MASTERTON-OPAKI JOCKEY CLUB RACE-MEETING. 1881.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 945, 9 December 1881, Page 2

MASTERTON-OPAKI JOCKEY CLUB RACE-MEETING. 1881.

President, F. Gray. Judge, A, WCave, Starter, H. Campbell. Handicacper, B. Kiuiberley. Stewards: James Macara,' 13. Kimherley, A. Elkins. D. MeL-ielilan, W. Hester, It. Campbell, T. Chamberlain. Clerk of tho Scales, J, Harding. Clerk of Ihe Course, W. lorns ami Manihera. Timekeeper, W. 0. Williams. Second Day, December 8. Tho second day's racing proved far more attractive than the'first, and was far more largely attended. We noticed a <_'ood many visitors from the other townships, and wo have no doubt there would have been a greater number bad the railway authorities given proper publicity to the fact of extra trains running to and from Featheiston on tho raco days. The trains were not advertised but simply notified by handbills, which were only issued late on Tuesday afternoon, the consequence beiny that many who would have taken advantage of this means of transit stayed at home rather than incur the expense of coming up by road. The racing on the whole was good, large fields and close finishes being tho rule, Tluee casu»lities occurred, the first in the Hurdles, Kohai falling and giving Steve Harris a very bad shaking, the other in the Hack Hurdles, Forest King coming down at the second hurdle throwing his jockey, Jne Lloyd, on to hisjiead. He was ilisensible for about an hour, but beyond feeling rather dazed for the rest »f the day he sustained no damage. A more serious accident happened to one of the horsemen on tho course, Ho had ridden over to see tho start for the District Handicap, and whiie cantering across to the winning post his horse put its foot in a rabbit hole, throwing his rider, who fractured one of the bones of his right ankle and broke the little finger of his left hand. The Totalizator was better patronised than on the previous day, £l9? being put through against ,£'s6 the first day." The dividends it paid were in strong contrast, the fancier! of Speculation in tbe Produce getting £lO in addition to their original slakes, while the backers of Dan in the Hack Bace had to be contented with an advance of three shillings, A good (leal of grumbling was heard from the supporters of AVaitangi iu the District, at tbe decided pull he took at the mare right on the post, although they had nothing to complain of as Senorita won easily, and it was owing to her being eased off that Wnitangi got so close to her. The following ia a detailed account of the day's racing Handicap Hurdle Race—£3o,2miles, j over 7 Hurdles. T. Bay's g g Shamrock, aged, Bst 121b (Hamilton) 1 T. H. Hill's c g General, aged, 9st 41b (0 Winteringham) 2 P. Murtagh's b g Angler, aged, list i 121b (Owner) 3 J, Thompson's c g Lavateria, aged, Bst . 71hs (Smith) 0 T; Caswell's c ® Itobai, aged, Bst 121b ■ (S.Harris).,. ,„ ... .... 0 McFnrlane's Venture \m scratched. Lavateria jumped away,, with the lead, Angler lying a long way behind. The second :time •rojind Angler ran up into sQcohd> place,' but at the , sixth hurdle Lavateria, who was full of running, ran W'\ ni ,lpr.'Knba).fp.ll. Waving

Shamrock had always a bit the best of it and won a good race by a length atfd-a-half. Time, 4miu 25sec. There were £3O in the Totalisator, being on the winner and .£lB on Angler. Haok Hurdle £lO, lj miles, weight Mage. I Five started for tlM^ient; out\of which Dan O'Connellnfrnore familiarly ' known as Beggarman-Jfbaulked, and Forest King fell. T, H. Hill's Torpedo, who was ably ridden by th'at experienced pilot Mr John Dorset, made a waiting race and came, in at the /finish, winning by half a length. f Produce Race.—l2s, If- miles, weight ; forage. E. McFarlanes c f Speculation, by Kingfisher, 3 yrs (Hatfield) 1 J. Hay ward's b m Waitangi, by Barbarian, 4 yra (Harris) _ 2 T. Ray's b g Ned Kelly, by Barbarian, 3 yrs (Kay) 3 J. H. Hill's bg Bucaneer, by Barbarian, 3 yrs (T. Winteringham) 0 J. O'Keefe'a b m Maid of Honor, by Nauakoa, 4 yrs (0. Winteringham)... 0 Matini Te Ore's o h No Name, by Premier, 3 yrs (Maori) 0 Several were fancied for the race, the totalisator indicating 49 subscribers—with 17 on Waitangi, 13 on Bucaneer, 11 on Maid of Honor, and only 4 on Specula- • tion. Ned Kelly took the lead, and maintained it to the back of the course, when Speculation and Waitangi went up, and a good set-to resulted in a victory for 'the former by three-parts of a length.' Time, 2 27. Harris lost his stirrup at the turn into the straight, which prevented him finishing as well as he might have done. No Name ran off the course at

lie first turn, and was never in the race, Lvck Race,-£lO, occo round, weights 10 stone. Four entered for this, Mr John Thompon—the " Indefatigable "—scoringa win /ith Forest King. What might have teen a good finish was spoilt through the ider of Cossack, for some unaccountable eas'on, not riding his horse out, but puling him up as soon as he was collared in lie straight. Distinct Handicap.—M), 1| miles. I. Drummond's b m Senorita, 5 yrs, 9st 71b (C. Winteringham) 1 [. Hayward's b m Waitangi, 4 yrs, Gat 9st (Hayward) 2 F. Macara's b » Maire, 3 yrs, sst 41b (Pelling) 3 I. Macara's o g Petruchio, 5 yrs, 7st Gib (Pugsley) 0 r. Ray's c g Comus, 5 yrs, 7st 131b (Ray) 0 Matini Te Ore's b g Ika, aged, 7st (T. Winteringham) .-. 0 McFarlane's Danger was scratched. The totalisator showed GO members—of whom, 18 were on Senorita, 15 on Comus, 11 on Ilea, and 10 on Petruchio, Waitangiled to the back of the course, when Senorita was let out, and was never again headed. She was eased up the straight, allowing Waitangi to run up within half a length. Time, 3.25. Hack Race.—Once round, catch weights. Five started, T. H. Hill's Dan winning easily by any number of lengths, Consolation Handicap, i 11. McFurlane's Venture, Gst (HilljV 1 J. Macara's Petruchio, 7st 41b pfatfield) 2 T, Bay's Comus, Bat (Hay) 3 B. Kimberley's Bully For You, sst 101b (T. Winterinyliatn) 0 31 in the tosalisator—9 on the winner. Petruchio went off at a great pace, and looked like winning, but Venture, who was admirably ridden by a eon of Mr T. H, Hill, came with a wet sail, and won easily. An extra hack race, won by Dan O'Connell, brought a good day's racing to an end, and wound up the Opaki Meeting for 1881. The arrangements were, with a few slight exceptions, complote, One improvement we would suggest to the Club is an addition to the information supplied by the race cards, No time waa mentioned for the starting of any of the races, consequently owners did not know at what hour to have their horses on the course. The Stewards should likewise insist on each jockoy carrying distinctive colors. Fur instance, in the Produce .three out of tho six starters were arrayed in green jacket and black cilp. Tho uninitiated rely principally on the colors to identify the horses, and the addition of a sash or differently colored cap would remedy this little difficulty. However altogether the stewards may be congratulated on having brought their mooting to a most satisfactory conclusion, mainly owing to the efforts ot their onergetic Secretary, Mr J. lorns.