ASHBURTON SPRING MEETING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1386, 22 November 1884, Page 2

ASHBURTON SPRING MEETING.

The annual Spring Meeting of the Ashburton Racing Club was concluded yesterday, and wo regret that it is not our pleasing duty to again congratulate the Club upon the unqualified success of the fixture. We need hardly repeat that there have been no shortcomings on the part of the Committee or other officials of the Club, they have one and all well deserved a continuation of the success which has attended their previous gatherings, and the only deficiency—a serious one, but one quite beyond the control of the management —was in the number of the competitors for the handsome stakes offered by the Club. The weather left nothing to be desired in that direction, the attendance of the public wa's remarkably good, and considering the character of the racing the commission accruing from the 13,102 invested upon the totalisator must be considered satisfactory. It is difficult to account for the small fields, but the solution of this difficulty will doubtless engage the early attention of the Committee, and wo might suggest for their consideration the possibility of owners being satiated with racing sb” soon after the Metropolitan meeting, and the propriety of making some change in the date ®f their fixture. The fact that the Post Stakes of 20 sovs on the first day, for district horses, attracted a field of eight, and the largest investment of the meeting on the totalisator, and yielded a net profit of nearly LlO to the Club, iraj also point to the wis dora of more largely subsidising district races, and lessening the amounts given to the open races. Mr Campbell was very unfortunate as starter yesterday, but the Stewards, with characteristic promptitude, insisted upon Mr O’Brien apologising for some highly improper criticism, Mr Stitt, as Judge, Mr M. Friedlander, as Clerk of the Scales, and Mr Hewson, as Clerk of the Course, were as usual an fait throughout the meeting in their respective offices, and the Secretary discharged his multifarious duties without any apparent hitch. The following are the results of the events run after we went to press yesterday; fc-'pbatch Race Handicap, of 15 sovs ; 3,mile.

Mr McLeod s g m Flirt, 7at 31b (White) 1 Mr J. Ranger’s b s Coburg, 7st lib (Price) 2 Mr tx. Cox’s g g Pearl, 7st 71b, (Sharp) 3 Mr Healy's b m Idalia, Oat ... (Kllliot) 0 Mr J. H. Stephens’ hr m Brown Rose, 7st 31b (Jones) 0

The lot were despatched to a wretched start, of which Idalia got the worst, and Pearl the best. At the distance Pearl was beaten and left Coburg in command, but Flirt coming on the inside won by a length, Pearl a po»r gthird. Totalisator, dividend, L 3 Ba. Consolation Handic vp, of 30 sovs. One

mile. Messrs M. and C. Hobbs’ b g Jackdaw Bst 01b (Sharpe) 1 Mr R. Alexander’s ch f Duchess of Albany, 6st 121 h (White) 2

Mr H. Goodman’s b g Unit, 7st 21b (Mitchell) 3 Mr J. G. Seaton’s ch g Andy 9st (Keeth) 0 Mr J, Smith’s b g Frantic, 7at sib (Price) 0

Duchess of Albany made the running on the fall of the flag, and led to the distance, when Jackdaw joined her and appeared to have the beat of the struggle, but within the rails the filly came again under the whip, and had a length's advantage at the paddock gate, when she sud denly stopped and allowed Jackdaw to win. Totaliaator dividend, L2 2s. During the race for the Hunters Flat Race Royalty gaud Pirate were racing neck and neck on passing the stand, the former havingitha inside running. Walls, on Royalty, tried to jam Brirate bn tq the ra:ls ; and Hobbs, who was riding thq latter, drew out his whip in self-defence and struck Walls several times on the neck and shoulders. They were afterwards brought before the Stewards, when Walla was fined L 3 3a for improper riding, and Hobbs was censured for striking the rider of Royalty.