LITTLE RIVER RACES.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 398, 28 May 1880, Page 2

LITTLE RIVER RACES.

(from our own correspondent.)

The annual meeting of the Little River . Races took place on Monday last, the 24th . instant, on a course at Little River, the use of which was kindly granted by Mr J. F. Stanbury, sen. The course has been , greatly improved since last year, and will no doubt, if the use of it can be obtained, be further improved from year to year. 1 Improvements in other matters as may be ! expected at a newly started country , meeting like this, are required ; for in- : stance, the arrangements for weighing were of a rather primitive nature. This and other matters will, we have no doubt, ■be remedied at future meetings. The : weather was fine and bracing, but the wind rather cold. The attendance from all parts, considering counter attractions elsej where was very numerous, and on the { whole the people were well conducted. Mr J. F. Stanbury, jun., clerk of the course, performed his duties well and • effectively. Mr S. Johnson, as starter, : was, as usual, all there with the flag, Mr , J. Duxhury, the handicapper, may be congratulated on the very satisfactory manner he fulfilled the duties attached to the office. In the absence of Mr J. R. , Gilliatt, Mr P. R. Ralph undertook to act as clerk of the scales, and did the work 1 well. Mr J. F. Stanbury, sen., officiated • as judge, it is almost needless to say, to •■ the satisfaction of all, and this day he had a rather difficult task. The hon. secretary, Mr Jacobsen, was to the fore ready and willing to give information whenever required. The time for commencing the racing was fixed for noon, but for some reason it was nearly one o'clock before a start was made ; this ought to be remedied at any future meeting, as, in consequence of the late start as well as a dead heat being run, the Consolation and Trotting Match had to be postponed until Tuesday morning. Sergeant Willis and Constable Smart were in attendance, and have to be complimented on the tact and judgment with which they perform ed their somewhat onerous duties The racing commenced with the Maider Hurdle For this event sia faced the starter, Lochness was the favorite but when holding a strong lead, struck the second hurdle, unseating her jockey, thu put her out of the hunt, and the winnei most unexpectedly turned out in Mr G. Robinson's Kaiapoi. For the next event, the Handicap Hurdle Race, Tyro was at once scratched, and two only came to the post. Just after the start, Tarewa was pulled up, Robin Hood gently cantering over the course for the money. Six saddled up for the Publican's Purse Handicap and faced the starter, Lochness again led from the jump. After going a short distance she overpowered her rider and went off the course and behind the publican's booth, and was out of it. Malvina carried a stone or more over weight or she must have won, as it was she was third, the winner being Titokowara. This was another surprise for the public. The next event on the card was Wairewa Handicap, or as the villagers call it the big money. For this six weighed out but only four faced the starter, Marie Antoinette being at once made a strong favorite, 2 to 1 being offered on her with no takers. At the second round the race became a match between Eclat and the mare, first one and then the other leading. They came up the straight side by side, and on passing the judge he was unable to divide them atid declared it a dead heat. The owners agreed to run off in half an hour, at the end of which time they again faced the starter, and it once more became a match, and after as game a race as any one could wish to see, the mare just managed to land a winner. The Hack Race came nest, when nine started, and the winner turned up in Mr Crocker's Nipper. The Consolation and Trotting , Race were postponed until Tuesday. Maiden Hurdle Race of 10 so vs.; for district horses; entrance, £1; distance, mile 3. Mr G, Robinson's c g Kaiapoi, aged, list 41b 1 Mr W. Green's b g Jack, syrs, list 41 b 2 Mr Moreshead's b c Pineapple, 3yrs, 9st 101b , 3 Mr T. Sheenan's c g Tarewa, aged, list 41b 0 Mr J. Olphert's c g Tout, syra, list 41b 0 Mr D. Grant's b in Lochness, syrs, list 41b 0 Mr J. Crocker's r h Simpleton sc.

All got away well, jumping the first hurdle in fine style. Nearing the second hurdle Lochness held a good lead, pulling double. This hurdle she struck rather heavily, unseating her rider and putting her at once out of the race. All the others got through or over and continued on their journey. Hounding the last turn coining to the straight Kaiapoi held the lead and maintained it to the end, with Jack in close attendance, a good second. The rider of Jack entered a protest against Kaiapoi for not jumping all the hurdles, but it was afterwards withdrawn. Handicap Hurdle Kace of £15; nominations, £1; acceptance, £1 ; open to all comers. Two miles. Mr W. Angus' b g Robin Hood, list 71b ... l Mr T. Sheenan'e c g Tarewa, lOst 12lb 2 Tyro was scratched for this race, and Tarewa was only started to save a walkover. Robin Hood, ridden by Mr J. Lunn, took a nice exercise over the course just to show the people present his jumping powers. Publicans' Purse Handicap of 10 sors, for district horses; nomination, 15s ; acceptance, 15 ; one and a half miles. Mr W. Lyall's c g Titokowaru, 5 yrs Bst , ... 1 Mr T. Sheenan's c g Tarawa, aged 8stl2II) 2 Mr W. Castle's b in Malvina, 6 yts, 9st 21b ... ... 3 Mr R. Crocker's b m Minnie. 3 yrs, 7st4lb ; ... 0 Mr D. Grant's b m Lochness, 5 yrs, Bst ... \.| o Mr B. Shadbolt T s b g Blue Ribbon, 3 yrs 7at 61b ... 0 The whole six acceptors weighed out and started. The result was a general surprise to almost everyone present. Lochness, who ran very wide at the sharp turns, proved herself a good fast mare, and no doubt with a little more training and in good hands will yet pay for her oats. Tito won hands down with any amount of lengths to spare. Malvina carried a stone above her weight; if her owner could have got someone to ride at the proper weight, I believe she would have won. Wairewa Handicap of 20 sove; open to all comers ; nomination, £1; acceptance, £1. Two miles. Mr J. Lunn's Marie Antoinette, 3 yrs 9st l Mr B. Shadbolt's Eclat, aged, Bst 121b 2 Mr W. Angus' Johnny, aged, Bst 71b 0 Mr T. Sheenan's Tarewa, aged, Sat 91b 0 Mr J. Castle's Symphony, aged, Bst 71b 0 Mr M'Causland's Orange Peel, 6 yrs. 9sfc 0 Mr W. Angus' Robin Hood, aged, 9st2lb sc. Six horses weighed out, but only four started for this event. The /ace lay between Eclat and Marie Antoinette, and the first time of asking resulted in a dead heat. After half an hour's spell, Eclat and Marie Antoieette came to the post again, the result, after a race that was worth travelling miles to see, ended in Marie Antoinette coming in a winner, very closely pushed by Eolat. Hack Race. For this event nine horses entered and started, Mr R. Crocker's Nipper being first. Tuesday. Consolation of 6 aovs.; entrance, 1.0s; distance, 1 mile. Mr J. MeCau-land's bg Orange Peel, 9st 21b '. ... 1 Mr Shadbolt's b 1 Eclat, Bat 2 Mr W. Angus' t> g Johnny, Bst 21b ... 0 Mr W. Castlo's bin Malvina, Bst ... 0 Orange Peel won easily by two lengths. Handicap Trornxa Match of £1 each, with £2 2s added from the funds ; distance, 2 miles. Four entered and started for this race, which was won by a horse belonging to Mr J. Lnnn. This finished the racing - , immediately after which an adjournment was made to Host Olphert's where the settlement took place, when all stakes were paid and all other accounts settled, leaving a good balance in hand for another year. This brought to a conclusion the best and most successful meeting ever held at Little River, and we may say on the Peninsula.