DUNSTAN SPRING MEETING

Dunstan Times, Issue 966, 22 October 1880, Page 3

DUNSTAN SPRING MEETING

Notwithstanding the uncertainty of the weather for some days previous, these races came off on Friday last under most favourable circumstances. The weather though uncertain in the morning, cleared up towords midday, and eventually turned out a Morions day. The attendance was quite up to the average, and the racing was as good. Many visitors had arrived over night, and the sleeping accommodation of t'uo town was tested to its utmost. During the morning all sorts of vehicles constantly arrived, showing that despite the weather there was a determination to see ihe races. Alexandra must have turned out to a man its sporting inhabitants; and Cromwell and Blacks were strongly represented. We are pleased to record a little more punctuality this year iu the time of starting the first race, as there is nothing more annoying than to be kept waiting about in glorious uncertainty. Thanks to Mr S. Welsford, who had kindly undertaken to look after the ground, and thanks also to the rain, the course was in grand order, and that terrible nuisance —the dust—was an unknown thing on Friday. Mr J. Holt, of the Sydney Hotel, supplied the refreshments, and judging from what we saw, he must have been well satisfied with his spec. History again repeated itself on this occasion, for the two handicaps fell to the lot of Mr Chaafo. It is rather singular, but still true, that both the handicaps at both this year's and last year's meetings at Clyde and Alexandra have fallen on° each occasion to one owner. Last year at Alexandra MrM’Kenna ; this year Dr Leahy ; last year at Clyde Mr Waddell; this year Mr (Jhaafe. It is in a measure satisfactory to the handicappers and the public who so liberally subscribe the money, to find that the money has been evenly distributed. With one or two exceptions we did not hear of any fault finding wifh the handicaps—iu fact it would be very strange if there were not some discontents. The proprietors of the games who usually follow race meetings were there, but their “little game ” was cut short by the police ordering the discontinuance of some of them The proceedings throughout the day passed off without any hitch, if we may except ihe lodging of a protest by the owner of Playboy against Atlantic, tne winner of the D..1 C. Handicap, for an alleged jostle. The Stewards held an enquiry, and unanimously gave a verdict that there bad been no jostle on the part of Atlantic. Mr Pyke, President of the Hospital Committee, was busy during the afternoon collecting funds for the benefit of that Institution, and succeeded to the tune of L 7 17s GI. The.first race—the Maiden Plate -only produce I four starters, of whom Appona was a hot favourite. The result, however, turned out differently, for Spectator made a grand finish of it up the straight and wou by a short neck. _ The D.J.O. Handicap, for which Atlantic was a very warm favourite, proved a gift to him, beating Playboy by a length The next event was the Hack .Selling Race, and this proved an easy victory to Friction, who won both heats with comparative ease from St. Andrew For the \ inceut Handicap only four of the eight entered accepted, and Mr Chaafe de-

daring to wig with Atlantic, he was made favourite, though Playboy and Acolyte were also hacked. Atlantic, however, repeated his victory in the previous handicap, and won very easily by two lengths. Playboy again being secon 1. The Hospital Race was won by Pillbox, Little Nellbdng second. Notice of a Consoia f ion Handicap of fi savs was posted up on th-- ground, hut the)e were no entries for it. This was probably the result of the delay caused in considering the protest In-fo e referred to. The following are details of the various events ;

MAIDEN PLATE of 10 sovs. Weight for age Entrance KL. One mile. For all horses tint have never won an advertised race of 1,10. P , 9 t entry. Mr Rivers’s Spectator, 7st .’Jib (carried L3!o over) (Davis) I MrChaafe’s Appoint, 7st ,’idi (Tliorason) 2 Mr Malone’s Lord Antrim, 9st 9!b (carried 41b over) (Malone) 3 Mr Foggerty’s Wild Fox, Oat III) (Fraser) 0 Appona was most fancied, and 3 to 2 wore laid <>n her. Spectator was also fancied a little.

A very good start, in which Lord Antrim got a trifle the best of it, Apaona second, and Spectator last. After going 100 yards Appr.na drew up to Lord Antrim, and after a little Spectator ran into third place, while Wild Fox dropped behind When halfa-mile had been run, Appona passe I Lord Antrim, and Spectator ran into the second place. Spectator gradually crept up, and on entering the straight led Appona by half a length. Both were flogging hard, and coming up the straight it looked as if cither would win as they passed and repassed one another. A hundred yards Loin home Spectator had the best of it by a neck, and though Appona did her best she could not collar Spectator, who won a magnificent race by a short neck. Time—1m 545.

DUN ST AN J. C. HANDICAP of 20 sows. Nominations, 2's. Acceptance, 10s. Distance, one and a half mile. MrChaafe’s Atlantic, 9-st 12ih (Kennedy) 1 Mr M ‘Kcnna’a Playboy. Sst 21b (Fraser) 2 Dr Leahy’s Dandy, 9st 81b (Malone) 3 Mr Keenan’s Canute, Cst 121b (Dnngcy) 0

Acolyte was scratched. Atlantic was favourite at even money, whilst the least odds were accepted about Dandy. Playboy and Canute were not hacked much.

The lot weie despatched at the first attempt to a good start, Playboy taking the lead at a clipping pice, Atlantic second, and the grey base. For half the distance no noticeable alteration was made in these positions, till Atlantic drew up to within a length of Playboy, and Dandy improved his position a little, but still’hist. This order was maintained for a quarter of a mile, Dandy still reducing the gap. Coming round the turn into the straight Atlantic challenged Playboy, and alter running neck and neck for a bit took the lead. Bo ! h jockevs now commenced to flog, and the pace being too hot for Dandy he fell back beaten, Canute being in the same street. It was now merely a match between the tvio, and Atlantic having the lea l maintained and increased it, and eventually won a fast race by a length. Dandy was third several lengths behind, and Canute polled up. Time-2m 495. A protest was lodged by Mr MTCeima against Atlantic for an alleged jostle on the part of the rider of Atlantic, but the Stewards agreed unanimously to disallow it. HACK SELLING RACE of 10 sovs. Entrance, 10s. Three-quarter-mile heats. No weight under Oat. The winner to he sold for Ll2, and the surplus (if any) to go to the Race Fund. Post entry. Mr Rivers’s Friction (Malone) 1 I—l Mr Sherwood’s St. Andrew (Fraser) 2 2—2 MrFogaerty’s Wild Fox (Cummings) 0 Friction was the favourite, but there was very little betting. In the first heat St. Andrew got the best of the start, and led for about 300 yards, Friction being close up. Going a littlo further Friction was abreast of him, and the two racing Wild Fox fell hack beaten. A neck and neck rice ensued up the straight, but Friction always bad the best of it and won cleverly by half a length.

In tin- s 'l'liinl bout St. Andrew again d isbcd oil' with the lead, Friction close up second, and Wild Fox quite outpaced. Friction waited on St. Andrew until the turn for homo was reached, when she passed him, and coining on full of i mining won very easily by a length. The winner was sold by auction by Mr Faohe, and was bought in By her owner for twelve pounds and half-a crown. VINCENT HANDICAP of 15 sovs. Nomination, 15s. Acceptance, 10s. Quo mile. Mr Chaafe’s Atlantic, lOst (Kennedy) 1 Mr M’Kenna'a Playboy, Bst (Fraser) 2 Mr Chaafe’s Appona, 7st (Thomson) 3 Dr Leahy’s Acolyte, Bst 21b (Davis) 0 Haricot, Canute, Friction, and Rufus did not accept. Atlantic was again backed at even money and 2 to 1 was offered against Acolyte and Playboy. Mr (Jhaafe declared to win with Atlantic.

At the first attempt a splendid start was effected. Playboy leading, Atlantic next, and Acolyte last. When they had gone 300 yards there were not two length between the lot. Here Acolyte and Appona drew up a little and the four were almost in a line, and from the stand one might have imagined that only one horse was running. After racing thus for 100 yards or so, Atlantic assumed a slight lea 1, with Playboy at his girths, the other two a length in the rear. Upon coming round the turn into the straight, Atlantic led by a length, and at the same time Aco'yte and Appona fell hack considerably. Half way up the straight it was all over, for Atlantic came on full of running, and won very easily by two lengths. Acolyte was last. Time—lin 50s

HOSPICAL RACE, Half-mile. Catch weights. The rider of the winning horse to be presented with a riding whip. Mr Robertson’s Pillbox (Robertson) 1 Mr Cox’s Little Nell • (Cox) 2

A good start was made, Pillbox cutting out the running. On coming into the turn for home Little Nell was on even terms. A grand race ensued up the straight, both using the whip freely. The old horse held out the longest, however, and after a game struggle wou by three-quarteis of a length