SPORTING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 799, 22 November 1882, Page 2

SPORTING.

ASHBURTON RACING CLUB’S SPRING MEETING. % President—Mr E. G. Wright, M. H. R.; VicePresidents—Messrs J. Grigg and W. C. Walker. Judge—Mr Matthew Stitt. Stewards —Messrs C. H. Dowding, H. T. Winter, W. '■aunders, E. S. Coster, L. E. Corsbie, R. Friedlander, and Dr Ross Treasurer—Mr C. C. Fooks. Handicappers—Messrs E. G. Griffiths and M. Stitt. Clerk of the Course —Mr E, Saunders; Clerk of the Scales—Mr M. Friedlander; Staiter —Mr J. L. Crawley. Better weather for the firat day of tbs Ashburton Racing Club’s Spring Meeting could not have been desired. The sky was rather over-cast late last evening, and some anxiety was expressed as to the sort of day that might result. The clerk of the weather, however, was in a good temper, and sent a day warm, bright, and sunny, and the attendance was consequently larger than usual. The trains from the North and South brought in crowds of visitors, and an army of buggies, “ traps,” carts, expresses, and cabs, lined the road to the course from noon until the day was far advanced. The course presented a most animated appearance shortly after noon, and by two o’clock the crowd was very great. The public had evidently made up its mind for enjoyment, headless of the comet and Mr gPiazzi Smith’s melancholy forebodings. The Ashburtonian appeared to say “let us eat, drink, and be merry to-

day, although perchance we may form food for the sun to-morrow.” Beneath the grand stand Mrs Butler supplied crowds of sightseers with liquid refreshment during the day, and appearedVto drive a roaring trade. Close handy, Mr Poole, of Christchurch, had. a marque devoted to the sale. > ;<jf temperance beverages and light solid tefreshitoents. On the lawn Mr Orphin, of the Ashburton Hotel, had got an attractive luncheon booth, and Mr Beecher ir*d a publican’s booth beneath the second stand in the saddling paddock. Here numbers of visitors flocked to patronise the popular host of the Central. Messrs Hobbs and Goodwin had a totalisator; in full awing near the stand, and money seemed tolerably plentiful, in spite of the hard times. There were, of course no “ doodlo’em-buck-men,” but there were several stalls for the sale of fancy .goods, and a shooting-gallery, etc. There were a few book-makers, but the “betting machine ’’ ran them pretty close. The improvements on the course, which wo have already fully described, were found to be a very great convenience. Thd. following are details up to the time of our going to press : Count? Hurdles. Brenda ... ... ... (Demuthl 1 Captain ... ... ... (Owner) 2 Muscat ... ... ... (Cotton) 8 The only absentee for this event, the

first on the card, was-; Shepherdess, who was scratched. Schoolboy waa over the first hurdle first, closely followed by Brenda and Stockings, who took the second hurdle together, the rest being pretty well together. Rounding the back of the course the same order was'maintained, save that schoolboy had by this time improved his lead. In taking the third diurdle he dropped out and fell back, Captain taking his place, Brenda being well up. Very soon the mare was running on even terms with Captain, the rest well up. This order was maintained to the famsh, the two leaders taking the last hurdle together. An exciting race ensued up the’ straight for home, Brenda landing a winner t>y nearly a length, Muscat being a had third.* The totalisator showed t.UI on the winner, the“div.” being* iea». ’ Maiden Plate. Contessa (Butler) .... v 1 .Marchioness -Neil (Wattie), 2£lb over ijweight, ... Fair Nell Perritt) ... ... ••• J This rape brought out the biggest field of the day, <he whole of the eight figuring oh the card facing the starter. After, some fiddling at the post a fair start was effected, Contessa, the favorite, cut out 'the 'running, Mor being close up, Marchioness Neil third, Fair Nell fourth, the rest tailing off. This order was maintained to the hack of the course, where JW archioness. Neil ran into second place, Contessa still: leading, the rest straggling. - In this order the; horses reached the straight, and a most exciting race up the straight between Contessa, Marchioness Neil, and Fair Nell. Contessa won a hard fought -r ttce by ft neck, Fair Nell being a third. There waa very little betting; two to one being offered bar one. -The - totalisator showed L 237, giving a dividend, of LI 19s to the I® B spotters of the win-’ .nee... ‘■ .; w ,Ashburton Cup. Welcome Jack (Wattie) ... ••• 1 Turquoise;(J. Webster) ... ‘ ••• 2 {The Curate (A. Webster) ... ... f " ■ After half a hour’s fiddling at the post, the horses got away to an indifferent start. Curate got away witn the lead, followed closely by Welcome Jack and Turquoise, in the order named. At the back of the course Speculation led, Li Curate second,’ Welcome Jack third, turquoise several lengths away. This order was maintained to the home turn, when the four -were upon level terms. Welcome Jack now came away amidst great excitemept, and won a hot race by a length and a half. The winner was the favorite, while Speculation, who was in the pink of condition, was fancied by not a few. The totalisator showed 414 investors, 190 on.the winner ; dividend, LI 19s; ~ ; Ladies Pdbse. ■Comet /Winnie:... i Minnie ••• ••• d Comet was the hot favorite, and won a capital race by half a length, Minnie a I fair third. The totalisator showed 125 l ijifbßtora—B4 on the winner ; dividend, 265.. h f . ' ■ ■