WAIMEA SOUTH STEEPLECHASE MEETING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 44, 20 February 1874, Page 2

WAIMEA SOUTH STEEPLECHASE MEETING.

The -attendance on the Wakefield course yesterday was somewhat thinner than in previous years, but the racing was excellent, especially in the Hurdle Kace iand principal steeplechase. The first event was the Hurdle Race, for which all the horses entered, five in number, stripped. Te Kooti was the first to enter the yard, and as a good deal had been heard about him before, he was examined with much interest and pronounced a safe horse to trust with a small amount of money; Mickey Free's legs shut him out of the betting; Heiress, it was thought, was scarcely fast enough for the company in which ehe was to find herself; Sultan found several admirers, and Butcher Boy's splendid condition caused no little consternation among those who had backed the field against him. The next event was a hurdle race for hacks which caused immense amusement, as will be easily understood after reading the report of the race given .below. This being over, the bell rung for the great race of the day, and once more old Rustic walked majestically into the saddling yard, for the first time for many years having dispensed with the bandages in which visitors to the Wakefield course have boen accustomed to see his legs encased. There was some doubt as to who was to be his pilot over the course, Mr W. Nicholson having undertaken the task, but as he had only left Wellington at midnight in the Otago, and at ten o'clock when the conveyances left town the boat* had not been signalled, the chances were somewhat against his arriving in timo However, every opportunity had been afforded him, three relays of horses having been stationed on the road, and at five minutes to one, just after the saddling bell rung, a cloud of dust was seen on the road, from which, greatly to the delight of the owner of Rustic, Mr Nicholson was seen to emerge, he having jumped off the steamer on to the wharf at a quarter to twelve, thus accomplishing the eighteen miles in an hour and ten minutes. Thi?, after a night at sea, was not calculated to steady bis nerves, but in a few minutes he was booted and spurred and taking a preliminary canter on the hero of so many races. After Butcher Boy's performance in the Hurdle Race he found many admirers for the more important event. Quicksilver was thought to be too heavily weighted, and not much was thought of Heiress' chance. Brown Stout was said to be a "* rum un" at a fence, and so he was, but not in the sense the words were intended to convey. Iu company with three other horses, with a straight road before them, and a heavy coach behind them, he may be a most valuable animal, but steeplechasing evidently is not his forte. Several hack races, most bf which were well contested, enlivened the interval between the two steeplechases, the latter of which was considered a gift to Rustic so soon as it was known that Butcher Boy waa not to oppose him. Below we give an account of the racing: — Hurdle Race of 50 eovs, over eight flights of hurdles. Entrance, 2 sovs. li miles. Weight for age. Mr R. Kerr's ch g Butcher Boy, aged (Owner) I Mr R. Kerr's ch g Sultan, aged (Sunley) 2 Mr Sayle's bg Te Kood, aged ...(Owner) 3 Mr G. Trowera' b g Mickey Free, aged (Kearns) 0 Mr Jacklin's ns bk m Heiress, aged (Hope) 0 Butcher Boy went away with a slight lead, taking his first hurdle in splendid style, followed by Mickey Free, Sultan, Te Kooti, and HeireßS in the order named, an order which was preserved for the first half mile, Heiress gradually dropping away hopelessly in the rear. On nearing the straight run, Sultan came away from the others aod joined Butcher Boy, with whom he took the hurdle in front of the Stand stride for stride. At the next flight Te Kooti went up and tackled the two leaders, but the pace was too hot for him, and he speedily had to acknowledge the fact. A fine race ensued between the two chestnuts, Butcher Boy winniag by a couple of lengths. Hack Hurdle Race of 5 sovs, added to a sweepstake of I eov. Mr T. Nicholson's Doris ... (Mr Sayle) 1 Mr M'Rae's Happy Joe ... (Sunley) 2 At the first flight Doris and her rider came to grief, both rolling over together, but fortunately they landed on the right side of the hurdles. At the second, Doris baulked, but after a considerable amount of persuasion of a somewhat forcible nature, was induced to clear the hurdles. At the third, the performance was repeated, and ditto at the fourth, after which she quietly cantered to the winning post, where she was met by Happy Joe returning, his rider having completely failed in getting him over the second flight, notwithstanding much patient and persevering application of whip and spur. Stop watches, we believe, were not made use of, but we shall be safe in saying that the journey of threequarters of a mile was accomplished in less than ten minutes. The Great Waimea South Handicap Steeple-Chase of 50 sovs. Over three miles of fair hunting country. Entrance 3 sovs. Mr R. Kerr's ch g Butcher Boy, aged, lost 7lbs. (Owner) 1 Mr R. E. M-Rae'a bg Rustic, aged, 12st 71bs. (Mr Nicholson) 2 Mr Jacklin ns bk m Heiress, aged, lost 7lbs „ • ■ (Hope) 3 Mr J. Hagan ns ch m Quicksilver, aged, 109t slbs (Hagan) 0 Mr Holder's br g Biown Stout, aged, lOst 71bs (Owner) 0

A good start was effected} Heiress having a slight load, she aod Rustic taking the first leap together. At the second leap, Brown Stout baulked nnd was never persuaded to take it eo that we may at once bid him farewell. In crossing the road Quicksilver secured a slight lead but was soon deprived of it by Rustic. The whole four, however were well together when opposite the Stand, when Quicksilver baulked, and Butcher Boy went to the front closely followed by Rustic and Heiress. When next they were seen going up the bank he was still leading, Heiress being second, but Rustic soon collared her again and between him and Butcher Boy a splendid race home ensued, the latter winning by barely two lengths. Hack Race for Saddle. Once round. Mr Kutherford's b g Volunteer 1 Mr James' b m Gentle Annie 2 Three others entered, and a good race took place, but Volunteer was too good for his company. Hack Race ior a Saddle. Once roand. Mr Willc'inpon's C.ouston 1 Mr James' Gentle Annie $ Three others started. But for the bad start she got Gentle Annie would certainly have been first, but though she ran gamely she had too much lost way to make up. Wakefield Free Handicap Stbfplechase of '20 sovs. Over two miles of fair hunting country. Mr R. E. M'Rae's b g Rustic, aged, 12st (MrlMiehohon) 1 Mr Hagan ns ch m Quicksilver, aged, lOst (Hagan) . 2 Mr Sayle's bg Te Kooti, aged, lOst s'.bs (Owner) 0 Mr Holder's br g Brown Stout, ngnl, lost (Fowler) 0 At the first leap Brown Stout's rider fell, but the horse beiDg caught he was soon up again, but as usual Brown Stout was perfectly satisfied to remain on that side of the fence on which he first found himself, and so while the other horses were going ahead Fowler was left flogging. After some trifling changes of position, Rustic, when opposite the Stand, fouud himself along way in advance of the other two, and although Quicksilver came up towards the end the old horse won hard held. Hack Race for a Saddle. Once round. Mr Trowers' Mickey Free 1 Mr Holder's Kitty 2 Five others started. Hack Race for a Saddle. Once round. Mr Knyvett's Clyde ... .. ... 1 Mr Roughton's Why Not 2 Four others started. Coksolation Hack Race. Once round. Mr James' Gentle Annie 1 Mr Arnold* c Sam ... ** Mr Hudson's Emma 3 Sweepstake of 1 sov with 2 sovs added Mr Rutherford's Volunteer 1 Mr Kerr's Sultan 2