SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 186, 10 September 1909, Page 4

SPORTING.

NORTH TARAXAKI HUNT CLUB.

ANNUAL RACE MliETINti,

The North TaranuUi Hunt Club was repeeinlly favored yesterday in the matter of "weather for its second annual rac« meeting. The attendance was consequently large. The beautiful sunshine had seemed almost an impossibility the j previous day, whea a eold southerly made tile el nil's prospeeU look a little 1 "-blue." The club tras a sufferer by t!ii= yale, for it prevented the Rarawa arrivmj; at New Plymouth until after the meeting. The meeting was robbed of the presence of seven bookmakers and the chili of tlieir C> os fees. Five |ieneillers "laid the odds." The racing was excellent, and the exhibition of jumping far beyond anticipations. There were few spills, but in o;iu unfortunately J'. Sole received an injury which required medical attention. The non-ap-pearance of the ambulance at the time was the subject of comment, some people feeling that this very necessary equipment bad not been provided. The club had. of course, the usual ambulance there, but it wns not thought to be required. 'A word of praise is due to the secrelary. Mr. A. i'j. Humphries, and the starter. Mr. F. Watson. The Harrison Hand, under Conductor C. 11. Anderson, rendered a pleasing programme of music. The following are details of the rac- | TH'XTERS' FLAT RACE HANDICAP, j of 8 soys., a sweepstake of as each for slartere. For horses that have never won a rate on the flat. Hunters only. Minimum weight, list. One mile and a distance. Mr. W. Mclieth's b. g. Rocket, aged, 11.2 (E. Cordon) 1 Mr. Mcßae'?; eh. g. Nightgown, aged. 11.2 (h. 11. Wilson) .2 Mr. C. Matthew's eh. g. Drudgery, aged, 12.5 (11. D. Matthews) .'. 3 Also started: Cyrognc 11.9, Anecdote 11.3, Tarpot 11.0.

Scratched: Flying Cloud, Aratapu, Reynardeau, Ilapui, Gaiety Girl, Pewter, Brownie, and Lassie.

Anecdote had the best of the start, and passing the stand held a slight advantage from Drudgery, lying second on the rails, with Tarpot third. At the back the. field closed up and Rocket took the lead, Nightgown coming up third. Rounding the bend Drudgery, Nightgown. and Rocket were racing abreast, with the others close up. A splen-K linish saw Rocket with an advar.'ige of a neck from Nightgown, and Drudgery a nose away third. Time, 2min ISsec.

LICENSED VICTUALLERS' STEEPLECHASE HANDICAP, for trophies value 15 sovs.; the first horse to receive a trophy valued at 10 sovs., and the second horse a trophy valued at 5 sovs. (subscribed "by the Licensed Victuallers' Association), for qualified hunters, the property of members of a recognised hunt. Gentlemen riders; minimum weight list. About two

miles and a distance. Air. H. D. Matthews' ch. g. &ua, <iyr«, 12.0 (11. D. Matthews) .. 1 Air. B. 11. Chaacy's b. m. Star Lass, syrs., 11.2, including 21b over■weight (A. J. O'Driscoil) .. ..2 Air. J. Cole's br. g. Dougall, syrs, ll.ro (A. H. street) .. ..3 Also §tarted: Rapanui 12.3, TirTmoana 11.12, Rongonui 11.10, Utiku lljS. Scratched: Flying Scotchman, Kiri, TuTia, Red Hazard, and Alac. 'This was a splendil race. Star Lass went to the front a! a pig pace from the start, followed by Rua. At the hedge Tiriiuoana attempted to run ofT, and, striking the side Tail, came down ■with his rider and got away. At the first fence in tho straight Rua fell and threw his jockey, who, however, maintained his hold of the reins, and as the horse jumped to his feet he resumed his seat in the saddle. It was a wonderful recovery. At the double in front of the stand, several of the field baulked, and Rua, who naturally had lost a lot of ground, was soon running third U» Dougal. Star Lass held a substantial iead and was jumping all the fences like a deer. Rua passed Dougal and gradually wore down the distance from the leader. As Star Ijass and Rua entered the straight together. Clearing the last jump, Rua came away and won by a couple of lengths. Dougal was several lengths away third, and Rongonu' fourth. Rapanui finished fifth. It was a popular victory, and Rua's jockey had a great recoption on returning to the ' ird cage. Time, 4min 59 4-ssee. UPEX HACK HANDICAP, of 10 sovs.: a sweepstake of fe each for starters. Five furlongs. Mr. li. .1. Matthew's Dr. Shimose, dyrs, 0.2 (H. Matthews) .. .. 1 Air. J. George's br. g. Durability, 4 yrs. 0.") (E. George) .. ..2 Air. H. Eva's br. g. Highden, 6yrs, 5.7 (D. Cardie) U Also started: Sinn Fein 7.12, Overdraft 7.12. Whetu 7.13 1 /.. Scratched: Xey, Sylvan Park, Commonwealth. Stoker, St. Myrtle, Eureka. Durability was first to show out, and liWd the lead to the three-furlong post, when Dr. Shimose came up. Entering the straight they were cutting it out together and a keen struggle ended in Dr. Shimosp passing the post a head to the good, with lligliden close up third. Time, lmin 7 2-ssec.

LADIES' BRACELET HANDICAP, valued at 15 sovs., second hore to receive ±y.> «ovs from the stake; for

hunters only. Mrs. J. Wilkie's b.g. Cloudy Mora. aged. 12.3 (J. Wilkie) .. .1 Miss Al. Sole's br. g. Tokomaru, Gyrs, 11.10 (P. Sole) ~ Miss E. Abbott'* grey g. Flying Cloud, aged, 11.0 (F. lligginson) .. 3 Scratched: Dougal 11.8, Grey Star 11.5, Flying Scotchman 11.3, Star Lass 11.2, Kiri 11.2, Brenda 11.0, Oliver 11.0. Only startcre.

A capital race, which was more interesting than many races with four limes as many contestants. The proverbial blanket could have covered the field the whole way, although first one and then the other had a turn 171 the lead. The jumping throughout was splendid. tfhe three horses rose to the last hurdle almost simultaneously, hut Cloudy Morn drew away in the run home and wo*a by a length from Tokomnru, who was a similar distance ahead of Flying Cloud. Time. -Jmin IGsec.

CPFX HACK HANDICAP, of 15 sovs.; a sweepstake for second horse. Six furlongs.

Mr. R. J. Matthews' blk. h. Dr. ShiniMse, -iyrs, fUO. including 101b penally (11. -Matthews) 1 Mr. H. Eva's b. g. BiMuarclc. Ovrs. 7.11 (-T. Eva) .. .. 2 Mr. U. Jiarlow's b. g. Commonwealth,

Also started: Xcro 8.10., Sylvan Park B.IJ. Forward 7.12. Scratched:-Durabi-lity Dberdnti'i 7.7. St. Myrtle 7.3, Kurekn 7.5.

A capital race. Dr. Shftnosc's green jacket was soon seen away out h front, Commonwealth soon joining him, Bismarck 100k ihe l bird position early in the rii'-e. ;cacl the rest strung out. This order u:i- maintained a< (lie homes entered tin, >iiaight. Dr. Shiinose. was not being pressed. Matthews, contenting himself witb watching Commonwealth. Halfway up the straight Eva, who was riding his maiden race, moved Bismarck up smartly and headed the field. There was great excitement as he forged ahead, but lie hail put in his claim a little early and Matthews just had time to (shake up Dr. Shimose and pass the post a- wiir.H'r by a short neck. Commonwealth following a length behind Bismarck. Time. I min 23see.

I HUNT C'lX'lt STEEPLECHASE HANDICAP, of 20 «ovs., second horse to rc- [ ceive ■>>/., snvs. from tlip stakes; for i hunter* only; minimum weight, list. About two'miles anil a-lmlf. I .Mr. IJ. 1). Miit lhfws' eli. g. Una, (iyrs, 12.7, including 711) pen. (11. Matthews) ' ~ .. 1 Mr. -1. \\ ilkic's lt.«. Cloudy Morn, : 12.10. iiicluilhi" /Hi pon. (.1. Wilkie) .. .. ... 2 Mr. 0. E. Street's wrov Tu'Tmoaiia, aged, 11.12 ('II. Street) .. 3 1 Also started: Kapamii 12.1), Roiigomii 11.10. Scratched: Flying Scotchman, Kiri, Barney, Cyrnjpie, Bhie.v, Reynardcau, Red Hazard, Tew, Brownie. A splendid start was effected. After thfc first hurdle Cloudy Mom drew away, with Rapamii in dose attendance.

Along the buck the field strung out, the grey Rongomii soon being in trouble and toeing relegated to last place, from which he could not be moved. Coming round the bend Kua was brought to the fore, and Kapanui and Cloudy Morn filled scco nd and third places. The se'eond time along the back Run, still leading, smartened till! pace, liapanui, Cloudy Morn, Tirimoitnu and Kongonui following in that order. The same order was maintained at the bend, about six or eight length,s separating first and third horses, tl'heu the liehl closed np. The last hurdle on (he inner course brought Rongonni down, and Percy Sole, his" rider, was injured. The rest, uere racing now. Kapanni lost his rider at the last jump but one, which Rua and Cloudy Morn had taken almost together. A great, struggle in the straight resulted in a close victory for Rua. Tirinioana finished three chains later. Time, smin 42see.

HUNTERS' HANDICAP HURDLES, of losovs., second horse 222y 2 sovs. from the stakes. For hunters only; six flights of hurdles: minimum weight 10.7. One mile and a-half. Miss E. Abbott's grey g. Flying Cloud, aged, 11.10 (F. Tligginson).. 1 Mr. W. Mcßeath's b. h. Rocket, aged. 10.9 (A. Gordon) 2 Mr. J. Johnson's br. g. Mungo Park, aged. 10.12 (A. Crowjev) .. ..3

Also started: Drudgery 11.7. Noro 11.5, t'tiku 11.3. ToUomaru 11.3, Tarpot 10.7, Star Lass 10.7. Scratched: Artapoti, Klving Scotchman, Anecdote, Nightgown. Hnpui. Mr. Wat son sent the field away in capital line. Star Lass was soon out in front. Coming into the straight the ■leaders were Drudgery and Star Lass, ami Drudgery held the lead at the stand, with Star Lass Nero, and Flying Cloud racing in handy positions. Nero fell awav, and Flying Cloud took his place, soon tackling Starlaas at the back of the course, where Drudgery held a good lead. Cloudy Morn steadily improved his position. Mungo Park keeping him company. Drudgery was beaten before* the straight was readied, and living Cloud took command. Pocket beating Mungo Parle in the straight and making the finish interesting. Time, 3m in 13see.