NELSON RACES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 57, 8 March 1881, Page 2

NELSON RACES.

After we went to press yesterday the races were considerably impeded by several protests and disputes arising. The principal protest was one lodged against Septimus for running i iside a post in the Hack Hurdle Race, but, having henrd evidence, the stewards came to no decision, and .we accordingly publish the horses' ! names as they passed the judge's Btand. By far the best race of tha day was tbe Hack -Race. At the winning post no' less than five, passed in a cluster, the corscquence' being that it wa3 a matter of some , difHdulty for Mr Sharp, the judge, to spot the winner, and, irrespective of the. fact that the judge's fiat is supposed generally to be final, there were not a few dissatisfied at the decision given. However, with the exception of these disputes, the meeting passed off most successfully, and if the stakes were not large -the public bad an opportunity of seeing large fields, good racing, and, what is a great thing on the turf at the present day, the horses running on their merits. We must not forget to mention tbe presence on the course of the Wellington Band, which helped considerably to enliven the proceedings. Ap : pended are the results of. the eyenta run after we went to press yesterday :— .

Hurdle §Racb — First horse £12 103 ; secoDd horse £2 10s. One mile. Catch weights. Mr Blower's Septimus ... ... 1 Mr Orsman's Brickmaker ... .2 Mr Griffith's Rocket 3. Five others started. A protest was lodged against Septimus for going the wrong side of a post but it waß disallowed, I Hack Race of £5. One mile. Catch weights. Mr C. Knapp'a Blink Bonny ... 1 Mr J. Bartlett's Peeress ... 2 Mr A. Askew's Toy 3 Ten others started, but the race wa3 conr fined to the three above named and two others between which it was a very close con? test. ■•- ■ • ! Race for Saddle and Bridle presented by Mr JE\ N. Joneß. Mr Nieman's Nellie 1 Mr Blower's Septimus 2 Mr Brown's Misfortune ... 3 j Sailors' Race.— The "jocks" were limited to Jacks, and fiv; | orses started steered by inerabers of the Thames and Wellington Naval Brigades, Thomas, the ex-carbin(i champion, getting " the possible " out of his nag, which was the first to pass the winning post, Lieut. Bennett of the Wellington Navals being second. Although Mr Jones had offered his saddle to all comers, the Committee declined to allow a horse belonging to Mr JFreeth of Blenheim to enter, thefeby causing considerable dissatisfaction, and consequently several of those present, headed by Mr Chas, Redwood of Marlborougb, raised a subscription for the purpose of presenting another saddle which was then offered to be comp eted for by whosoever liked, the' result being that it was won by ..-the horse that had been excluded from the. previous race beating nine others.

The race that was adrertised for": Naval Volunteers did not come up to anticipation) owners of horses not being easily persuaded to lend their animals to be ridden by Bailors, whoso goal when once they are on horseback is proverbial. Five, however, came to the post, one of them arrayed in a costume that it is not customary for jookeys to wear, the most conspicuous portions of his dross being an umbrella and a pair of spectacles — not that these formed the whole of hia wardrobe, but they are selected for special mention as being the most noteworthy. He and a brother Jack (b : ecpuiing weary of the formalities usually attending a start for a race, weighed anchor and got under way on their own account, circumnavigated the course, once, (md liked the. funsomuch tliat they endeavored to extend their voyage- to another, round, but the owners of the, craft' which borb them, objected, and brpugh^iheir^f un to an end. ' ' : The duties 6f l ti&, ;, judge were performed by Mr Shaip, f 6f starter by Mr T., Harley, of clerk of the coijrse by^Mx Gay, anaofcterk

of the scales by Mr Little. There wai plenty of >fun dvr N inj£"tbe ; day, and all who wert j present appeared to enjoy the holiday and the' spori. j '- , :