ST. BATHANS ANNUAL RACES.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 201, 3 January 1873, Page 4

ST. BATHANS ANNUAL RACES.

The meeting took place on the 26th and 27th ultimo, and, a« was expected, drew a considerable number of' people together iroin all parts of the district, including Clyde, Blacks, Dcybread, Welshman's Grully, Hill's Creek, and Naseby. The weather on both days was magnificent, the intense heat which prevailed most of the time being m derated by a cooling breeze. The racing was rather indifferent, although a tew of tiie events —more particularly the Ladies' Purse, the St. Bathans Cup, and thd Cousola'iou Handicap—were well contested. For the lasi-uauied race Air. Grant's B >bby and Mr. i. Davis's Blood Koyal ran a dead heas, and, in running off, the latter won by a head only. S.mie amusement was caused b/ (he entry for the Cup of Jamie the Baker's packhorse Bumbletbet, and on the appearance of the venerable animal with his jockey (•F. Laverty) on his back, thi tun was uproarious, tor Bumble is a great favorite, and has one foot about the size of an ordinary butter cask. Great credit is due to the Stewards tor the admirable arrangements made on the course, and for their determination to preserve order by insisting on a due observance of the rules. Air. Laverty committed a breach of the rules by running on horseback down the straight in company with the winner o the Maiden Piate, when he was at once brought to book by the Stewards, and fined a guinea. To Laverty's credit, he at once apologised and paid the fine. Mr. (t. E. Allen officiated as judge on the first day, *md Mr. B. Washer on the second. Mr. J. A. M'JCay made an admirable clerk of the course, and Mr. P. Kenny, as usual, acted as starter, and succeeded in getting his teams away in capital style. The grand stand and refreshment booth were under the direction of Mr. P. Hanrah*n of the Ballarat Hotel, and the accommodation and refreshments provided left nothing to be desired. Everything considered, the annual meeting of 1872 may be pronounced a great success. The following is a summary of the various events :

Fikst Day. Maiden Plate of 10 sovs, for all horses that hive never won an advertised race. Weight for age. Distance, one mile and a half. Mr Barns'ch g Rambler ... (J. Frazer) 1 Mr T. Keenan's br g Snackera 2 Mr C. Hewet's b m Creeping Jane ... 3 This race was won easily by Kambler, the others being nowhere. Publican's Purse of 15 sov3. Distance, one mile heats. No weight un ler 9st. Mr T. Keenan's ch g Gamecock (A. Gibb) 1 1 Mr Grant's br g Morven ... .. 2 0 Mr Hasting's gr g Dido, late Kaka ... ,i 2 Two others ran. Both heats were won easily by Gamecock. Selling Kacb of 20 sovs. Distance, one mile and a half. Mr A. E. Hastings' ch g Paldy, Bst 71b... (J. Krazer) 1 Mr W. Pyle's b g Master Kin.,', 9st ... 2 Mr Grant's ch g Bobby, I Oat ... ... 3 Mr J. Hally's bn g Tipperary Boy, Bst ... 4 This race like the last, was peorly con*

tested, Paddy coming, in several lengths ahead. The winner, entered to be sold tor £lO, was bought in for £ls, thus adding £5 to the race fund.

Miners' and Packers* Purse of £ls sovs. Weight for age. Distauce, one mile heats. Mr Burn*' ch g Rambler . .(J. Frazer) 1 1 MrT. Mr A. ti. Hastings'gr g Dido 3 o Mr W. Pyle's b g Master King ... o 2

Kambler came in hard held in both heats.

Hack Race of 5 sovs. Once round the coarse. Catch weights. Mr Grant's ch g Comet, late Harkaway ~■ m „ . . tftichardson) 1 Mr T. Keenan a ch m Topsy 2

Three others als>> ran. This was an exciting race, both nags coming up the straight neck and neck. When within the ropes the gelding put on steam and beat tae mare by a iieaa.

Second Davt. Hack Selling Race, of £lO. Distance, one mile heats. No weight un lei 9st. Mr J. Holly's br g Tipporary Boy ... (Wheeler) 1 1 MrN. Peacock's bm Queen of l)i*nionis ... .. 2 0 Mr C. Hewet's b m Creeping Jane ... 3 0 The first h>at was won in a canter by the Tip, who walked over lor the second, the others doeiiinug to eouie to -the scratch. St. Bathans Oup of 2J b sovs. Distance, one miie ani a half. for Mr T. Keenan's ch g (A.Xiibb) 1 Mr Burns'ch g Gambler 2 Mr J. ToweiV bg xJuoiJiejajt 0 The chesnuts got away well together, and kept close company the whole of the distance. The (Jock did no* indulge iu his i<siial propensity to bolt, and when called upon within a hundred yards of the winning po«t, responded in grami siyle—winning by half a length. Ladies' Purse, of 10 sovs. Distance, one mile. Welter weights for age. Mr (irant'3 br % Morven ~. (D. Orr) 1 Mr T. Keenan's ch g Gamecock ... 2 Mr E. Morgan's b m Miss Ennis 3 Mr A. B. Hastings' gr g Dido 0

This was a capital race. The running lay between Morveu and Gamecock—the latter being the favorite. The two ran close together the whole way, nnd coming up the straight'the Cock had the lead, but made a slight attempt to bolt, when Morven took tirst place. On getting within the ropes the Cock made a rush, and would have won had the post been live strides further off.

Hurry Scurry Race, of £5. Distance, one mile. Catch weights. Mr T. Keenau's ch m Topsy ... (Potter) 1

Six others started. Topsy ran away from the ruck, and came in an easy winner fully 100 yards ahead of the second horse Consolation Handicap of £lO. Distance, one mile. Mr T. Davis' ch g Blood Royal, 7st (J. Potter) 1 Mr Grant's ch g Bohbv, Bst 4lbs 2 Mr W. Pyle'a b g Master King, Bst ... 3

Three others started. This was the best race of the meeting. When half-way round the course, Blood Royal andß »bby took the lead, and ran neck and neek to the post. The judge declared it to be a dead heat. On running off, Blood Royal came in the winner by a head.

Tjiikd Day. On account of the lateness of the hour, the last race on the programme was postponed till the following day. This was the Hospital Hack of £8 13s. (collected on the course). Mr E. Morgan's b m Miss Ennis... ..• 1 MrG. Talt/s brg Spider 2 Mr A. &. Hastings' ch g Paddy 3 This race could have been won easily by Paddy, who, for some reason or other, was hard held the whole distance. The rider of the winning horse received a whip and pair of spurs. This concluded the programme, after which there was a private maich and a few athletic sports, the particulars of which did not arrive in time for publica* tion.