YESTERDAY BY "CALLER OU."

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4035, 27 June 1884, Page 4

YESTERDAY BY "CALLER OU."

The lovers of the illegitimate game were yesterday favored Avith splendid weather, the air Avas bracing, and though the going was a bit heavy, to some that only made the racing more interesting, as it served to remind them more fully of hunting- days in Old England, and brought out the capabilities of the jumpers all the better. There was a good deal of growling at the increased prices, Avith which I am not inclined to disagree. Wherever land is set apart for a racecourse, there ought to be some part of that course to which the public should have free admission. A man, if so inclined, may see all the racing at Flemington without contributing a penny to the club's coffers. The distance is only four miles from Melbourne, so he can Avalk there and back, or he can have a return ticket to Newmarket for sixpence, Avhich Avill land him near the training sheds. And for such a concession tho club loses nothing—the extra money received from the sale of booths makes up for the loss of revenue. Yesterday's programme was a very good one, but a first-class racing- club should for ever discard such an item as a hack race. Of course the dividend on such a race for those "in it" is generally a good one, but it does not tend to the good of the sport. I should suggest, when the next Avinter programme is framed, that there be substituted for the Hack Race a Grand National Hurdle Race, say three miles, if tho added money be £200, and two miles if the added money be £100. The country was a bit stiff yesterday, but still it was nothing to Flemington, Warrnambool, or Coleraine in Victoria. The 4ft. Sin. stono Avails of the former read differently to the fences at Hastings. At Warrnambool there is always a ploughed field to go through, and at Coleraine the Steeple is never run on the racecourse proper, but over a succession of fields, and tho road, Avith its stiff post and rail fences, has to be negotiated several times. The Maiden served to introduce us to a horse of whom more will bo heard in the future, namely, Coacher, and tho finish between Coacher and Assegai was a treat. The Bracelet was another race in which capital judgment Avas shown, Lady Artist being beautifully handled by her owner, and coming at the right time, and then tho race was over. The big race, the event of the day, Avas a capital race, and as the public favorite won the rejoicing was all the greater. Lunn, the jocksy, and Clarence seemed to be one, and I confess that the latter is a great horse, but the jockey is still better as a jockey. To my mind far too much use was made of Scrutineer in the early part of the race, or the result Avould have been different. When the last fence Avas taken Scrutineer and Clarence took it together, and then the usual order of things was reversed —the heavy Aveight came away from the lightly weighted one. Clarence won the race by the judgment of his jockey in the last round. A pull Avas taken at the horse in the ploughed ground, and Clarence fell back last, a yell from the ring proclaiming ho Avas beaten, Avhile Scrutineer rushed through the heavy ground, and a good deal too much Ava3 taken out of him, and thus the race was Avon as it was. I never saw a piece of better jockeyship than Lunn exhibited in this race, and at the right time. Pastime ran a game horse, as early in the race one of his shoes Ayas almost wrenched off, and to keep to his field as he did showed lie was true grit. The Hack Race gave a dividend to those Avho touched Hurricane. The Consolation Handicap I could not understand ; it puzzled me to knoAv Avliy Scrutineer should receive weight from Druid after beating him in the preA'ious race. In this race Scrutineer was ridden Avith much better judgment, and he won somewhat'easily. The jockey 011 Denbigh, Avho led for a good part of the way, made some wonderful recoveries, but the Avay he took his horse at every fence could only have one result —sooner or later he must come to grief, which Avas just what j took place. And thus a good day's sport was brought to a conclusion.

The train arrangements were admirable, the catering gave every satisfaction in the capable hands of Mr D. B. Watt, the Garrison Band enlivened the proceedings with some excellent music, and all present seemed to have enjoyed the day's outing.