NOTES ON THE RACING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10602, 8 April 1912, Page 6

NOTES ON THE RACING.

In the Fnvt event the public would have nothing but Semaphore, a goodlooking filly by Signalman, from Hine-nui-te-po, with Distinction the ibast backed of the others. The public iseleotion proved correct, as they fin-is-lied in the order they were backed, ■after making all, the running the TreMtham filly winning somewhat easily, Distinction failing to see the distance out, . I Tonev, a -winner at Opaki; Svas Qieavily. backed - in tlie Te ' Whaka -Welter.,.-with . ■ 'G leu fern -and Elfish_ next .in,, demand. The favourite was turned out in great touckfo by H. Fktcher, and wen «i- 5 'lie liked from Mediterranean, who fciidiwl fas-t, and beat G-lenfern for second money. The big weight told oil Elfish, who ran a good race and finished just behind the placed horses. In the big rarce the public wont strongly for Sea Queen, which was somew-nat remarkable, considering she was one of the outsiders at Opaki a. week ago. Merrivraiia and Golden Loop were also well backed, but both went short in their preliminaries, and although Golden Loop ran well to the distance, lie did ljot .finish with any dash. Ariom carried the running to the straigM, where Sea Queen niicl Red Lupin moved uo, with Sinapis going welJ on the inside. In the run home Sea Queen held her own, and Siha'pis putting in a brilliant run, beat Red Lupin for second ,place. Ariom failed to run. on, but m,ust be v'.red:,ted for .the fast pace, the time (2min. 7f>ec.) being a record for the course. . '. In the Nursery Handicap, Peronwas favourite, with M't. Victoria and King's Fjrvourite well backed. From a straggling start, Mt. Victoria sbot to the front, and led King's Favourite and Peroneal bv sevarel lengths for the first two furlongs. In ■the run home King's Favourite was too good for the Signalman fillv, who 1 beat, Peroneal, for whom the fast pace set seemed too much with her 'big weight. Ait. Victoria was credited with a great gallop on the morning of the race, a"d was responsible 'for the splendid time put up. There, wa.s a surprise in store for backers in the Open Welter, in which ,San Pliiie, Negative and Kohinoor were all solidly backed. Overtime went to-the front early, and along the ■back was followed by Moil Ami, jvlio was clear cf Kohinoor and Negative. Overtime maintained his lead in the run home, but ■ had to be vigorously ridded to beat Mon Ami, who finished well, and looked. a.s if die just caught the Musketry gelding, tlie judge giving, the latter the decision by a narrow margin. Negative finished well, and got third place, but was on ■ the outside the whole way, or would have been, closer up ab" the finish. San Pluie, who seems to be always unlucky, was again unfortunate, as

her rider broke his stirrup leather, which settled her chance. The OVfahaki Hack Handicap, whioli ■promised to be one of the best races of tho day, was a complete fiasco. TJbere. was a good deal of trouble at ) the post, and eventually the cry went J up, "They're off," and it was seen that three horses were racing for the post. Amber and White was out by herself, followed by Foreshot, with Dogfish a chain or so away next, and in this order they with nine other competitors out of the race., The crowd were indignant, and rightly so ,and showed their feelings by (hboting and cheering alternately. When the starter returned he gave the race as a start, and the stewards had' no alternative but 'to pay out. What would have been the result had all left the mark together, is another story, which may. have some ligh<: thrown upon it by to-day's racing. The Wardell Hamdicap was a procession, Blue Lake winning from end to end, and was never asked to dr. her beet. There was a lot of trouble at the post. Longstep, Full Rate and Tigerine being very fractious. When the barrier did go up, Longstep wat completely left, taking no part in the race, and Tigerine also got away badly. Full Rate chased Blue Lake I for a furlong or two, but soon gave way to British Maid, who finiisliec! several lengths behind' the Royal Fusilier filly, who has won ea-;-h time she has visited Tauherenikau.