DUNSTAN SPRING RACES.

Cromwell Argus, Volume 2, Issue 96, 12 September 1871, Page 5

DUNSTAN SPRING RACES.

Fill DAY AND SATURDAY, SEPT. 8 & 9. The Dunstau Jockey; Cl.ih Spring Meeting opened on Friday last, under circumstances the most discouraging,— so far as the state of the. weather was concerned. Flying showers, borne on the wings of a piercing northeasterly blast, rendered the Race-course anything but an agreeable resort for even the most devoted admirers of the English national pastime. The Grand Stand—exposed as it is to the full force of-every breeze that blows presented a beggarly array of empty benches; modern stoicism was unequal to the ordeal of sitting calmly down in the open air in such wild weather as that of Friday afternoon. The attendance of visitors was not so large as at the Cromwell meeting ; but the racing was infinitely better. A delightful change in the weather occurred on Friday evening, and on Saturday the Race-course was visited by numbers of people who had reluctantly stayed at home on the first day. The Grand Stand and Refreshment Booth were under the cave of Mr Alfred Moore, (if the Junction Hotel, Clyde, who is widely known as a successful caterer in connection with public gatherings on the Dunstau. On the second day, Mr Moore very generously ; gave the use of the Grand Stand for the bej nefit of the Dunstau Hospital, and we were | glad to observe that a largo number availed I themselves, of this opportunity of doing good !by paying the admission fee-—one shilling.,. j Detailed accounts of the various races will j be found b«low : j FIRST DAT. Handicap Hurdle Race of 15 sovs. One mile and a half, over five flights of hurdles. Entrance, £l. (Four entries.) Mr Hazlctt’s g g Musician, lift. ...(Waddell) 1 Mr O’. Turnbull's bl g Te. Kooti, !M til!) (carried lifts overweight) ... (Goodman) 2 Mr L. Grant's ch g Pretender, Pst 1 r-Jlb (bang) it Mr Cowan's eg Poison, lOsfc 61b ... (Grav) o Musician amply atoned for bis obstinate behaviour in the Hurdle Race at Orom'Welij and took all his leaps “like a bird.” Poison was “out of sorts,” and positively declined to face the timber on this occasion. To Kooti ran and jumped well and steadily, as also did Pretender. The old grey, however, was in capital going trim, and won with case. Maiden Plate of 10 sovs. Open to all j horses that have never won an advertised j-rm; prize (hack or other). Weights : three fpiij jjrpars, Sst ; four, list ; five and aged, Rlst. UAjr of a mile. (Six entries ) IMr Smithain’s b g Master King, 3 yrs, Sst ... " ••• ••• ... ... (.Marsha!!) I I £ MrWi Fraser's c m Ruby, ,3 yrs, Sst ... “ oMadM.'faruer’s b g Sly, 4 yrs, 9st ... ... 3 '>iMyM,,jDovi:'s c g Hotspur, 4 yrs, Pst ... 0 h\lf Hughes’ b m Kate ... ... ... n ‘Mr'AtHold’a bay Colt ... ... ... o ‘/I’jUter a good start, Ruby wont off with the v WfCS/vvluch she maintained until within a distance of the Grand Stand, when nMsstcr King, who had been gradually gainJ ing ground, chaliengod her ; and after an cx- ‘ struggle, Mr Stnitham's horso got j'^ajr^agland won by a length.

Ij&WttttcAT’ Hack of 25 sova, One mile ami ,1 hadtalf. Entrance, ijOs, {Five entries.) Ryan’s b m Brunette, -i yrs, 7si 6!u

. /Mp-v-p) 1 Mr-HPJSboflmaii’a bm 'iazelie, ■} vrs. 10st (Owner! 2 •WWlhtt’a b £ .Maniutota, 2 yra, tU 21b ' ” •••••• ■ ••• ... /iioit) a , Mt'Golc!o«gb’s b g Tehran, 6 vrs, 'Sat 6'h .* (Robertson) o Mr Smitham’s c g The Ftp, aged, 8„i

'. ” ... (Marshall! it Mr Haslett’a g g Musician, aged, fist 41b (ser '

Gazelle mode Hie running for about half the distance, -waited upon by The Rip, with Brunette third. Brunette then shot up alongside, and quickly passed Gazelle, leading by a good length to the winning-post. Maniototo was a good .third, —almost nook and nock with Gazelle. It was r-aid that had the weight cwried by Gazelle b-ion four pounds less, ibe would have. >,n the r„ ■■■.

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time in which a mile anil a half has over been accomplished on the Diuistan Course. Hack Race of 15 govs. Open to all horses that have never won an a Ivartised prize of over 20 so vs. Winners of between 15 and 20 sovs. to carry a penalty of 7lh. No weight under list. Three - quarter • mile heats. Entrance, £l. (Six entries.) FIRST HEAT. Mr L. Grant's hr g Morven, list ... (Gay) 1 Mr A. King’s b g Joe Oope, Hat (Owner) 2 Mr Hebden’s c g Charlie, list 71b (Elliott) 3 Mr M'Morrau’s c g Roderick (Turnbull; 0 Mr J. Cox’s b m Polly Leake (Swan) 0 Mr A. Fraser’s r ra Kate (Owner) dis. Kate, although badly ridden, led the van until she approached the straight running, when it became evident she had “shot her bolt.” Morven and Joe Cope then passed the mare, —the former winning as he pleased. Joe was twenty yards in the rear at the finish, and Charlie a respectable distance behind him. SECOND HEAT. Morven 1 Charlie 2 Joe Oops 3 Mr Welsford succeeded in effecting an admirable start. This time Roderick was seen in front, followed by Polly Leake ; Morven, hard held, lying next. At the three-quarter mile post, Morven, with Charlie in his wake, overhauled and passed Polly and Roderick ; and on reaching the convincing ground he was leading by a dozen yards ; Charlie coming in second, and Joe Cope third. Kate was pulled up in both heats on turning the corner into the run home. Hurry Scurry of 5 sovs. No weight Tinder 10st. One mile. Entrance, 7s 6d. (Seven entries.) Mr Hazlett’s g g Musician . . (Waddell) I Mr Gray’sbg .Merrythought . (Owner) 2 Mr Stewart’s c g Spec .... .3 Mr Grant’s c g Pretender . . (Gay) 0 Mr J. Dove’s c g Hotspur . . . 0 Mr Hughes’ b g Stanley . . . 0 Mr O'Brien's br g Welcome .... 0 This was the best race of the day. Merrythought started off with the lead, and made the pace rather warm throughout. Pretender was second for some distance, until Musician, who had been lying back, gradually drew up to a position abreast of the bobtail, and a splendid race ensued, —Musician winning by only half-a-length.—This concluded the programme for the first day.

SECOND DAY. At a meeting of the Stewards held at Cox’s Port Philip Hotel on Friday evening, it was agreed to announce two events for Saturday, —viz., an open Handicap Pace, and a Conso-1 lation Handicap. We append the results ; Handicap Race of 10 sovs. Open to all horses. One mile. Entrance, 10s. (Five entries.) Mi’ Cox’s b m Brunette, Sst 21b (Holt) 1 Mr Crant’s br g Morven, Sst 21b (Gray) 2 Mr Ilazlett’s rrg Musician, 9st 101b (Waddell) 3 Mr Oolclnugh’s Fenian, 7st 101b (Robertson) 0 .Mr Smitham’s The Rip, 7et Sib (Moore) 0 Brunette led the way at a rattling pace, Morven and Fenian three lengths in her rear, Musician fourth, and The Rip—evidently in distress—a long way behind. Brunette was never headed, and won by about forty yards ; Morven coming in second, and Musician, who bad changed places with Fenian, third. The Rip broke clown about three hundred yards from home, having strained one of his hindquarters, and was led off the course dead i lame. The next race was a private match between j Mr M'Morran’s eg Spec and Mr Dove’s Hot-1 spur, for £5 a side ; the former with list up, I and the latter with 10st. The distance agreed upon was half-a-milc. Spec was ridden byj Mr A. Fraser, and Hotspur by Mr Cl urn-lj bull. Hotspur bad a slight advantage'll the start, besides getting inside place the] course. Spec clapped on steam and"Wide chase after his gaunt adversary ; they? fjyni abreast for a few seconds, but Spec fell'babk; slightly at the quarter-mile post. seemed to ha ve .every chance of winning, he was ahead fifty yai’ds from the goal. Jfurn-ji bull, however, was too confident, and,, to the amusement of the spectators, made a vigorous spurt and won clever neck. yi9 ! Consolation Handicap of 10 sovs. iSSjnlfij beaten horses. Distance, t hree-qnaixfttfxif:

a mile. Entrance, 10s. (Seven cotrwtJU; ■ Mr Goodman’s b m Gazelle. lOst (Owner) 1 Mr Colclough’s b g Fenian, 7st (51b Mr Grav’s b g Merrvthnugbt, Sst 101b -:?hy, 1 ... ‘ lOffAfrhjjß Mr M'Morran’s c g Roderick. 7st 41b ( nj>ls)r, 0 Mr Fraser’s c m Ruby, 04 61b (MQs2eLi)& Mr -Ufields bay colt, Cst 3® Mr Hughes’ b g Stanley, Gst 71h Ruby and Stanley made a false galloped together in hot earnest for half a mile before their riders discovered the mistake. The field having been got together again, tho flag dropped, and Gazelle wont to tho front, was never caught during tho race, and carried her lOst to the winning post half-a-dozen lengths ahead. Fenian secured second place ; Merrythought, two lengths in his rear, third ; and Roderick fourth. Tho Hospital Race was won by Mr M‘Morranht Roderick, piloted by Charlie Holt.