SPORTING.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 276, 30 April 1875, Page 3

SPORTING.

ASHBURTON RACES. Second Day—April 29. Stewards Sir Cracroft Wilson, 0.8., K.C.5.1., W. C, Walker, George Scott, Cathcart Wason, G. C. Nixon, E. S. Coster, Michael Studholme, C. H. Dowling, J. C. Aitken, C. B. Fookes, B. Saunders, J. Cramond. Judge—Sir Cracroft Wilson, CB., K.C.S.I. Handicapper—H. P. Lance. Starter —Neil Maclean, Clerk of the Course—B. W, Millett. Clerk of the Scales —H. Friedlander. Hon Secretary and Treasurer—J. Stanley Bruce. The stewards may again be congratulated on having secured the good will of the clerk of the weather, for a finer day for their second day’s sport could not he wished for. The Christchurch morning train again brought up a considerable number of visitors, and the local attendance was very good. Previous to starting for the course the stewards considered the protest against Muscatel and Waverly in the Maiden Plate ; the protest was disallowed, and the stakes consequently go to Muscatel. In our yesterday’s issue we gave Foretbp as the winner of the hacks, the fact being that Foretop won the first heat, and was there and then disqualified ; three heats were afterwards run, the winner being found in Mr Nicholl’s Murphy. The stewards would do well to abolish heats next year, say on the ground of Martin’s Act. For the Handicap Hurdle four figured on the card, and a very useful looking four too. Kitty Clyde, from her performance of the previous day, started first favourite, while the loyal supporters of each horse backed their opinions more or less freely. The winner turned up in Billy Button, who was brought out by Mr Smith, and on this account and that of his owner, the victory was a very popular one. The race was not so good as was expected, for owing to the baulking throughout, Billy, who jumped really in good form, distanced the lot. The Publican’s Pur. e was the race of the day, though only three came to the post, Sonnambula being scratched. Lady Ellen was soon out of it, and the race resolved itself into a match between Nectar and the hurdle racer. From the last turn they were both together, but Tommy managed to place the stakes to the credit of his new owner, Mr P. Campbell. The Pony Race produced a field of four, and was won easily by Murphy, a Mazeppa pony, the winner of the Hack Race of the previous day. The Somerset Stakes was looked upon as a gift to Castaway, arid there was very little speculation on the event. The big horse went withip. himself the whole foad, and came away and won when he pleased. The Trotting Match was also a match between Possum and Hinds, the rest being outpaced almost from the start. Hinds would certainly have won but for his breaking. The winner went well, and was very carefully ridden. The Consolation brought four to be consoled, and resulted in a splendid race between Nectar and Sonnambula, Robin and Jilt being quite out of the hunt, in spite of their feather-weight. Nectar’s performance was certainly a very good one, after three severe races during the meeting, and one oh the day itself. She finished home as game as a pebble, and Sonnambula had all her wqrk to do to pull it off. Handicap Hurdle Race of 20 sovs, added to a sweepstakes of 2 sovs for acceptors; 1 sov nomination; distance, 1-J miles; over six ■ flights of hurdles; district horses only. Mr Book’s gr g Billy Button (by Gilderoy), 4yrs, lOst 111 b ... (H. Hawkins) 1 Mr G. Wilcock’s br g Narrow Gauge, syrs, list 61b (Hobbs) 0 Mr J. Hay’s b m Kitty Clyde, 6yrs, list 71b (W, Edwards) 0 Mr A. Wood’s b g Robin, aged, list 71b (Woods) 0 Betting—3 to 2 agst Clyde, 3 to 1 the rest.

The flag fell to a flying start, Kitty at once rushing to the front, and leading over the first hurdle, with Robin close on her quarters. Narrow Gauge was last over and nearly fell. They ran thus to the second hurdle, when all refused except Billy Button, who went on with the running, taking his jumps in splendid style. From this to the finish he had it all his own way, the other horses, after repeated refusals, arriving in the following order—Narrow Gauge second, Kitty Clyde third. Robin was not persevered with. Time, 3min 35sec. Publicans’ Purse —A handicap of 20 sovs, added to a sweepstakes of 2 sovs for acceptors; 1 sov nomination; distance TJ miles; open to all comers. Mr George Stevenson’s b g Tommy Dodd (by Bay Middleton), aged, 7st (Smith) 1 Mr J. H. Lunn’s b m Nectar, 4 yrs, 6st 31b (8. Osborne) 2 Mr Smith’s blk m Lady Ellen, 5 yrs, 6st (Gourlay) 0 Betting Even on Tommy Dodd and Nectar.

Nectar was first away. Nectar made the running for half the distance, when Lady Ellen’s bolt was shot, and Tommy Dodd got on terms with Nectar. They ran stride for stride to the distance, when Tommy Dodd

held a slight lead, both under the whip. In the run home Tommy stayed the longest, and won a capital race by half a length. Time, 2min 50sec. A protest was entered against Tommy Dodd on the grounds of a cross ; but, after a careful consideration of the evidence, the stewards decided in favor of Tommy Dodd. PONY Race of 10 sovs; entrance, I sov; post entries; catch weights; ponies not to exceed 14£ hands; distance, 1 mile; district ponies only. Mr G, Nicholas’ rn g Murphy...(Gourlay) 1 Mr Harrington’s b m Eta .. (Batty) 2 Mr Lake’s b m Nimblcfoot .... (Osborne) 3 Mr Smith’s Moki Moki ... (Owner) 0 Betting—2 to lon Murphy. The flag fell to a good start, Murphy going at once went to the fore. He made his own running all the road, and though Eta at the turn looked at one time rather dangerous, Murphy had him safe all the way up the straight, winning easily by two lengths, Eta second. Somerset Stakes —A handicap of 60 sovs, added to a sweepstakes of 3 sovs for acceptors ; 1 sov nomination; distance, 2 miles; open to all comers. The winner of the Ashburton Cup to carry a 71b penalty. Mr R. H. Campbell’s ch h Castaway (by Traducer—Mermaid), 4 yrs, Bst 51b (including 71b penalty) ... ("Matthews) 1 Mr Cradock’s b g Muscatel, 4 yrs, 6st (carried Bst) (Batty) 2

Mr J. H. Lunn’s gr m Alice Grey, 5 yrs, 6st 21bs (Osborne) 0

Mr R. Ray’s ch f Sonnambula, 3 yrs, 6st 81bs (Roland) 0

Betting—s to 1 on Castaway. A bad start was effected, Alice Grey jumping away and was soon half a dozen lengths ahead, Castaway second, Muscatel third, Sonnambula fourth. These positions were maintained till passing the stand, when Castaway went up to Alice Grey, and shortly passed her, taking the inside running. At the back of the course Alice Grey fell back, and was passed by Muscatel, who endeavored to catch the leader, but was never within a dozen lengths of him, the big chesnut going in an easy winner, hard held; Muscatel second, Alice Grey and Sonnambula not being ridden out.

Time —Smin 55secs. Trotting Match of 10 sovs; entrance, 1 sov; distance, 2 miles; district horses only; lowest weight, list. Mr Harrington’s b m Possum ... (Owner) 1 Mr McKlinnon’s b g Hinds ...(Hay) 2 The following also ran : —Tom, Black Bess, and Madam. The lot went away together, at a slow pace, and for a few hundred yards were all together. When they had fairly settled to their work, Possum and Hinds went to the front. The latter broke several times, loosing ground of course at each break. For the last mile they led alternately, but two breaks, close on the finish, lost Hinds the race, Possum going in an easy winner. Consolation Handicap of 15 sovs, added to a sweepstakes of 1 sov each; 1 mile; open. Mr R. Ray’sch f Sonnambula, by Towton, dam Opera, 3 yrs, Bst ... (Matthews) 1 Mr Lunn’s br m Nectar, 4yrs, 7st lib, (Osborne) 2 Mr Wood’s b g Robbin, aged, sst 71b (Smith) 0 Mr Nixon’s br m Jilt, 3 yrs, sst 71b (Gourley) 0 Betting—Even on Sonnambula, 2 to 1 against Nectar. Nectar got a trifle the best of a capital start, but was soon supplanted by the favorite. Before half the distance had been covered, it was apparent that the light weights were out of it. Nectar and Sonnambula raced together to the turn, where the favorite appeared to have the race in hand. Nectar, however, came again, and ran a game neck and neck race home, Sonnambula only winning by a short half-length. This brought a most successful meeting.to a close. THE DINNER. The usual dinner was held on the first evening of the races, at the Somerset Hotel, Mr W. C. Walker, M.P.C. for the district, in the chair ; Mr Cathcart Wason in the vicechair. In the catering Mr Oram surpassed himseif. The cloth being removed, the following toasts were proposed and duly honoured :—“ The Queen and Royal Family,” “ The Governor,” “ The General Assembly,” coupled with the name of Mr Bluett, member for the district ; “ The Superintendent and Executive,” coupled with the name of Sir (Jracroft Wilson ; “ The Provincial Council,” proposed by Mr Wason, and for which Mr White returned thanks; “ The Chairman and “ The Hosts, the Messrs Oram.” In proposing the latter toast the chairman complimented Messrs Oram on the pluck and energy displayed by them in erecting such a first-class hotel as the Somerset, and hoped that the speculation would continue to prove as paying as it appeared to be at present. KOWAI PASS RACES. The following weights have been declared ; HURDLE RACE.

st lb. Tommy Dodd ... 11 4 Alice Grey ... 0 5 Mousetrap ... 9 3 MALVERN STAKES. st lb. Guy Fawkes ... 7 5 Tadmor ... 7 0 Envy ... 6 11 Malva — 6 5