BLACKS RACES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 925, 9 January 1880, Page 3

BLACKS RACES.

(Communicated.) These races came off on Thursday, Ist January. Several days previous to the meeting the whole anxiety of the Committee appeared to be their doubts about the weather, as high winds had I sen blowing very strong in the district for weeks past. However, their hearts were gladdened to the very core as the first day of the year 1830 ushered in one of the grandest and mildest days that it was possible for pleasure seekers even to have selected. The programme was really a very good one, and the quantity and quality of horses that had been for several weeks in active preparation for the coming events were a sure guarantee that the attendance would be very large, and that the racing would eclipse all previous sport that hail ever been contested for on the Blacks turf. And, sure enough, the excellent Committee of Management were not ia the slightest disappointed in that respect. At one o’clock the beautiful sloping hill all along the hack of the course and particularly opposite the winning post 380 people were gathered together, all eager tor the Maiden Platers to be set going. The young and fair blooming belles of Blacks and all the surrounding districts came to the front in grand foim. Several of their dresses and whole external trimmings were the very pink of fashion, aud I do assure you drew forth no small amount of admiration fiom the sporting youths on the lawn. However, 1 must give Miss R., with the brown striped silk dress, tuffeted trimming, bon ton jacket, recherche hat, and streaming white fall, the pride of place for first fashion. Miss 8., with a Circassian blue silk, looked exceedingly ladylike and neat, and took second place. I must say a passing word on our much respected older stock. Mrs D., though the bloom is just noticeably on the wane, her dress and dash ng carriage while promenading on the lawn was really perfection. But I would advise her to he a little more careful in future about etiquette, even on a racecourse, because there is always the danger of canny chiels being about taking notes. I observed when she returned to her buggy that she turned over her fail to the wrong side of the hat, and while sipping Feraud’s aromatic tonic bitters she put the glass to the left side of her lips ; aud wiping the mouth with her glove looked very bad taste. However, this hint may improve defects, but at the same time I am pleased to award Mrs D. third against all comers 011 the fashionable list.

I was very much pleased to meet once more several of the genial old stock of sporting men, those whom you will remember were the very life and so’dof your Dunstan meetings in the palmy days, when Grasshopper, Rambler, and several other gran i horses carrie I your local sportsmens’ colors to the front; Bob M ‘Moran, Jamie Towers ami others were here just as lively as ever, and I do assure you they added no small amount of amusement to the meeting, and to my very great astonishment Bob M ‘Moran had theoM veteran “Schoolboy” of racing renown with him, and a gamer horse never looked through a bridle, and [ am glad to inform you that the old general in very fair company carried his colors to the front in both the Consolation and Hospital races, amidst great cheering. Mr Gavan, of the Shamrock hotel, had the booth, and with the aid of a few civil and obliging assistants, did a good business and gave universal satisfaction. The edible department was under the special superintendence of Mrs Gavan—the tables were loaded with a choice and large amount of subrtanrial viands, an i all were adke welcome to sit down and partake of her kind hospitality. The following is a correct report of all the various events :

Maiden Plate of 10 govs. 1J mile. For all horses that have not won an advertised prize of LlO. Weight for age. Poolhurn Jack. 9st 121b ... ... 1 Welsh Girl, lOst 11b ... ... 2 Moonlight, 10st lib ... ... 3

Miss Pippin and Mignonette also ran. Mr Harrington was very fortunate in commencing the day’s business by a good even sta-t, Welsh Girl was the most lively at the fall of the flag, spurting at once to the front, and mane the running to the half mile post a regular snorter, when Moonlight came with a rush, but he only retained the premier position a few lengths. Poolhurn Jack, full of running, when pricked up with the steel, answered the call gamely, and won with something in hand. Time, Smiii. I9sec.

Vincent Handicap of 15 aovs. 2 miles. Dr Leahy’s Dandy, 9st ... (Malone) 1 Mr King’s Rufus, Bst . , (Clarey) 2 Mr Martin’s Cappa, Bst 41b ... (Owner) 3

Canute and Silvio also started. The night previously when the weights came out, the knowing ones nibbled up Dandy in the sweeps, and made him a hot favorite, which position he maintained at the starting post. Canute was very restive at the sight of the flag, an 1 had a spin on his own hook up 'he hill amongst the fruit carts, and being brought back Mr Harrington set them goine to a somewhat straggling start. For a sho-t distance Dandy led. Canute bolted off the course, and was out of it the first time round. Rufus led past the post with Dandy close up on his girth, Cappa two lengths behind. All the way round the second time Dandy just made a waiting race of it, and at the distance post Malone shook him up for a few strides and went in a winner by two lengths. Time, 3min. 375. Hack Sxllino Race of L 7 10s. J-mile heats, Little Tim, lOat ... ...120 Tommy ... ... ...2 11 In .the deciding heat Tommy cantered round by himself, all the others apparently being blown, Very little interest was taken in this race. < *

District Handicap of 15 sovs. 14 mile. Dr Leahy’s Dandy, list ... (Malone) J Mr Keenan’s Canute, 7at I2lb (Scott) 2 Mr King’s Rufus, Bst ... (Clarey) 3 Cappa, Silvio and Moonlight scratched. Dandy, with his heavy weight of list, had many supporters. Mr Harrington set them going to a grand start, Canute for the first half-mile looked as if he meant really doing business this time. At the three-quarter mile post he was leading Dandy 10D yards, and Rufus thirty yards. At this point Malone set to work, and the grey answered gamely to the call, and in a short time lessened the gap between them to twenty lengths, and just about on even terms with Rufus. At this time, Canute’s jock smelt a rat, and that danger was coming too near him to be comfortable, at once applied both whip and spur liberally, but to no ef feet. The colt has but a cow’s heart, and I would advise his owner never again to girth a racing saddle upon him. Dandy was bis neck and neck companion at the distance post, passing him soon afterwards, and winning by two lengths. Time, 3miu. Isec. Hurry Scurry of 5 sovs. 1 mile. Catch weights. Spey ... ... ... ... 1 Topsy ... ... ... ... 2 Miss Grant ... ... ... 3 This race was a gift to Sp«y. At this stage of the programme a private match of L 5 a-side, lOst up, between H. Tohill's Backbiter and Peter Schultz’s German Buck, was run, Joe Webb steering the Buck, and Jack Lynch, an old Victorian j->ek, had the management of Backbiter. The Buck jumped off with the lead, was never caught and won easily. Handicap Trot of 5 sovs. 2 miles. No

weight under lOst. Whitefoot, 250 yards ... (Malone) 1 Lizzie, 50 yards ... (Scott) 2

11 ran. Mr Pitches's Sam, scratch. Whitefoot was never headed, and through the grand riding of Malone, maintained her distance throughout. Trotting in general is looked upon as very tame sport ; however, I must class this one as an exception. Consolation Handicap of 5 sovs. 1J mile. Schoolboy, 7st ... ... .. 1

Silvio, 7st 61bs ... ... ... 2 Rufus, Bst 71b .. ... ... 3 This race was considered a certainty for Rufus. At the sharp turn in the course, however, he came down heavily, rolling on Malone, and for a considerable time it was thought he was seriously injured. He came round after a bit when it was found he was only severely shaken.

Hospital Race. This was the grandest race of the meeting, old Schoolboy and Hector keeping neck and neck all the way round, Schoolboy just catching the judge’s eye first.