ALEXANDRA SPRING RACES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1230, 25 September 1885, Page 3

ALEXANDRA SPRING RACES.

The racing season was opened on Friday last the 18th inat. with the above meeting, and the stewards are to bo congratulated on having had a most successful. day. From every point of view it was a decided success, the weather was fine, the fields of horses Were above the average of spring meetings, while their performances were beyond Cavil, every horse going straight for the money. Whilst, as to the attendance of visitors, there was a larger and more representative meeting than we remember ever having Been previously on the Alexandra course ; and, to add to the general enjoyment the greatest order and decorum was observed. The under and over gentry, of whom there was the usual half dmen, were well supported, a laughing ro.vatering crowd being ever around them. The totalisator, from the moment it was opened on each event wag f lirlv rnshed- The booth, under the management of Mrs Gammon did. a . roaring trade, and Messrs Lewis and, Robert*, who each had fruit and other nice things for the lad’es an I babies, were kept fairly busy. While, to add to th« general. enjoyment the Alexandra -Brass Band,' which was ia

■ attendance, diaeoureed some excellent mono -la the intervals"©! the events. For a long timp past there has been nothing but croaking and deploring over the dull times. Alter Friday's’experiences, however, we can but Conclude that the whole pry of depression, at any rate in the Alexandra division of Dnnstan District, or, perhaps, wo may say .'with those whom we met on the course, /has - been nothing short of a stupendous {oke, and merrily the jokers must have argued in their sleeves when confiding to some unsuspecting stranger over the truly terrible and troublesome times. The character of the day’s proceedings, taking the large amount of money that waa in circulation, added to the fact that it would be difficult to meet with a better dressed class of people on an race course (there being no lawn wo do not mean to assume that there were any of Worth’s thousand guinea dresses setting off the figures and beauties of the ladies who graced the course with their presence), to our mind gives the lie direct to the everlasting howl of hard times, and when next we are assailed with it we shall be inclined to say bunkum. This style of writing up the introduction to a race meeting is perhaps out of place, but of a tact the scene was so startling apd unexpected, that whether or no, we are led into making them, if with no other object than to expose the real state of affairs, and if possible to lead people into a healthier way of thinking. So far ias the racing was concerned the particulars of each event.is given below. We, however, note that nearly each event waa a surprise, as was e ridenoed by the dividends declared by the totaliaator, one being L 27 18s, another Ll2 odd. In the evening a concert and dance was given in the Town Hall, which was crowded, the day therefore throughout was a grand and enjoyable one. The sum of L 558 waa put through the totalisator during the day, being L2somore than last year. Maiden Plate, of 10 sovs Entrance, 15s. ■ Distance, 1 mile. Weight for age. Open to all horses that have never won an advertised race. Mr Rivers’ b g Tarragon, 3 yrs, Bst T3lb . - . • (Rivers) 1 Mr Darlington’s b ; m Beeswing, aged.

lOstllb 2 Mr. W. Pitches b g Lave, aged, IGst lib 3 Charley, Mayflower, and Little Dick also started. Charley went away a decide I favorite, though many looked upon Tarragon as the winner, while again Lave had his admirers. However, Tarragon had the ■fisld jn hand and won as he liked. Of 101 investors on the totalisator, those on the .winner received a dividend of L2 ss. Alexandra Handicap, of 35 sovs. Nominations, 20s- Acceptance, 20a. Diai tance, one mile and a half Mr Rivera’b g Don Jose, aged, Oat 81b (Mason) 1 Mr Huddlestone’s hj g Knickerbocker Sam, aged, Bst 41b ... (Smith 2 Mr Mervyn’s b g Garibaldi, aged, Sat (Brown) 3 Mi Kennedy’s rg Foul Play (late Coburg) aged, 9st 2ib ... (Owner 0

Mr Mervyn’a Blackboy, Bat 81bs, was scratched.

This was considered an open race, public opinion being well divided. Garibaldi from the start to k the lead, and to all appearances for the first mile and a quarter would win, but Brown apparently lost his head, as he rode very wide and allows I Dan and Sam to slip into the inside running as the straight was reached, when a splendid finish took place, resulting as above, but it was generally thought that had Sam about another 100 yards to go he would have won. Divi. LI 19s.

Handicap Trotting Rice, Time Trot, of 10 sovs. Nominations, 10s. Acceptance, ss. Distance, three miles. No weight under lOst. Mr Cameron’s bra Nelly, 55secs ... 1 Mr Joss’ b m Dolly, scratch 2

Mr Finlay’s Molly Doolan, 65 secs ... 3 Wairuna 10 secs. Colleen Dhas 20 secs, Nelly 50 secs. Jemmy 50 secs, and Fanny 65 secs, also started, Fanny for the first two miles lost hut little of her start, after this, however, she began to show signs of distress, and Nelly, Dolly, and Molly Doolan each passed herin the order named, and Dolly kept drawing the closer to Nelly, but she failed in effecting her purpose, and had to be satisfied with second place, though it was thought that if a further hundred yards had to be run she would have claimed first honors. Nelly’s win was a surprise to all, especially to the three out of a total of 93 on the toJaliaator, each of whom drew a dividend of L 29 18s. This race was an excellent one, and done in good time, 10 min, 5 secs.

District Handicap, of 20 sova. Nomination, 10s. Acceptance, 15s. Winner of the Alexandra Handicap to carry 71b penalty. Distance, one mile and aquarter. Mr Mervyn’s b g Garibaldi, aged, Bst 21b

(Brown) I Mr Rivers’ b g Resartus, aged Tat Illb (Rivers) 2 Mr Fogarty’s b g Statesman,6yra, 7at 21b (McKay) 3 B’ackboy Bst 101b, Knickerbocker Sam, Bst 61b, and Archie 7st 61b, also ran.

This was a slashing race from start to finish Statesman and Resartus racing neck and neck till the straight was reached, when Garibaldi joined issue, and after a desperate race just won on the post from Resartus, Statesman a head behind, Blackboy, Sam, and Archie well in the rear. Divi. Ll2. Hack Selling Race, of 10 sova. The winner to be sold for Ll2, and thesurplus (if any) to go to the Race, Fund. Entrance, 10s, Distance, one mile. No weight under 9st. Post entry. Dr Hyde’s Marmion, 1 Mr Mervyn’s Reefer, ... 2 Mr Spain’s Backbiter, ... 5

Marmion won very easily from Reefer, Bickbiter breaking down badly after going a hundred yards. Divi. L 3. The winher was sold for Ll3, realising LI to the club funds, ■ Hospital .Rack,, of, *- bovs, Rider of ~. s the winning hbrae to be presented with a whip, rider of the second horse a pair of spurs.

This race was a gift to Resartns, yonng Johnny Rivers, who scales about 3st, steering the winner in a manner highly commendable to himself and tutors. The sum of Ll2 17s fid was collected on the course by the secretary of the local hospU tal and several residents of Alexandra.