BOXING DAY RACES.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 396, 28 December 1889, Page 2

BOXING DAY RACES.

WAERENGA-A-HIKA JOCKEY CLUB’S BOXING DAY MEETING.

Pbxsidbnt : G. L. Sunderland, E-q. ; VicePresident : W. Wethered, Esq. ; Stewards : Messrs A. Hatton, C. D. Bennett, B. Colebrook, W. Cooper, S. Parker, and A. Devery. Judge : C. D. Bennett, Esq ; Stat ter : G. J. Winter, Esq ; Handicapper : C. D. Bennett, Esq.; Clerk of Seales : R. Colebrook, Esq, ; Clerk ot Course : A. Pilchard, Esq. ; Secretary : J. A. Harding, Esq. Tub Boxing Day race meeting, nnder the

auspices of the Waerenga-a-hika Jockey Club, was, as usual, held on the Waerenga-a hike course, and was in every way successful. There was a large attendance, a great proportion being Maoris, who have come down to the Gisborne plains for the grass seed season. The weather was most congenial for racing purposes, though the drive or ride out was made very uncomfortable by the dense clouds of dust which were partially created by the increased traffic. The sport itself was excellent. There were capital fields,

ana tne race maaing allowance lor an causes, there were only a few scratchings, is a high compliment to the handicapper, Mr Bennett. Even in the hack flat race only three horses were scratched out of a total of nineteen, and it is certain that even those three could not all have been dissatisfied with their oompany. Mr Harding is to be congratulated on his success at the first meeting of the Waerengaa hika Club during his Secretaryship, things working very smoothly and there being no bitch of any kind. Captain Winter (starter) had some trying work in getting the fields away fairly, but his success was astonishing. Mr Hepburn’s stable was made a warm favorite for the Maiden, and the fettle in which Criminal appeared fully justified the high opinion as to his chance of victory. The result was that the maroon jacket passed the post first, without the horse being called on far a struggle. But that was the only race on which there could ba any degree of certainty, for all the others proved very difficult . things to choose from. In the big handicap Fitzjames surprised the outsiders by Carrying off the prize. His temper appears to be a most uncertain one. At the Park he carried a good deal ot money on behalf of the stable, but he made a miserable finish and gave his many fanciers a rude shook by the way he was left

uuumu iu tuo uuuv, luutßuny uu luauc a splendid race of the handicap, and paid a nice dividend, Nancy had a well deserved win in the hurdles, though Off Oolormadethe last quarter ot a mile at a very fast pace. In the Flying Pan! gave further proof of the fine animal of which Mr Walsh is the possessor. The grey just out down the other horses as be chose and won as he liked. He was ridden with bad judgment, too, the jockey punishing the horse when there was not the slightest necessity to do so. The hack flat race proved an interesting event. Idle Boy started a warm favourite ; at the finish he could not get through in time, but the probability is the paca was ]also too good for him, Falcon and Privateer running a dead heat. The dividends were paid on both horses, and the owners agreed to divide the siakes. The Forced handicap proved another good race. Mr Hepburn’s horse was agsin made favorite, but could not get nearer than third, while Mr Walsh's Pani had another victory. During the day £1,725 passed through the totalisatar, which was worked by Messrs Cooper and Barry, Mr Thewell offioiating as steward. On the flat the usual speculative games ware going merrily, being largely patronised by the Maoris who seemed to have a good dealmore loose cash than they were competent to look after. The owner of the monkey game did a roaring trade all day, the tickets being rushed nearly every time, end the prnprietor being all smiles and banter as he saw lhe number of gentle innocents flocking to the table to plank down their silver. When the rush became too great be would make the tickets two shillings and double the value ot the pool. Reckoning the unusual amount that was disbursed through the racecourse games together with what passed through the totalisator, the talk about scarcity of money is in strange contrast with the amount of money that changed hands at this race meeting. The following is a description of the races ;— Maiden Platz, of 20 sovs ; miles. Weight for age. D. Hepburn's Criminal, 90, (Hepburn) 1 G. L. Sunderland's Moonstone, 7 9 2 J. Fitzgerald's Brown Bess, 8.12 .. 3 —Myth 9.0, Puti 8.12, and Mati 9.0, also started. Puti led off, Criminal lying third. Passing the stand the order was Puti, Myth, Brown Bess, Moonstone, Criminal. Wnen a quarter had been covered, Criminal was brought forward, and it was soon evident that there wae

the three-quarters, and came in a winner hard held, Moonstone making a good fight for second place. Then came Brown Bess, Puti, Mati, and Myth last. Time, 2min. 19 l-sseo. Dividend, £llss; 208 on the totalisator, 104 on the winner. Boxtsu Day Handicap, ot 100 sovs ; second horse to receive 19 sovs out of the stakes; Ij miles. O. Pitt's Fitzjames. 7.10, (Haydsn) .. 1 W. Walsh's Pani, 8.2 2 W. Wethered's Avis, 6.8 8 —The other starters were Cynical 7-13 (and 41bs overweight), Truthful 7.9. New York 7.3 (and 21bs overweight), Misfortune 7.3, and Harlequin 6.8. Truthful was very fractious at the post, and eventually prevented a good start. New York being blocked. Fitzjames got off well, Pani and Cynical lying to the rear. Passing the stand the first time, Fitzjames led, Avis next, then Truthful, Misfortune, and New York. Oynical was last, with Pani just in front, Then the grey went forward, passed

all his horses, and half a mile from home challenged the leader. Cynical meanwhile made a Rood dash towards the front, but the leaders had too great an advantage for his effort to be of much avaH. Entering the straight, Fits] antes had a head in front of Pani, and a great race ensued between the two horses, Avis being third, but with no show of catching the leaders. An waiting finish resulted in Fitaj antes winning by half a length, Avia third, and then, in order named, Truthful, New York, Cynical, Misfor* tune, and Harlequin. Time, Satins 11 8-Bth secs. Dividend, £8 16s, Hasorcir Hvanuts, of 60 sovs; second horse to receive 10 save from stakes | 9 miles. C. Suff's Nancy. 11.4, (Owner) .. .. 1 M. Maher's Off Chlor, 9.3 .. 2 Currie and Hogan's Darnley, 11.7 .. 8 —The Moor 11.4, Elastic 10.10, Gipsy 10.8, Privateer 9 10, and Brown Bass 9.0, also started. Crossing the first hurdle, Delaney, on Beas, was unseated, but cleverly regained his saddle. At’ the third' hurdle Qipsy swerved, passed the stand in the order—Naftey,Blastic, Moor, Darnley, Off Color, Gipsy,' and Privateer (ths latter also having quarrelled with one of the hurdles, Darnley then shot up towards the front horses, and he and The Moor had a ding dong race for second place. But Nancy still held her own, and cams into

the run home with a good bit to spare, Darnley beating Thd Moor, but -bring qnabls to catch, the leader. Off Color came up with a rush, and succeeded in getting second place just as the post was neared. The Moor and Elastic ooms next. Both Brown Bess and Privateer went to grief at the hurdles, but the jockeys ware not much Injured, though Delaney had some ugly scratches. Time: dmina lOJssos. Dividend, £7 Ils, Handicap Hack Hurdms, of 10 sovs; 1 mile, ; . Oeo, 10.12 i Tim, li-0' ~ a Witch, 94.. 8 —The other starters were Bachelor 'll 7, Dinah 9.18, Pascuel 9.13, Scorpion 9.12, Engarangi 9.7, Minnie 9.7. Letah 9.7. Abraham 9.7, Mohaka 9.0. The Witch had 22tbe overweight. The hacks took the sticks splendidly. Letah ran round the flrat hurdle, and one rider was dislodged. Oeo won after a floe race, Tim second, Witch third, and then Minnie, Scorpion, Eagarsugi, Bachelor. Mohaka, i

Flying Handicap, of 40 cove ; | sails. W. Walsh's Pani. 86, (Beason) ». 1 O. Hansen’s Truthful, 8,4 ..' .. 1 Peka Kere Kere's Dancing Master .. 8 —Cynical 8.4. New York 7.8, Satellite «.1O (and 61 bs overweight), Pnti 60, and Black Boy also started, Criminal being scratched. Dancing Master got away wffll at the start, with Pani alongside. Truthful lying third, and Satellite fourth. Dancing Master maintained the lead for half the distance, when Pani wrested it from him. Cynical and Satellite made a game effort whan near* ing the straight, but were soon .choked off. Pani held the lead on entering the straight, and won with ease. Dancing Master bad alio to give way to Truthful, who came in a good second ; New York was fourth, followed by Satellite, Cynical, Pull, and B'.ackbuy in that order. Dancing Master carried 10 bs over. Time Imin, 18sec». Dividend, £BlBs.

Handicap Hack Flat, ot 10 sovs; 1 mile. J. Smith's Privateer 8 3 (Smith) .. f G. Brown's Falcon, 8 8 (Harriaa) .. t Idle Boy, 6.12 .. .. .. .. 8 —The other starters were Mangahone 9.4, Golfish 7.12, Musk 7.10, Papaknra 7.7, Dan 6.12, Witch 7.0, Mormon 0 7, Cabbage 6.7, Fancy 6.7, Bonus 6.7, Emir Bey flilly 6.7, Rangi 6.4, and Engarangi 6 0. Nina 9 10, Luna 8.0, and Leila" 6.7 were scratched. Goldfish led pastAhe stand, and then the horses tailed out. There WAk a moat exciting finish, resulting in a dead boat, Idle Boy being a good second, and Mormon close behind. Dividend, £5 5s on Privateer, and £6 13s on Falcon.

Forced Handicap, ot 20 sovs ; 1 mile. W. Walsh's Pani, 9 0 (Brown) 1 G. L. Sunderland's Moonatone, 6.0 •• 2 D. Hepburn'a Criminal, 7AO .. .. 8 —Truthful 8.2, Oeo 76, The Moore 7.3, Off Color 6.6, and Blaokboy 6.0 alsa.'ataited, Fitzjames 9.2, Nancy 6.7, and Gipsy 6.6 were scratched.

The Moure assumed the load, and passing the atand the other horses had tailed oct, Blaokboy, Criminal. Truthful, Pani, Off Color being last. Blaokboy than took the lead, but could not long maintain it. Criminal looked dangerous tor qtimj, but soon fell away, Pani meanwhile coming up strongly. At the corner the gray had virtually beaten his rivals, but a good race was made up the straight, Moonatoons holdlog out gamely. Pani then won with a little to spare, showing that Mr Bennett bad from the first made a pretty fair estimate of the quality ot the horse. Tima: Imin 47 1-54 b sec. Dividend, £8 Bl