SUCCESSFUL OPENING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 October 1940, Page 6

SUCCESSFUL OPENING

MASTERTON RACE MEETING BIG CROWD AT OPAKI YESTERDAY. INCREASE IN TOTALISATOR FIGURES.

Although rain was threatening in the latter part of the day, the weather was fine for the opening day of the spring meeting of the Masterton Racing Club held at' the Opaki Racecourse yester-' day. A high standard of racing was set and many exciting finishes were witnessed. The main event on the card, the Masterton Handicap, was won in a convincing manner by Lambourn. The track was in capital order and showed no sign of cutting up. After the finish of the Maiden Stakes an enquiry was held concerning interference with Happy Ending. The trouble was proved to have been caused by Batsman, but the stewards accepted the explanation of the rider, R. E. Hawes, that he had done all he could to prevent his mount hanging in. The totalisator figures, under the win and place betting system, reached £lO,274 compared with £7,542 10s last year when the single pool system operated, an increase of £2,371 10s. There was a record attendance for the first day and indications are for another good day on Saturday. Results, additional to those published yesterday, are as follow: —

NURSERY HANDICAP, of £65; winner to receive £5O, second horse £lO, and third horse £5. Four furlongs. 2/2 Mr H. McManaway’s Soutane, car. 7.8 (W. J. Mudford) 1 1/1 Mr M. J. Lane’s Erin’s Court, 7.8 (B. H. Morris) 2 6/4 Mr J. C. Kennedy’s Dungloe, 7.8 (S. Waddell) 3 Also started: 8/8 Drake’s Drum; 10/9 Saka Bona; 5/5 Corn Prince; 11/11 Miner’s Hope; 13/15 Lord Defoe; 9/10 Nisus; 7/7 Gunyah; 3/3 The Whipper; 15/16 Lady Boswell; 4/6 Merry Fox; 12/14 Transfusion; 16/13 Olein; 14/12 Bunsby Belle. Won by one length and a half; half. Gunyah was fourth. Time, 48 4-5. In the outside positions at the post, Soutane and Erin’s Court raced away from the start for Soutane to win all the way. Erin’s Court, although running at top speed, was unable to catch the fleety Soutane? Dungloe and Gunyah finished strongly in third and fourth positions respectively. Lady Boswell, Corn Prince and Miner’s Hope were close at hand. The race did not produce form out of the ordinary, the winner still having plenty in hand. GRANDSTAND HANDICAP, of £100; winner to receive £75, second horse £l5, and third horse £lO. Six furlongs. 2/T Messrs B. and S. Nausbaum’s Nigger Boy, 8.10 (G. R. Tattersal) 1 3/3 Messrs A. G. and W. R. Stead’s Vascones, 7.10 (R. Marsh) 2 4/4 Mr J. Jameson’s White Rajah, car. 7.7 - (A. Midwood) 3 Also started: 1/2 Duncannon; 5/5 Bronwen; 6/6 Endorsement. Won by three lengths; one and a half. Endorsement was fourth. Time, 1.14. Nigger Boy romped home and was never troubled throughout the race to score his third successive win in four starts since racing in the North Island. He was well supported on the totalisator. Nigger Boy was held in behind Vascones and Bronwen until the straight was reached, when he was allowed his head after which he just strode home. Vascones filled second place from White. Rajah and Endorsement headed off Bronwen for fourth place. Bronwen finished easily. The favoured Duncannon tailed the field all the way owing to his saddle having slipped.

LAWN HANDICAP, of £95; winner to receive £7O, second horse £l5, and third horse £lO. Seven furlongs. 3/3 Mr H. Fredrickson’s Sir Rabbi, car. 7.0 (D. W. Redstone) 1 2/2 Mr J. H. Payton’s Counter, 8.3 (A. Jenkins) 2 4/4 Mr W. A. Watson's Gemara, car. 7.81 (R. Bucknell) 3 Also started: 6/6. Golden Enterprise; 5/5 Acrobat; 1/1 Oragon. Won by a head; four lengths. Oragon was fourth. Time, 1.28 3-5. A surprise win was registered when Sir Rabbi set a hot pace to beat Counter by a nose in a great finish. Counter ran strongly and looked a winner all the way but was just beaten at the post. Gemara was well behind to fill third place. LANSDOWNE HANDICAP, of £95; winner to receive £7O, second horse £l5, and third horse £lO. Six furlongs. 2/1 Mr M. D. Carter’s Pas De Cheval, car. 7.9 (H. P. Stewart) 1 3/3 Mr A. F. Symes’s Gayest Son, 9.0 (H. J. Callahan) 2 5/4 Mrs W. G. Shannon’s Phaleron Song, 7.7 (J. Forsyth) 3 Also started: 9/10 Prime Quality; 1/2 Kadina; 4/5 Beau Coureur; 6/6 Namesake; 8/8 Arctic Queen; 9/7 Master Solway; 7/8 Haughty Rival; 2/1 Fly By Night (bracketed with winner). Won by one length; half. Master Solway was fourth. Time, 1.15 1-5. The last race of the day resulted in an out and out win for Pas De Cheval. At the five furlongs post Haughty Rival was in attendance but could not stay the pace. Gayest Son came through well to fill second position and Phaleron Song came up from the back of the field to take third place. The favourite, Kadina, faded out badly after staying with the leaders for the first few furlongs. ■