CROMWELL RACE MEETING, 1871.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 112, 2 January 1872, Page 5

CROMWELL RACE MEETING, 1871.

Notwithstanding the fact that the aggregate of prize-money offered this by the Cromwell Jockey Club was £135 less than I the amount given away at the preceding Summer Meeting, the success attendant upon the races just concluded has left no cause for regret that the Club did not fix upon a larger sum. The number of nominations for the handicaps was largely in excess of those received at any previous meeting ; and the entries for all the other events, —with the exception of the Town Plate, which is usually the next thing to a walk-over—were quite as numerous and well-bred as on any former occasion. The weather on both days was all that could be desired, if we except one or two of those slight puffs of wind without which a day at Cromwell would be dull and insipid. No inconvenience was felt from the prevalence of dust a? at the Dunstan Course; and the temperature was cool and pleasant throughout the meeting. Between four and five hundred persons were present on the Course each day, among whom was a large proportion of ladies. Mr John Perriam deserves a word of commendation for the unprecedented excellence of his arrangements in connection with the Grand Stand. The stand itself was full on both days, the reduced price of admission —half-a-crown—having contributed no doubt to such a satisfactory result. A corresponding reduction in " nobblers" would have been a step in the right direction ; and we commend this hint to the notice of speculative hotelkeepers who may hereafter purchase the privilege of dispensing fermented and spirituous liquors on the Cromwell Race-course. The refreshment-room was substantially constructed of new corrugated iron, and the Stewards' and jockeys' rooms were of the same material, affording a marked and pleasing contrast to the comfortless calico sheds provided by former lessees. The stewards were painstaking and punctual in the performance of their onerous duties, and are justly entitled to the thanks of the public for the excellence of all their arrangements. Mr Harding, we regret to say, was unable, through illness, to appear in his accustomed place—the judge's chair—on Saturday, and Mr Kidd was called upon to officiate in his stead. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29. MAIDEN PLATE of 30 sovereigns, for all horses that have never won an advertised prize of over 25 so vs. Weight for a,e, j Distance, a mile and a half. Mr E. Pritchard's b g Patch, 4 yrs, (by St Aubyn), 9st ilb ... (H. Goodman) 1 Mr J. tiazlett's b g Mauiototo, 3 yrs. 7st lib Mr W. Smitham's br f Miss Elswiuk, 3 yrs, 7st lib (J. 3 wan ) 3 Mr D. O'Brien's c g Kildare, 6 yrs, lOst lib (Owner) 0 Mr J. A. Douglas's b f Rosina, 3 yrs, 7st lib *(C. Storey) 0 : Mr L. Grant's br g Morven, 5 yrs, 9st 9!b ... (P. Gay) 0 (Rosina was declared to cany lllbs overweight.) A very bad start was made, Patch being at least fifteen yards in advance of the others when the flag dropped. The field, with Patch in the van, kept together as far as tie half mile post, where they fell into Indiai file, and the raGe was afterwards a stragging one to the finish. The giant hurdle racer was never approached except by Miniototo, who was at one time within three or four 'engths of him, but Goodman touched him up, and he came in twenty yards in advance of the second horse. Miss Elswick was a crelitable third. HANDIC A? HURDLE RACE of 40 sovereigns. Distant, two miles and a half ; over eight flights e" hurdles. Mr L. Grants c g Pretender, 6 yrs, Bst 81b (W. Grav) 1 Mr S. Patteron's b m Maid of the Mill, 6 yrs, Bst2lb (H. Williams) 2 Of the eiglt entries, only the two above named came tcthe scratch. On Mr Dawkins giving the sign.l, Pretender at once went to the front, and ed by a couple of lengths to the first fence, vhere he avoided the jump by swerving to the rght, but was quickly brought up with a round tirn and again put at the timber, which he wtnt over this time without any trouble. Mealtime the little mare had cleared the first hu-dle, and was speeding on her way to the ne*,, but on approaching it she followed Pretcider's example and went round it. Williams lost no time in moving for a new trial, and was ready to join Pre- : tender when he came rp. Gray led with the chestnut over the lmrclo, and the Maid followed. Pretender maintained a leading position until after passing the fourth hurdle, : when the Maid came ip with him,—both '■ having cleared the two fences in the straight ' run without difficulty, altiough the chestnut levelled one of the panels with his hind feet in going over. The next jump was neatly ! taken by both, and the lextagain they negotiated simultaneously. O.i nearing the

hurdle which the mare objected to in the first round, Gray cunningly slackened speed on the chance of the Maid again refusing the jump, and the result was as he had calculated—she declined to face the gate, and had to be taken back and put at it again, the second attempt being successful. The time thus lost by the mare was improved by Pretender, who took the remaining leap in good style, and came in an easy winner. The Maid also took the List hurdle gracefully, and reached the judge's box in astonishingly quick time considering the ground she had lost by her misbehaviour. The race was a most exciting one throughout, from the fact that the horses repeatedly changed places, and each at different times appeared certain to win. TOWN PLATE of £SO. Weights for age. Distance, two miles and a, half. Mr M. Studholme's c hj Knottingley, aged, (by Scad—Termagant}, lOst 41b ... (K° Rety) 1 Mr M. Studholme's c f ikying Fish, 3yrs, 6st 71b ' (J. Hughes) 0 This race was a gift to Knottingley, he and Flying Fish being the only entries. The filly merely made a nominal start, and was immediately afterwards walked back to the paddock, leaving the grand old horse to do his gallop alone. Very general regret was expressed that no rival was forthcoming to enable the Cromwell public to witness a trial of speed, on even terms, with the best horse in the Colony. Knottingley's style of going was greatly admired, and we heard him repeatedly spoken of as " a perfect model" of a race-horse. GRAND STAND HANDICAP of £6O. Distance, a mile and a half. Mr E. Ryan's b m Brunette, 5 yrs, (by Scud— Oallista), 6st 121b (C. Holt) 1 Mr S. Patterson's br g Burgundy, aged, Bst 51b (Williams) 2 Mr W. Walters' b m Slander, aged, 9st 121b (French) 3 Mr T. Logan's b g Reefer, aged, 7st (J. Swan) 0 Mr C. Colclough'a b g Fenian, aged, 6st 121b • (R. Moore) 0 Flying Fish and Miss Elswick were scratched ; so the principal event of the day (for which twenty-one nominations were sent in) was confined to the five above mentioned. Brunette was the favourite, from the fact of her being so favourably weighted. At the fall of the starter's Hag the Dunstan crack at once went to the front, and kept the lead till about six furlongs from the convincingground, when Burgundy gained a momentary advantage ; but the mare, having the inside running, quickly regained her place, and won cleverly by half a length. Burgundy, had he carried 41bs less, would certainly have beaten Brunette, for after going half-way round the course he was but a length behind her; and he afterwards made the pace very warm in coming up the straight. Great excitement prevailed at the Stand during the race, and Brunette was loudly cheered at its conclusion. H vCK SELLING RACE of 15 sovs. Winner to be sold for £ls ; surplus to go to the Race Fund. Distance, three-quarters of a mile : heats. No weight less thai lOst. Mr J. M'Solvin'sgg Tommy (D. O'Brien) 1.0.1 Mr J. Kerr's c <r Charlie ... (W. Gray) 0.1.2 Mr M'Morran's Wild Rose ... ( V. Britton) 0.0.0 Mr Griffith's Bobby Burns (G. Partridge) 0.0.0 In the first heat Bobby made the running, closely followed by the Nevis grey, who eventu illy collared him in the last turn; and after a lively struggle between the ropes, the stranger was landed a winner—Bobby's rider pulling up within a few yards of the goal on account of the poet's namesake having accidentally got inside the coin-so in the run home. In the second heat Wild Rose led the van for half a mile, hotly pursued by Charlie, who succeeded in passing her, and won by four lengths. The third heat was won by Tommy, after a well contested race with the Bendigo chestnut. This concluded the proceedings of the first day, and a start was made in sufficient time to reach town before dusk. i . SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30. j MINERS' PURSE of 10 sovs. Distance, threequarters of a mile : heats. No weight less than lOst. j Mr D. O'Brien's c g Kildare, by Malton [ (Owner) 1 1 ! Mr M'Morran's b g Brien O'Lynn | (W. Gray) 2 0 ! Mr J. Werner's b g Sly (G. Partridge) 0 2 l Kate, Hotspur, Wanderer, Venus, and I Star of the North also ran. Kildare won j both heats, the first with Brian a length behind, and the second in a canter. j JOCKEY CLUB HANDICAP of 80 sovs., with a sweepstake of £3 3s added. Distan :e, two miles and a half. Mr E. Pritchard's oh Foretop, 6 vrs, (bv Leotard— Wetsail). 6st 81b ... (R. Moore) 1 Mr E. Pritchard's b g Patch, 4 yrs, 7sfc I ' (Pearson) 2 i Mr T. Logan's c g Excelsior, aged, 6st l'2lb I (J. Swan) 3 Mr W. Walters' b m Yatterina, aged. Bst .. Mr M. Studholme's c hj Knottingley, age.l, LOst 51b (R. Reav) 0 Mr J. A. Douglas's c g Exile, 5 yrs, Bst 31b j \C. Storey) 0

Mr S. Patterson's bg Burgundy, aged, Sst.'nb „••■ ••• , (Williams) 0 Air H>. Kyan s bra Brunette, 5 yrs, 7st luib Knottingley, on the signal being given, led the field tor a short distance, bat Reay deemed it prudent to resorve his best pace for the last railj, and accordingly held him in check. Foretop and Yattarina then went to the front, and in passing the chair for the first time the former was leading by half a head, Patch occupying third place. Foretup then parted company with Yatterina, and in the last mile and a half increased his lead at every stride, reaching the winning post fifty yards ahead of the second horse, Patch, who had passed Yatterina in the straight run. Excelsior's staying powers were conspicuously brought into play in the last half-mile; he had been at the tail of the ruck for some considerable distance, but as the others began to show symptoms of fatigue, he seemed to acquire increased speed, was fourth at the turn, and managed to beat Yatterina by a neck for third place. The time as taken by Mr Cowan was 4.49, but Mr Wrightson made it 5 minutes. HANDICAP HLT3DLE RACE of £3O. Distance, a mile and a half; over five flights of hurdles. Mr S. Patterson's b m Maid of the Mill, aged, (by Somerset, ft*c IKb __ ... (Williams) 1 Mr D. O'Brien's c g Sir Tatton, age.l, 10st 61b (Owner) 2 Mr L. Grant's c g Pretender, 6 yrs, fet 121b (Patch was withdrawn from this race., Sir Tatton, as usual, bounded off with the lead, followed by Pretender and the Maid in Indian file, close order. The trio cleared three fences in excellent style, but at the fourth Sir Tatton and Pretender both shyed off, and allowed the mare to pass them. The last jump, however, didn't seem to suit the Maid, and she required some coaxing to take the leap on a second essay. The two geldings had in the meantime been got over the fourth fence and were coming up to tho final jump when the Maid refused it. Pretender was first over, but unfortunately one of Swan's stirrup-leathers had broken, and in landing he was unseated, but adroitly landed on his feet from the horse's neck, pulled him up, aud agaiu mounted ; but not in time,—for the Maid had been put over and was by this time within a few yards of the box, beating Sir Tatton by half-a-dozen lengths. Had it not been for this accident, Pretender would have carried off first honours in the raco. FRE3 HANDICAP of 30 sovs. Distance, one mile. Mr Stwlholme's c f Flying Fish, 3 yrs, (by Ma'ton) 7st (Hughes) 1 Mr Walcers' b in Slander, aged, 9st 91b (French) 2 Mr D. O'Biien's c g Sir Tatton, a,-ed, 7st 121b (Owner) 3 Mr Douglas's c g Malabar, 5 yrs, 7st Sib ... Mr Colclough's b g Fenian, aged, 6si 51b - (Holt) 0 Mr Smifcham's b g Master King, 4 yrs, sst 61b (Moore) 0 (Fxcelsior and Brunette were scratched.) Flying Fish obtained a lead of three lengths after the start, Slander and Sir Tatton lying next. So far as could be seen for the dust, the positions of the horses were very little changed during the race, except that the filly increased the distance between herself and Slander as they neared the winning-post. CONSOLATION HANDICAP RACE of £2O. Distance, one mile. Mr Walters'h m Slander, S*t 10lb 1 Mr Patterson's l> g Burgundy, Bst 2 Mr Douglas's eg Malabar, Gst 7lb 3 (Fenian was entered, but was afterwards scratched.) Slander was the favourite, and wan the race without much exertion. NEW YEAR'S DAY. Through the liberality of Mr Perriam and other public-spirited gentlemen, a programme of horse and foot races was arranged for New Year's Day ; and by three o'clock in the afternoon, there were 150 people on the Racecourse. The Hospital Race (for which £l2 5s Gd was subscribed on the Course on Saturday) brought six horses to the post, and was won by Mr Smithain's b g Master King ; Mr Goodger's br m Maggie being a good second. For the Trotting Race, of two miles (prize £5), six started. Mr T. Wood's g m Bella (150 yds' start) was the winner by fiftyyards ; Mr Jolly's c m Lucy was second, having started from scratch, and gained 100 yards in the distance gone over. The Hack Race of £5 was won by Mr Wilson's c g Native, beating six others ; Garnet second, and Sly third. A foot-race of 159 yards brought forth four competitors, Joseph and James Laverty, Tom Lefevre, and Hai*ry Goodman. The latter, with three yards' start of the Lavertys, won by a couple of yards. The barbarous sport of pigeon-shooting was afterwards indulged in by a few of the visitors.