ALEXANDRA RACES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 914, 24 October 1879, Page 3

ALEXANDRA RACES.

These races came off on the course at Alexandra ou Friday last. The weather was very favourable for the spoit, and there was a large assemblage of visitors from the neighbouring townships, including a large sprinkling of the fair sex. The c u. se was in middling order, though hard. The first race was advertised to start at 1 o'clock, but it was half-past two before the five coloured on the card for the Maiden Plate faced the starter. This was certainly too late, considering the shortness of the evenings and the length of the programme, an 1 for one of the events the bandiu >ps had to be made and acceptances declared. Mr A. Cameron, of the Butcher’s Gully Hotel, had the refreshment booth, and from all appearances was well patronised. Generally speaking the greatest Older prevailed, except in one or two instances, and in these we must certainly give it as our opinion tuat a choicer collection of the very foulest Billingsgate it has never been our privilege to listen to. In fact the Stewards had ou one occasion to request its discontinuance. The Alexandra Brass Band vishe 1 the course late in the afternoon, and enlivened the proceedings not a little The meeting throughout, from the number of competing horses, and the large attendance of visitors, may be justly considered an undoubted success, and clearly proves that with all the cry of dull times ami scarcity of the circulating medium, the district of Alexandra at all events is not so badly off but that it can enjoy itself once in a while. In the evening alter the races there was a dance in the Town Hall, which was well attended. As usual the first event ou the card was the Maiden Plate, and all the five horses entered put in au appearance. The race was never in doubt, and proved an easy victory for Mr M'Henna's Vixen For the District Handicap seven out of the eight acceptors faced the starter, Playboy being the absentee. (Blue Peter did not attend the meeting.) Mr M'Kenna’s Spinaway and Mr Waddell’s Rangatira were the only two horses reckoned to be in it, and as Condition will tell, so it proved, the result being that the former won by threequarters of a length from the latter. Rangatira came with a grand rush at the finish but could not overhaul Spiuaw.iy. The Hack Selling Race, in heats, brought out five horses, Peter winning the first and Callipers the second and third. The Alexandra Handicap, which had fourteen nominations, appeared ony sufficiently attractive to five starters, neither the first or second in the District Handicap accepting. This proved a gift to Mr M'Kenna’s Playboy, who won very easily with 2 to 1 on him. There were four entries for the Consolation Stakes, which was won easily by Friction. The last event on the programme, the Hospital Race, and for which L 7 6s was collected on the ground by the Secretary of that Institution and one of the members of the Committee, was run off on the following day, as were also some other events and private matches. The following are the details of the racing : MAIDEN PLATE of 10 sovs. Weight for age. Entrance, 15s. One mile. Open to all horses that have never won public money, Mr M'Kenna’a Vixen, 3 yrs ... ... 1 Mr Telford’s Peicr, 4yrs ... ... 2 Mr King’s Rufus, 6 yra 3

Turk dud Mileta also ran. The whole lot got away pretty well together, Peter leading for a considerable distance. About half way round Vixen touk the lead, closely followed by Peter. The two kept up this position, and Vixen gradually dretv away and won very easily by four lehgths. DISTRICT HANDICAP of 20 sova. Nomination, 15s; acceptance, 20a One and

a-half mile. Mr M ‘Kenna’s Spinaway, aged, 7st 121b 1 Air Waddell’s Rangatira, G yrs, lOst 71b 2 Air Little’s Satanella, aged, 7st 21b ... 3

Rufus, Sir Vincent, Paction, and Young Wildboy also ran. Playboy was scratched. After a false start in which a couple of the horses went half way round the course, the horses pot away pretty evenly together. Passing the winning post the first time Spinaway held the lead, with Satanella close up. Sir Vincent and Rangatira following, Ruins, Friction, and Wildhny lying a couple of lengths in their rear. Threequarters of a mile from home Rangatira working outside his horses slightly improved his position arid gaining «n Satanella, Spinaway still holding his own and full of running. These positions were kept till about a quarter of a mile from home, when Rangatira was gaining on the leader. Coming into the straight Spinaway was leading by three lengths, when Waddell called on the horse who answered gamely, he gradually reduced the gap, but, he could not overtake Spinaway, who eventually won the race by three-quarters of a length, Satanella being third, about five lengths behind. H ACK SELLING RACE of iO sovs. The winner to liesnhl for £l2. Entrance. 10s. Three-quarter-mile heats. No weight under under Ost. Mr AVadd-li’s Callipers ... ... 1 Air T'-lford’s Peter ... ... 2

Five horses started in the first heat, which Peter wo» very easily. The same number ran for the second heat, when Callipers turned th-tables on Peter and w»n in a canter. The two winners ran in the decidin'! heat. ('alli|iers took the lead at once, never lost, it, and won very easily hy a head. The winner was sold for Ll3 15s. ALEX AN ORA HANDICAP of 15 sovs. Nomination, 10s ; acceptance, 15s. One mile. Mr M ‘K n nna’s Playboy, 4 yrs, 7st ... 1 Mr Little’s Satanella, aged, Bst ... 2 Mr Bere-ford’s Sir Vincent, aged, Cst 101b 3 Rufus and Miss Grant also ran. A rather bad start was made, Satanella hanging back a bit. Playboy at once took the lead, With Sir Vincent and Rufus close at his heels. Coming round the back of the course Satanella ran into second place, Playboy leading and running strong. This order was never altered, and Playboy won as he liked in a common canter. CONSOLATION HANDICAP of 5 sovs. Entrance, 7s 04. One mile. Mr H. Tohill's Friction, aged ... 1 Mr Reresford’s Sir Vincent, aged ... 2 Mr Little’s Satanella, aged ... ... 3 Won easily.

SECOND DAY. ARGUS HANDICAP of 5 sovs. One mile. 'Sir Vincent, Bst 121b ... ~ 1 Yonog Wihl Boy, Sst 411> ... ... 2 Rufus, fht .. ... ... 3 HURRA SCURRY of 3 sovs. One mile. 9st up. Rufus ... ... ... ... i Young Wild Boy ... ... ... o Shamrock ... ... ... ... 3 HOSPITAL RACE. Young Wid Boy ... ... .. 1 Shamrock .. ... ... .. 2 Miss Grant ... ... ... 3 This race brought to a close as successful a meeting as lias ever been held on the Alexandra course, an I saving some slight q lestimiing by one or two of the owners of b uses at the handicaps, everything passed off as happy as a mani.age hell, and reflects gicat credit on the Committee of Management, all of whom performed their various duties most sat'sf ictnrily.