ALEXANDRA SPRING RACE MEELING.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1284, 8 October 1886, Page 3

ALEXANDRA SPRING RACE MEELING.

President, Mr J. B. Wingfield j VicePresident, Mr E. G. Ryan ; Stewards; Messrs J. Rivers, C. P. Beck, J. E. Thompson, W. Theycrs, J. Simmonds, H. Tohill, R. Finlay, Dr Lewis, G. Field, W. Fraser, J. Butler, J. Young, W Finlay, H. Gossan, J. Grofte, R. Gunion, and W. J, Fori rest, Secretary. This old established meeting was held on Friday last, the Ist instant, and proved itself as attractive as ever, there being Large fields of horses, and the attendance of ■■ffikltors, despite the cry of bad times and IhnkeMidn, full up to expectations; whilst flSelr epending powers—as judging by the ainonht of business done by the privilege Jfcjvners, and by that fraternity who do ■ J gather at these—our festive meetings—with ite their mysteries, was in no way diminished Hto what it was in years gone by when hard ” times were not known, and to be added to all was that voracious of all cormorants, the “ totalisator," which swallowed np no less a sum then *693—ten per cent on which, together with the pickings, not being so bad a day’s work. But for the weather, which was anything but pleasant, it blowing half a gale occasionally, and raising in its course clouds of impalpable dust, which found its way into every conceivable crook and cranny, the day would have been an enjoyable one. Excitement ran high over every race, the knowing ones even failinein any one instance to spot the winner. The tw > handicaps were perfect boils over, the victory of Cheap Jack in the Alexandra Handicap never fur a moment being thought of; whilst as for Foul Play taking the District Handicap, the totalisator dividend of Lls 4s shows that the estimation in which he was held was in no de gree high The. Trot was a farce, as the Masher Maid, though she did come in with a slight limo.jcoutd has won had her rider «o liked as easily by a quarter of a mile as she did by 50 yards. The Consolation was not run, but for the why or wherefore it is hard to say, it is true there were three entries, but none answered to the call when the bell rang for weighing out. That time honored institution of all np-couotry meetings the Hospital Race also fell through. At some future time, and in another place, we shall take the opportunity of referring to this matter. The stewards were attentive to their respective duties, and but for the delay of Cheap Jack coming on to the ground to start for the Alexandra Handicap, which caused a little ill humour amongst the riders of other horses for being kept waiting, the meeting passed off. piers mtly and creditably to all concerned. Mr Tohill, the caterer for the assemblage, ga-’e every satisfaction. Mr J. B. W ingfield acted as judge, Mr C. P. Beck as starter, and Mr W. Finlay a3 clerk of the course. With regard to the ‘mysterious fraternity’ referred to above, a correspondent supplies the following One of the notable features of the Alexandra Spring meeting was the number of low-class “ spielers ’ who congregated on the course. The three card trick was in full operation, and a number of young fellows who, although sharp enough on ordinary occasions, were not acquainted with this particular swindle, and were victimised accordingly. The police being all in unifordj were powerless to put a stop to the game carried on by these scoundrels, as the gang were constantly on the watch, and on seeing the approach of one of the police a signal was given, the cards immediately Jganishcd, and the members of the gang bewail paying at some comparatively harmless game with which the police could not interfere. If a policeman had been told off for duty in plain clothes, there would have been a chance of some of the gang being cauyht and locked up until the races were over, to the benefit of the public. Persons ■who werq watching the game carried on assert that at least LSO was won by the gang, mostly from young men residing In the district, who, not having had experience of these sharpers, imagined that they were carrying on a game of pure chance, instead of it being a barefaced robbery on the part of the three-card men, assisted by numerous confederates by whom he was surrounded. The following are the particulars of the events : Maiden Plate, Of 10 sovs. Entrance, 10s. Distance 1 mile. Weight for age. Open to all horses that have never won an advertised race. Mr W. Robertson’s ch m Modesty, 6yr, gst 121b (W. Robertson) I Mr J. Nepier’s b g Jacky, 6yrs, 9st (J. Nepier) 2 Mr G. Field’s br g Hazard, aged, 9st (J. Kennedy) 3 Mr J. Spain’s Titchbourne, aged, 9it ; Mr Brophy’s Never Mind Her, aged, Bst 121b; Mr Deady’s Judy McCarthy, aged, Bst I2U> ; Mr Reid’s Orlando, 4yrs. Sat 111b ; Mr J. Smith’s Progress, 4yrs, Sat 1 lib; and Mr Craig’s Mystery, 4yrs, Bst 91b ; also ran. Hazard declared 41b, Titchbourne 71b, Never Mind Her £lb, and Jacky sibs overweight. There was a good deal of fiddling on the post, and it was not till half a dozen false starts that the flag fell showing Titchbourne and Mystery to have the lead, with the rest all together. No great change was made till the halt mile was pretty well res died, when Modesty, followed closely by Jacky, crept out of the ruck, and soon took first and second places. Hazard following into third. The three holding their relative positions bad the rest beat, no great change was made for the remainder of the journey, the post being passed in the order named. Time 2min Isec. Totalisator, 72 investors; dividend, 1.2 Is. Alexandra Handicap, of 35 sovs. Nomination, 15s; Acceptance, 15s. Dis tance, one mile and a half. Mr Rivers’ Cheap Jack, Sat 11b (Rivers) 1 Mr Thomson’s Foul Play. Sat 4’b (McLaughlin) 2 Mr Kennedy’s Furtrader, 7»t 101b (Anderson) 3 Mr Le Fevre’s Revolver, Sat 101b (Robertson) 0 Mr Huddlestone’s Knickerbocker Sam A. Sat 71b (Mason) Rivera’ Don Jose, 9st; Mr Gordon’s Garibaldi, Bst 3lb ; were scratched. » This was a hard race between Cheap Jack and Foul Play from the start, the others, bar accident, being hopelessly out of it. J®it after entering the straight Foul Play just managed so got his head in advance, but fell hack again, and just on the post he ma&e*Errand effort, but. failed by a short head. Time. 2min Sfisecs, Totalisator, iQjp ; dividend, L 5. Handicap Trot, of 10 sovs. second horse 3 sovs. Nomination, 7s 6d ; Acceptance, 5-. Distance, 3 miles. No weight under 10s t. Mr Le Fevre’s Masher Maid, 25seca (W. Robertson) 1 Mr Brophy’s Present Times, lOaeca 2 Mr Cameron’s Nelly, scraech 3 Mr Le Fevre's Maggie, lOsecs; Mr Mclntosh’s Mayflower, 15»ecs ; Mr Croft’s jlnngarvin Lass, 45secs ; Mr O'Brien’s Malvino, 45.secs; Mr Holt’s Scamp, 25aecs ; Mr Holden’s Prince, 5-iecs; Mr Field’s Colleen Dhas, scratch; also started. Mr Dnngey’s Jimmey, 35secs, was scratched. This was a very hollow affair, as Masher

Maid walked through 'to- the front in pretty style, and never let another horse near her. Scamp kept well up for a time, but at length had to enocumb to Nelly, who looked like taking second money till Present Times overhauled heri n the straight, and just won second place on the post. Totalisation 108 ; dividend, LI 7s. District Handicap, of 20 sovs. Nomination, 10s ; Acceptance, 10s. Winner of the Alexandra Handicap to carry 71b penalty. Distance, 1 mile and a quarter. Mr Foul Play, Sat 71b (D. Anderson) 1 Mr Gordon’s {Garibaldi, Bst 61b (J. McLaughlin) 2 Mr Rivers’ Don Jose, 9st 31b, (Rivers) 3 Mr Sheppard’s Statesman, 6st 131b (McNaughton) 0 Knickerbocker Sam, Sit 101b ; and. Cheap Jack, Bst 41b ; were scratched. Garibaldi took the lead with Foul Play and Don following. At the far side of the coarse Foal Play ebook off Don, and challenging Garibaldi, passed him, and maintained the lead, winning by half a length. Totalisator, 169;. dividend, H5 4s. Hack: Selling Race, of 10 sovs. The winner to be sold for Ll2, and the surplus • (if any) to go to the race fond. Entrance, 5-i. Distance, 1 mile. No weight under 9 it. Post entry.

This race was won by Furtrader, heating Richards’ Sam, Robertsons’ Pluto, Rivera’ Tarragon, and O’Brien’s Marmion. The winner was nfterwaids knocked down to the owner, Mr Kennedy, for Ll3 ss. Totalisator 149 investors ; L 4 15s dividend.