THE RACES.

Evening Star, Issue 3512, 26 May 1874, Page 3

THE RACES.

In concluding oar report of yesterday’s meeting w.e may say that the sport was excellent,. but that the weather was so •wretched as to allow of only a very few persons enjoying it. There was not a dry spot to beioupd on the ground, even the weigh-ing-room—as well as' the booths—being flooded as badly as if it had no roof. In fact, as far as comfort goes, the whole structure might as well have been open to tbe skies, like tbe top of the grand stand. In the Hurdle Race, contrary to expectation, only one spill occurred, and that at the last bardie ; and to it may perhaps be ascribed the fact of old Kildare at last pulling off a race—for .the stumbler—Bushman—looked like winning all over. The Maiden Plate turned out, as generally anticipated, a match between Congreve and Miss Rowe, and the former proving the stauncher of the two won by three parts of a length. The Trotting Match was an innovation at the Forbury, and as such had better remain, for there is no surer way of exciting dissatisfaction and ill-feeling amongst owners of “ trotters,” jockeys,, bookmakers, and the speculating portion of the public, than by inserting a race of this description in the programme. Of course therd was a protest after yesterday’s Trotting Match, and of coarse the stewards’ decision did not please everyone. The Birthday Handicap was a surprise—to say the least of it—to everybody, and must surely have astonished Captain Hutchison to a greater extent than anyone else; for if he did not know whether the Earl or Mabel was the better at their respective weights, no one else could.. The Earl, with which he declared to win, was, we believe, absolute last, while Mabel won, after a hard fight with Miss Rowe. In the Selling Race the three weights had it all their own way, Wee Lad keeping the lead from start to finish, and winnmg easily, Donald had a slight show of favor for the Butchers’ Race, but Magenta pulled it off—Polly, who was looked upon as a scrubber, making not a bad third. The Consolation Stakes finished a good day’s sport under most unfavorable circumstances. The officials all worked with’their accustomed zeal, and Mr -R. H. Bailey, in his position of timekeeper, was as .obliging as over. Botchers’ Race, dot all butchers’ horses -which have carried the basket one month previous to the race. To be ridden by butchers’ outriders only. No weight under XOat; distance, mile ; entrance, 10s fid. First horse to receive •u gold-mounted whip presented by Mr G. bowse ; second horse, L 5, and I™ 01 sl l^ er 'mounted spurs presented . by Mr Waddell; third horse, L2 10«. Mr G. Wilson’s b g Magenta, aged, 10st Mr J. Hastie’s blk g Donald, 1 T u - , -on , Wallace) 2 J. Barn’s gr m Polly, aged, 10at (Owner) 3 flora wab scratched at 11,59 ft,m.

Betting : 3 to 2 against Donald, 2 to 1 Magenta, 4to 1 Polly. , this race was started in the teeth of a fierce hail aq iall, which almost hid the horses from sight ; bnt on coming past th® stand Ikmald and Polly were fotuid to be leading, Magenta, going strongly, a few lengths behind. The la t nimed soon began to creep un on the outside of the leaders and took first place, Donald contesting it well with him. bnt tone purpose. Magenta winning hard held by somy lengths, Polly a good third. Time, drum. 38sec. Consolation’ Handicap of 15 sovs. Post entry, 1 sov. One Mile. Campbell’s br m Envy, aged, Bst 71b ... ... Captain Hutchison’s be Earl'of Lynne, "3 yrs, 7,st 101b ... .. ... 2 Mr W.^ Swanson’s br g Border Lad, aged, 7stslb ... ... 0 Mr T. Broadway’s br m Miss Rowe, 4 yrs, osc o £ W.Smellie’s b g Schoolboy, 6 yrs, 7st 0 n Kitchenraan’s ch ra May Queen, aged 6st 101b q There was scarcely any betting on this race, and the general wish seeped to be to get it over as quickly as possible, evening coming on fast and the weather not improves- Envy appeared to be favored by a few, and gratified them by winning rather easily from the Earl.