THE OTAGO RACES.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 99, 20 March 1863, Page 3

THE OTAGO RACES.

We extract the following from the Otago Daily Times of the sth, 6th, and 7th March : The number of people on the course was very largo, but scarcely so large as wo expected, seeing that the day was very generally observed as a holiday in Dunedin. The stewards observed the time fixed for the races with commendable and unusual punctuality. Many persons who thought the contrary would bo the case, found themselves too late for the first race. The Maiden Plato fell to the share of the favorite, Black Doctor, on whom as much as two to one was bet before starting. When it came to the distance, the cry arose that Melton was winning, and for a moment it looked very much like it. But the Doctor managed to shake off the only opponent that stuck to him, and won easily. Next came the great race, in the issue of which so many hopes and anxieties were centred. Mormon, instead of abating, seemed to increase in favor, and slight odds were freely offered on him. Shillelagh had many admirers, and the other three horses were not without friends. The start was a very tolerable one, Mormon and Revoke having slightly the advantage of it. The race is told in a dozen words. Mormon led from the start to the distance the last turn round, when Lady Bird closed up and won, after a stout struggle in the straight running. So much did Mormon look like winning during the race that two to one was freely offered on him, and five to one against Lady Bird during the progress of the horses. Ultima could have secured thirdjplace, but her jockey pulled up just before reaching the Judge’s stand, and Revoke secured third honors—not barren honors, by-thc-byo, as a considerable amount of money depended on the places. The time, 5 min. 55 sec., is, wo believe, quicker than that of any previous Champion Race. The victory of a New Zealand horse, and especially the fact of its be-

longing to so popular a sportsman as Mr. Eed■wood, elicited loud cheers from the people px’eseut, •which must have been exceedingly gratifying to the lucky proprietor of the mare. The rider of Mormon entered a protest against the winner, on the ground of a cross, but the stewards unanimously disallowed it. following the Champion Race came the Handicap, which resulted in an easy victory for the favorite, Golden Cloud. The Hurdle Race was a gift to falcon ; Kangaroo came to grief at the first fence without hurting his rider, hut at the second or third leap Daniel Webster was less fortunate ; the horse fell, and the rider, Simpson, was, we believe, much, but not seriously, hurt. A Hurry Scurry concluded the day’s races, when the large concourse of people made a start homewards, apparently delighted with their day’s enjoyment. Indeed they had every reason to be so, aseverything went ofi smoothly. Tho stewards, the secretary, and the clerk of the course, and his deputy, are entitled to much credit for the excellence of the arrangements. HACK Oi 1,000 sova., with a sweepstakes of 100 sovs. added; the second horse to receive 200 sovs. out of tire stake, and tne third to save his stake if more than three start. 3 miles. Weights—three years old, 7st -lib; four years, 9st 41b; five years, lOst; six years and aged, lOst 41b. Mares and geldings allowed 31b; and a further allowance of fill) if maidens. Mr. U. Redwood's, junr., ch m Lady Bird, 4 years, 9st 11b (Mr. Redwood, junior) ... 1 Mr. P. J. Koighrau’s br L Mormon, aged, lost 41b (Simpson) 2 Mr. IX. P. Lance’s b m Revoke, 5 years, Ost 111 b (Robert Xay) . 3 Mr. 11. IX. Stafford’s b in Ultima, aged, lost 11b (George Cutts) ' 4 Mr. S. Blackwell’s b g Shillelagh) aged, lOst lib (Dab ‘an) ... 5 Antonelli scratched. Time, 5 min. 55 sec. for the great event of the Meeting five came to the post, namely, Mormon, Lady Eird, Shillelagh, Revoke, and Ultima. After a little delay at the starting post, caused by the fractiousness of tire contending heroes, Mormon got away with the lead, closely followed by Shillelagh, Revoke, Ultima, and Lady Bird. After half-a-mile Lady Bird took the third place, and they travelled in that order the first time past the strand; Lady Bird then put in her appearance as second, Ultima coming on next, Revoke following, and Shillelagh last. There was no alteration until tlio straight running, when Lady Bird made her effort, passed Mormon, notwithstanding a game effort on his part, and won easily by two lengths, after a slashing race.

A protest was entered hv the rider of Mormon for crossing, but was disallowed. The riding of all the jocks was very fine, and voting Joe Rcdwood, upon returning to the scale" with Ladv Bird was loudiv cheered.

SECOND DAY. Tho ruin that had fallen the previous night made the road yesterday exceedingly difficult to travel —nor was it rendered more pleasant by the occasional showers with which the earlier part of the day was cdstiuguished. Towards afternoon it became fine, and tho road rapidty dried up. Nevertheless very hearty and emphatic anathemas were constantly levelled against the laziness of the Government in not opening a better road. Wc arc imoimed that with tne least exertion the new road might have been opened in time, but of course it was not to be expected that tho Government would make any exertion, 80 up and down the slippery mud hilis the horses had to toil or slide, and few managed to reach the race course in much under two hours. Tho races were consequently rather later in commencing than on the previous day. The number of persons on the course was very considerable, taking the miserable weather into account. The first event was regarded rightly enough as a certainty for Lady Bird. Young Alma ran well, but it was not on the hooks that he should have a chance against probably the best mare in the Australian colonics. In tho the nest race Lady Bird was equally successful in beating Revoke. The latter was said not to bo in her best form. Certainly her previous running would have led one to suppose that she would make a better race with a horse that had just previously passed through a severe ordeal. Lady Bird, however, in addition to her undeniable speed, is a regular “stickler.” She is only four years old, so that she has a promising career'boforo her. It is to be hoped she is entered for the Champion race which is to bo run in Ballarat next year. For the Handicap, Mormon was tho favorite, but again “ the pot boiled over,” and Ultima, who was in at easy weight, succeeded in gaining the prize. Mormon was a good second, and considering the weight he had on him, it must be conceded that he ran very well. Nothing shows more clearly that Mormon was beaten on his merits in the Champion race than that Lady Bird’s old opponent, Ultima, could with, what was certainly a very considerable allowance, earn a like victory. It remains to he seen whether the slbs weight which Ultima has to carry extra for winning tho Champion will not enable Mormon to snatch the Town Plate from her grasp. The Selling race was a gift to Young Alma, and Rocket, the favorite, justified his backers in the Trotting race. As the afternoon advanced, and the weather cleared up, people seemed to become more lively, and, everything considered, tho races yesterday passed off very satisfactorily. To-day, if the weather is fine, there is likely to he a largo concourse on tho ground, as besides the attractions of the Steeplechase, great interest is felt in the second struggle between Mormon and Lady Bird. Last night the Provincial room was crowded. Two Calcutta sweeps were drawn on tho Town Plato. Lady Bird fetched a high price, Mormon came next on tho list of favor, and Golden Cloud was not without friends. OTAGO JOCKEY CLUB OIIEAT HANDICAP. A sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, with 150 sots, added. Two miles. 'Winner of the Champion Unco to carry 0 lbs. extra. Mr. U. H. Stafford’s Ultima, aged, Sst 121 b (Cults) ... 1 Mr. P. 3. Keighran’s Mormon, aged, lost llh (Simpson) 2 Mr. Blackwell’s Shillelagh, aged, 9st 21b 3 Mr. Corsan’s Black Doctor, 5 years, Sst 0 Mr. H. P. Lance’s Golden Cloud, 3 years, 7st 61b ... 0 Betting—Mormon against the field, three to one any other.

At the first attempt to start, Black Doctor bolted away, and caused a lengthened delay. At the second attempt, Mormon got off with a strong lead, Black Doctor close in pursuit, Shillelagh and Ultima next, and Golden Cloud last. In this order they came past the strand the first time round, and for the next quarter of a mile Black Doctor still continued close to the favorite. Shillelagh then took his place, and Golden Cloud made a strong but unsuccessful effort to join the leading horse. At this juncture it looked any odds on Mormon, but Ultima gradually crept up, till at the distance she was close on him, and as they entered the straight.running, she took the lead and won by a length. Mr. Stafford’s success was loudly cheered. The time was 2 min. 1 sec. THIRD DAY. If those who thronged to the race course yesterday had ever the choice of weather, they could not have selected a more lovely day. The number was almost as great as ou the first day, and considerably more than on the second. The first race, the Steeplechase, was rather a failure. Daniel \Vebstcr took his leaps well, but Birthday, who had only landed from Melbourne two or three days, would do no more than the first fence, and Falcon was with difficulty persuaded to go twothirds round, when he was withdrawn. With the except ion of one slight difficulty, Daniel Webster took his fences beautifully, and came in alone. The Town Plate was, perhaps, the best race of the meeting. Mormon reversed his previous defeat ; Lady Bird, with her five pounds extra, only succeeded in securing third place. Instead of making the running, Mormon’s jock rode a waiting race. It was not till near half-a-milo of home that ho attempted to get to the front. The Forced Handicap produced a good race. Young Alma, with some difficulty, wrested the prize from the favorite, Mormon. In this race, also, Mormon did not attempt to get to the front till near the finish. The Consolation Handicap was a gift to Partisan. Two Hack Races concluded the day’s sport. A sad accident occurred at the races yesterday. In the race for the Town Plate, Mr. Stafford"’* beautiful mare Ultima suddenly, without auv apparent cause, broke down in her gallop, and on examination it was found that she bad completely smashed up the pastern bones of one of her hind legs. Of course it was at once apparent that the injury was of such a nature as to preclude all hope of cure, and the general idea was, that the mare would have to be destroyed. We heard, however, before leaving the course, that the mare, had been conveyed to a stable, and that it was probable that an attempt would bo made to save her life for stud purposes, although she must always be a cripple.