ALEXANDRA RACES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 402, 31 December 1869, Page 2

ALEXANDRA RACES.

Stewards : Messrs. J. Samson, W. Bereaford, J. Mason, W. Theyers, W. Robertson. Judge : Mr. R. Finlay. Starter: Mr. J. Samson. Clerk of the Course : Mr. It. M'Morran.

The annual meeting of the Alexandra Jockey Club came off on Monday and Tuesday last, on the local race-course. There was a very good attendance, including a fair proportion of the softer sex, especially when we consider the counter-attractions of St. Bathan’sj where the race meeting took place on the same days, and those who attended should he fully satisfied, not only with the programme, but with the quality of the racing, for we are quite justified iu saying that better has not been witnessed in Otago. There w ere a few trifling hitches in the carrying out the preliminaries of some of the events, hut experience will no doubt cause their disappearance in future, and we conduce that, as a whole, the Club may be congratulated upon the generally efficient manner in which the meeting was conducted. We have heard that a complaint was lodged with the Steward? against one of the jockeys for jostling, but until such time as the matter has been investigated and either proved or disproved, we forbear giving further particulars. For the Maiden plate there were four entries, including M ‘Morrau’s game little veteran Wallaby and the untried filly Brunette, the latter proving the winner, and second honors fading to the former. The handicap hurdle race brought six horses into the field and was won by Pasha. For the District Handicap seven were entered, four of whom accepted, Nelly Grey winning very cleverly. Six ran for the Publicans’ Purse, both heats being taken by Raven. The weather was intensely hot, and the two booths were constantly crowded with applicants for the necessaries for quenching the exteme thirst engendered by the heat; The fruit stalls a'so appeared to be doing a good trade, and the consumption of oranges, apples, pears, gooseberries, currants, plums, &c., must have been something considers Ic. First Day The starting time for the first race was advertised 1 o’clock, but is was very much past that time ere the hell lung for saddling for the Maiden Plate of 25 sovs. Entrance 80s, One mile and a half. Weight for age. Mr. Ryan’s b.m. Brunette, 8 years (Hastie) 1 M'Morran’s b.g. Wallaby, aged, (Lang) 2 Pollock’s b. g. Yonng Bobby Burns, 4 years 3 Balmoral, Black Bess, and Crinoline also ran. Brunette was first favorite. After some little delay the horses were got together, and the flag dropped to a very indifferent start. Brunette soon showed in front, closely followed by the rust. A very fast race ensued, and though the others occasionally shiited places, Brunette kept! her vantage ground, and won by a length* and a half. Wallaby second.

Handicap Hurdle Race of 20 sovs. Entrance 30s. Mile heats, over four flights of hurdles. Mr. Jones’s c.g. Pasha, aged.Ost. dll'. ' (Grey) 1 0 1 Goodman’s b.m. Deborah, Sst4ll) (Lang) 2 12 M 'Morran’s g. g. Faugh-a-Ballagh aged, 9st. 4lli. (Swann) 3 2 0 Samson’s b g. Turpin, aged, 10st. M ‘Morran’s c.g. Tornado aged, Sst. 121b, Grant’s c.g. Bobby, fiyrs, Oat. 41b. This race caused a good deal of interest and some speculation, Deborah being with most slightly the favorite, while Pasha and Faugh-a-Ballaugh had many friends, and Turpin found backers. After getting together the flag dropped to a pretty good start, at raring speed, all horses taking the first / hurdles almost together, though a few of / the rails disappeared. Pasha then took the I leal, the lot keeping closely together, and I though Deborah and Faugh-a-Ballagh strove / hard to secure this heat, they had to be j content with second and third places. \ In the second heat Pasha declined one of V the hurdles, iuul a hot race between Faugh- \ a-Ballagh and Deborah resulted in the vie- V tory of the latter. The deciding heat was was won by Pasha, with but little to spare. I The District Handicap of 40 sovs. Two miles and a half. IS'emulations, 20s. ; acceptances, 40s. Mr. Garrett’s g.m. Nelly Grey, 6 years, Sst (Gray) 1 Ryan’s Brunette, 3 years, fist. (51b. 2 Pollock’s c. m. Lady Helen, aged, fist. 41b. (Goodman) 3 Robertson’s b .g. Balmoral, 5 years, fist. 411). This was the great race of the day, and was eagerly looked forward to. The start was by no means a good one. The two favorites. Lady Helen and Brunette, were at some distance in front of the grey, while Balmoral had a very bad start. Brunette and Lady Helen led the way at a rattling pace, nock and neck, followed at a long distance by Nolly Grey, between whom and Balmoral was another long space. On passing the stand the second time the grey considerably improved her position, about half a mile from home collared pair, passed them, and came in a winner : Brunette second by a neck only. Publicans’ Purse of 25 sovs. Entrance, 30s. One mile heats. No weights to ho under 10st. Mr. Pollocks blk.g. Raven, 6 yea's I 1 Wood’s b.g. Welcome, aged 2 3 Grant’s g.m. Crinoline, 5 years 3 2 Young Nelly Grey, Faugh-a-Ballagh, and Native also ran. A very good race, both heats being gamely contested ; but Raven, ridden by Goodman, had it entirely his own way, and won easily, hands down. Second Day. The attendance on the courao this day was not so groat as yesterday, although there wm a fair rimvtcr; An excellent field

F': *======^^ —■ 'of horses was fesent to cmtest the various ’events, and hfl it not ieen for the dust, which was tray good day’s sport Would havepeen had j As it was, what with the dpt and the Interminable delays between he races, all he visitors seemed glad whei all was at rl end. The first race of the dvy, the haiMicap trotting race, started sirtly before 3 o’clock (the time appoiuto|was 1 o’clock), and brought six competitors to the p|,t. To thechargin of the knowing ones, m favorite, upon whom odds ware freely k’jf only took third place, while Kate, handicapped at 320 yards, lauded hofie an easy winner. For the Alexandra handicap eight horses were entered, but onlj tour started. Upon coming up to the sfrat hj Miss Foote misstook a motion of the barter’s hand, went off at full tear, and pe formed the mile once round the course in t|ie style. The mare having allowed Ame to get her breath, was, pflflythe othi/s, again brought to the mark, and. Jgftera. little hacking and tiling, the who|e got away pretty well together, fermiette was the favorite, but she had to playjsecond to Miss Foote, who led home by about two lengths. The next race was the {Selling Race, about which the least fraidithe better, as, from beginning to end, . it W’is confusion worse confounded. Finally Roderick was declared the winner, and was , "'’afterwards sold by a non-professional salesman-, for L 27. The last race, the Consolation! H mdioap was competed for by six, but Lady Helen was toonveh for her companions, and (mine in an easy winner. Handicap Trotting Race of 15 sovs. Distance three miles. Ho weight under lOst. Mr.; Halliday’s Kate, 320 yards 1 : Stewart’s Stumpy, 130 yards 2 ; Pollock’s Struggle, scratch 3 ; Jones’s Pasha, 70 yards 4 two others also ran. A good start was aad all the horses Went off at a good bat. Kate kept her position well for A Ipng distance, with Stumpy well up, sometimes right on her quarter. At the end of the second mils Straggler had shird place, With about the same distance between him and Kate as at the start, but failed to make any advance, and the winning post was reached as above. Alexandra Handicap of 35 sovs. Distance two miles. Komi nation, 2Us. ; acceptance, 40s. Mr. Foster’s Miss Foote, 7st. 41h. (Donaldson) 1 Ryan’s Brune’te, 7st. (llastie) 2 Pollock’s Bobby Burns, 7st 3 Miss Foot made a false start, and bolted riajit round the course. After a while a start was effected, when Hasrie took the 1m(1 aa ; kept it for the first mile and a half. Mis Foot then came up, and ma lo a good taee home, winning by two lengths. Selling Race of 2:) sovs. One mile beats, weights under List. Roderick (Foote) 111 ■C .>,eresford-s\\.nngAbiia(Cook) 10 0 Deborah (owner) 2 0 0 Seven horsf-IT were brought to the scratch L hnd star ed for the 'irst heat, which terF ) minified in a dead. between Roderick and 1 oung Aima. The Stewards decided that, in consequence of the dead heat, the r-A- -nould be commenced afresh. The again brought to the scratch, thnugh some nuiunderstaa-'ing,Rode-rick aniMicUo rah ru,hed off and performed ihu bcar alone. first A dispute arose as to it beini, a start, Foote andGoodman. avonng that they started on the fall of the flag, and b was ultimately decided a start, i' o ' 1 heat Roderick cantered round tht,-. 01 , rK „ f nn d was declared the was sold for L 27. 1/ ■ x- Consolation Stakes of 13 sovs. Djstmee one mile and a half. Mr. Pollock’s Lady Helen (Goodman) 1 . f Cook’s Native (Cook) 2 Miirgood’s Black Bess (Donaldson) 3 Wood's Welcome , Robertson’s Balmoral Grant’s Crinoline Lady Helen came to the front in fine form, and, on the fall of the flag, flow away from her compeers. Goodman pulled her up and allowed Black Bess and Native to get close up, but when nearing home let her go and wen easily. . Tried Day. The day’s sport was Confine; 1 , to hack and font races, but, as it came on to rain heavily, the course was quickly cleared and shelter was sought in the various hotels in the town, where a capital stroke of business was carried on.