CROMWELL SPRING MEETING.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 262, 6 October 1874, Page 6

CROMWELL SPRING MEETING.

The Spring Race Meeting, under the auspices of the Cromwell Jockey Club, was held on the Club’s course on Friday last, the 2nd instant. The weather on Thursday was anything but prophetic of a pleasant day for the meeting, being wild, raw, and stormy, but Friday morning broke beautifully, and the day continued fine. A. strong breeze in the afternoon, however, rendered standing about the booth among the crowd very unpleasant by reason of the dust; but otherwise the weather was all that could be desired,—to use the hackneyed form of expression. The attendance was very fair, a couple of hundred people being present. The “ fancy,” represented by some three or four “under and over” men, did a. flourishing business, being allowed great latitude by the police. The meeting was in every respect a successful one, except as regards the small number of entries ior the handicaps, owing greatly to the fact -of the date of closing being fixed too early. Two entries for one, and three for the other of the big events, is but a poor state of things. However, the great number that came forward for the Maiden Plate was more encouraging, and for the other races there were generally fair fields. The running for the handicaps can by no means be characterised as good. ! Verbena had it all her own way in both of them ; which, after the poor show ■he made at Alexandra and the Dunstan, is rather astonishing, and may be noted as another of the grand uncertainties of racing. The feeling at seeing her pass the post first appeared to he one of pleasure mainly ; we suppose the public are getting tired of seeing -even game little Brunette’s victories, and were pleased at her defeat if only for the sake of variety. Nothing in the racing calls for any remark, except the protest entered in the Maiden Plate against Mountain Hare, the particulars of which will be found explained below.

One thing struck us in connection with this meeting, and a suggestion to the Jockey Club in the matter may not be out of place. Why do not the Club institute athletic sports as an accompaniment of their Spring Meeting ? This is found to work elsewhere, —at the ' Arrow and Cardrona for instance ; and doubt- : less would be a success here. The time be- ' tween the races passes very slow, and many ‘ turn their attention to the “ under and over” < or “sweat” business, who would find some- ‘ thing else to interest them if running and -jumping were included in the programme. '■ The experiment might be tried, at any rate. : The first event on the programme was the Maiden Plate, of 10 sovs. Weight for age. % Distance, one mile. ■Mr Duhig’s b in Mountain Hare, 5 yrs, 9st 91h i ... - .... . •... ... (Waddell) - I, .Mr Kane’s g in Cripple, aged, 10st lib (Smith) 1 Mr O’Donnell’s bg Victory, 5 yrs, 9st 91b ... ... •. ... (Robertson) 2 Mr Thompson’s ch m Ruby, 6 yrs, 10st lib v.' ... (J. Fraser) 3 Mr Fleming’s Kate. Mr Colville’s Roger, Mr Howe’s Coquette, Mr Partridge’s Echo, and Mr Dawkins’ Gipsy also ran. ■ Cripple was a warm favourite for this . . event. ; but Mountain, Hare, a mare of very •mall proportions, astonished everyone by, wresting.the victory from Cripple at the last moment. A protest, however, was entered, Rsto. The

groiiftdqh which it was laid was, that the Hare had been entered as a 4-yr old, when really, on the very day of nomination, according to the rules of the Club, she became five, and was therefore entitled to carry the five-year old weight. This weight, 9st 91b, was carried by the pare, but her entry as a fouryear old not having been amended, the objection was held good by the Stewards, and the money was handed over to Cripple. We believe the opinion of the Australasian has been written for on the point as to whether the Stewards were justified in allowing the mare to start, and it depends on the nature «f the answer whether action will be taken against the Club to recover the stakes. Seeing that the mare carried the correct weight, it seems rather hard on her owner that a protest should be sustained against him receiving the money. A very important racing rule, however, is involved in the settlement of the question, and we hope it may be properly stated. Spring Handicap, of 30 sovs. Distance, a mil* and a half.

Mr H. Goodman’s b m Verbena, 4 yrs, 7st 61b

Mr J. Hazlett’s b m Brunette, aged, 9st ... At the start, Verbena jumped away with the lead, and Waddell (perhaps relying on the hope that she would soon be pumped out) allowed her to obtain a lead on Brunette of some five or six lengths half-way round. After this, he urged Brunette to her speed, but when the straight was reached she had still some four lengths to make good. This she could not do, and Verbena was landed a winner by quite a couple of lengths. Hack Selling Race, of 10 sovs. No weight under 10st. Three-quarter mile heats. Mr H. Crossan’s Little Ne11... (Owner) 1 1 Mr H. Goodman’s Clyde ... (Owner) 2 - Mr J. Dawkins’ Charley ... (Miller) - 2 Pickwick, Hebe, Cripple, and Silvertail also ran.

Little Nell won both heats in good style, coming up at the finish with a rush. She was put up at auction, and sold for £21105., £6 10s. going to the funds. Publicans’ Handicap, of 20 sovs. Distance, one mile. Mr H. Goodman’s b m Verbena, 4 yrs, fst 121b ... ... ... ... (Moore) 1 Mr J. Hazlett’s b m Brunette, aged, 9st ... ... (Waddell) 2 Mr Cowan’s Backbiter, Bst 101b, was scratched.

The running for this handicap may be described in almost the same manner as the other. Verbena was allowed to go away with a strong lead, and was never collared. Hurry Scurry, of 5 sovs. No weight under 10st. Three-quarters of a mile. Mr Dahig’s Mountain Hare ... (Waddell) 1 Vlr J. Dawkins’Charley ... (Miller) 2

Mountain Hare, who does not look to be able to carry anything like 10st, again astonished everyone by winning this event. Her victory over Little Nell stamps her as a really good bit of stuff. This concluded the programme, Saturday’s racing. A meeting of the Committee of the Club was held on Friday evening, and it was resolved to give a few pounds as prizes for a second day’s sport. This was made known to the public, a fair attendance at the course on Saturday being the result. Hack Race, of 5 sovs. No weight under lOst. Mile heats. Mr H. Goodman’s Clyde ... (Fraser) 1 Mr J. Dawkins’ Charley ... (Miller) 2 Only two entries were received for this raco, and Clyde won both heats easily. Handicap Trotting Race, of 5 sovs. Two miles. No weight under 11st. Mr J. Scott’s Mary Ann (scratch) (Goodman) 1 Mr J. Marshall’s Maori (150 yds) (Fraser) 2 Three others ran. Mary Ann won this event easily enough, notwithstanding the start she gave to the other competitors. £9 had been collected the previous evening for a Hospital Race, and this sum was augmented to £lO by the Club, and further to the extent of £3 3s. by a subscription from Mr John Marsh. There were three entries, and the first place was secured by Mr Goodman’s Clyde, ridden by J. Fraser, who was presented with a riding-whip valued at a guinea.

A handicap foot-race for £2 was also got up, for which there were seven competitors : Collins at scratch, White at 2 yds, Hoare and Knott at 4 yds, and Drury, Mooney, and Howe at 8 yds. The race was won by Mooney, with a yard or two to spare.