CHRISTCHURCH RACES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5326, 23 April 1878, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH RACES.

(PER PRESS AGENCV). Christchurch, Monday. The Autumn Meeting commenced to-day under most favorable auspices. The weather was beautifully fine, and the attendance large. Greater interest than usual was taken in the races, speculation on each event being very lively. The racing throughout was decidedly good. For the Champagne Stakes there were more starters and a much better class of youngsters than ever seen here before. Natator is a grand colt, and promises to make a first-class racehorse. He started a very hot favorite, though York, Nemo, and Merlin were also freely backed. The Great Autumn Handicap was one of the prettiest races ever seen bn the course. Longlands was heavily backed, he aud Natator were taken in a good many doubles. Maritana, Templeton, and Adel were all backed to a large extent for the Autumn Handicap, and were taken in doubles with Natator and York. The finish for the Autumn Handicap was very exciting,and it was anybody’s race till coming up the strait, when Maritana aud Longlands came away a little, and ran neck aud neck to the post, where Longlands just got his head in front. The pot boiled over in the Free Handicap, which prior to the start was regarded as a perfect moral for Bribery, but she was never in it.

ST. LEGER. Of 150 sovs., for three-year-olds, added to a sweepstake of 15 so vs. each 34 subs. Mr. Webb's .Tangier, (If. Fuller) 1 Mr. Mallock’s Foul Play, (Haggatt) 2 Betting : (5 to 4 on -Tangier. Fraser's Trump Card and Poynter’s Standard Bearer were scratched. A good start was effected, .Tangier getting first away and leading as far as the three-quarter of a mile post, when Foul Play crept up; but Jangler scarcely required calling upon and won a comparatively easy race by a length. Time, 3min. 27 V;ecs. , CHAMPAGNE STAKES Of 150 sovs, for two-year-olds, added to a sweepstake of 15 sovs each ; 19 subs. Mr, Redwood's cli c Natator (Matthews) ~ ~ 1 Mr. Poynter's ch o York, 211bs overweight (Ray).. 2 Mr, Matlock's b c Nemo, 21bs overweight (Lyford) S Atlantic, Merlin, and Waitaki also ran. Piccadilly and Bamarama were scratched. Betting: 3 to 2 agst Natator, 2 to 1 agst Nemo and York, and 3 to I agst the others. After several false starts, in which Natator especially soeraad anxious to get away, the well-known shout, “ the’re off,” went up, and Natator' was seen to ha leading, closely followed .by York and Nemo. At the turn York went- up to Natator, and for a moment or two, seemed likely to wrest the lead from him ; he swerved, however, from, the course, and so lost ground. Matthews gave Natator his head, and won a pretty race by a length, York second, Nemo a good third. Time, Imin. 17-isec. GREAT AUTUMN HANDICAP, Of 300 sovs., added to a sweepstake of 10 sovs. each; second horse to save his stake. One mile and a half. Mr. Redwood's T.onglands, 7st. 31bs. (Clifford) ... 1 Mr. Dunn's Maritana, Ost. 121bs. (Alien) .. -.2 Mr. Webb's Jangler, Ost. 121bs. (T. Clark) .. i - * Templeton, Ariel, Titania, Bide-a-wee, Mufti, and Oberon also ran, Foul Play an I

Luna were scratched. Betting :2to 1 agst Louglauds, 3 to 1 agst Ariel and Templeton, 5 to 1 agst Bide-a-wee, 7 to 1 agst Maritana, 8 to X agst Titania, 100 to 12 agst Tangier. After some trouble a fair start was effected. Templeton and Longlands were the first to show in front. At the mile and a quarter post Oberon took the lead, with Maritana close up, Longlands ami Templeton being next. Quarter of a mite further on Maritana collared Oberon, when the latter fell rapidly to the rear. On turning into the straight Longlauds went up to Maritana, the others being close behind them. Maritana and Longlands raced down the straight amidst great excitement and cries of “ Longlands wins,” “ Marltana wins.” Both jockeys whipped, and after a magnificent struggle Longlands won by a short head, Tangier a moderate third, Ariel fourth. Time, 2min. 4t^secs. FREE HANDICAP, Of 50 sovs, added to a sweepstake of 5 sovs. Three quarters of a mile, O’Brien’s Luna, Gst lbs (Allen) 1 Mullock's Ranolf, 7st (Trade) 2 Webbs Undine, Gst .. ..3 Bribery (Bst 41b) and Ratcatcher (6st) also ran. Betting ; 6 to 4 on Bribery. A fair start was effected. Ranolf and Luna at once took the lead, Bribery being a few lengths astern. This order was maintained to the rails, where Luna gradually begau to forge ahead of Ranolf, and ultimately won by half a length, Undine a bad third. Time, Xmin. 7Jsecs.