SPORTING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1384, 20 November 1884, Page 3

SPORTING.

ASHBURTON RACING CLUB’S SPRING MEETING.

First Day—Thursday.

mlge Matthew Stitt ; stewards —L. E, Corsbie, H. Friedlander, R, Friedlander, C. W. Purnell, jW. G. Ross, H. 'l', Winter and T. Leahy ; treasurer—C. C, Looks ; starter —P. Campbell; clerk of the scalesM. Friedlander; clerk of. the course— A, Hcwson 3 timekeeper—ll. Kohn ; handicappors—E. G, Griffith (open race), R. Frieda lander, T. Leahy, S. Saunders and M. Stitt (district races) j secretary~S. Saunders.

The annual Spring meeting of the Ashburton Racing Club was commenced today, in cloudy but very pleasant weather, considering that the card for tiie day was for some reason which we must confess to be unable to point to, one of the poorest submitted by the Club for some years, the attendance was good, there being an unnnially large number of Christchurch visitors present. Mr P. Campbell made his debut as starter, and succeeded in despatching the different fields ou excellent terms. The other officials discharged their not very duties with usual ability. Mrs Woodley had charge of the two publicans’, booths, and Mr Davidson presided at the' luncheon and confectioner’s booth, both caterers appearing to give their numerous patrons satisfaction, Messrs Hobbs and Good* via worked ft double totalizator, go

i situated that access was obtained to it either from the paddock or outside, and the genial proprietors displayed their customary energy in attracting investors. The usual games and side shows claimed a fair share of attention. The following are details of the day’s racing : County Hurdle Race Handicap, of 50 sovs, the second horse to receive 10 sova from the stake. Over six flights of hurdles, about 3ft 6in high. District horses only. One mile and a half. Mr J. Wilki- son’s b c Marmion, Byrs, 10st 121 b (J. Cotton) 1 Mr J. Hunt’s b g Unit, aged, lOet 1 (Woodsworth) Mr 6. Appleton’s b g Unfortunate, 9st 111 b (Smith) 3 Mr J. Corbett’s b g Captain, list 81b (Owner) 0 Betting—2 to lon Marmion ;3to 1 bar one The lot went away at the second attempt to an excellent start, Unfortunate and Unit leading to the first hurdle. At the mile and a quarter post Marmion improved his position, and at three-quarters of a mile from home the three leaders took close order, Captain lying six lengths off. At the fourth hurdle Unit blundered, and lost a couple of lengths, but immediately rejoined the leaders, and was in command as they turned into the straight. Captain here made his effort but failed to get up, and was very properly eased off Unit had a slight advantage at the last hurdle, but Marmion gamely responded to Cotton’s vigorous call, and reaching the leader at the rails won by a clear length, Unfortunate, ridden out to the finish, a poor third. Totalisator—24B—l3o—Ll 14s.

Time—Sir.ins. Jhecs. Maiden Plate, of 40 sovs ; weight for age ; entrance, 3 sovs. One and a quarter miles. Mr D. O’Brien’s b g Gaiters, Gyre, 9st 31b ... (Clifford) 1 Mr P. Campbell’s ch m Spinaker, 4yrs, Bst 9ib ... ... ... (Rudings) 2 Mr R. Alexander’s b f Rosedale, 3yrs, 7at 71b (Sharpe) 3 Betting—Even on Gaiters. Gaiters and Spinaker were first on their legs, and led the filly by throe lengths to the first turn. At the half-mile post Rosedale supplanted Gaiters, but the gelding came again on entering the straight, reached Spinaker at the distance, and won a splendid race by a bare length. Totalisator—324—lsß—Ll 16s. Time—2’iuns. 23|iecs.

Ashburton Oup (handicap), of 299 sovs ; nomination, 2 sovs; acceptance, 5 sovs ; a”d a sweep of 5 sovs, to go to the second horse. One mile and a half. Mr D. O’Brien’s b m Rubina, 4yrs, 7st

71b ... ... (Stratford) 1 Mr R. H. Yallance’s ch g Salvage, Cyra, Bit 21b (Rudings) 2

Betting—2 to 1 on Rubina.

The mare went to the front immediately the flag dropped, and held a lead of ten lengths passing the stand. At the three-quarter mile post Salvage decreased the gap between the pair, but the mare always held him safe, and won with some-

thing in hand by two lengths. Totalisator, 289—190-LI 7s.

Ladies’ Puksb, of 40 sovs ; welter weights for age ; entrance, 3 sova. miles. District horses only. Mr T. Quill's b m Princess Royal, Byrs, 10st 131 b (Derrett) 1 Mr R. Alexander’s ch c Oranmer, 3yrs, 9st (including 14 b overweight) ... .' “(Domuth) 2 Betting—2 to lon Princess Royal. Cranmor lad at a wretchedly slow pace for a mile The pice then improved, but the mare always had the race in hand, and won easily by two lengths. Totalisator, 237 —161—LI ss. Time—3min 4sec.