MOUNT IDA JOCKEY CLUB ANNUAL RACES.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 198, 13 December 1872, Page 5

MOUNT IDA JOCKEY CLUB ANNUAL RACES.

FIRST DAT. What new thing can be written about " goin,» to the races ?" Verily there is nothing new under the sun. The anxiety of the intending country visitors as to the weather—the half hope of trainers (whose horses' feet and legs were doubtful) that at all events there might be a shower or two—the buetle at the Koyal—the looking of everybody for everybody else at the Victoria—are l hey not written in the Chronicles of Mount Ida for the last six or seven years ? The only changes which are steady and implacable, arc the yearly withdrawals of some old favorite. Where now are the jlories of low, Black Roger, or the old Black Doctor (who, by-the-bye, we -aw lately at Hill's Creek as fat as butter and as fresh us a fcwc-1 year old) ? Or, coming on 'with the advance of time, where are Ladybird, Substance, | Thunderbolt, or the game little {rotting horse Magic ? They have nil faded out of memory, except in the hearts of the, few who thoroughly believed in them, una who, if they buttonholed a friend on the course to day* of similar belief, kept repeating in dolorous tones, " Kncing is not what it used to be. It's all very well for theea weeds to caper about the course with nothing on their backs ; but, by (George! old follow ! what a tying up the old would have given them - three times round, with twelve stone up!" Of all the old crowd that come bach" on us as we write, we only recognise the Hamilton Charley as a constant, visitor, although this year indeed his glory has departed from hiiu, and he iB debased to run among hacks. Last year prwbabiy the finest lot of horses I that ever appeared on Mount Ida contested [the annual programme. We need to

; name Backbiter,-.Sir Tai ton, and, far above all, the graud old horse Knottingly (whose defeat for the G >p, after his years of victories, was no defeat at all), to bear us out in our opinion. Not but. what | we think the racing is better when the fields lof horses are on a more level footing,as to merit, as is the case this ye;»r. v The very numerous crowd of sporting aents showed very little confidence in spotting the winners at the sweeps drawn on Wednesdav niglxt, although we have not the least doubt but what- the results will be jnsfc what each knowing one said they would- be. If anything. Hatred, and Wildboy were most fancied for the Hying, and Miss King and Tambotuini for the Grind Stand Handicaps. All the hotels seemed full of visitors, "which, together "with the very late sitting of the Warden's Court, gave the town quite a bustling appearance, an t deprived the enterprising C.U.C.C C. troupe of the encouragement they were fully entitleH to expect However, this well organised company intend to give opportunities on Friday and S-.turday for. the public to judge of their merits, and we hope they will get. a bumper house. Horswell's six-horse coach, pilotted by the skill of 1). Messent, was kept busy all day ; and everybody who knows that the stand and booths were held unler the superintendence of Messrs George and Horswell, will know that the refreshment and attendance were tirst-rate. At an early hour on Thursday morning, the cry "correct card, ouly true card for the races " was kept up through the town by Mr. Kirby. About 11 a.m. the coaches began to start, and shortly after one the saddling bell brought out Kite Kearney and Pasquinade—Malice having been i—for the

Maiden" Plate, of 30 sovs. Distance, one and a half mile. Kate Kearney, bf, 3 yrs. 7st lib .. ... 1 Pasquinade, ch f, 3 yrs, 7*t lib ... ... 2 A good skirt was quickly effected, both horses corning easily, by the stand—Kite leading. This o-di-r was maiut out. At the last quarter he chesnut filly inade au effort, but did 'not improve lier position, Kate winning easily by twenty len^lis. Time. 3iuin ssec °

At the conclusion of this race a stampede took place from the grand stand It appeared thai fciie horses tied to one side of the pa Idock had pulled back and torn up all the posts on the line, backing with them into the horses of the opposite side. . Fort unately. before the horses got unmanageable a few cool hands secured and loosene! the most violent, and what seemed the germ of considerable lo.Sb, if not of danger to human life, was soon righ el. Tiie bell quickly r n for the Flying Hand - cap. A good deal of speculation on a small scale was going on »bout t his race, Hatred be ing backed pretty freely at 3 to 2. the bookmakers hoping .Wild boy or Lyndon would jm)l them through. : The following came to the post Hatred, Lyndon, WiLltav, and J3, ©s wing.

Flying Handicap, of 40 sovs. Distance, one mile. Hatred, 8-»t... ... ... ... \

Lyndon, 9*\ 41b ... ... ... ... 2 Wildbov, 7st ... ... ... ... Betting: 3 to 2 against Hatred, 5 to 1 against Lyndon and Wild boy, an I 10 to L against Beeswing

Afier a great deal of trouble,. in a great measure owing to the attempts to get a cross start in front, made by Hatred's jockey (who was afterwards cautioned by the Stewards), the horses got away in a manner slightly in faror of H erred, who inainfcune I her lead followed by Lyndon, Beeswing, and WiJdboy. At the turn at the last quarter Lyndon was seut. along, but. could iu ver get within three lengths, and w.is, therefore, not persevered with. Bet-swing was classed among too good company to enable her to distinguish herself. Time : lmin. 55soc. Hack R ace, of 20 sovs. Open to all horses that have never won an advertised prize of over £2J. No weight under 9st. Entrance, £1 la. Distance,. one mile. Post entry. Malice ... ... . 1

Bounce .... ... ... ... 2" Possum ... ... ... ... 0 Claribel ... ... ... ... 0 Ray played with Bounce, it being only a canter round for his mare Malice, who we expected to 8-e in the other races. Symptoms of rain now. set in, and continued more or lees fo the close of the day's proceedings ; not sufficient, in leed, to give thorou- h wet. sk'ns,- but enough to make it unpleasant. Alter dinner, the following lot came out for the Selling Race:—Dragon, Pasquinade, Charley, and Beeswing. Selling it ace, of 30 sovs. Distance, one mile. Horses, if not to be sold, to carry lOlbs. penalty. To be sold for £so, weight for age ; £4O, allowed 71bs.; £3O, 141b5.; £2O, 2 libs ; £lO, 281bs. Post entry, £2 2s. Surplus to go to the club. Dragon, Bst 3its .... . ... ... 1 Pasquinade, B*t ... ... ... 2 Chirley, Bst Nibs ... ... ... 3 Oharley junped away wit h the lead and the inside runiiiuclo<elv followed fo the first had'mile by Pasquinade, Dragon lying quite clo~e, witli Beeswing outside. At the fatal flag Charley's . difficulties commenced ; still, the crowd were very willing to believe that, the white face of Dragon sailing up the straight was that of Charley, but it was not to be. The race of the day was nowhurriedforward, the drops being heavy, and the wind cutting for the horses and boys. Tambour 5 ini, Miss King, Hatred, Burgundy and Backbiter coming to the post. . Tambourini being hacked at 3to_ 2, and, in a few in-

stances, level against the field. Mi3s King was also in- request,, 3 to 1 being about the largest; odds that could be got against the Captain's mare, —Burgundy being fancied at 4to 1 by a few.

Grand Stand Handicap, of 75 sovs. Distance, two miles. Tambourini, 9it ... ... i Miss King, 7st 71bs ... ... ... 2 Hatred, Bst... ... - ... ... 3

Backbiter got the best of the start, although Hatred took the inside at the first corner, her stable companion—who Ray declared to win with—hard held. At the first, mile Hatred, Tambourini, and Burgundy were altogether, it being anybody's race. In the last half-mile Miss King came up—Hatred being-eased, and* Burgundy out-paved—and finished a verymoderate second to Tambourini.

Ihe attendance, judging by the coaches, was - very good, and the order kept first-rate, the police having quite a sinecure. The course was kept by Mr. G-eorge in his usual able manner, and there was really nothing to mar a very pleasant, though not a very first-rate~ lay's racing.