HOKITIKA RACES.

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 501, 1 April 1869, Page 3

HOKITIKA RACES.

Condensed from the West Coast Times. ) The Hokitika Autumn Meeting commenced on Tuesday, and. was continued yesterday. "We append the results of the racing for the various prizes : — Trial Stakes, of 30 soys. Open to all horses. Weight for age. 0«e irile and a half. Entrance, 3 soys. Mr Stafford's eh m Nebula, aged (Fiven) 1 Mr Dougherty's eh g Cossack, aged (Taylor) 2 Mr Barnard's b g Flying Jib, 4 yrs (Keay) 3 Mr Garforth's bk g Backbiter, 5 yrs ... dr Mr Shirley's g g Vandal, 3 yrs dr There could be scarcely aaid to be any betting on this race, but Nebula and the Jib were backed at evens, where any results were hazarded. At starting Cossack took the lead, forcing the pace. Nebula second, and Flying Jib some distance in the rear. This order was maintained the second round, Nebula biding her time, and hanging on to the horse's quarters. On the third round Nebula went up to Cossack, and on entering the straight collared and passed him, Flying Jib having previously declined and been pulled up. Nebula then came on at her ease, and won, hands down, by about a couple of lengths. Hurdle Race, of 50 soys. Open to all horses . Weight for age. One mile and a half. Entrance, 5 soys. Mr Barnard's g g Don Pedro, aged ..' .. (Taylor) 1 Mr Kingham's b g Gamester, aged (Kraaft) 2 Mr Haworth's b m Blink Bonny, aged ... (Dwyer)dis Betting even on Don Pedro, 2 to 1 against either of the others. On the flag being dropped, the .Don at once assumed the lead, all three, however, fencing ad- | mirably, and well together. The Don continued the lead till the last round, with both his followers in close attendance — indeed, scarcely a length separating the three. On rounding the last turn but one, Blink Bonny, who was up to that time going well, ran out, and before she could be set right again, the other two were over the last hurdle, and her chance was gone. Don Pedro then increased his lead, Gamester sticking to him, and bringing him to the whip. Both were together at the last hurdle, which was negotiated without accident, but Don Pedro could never be collared, and won a good race by a length. Distance Handicap Trotting Race, of 20 soys. Welter weights for age. Three miles. Entrance, 2 soys. Mr E.. W. Jones' b m Rosebud, aged (Owner) 1 Mr Garforth's b m Gentle Annie, aged (Owner) 2 Betting : 3tol on Gentle Annie, although giving 440 yards to her opponent. The race may be easily described by saying that Rosebud took the lead and kept it, Gentle Annie scarcely gaining on the start that she gave, Rosebud winning easily, and never being approached. Town Plate, of 75 soys. Open to all horses. Weight for age. Two miles. Entrance, 74 soys. Mr Barnard's b g Flying Jib, 4 yrs (Reay) 1 Mr Garforth's bk g Backbiter, 5 yrs (Gay) 2 Mr Stafford's eh m Nebula, aged (Fiven) 3 Betting : Even on Flying Jib, 6to 4 agst Nebula, 3 to 1 agst Backbiter,. This was the race of the day, and a great deal of interest was felt in the result, which was fully justified by its being run from end to end most honestly. At starting the Jib jumped off with the lead, Backbiter second, and Nebula lying off. This order continued till the first turn past the stand, when Nebula challenged Backbiter, and the two raced together till coming round the next time. At the stand the second time round Nebula fell back into the third place, Backbiter going up and making a gallant but unsuccessful effort to reach the Jib. This he repeated, several times displaying the utmost gcimeness in the struggle. Coming round the next time, Nebula ran up and improved her position, all three lying close together and making a splendid race. The Jib, however, would not be denied, and held his own by about a length, hugging the rails closely. Little change took place during the remainder of the race, Backbiter and Nebula making repeated but. fruitless efforts to catch their leader, and the Jib eventually won by a length, Nebula two lengths behind Backbiter. Selling Race, of 30 soys. One mile and a half. Winner, if not claimed at upset price of L4O, to be sold at auction immediately after the race, and any surplus to go to the race fund, if entered to be sold .for L4O. Weight for age ; if for L3O, 71bs allowance ; if for L2O, 141bs allowance ;if for LIOJ 211bs allowance. Entrance, 3 soys. Dr. Ryley's eh g Contractor, aged, L3O, • (Reay) 1 Mr Dougherty's eh g Cossack, aged, L3O, (Taylor) 2 Mr Kingham's b g Gamester, aged, L4O, (Kraaft) 3 Mr Ashton's bg Native, aged, L4O, (Gay) 4 Mr Shirley's g g Vandal, L4O, ...(Owner) 0 Mr Holmes' b g Coverdale, aged, L3O, (Dwyer) 0 Betting : Even on Native and Gamester against the field, 3 to 1 against Contractor, 3 to 1 against Cossack, 5 to 1 against any other. This was a good race, but it lay between the two leading horses the whole way, neither Gamester nor Native being able to get up, and the other two being beaten off. Contractor eventually won cleverly by a length. The winner was put up by auction directly after the race, but was bought in by his owner at the upset price. Hack Race, of 10 soys. Heats. Once round the course, without dismounting. Welter weight for age. Open to all bona fide hacks only that have never won an advertised stake of 20 soys. Post entry. Entrance, 1 soy. There were four entries for this race, which was won after a splendid race by Okair, beating Mazeppa and two others.

Second Day. [By Electric Telegraph.] The attendance on the course to-day vras very good, and moat of the events were keenly contested. The following are the results : — Butchers' Pltwe, of 23 soys. Weight for age. One mile ami a-half, for horses the bona fide property of butchers and cattle dealers in Westland. There were only two entries, and the result was a beautiful matfch between Cossack and Gamester, the latter coming in the winner. The Westland Jockey Club Handicap, of 160 soys.; second horse to receive 15 soys. out of the purse. Open to all horses. Two and a-half miles. Mr Garforth's bk £ Backbiter, 9st. 41b. ... 1 Mr Barnard's b g Flying Jib, 9st. 91b. ... 2 Mr Stafford's c m Nebula, 9st. 91b. ... 0 Nebula was badly beaten. Great dissatisfaction was loudly expressed at the result, as the race was considered a complete sell. Handicap Hurdle Race, of 80 soys. ; second horse to receive 10 soys. out of the purse. Open to all horses. Two miles and a distance. Mr Kingham's b g Gamester, lOst. ... 1 Mr Haworth's b m Blink Bonny, 9st. 101 b. 2 Mr Barnard's g g Don Pedro, list. 41b. ... 0 Mr Mitchell's b m Janet, Bst. ... .. 0 Ladies' Purse, of 30 soys . Open to all horses. Welter weight for age. One and a-half miles. Gentlemen riders. Entrance, 3 soys. Mr Garforth's bk g Backbiter .. ... 1 Mr Stafford's c m Nebula ... ..2 Dr. Riley's c g Contractor ... ... 0