MASTERTON RACING CLUB.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9050, 27 March 1908, Page 5

MASTERTON RACING CLUB.

_« . ■ AUTUMN MEETING.. FIRST DAY. UNFAVOURABLE WEATHERCONDITIONS. CUP. WON BY CHATTERER.. Officers.—Patron, A. W. Cave;: President, C. F. Vallance; Vice-pres-idents, D. McLachlan, J. Macara, C. A. Pownali, A. G. Pilmer; Clerk: of scales, Fred. Hill; Timekeeper, W. D. Wason; Clerk of Course, C. J. Bennet; Treasurer, C. F. Vallance; Judge, W. H. Hartgill; Starter, A. C. McDonell; Honorary Surgeons, Dr. A. Hosking and Dr. P. R. Cook; Honorary Veterinary Surgeon, W. G. Taylor; Handicapper, J'.. H. Pollock; Secretary, A. Hathaway; Stewards, R. Buick D. Case! berg, O. C. Cooper, W. Cooper, J as.. Cress, J. lorns, W. lorns, W. Piatt,. A. Reside, C. H. Smith, W. D.. Watson and A. J. Welch; Auditors,, G. G. Cork and Geo. W. Sellar. The weather was very unsuitable for the first day of the autumn meeting of the Masterton Racing Club. The break-up of the drought is stillbeing signalised by the elements, and yesterday was probably the wettest day experienced since the rain came 'last week. The consequence was that the attendance was not. nearly so large as it otherwise would have been, though it was nevertheless very satisfactory. The course was very sloppy—in fact water lay everywhere, as heavy showe-s fell just prior to the first race commencing, and continued intermittently throughout the afternoon. However, the sport provided was without doubt of an exceptionally interesting nature, some splendid finishes being witnessed, and very fast times recorded considering the state of the track. Mr A. C. MacDonell, the Club's new starter, made a signal success of his initial efforts, and several of his starts were loudly cheered by the public. Numerous and important improvements have been made to the course since last meeting, and the extra accommodation provided for the secretarial staff, press and stewards, was found very acceptable indeed. The lawn has been greatly enlarged, and now includes the old outside stand, while a smaller structure has been erected as a stand for the convenience of outside patrons. This series of improvements was found very necessary even yesterday, when the crowd was not extra large, and especially so as the large number of bookmakers occupied a considerable space for their calling. The Club made a charge of £ls for the lawn and £7 10s for the outside enclosure for bookmakers, charging an additional 10s for a clerk. Eleven pencillers paid lawn fee, and seven for the outside privilege. The amount of business transacted by them appeared to be fairly large. The totalisator investments amounted to £3,964 as against £6,586 for Cup day last year—a decrease of £2,622. The races were got oft rather on the late side, and a very large crowd missed the last race train from the course. The road to Masterton was consequently lined with "sports" tramping home, cheerfully or otherwise, according, no , doubt, to their success. No spills were recorded, and the appointments were excellently attended to. Chatterer, a slim but speedy St. Andrew-Whisper mare, won the Waipipi Cup, vanquishing some redoubtable opponents, and G. Price managed his mount exceedingly well. The finish was very close, and the riders were roundly applauded as they returned to weigh in. The Hurdles only attracted fuur acceptors, and the driving rain made the race uninteresting until the finish, when a clinking run home ensued between Reservoir and Snip. Twelve starters faced the barrier in the Maiden which went to Kelso, one of the top-weights, who shaped very well in the mud, and was capably ridden by Galbraith. The Masterton Hack Handicap saw six mounts saddled up, and R. Hatch, ' getting out on Wailethe, ' was never in serious danger. The Telegraph Hack Handicap was a three-horse affair, in which Yosami had a very comfortable thing on, and Price again annexed the stake. The Brace'et was a grand spectacular race. There were ten starters, ridden by some of the best gentlemen riders in the Island. Anemone appeared to have the race well in hand a furlong from home, but Hyde, on Commander, rode with hands and feet to such effect that he fairly lifted his mount into first place by a very short heaJ. Sunbonnet. in the March Handicap, was a surprise packet, and the manner in which she finished up the seven furlongs sprint, lengths ahead of a crack like Full Rate, was a distinct credit to M. McGrath, her trainer. The Dash Handicap is easily described. Naumai, a remarkably nimble horse on his feet, shot half a chain ahead of the field at the start, and though challenged by Ikon and Consola'tion was never caught. HACK HURDLE HANDICAP, of 70 sovs; second horse 10 sovs, and third horse 5 aovs; 1$ mile. W. S. Davidson's ch g Reservoir, 6yrs, 10.7 (F. Jones) 1 R. Marshall's b g Snip, aged, 9.0 (T. Pritchard) 2 R. Knox's b g Royal Blue, aged, 10.7 (,C. Cress) e 3 Also started—Tilson 9.y (Galbraith). The race was run in driving rain. Snip got away well, and closely followed by the other horses led to the straight. Reservoir was not jumping clea ly at the outset, but in the end made up by pace, and a ding-dong finish saw him gain the judge's verdict by a short head. Royal Blue was close up. Time, 3min 29 3-ssec. MAIDEN HACK RACE (w.f.a.), of 50 sovs, second horse 10 sovs; 5 furlongs. A. Donald's ch g Kelso, syrs, - 8 11 (W. Galbraith) 1 C. F. Variance's b g Conquer, Syrs, 8.5 (S. Reid) 2 A. Peters' bg Vinco 3yrs 8.5 (R. Hatch) 3 Also started—Tainui (A-. Watson), Sandstone (W. H. McKay), 8.11; Knight Commander (J. Godfrey),

.Sealer (F, Langstone) Hinerangi, (A. Olliver), Iranui (W. Ryan), Epsom Downs (R. Cameron), 8.5; Roosevelt (H. Mallows), 7.2; Campaign (F. Cress), 6.13. Conquer was away first, closely followed by Kelso. The field was soon in a string, and as the straight was en- | .terecf the placed horses assumed their | positions, Kelso winning comfortably , without the whip, by a length and a ! half, a length separating second and third horses. Time, Imin sijsec. JMAS'JL'ERTON HACK HANDICAP, of 80 sovs, second horse 10 sovs, and third horse ssovs; 1 mile. j W. Hume's b m Wailethe, aged, 7.13 (R. Hatch) 1 J. Cress' bg Gaelic, syrs, 7.12 (C. Cress) 2 W. Hume's h g Strathcona, 6yrs (S. Reid) 3 Also started—Rangihaeta (W. H. McKay), 9.0; Nichevo (F. Cress), 7.7; Lochiela (T. Carroll), 7.2. Rangihaeta got the best of a slightly uneven start, and led until within a couple of furlongs from home, where Wailethe and Gaelic came through. The former here drew away and got home by a clear three lengths, about a length separating Gaelic and Strathcona. Time, Imin 52sec.

WAIPIPI CUP HANDICAP (open), of 200 sovs; second horse 20 sovs, third lOsovs; 1£ miles. J. Armstrong's br m Chatterer, aged, 7.4 (G.Price) 1 W. Piatt's b in Merrie Rose, syrs, 7.4 (F. Cress) 2 W Cragg's b g Aberration, 6ys, 7.8 (A. Olliver) 3 S. Messena's b g Waitapu, sys, 8.13 (W. H. McKay) 0 Cork and Hoffeins' b g Moloch, syrs, 8.5 (F. Langstone) 0 Ivan Thomas'b g Mataari, syrs, 8.5 (N. Williams) 0 J. Ctess' ch m San Julie, 4yrs, 8.7 (C. Cress) 0 W. Smart's ch m Tupono, syrs, 7.8 (R. Hatch) 0 D. Buick's b m Tangimoana, 4yrs, 9.0 (W. Young) 0 The start was delayed somewhat through a hole being discovered in the track just in front of the stand. The consequence was that several mounts became restless, but nevertheless an excellent start was eventually effected, eliciting loud applause. Tangimoana showed first to the front, but the field kept well together close behind. Waitapu fell back at the start, and came away again on the outside. At the straight Chatterer •was in the lead, with Merrie Rose and Waitapu close behind. The finish was very exciting, and resulted in a neck-and-neck race between the first and second horses. Aberration and Waitapu were locked together a length away. Time, 2min 15 4-ssec. TELEGRAPH HACK HANDICAP, of 70sovs; second horse lOsovs, and third Ssovs.; 6 furlongs. W. Davies* br m Yosami, 6yrs, 7.12 (G. Price) 1 H. Telford's b h First Mate, 3yrs, 7.7 (A. Olliver) 2 Hon. J. Carroll's b g Wharekura, 3yrs (W. Ryan) 3 Only starters. Yosami got the worst of the start, but soon overtook the others, and won very comfortably by three lengths. Time, Imin 19 1-5 sec. LADIES' BRACELET HANDICAP, of 50 sovs (open for hacks, gentlemen riders only); li miles. Mrs W. J. White's b g Command- I er, syrs, 11.2 (A. Hyde) 1 Miss Nixon's ch m Anemone, syrs, 10.13 (J. Moore) 2 Miss Beatson's b g Defeat, aged, * 10.11 (G. Beatson) 3 Also star ted—Killarney (Bignell) 11.7, Hinupai( C. F. Vallance) 11.2, Dulcinea (Evans) 11.0, Ancyle (A. Best) 10.11, Galahad 10.7, Arahura (F. Selby) 10.7, Grand Circle (G. A. Palmer) 10.7. Defeat and Ancyle got away together, the start being very uniform. Coming along the back Arahura assumed the lead, but was displaced by Anemone, who, accompanied by Defeat, led into the straight. Here Hyde brought his mount through at a rattling pace, and riding with good judgment won by a head. Defeat was close up. Time 2min 22 3-ssec. MARCH HANDICAP (open), of 100 sovs; second horse lOsovs, and third 5 sovs; 7 furlongs. W. Cooper's b m Sunbonnet, 6yrs, 7.9 £L. Wilson) 1 Geo. Forman's br g Full Rate, syrs. 9.0 (S. Reid) 2 J. Armstrong's br m Chicane, 4 yrs, 7.3 (G. Price) 3 Also started—Hiro (A. Olliver) 7.8, Sherlock Holmes (R. Hatch) 7.7, Waicola (W. H. McKay) 7.3, Platypus (F. Cress) 6.11, Scotch Reel (T. Carroll) 6.7, Elfrida (H. Mallows) 6.7. Waicola led from the rise of the tape, until the bend, where Sunbonnet came to the front, and won in a very easy fashion by three lengths. Chicane was a length and a half away. Time, Imin 33sec. DASH HACK HANDICAP, of 60 sovs;second horse 5 sovs; 5 furlongs. Wiri Pewene's br g Naumai, 3yrs, 9.0 (T. Pritchard) 1 A. F. Douglas' br f Ikon, 4yrs, 8.5 (A. Olliver) 2 W. E. Bidwill's ch m Consolation, 3yrs, 8.2 (S. Reid) 3 Also started—Yosami (G. Price) 7.8, Miss Peaty (F. Cress) 7.0. The winner got away off the mark, and won by a length, never being caught, though Consolation and Ikon were coming strongly at the finish. Time, Imin 4.4-ssec. TO-DAY'S ACCEPTANCES. Hack Hurdles, ij miles.—Reservoir 11.6, Roval Blue 10.9, Dulcinea 9.12, Commander 9.12, Tilson 9.7, Lady Adair 9.0. Opaki Hack Handicap, 7 furlongs. —Gaelic 9.0, Wailethe 8.11, Rangihaeta 8.9, Nitchevo 7.3, Kelso 7.0, Lochiela 7.0.

Autumn Handicap, 1 mile. —Waitapu 8.11, Tangimoana 8.9, San Julie 8.3, Chatterer 8.1, Aberration 7.11, Merrie Rose 7.9, Strathcona 7.0.

High-Weight Hack Handicap, 1 mile.—Anemone 11.7, Defeat 11.3, Arahura 10.7, Ancyle 10.7, Jet de More 10.7, Grand Circle 10.7, TrayJock 10.7.

Railway Hack Handicap, 6 furlongs.—lkon 8.9, Yosami 8.2, Hinupai 7.5, Blue Ribbon 7.0. Telephone Handicap, 6 furlongs.— Sunbonnet 9.0, Gawain 8.10, Chicane 8.2, Waicola 7.11, Merrie Zealand 7.11, Sherlock Holmes 7.10, Platypus 7.7, Valima 7.7, Thera 7.5, Elfrida 7.3.

Welter Handicap, 1 mile.—Gaelic 9.7, Wailethe 9.4, Defeat 8.3, Snip 7.10, Epsom Downs 7.7, Jet de More 7.7.

Final Hack Handicap, 5 furlongs. —Naumai 9.6, Ikon 8.9, Conquer 7.6, Vinco 7.3, Knight Commander 7.0, Hinarangi 7.0, Lady Lethe 7.0.