ALBERTOWN RACES.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 154, 22 October 1872, Page 5

ALBERTOWN RACES.

The race meeting at Albertown this yeai was on a much larger sealer—both as regardec the pumber of events and the amounts of the stakes-Hthan upon any . former • occasion. There were seven, advertised races,—extending over two days,—besides several private matches and the customary Hospital race, The .weather was i delightfully .fine on both days, pud the number of spectators was greatly in excess of what one would expect to see in suchi a a. thinly.peopled. district. Visitors were there from Bendigo, Cromwell, Clyde, Alexandra, Nevis, Arrow, Shotover, Gardrona, Makarora, and even Waitaki and Dunedin. The course is nleasantly situated on a terrace adja ! ent to the southern side of Mount Iron, and about midway between the townships of Newcastle (or Albertown) and Pembroke.

Mr I. liOUghnan acted as judge ; Mr G. B. Bond as starter ; MrH. F. Willmott as clerk of the course ; Messrs W. Shrimpton and J. Ewing as handicappers ; and Sir W. ArthurWorsop performed the onerous duties of secretary. The stewards were Messrs H. S. Thomson, G. B. Bond, John M'Grath, T. A. Fraser, H. Campbell, Theodore Russell, and H, Norman. The systematic and satisfactory manner in which the programme was carried out by the stewards and their coadjutors afforded an example wprthy of imitation by more pretentious race committees.

The racing was in nearly every instance well contested, and the horses were run wholly on their merits. The victory of Mr Bond's Kata (in the principal race) over Saladiaand several other well-known performers on the Provincial turf, occasioned no little s uprise and gratification to the local residents. Merrythought's achievements in beating S damn in a private match, and afterwards Glenvthcrry for the Publicans’ Purse, also ! afforded cause for congratulation. The Maiden Plate was won by Governor, a locally-bred horse, beating six others ; the Publicans’ Purse by Merrythought; the Al-1 bertown Handicap by Kaka (the two last i mentioned horses being owned by Oardrona ; residents); and the Hack Race by Unknown, | a horse belonging to Mr Hill, of Longslip i Station. On the seepnd day, the Blswick i Plate vas carried oif by Jasper, a very pro-1 raising colt bred by Mr Campbell. The Shorts | was a well earned victory for Governor, also j bred on the Wauaka Station; whilst the! Consolation Handicap and the Hospital Race | (for which £9 2s. lid. was collected by Mr VVillmott and others), were won by Saladin, | beating Port Philip Buck and Croydon. In a private match for £2J, distance one j mile, between Saladin and Merrythought, the i latter came, off victorious ; and a half-mile i spin—the result of a challenge—between i Kaka <acid Gleuwlierry, proved an easy j victoryjfor Mr. B-.n l’s grey. ' ! The booth on t.ie racecourse was in the! hands of Mr H. Maidman, of the Albion Hotel, Luggato, who j)lied a busy trade in supplyhg the incessant demands of the thirsty throng throughout the meeting. It is but sddom commendation is bestowed upon the qualtvof liquors vended at a race-booth, but on tiis occasion tire praises of Mr Maidnun’s bier were sounded spontaneously by almost e-eryone who imbibed the refreshing beverage, Not les than fifty persons were accommodated at the Wanaka Hotel on the racenights. T> those who have not yet visited the Lake, thii circumstance will convey some | idea of tin extent of Mr Russell’s premises. ITae ho el s certainly one of the most comj f triable, comnodious, and well-managed establishment of the kind t > he met with anywhere in tie interior of Otago. Mr Norman’s hotel at Albertowu was also largely patronised. The result if the races are given in detail below.

Fust Day : Friday. Maiden Plate »f 15 sova. Distance, one mile. Weight for age. Mr 0. P. M'Calh u's brg Governor, by Grey Camden, Gyre,lost lib ... (W. Caldwell) 1 Mr H. (.'amobeli’ bl g Jasper, bv Klawick, 3 ys, 7*t 3d), called 8:13 ... (J. M’Guire) 2 Mr T. Tuoli/s b,i Mali!.la, 4 yrs. 9st lib (G. Valentine) 3 vlr Hill’s 1) g Unkhwn, 6 yrs, lOst lib

.• (H. Smith) 0 Mr Theodore Husseys eh g Sunbeam, 3 vrs. 7at 311). carried 8 4 (0. 1!..1 r) 0 Mr H. S Thomson’s f The Fawn, 3 vrs, Tat, 31b, carried 8:0 (.!.' Swan) 0 Mr 1. M* Kay’s cli f I tty Morris. 4 yrs, 9st lib, carried 9: 4 ... r. (l/Fra-er) 0 Won with ease by (rverior. Time—2 min. Publicans’ Puhsk of o sovs. Three-rjuarter-mde heats. No wight under Hist.

Mr U. Hudson's b g Meruihought. aged, K)st t-T- Allan) 1 1 Mr I’. M‘Kay’s b g Oleiwberry. aged, H'st (I'. 'l‘Kay) 22 Mr T. M'Kay’s ch m Ettyvtoriis. 4 vrs. 19st ••• (J. Fraser) 0 0

The race lav between Merrt,bought an I (denwherry,—the Morris Dancer n are ’having been entered in order to m»ke up t a requisite number of starters. In both heats the runnin ' was very similar r.Olenwherry le.l 4r three or’-fmr furlongs, when-he was overtake rin l"passedl>y Merrythought, an I the hitter in easy winner. . - '•*

;\i,bertowv H.vxdicap of 30 s<v a - Distance, two miles. Open to all h-ges, Mr 0. B. Bond’s g g Kaka, aged, ft, carried 8:4 •• Mol ) 1 Mr H. Campbell's hj g Boomerang, fyns. Bst 51b, carried 8 : li, ... (J. Mr H. S. ThosisuFa br g Croydon, 4 rg, s t • • ••• •* (Etwan) 3 Mi J. Tuohy sb m Matilda, 4 yrs. 8s car . red 8:5 (0. Vaiei.i ne ) o MrVV. Shauly’s bg Fenian, aged, 9st, ar . ffid 9 :4 ... „• a

Mr T. M‘Kay’s be Saladin, 5 yTs, 9st 101b .... _ v .,. v ... (J. Fraser) 0 Mr L. Graut’k g m "Nelly Gray, aged, lOst i.a.u. ... *... (H. Smith) 0 Time —3 min. 57 sec. II vck Rack of five sovs., for all untrained horses. Distance, one mile. Catch weights. Mr Hill’s b g Unknown • ; 1 Mr J. Lindnick’s ch g Roderick ... ... 2 Mr W. Shard'y’s b g Feman ... ... ... 3 Mr R. Swan’s ch.g Charlie 0 This was a well-conteste 1 race, and the finish was most, exciring,—Unknown winning only by a neck. Roderick’s jockey (Charlie Holt), thinking the race was to be run in heats, allowed his horse to go at his own pace until within a few strides of the judge’s stand, when, upon a sudden thought, hs ma-do an eff n’t to win but too late. Rode-iek would have been first past the post had he been called noon sooner. Fenian came in three lengths behind Roderick. Second Day : Saturday. Elswiok Pi.ate of 15 sovs. For district three-year-olds. Distance, one mile. Mr H. Campbell’s bl c Jasper, 3 yrs. Bst 101b, carried 8; 13 .. (.1. M'Guire) 1 Mr H. S. Thomson’s hj f The Fawn, 3 yrs, Bst 14)1 b, carried 8: 13 . . " ... (Fraser) 2 Mr Theodore Russell’s ch g Sunbeam, 3 yrs, Bst 10!b (C. Holt) diet.

Unfortunately, Sunbeam and The Fawn both went oIT the course soon after starting, and Jasper was left to finish the running alone. After some trouble, the runaways wee again got on the track, but too late to have any chance of winning. "

Shorts, of 5 sovs.' Half-mile heats, without dismounting. Catch weights.- -

FIRST" HR AT. Sir \J 'Callum’sbr gOoveruor ... ... I Mr Shanly’s l> g Fenian ... (.J. Swan) 2 Mr Hudson’s b g Merrythought (C. Holt) 3 Won by a length and a half. SECOND HEVT. Fenian, 1 ; Merrythought, 2 ; Unknown, 3. This heat was won by a head, and was the most exciting event of the meeting. The third horse was several lengths behind at the finish. THIRD lIBAT. Governor, 1 ; Fenian, 2. Fenian led at the start,, hub-was-caught by Governor within a couple of hundred yards, anil did not succeed in regaining his origina’ position. Governor wo t a wading race by three lengths. Consolation Handicap of It) govs. Distance, one mile. M.- T. M‘K ay’s b c Saladin, by The Colonel, 5 yrs. Bst 81b ~ v ,. ... (Fraser) 1 Mr Graham’s b g Boomerang, 4 yrs, Bso 12ib ;.. (J. M’Guire) 2 Mr H. S. Thomsm’s brg Croydon. 4 yrs, 7st . ' F’ih ••• ... (d. Allan) 0 W hen the st r er -dropped his-fl-ag. Croydon avent otf in a Ivance, tallowed by I’onnerang; but when half-way round, Croydon bolted. Saladin collared -Boomerang coining up the straight, and won "by half a dozen lengths.