THE DUNSTAN SPRING MEETING.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 150, 24 September 1872, Page 6

THE DUNSTAN SPRING MEETING.

(By our Special Reporter.) Dust and dullness were the prevailing characteristics of the Dunstan Spring Race Meeting of 1872. On the r6ad down, the dust was perhaps just plentiful enough to be disagreeable ; whilst on the course, it was positively disgusting. But on the return journey to Cromwell, what my companions and myself suffered from it baffles description. We were treated to the experience of a dusty, gusty gale in the Dunstan Gorge ; and the experience is by no means a pleasant one, or one to wish for a second time. Frequently for a mile together, we were almost unable to open our eyes, and had to hold on and trust to Providence and the horses. We were gravely assured by a resident on the roadside that the wind was " nothing" : the " something" must indeed be a hurricane, with a vengeance. But the dust was only partially the cause of the dullness in connection with the races; for I have seen a fairly lively annual meeting on the same course under the infliction of a decidedly more grievous " dust pestilence" than that prevailing on Friday last. Spring meetings are seldom very exciting or full of gaiety; and certainly that at the Dunstan was no exception to the general rule. The attendance was very poor: not more than 120 people were present, of whom barely the odd 20 were ladies. Alexandra seemed very well represented, judging by the number of equestrians who journeyed in that direction at the finish, and Cromwell contributed something like twenty to the general total. Very little interest was shown in the racing as a whole. The usually magical "They're off!" was hardly magnetic enough to draw off the attention of those persons who watched the chances of a species of " pool," or the performance of the " Davenport rope-tying trick" by an athletic individual, who afterwards went round with the hat,—with poor success, however. Betting was " conspicuous by its absence": money seemed to be scarce ; and the only approach to anything in the "laying the odds" line was by those individuals who wait until a horse is either bound to win or hopelessly beaten before they risk their "five to one," and so forth. But even of this there was little. Everything was "slow" in the highest degree: no single event was run in' anything like decent time, and the intervals between the races were unconscionably extended. As regards the latter complaint, there was much need for more energetic superintendence on the part of the.Stewards. The first race on the programme was the Alexandra Handicap, for which there were six starters. Saladin, the favourite, is a very pretty but small dark bay, and was almost imiversally fancied. Atlas was nothing like fit; but on the strength of his old reputation, some faith was put in him. Port Philip Buck, whose first appearance it was, is a bright chesnut two-year-old, very cleanly made, and with plenty of life in him. Merrylass, the winner, is not new to fame, having frequently figured in meetings in the Blacks and Drybread direction. She was not thought to have much chance, but young Charley Holt won it as he liked with lier. Of the horses that came out for the Maiden Plate and Hack Selling Race, 1 can say but little. Post entry was the rule for both events, and the riders Avore no colours ; consequently! it was somewhat difficult to discover the 'identity of the respective horses. Thus to your reporter much regarding these two events was dark; and your readers must rest content under such enlightenment as he is prepared to bestow. For the " big" handicap of the meeting, Brunette was most fancied, and the result proved another victory for this game little mare. Saladin, even if he had not bolted, would have had but little " show." The Alexandra mare, Cressidor, looked fit enough, and likely ; but she could not do more than keep Brunette awake and at her speed. For the Hospital Race, a small sum was collected, but it was nearly dark when the handicap was run off, so that a postponement had to be made until Saturday. Below is a report in detail of the first day's racing:— Alexandra Handicap of 15 sovs. Distance, one mile. Mr T. Mellor's b m Merrvl?ss, Bst (Holt) 1 Mr T. M'Kay's b g Saladin, Sst 61b (M 'Kay) 2 Mr J. Hazlett's b g Atlas, lOst 21b (Wadded) 3 Mr J. Cox's c c Port Philip Buck, (ist 71b • (Richardson) 0 Mr D. Taggart's b g Glenwherry, 7st 71b (Swan) 0 Mr T. Hawthorne's gg Bobby, 6st 121b(Mowrc) 0 Mr Cox's young one seemed inclined to be slightly fractious when the boy mounted at the starting post, and indulged in a little pirouetting upon his hind legs. After one abortive attempt, Mr Cowan dropped the flag, and away they went. Very soon, Merrylass and Bobby came to the front, and raced side by side over half the distance a couple •of lengths in advance of the remaining four,. which were all in a body. But Bobby could not keep up the steam, and before the winning post was reached, was lamentably in the rear. Merrylass won easily, well in hand, and the others, all passing Bobby in turn, came in in the order named. Maiden Plate of 10 sovs. Weight for age. Distance, three-quarters of a mile.

Mr M'Kay's Swindle (M'Kay) 1 Mr Taggart's Glenwherry (Taggar'fc) 2 Mr Oriiidley's Lady Chorister (Lain") 3 Mr J. Cox's Port Philip Buck (Swan) 0 Hotspur, Coquette, Dewdrop, Gamecock, and Polly also ran. Swindle won by about a length, after a very fairly contested race. Glenwherry passed Lady Chorister close upon the post, and Port Philip Buck just managed to secure fourth place, having'for the first

half-mile been some little distance in the rear of the whole field.

Hack Selling Race of 15 sovs. No weight under lOst. Three-quarters of a mile heats. Winner to be sold for 15 sovs., and any surplus to go to the race fund. Mr Burke's Wexford (Waddell) 10 1 Mr Grindley's Lady Chorister (Laing) 212 Magenta, Cripple, Jessie, Miss Slipfoot, and Gamecock also ran. In the first heat, a remarkably close contest took place between Wexford and Lady Chorister, and the former won merely by half a head. In the second, he was saved by Waddell; Lady Chorister won by a length, the whole of the others being close up. Wexford took the third easily, +>lo +«™ nnA o /■.,■,„„)-«—.,:i~» —...• 1 by Mr Grindley's songstress considerably lessening her chance. The winner was afterwards " auctioned" to Mr Hazlett for £2O. Dunstan Handicap of 30 sovs. One mile and a half. Mr J. Hazlett's b m Brunette, Bst 101b (Waddell) 1 Mr W. Beresford's c in Cressidor, 7st 41b... (Moore) 2 Mr T. Hawthorne's gg Bobby, 6st 81b (Richardson) 3 Mr T. M'Kav's b g Saladin, Bst 31b...(Swan) 0 Mr Cowan met with some difficulty in getting them away, and twice the horses had to brought back to front him. When they did get the signal to go, Cressidor hung back, and the other horses had three or four lengths the advantage of her. Before they had gone fifty yards, Saladin bolted across country, and ere he could be persuaded to tackle the course his rivals had traversed fully a fourth of their journey. However, he was pulled up half way round. Bobby never had the ghost of a chance, and Cressidor and Brunette thus had the contest to themselves. Brunette took the lead coming into the straight, and, —except at one time when a clog ran across the course, forcing Waddell to check the mare's stride, —maintained it by a couple of lengths until home was reached.

SECOND DAY—SATURDAY. ( From a Correspondent.) The Dunstan Spring Meeting would have been a much more successful affair had the Stewards' management been a little nearer the mark. On the first day they could not clear the card before night overtook them ; and on the second day, it was dark before the Trotting Match came off. At that time, I believe there was not a steward on the ground. And the judge : of course he was most enthusiastic in the matter ; but query, —was he at his post during the whole of the races ? I would suggest to gentlemen who consent to act as stewards that they make up their minds to carry out the duties entrusted to them, or else not allow their names to appear in print.

I append the results of the second day's events: —

The Hack Hurdle Handicap was won by Merrylass (carrying 9st 21b), beating Sir Charles (lOst 41b), Dr Black, and Fireater (9st 51b each). The Hospital Race, which had to be adjourned from the previous day, was won by Wexford.

Saladin won the Consolation Handicap of 10 sovs., in a field of eight. Trotting Match,—distance, two miles : Peggy, 000 yards, 1; Tommy, scratch, 2 ; Donald, 400 yards, S.