RACING IN 1887

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 December 1939, Page 15 (Supplement)

RACING IN 1887

MASTERTON-OPAKI JOCKEY CLUB. SUMMER MEETING—FIRST DAY. President, Mr T. E. Chamberlain; hon. treasurer, Mr A. Elkins; judge, Mr A. W. Cave; starter. Mr T. Parsons; handicapper, Mr J. O. Evett; stewards, Messrs J. Ross, Wm. Lowes, W. B. Buick, R. R. Welch. J. C. Vallance, E. Chamberlain, and G. H. Yates; clerk of scales, Mr J. Harding; clerk of course, Mr W. lorns; timekeeper, Mr James Muir. Although the weather was simply abominable; between six and seven hundred persons were present on the Opaki Course yesterday (Monday) among the heavy wind and occasional showers made things very uncomfortable for pleasure seekers and raised a doubt as to whether the races could be held under such circumstances. As the day wore on old Sol got the best of the contest and beyond the unpleasantness of the wind there was not much to complain of. A fair percentage of the spectators took advantage of the railway, as a means of reaching the course, there being very few buggies and horsemen present. Mrs Wagg and Mr. Cranmer, Featherston, had charge of the alcoholic dispensaries, which, owing to the amount of dust that impregnated everything, were liberally patronised by the dusty-throated sportsmen. Mr A. L. Whyte (Carterton) "provided the hungry with good things" none being “sent empty away” from his wonted well supplied department. There were a few games for the lesser speculators, the enterprising lessees of the “stands” finding numerous'soft investors of the “Colonial Robert” on the 50 to 1 chance of getting their money back. One individual with a “monkey- up a stick” drove a roaring trade among the “soft-uns” the most peculiar part of the arrangement was that one speculator managed to win, or rather to get five out of six pools, and still the others continued to play against such luck. Mr Pearson’s private band made things a bit pleasant during the waits, the music dispensed having a very soothing influence upon the crowd, who, were so quiet and orderly that Sergeant Price and his "boys in blue" had nothing to do but to enjoy themselves.

The racing throughout was verj good, and not an accident or inciden' occurred to mar the day’s proceedings In The Derby, Orator had it all hi: own way when it came to racing, anc won pretty esasily. Minnie Palmei was greatly fancied for this event, bul owing to an accident she did not go tc the post in anything like fettle, anc was consequently never dangerous during the race. In the Member’s Hack race the ‘’Tattlers” again proved themselves goers. Mr Shaw’s Miss Sykes, by Tattler-Mischief, winning, after one of the best struggles witnessed on the course.

The Opaki Stakes Handicap was won by the game little Smooth, who kept the pace up from start to finish, completely wearing out such . stayers as Administrator, Rumour, and winning hard-held in the fast time of 2min. 42 3-ssecs—a very creditable performance. The Maiden Hack race was won by Killarney, who surprised every one by beating such a formidable opponent as Spear, a son of the noted Rama Rama. Owing to the bad starting, What would have otherwise ' had been the most interesting race of the day, was spoiled viz., the Champagne Stakes. Boaz won, because he got such a decided advantage when the flag fell, but there would doubtless have been other colours to the front if there had been a different start. The Ladies' Bracelet produced another bad start, but on this occasion the first away did not catch the judge’s eye, as Buick’s Mariner came very fast at the finish and won after an interesting struggle, by a neck. The last race of the day—The Railway Plate —was the best of the Jot. Five flyers faced the starter and were dispatched to a capital start. They hung together the whole distance, not half a length separating the first, four during any part of the race, and after a most desperate and exciting contest down the straight they finished in a bunch, Little Scrub being adjudged the winner by about half a head, the same distance separating the other three. Mr H. Lyons worked his totalisator in the saddling paddock and put through £1239, some very respectable dividends being paid.