NORTH OTAGO RACES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 80, 6 April 1877, Page 2

NORTH OTAGO RACES.

Oasia.ru, Friday. The annual meeting of the North Otago Turf Club commenced yesterday under most favorable circumstances. The attendance was large and the weather gloriously fine. Maiden Plate, of '40 sovs; weight for age; mile and a half.—Titania, 1; Duntroon, 2; Little Nell, 3.- 1 Five horses started. Time: : 2 mins 57 \ sees. Selling Race, of 40 sovs; mile and quarter. Miss Elswick, 1; Malabar, 2. Six horses started. Miss Elswick led, with Merry Monarch second for about a mile, when Steamer challenged her and beat her on the post by half a length. Time: 2 mins 2G£ sees. Mr Mackay entered a protest against Steamer receiving the stakes on the ground of jostling by Allan, his rider. The stewards entertained the protest, disqualified Steamer, and awarded thestakes to Miss Elswick. North Otago Club Handicap, of 200 sovs, added to a sweep of 5 sovs, second horse to receive 20 sovs, and third horse 10' sovs. Two miles.— Tcmpleton, 1 ; Guy Fawkcs, 2. Fishhook was scratched. Betting, 6t04 on Guy Fawkes. There was considerable excitement over this race, as both horses had been backed heavily. Templeton's form, when stripped, was simply perfection, but Guy seemed to be hardly up to the mark. Directly the flag fell Guy made the running at a -terrific pace until entering the straight for the first time. On passing the Standi Templetoa had crawled up until he was only half a length behind. The two horses then raced together until the second mile from home, when Rowlands called upon Templeton and he responded, gdujely entering the straight half a length a-head of Guy. This order was maiutained until tho rails yvere reached when Guy made a desperate effort to get even with Templeton twelve lengths from home, but the latter passed the post the winner by a length aud a half, amid tremendous cheering. Time, 3mins oOAsecs. Tradesmen's Handicap, of 60 sovs; mile and a half. Six started, and T/taina won a well contested race by three length-?,. Time, -mins 50secs.