Sporting.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1178, 26 September 1884, Page 3

Sporting.

ALEXANDRA. SPRING RACES. The racing season was opened by this meaiing on Friday, the I9lh’inst, and proved fairly successful, though neither in the number of visitors or of competing steeds could it be comnared to previous years. As a rule the first meeting of a season is an attraction to owners of racing stock, as also to the general public, but this one in a measure proved somewhat of an exception. We have heard that tbe guinea qualification fee had a deterring effect ou some owneis of horses from entering, they averring that the nomination and acceptance fees are sufficient penalties, more especially for a first meeting. There may po-aibly be something in this, or on the contrary. We, however, think the matter is worthy of consideration by the stewards when arranging future ■ programmes. The arrangements made by the stewards for carrying on tbe meeting was perfect in all its details, and the .various office's were well up to their duties, and performed them to the .satisfaction of all concerned, Mr Gnnion noting as judge ; Mr C. P. Beck, staner ;Mr - Leod, clerk of the course ; and Mi G. Ratcljffe, secretary. The inordinate length of time between the events, however,, w.qs most marked, and was commented on freely. This is a failing most clubs are liable to, and our reference to it we hops will have the effect of an alteration. The system adopted at largo meetings of the naming a stated tfme for the starting of each event, is a good one, aud we commend it not alone to the stewards of Alexandra, but to all other upcountry clubs. Mr H. Tohill, of the Criterion Hotel, had (he booth, and if we mistake not. was liberally pationised ; Me-sra Murrell and Solomon worked tbe lotalisator, hut their returns we think were scarcely commensurate with the - rouble incurred, a trifle under L2UO omy being invested during the day. Mr Forrest, of Alexandra, and Mr rache, Secretary of the Dunstan Hospital, during the meeting went round with the hat, and collected L 6 15s 6d for that Institution.

The following are the particulars of the races run :

Maiden - Plate, of 10 sovs. Entrance 15s. Distance, one mile. Weight for age. Open to all horses that have never won public money. Mr M. Brown’s ' g Altv Be, 4 yrs .... 1 Mr J. Naylor’s cin Wild Bose, 5 yrs ... 2 Mr Power’s li m Dnngarven Lass, 4 yrs 3 Mr Glr.ssford’s b m Blink Bonny ... 4 This race was a great surprise, as it was thought Blink Bonny, a lino big raking (illy, had it entirely in her own hands. Ally Be cot away, with the start, and though hard pressed litst by Diingarven Lass, and then by Wild Rose, the little grey maintained •tire’ lead turoughout. and passed the pose by about a neck. Twenty-nine . were on the totalisator, and a dividend declared of LI 12s, •

Alexandra Handicap, of 35 sovs. Acceptances 20s. iN emulations 20a. Distance. one mile and a-.half. Mr Riveis' bg Kesartns, 7*t I9lb ... 1 Mr Rivers’ b g Don Jose, 9st Q.b .. 2 Mr Keenan’s c g Gamecock, Bsb ... 3 Mr Mervyn’s b g Black boy, Bst 91b. was scratched. ■ Old Gamecock was in no condition to meet Mich fonnidable foes, being ns fat as a cart horse, and accordingly suffered the penalty f ol - his temerity He however run namely, and showed that though he is IS years of ago, he has still some mettle in nim. Mr Rivers declared - to win with Resartns, >md accordinglyJ’did so without any <x ra exertion, excepting that it was to keep out of the way of his stable companion Don Jose. Time, "min. iOsec. Totaasator, 7S ; dividend, LI Bs.

Hack Selling Race, of 10 sovs. The winner to, be sold for Ll2, .and the surplus (if any) to i n to the race fund. Entrance 10s. Three-quarter mile Inats No weight under 9st. Post entry. Mr J. Russell’s Merry Lass ... I 0 1 Mr Matthews' S >ey .. ...200 Mr M’Naughtoa’s Jacky Jacky... 0 10 Mr Spam’s Giles... ... ■ ... 0 2 o There was some misunderstanding over the start for the first heat, Jacky Jacky and Giles being left at the post. Merry Lass got away with a long start, followed by Sp n y, the others bringing up the real-. For the second heat Jaeky had it all his own way, hough Gilts ran gamely. For the thiid heat Merry Lass was allowed to win without an effot. we did not note the totaliaator for this race, though there were a few pounds placed on each heat.

District Handicap, of 25 sovs. Nominations loj. Acceptances 20s. Distance, one mile and a quarter. Mr 11. Mervyn’s b g Rlack'lioy, Bst 111b I Mr Rivers’ b m.Tui, 9st 3ib .. ..2 Mr Rivers’ b m Besartus, Bst 51b 3

Mr Keenan's c g Gamecock, ?st 2lb, scratched.

This was a grand race, and was a popular wm. A good start was effected, and the three being of a heap for a long distance. Passing the Stand for the first time, and well on to the mile post, Biaekboy and Resartus wo;e side by side, with Tui about 30 yards in the rear. Merc Biaekboy took tlio lead, and showed that he had the best of Resarlus. Tui then came away, but though whip and spur was p’entifuliy supplied, she failed to overtake Biaekboy- who won just hy a head. Time, 2m.n. 32sees. There were 49 on the totalisator ; dividend, 1,4 10s. Hospital Race, of sovs. Rider of the winning horse to be presented with a whip, rider of second horse a pair of spurs. Mr M’Naughton’s Jacky Jacky I The Consolation Handicap was not run. for the reason that there were not sufficient unities to make a race.