Feilding Rcaces.

Manawatu Times, Volume X, Issue 1211, 15 April 1884, Page 2

Feilding Rcaces.

The above races took place at Foilding yesterday. The weather ■was all that could "be desired, and as the day was also a public holiday the attendance was very large. Daring the afternoon the number of people on the ground was variously esti* mated at from 2000 to 2500. The course, which was m good order, is conveniently situated near the township, on the property of the President" of the Club,>.\lr F. Y. Lethbridge. At the rear of the course the hills form an excellent vantage ground for spectators, though of course those who remain there have little opportunity for knowing what is going on m the saddling paddock. It is, however, to be regretted that the Club has not yet seen its way clear to obtain a course upon which it might erect permanent improves ments. It is of course animmediate saving to the Club to enjoy the liberality of the President, while it at the sime time, speaks volumes for that gentleman's love of sport ; but it is open to ,question whether the - Clnb is not practising false economy, as under present conditions they lose "the opportunities for increasing their funds by grand stand privileges,. &c. Nor is this all. The public yesterday, especially those v visitors who hailed from places where these matters are regarded, justly, complained- that their convenience and comfort were apparently but secondary considerations with the Club. The whole of the arrangements of the course were m fact, necessarily of a taniporary nature, and not at all inviting even to the most ardent sportsman. As we have already intimated, there was no grand stand. The only aiv tificial elevation. on the- ground was the judge's b'pkvandJthis did nbtbear : the appearance of being very secure. One small room at the rear of che saddling paddock served the quadn* ruple purpose of weighing room, secretary's office, stewards' room;and jockey's room. Nor were there sufficient booths on the ground. The only liquor stall was one kept by Mr Bellve, small m its dimensions and not sufficient for the requires ments of the public. From a Blue Ribbon standpoint, perhaps, this was an advantage, but it was one which; a large section of those present did not appreciate. We make these remarks m no spirit of carping critic cism. From the attendance of tnepublic and from the large number of entries made for nearly every race, it is evident that the Feildiug Club has the necessary material to justify it m extending its operations, and paying due attention to the requirements of the public. .-.:.. . : : • . Taken as a whole, the racing was really good. Though the favorites won m nearly everj event, each was well contested, exempt' the Hack Hurdle race, m which the pub-ie were victimised to some extent. In connection with this event, a rumor had oeeu. industriously circulated that a "dark horse" . : -named. Guudagai was bound to pull off this event, aud as ft consequence when the names went up on the tota'isator a number pinned their faith to Gundagai. There was another horse entered however under the name of " Charlie — late G-undgai," and this was the real dark one, which pulled off the stakes, coming m a winner by .fifteen or twenty^ lengths. From subsequent enquiry we learnt that the false Gundagai was entered m that name without its owner's consent or knowledge — its real name being Sundown, a Palmerston horse. Such proceedings as this do not by any means tend to elevate the sport of horse racing, and ia most places the disapproval of the public would be accompanied with condemnation by the stewards. The sum of, £1407 , was passed through Poole's totatisator, the greatest amount on any one race being £3oo on the Eeilding Handicap, the winner, Ahua, also paying the largest dividend,' viz-,. £3 19s. In connection with the totalisator there was also a drawback, as ,iib ,'W.as placed inside the saddling paddock, to which the price of admission was ss, the machine itself not being fairly within reach of those who did not choose to pay this sum. /We may mention also that the keeper of the gate of the saddling paddock was somewhat too brusque m his dealings with the public Early m the day when there were not fifty people on the course. Mr Macarthur walked through the . gate to obtain his members' ticket from Hie Secretary, when he was spotted by the janitor, who, disdaining to respect even a County Chairman, made him retrace his steps. . Later on a well-known Wauganui draper had a slight difference with the lessee which came to a summary conclusion. In connection with the working of the totalisator we would point out to the stewards the desirability of appointing some of their number to supervise it, m the matter of check* ing the dividends, and informing the proprietor what names to put up, and what horse to pay out upon. In one or two instances these particulars were not sufficiently attended to yesterday. In the Consolation Eace, for instance, the names werejactually up on the totalisator before the handicaps were finished. We do not say before they were declared, fox- the simple reason that they were not de-* clared at all. The nominations were not posted, neither were the weights after the handicaps were made, and at the time when the public wex*e placing their money on their favorites, they were not m a position to know whether all would start or not. As a matter of fact, all did start, but this does not affect the assertion that it is desirable to give every security to the public m a matter of this kind and save them throwing away their money on a non-starter. , The following is a detailed list of the events : — Plandicap Hurdle Eace — L 1 0; 2 miles. ' ' >■ Mr E. Gillett's Scrutineer, 11.9 1 Mr W. Nicholson's Parnell, 10.10 2 Mr Reeve's Skylark, 9.12 ... 3 Onepu 910, Snyder,, 9.7, and Trial Trip 9, also started. Trial Trip got slightly the best' of the start and cleared the fiftt hurdle" about" 1 a length before the others which were well ma" biinbh. At the second hurdle he bolted inside the course, and the saddle gitth breaking,. his rider was thrown and received a slight injury to his ancle. Parnell drew

wards with Skylark close behind him and the others well up, thtt ordor being maintained" till passing the judge's box the second time. Scrutineer, which was splendidly I riddea by its owner, then commenced | work m earnest^ and when hftlf jwraf .„, round led by about two lengths, ' Parnell being next; with >kylarktind Onepu. close together. From thia^ to the winning post a grand race onsnfd, all the horses taking their jnmps \>ell. Parnell gradnallv decreased the distance between him* sell and Scrutineer, the race being won by a length Totalisafcor — 165 : Scrutineer 51, Parneil 51, Skylark 29, On-pu 21, Snyder, 19, Trial Trip 4 ; dividend L 2 18s. Hack Hurdles, L 1 0; 1 mile and a distance, lOst. Mr Atkins' Charlie (late Gundagai) 1 Mr Johnston's Gundagai ... 2 Mr Hemi te Ao's Kaimaku ... 8 For this event" a field of seven" faced the starter, the others being Simmoud's Biue Peter, Amor's : Om- : auuka, Smith's Blackbird and Cowper's .Supplejack. As already . mentioned the race was a complete gift to Charlie, anda-equires no descrip* tion. There were 174 m the totalisator; 68 on the winner ;. dividend L 2 6s. Maiden Plate — L 25; l£rriilesl\ " F.- Harrison's Sweet Home 8,4 1 W. Nicholson's Bamell.9st ... „2, J ; , Paul's Gipsy 8.1 8 Kaulkare 9st, Logic 9st, Awatea 9st, Parera 8 11 and Kaiparaire 8.11 ■'■■ also ran. This was a splendid race. Parnell led till, about halfway round r: when Tweet Home drewl up and took the lead which she kept till; pa^st the . post. lOn weighing m the mare was loudly*dheered and her owner con-, gratulated on her first' win. :Tim«i 2.59 2-5. Totalisator £lßo; 52 on 6n"£arera, : '25^6rf - Awatea, 22 Kaiparaire,'* : Gipsy'l4, Parnell 3, Logic 1 ; dividend L 3 2s. -. .gilding Handicap^ L 10 0 ; ;. ,2/ miles. ; •■• -«■**••- J ; r - •k\ i \ Mr, P.. Scott's Ahua, 7 9 • ''./• '•'■? 1 Mr D . Campion's Armourer 7:4 2 Mr P. Tancred's FirstMaiter-y^a^f) Hinemria 8.9* Lady; Artist 6.12," Leo-'' nessa 6.12, Kimi; Kai,.6.l2 and, Qr« phan-Boy 6.7, also -ran. A good,, start was effected, and on passing th»^. stand first , time : Ariri our"er had m, • slightlead. ; J; WHlen'abdtit Half wtfy ro v rid Hinemba yren t to the front l and Ahuacrept well hp to ArmourW.' ' Lady Artist ran inside a pof?t and" W&V duV of it. When about, half way round Hmemoa fell back, »nd,. First. Water took the lead with Airy ! moureri and Ahua close np. In. the straight -'a -grand, race, enfc . sued between the three- placed ; horses, Ahua and Armourer gradn* ally passing First Water, the Conner ■: winning, by a neck. A protest was entered by Mr Campion" against Ahua on the ground of crossing m .. the straight, and was id be decided ' by the stewards at 6 p.m. The totalisator paid out on Ahua.; Time f , 3inin 471-ssec. Totalisator— Boo .;.,» ; Ahua, 68, Armourer 94; -First Water 58, Hinemoa 40, Orphan Boy 16, Leonessa 15, fiady Artist 8, Kimi Kai 1 ; dividend. L 3 19s. The protest was decided m favour of "" Armourer. • Hack Eace of £7; once round, 9st. Fifteen horses entered for this,the event being won by Martin's South-ern-Chief; Inanga 2, Clara 8. To* talisator, 146; 47 on winner, 59 . ' ! ou Clara.and 15 on Inanga ; dividend £2 13s. .;'.-• Winter Oats Handicap of £30 ; U miles,"" ; ; i Mr Simpson's Gabble 7st 1 Mr T. Rowe's Blue Gown 6.10 ... 3 , Mr Gr. Wraths Hinemoa 9.4 ... 3 5 .., Dusk 7. 1 2, Xi mi Kiij 6. 10, S «reet, f•? Home 6 10, Leouessa &.10, Tamoaa 6. 10 and Kaiparaire 67 aiso ran . Ah.ua r First Water, Awatea, (Orphan Boy^iiid 11 O.nepa were scratched. Gabble* and Blue Gown led all the way -round, -the: A others fpllowing m a ; bunch. w ,Wben ' nearin'g 'home liin'emda waslet'out ! a l nd '■ managed to Secured third place,"- Time 2, 19^ Totalisator :24si; 60 , 0n tbe ; winner 0 . 68 on Blue Gow,n,i63 on Diisk and.. 25.;. on Elinemoa ! ; :di7idend £3 13..^ . " . . ' " ' '. \" i ; Consolation 'Handicap of. £15*! 1V ; &iH ;---- : ;' '.•;''•;*'•'«-,..'■. »:'.:, -i... 3M^P.:> Tancred's First Water 8.7 1 " j; Mr J. Paul's (3-ipsy : 6.7 "'.' ; ;.. ' 2 ;; Mr R. Hiesiie's Du^fc, :i 7.10 , ... $■ Orphan Boy 6.7; and Kautare 7, ahtt - started. An excellent start was made . ' and a race; ensued, -First W»tof : , com'npj m a ratber easy winner* TottlU sttof & 1 97 ; 'Eirst Waf er 77 , Dusk ,. 45, Gipsy 39, Orphan Boy 27 md Kautare 9 } dividend L 2 6s. "" "'."' : ' W"e^sannot cpucjlude.our report with* out expressing our Wppreciiitidti f of Ac" courtesy shown by the stewards, fecretary aurt other (iffioials of the inaffording all: necessary information- to the press. ,If the Glub will; onl j let .... itself the' task ofeffectin;; the improvements we have imlicited as neceiury, it miy safely be predicted that the Easter .m-.eting "of the " Felldibg Club will be |a very populur gathe'rin?.