PAHIATUA RACES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9043, 31 January 1908, Page 6

PAHIATUA RACES.

CONCLUDING DAY. (Special Reporter.) The annual meeting of the Pahiatua Racing Club was brought to a successful conclusion yesterday. Drizzling rain fell during the forenoon, but cleared off after the second race, and the remainder of the day was ideal for racing. Ihe attendance of the public was not quite so large as on the previous day. The track was in gcod order, and the racing was of a highly interesting character. Seven starters went out for fhe opening race—the Handicap Hack Hurdles, run over Ift mile, and Mt. Cook was a warm favourite, and he led until the straight was reached, when Pantaloon, who had moved into a handy position at the back, came very fast on the outside running, arid gained the victory with half a length togthe good. Platypus was made a hot favourite for the Stewards' Handicap, but she was only prominent for a short distance at the start. Golden Eagle had a lead of a clear length on entering the straight, and Gawain was on level terms with her in the straight, but she made a fine effort, and secured the victory by the narrow margin of a nose. The stewards held an inquiry into the running of Splendid Idea, who won on the first day. The owner's explanation of the horse's performance was not considered satisfactory by the Stewards, but no action was taken. All the acceptors went out to the post for the Newmarket Handicap. Axite, on the strength of his previous day's running, wa3 made a favourite. He justified the support pla°ed in him, as shorMy after the start he went to the front and was never troubled for the remainder of the journey. ! Out of a field of five Merrie Zealand was picked by the majority of investors to win the Makuri Hack, and this he did in fine style. The only other horse prominent throughout the journey was Greenleaf, who, in the early portion of the race, was to the front for nearly a furlong. Gaelic was the only withdrawal from the Racing Club Handicap. The favourite, Waipaku, made the running all the journey until the home turn, when Nova moved up, and after a slashing race down the straight beat Waipaku by a nose. King's Lynn was last all the way, and San Julie, who was well backed, was never prominent. Of the seven horses that saddled up for the Mangahao Welter, Mikotahi carried by far the bulk of the money, probably on account of his previous day's performance. He, however, did not live up to his reputation, as he was hopelessly in the rear all the distance. The winner, Nitchevo, was not prominent until uearing the home turn. Te Kuiti challenged her in the straight, but the chestnut mare just managed to get home. She was well ridden by F. Jones. The owner of Mikotahi, who had an easy win in the Welter Hack on the previous day, was called before the Stewards to explain the horse's running. A satisfactory explanation was given, and the Stewards decided to take no action. Very little description is needed for the Maiden Hack, which was won from start to finish by Blue Bell, with several lengths to spare. Rosegrove was installed favourite for the Grandstand Welter, but he could only manage to run into third place. Silver Shell was leading nearly all the journey, but Rangihaeta drew up to her in the straight, and won a good race by half a length. The amount put through the totalisator during the day was £6,085, as compared with £5,556 for the corresponding day last year, making a total of £12,706 against £11,529 put through at the last meeting—an increase of £1,177. Eleven bookmakers were licensed to bet on the inside enclosure and nine on the outside. The arrangements for the meeting were admirably, carried out by the Secretary (Mr G. L. Hawley Drew) and a large body of officials. The details are as follow: — HANDICAP HACK HURDLES, of 55 sovs; 1J mile. Mr F. King's blk g Pantaloon, by Martini - Enfield—Queensborough, aged, 11.13 (T. Pine) 1 Messrs McDonald and Piatt's br g Mt. Cook, 6yrs, 9.11 (J. Lyford) 2 Mrs J. McNicol's b m Papatawa, syrs, 11.6 (J. McConnell) 3 Also started—Royal Blue 11.2, Te Kainui 10.9, Dulcinea 10.7, Mnssen 9.3. Te Kainui went .to the front after a straggling start, but he was soon replaced Ly Royal Blue, who led to the top of the straight. Here Mt. Cook took charge, and led past the stand from Royal Blue and Papatawa. Along the back Papatawa moved up into second place, and nearing the home turn Pantaloon was lying third. In the run home the latter came very fast on the outside and won a good race from Mt. Cook by half a length. Papatawa was a bad third. Time, 2min 55 3-ssec. STEWARDS' HANDICAP (open), of 70 sovs; 6 furlongs. Mr A. Rhodes' b m Golden Eagle, by St. Clements—Raukau, 4yrs, 6.7. (H. Price) 1 Mr C. 11. Smith's ch g Gawain, aged, 8.8 (A. Watson) 2 Mr C. Kingstone's ch c Golden Gate, 4yrs, 7.G (E. Lowe) 3 Also started—Splendid Idea 9.6, Platypus 7.7. Platypus was the first (o show out, but his reign was shortlived. Golden Eagle was leading at the bend, and coming down the straight she stalled off a vigorous challenge by Gawain, and just won by a nose. Time,lmin 15sec. NEWMARKET HACK HANDICAP, of 50 sovs; 5 furlongs. Mr W. E. Grace's b g Axite, by Mauser—Capacine, 4yrs, 8.9 (T. Pritchard) 1 Mr G. Fairbrother's b c Seaton Dale, 3vrs, 7.11 (1.. Wilson) 2 Mr F. H. Lambert's b f Mips Vera, 3yrs, 8.7 (H. Telford) 3 Also started—llillspring 8.2, Oblivion 7.7, St. Ludlam 7.3. St. Ludlam showed up for a while at the start, but 4xite soon joined him. The latter took the lead, and was never headed, and won comfortably by about a length. Time, lmin 3 3-5 sec.

MAKURI HACK HANDICAP, of 50 sovs; 6 furlongs. i Mr J. S. Adams' br g Merrie Zealand, by Merrie England —Zealandia, syrs, 9.13 (T. Fritchard) 1 MrO. Edward's bm Bonnie Doon, syrs, 7.13 (E. Lowe) 2 Mr H. Hedge's ch g Diplomatic, 4yrs, 7.0 (R. Hatch) 3 Also started- Greenleaf 8.6, Ciarabelle 6.7. The field got away well together, Merrie Zealand going to the front at the end of a furlong. Greenleaf then moved up and assumed the lead, which she maintained till reaching the straight. Merrie Zealand came again in the straight, and won comfortably by several lengths. Time, lmin 10 3-ssec. RACING CLUB HANDICAP, of 115 sov3, 1 mile and a furlong. Mr A. Sand's b g Nova, by Stepniak —Fauna, syrs, 8.0 (L. Wilson) 1 Mr S. Messena's b m Waipaku, by Conqueror—Waipuna, 4yrs, 8.1 (W. H. McKay) 2 Mr W. Cragg's b g Aberration, by The Possible—Kie Kie, Gyi'3, 8.8 (F. Langstone) 3 Also starred—Aeolus 9.0, San Julie 8.11, King's Lynn 8.8, Loiret 8.4, Sandix 7.9. Aeolus and Waipaku were the first to show out, and passing the stand Waipaku led from Aeolus and Aberration. At the back Waipaku. was cleir of the others, but half a mile from home the field closed up. Waipaku was going strong at the turn into the straight, and Nova began to show up prominently. A great race ensued down the straight between Waipaku and Nova, the latter snatching the victory just on the post by a head. Aberration was half a length away third. Time, lmin 56 l-ssec. MANGAHAO WELTER HACK HANDICAP, of 55 sovs; 1 mile. Mr 0. A. Bunny's ch m Nitchevo, by Petroleum—Viola 11., oyrs, 8.3 (F. Jones) 1 Mr E. P. Syms's ch h Te Kuiti. syrs, 8.3 (F. Whitehouse) 2 Mr E. Kemp's br m Robin Lbtk, 4yrs, 8.5 (D. Kemp) 3 Also startd—Mikotahi 9.13, Anemone 8.9, St. Ludlam 8.4, Jet de More 8.0. Robin Link got well away at the start, and led the field for three-quarters of the distance. Along the back she was joined by Jet de More, and rearing the straight the colours uf Nitchevo began to show up. The latter went to the front at the turn, and T<3 Kuiti moved up fast. The field was well bunched in the straight, but by splendid horsemanship Jone3 got Nitchevo past the judge a neck in front of Te Kuiti. Time, lmin 40sec. MAIDEN HACK SCURRY, of 50 sovs; 5 furlongs. Messrs Gardner and Millen's b m Blue Bell, by Conqueror— Foulshot mare, 4yrs, 9.0 (W. Ryan) 1 Mr A. Peter's b g Vinco, 3yrs, 9.0 (T. Pritchard) 2 Mr J. Chisholm's br m Tainui, syrs, 9.0 (A. Watson) 3 Also started Kimmerjan 9.0. Blue Bell went out at the start, and was never headed, winning comfortably by several lengths. Time, lmin 44sec. GRANDSTAND WELTER HANDICAP (open), of 60 sovs; 1 mile. Mr W. Sklener's ch g Rangihaeta, by Rangipuhi—Tawera, syrs, 8.4 (W. 11. McKay) 1 Mr S. Pitt's b m Silver Shell, aged, 9.5 (R.Hatch) 2 Mr J. Hathaway's ch g Rosegrove, 6yrs, 9.0 (L. Wilson) 3 Also started —Aboriginal 9.5, Go 1 - den Gate 8.5, Scotch Reel 7.7. Silver Shell got well away at the start. Aboriginal got caught in the tapes, and was badly left. He, however, moved up at the back. Here Golden Gate had run into second place. Rangihaeta was not prominent until the home turn, where he headed Silver Shell, and won by about half a length. Time, lmin 43 4-ssec.