GREYMOUTH JOCKEY CLUB MIDSUMMER MEETING.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXI, Issue 2304, 28 December 1875, Page 2

GREYMOUTH JOCKEY CLUB MIDSUMMER MEETING.

FIRST DAY, The weather for the last two weekg has been so fine that it almost amounted to a certainty that the clerk of the weather would be in a good humor and favor the stewards with a couple more fine days. The weather on Sunday night, however, looked very threatening, and yesterday morning it fairly poured as it only can pour on the West Coast. Almost hoping against hope the stewards decided to carry the meeting through. The road was not particularly lively, either going or coming, and the attendance on the course, though far larger than we might have expected, was rather limited. The ladies were, as might have been expected, conspicuous by their absence. The booths did a good trade. Pale brandy remained a strong favorite throughout, while square and beer were evidently coming. The police, under Inspector Hickson, were on the ground, but bo far as we could judge their services were not called into requisition^ The first item on the programme was the Trial Stakes, for which only two faced the started. Nero is too well known here to" require any comment. He ran throughout in a. most determined manner, and scored the first win of the meeting to Mr ; Hungerford. Cloth of Gold, who -is a powerful son of Ravensworth, did not seem to run at all kindly, and when Rowland sat down to ride him cleared off the course. The Hack Race brought out a fair field, Tommy, who -was made too much of in the first heat, being beaten in the two last by old Stormbird. For the Midsummer Handicap, the great event of the meeting, only three came to the post. Nectar stripped well, though her legs were, in consequence of her recent rough overland trip, not quite so fine as they might have been. Tadmor was in good condition, while Septimus was on the grass side of fitness. The race is easily described. Septimus made the running from the jump, waited on by the two Ohristchurch horses. The want of condition told its tale in the last -quarter of a mile, and he only succeeded in getting a place. Tadmor came with a rush on the post, but the game little mare was too good for him, and she won comfortably by half a length. For the Railway Stakes five came to the post, and Tommy Dodd was at once established first favorite. Black Eagle had also plenty of admirers, and old Sandy was also supported. The Bat carried a lot of overweight, and why his owner started him we cannot understand. The old "ploughhorae" stripped very well, and Tommy Dodd never looked better. Black Eagle looked healthy, -and well, but we understand he has only been up about 10 days. Under these circumstances hisperformarice was a very fair one, Sandy made all his '

running, and even with, something in hand, though had Tommy Dodd come a little sooner he would have made a better race of it. The old horsje was heartily cheered on returning , to' the saddling: paddock. The officials, one. and all, worked hard to make the day go off well, and if they did not quite succeed, they at any rate deserved :to do: so. : Mr-Hamil--ton was particularly successful in his starting, and Mr Woolfe,' as Clerk of the . Course, was ..quite the rightv.man in[the right success. The following were the events :—„■'■■ , : ; Trial Stakes of 40 soys ; 1J: miletf j weight I for age ; winners of any race of LSO to carry 31b .-.extra j of LIOO 71b7extraj of L2OO 101 b extra ; entrance, 2 soys; } Mr Hungerford's b g Nero, aged, 9at 71b ■ (J. M'Ewen) ..*■-'£■' jl Mr Kay's eh c , Cloth of Gold, 3 yrs, 7bj; lOlbs (Rowlands) ... ..; .•;' :2 Tadmor and Alice Grey were scratched. What little betting there was in this event was . rather in favor of the colt. l ,

' The flag fell to a good .start, Nero at once* cutting out the work, and soon assuming a very strong 'lead. Passing the stand the first time, the colt drew up, but? Nero was not- to be denied, and still kept charge .of affairs'. .Opposite' the stand, Cloth of Gold; again -went up and got on terms with Nero. The two ran together to the turn, where both were being ridden. Just before the rails, the colt bolted off the course, leaving Nero to go in an easy winner. ? : • ; Hack Race of L 1 0; 1 mile heats ; minimum weight, 9st ; the second horse in the de- , ciding heat, if any, to' receive 2 soys from the stake ; entrance, 1 soy ; post entries.,: -■•■ "■"• \ Mr R. Mallisin's grg Stormbird „.3 11 Mr Ashton'sbrg Tommy... ... 1 2 2 For this event six horses came to the post, namely, Tommy, Rover, Stormbird, Fanny, Dick, and North Beach. In the first heat Tommy went at once to the front, made his own running from start to finish, and won easily. In the second heat, after some fiddling at the post, the j lot got well away together. Tommy again made play, but was soon supplemented by Stormbird, who won easily. In the deciding heat Stormbird won his race from end to end. • Greymouth Midsummer Handicap of Ll5O, with a sweepstake of 5 soys, acceptances. added ; second horse to receive L 25 from the stake. Distance, two miles. Mr Lunn's b m Nectar, by Golden Grape — Ethelred, 5 yrs, 7st 121 b, including 41b overweight (J. M'Ewen)... ... 1 Mr Ray's b c Tadmor, 4 yrs, 7st 21b (Rowlands) ... ... ... J 2 Mr Cameron's g g Septimus, aged, 6st 51b (Hope) ... ... ... ... ..... 3 Tommy Dodd and Cloth of Gold were scratched. : Betting : Even money on Nectar, 6 to 4 against .Tadmor,. 3 to 1 against Septimus. : .

Tadmor was quickest on his legs, but was immediately passed by Septimus, who dashed to the front, making the running at a fair pace. Nectar was lying about two lengths behind, ' with Tadmor ori her quarters. They ran 1 thus with very little chaifge for the first mile, when the Canterbury horses drew up for a feeler, but fell back almost : immediately. Septimus had the pride of place to about half a mile from home when Nectar werlt to the front, followed by Tadmor. Ai the turn -Septimus- had -apparently shot] Ills bolt,; and a capital race home ensued, between! Nectar arid Tadmor; resulting in favor of the mare by about half a length, Septimus, who appeared to come again, a very good third. ' ■•' /. Railway Stakes Handicap of LSO ; distance 1£ miles; nominations, 2 soys; acceptances, 3 soys. -i ■ ' ■ Mr Cochrane's c g Sandy (by Peter Flat), ; aged, 63t4lb(Coehrane) ... ... 1 Mr Campbell's b g Tommy Dodd, aged, ,7st 61b (Rowlands) ... 2 Mr Canavan's blkg Black Eagle, aged, 7sfc (Hope) ... .. 3 Mr Hungerford's b h Nero, aged. 7st (Smith) .., f.. ... 0 Mr Lunn's blk g The Bat, 6 yrs, 7at 21b ; (M'Ewen) .., ... ... .... 0 Mr Hamilton dismissed the field on very equitable terms, i Nero at once made play, followed by Black Eagle, Tommy Dodd lying third. The Bat cannoned against Nero in the early part of the race, which lost both considerable ground. At the back of the coarse Black Eagle fell back and Tommy Dodd took second place, Nero improving his position. At the turn Tommy got on terms with Sandy, and a capital race home ensued. The weight, however, told its tale, and Sandy, who ran as game as a pebble, won by a good length, Tommy second, and Nero third. The Bat, who was carrying 83t weight, was not persevered with. This brought the day's racing to a conclusion at rather a late hour (the AllComers Handicap being held over), so much so that with the -heavy. programme to be run of to-day, we should suggest the different events . being got off smarter.

The following is the programme for today:—• •...,..■„ All-Comers Handicap, of 30 soys; distance, X% miles. . Mr Bay's b c Tadmor, 4 years, Bsfc Mr Campbell's b g Tommy Dodd, aged, 7st 41b Mr Cameron's g g Septimus, aged, 7st 21b Mr Lunn's g m Alice Grey, 6 yrs, 6st 121 b Mr Hungerford's b g Nero, aged, 6st 10lb Mr Canavan's blkg ßlack Eagle, aged, 6st 121 b , ' Mr Shand's eh g Cloth of Gold. 3 years. 6afc 81b Grey Valley Stakes Handicap, of 125 soys ; second horse to receive 20 soys from the stake ; If miles; - i Mr Lunn's blkm Nectar, s years, Bst 41b ] Mr Bay's be Tadmor, 4 yrs, 7st 61b Mr Campbell's b g Tommy Dodd, aged, 6st 121 b . - Mr Cochrane's eg Sandy, aged, 6sfc 101 b Borough Handicap, of 50 soys ; distance, 2 miles ; nominations, 2 soya ; acceptance, 3 soys ; nominations to be made on night of general entry, and weights will be declared and acceptances received immediately after the Grey Valley Handicap is run. Novel Race, of L3O ; weight for age, 2 miles ; entrance, 2 soys ; the winner of the race tp be sold, and the entire proceeds realised by the sale to go to the funds of the Jockey Club. Handicap Hurdle Race, of 4o sovs; distance, 2 miles. Mr Campbell's b g Tommy Dodd, aged, lint 41b Mr Hungerford's b g Nero, aged, lOst Mr Lunn's g m Alice Grey, 6 yrs, 9st 71b I Consolation Handicap, of 2,0 spvs:' jl£ miles ; entrance, X soy } open to all beaten horses that have run and qualified 'during the meeting j post entries; ;