SPORTING.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 292, 19 May 1875, Page 2

SPORTING.

* WAIMATE STEEPLECHASE. (From a correspondent of the Press.) Tuesday, May 18. President—M. Studholme, Esq. Stewards —Messrs F. Archer, F. W. Teschemaker, A. Turnbull, B. H. Martelli, M. Mitton. J. H. Raine, E. Elworthy, G, J. Denistoun, B. G, Griffiths, F. J. Kimbe'.l, Hon George Buckley, Hon John M‘Lean, Col Packe, Messrs J. Stevenson, J. Cramond, G. B. Parker,?. Campbell, J. Brabazon F. W. Delamain. Judge— Hon John M'Lean. Starter—Mr P. Campbell. Clerk of the Course —Mr E. Cameron. Clerk of the Scales —Mr M. Mitton. Secretary and Treasurer —Mr A. St G. Hamersley. Taken in the way of stewards, and all other ways for the last two years, the Waimate Steeplechases have been a great success —so much so that last October the Southern sportsmen decided to form a regular (teeplechase club. It is needless to say that m a district possessing so many persons interested in racing matters the club was easily formed, and formed upon such liberal principles, that we hope it will soon be joined by many Christchurch sportsmen. That cross-country horses are hard to get, the paucity of entries made at Waimate, though the programme was a very liberal one, sufficiently shows. The fact is the stakes given for hurdle races are not large enough to induce owners to go in for either breeding or training cross country horses. This is the more to be regretted, for a horse capable of carrying 12st over three miles of hunting country is usually not a bad weight-carrying hack, supposing his owner finds him not fast enough for racing. We fear that steeplechasing will never be very successfully carried out here unless in

concert with a hunt club. The demand fo’ cross-country horses would then create the supply; but we should mention that we must feel indebted to the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase members for the encouragement they are giving breeders to produce a useful and payable class of horses. To come to the steeplechase itself. The weather was beautiful and the attendance very good. The town hotels were crowded for ten days previous to the meeting, and Mr Studholme’s visitors were even more numerous than usual, and certainly that gentleman spared no trouble to make the affair go off well, and be in all respects a success. The course is situated at Willows Bridge at Mr Studholme’s, about five miles from Waimate, It is in every respect a most excellent one, all being grass, and the going yesterday was very good. The course is what is represented as fair hunting country, the jumps are most of them good, with four made post and rail fences, and a made water jump, requiring a fly of about eighteen feet. The big race, the first event of the day, resulted in a match between Medora and Tommy Dodd. Ivanhoe got cast a day or two previously, and was too lame to perform. This was the more to regretted, as Hedge brought him out very pink indeed. The races require little description. Medora, who looked a trifle light, made all the running, and after Tommy’s second refusal, had it all her own way. The Maiden produced a field of five, and the frequent refusals and spills caused a good deal of amusement. Plum, the winner, is a fair jumper, but Sam Slick, the horse who ran second both this year and last, was more to our fancy in every way. The rest were useful horses, but all very short of condition. The Cup boiled the pot over with a vengeance, the winner being old Lunatic, At the fence before the water jump it was the Atlantic cable to a bit of string on Medora ; her refusing, however, to let Dan mount after her fall lost the race. The Consolation brought three to the post, and promised a capital race between Tommy Dodd and Sam Slick. The top weight made all the running, and won pretty easily. The various officials all worked hard to make the affair go off well, and seemed to be the right men in the right places. The following is a detailed account of the events:—

New Zealand Grand National Hanoi cap— Of 100 sovs, added to a sweepstakes of 5 sot 3. Nominations 1 sovs, to go to the funds; Distance, 3 miles. Mr R. Ray’s b m Medora (by Brush), aged, 12st 71b (D. O’Brien) 1 Mr Campbell’s b g Tommy Dodd, aged, 12st 11b (Owner) 0 Mr F. Hedge’s b g Ivanhoe, aged, list 41b (Owner) 0

Bettirg, 2 to 1 on Medora. On the fall of the flag Medora went at once to the front, Ivanhoe returning to the saddling paddock. Forthe first mile andthreequarters Medora sailed away in front, both horses taking their jumps in great form. Coming to the gorse hedge into the stand near-the paddock Tommy Dodd refused, but took it the third time of asking. Medora now held a strong lead which she still further increased. When Tommy refused at the next jump the mare was now so far ahead that Tommy was not persevered with. Medora went on without refusing any obstacles, but fell at the water jump the second time round. Dan O’Brien, however, was soon in the saddle and cantered in.

Maiden Plate —0£ 60 sovs, added to a sweepstakes of 5 sovs. Distance, 2 miles. Weight for age. Mr W. Black’s b g Plum, aged 12st 3lbs (Hedge) 1 Mr Ravenhill’s blk g Sam Slick, aged 12st Bibs... (Owner) 2 Mr P. Campbell’s blk g Dan O’Connell, 3 yrs, list (Gault) 3 Mr Hoskin’s b g John Halifax, aged, 12st 41b (Lyons) 0 Mr McMaster’s b g Kaipi, aged, 12st 31b (McKay) 0 Spider and Yal Yose were scratched. Betting, 3 to 1 against Kaipi, 4 and 5 to 1 against the rest. Mr Campbell dismissed the lot on very even terms,;Halifax] and the Plum going at once to the front, and clearing the first jump almost together. The rest refused, but all took it at the second time of asking. All got well over the second jump -a post and rail—except Dan O’Connell, Halifax still cutting out the work. At the sixth jump Halifax refused, and Kaipi came into second place, with Sam Slick next, Plum leading. At the next fence but one Plum fell, but at the next jump but one most of them refused, and Plum was first over. Dan O’Connell, who had been making up for lost time, came here, but refused. Plum went on with the lead to the water jump, Sam Slick second. They both refused, and Kaipai, Dan O’Connell, and Halifax, came up. Plum was the first over, but fell, and though Hedge was soon up again, Sam Slick was over and away to the front. Both refused the next jump, but got over at the second attempt, Sam leading. A good race home ensued, terminating in favor of Plum by about a length. Dan O’Connell got over the water jump and came home, but Halifax fell in the water on the landing side, and was not extricated for some considerable time. A protest was entered by the rider of Sam Slick against Hedge, the rider of Plum, on the ground of a cross at the water jump, and at the fence, but the stewards disallowed it. Waimatb Steeplechase Cup—Of 75 sovs, added to a sweepstakes of 5 sovs. Weight for age. Distance, 2J miles. W. Smith’s b g Lunatic, aged, 12st 31b (Hedge) 1 Mr R. Ray’s b m Medora, aged, 12st Bib (D. O’Brien) 2

John Halifax, Tommy Dodd, and Ivanhoe were scratched. Betting—2 to 1 on Medora. Lunatic went at once to the front and led over the first jump, Medora then took up the running, pulling Dan almost out of the saddle, and increased her lead every stride. At the jump before the water she fell and struck at O’Brien with her fore feet. Before she would allow him to remount Lunatic had passed her, and taking all his jumps, the water included, in good style, came in an easy winner. Consolation Handicap —Of 40 sovs, added to a sweepstakes of 5 sovs. Nominations £l, to go to the funds. Distance, 2 miles. Mr P. Campbell’s b g Tommy Dodd (by Bay Middleton), aged, 12st 21b (Hedge) 1 Mr Ravenhill’s blk g Sam Slick, aged, lOst 51b (Owner) 2 Mr M‘Master’s b g Kaipi, aged, , lOst 41b , (M‘Kay) 0 Betting—2 to 1 on Tommy Dodd. Tommy made play the whole distance. For some time Kaipi held second place, but

opposite the stand Sam Slick went up and waited oa Tommy. A very good race resulted, both jumping beautifully. At the last fence Sam slipped and was nearly down. Tommy came away after the last jump and won easily. This brought the racing to a conclusion in good time.