WAIKATO TURF CLUB'S SPRING MEETING.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1469, 1 December 1881, Page 2

WAIKATO TURF CLUB'S SPRING MEETING.

President : Lieut, - Colonel William 0. Lyon. Vice-president : Captain William Steele. Judge : Edward Waddington, Esq., M.D. Stewards : Messrs J. B. Whyte, M.H.R., F. A. Whitaker, M.H.R., H. W. Northcroffc, R.M., Major William Jackson, J. H. M. Carpenter, J. S. Buckland, C. J. Storey, William Taylor, F. R. Claude, and H. B. Sutton. Starter: Mr Charles J. F. Storey. Clerks of the Course : Messrs James Taylor and Charles R. Johnson. Clerk of the Scales :Mr Samuel McLernon. Handicappers : The Committee. Hon. Treasurer :Mr Kennedy Hill. Secretary : Mr Robert Bradley. The Spring Meeting of the Waikato Turf Club was held on the Ohaupo course yesterday, and proved a great success, the racing being far the best that has ever been witnessed at this reunion. The weather, fortunately, was splendid, and in consequence there was a very large gathering from all parts of the district ; the number on the ground during the day could not have been less than 700 or 800. The grand stand was well patronised, and a goodly proportion of ladies also attended in buggies and on horseback. The booths, under the efficient niauagement of Mr A. Raynes, of the National Hotel, Cambridge, gave the most general satisfaction. The Te Awamutu Cavalry Band, under Bandmaster Sibley, was on the ground, and played selections in a manner which drew forth encomiums from many of the visitors. The stewards and the secretary (Mr Bradley) were assiduous in their endeavors to make the meeting a. success, and the result must have been as gratifying to them as it was pleasing to the general public. A special train came up from Auckland to Rukuhia, reaching the latter station at noon, and bringing a large contingent of leading sports, including the principal members of the Auckland Ring. In this connection we might mention that there was a bookmaker present who has been posted down South, and it might be just as 'well if in future only bookmakers who belong to Tattersall's Club were admitted into tho enclosure. The first event of the day was the Hutdle Race, which (as will be seen by our report) resulted in an extraordinary turn-up, The Lark, whom no one fancied, heading old Sportsman and holding the lead to the winning post, which she passed about a length in front of Mr Rutherford's nag. It is just possible that having won so many of these events in tbe Waikato, and knowing nothing particular to beat, Mr R. neglected to wind Sportsman up sufficiently. Either this must be the case or he has gone off, for The Lark looked unfit to beat a cab horse, and the time was very slow. Daric baulked when going strongly and well. The principal event of the day, the Waikato Turf Club Handicap, attracted as fine a field as ever started for a race in the Waikato. It included an Auckland Cup winner in Lara, an A.R.C. Handicap winner in Yatapa, and an Easter Handicap winner in King Quail, not to mention such minor celebrities as Maori, Rocket, Vampire, Saunterer, and last, but not least, Dewdrop. Dewdrop was favourite, and rewarded those wno had confidence in him by winning rather easily from Maori, King Quail, who seemed rather above himself, being third. Below we give some brief account of the racing, the pressure upon our space not admitting of anything like a detailed report :—: —

HANDICAP HUBDLE RACE, Of 30 soys. ; second horse to receive 5 soys. from stakes. Two miles, over eight flights of hurdles 3ft. 6in. high. Mr J. Brown's eh m The Lark, aged, lOst. (Grace) 1 Mr W. S. Rutherford's eh q Sportsman, aged, list. 71b. (Williams) .. 2 Mr Thomas W. Weatherill'a br q Daric, aged, lOst. (Vernou) . . 3 No others started, and the betting was 6 to 1 on Sportsman, and 6 to 1 against The Lark. TIII3 being the first race of the day, a considerable amount of interest was manifested in the event. Sportsman started a warm favorite, but the eXpectations of his supporters were not realised, The Lark, who was at the beginning of the race considered doubtful, proving too much for him. The three horses got off well together, Sportsman leading over the first hurdle, with Daric oecond, and The Lark not far behind. The second and third hurdles were cleared in the same order, but on approaching the fourth hurdle Daric fell behind and jumped third, Sportsman still in the lead. Goipg past the stand the first time The Lark went to the front, and Daric, who was ridden by Vernon, galloped off, leaving the other two behind, balked at the next hurdle, and did not appear in the race afterwards. The Lark, who maintained the lead until the finish, jumped well, and passed the winning post fully three lengths ahead.

SPRING HANDICAP, Of 100 soys., with a sweepstakes of 5 soys. each added ; second horse, 10 soys. ; third horse, 5 soys. out of the stakes. Distance, two miles. Mr John Lennard's b m Dewdrop, aged, 6st. (Lang) 1 Mr D. White's b h Maori, aged, Bst. 31b. (Bowe) 2 Mr S. T. Horsfall's br h King Quail, 6yrs., Bst. 51b. (Williams) . . . . 3 Betting : 2 to 1 against King Quail, 5 to 2 against Maori, 6 to 4 against Dewdrop, 3 to 1 against Lara, and 4 to 1 against Yatapa. This was the most exciting contest of the day, eight horses having started, A fair start was made, Rocket going off with a slight lead. Dewdrop soon made her way to the front, with Rocket in close attendance, and King Quail, though at the back of the crowd, gradually creeping up. A neck and neck race was run by the leading horses, and many of the Quail's friends thought he would eventually pull off the race. Coming up the straight at the finish Dewdrop still appeared in the lead and passed the post first, with Maori a good second, and King Quail a few lengths behind. | MAIDEN PLATE!, Of 20sovs. ', weight for age ; f#r three* year-olds and upwards that have never won a stake exceeding lOsovs. Dis-» tance l£miles. Mr J. Lenn»rd,s b.h. Othello, 4yrs., 9st. (Lang) 1 Mr J. S. Auckland's br.m. Miss Domett, 4yra., Bat; (Williams) ... • 2 Tljcre was only two starters for this

event, which was watched throughout wfth much interest. Both horses went off well together. Othello crept gradually to the front, but was shortly overtaken by hfs opponent, who accompanied him past the stand the first time round. Both were again together on the outside of the conr»e, after which Othello crept gradually to the front, and won easily by about four lengths.

SELLING HACK RACE Of lOsovs. ; one mile ; weight, lOsfc. ; winner to be sold for 20sovs., surplus to race fund. Post entries, 10s. Ben Nevis (Goldsmith) 1 Bravo 2 Peep O'Day 3 Algeria, Minnie, and i?weet Briar also started. Very little interest was manifested in this event, Ben Nevis, who went to the front at the start, never losing his position until the finish, winning in a center.

RAILWAY HANDICAP Qf 30sovs. Distance, H miles ; weights declared after Spring" Handicap Race. Acceptance lsov., to be paid 15 minutes before time of starting. Mr D. White's b.h. Maori, aged, 12st., (Howe) i Mr J. Lennard's b.m. Dewdrop, aged, 7st. 6lbs. (Laing) ... ... .. 2 Mr W. Percival's b.h. Vampire, aged, 7st. slbs. (Williams) ... ... 3 Betting 6 to 4 againsc Dewdrop, 5 to 4 Maori Hocket and Sauuterer also started, Lara, Yatapa, and King Quail being scratched. The five horses got off well together at the start. Saunterer shortly fell behind, and Rocket soon showed signs of exhaustion. Maori took the lead, and was well raced by Dewdrop until the finish, Vampire making a poor third.

CONSOLATION HANDICAP Of losovs. ; for beaten horses during the meeting (hacks excepted) ; distance, one mile. Miss Domett ... ... ... ... 1 Yatapa 2 Only two horses started in this contest, which was a poorly contested event and void of all excitement, Miss Domett taking the lead from the start until the finish, and winning as she liked,