GREYMOUTH ANNUAL RACES.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 825, 20 March 1871, Page 2

GREYMOUTH ANNUAL RACES.

Second Day, Saturdby, March 18,

There was considerably more liveliness exhibited on the course on Saturday. The attendance was larger than on the previous day, although much less than at former meetings. The grand stand was well patronised, and more business was done in the various booths. The weather although rather hotter thaa was altogether comfortable, was splendid, and both road and river had a good deal of traffic. The opportunities afforded by the various steamboats and coaches, had induced a good sprinkling of Hokitika visitors, who appeared to thoroughly enjoy themselves. The race programme was as attractive as, tinder the circumstances, it could have been made, although from the small number of horses no exciting competition could be expected. In fact, there was nothing exciting about the whole meeting ; still, those who simply went to amuse themselves were amused, and as there was very little betting, there were not many long faces. Betting, indeed, except in the shape of sweeps, and some mild speculation, was quite out of the question. For the great event of the day Peeress was backed at anythiug-you-like to one, but very few offers could find acceptors. The other events created a little more business, but there wa3 too much certainty as to the winners to encourage an extensive indulgence in the excitement which is supposed to be the sensation involved in a bet.

The following are the events : — Grey Valley Hurdle Handicap, of 50 soys. Two miles and a half. Nominations 2 soys. Acceptances, 3 soys. Mr John Seaton's b g Supple Jack, 5 yrs list (Blyth) 1 Mr Taylor's bg Gamester, aged, list 101 b (owner) 2 Mr James Steele's gr m Ino, aged 9st (M'Glasban) 3 We hardly know what to say of this " race," if such it can be called, except to hazard the opinion that it was Supple Jack's race from the first. It wa3 no doubt a reasonable charity to allow this horse to take away at least one prize, but the public would have been more amused had more than one horse done the running and jumping. Gamester could jump a little if Ino couldn't, and if only for appearances, he needn't have baulked quite so soon. Supple Jack no doubt deserved the money on his own merits as a fencer. He leaps exceedingly free and easily, and was well ridden. A tolerable start was effected ; Ino objected to the first hurdle, and Gamester to the second, leaving Supple Jack to a little bit of quiet amusement to himself. • Telegraph Stakes, of 15sova. Entrance, 1£ soys. One mile and a half. The winner to be sold for £20. Weight for age. Mr W. S. Campbell's br g Robin Hood, aged (Blyth) 1 Mr Hopwood's Moss Rose ... (Owner) 2 Mr James Steele's Ino (M'Glashan) 3 After' an excellent start, Ino got the lead, but was soon headed by Robin Hood, and Moss Rose a clever second, which order was preserved for tho first round. The bold forester kept his place at an increased distance, and won without much effort. Greymouth Jockey Club Handicap, of 250 soys, open to all horses. Two miles and a half ; second horse to receive 40 boys. out of the stakes. Mr E. Cutts's eh m Peeress, 5 yrs, lOst 41b (M'Glashan) 1 Mr Taylor's b g Gamester, aged, 7sfc Gib ... (Morgan) 2 Mr Hugbes's blk in XXX, aged, 7st 101 b ... ... (Blyth) 3 From the first it was an opinion generally held that in spite of the extra weight

she had to carry the chesnut mare would take away the 250 soys. As she was quietly walked about before the start, her eyes said as plainly as those interpreters •f a horse's thoughts can do, "I am going to win." Her jockey had evidently an opinion of something of the kind communicated to him, no doubt by some equine language unknown to the unhorsey, but which was quite sufficient to account for the complete coolness and confidence that characterised his riding. The betting was confined almost to the places of the other two horses, Gamester being slightly the favorite. Without any ado the three horses rattled off at the dropping of the red flag, XXX leading, Gamester close behind, and Peeress a few yards in the rear, to the outside. Thi3 order was preserved for the first run round, XXX and Gamester doing lots of running, and Peeress shaking her head about three lengths back. Gradually the position of the colors shifted, Gamester creeping past XXX, Peeress quite contented with her temporary modest place at the rear. But after passing the judge the second time it was soon seen what the contest was to be ; XXX kept dropping back, and Peeress shepherded Gamester at an easy distance, Gamester having the ad-, vantage of the inside running, until within the straight run home, when tho mare was called upon by her jockey, and a few strides put herface alongside Gamester, and half a score more took her to the winning post ahead by nearly a length. Some people say that the waiting game was protracted too dangerously near the finish, and that a very little accident would have lost Peeress the race — and, indeed, so it appeared to the novices who were shouting out " Gamester," but it was easy to see that there was a perfect understanding between horse and rider, each knowing to an inch what could be done. The race was a pretty one throughout.

Selling Stakes, of 20 soys. Weight for age. The Winner to be sold foi £50 ; if to be sold for £40, allowed 7U> ; £30, allowed 141 b; £20, allowed 211 b. The winner to be sold by auction immediately after the race, and the surplus (if any) to go to the Race Fund. One mile and a quarter. Entrance, 2 soys. Mr Hughcs's bl m XXX, aged £50, (M'Glashatt) 1 Mr Campbell's br g Robin Hood, aged, £20 (Morgan) 2 Mr James Steele's gr in Ino, aged, £20 (Jones) 3

This race ended by leaving the horses exactly as they stood on the card. They started in the same order and kept it for a few yards, when Robin Hood headed and kept the lead for nearly a round, XXX then got to the front, and at about half a length's distance from each other, both horses rattled away until, when coming home XXX seized the inside track, and finally won by a neck, both horses being well coaxed with the steel and whalebone. Ino was in her native element, "nowhere," having dropped out of the race soon after starting. Ladies' Purse, of 20 soys. Open to all horses. Gentlemen riders. Welter weight for age. Each horse must qualify by jumping a hurdle in front of tbe Grand Stand before starting. One mile and a half. Entrance, 3 soys. Mr W. Taylor's b g Gamester, aged, 12st 41b (Spiller) ... 1 Mr Seaton's b g Supplejack, syrs, list 91b (M'Ray) 2 Mr Crogan'sgr g Orlando, aged 12st 41b ... (Carroll) 3

Won by Gamester, who was well ridden without much difficulty.

Consolation Stakes, of 20 soys, for all horses that have run for, and not won, any money during the meeting. Second horse in the Jockey Club Handicap debarred. One mile 'and a quarter. Entrance, 2 soys.

Three horses — Moss Rose, Trooper, and Ino — ran, Trooper being the favorite at two to one. He led nearly the whole way, and came in an easy winner ; Moss Rose second, and Ino a bad third.

Thus ended the Fifth Annual ' Race Meeting of the Greymouth Jockey Club. We could not say that it has been near so successful as its predecessors, for it has been wanting in many of the conditions that go to constitute a successful race gathering. There was plenty of money to run for, but a scarcity of horses of fair equal stamp. There are several reasons alleged as the cause of this, but we believe the fact may be ascribed, first to the almost concurrent races in other parts of the Colony, and second to the injudicious handicapping of last year. This last reason has had more to do with the paucity of good horses than many would imagine. The other objection is capable of amendmentbya more combined action on the part of the several clubs in the Colony. There is no paramount necessity that the Greymouih Races should be held on a particular day, and we would advise the club next year to make arrangements that will suit the engagements of owners of horses. Again, it is a question worth considering — is the principal prize too little or too much? Some who understand these things say that the amount is not enough to tempt many first-class horses to compete, and yet is still sufficient for one to come down and run away with as a certainty. If the p rize had been ,£350, perhaps we should have had it contested by Peeress' equals ; had it been ,£l5O, we should have had a good competition of horses of less fame. However, these are matters for the club to consider before the next meeting. Another and most powerful cause of the comparative dulness of the meeting is the prevailing shortness of money through the protracted dry weather, and consequent idleness of a large proportion of the mining population. Indeed, we never saw fewer miners on the ground than on this occasion. In all else but the circumstances referred to the arrangements of the club have been very praiseworthy, and they have discharged their onerous duties most satisfactorily. Let us hope that the next meeting will take place under more favorable auspices.