DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB RACES.

Evening Star, Issue 2838, 23 March 1872, Page 2

DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB RACES.

Yesterday. Stewards.—Messrs E. Campbell, Henry Driver, James Marshall, J. A. Douglas, G. Dowse, W. M‘Taggart, E. W. Humphreys, J, T. Chaplin, D. Corsan, J. Eeany, George Dodson, b. Scott, and Captain Hutchison. Judge—Mr John Stephenson. Starter— Mr 0. Moore. Clerk of the Course —Mr H. Gourley. Selling Hurdle Race of 40 sovs; 1$ miles, over seven flights of hurdles 3 feet 8 inches high. Mr J. A. Douglas’s Medora, 6 yrs, 12 st 11b 1 Mr E. Pritchard’s b g Nigger, aged, 8 st 1 lb 2 Five horses started, Sir Tatton being scratched, his owner electing to reserve his strength for the event of the second day. Pilgrim and Tonic caved in early, and all the horses passed by the first hurdle, declining to take it. The omission was made known to the jockey who rode Nigger, who turned back and cleared it. Medora, of course, came in a long way ahead ; but Nigger’s rider at once entered a protest, which was considered in the evening by the stewards and upheld by them. Nigger has therefore been declared the winner, and was bought in for 1.30. This Day, The glorious weather, sunshine without wind, combined with the fact of to-day being observed as a holiday to commemorate the Anniversary ;of the Province, had the effect of causing a considerable increase in the number of visitors over those present at yesterday’s meeting. Indeed, without committing ourselves to extravagance by stating the number of persons present, we may venture to affirm, without fear of contradiction, that the present meeting was by far the largest ever known in Dunedin. A more animated appearance than that presented on the course could hardly be imagined; a variety of amusements—forming an interesting by-play, being provided. The day’s events began with the Handicap Hurdle Eace of 80 sovs.; the second horse to save his stake. Two miles and a distance. One event over ten flights of hurdles, 3 ft 8 in high. Seven started. The following is the order in which they arrived at the winning past:— Medora 1 Maid of the Mill .... 2 Pilgrim 3 Betting, 2 to 1 against Medora. This was a spirited race. Patch took the lead, which he maintained for about half a mile, when, taking the second fence, he fell and was supposed to have been killed instantaneously. At first, there were serious apprehensions as to the rider’s safety, as he was not seen to move for nearly five minutes. Fortunately, however, he was merely stunned, and was not seriously injured. Patch being thus thrown out of the race, the contest evidently lay between Medora, who took the lead, Sir Tatton, who followed closely, second, and Maid of the Mill, third. In the last halfmile, however, the Maid of the Mill put on a spirt and passing Sir Tatton, came in second, just two lengths in the rear of Medora. Medora and Sir Tatton were the favorities ; but it was feared that they were too heavily handicapped. We are glad to say that after lying apparently lifeless for nearly half-an-hour, Patch suddenly rose, and was able to travel to the saddling pad' dock. Dunedin Jockey Club Handicap of 200 sovs,, with a sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each, the s?cond horse to receive the amount accruing from the sweepstakes; the third horse to save Lis stakes ; 2 miles. Gazelle . .... I Burgundy 2 Exile 2 Yatterina, Exile, and Gazelle were the favorites. This, the great event of the day, caused considerable excitement. After many efforts to effect a start, the horses got off well together. Gossip toak the lead and kept it during the first mile, when Exile went a-head, followed closely by Gazelle. Enrgundy’s rider now made a call upon Hie

horse, which, however, he was unequal to. Gazelle made a famous effort, and successfully challenged the others, coming m as above indicated. Time, 3mxn. 20see. The Town Plate of 75 sovs, If mile. Six horses entered, four only coming to the scratch. To carry two miles weight for ago. Slander „ D; f; Adonis Betting, 2 to 1 against Slander and Defamation ; 3 to 1 against Adonis. This was a splendid race. Defamation took the lead at starting, followed by Adonis. Slander being third, Lady Antrim in the rear. At the end of the mile, Lady Antrim by an extraordinary push took up ; fhcTst position, which however it was dear she could not long maintain, as the ™ toohot for her, aod .he gradually fell into the rear. The real strogg 0 e dentlv lay bet ecu Slander and Defamation, Slander taking the lead by a length, which however, on nearing the winning-post, she increased to three lengths, Adonis coming m a bad thii d. Time, 3 mm. 2o sec. ■NVivi-l Back, a handicap of 100 sovs, 1* miles The winner ta be sold by auction, the whole of the proceeds of the sale to go to the funds. Sixteen entries, six scratched. Kosina 2 Bergundy 3 Banjo • • • ’ ' This was a well-contested race, the “knowing ones” being decidedly at fault in SSf Sif tod the hatfoSowed by KH-du-e. When within a quarter mile> o Rosin a made a push, and took the Lad, which it maintained to the end. R sold for LSO. Time, 2mm. 54sec.

The proprietors of the Fiji Gazette seem be in an unpleasant predicament. On the 4th of November they claimed the indulgence of their readers under the followin 0 ? perplexing circumstances. we ar ‘ rived in Levuka from' Sydney.-last June, we bid with us a staff of six stalwart young printers, all eager to distinguish themselves ?n this, until lately, term life and spirits, and vigor. Ot these, cieatn has laid bold of some ; tbe f ' “e----delieht in the pleasures of i.ovuka, ana oe took themselves hack to Australian dimes ; and the last of our gallant bami now lies m our office stricken with fever, and a day oi two s nee was at death’s door. ’ It is no mato7wonder that, under such circumstances, fh e Gazette should cease to be published more to once a week, and that the publisher should appeal to a generous public to conSer the difficulties of a position which no human perception could have forseen, and no human power could have obviated.