was Sylvandale, as Isaw the chestnut" color leading. Oh. who could tell in the crowd that started in the Electric. All I know was • that Royal Divorce, Flying Camp, and Silver Webb were racing a great finish. In the Welter, Captain Miro, Mahlstick and Calais finished a great termination—the best of the day. Who could wish for bet'ter racing I heard several say, and .who would have thought that Sylvandale would beat Henry Clay in the ! mile. Analogue was not expected by ‘the crowd to run so well, judging by the surprise talk of those around me. 'Owing to the cold I awakened’ami found I was leaning over the iron 'rails of the bedstead and consequently I did not see the last; race; run. Blow it!