NELSON RACES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 74, 26 March 1873, Page 2

NEL S ON RACE S.

This Day. The unfavorable weather of this morning prevented so large an attendance oh the course as was expected from the general interest displayed in the racing this year, nevertheless, the town assumed a lively aspect between ten and eleven, when the numerous carriages both public and private, whose destination, was the "•racecourse, began to turn out. The number of four-in-hahds was larger than we remember to have ever seen before, and Holder's coach with its six horses and large number, of passengers formed a conspicuous object among the various conveyances. The greatest interest was felt in the first event, a hurdle race, for which there were seven entries, comprising many strangers that had never before run in Nelson. Opinion was very much divided as to the respective merits of Dick Turpin and Tommy Dod, both of which brought with them a reputation that caused them to take a high place in the betting. Of Rustic not so much was heard as usual, Mistletoe was thought not an unlikely horse to carry off the money. Kangaroo found a very few admirers, and Faust ahd Lurline were names that were never heard. The horses generally were in excellent condition, and were carefully examined and had confident opinions passed upon them by those who knew 'the good points of a horse when they saw him, and by a great many who did not. Shortly after twelve o'clock they began to muster at the starting post, and shortly afterwards the falling of the Mag showed that a start had been effected for the HANDICAP HURDLE RACE, of 40 soys, entrance 3 soys, h It,. over eight flights of hurdles. One mile and a half. Mr M'Gee's brg Dick Turpin, list, aged (Frank) 1 Mr Powell ns eh g Mistletoe, 6 yrs, 9*?t lOlbs. „. (Powell) 2 Mr M'lvor's bg Tommy Dod, lOst. 71bs. aged (M'lvor) 3 Mr Wharton's eh g Faust, lOst. 71bs. aged (Simpson) 0 Mr O. Hope's b m Lurline, 9st. 71bs , aged ... ... (Nicholson) 0 Mr O. Hope's b ? Rustic, list., aged (Hope) 0 Mr Thomas' b g Kangaroo (late Equity), 9st. lOlbs., aged (Cooke) 0 At the fall of the flag, six of the horses got away well together, Mistletoe being considerably in the . rear. Dick Turpin, however, soon went to tbe front, and took: his first leajfein splendid style, followed, by the ottyHs, one of which made the: timbers fly/iind so cleared the road fpr Mistletoe, who took advantage of the gap thus made. Dick maintained his lead well, while constant changes were taking place in the relative positions of those who were in his rear, and at the fourth hurdle Kangaroo, who had taken his leaps; in gallant style,, was a good second, but at the. fifth flight he came to grief, and resigned the second place .to. Mistletoe, between whom and Dick it ' was \ clear that, barring accidents, the race would lie. And so it proved, as from that time the Lincoln green steadily gained on the gallant Dick, but at the last hurdle there was a slight, almost impreceptible, baulk which secured the victory, to Dick Turpin, a splendid race ensuing up the: straight run, Mistletoe losing by a couple of lengths. The rest had tailed out and their later proceedings interested the pub-, lie no mere. r TURF CLUB, HANDICAP, of 80 soys, added ' toa sweepstakes of 4 soys .each; second horse to save his stakie. Entrance, 4 soys. ' One and a-half mile. Mr Redwood's, tf m Malvina, 7st Blbs, 3 yrs ... „..;...,,, ... ... (Lyford) 1 Mr Walters' b, m Slander, Sst lOlbs aged •• : ... ... '"..." ,; # I'-'Y.Y (Hudson) 2 Mr Robinson's eh g Magenta, Bst 2lbs; aged ... ... •'.... ... (G. Nicholson) 3 Mr Walters' eh m Peeress, lOst, aged (French) o Slander was the favorite for this race, although there were many who thought that Malvina would not allow her to win Without being asked to -show what she could Hbi 7 Peeress, .^hose appearance kon ysras'-^ gr : .^*w*^ii^^lbii;di; ; ' k cheers, bad npi;. hW^ifa .permit of he*r/i^ting^itMjmu^ suppprt,: while Magenta 'was jooke.d upbn ; as v one- of ; the bygones, wh6Be;diy' had passed by. oloaely^fpllpwed by Peeress^ who befofo

reaching the Stand had, with her giant strides, contrived to go to the ; front, -,k but'; her condition was not equal to;; the occasion, and she yi soon had to resign again to Malvina. Meantime Slander was showing signs of dissatisfaction at being compelled to run in company with Magenta and was leaving him in the - rear, and .steadily going up to theleading, horses. 'Peeress was soon passed, and by the time the last corner was reached, Malvina was but a very little in front. Whip and spur were now used freely, but they were of no avail. Malvina was too good for her and a capital race resulted in the. wellknown black jacket. and red cap once more coming in the winner.

DISTRICT PLATE, of 25 soys, T P weights, for ' horses which have been bona fide owned by residents in the Province of Nelson for at least three months previous to the Races;, Entrance, 2 soys. One mile and a-quarter. Mr Warren's b g Firetail, aged ... (Sunley) 1 Mr Powell nsbg Mistletoe; 6 yrs... (Mason) 2 Mr Trask's bk m Azelia, 6 yrs ... (Bright) 3 Mr E. Thomas* b g Kangaroo, aged (Cooke) 0 Mr O. Hope's b g Rustic, aged (Gr. Nicholson) 0 This was no race at all. Firetail went away with the lead; and kept it, notwithstanding all the efforts of her opponents, until she came in an easy winner. ' The only fun attaching to this race was that which could scarcely be participated in by the jockeys, namely, the amount of mud that was flying, which rapidly changed the g^audy colors of the jackets into a more sober hue, the faces of the wearers having been treated in a similar manner. HACK RACE, for a Gentleman's Saddle, for hacks that have never won a stake ; of 20 soys. Entrance, 10s. Once round. .No professional jockey allowed to ride. Mr Thompson's b, m Diomedia ... ... 1 Mr Harley's b g Towton . ... 2 Three others started. '? LADIES' PURSE, of 25 soys; entrance, 3 soys; second horse to. save his stake. Two-year-olds, 6st lOlbs; three, 9st 4lbs: four, lOst 31bs; five, lOst 9lb8; six and aged, lOst 12lbs; 31bs allowed to mares and geldings. One mils and a quarter. Mr Redwood's eh c Terenga, by Ravensworth— Phcebe, 2 yrs ... '„;.". ... ... l Mr M'lvor's b g Tommy Dod, aged ... ... 2 This was a gift to Terenga, and was by him accepted as such. In the event of to-morrow proving too wet for the racing to be proceeded with, notices tp that effect will be posted up. at the Masonic and Trafalgar Hotels at nine o'clock.