WAIKATO HUNT CLUB STEEPLECHASE MEETING.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2226, 14 October 1886, Page 2

WAIKATO HUNT CLUB STEEPLECHASE MEETING.

President: J. B. Whyte, Esq., M.H.R. ; Vice-President : F. A. Whitaker, Esq. ; Stewards: Messrs H. Bullock- Webster, J. Grice, W. M. Douglas, C. J. Storey, Jas. Taylor, VV. H. Pickering, T. W. Woatherill, J. W. Walton, T. N. Allwright, and R. Kirkwood ; Judge : H. G. Glassford, Esq. ; Starter : E. Hewitt, Esq. ; Handicappers : R. Kirkwood and T. W. Woathonll, Esqrs. ; Clerks of Course : Huntsman and Whip ; Clerk of Scales : Mr A. Furzo. This meeting, instituted to fittingly wind up the hunting season in Waikato, took placo on the Gwynnelands course (kindly lent for the occasion by Mr W. K. Carter) yesterday. Owing to the threatening aspect of the weather, many people who had mado up their minds to be present were deterred from carrying out their design, and the attendance consequently was but meagre, smaller than we ever remember to have seen on the Cambridge course. Towards the afternoon the weather cleared up and was fine and pleasant for the rest of the day. Tho«e who braved the rain were amply rewarded for their pains, as better racing it would scarcely be possible to get. The fields were large and racing was honest, and there were no certainties. The arrangements of the committee were in every respect admirable, and the worthy secretary, Mr John McNicol, was simply indefatigable, not to say übiquitous. Mr Hewitt performed the onerous duties of starter with satisfaction to all, though the last, considering the number uf starters, wai by no means an easy one. Mr H. G. Glassford acted as judge, Mr T. Brown as clerk of the course, and Mr Furze as clerk of the scales. The task of catering for the wants of the inner man was undertaken by Host Smith, of the Royal Hotel, Hamilton, and well he carried out his part of the arrangement. The totalisator, under the charge of Mr Adams, was on th 6 ground and did a tolerable amount of business. Of the racing, we need only repeat that it was excellent throughout. There were no " morals," though the popular " fancy " did manage to catch the judge's eye once or twice. Mr Allwill's win on Sheet .Anchor (by Ariel, out of Clipper) was very popular and the veteran sport was loudly cheered when he returned to the saddling paddock. Nora's victory in the big steeplechase was a surprise to a good many, and a handsome dividend awaited those who had spotted her on the totalisator. The Tally-ho Handicap was looked upon as a certainty for Daybreak, but man proposes, &c, and the result proved that Monitor was the best horse by a nose. It is not easy to give in the limited space at our disposal a detailed account of the running, but the principal features of each race will be found below :—: — Hunt Club Hurdles Handicap of losovs. li miles, over 6 flights of hurdles. Mr C. "Weal's b q Monitor, aged, 11* 71b, (C. Stoiey) 1 Mr W. T. Carrs b in Coral, 5 yrs, list, (owner) 2 Mr Bf. Windsors b m Tarawera, 4 yrs, 10st41b, (owner) 3 Mr Turnbulls Argyle, Mr Walton's Grey Friar, Mr McNicol's Kotiro, and Mr Perrott's Don also ran. Monitor had the advantage the whole way, though he had to work to win. Grey Friar baulked at the first hurdle, and swerving threw his rider heavily to the ground, but fortunately without injuring him. Time, 3iuin. 28sec. Selling Hack Rack of lO.sovs. Once round the course. Top weight lOst. Mr J. McNicol's b in Orphan (20sovs) lOst (F. Goldsmith} 1 Mr W. Perkins blk q Doubtful (ssovs) Bst 71b (Pearson) 2 Mr W. T. Carrs b q Rosebud (20sovs) lOst (owner) 3 Mr Porter's Colleen, Mr Lawless' Colonist, and Mr Windsor's Worm also ran. Doubtful went away with a slight lead, with Rosebud second, and Orphan third. At the back of the course the two latter were in front neck and neck, and they continued in close company until the straight was reached when the Orphan, who was admirably ridden throughout, drew slowly ahead, and finished hard held. Time, 2min. 24secs. Waikato Host Handicap Steeplechase of 2usovs. Twice round the steeplechase course. Top weight 13st. Mr T. W. Woatherill jun's, blk m Nora syrs, list 71b (VV. Moon) 1 Mr C. Weal's b q Monitor aged, 12st 21b (C. Storey) 2 Mr A. J. Starey's b m Laverock aged, 13st(J. Turnbull) 3 Mr Fcehan's Master, Mr Bond's Daybreak and Mr Pickering's Cock Robin also ran. This was a really pretty race and excited a large amount of interest. Master led ovor the double with Daybreak close at hand, the rest all taking the obstacle. At the ditch and bank Laverock had replaced Master and the road fence was reached in this order. Coming back into the paddocks Master, Laverock and Nora jumped in the order named, the rest also taking the fences, though Cock Robin was clearly out of it. Nora slowly crept to the front at the back of the course in the second round, and her position was never afterwards seriously endangered. Master stumbled at the road fence, and Daybreak fell at the same place. Monitor tried hard to lessen the distance between the leader and himself coming up the straight, but the little mare won with comparative ease. Time, 7min. 38secs. Ladies' Bracelet, for bracelet valued at lOsovs. Distance, once round the course. Miss White's b q Sheet Anchor, 4yrs., list, olbs., (J. All will) 1 Miss Brownes eh q Joe, syrs, list. 12lbs. (Halcrow) 2 Mrs H. Bullock- Webster's b q Dandy, syrs., 12»t. 121bs. (C. Lake) 3 Argyle and Mr Carter's Duloibella also ran. This was, in point of fact, a tussle between the Clipper gelding and Joe, the former winning a very pretty race, with quite sufficient room to spare. Time, 2min. 28isecs. Tally-Ho Handicap Steeplechase, for cup value Ssovs. and lOsovs. added. Dis. tunce, once round steeplechase course. Mr C. Weal's b q Monitor, aged (C. Storey) 1 Mr Weatherill's blk m Nora (W. Moon) 2 Mr Bond's Daybreak, Oyrs. (A. Story)... 3 Argyle, Shah, and Coral also ran. Dandy, Grey Friar, Cock Robin, Kotiro, Master, and Laverock were scratched. The whole field went away well together, and so continued until the road fence was reached, when Shah fell and was out of it. The interest in the race culminated when Nora entered the straight with the lead, with Monitor closing up. A most exciting contest ensued. The mare held her own over the last hurdle, and fought hard to maintain the place of honour, but Monitor just managed to get his nose in front passing the judge. For the Hurry Scurry there were only four entries, Mr T. Allwright's blk in Dorinda, Mr E. Porter's b m Colleen, Mr Dixon's eh q Paddy, and Mr J. Allwill's eh q Skyscraper. After a good race Dorinda won with plenty in hand, Skyscraper second, and the rest nowhere. This race brought to a close a really pleasant little meetinsr.