THE MASTERTON MEETING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 October 1938, Page 9

THE MASTERTON MEETING

RACING 25 YEARS AGO. SOME INTERESTING RECOLLECTIONS. (By “The Administrator.”) The old-established Masterton Racing Cluo is unfortunate in having to miss racing on a Saturday, which day has been found to draw the largest attendances, and, consequently, produce the best financial result. However, if the committees of the two political parties of the Masterton and Wairarapa electorates elected to meet all district representatives at the races —on the eve of the election —the club would receive the advantage of the increased attendance, the delegates would enjoy a day’s sport, and also be able to finalise all plans for the campaign on election day! A reference to the results of the races just 25 years ago, the year of the big strike, is of particular interest. On that race day the weather was showery but a good turnover was recorded on the totalisator (£14,101). Although Sasanoff once ran unplaced in a sprint event at Opaki, and went on to Riccarton to win the New Zealand Cup, the' Masterton meeting has at times given an indication of the form for the big Riccarton event and the races at Trentham. In the year under notice the chief race was the Spring Handicap of £175 and Expect 8.8 (by Advance) won, the time for the miles being 2.10 2-5. Sinapis (8.5), beaten by half a length, was second. There were 10 starters, including Sir Soli, Byron, Leonta and Lady Moutoa. Sinapis was not a very big mare but a beautiful compact piece of horseflesh, and her connections, it is very apparent, accepted the race as a good enough public trial for her Cup engagements at the C.J.C. Spring meeting, as she was not raced at Trentham. The mare was trained at Tauherenikau by the late Harry Fletcher and could not, owing to the strike, be shipped for Lyttelton until the Friday night before the race. It is evident that the trip south did not upset Sinapis in any way, as she galloped home in the New Zealand Cup with a margin of three and a half lengths, carrying 7.5 and running the two miles in the good time of 3.26 4-ssec. Sinapis must have impressed the handicapper as she was bumped up to 9.0 in the Fendalton Handicap on the last day, and this very effectively stopped her. Expect went on to Trentham from Opaki and carried 8.8, running second to Ladoza (6.11) in the Pearce Handicap. Guiding Way (8.6) won the Trial Stakes at Opaki in 1.4, and on the second day at Trentham carried 6.13 in the Tararua Handicap run in 1.43?. Guiding Way went on to win races at Woodville and Rangitikei, and finished up the season by winning the Easter Handicap at Feilding, Expect won the Liverpool Handicap of £4OO at Manawatu, the Marton Cup of £5OO, the Stewards’ Handicap at Wanganui of £2OO, finishing the season by winning the Burke Memorial (£400) at Hastings under 9.2. Sinapis was always hampered when she got up in the handicaps, but she won the Tauherenikau Handicap of £250 at the Wairarapa Racing Club summer meeting under 8.10, and the Racing Club Handicap of £6OO under 8.4 at Trentham, beating the best horses in the country. The instances given clearly show that horses racing at Opaki 25 years ago were quite capable of winning on metropolitan courses in any part of the Dominion. The name of the principal event on Wednesday has been changed to the Masterton Handicap, and the distance is now only one mile. There are 9 acceptors for the race.