FEATHERSTON RACING CLUB ANNUAL MEETING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1572, 2 January 1884, Page 2

FEATHERSTON RACING CLUB ANNUAL MEETING.

President, W. flicols ; Stewards, A. Miller, John McKenzie, W. H. Nicols, John Hodder, G, T.' Hutton, G Bran•skill, P. J. Cridland; Judge, Wallace Smith; Handicapper, HughMcMasterj Clerk of Scales, J, Cundy; Clerk of Course, J. Tocker; Starters, W. Cundy and J. McKenzie ; Hon Secretary and Treasuror, 0. MacShane,

In weather that left nothing to be desired tho above races came off yesterday, on Mr Nicol's picturesque course at Featherston. On account of; the threatening state of the weather in the early part of the day in tho northern ■ portion of the district, a great many intending visitors were debarred from attending. Still, there were about 600 people on the course (tho special train bringing about 150 from places above Featherston), including a largo numbor of ladies and children, who had taken the opportunity offered of having a picnic in ono of tho most favored spots in the district, there being numerous shady and secluded nooks on tho hillside from which the whole proceedings could be conveniently watched.. The course was very rough in places, but this istobo expected from the fact that it is only used on these annual gatherings, although on the present occasion an attempt was made by the Stewards to get the places filled in. Wo understand that Mr Nicol is about to have tho scrub on the course cut doim, and other improvements made, which, if carried out, will place the Featherston Racing Club in the front rank among tho Wairarapa racing institutions in respect to the general site of the course, means of access to it, and tho beauty of the surrounding scenery. TheGreytown band was in attendance, and managed to infuse a certain amount of cheerfulness among the spectators, although they (the band) were few in number and (at times) deficient in harmony. Mr McFarlnne's totalisator had its usual place (in the saddling paddock) and put through £677 during the day, while numerous speculators indulged in tho nover-to-be.foi'gotton half-crown sweeps just to give them an interest in the races. The sweep contagion spread genernllyamong the lady visitors yesterday, numbers of whom found it a difficulty after drawing to "spot" their horse and keep their eyes on it during the race, and in moro than one instance the confiding creatures (the ladies) were sold by their more astute male confreres, who invariably drew the winners. There was one shooting bird disc on the ground, but it was not patronised to any groat oxtont, the thing that took most being the " over and under," where level money was laid on the 0 and U, and 3 to 1 on the 7. Mr Hodder had a branch of his Victoria Hotel on the ground, and Mr A. L, White, of Carterton, supplied the hungry with his usual liberality. The events rather hung fire through the usual unaccountablo delays; the Consolation being an hour behind the advertised time, and this, added to two protests on the same ovent, gave the visitors all thoir work to do to catch the 7.30 train for home,

The whole of the work appertaining to tho various'offices wero carried out in a satisfactory manner by the gentlemen appointed, tho lion's share as usual fulling on the secretary, which office was ably filled by Mr MacShano. Although the Club has laid down a very clear rule respecting hack races, and defining a hack horse as one which has never run for other than hack races, still people are to be found who will enter horses illegally and thus help materially to destroy the confidence of tho public in these once popular events, A rule might be adopted by Facing Clubs that would have a check on such porsons, by declining to decide protests unloss both sides deposit a certain sum, which is to be forfeited if tho protest is sustained or not as the case might be, Of course it would be necessary to take it for granted that protests are right in tho first place, and not hear tho defence till tho sum specified is dopositod. In one hack race yostorday Torpedo (second horse) protested against Prince Albert (tho winner) for winning a Maiden Plato at Waihonga. Topic (third horse) in turn protested against Torpedo for winning the Handicap fluidlos at Tauherenikau, both of which wero sustained. These protests naturally caused a deal of disgust and disappointment to those who had speculated on these horses, and gave the stewards someverydisagroeablo work to perform, The racing throughout the day (with the exception of the Consolation) was well contested and genuine, Shamrock, thewinneroftheTaratahiHackHurdles, and the £5 Scurry at Opaki, boiling the pot over completely by running away and winning the big money easily, and then just after going out and finishing second in another event, meeting Ninette, The .Field, Gabble, and Treasurer, all fresh. With reference to the protest entered against the rider of Ninette in the Consolation for ioul riding, whatever evidence was offered to induce the Stewards to come to thoir decision, the public received it with loud disapproval. If there should have been the least suspicion that such a thing had occurred, the Stewards would have done well to havo disqualified the rider, for a more dangeious practice than forcing a horse against fixed posts on a race courso cannot be conceived, and it is one that ought to be put down with an iron hand. The following are tho events and the order in which they wore run : Maiden Plate. Of £ls; If miles; woight for age T. Hill's Glaicks, 4yre, Bst 111b (0. Winteringham) 1 I. Freeth's c h Swordsman, 4yra, 9fifc (Gougb) 2 E. Hare's d b m Kate Kelly, aged, 9st (Casey) 3

Ruby Ring, syrs, 9st, Mountain Deer, aged, 9st, Te Wliiti, 4yrs, Bst 111b, and Bamboo, 4yis, Bst 111b, also ran, Kate Kelly carried 51bs overweight. Totalisator— £U, £U on winner \ dividend, £2 9s. Time—2min 23 and one-fifth sees. The start was made in the scrub, out of the view of the spectators, On emerging they

' ' ->■ ' . - * "\^ were all in a hoap,'and-on • coining ,;-. down the straight'for the first time' V Glflicks, Swordsman, Bamboo, and !to ~ Whiti were neck and neck, about two lengths ahead of Mountain Deer and. Ruby Ring, Kate Kelly being last.. Glaicks then forged ahead, closely followed by Bamboo,' and Ruby Ring came up to third place, At half way. round Glaicks still had his lead, and Bamboo had fallen back, when Swordsman camo through and challenged the leader. A good raco then took place between the pair. Winteringbam having choice of position made the most of the lead, and won by about two lengths, Kate Kelly third, Ruby Ring fourth, Bamboo fifth, To Whiti last.

New Year Hahdicaf, Ofi2s. If miles. W. Allan's Shamrock) aged 7st 71b (P.Hayward) 1 E, Hcarne's Putangitangi, 4yrs, 7st 91bs (Buckeridge) 2; P, F. Tancred's Firstwater, 4yrs, «jr Bst libs ' (Carey) flk Senorita Bst 121bs,' Kakapo Bst 61bsjgh' Romp 6st 81bs also ran. Kopi Gsfc Mountain Deer 6st, Swordsman 7st 91bs, and Ninetto 9st were scratched, Totalisator 140,24 on winner, dividend £5 ss. Time 2min 48|secs. Senorita , was made a warm favorite, 49 being placed on her in the machine, Romp coming next with 35. Kakapo jumped away with the lead, but Shamrock and Putangi soon, went ahead ' of the old horse and made the pace pretty warm, and on passing the judges stand for the first time, Putangitangi was leading by about a couple of lengths, .Shamrock second, Kakapo third, Senorita fourth, Firstwater fifth, and Romp last. The filly held . tho lead for half way round, whon Shamrock took the premier position, Firstwater coming up third, Romp fourth, Kakapo and Senorita both iu the rear. The grey continued to increase his lead and Romp to lessen the distance between herself Firstwater and Putangitangi, but bolted off tho course on entering the straight. ! ' Shamrock eventually won by several ! lengths, Putangi second) Firstwater third, Senorita fourth, Kakapo fifth, Romp last. Novel Hack Race, Of £5 10s. I mile. Winner to.be sold for £l2 10s, surplus to goto raco fund. Shaw's Lavontia ... 1 Hill's Tui ... ... 2 Nine ran. Totalisator 18, dividend £2 4s, Time lmin 23fsecs. Laventia won this with ease, Tui being the only / one that made any show to race tho .."" mare. Mrlorns (of Lowes ifclorns) sold tho winner to Mr D. Thow for £l4 10s, the Club netting £1 clear over the transaction.

Featherston R,C. Handicap. Of £45. If miles. Second horse to receive £5 from stakes. J. Freeth's g m The Field, aged 7at 121b, (Gotigh) 1 W. Allen's g g Shamrock, aged, 7st 31b, (P. Hayward) 2 J. Macara's brg Treasurer, 6yrs, 7st . 81b, (Polling) 3 Gabble 7st, Senorita 9st, and Ninette Oat, also ran. To Whiti' 7st was scratched, The Field carriod 71bn ovenvoighfc. Totalisator £165, 13 on winner. Dividend £llßs, Time 3imu 22sec. Shamrock led off at the start, but Treasurer and Gabble soon wont to the front and the three kept close company in the front rank for the first timo round, and passed the judges stand in the following order;— Shamrock, Gabble, Treasurer, Ninette, Field and Senorita. Treasurer and Shamrock led alternately for half way round, when The Field came up like a shot, challenged who was leading, assumed the lead, and won by about three lengths, Shamrock and Treasurer making a good race for second place, Gabble four, Senorita ■ five, Ninette 6. Treasurer's rider broke, a stirrup leather during the second round, which completely put the horse out of the raco.

Selling Hack Race, Of £7los; Ono mile and a distauco; catch woights. Post entrance, 10s, Winner to bo sold for £ls, surplus to go to the race fund, Winner of Novel Hack Race excepted. Smith's Topic ... ... ... 1 Six ran, Totalisator—£2s; dividend, £3 4s. Tiine-2min 13|sess. Prince Albert came in first, Tui (who fell over some scrub and threw its rider) second, without its rider, Torpedo third, Topic fourth. Protests were entertained against Prince Albert And Torpedo, and Topic was awarded the race.

; Flying Stakes Handicap, Of £25. J mile. 'T.Hill's Glaicks, 4yrs, H (Hill) 1 I. Freeth's The Field, aged, Bst (Gough) * P. F. Tancred's Firstwater, 4yrs 7stl2lbs (Carey) * Pntangitangi 7st 71bs, Konini Bst, True Blue 6st 51bs also ran. Romp 6st 71bs, and Kopi 6s 61bu were scratched. Totalißator £154,48 on ' winner, dividend £2l7s. Time Imin 19secs. Glaicks started first favorito, After one false start Firstwater got a momentary lead, but Glaicks and ThejA' Field each enjoyed a short time in thalHk position till Mr Hill's phesnut settledflH ) down to it when he vent to the front, jßj J and won by about a- length and a half Firstwater and The Field being a dead hoafc for second place, Konini fourth, Putangi fifth, True Blue last.

Ccw'goUTioN Handicap. Of £ls. Iraile. Entranced. For all beaten horses (backs excepted), W. Strang's b m Ninette, Bst 101b (Carey) 1 J. Macara'B br g Treasurer 7st 61b (Piling) 2 T. E Hayward'a b m Konini, 6st 131b, (Hayward) ■ ... ... 3. Kate Kelly 6st 101b, andGabblo6st 101b, also ran, Swordsman wail scratched. Totalisator 81,15' on Ninette, dividend M 16s. Time lmin 51sec. Treasurer started with.. 34 backers, Gabble and Ninette baying 15' eaeli. .. On the flag dropping the three named immediately went to the frost, Gabble having wide running, Ninette . outside, Treasurer in the middle. On

cuining 10 tlii! lira turn Nuu:Ui'. uluswi in on Treasure; 1 , who i<\ turn was howl on to Gabble, and ilio lilly was 'driven inside the post. Gabblo continued in tho lead and won, Ninette second, and Treasurer-third. A protest was entered by Ninetto's owner'against Gabblo forgoing inside the post, 'which was sustained, A protest was thou entered by Mr Macara against' Ninette's rider (Carey) for foul riding, but the stewards, after about an hour's consultation, decided in favor of Ninette, a decision that was received with evident dissatisfaction by the majority of the spectators present.