SPORTING.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 521, 18 February 1876, Page 3

SPORTING.

TIMAR U RACES. (From the Press ) First Day—Thursday, February 17. Stewards—Messrs M. Studholme, J. W. White, J. Cramond, R, Stansell, G. Cliff, H, Gardner, T. Hall, A. Perry, A. W. Wright, Jas. King, M. Jonas, W. J. Fulton, A. Turnbull, D. McLean, A. St. G. Hammersley, Judge—Mr F. W. Teschemaker. Starter—Mr B. H. Martelli, Clerk of the Course —Mr G. H. Thompson. Clerk of the Scales —Mr J. R. Stansell. The annual race meeting took place today ontheTimaru course. Owing probably to the meeting being fixed earlier than last year, and shearing and harvesting being in full swing, the attendance was not so large as on former occasions. The course was hard, owing to the recent dry weather, which had the effect of making the time longer than otherwise would have been the case. For the Maiden, with five probable starters, Pungawerewere was made a hot fayorite, the evening previous Rob Roy and Golden Grape also having many admirers. For the Hurdle Race Tommy Dodd was the favorite at

first, but when it became known that he was bringing a good price in the sweeps for the South Canterbury handicap, that was a pretty sure index that he was not going for the hurdles. This was borne out by an official notice posted shortly before the start, that he would only go up to the post to make a race. Theodore, as was expected, won, but the race was a farce, as both horses refused the first hurdle, running into the crowd on the side of the course, and Alma, at the fifth hur le stuck up and allowed Theodore to win as he chose. The South Canterbury handicap brought out a good field of five. Mr Campbell, who had two horses in the race, Cloth of Gold and Tommy Dodd, declaring to win with the latter. Owing to Nectar, the highest weight in the handicap, refusing to accept, the weight on all engaged was raised 1 lib. Mignonette ran a game horse in this race, which was one of the best of the day, the handicappers having succeeded admirably in bringing their horses together, as at one point of the race they were all together. Cloth of Gold could have given Tommy any amount of a beating had he been let. As it was, the two made a fine race down the straight. The Chief was not in it, but Elfin King managed to secure third place. In the Novel Race the pot boiled over, Madras, who was looked on as a moral, being beaten at the distance by Hector. When I mention that Madras was taken by the bookmakers at 2 to 1 on him, you will see how much of a certainty it was thought to be. The Hack Race resulted in a victory for Seven Bells, Mr Hoskins’s Highland Lassie coming second. A protest was entered against the winner, for being a trained horse, but has not yet been decided. The following is a detailed account of the various events

Maiden Plate—4o bovs, 1$ miles. For all horses that have never won an advertised race up to the time of starting, Entrance, £3 3s. Mr C. Coombes’ b £ Pungawerewere, 3 yrs, 7st 101 b (H. Rowlands) 1 Mr Lunn’s b g Rob Roy, by Golden Grape—Miss Mettle, 4 yrs, Bst 121 b (R. Ray) 2 Mr Barton’s ch f Promised Land, 3 yrs, 7st 101 b (Johnson) 3 Mr Stansell’s Golden Grape, aged, 9s* 81b (Davis) 4 Mr Barker’s b c Investment, 3 yrs, 7st 131 b (Watty) 0

Betting—2 to I on Pungawerewere, 4 to 1 agst Rob Roy, 4 to 5 to 1 agst the rest. At the start all got away on the flag dropping, except Investment, who fa ; led t® get off for some seconds. Pungawerewere, after the first few strides, took the lead, Rob Roy second, Promised Land third, Golden Grape fourth, and Investment in rear. In this order they ran to the straight run home, when a set-to between Rob and Pungawerewere took place, both using the whalebone reely. Coming near home, Rowland shook up the mare, and, despite Rob's efforts, passed the post a short length ahead, two lengths between second and third. Time—2min 51secs.

Hurdle Race, 30 sovs. Two miles, over eight flights of hurdles. Welter weight for age. Three to start or no race. Entrance, £2 2s. Mr Barton’s br g Theodore, aged, 12st 11b (Joyce) 1 Mr Hill’s b g Young Alma, aged, 12st lib, tWalls) 2 Mr Campbell’s b g Tommy Dodd, aged, 12st lib (F. Hedge) 0

Betting—s to lon Theodore. Mr Campbell’s Tommy Dodd only went to the post to make a start. Theodore took the lead as soon as the flag dropped, with Alma close up. At the first hurdle both refused to negotiate, and bolted into the crowd. Ultimately, Alma was brought up to it and got Over, having a clear lead of any number of lengths. Theodore, after some persuasion, was got over, and went at a rare bat to catch him on the flat. Just past the Stand, near the second hurdle, Theodore overhauled him, and both got over. After Theodore again refusing and going round it, he at last got over and got the lead to the fifth hurdle, where Alma again declined to face the timber, and left Theodore to finish the race alone. No time taken. Alma came in some time after the winner.

South Canterbury Handicap— so sovs ; 2 miles. Nomination, £1 Is; acceptance, £2 2s. Mr P. Campbell’s b g Tommy Dodd, aged, 9st (fi.Ray) 1 Mr P. Campbell’s ch g Cloth of Gold, 3 yrs, 7st lOlbs ... (W. Dermuth) 2 Mr 0. Coombs b g Elfin King, 4 yrs, Bst lOlbs (Whitty') 3 Mr Barrett’s ch m Mignonette, 5 yrs, Bst 61bs (Johnson) 4 Mr T. Shand’s br c Chief, 3 yrs, 7st 121bs, (Moore) 0

Betting—4 to 1 against Mignonette ; 6to against Elfin King ; even on Tommy Dodd ; 3 to 1 against Cloth of Gold and the others. Mr Campbell declared to win with Tommy Dodd. Mr Martelli got the lot away on very even terms, Mignonette assuming the lead, after a few strides, with Cloth of Gold second, Chief third, and Tommy and Elfin King close up, the pace being very merry. In this order they passed th stand for the first time, and it remained unaltered till reaching the far side of the course, when Tommy Dodd began to go up, Mignonette still holding the lead, and looking like winning. Tommy Dodd and the Cloth of Gold, after a short distance had been gone ovdr, during which all were in a cluster, came to the front, Mignonette falling back, and Elfin King taking third place; the rest in the rear. Coming Into the straight, a fine race ensued between the Cloth and Tommy, though the former could have won. Ultimately Tommy came in 'first by a neck, three lengths between second and third, and about the same between third and fourth, thp Chief beaten off. Time, 3min 47£sec. Noted Race, 40 sovs, One and a half miles ; a handicap. Nominations, £2 2s. The winner to be sold by auction, with all his engagements ; proceeds to go to the fund. Mr Hoskins’ b g Hector, aged, 9st (Mcßratney) 1 Mr Martelli’s b g Madras, aged, Set (R. Ray) 2 Betting—2 to 1 on Madras.

Madras cut out the running, closely followed by Hector, but after about a quarter of a mile Hector came to the front, and a good race ensued down the straight, both plying the wha’ebone freely. Nearly abreast of the stand Hector managed to get a short head in front of Madras, ultimately winning a close race. Time—3min. Hack Back. Seven Bells 1 Highland Lassie 2 A protest was entered against the winner, which is not y$ decided.