REMARKS ON THE RACES.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1138, 21 March 1872, Page 2

REMARKS ON THE RACES.

[to the editor.] ; : Sir— The sport being now over, I write to you to state my. opinion of the manner in which the different events were conducted at the late races. . ■..,..■- To begin with, the Trial S takes, the Peeress was scratched just in time for any person to lose his money that had backed her to win it. Of course the Jib won ; it as he liked from XXX. The second event being the Lottery, I suppose there has been enough said about that lot. It is an instance which proves " Wnat a - tangled web we weave When first we practise to deceive." As for the Greymouth Jockey Clnb Handicap, I cannot allow myself to think that the best horse won it when I take into consideration the jocks. exchanging their mounts previous to starting ; and I think my opinion is eudorsed by the very straightforward protest lodged by the rider of Black Eagle, which was not entertained. Bot. perhaps ihe resignation of three of those gentlemen who held that unenviable • position as Stewards at the race meeting had something to do withthe decision. -: . . ; : Next comes the Hurdle Race, for which Sailor Boy and Roland started. The latter, being -the. favorite, of course lost it, as his rider accidentally dropped off at the back of the course, much to the disappointment of his backers. The, District Purse, which was the last race of the first day, was really a legitimate affair, and a well-contested race, Task winning under the whip— riot used in the same style, as in other races, ;f or Economy went at him with a. vengeance, and he had to get it. Some few. lost money, but they ■were satisfied that it was square. . . . The second day began with the .Grey--mouth Jockey Club Hurdle Handicap, in which. Roland and. Brown Stout started, Sailor Boy not accepting, through 1 a slight injury he received in the Hurdle Race of the first day. The race was won-, by Roland from the very fact that the public would not ' back Brown Stout ; consequently Mr W. Taylor was engaged to ride that stilly short goer, for fear' the pot would boil over through another accident. Next comes the Town Plate. You must excuse the Peeress for winning this, it being a weight for age race, and her only opponent being the Lottery horse, who never tried' once. The third race was the Selling Stakes, for which only two started— Economy and Lacenfeed. The former forced the running, but he had to succumb to Mr M'Glashau's call upon Lacenfeed, coming up the straight winning as he liked. The Hack Race, the fourth event of the day, for which Victor, Chesterfield, Waiho,. and Stockman started, was a well-con-tested and really exciting race, which Victor won. amidst tremendous cheering, the winner going a third time round just to give them ,a taste of bis quality. The rest all followed suit,, but it was all the same, Victor first past the post again. For : tlie Gold Fields Handicap four started, namely, Black Eagle, Flying Jib, Misfortune, and Peeress. "This is another of the mysteries of the Greymouth Race Meeting. The handicappers did not allow the Peeres3 a pound. for losing the first Handicap, but • perhaps she did not want it. They charged Misfortuue very moderately, only four pounds for winning. The Eagle was. held at the weight he ran under the first day, in a race for which he only ran third. . Flying Jib, got off by carrying 9st. ■Thi3describ"es ; the weights of the lot. Of course Black Eagle went away, and they never caught him. : I come to the conclusion, from thisand other races, that " coming events cast their shadows before. }) The Handicaps in the future must have something to do with the winners arid losers at the Greymouth Race Meeting, but. I think if Mr Hustler had been an eye-witness at the . late, races ho would be . of opinion .that some of them went for races to come. The Consolation Stakes was the lsst event of the Race Meeting. . There was only two started— Economy and Stockman. The former won it hard held by Blyth, who seems to ride him better than any of his former jocks. , : ; Yours, &c, ' " Greymouth, March 20, I8?2.