BALCLUTHA RACES.

Evening Star, Issue 4097, 13 April 1876, Page 3

BALCLUTHA RACES.

(From our Special R porter.) FIRST DAY. Owing to the rough weather this meeting was but poorly attended, and it will doubtless be held at an earlier date next year or else prove a total failure. The course is only about half-a-mile from the town, and vehicles of any description were therefore at a discount. The length of the course is fifty yards short of a mile, out of which distance the horses can only be seen for the first 500 yards and the last 300, owing to the centre being dotted with clumps of scrub. Any amount of pulling could therefore be carried on with perfect impunity, but there was no complaint of anything of the sort yesterday. The other great fault of the course is that it is too undulating, and many of the hollows were, after the late rains, full of mud and slush. The public are not very well provided for, there being no grand stand, but an omnibus nicknamed “The Coffin ” did duty in this way, and at the time of the principal race no less than seven individuals took up positions on this “ coign of vantage.” The judge’s box is placed on the inside of the running ground, and it is composed of a single sheet of corrmated iron with a woodpn ledge behind it. One bookmaker and a listman were enough for all the business that was done in the waypfbet-

ting, half-crown sweeps being the fashionable method of disposing of loose cash. The usual race-course games were provided and there were a couple of well-conducted publicans’ booth. TheMaidenPlate proved the certainty that was anticipated for Darkie, but the Clutha Handicap furnished a fine race between King Philip and Glengarry, and would have been more exciting if Sir William and Steamer had not run off the course in the first half mile. The King had a hard struggle for it, Batty riding Glengarry splendidly, and getting every ounce out of him. The Flying Handicap would have been won by Bothwell had he not bolted for a mile before the time for starting had ar rived. As it was Sir William lay behind till near the finish, and then came up steadily and won with a little in hand. The following events did not appear in our yesterday’s issue:— Flying Handicap, of 25 sots. Distance, one mile.

Swauson’s Sir William, 5 yrs, 84 ... (Brensil) 1 Stephenson's Steamer, 3 yrs, 6st 21b... (Gourley) 2 Pollock’s Bothwell, 5 yrs, 7st 11b (81b over) (M'Xenzie) 8 Smith's Wee Lad, aged, 7st 121b ... (Allen) 0 Griger’s Color Sergeant 0

Glengarry, Bst 51b, was scratched. Betting: 3t02 on Wee Lad, 3to 1 against Sir William, 4to 1 Bothwell and Steamer, 5 to 1 Color Sergeant. Bothwell bolted, and went a mile before the start. He then cut out the running, Color Sergeant being second, Steamer third, Sir William and Wee Lad last. At the half mile Steamer and Sir William went off, and with Bothwell led up the straight, where all were ridden hard, and Sir William staying longest won by a length, steamer ard Bothwell were close up. Time, Imin. 52sec. &,Hurry Scurry, of 6 sovs. Distance, one mile.

catch weights. There were four starters, Allendar winning easily, with Border Lad second.

SECOND DAY. (By Telegraph.) The weather to-day is fine, but very blowy. Railway Handicap, of 20 sovs. Distance, 14 miles. Mr Smith’s Wee Lad, aged, 7st 151b ... (Allen) 1 Mr Stevenson’s Steamer, 3 yrs, 6st (Gonrlay) 2 Mr Pollock’s Bothwell, 5 yrs, 6st 81b (Robinson) 3 Betting: 3tol on Steamer; even against Wee Lad; 3to 1 Bothwell. The three got off badly, Steamer leading, Bothwell losing some lengths. Past the stand, Wee Lad came to the front on the inside, and at the mile led by a clear length. These positions were kept till near the fimsh, Wee Lad winning hands down by a length, Bothwell being a bad third. Time, 2min. 53sec. A protest, lodged against Wee Lad for crossing Steamer, was disallowed. Hurry Scurry of 10 sovs. Distance, one mile. Catch weights; post entry. Pollock’s Resina ... ... ... ... 1 Dunne’s Allendar ... ... ... ... 2 Won, after a capital race, by a length. Time, 2min 57sec. Hack Rack (any weight over 6st). Grigor’s Roebuck (Mason) 1 Dunne’s Chinaman (Dunne) 2 Only two ran, and Roebuck had it all his own way. Time, 4min 20sec.