RACING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9579, 27 August 1909, Page 5

RACING.

WAIRARAPA HUNT CLUB.

STEEPLECHASE MEETING.

(By "Zetland"). The weather conditions yesterday were all that could be desired for the meeting, consequently the attendance was larger than that of last year The Clareville course was in capital order, and the racing most interesting throughout. Mr N. H. James, the Secretary, Mr J. B. Bairstow, carried out their duties in a very capable manner, and the stewards and officials executed their allotted dutiesjnethodically. Fifteen bookmakers were in attendance, and business with them was brisk during the afternoon.

Racing openedjwith the Hunters' Hurdles. Sir Lethe, who is trained by J.Russell, £t'J ; nil 1 (if i; y spreadeagled his field, £and won very easily by a big margin. For the Flat Race thirteen went to the post. Lucretius was made favourite, but Merrie Land was a! a short price also. From the start the latter'took up the running, and without being fully extended won a nice race from No Trumps and Merrie Christmas. Seven were saddled up for the Hunt Steeplechase. Laddie carried on the running for a time but fell, and Firestick took the mile from home Retinue got to the front, and staying well scored comfortably from Hill Lass, with Firestick thjrd. The Hack Handicap, of seven furlongs, brought out nine candidates. Merria Land and Splash were beat backed, and the first-named getting to the front quickly was never caught. He is owned and trained by the veteran sportsman, Mr Thomas Ray, and the Merrie England gelding's victories were very popular. Then came the Taratahi Steeplechase, three miles. Naturally Sir Lethe was the popular fancy, and from flag fall he was well out in front, eventually winning by twelve lengths from Kuranui. In the second round he appeared to go inside a flag, and on the horses returning to scale, Mr R. Cooper,owner of Kuranui, entered a 1 protest. Apparently no conclusive evidence was adduced relative to the running inside the flag, but nevertheless many of the public were surprised to. hear the Stewards had dismissed the protest. Skye lad for nearly six furlongs in the Ladies' Bracelet, and then Night Light raced (o tha front, and galloping in great style scored by several lengths. The Final Steeplechase, of iw„o miles, brought the racing to a ci,se. Black Angel was well out in front fur a mile, and then took the wrong course. Wild Oats was left in the lead, and never left the issue in doubt, winning decisively from Kuranui.

The Hunt Club will come out of the meeting well financially, and as the fixture is growing in favour with the public year by year greater successes should be recorded.

Hunters' Hurdles, of £10;. l£ mile. J. Russell's b g Sir Lethe, 11.0, Lethe—Master Agnes mare R. McDougall 1 A. McDonald's gg Indian Mutiny, G. Mains 2 J. Phillips' b g Retinue, 21.10, F. Secombe 3 Clovial. 12.0, W, Hercock; Jet de More 11.5, R. Shaw; Maringa 11.5, EI. Russell; Hill Lass 11.0. H. Crawford, also started. Maringa and Sir Lithe w ere together fiver the firs fence, and the 'latter ithen went to the front. He soun had a good lead aud easily holding his own won by about |jten lengths. Indian Mutiny beat Retinue for second place in the last hundred yards. Time, 3min. Handicap Plat, of £10; about 5 furlongs. - T. Ray's br g Merrie Land syrs, 9.0, Merrie England Nai Nai, T. Pritchard 1 D. Donald's b m N6 Trumps, 9.12, F. Crefs / 2 H. Hodge's br Merrie Christmas, 9.12. R. Hatch 3

Matira 10.0, C. Cress; Lucretius A, Watson; Golden' Rein 9.5, A. Godfrey; Coronella 910, W. Bennett; Fi Fi 9.0", Stan, Reid; Nisoh 9.0, Lyford; irranzislca 9.0, H. Crawford; Te Rena 9.G„ K. McDougall; Musketeer 9.0, B 4 lieardon; Skye. 9.0, N. Williams, alao £an. Fiona a good despatch Merrie LaAd and Lucretius were first out, and carried on the running [£ r two furlongs. y "Merrie Land led the way into the straight, and won by two lengths, Time, lrnin 7see.

Wairarapa Hunt Club Steeplechase, of £10; about,2J miles. J. Phillips' b g Retinue, 6yrs, 11.2, Bonnie Scotland — Whiro, G. Main 1 L. J. Hay ward's b m Hill vY. H. iinick's blk g Firestick, 10.10, [J. t\elch 3 Moonlight 10.12, Westmoreland; Laddie 10.7,-W. L *tt; Tui, I<'.7, W. V rnon; Kildoan 10.7, R. McDougall, ran. Hill Lass was frat to show . ut, <"!k1 led to the firs I; juvrip, attendr\:l cy Laddie and K'etinue. 'Laddie |cd round to the roudV,; turn, where .U/.J fell, and y/as out in m u:o (Sr sij.\ 2 then 'iiii'; an! half-::-rnile ,lYc.-m h i hi ; n sr.;si; ..ttin 'ants iwera Hill lust and Firsstick. Finiah.in x w 1: iu t: ti3 vvp!) by three .e ii.iic. f> n;n •U'di":.

Hack Handicap, of £2O; 7 furlongs. T. Ray's br g Merrie Land, 5 yrSj 9.10, Merrie England —Nai Nai, T. Pritchard I R. Knox's b m Lucretius, 6 yrs, 9.11, A. Watson 2 A. G Pilmer's b g Sealer, 9.12, C- Cress 3 Splash 10.5, R. Hatch; No Trumps 9.10, F. Cress; Royal Maid 9:10, A. Godfrey; Swallow, 9.5, Hibbard; Grand Myrella 9.0, H. Crawford, also started. Merrie Land led from' the sUrt and won by six lengths from Lucretius, with Sealer two lengths away third. Time, lmin 37 l-ssec„ Taratahi Steeplechase, of £2O; about 3 miles. J. Russell's b g Sir Lethe, aged, 11.0, Lethe—Master Agnes mard, R, McDaugai 1 R. Cooper's b g Kuranui, aged, 12.5, H. Welch ,• 2 A. Morrison's c m Jess, 6yrs,

Westmoreland 11.0 3 Lord Ullin 12.0, A. Egan; Wild -Oats, 11.10, G. Main, also ran. Sir Lethe, who was favourite, was in | front all the way, and passed the post a dozen lengths to the good, Kuranui being next, and Jess a poor third. A protest was entered against Sir Lethe, it being alleged that he ran< inside a flag opposite the stand, and* after consideration the stewards dismissed it. Time, 6min 21sec. Ladies' Bracelet, 1£ miles. Mrs A. Reside's c g Night Light, 11.0, Sou'-wester, A. Kennedy 1 Miss Hercock's br m Clovial, 12,7, W. Hercock 2 Miss E. bale's b m Hill Lass, 11 0, L. J. Hayward 3 Matengatenga 11.7, A. G. Pilmer; Haka 11.0, H. Welch; Skye 11.0, Cadwallader, also ran. Skye led for half a mile, when Night Light deposed her, and clearing away from the field won by six lengths. Time, Final Steeplechase, of £ls; about 2 mites. P. Girdwood's b g Wild Oats, aged, 11.12, Papakura ~ Forerunner mare, G. Main 1 R. Cooper's b g Kuranui, aged; 12.7, H. Welch 2 K. Morrison's blk m 11.5* Westmoreland 3 Indian Mutiny 12.7, N. Douglas; Lord Ullin 12.2, A. Kennedy; Black Angel 11.7, H. Russell; Dear Dol'y 11.0, W. Vernon, also started. Black Angel had a good lead for a mile, when she took the wrong course and Wild Oats then went to the front and easily holding his own won by two lengths from Kuranui. Time, 4min 23sec.