RANGIORA RACES.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 249, 30 March 1875, Page 4

RANGIORA RACES.

EASTER MONDAY. Stewards: Messrs Gr. Cone, F. M. Rickman, M. Duncan, J. Rickurs, W. Buss, J. Lilly, E. Mulcock. Judge : Mr Maurice Jones. Starters: Mr Wm Bramley and Captain Parsons. Clerk of the Course: Mr Nicholson. Clerk of the Scales: Mr John Wheeler. In every respect Rangiora is admirably adapted for a good country race meeting. It is an easy distance from town; and you can go by rail. The district is a very prosperous one, and many of its inhabitants are good sportsmen. The course could with very little expense be made into a very good one, and has the advantage of a “ natural grand stand,” which will accommodate hundreds of spectators without any extra charge. Under such favorable circumstances it becomes a matter of wonder that we have never had a regular Rangiora meeting before. However, better late than never, and for the future there is but little doubt that the stewards will be able to see their way to a yearly fixture. Yesterday’s meeting was in most respects a most successful one; the weather was pleasant, and the attendance was capital, far larger, indeed, than is usually seen at up-country meetings with far superior programmes to the one offered by the Rangiora stewards yesterday. The facilities presented by the railway, and the day being a holiday, no doubt contributed greatly towards the numbers present. The course, which is about a mile from the turnpike, is a chain or so short of a mile in length, and, as we have already said, could be made a very good one with very little trouble. Mr Bassingthwaite, of the Red Lion, had a capital four-horse team, which he handled like a workman, and drove the stewards to the ground. The commissariat on the course was under the auspices of Mr Conway, of Woodend, and he seemed to have all his work cut out to satisfy the demands

of his numerous customers. Inspector Barsham was present, but his duties appeared to be light enough. The programme was certainly not a very ambitious one, but the meeting was hurriedly got up, and it is understood that next year we may look for a super-ex-cellent bill of fare. On this occasion the programme'gave every owner a chance to win a few pounds, for the various items comprised every sort of distance and every imaginable weight. No horse having won over £2O in stakes was allowed to compete at the meeting. This rule might be done away with advantageously on future occasions, as it virtually confines the events to hacks, and a race card would also supply a want which, owing to the events being all post entry, was of course unavoidable at yesterday’s meeting. The sport was very good. The Hurdles brought out a field of seven, and was won pretty easily by Ranger. Phantom ran well while she lasted, but was manifestly quite amiss. The jumps, it may be said, were more honored in the breach than in the observance. The race for the saddle was won easily enough by the Bat, who won it may be remembered the Curragh Selling Stakes at the last Autumn Meeting, This put him out of court, and the saddle went to Mr Osborne’s smart little pony. The Two-mile race was won by Muscatel, who was very well ridden by H. Lunn. Manuka, a big raking horse by the Peer, and who looks like cross-country work, gave him more trouble than was anticipated, but at the finish the colt had all the best of it. The performances of the other horses in the various events call for no special comment, except perhaps the indifferent running of Beadsman, a fine raking black horse, and own brother to Defamation. He was evidently a long way on the gross side of condition, which perhaps accounts for his bad performance, but we hope to see him again in better form. The arrangements were very creditable, and the various officials worked hard and successfully to make the meeting go off well. We append a detailed account of the various events:—

Hurdle Race —IJ miles. Over six flights of hurdles. Weight, list 71b. Entrance, 10s. Ist prize, £6 ; 2nd do, £l. Mr G. Cone’s b g Ranger, by Peter Flat, 6 yrs (T. Wren) 1 Mr E, Murfit’s b m Kate, 4 yrs (Owner) 2 Mr S. Wilson’s b g Tommy Dodd, aged . (J. Hill) 3 Mr Cradock’s gr f Phantom, 4 yni, (H. Lunn) 0 Mr J. Rickur’s br g Takiwai, aged (Collins) 0 Mr G. Palmer's ch g King, aged (Murfitt) 0 Mr Moody’s gr g Maori Bay, aged (Owner) 0 Mr T. Wilson’s ch g Tallyho, aged (Owner) 0

Phantom jumped off with the lead, and led over the first hurdle, Tommy Dodd second, and Kate third. Tommy Dodd now went to the front, and made the running to the last jump, materially assisting the chance of the rest by knocking the hurdles down. Here Ranger, who had been waiting, got on terms with him, and Kate, after jumping the last hurdle, came away and joined the leaders. In the run in Ranger gradually drew to the front, and won by three lengths, Kate second, and Tommy Dodd third. Phantom, whose bolt was shot half a mile from home, and who was not ridden out, was fourth ; the rest beaten off.

Flat Race— l mile. Catch weights. Entrance, ss. Ist prize, a saddle ; 2nd do, a bridle. Mr Osborne’s ch g Oatch-me-not, 4 yrs, by Malton (H: Murfit) 1 Mr McQuillan’s b g Warren 2 Mr br g The Bat 0 Catch-me-not made all the running to the last turn, when The Bat went up and won pretty easily by two lengths. A protest was entered against The Bat on the ground that he had won over £2O. The stewards allowed the protest, and Mr Osborne’s pony was consequently declared the winner. Flat Race— 2 miles. Weight, 12st, Entrance, 15s. Ist prize, £l2 ; 2nd do, £3. Four horses to start or no race. Mr Craddock’s b g Muscatel, by Golden Grape—Betty Martin, 4 yrs (H. Lunn) 1 Mr Bramley’s b g Manuka, aged (W. Murfit) 2 Mr H, McLean’s blk g Beadsman, 5 yrs (Vallance) 3 Mr Collin’s ch g Prince, aged (Owner) 0 Mr Cone’s b g Ranger, 6 yrs (T. Wren) 0 Muscatel was first away, and led past the stand, Manuka second, Ranger third. At the turn Muscatel was pulled back half a length, and Beadsman took third place. Half a mile from home the latter was beaten, and the race was evidently between Muscatel and Manuka, who were racing together ten lengths ahead of Beadsman, A hundred yards from home Lunn called on the colt, and brought him in a winner by half a length. Beadsman was a bad third. Flat Race —l| miles. Weight, lOst. Entrance, 7s 6d. Ist prize, £4 ; second horse to save his stakes. Mr S. Wilson’s b g Tommy Dodd, aged (H. Murfit) 1 Mr Cradock’s gr f Phantom, 4 yrs (Owner) 2 Mr Frame’s b g Little John, aged ... 3 Mr McGowan’s b m Cricket, 4 yrs ... 0 Mr J. Tomb’s dun g Tim Finnigan, aged 0 Mr J. Wilson’s b m Mary, aged 0

Mr Moody’s b g Billy, aged 0 Tommy Dodd cut out the work, and had it all his own way from start to finish, winning easily in a canter: Phantom second. Flat Race H miles. Catch weights. Entrance, 7s 6d. Ist prize, £4 ; second horse to save his stakes. Mr Murfit’s b m Kate, by Traducer, 4 yrs (H. Murfit) 1 Mr Osborne’s ch g Catch-me-not, 4 yrs, (Bones) 2 Mr Collin’s ch g Prince, aged (Owner) 0 Mr McQuillan's rn f Thoughtless, 3 yrs 0 Mr Martin’s b m Skylark, aged 0 Thoughtless made play from the jump, and held the lead for the first half mile. Kate now took up the running, and at the last turn held a strong lead. Catch-me-not here came through his horses, but only secured an indifferent second place to Kate, who won easily. Consolation Race 1 mile. Weight list. Entrance, ss. Ist prize, £3 10s, with the entrance money added. The second horse to save his stakes. Mr Bramley’s b g Manuka, by the Peer, aged (W. Murfit) 1 Mr H. McLean’s blk g Beadsman, 5 yrs (Yallance) 2 Mr Frame’s br g Little John, 6 yrs (J. Hill) 0

Manuka was first away, with Little John close up, Beadsman lying back. They ran thus to the turn, where Beadsman came up.

The three ran together for a few strides, when Little John fell back beaten, and Beadsman dying away in the run in, Manuka won easily by two lengths. Trotting Race—3 miles. Weight, 12st. Prize, £2, with 15s entrance money added. Mr Wilson’s b m Polly ... 1 Mr Palmer’s b m Clipper ’ Both went well away together at the fall of the flag, but it was soon evident that Clipper was far and away the best performer of the two. She soon took a decided lead, and won apparently with ease. To the surprise of mo&t, Polly kept on her way after Clipper had pulled up, and completed another round. This gave her the race, as Clipper had pulled up by some mistake one round short of the distance. This brought a very successful little meeting to a close.

In the evening the race dinner was held at the Red Lion Hotel, when Host Bussingthwaite provided a very capital spread. Mr Rickman occupied the chair, and a considerable number of guests sat down to dinner. After the toast of “ The Queen” had been proposed and duly honored, the chairman, in conjunction with the treasurer, Mr Lilly, proceeded to pay over the various stakes. The chairman then, in a few appropriate words, proposed the health of Mr Maude. Mr Maude, in replying, spoke of the very kind reception which had been accorded to him by the people of Rangiora, and hope he would always act in such a manner as to deserve a continuance of their support. He alluded to gibbeting, which he said he had lately received in the papers, but thought notwithstanding all that had been said he would be able to make out an exceedingly good case on Friday next. He concluded by proposing the health of the stewards, coupled with the healths of Messrs M. Jones and Rickman, who returned thanks in suitable terms.

During the evening a few songs were sung, and a very pleasant evening was spent.