CHRISTCHURCH RACES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5497, 8 November 1878, Page 4

CHRISTCHURCH RACES.

(psa press AOENcr.) Christchurch, Thursday.

Canterbury Metropolitan Meeting (third day).—So far as the weather was concerned. to-day was most undoubtedly the most enjoyable of the three, it was free from the heat of tho first day and the wind and dust of the second. Shortly after 10 o'clock a heavy shower of rain fell, and at one time it threatened to be continuous, but it soon off, leaving the atmosphere warm and balmy, and having nicely laid the dust, which on the previous days had been such a nuisance, besides putting the course into excellent order. The attendance was by no means as large as upon Wednesday, otill there were about 4000 dr 5000 people present. His Excellency the Governor and suite occupied places in tho Grand Stand, as well as his Honor Mr. Justice Johnston and other Christchurch notabilities. The sport was excellent during the whole of the day, and tho only circumstance to mar the success of any of tho evente was the contretemps which took place in regard to the first race, in which Sinking Fund came in first, bat the stakes of which were afterwards awarded to Danebury, the first and second horses both being disqualified through the owner, Ray, not having declared to win with the Fund. The matter was brought under the notice of the stewards,' who speedily held a meeting and decided as above. It is needless to say that this result, though satisfactory to backers of Danebury, was anything but so to those who had laid their money on Sinking Fund. The following is a list of the events :

METROPOLITAN HANDICAP, Of 100 sots ; a mile and a-half. Danebury, 6 yrs, Bst 3lb (Martlneor) 1 Fishhook, aged. Oat 3 b (Barrett) 2 i.onglands, 4 yrs, Bst lib (H. Clifford) .. ..8 Plnfire, 4 yrs. Ist (McOonkoy) 0 Songster, 5 yrs, 6st 6!b (3. Harris) 0 Mirella, 4 yrs, 6st (J. Allen) .. .. .. - • 0 Sinking Fund, 6 yrs, 6 1 41 b (J* Webster) . . ~ Dls Maritana, aged Bst (Wattle) -. .. _ .. ..Dls Natator was scratched. Mireille declared 71bs. overweight. Betting :2to 1 agst Fishhook and Danebury, 3 to 1 agst Maritana, 5 to 2 agst Sinking Fund, 4 to 1 against Longlands, 5 to I against Songster. This event brbught eight starters to the post, and after no leas than five ineffectual attempts to get away, through Mireille refusing to budge except the wrong way, the lot were sent well off together. Fishhook, Danebury, and Mireille Boon got clear of the ruck in the order named. Sinking Fund closed rapidly on the three, and when a third of the distance round the course was running neck and neck with Fishhook, hard held, Danebury third, and Maritana fourth. This sudden spurt, however, appeared to have its effect, for when opposite the stand tho Fund had fallen to the rear, twelve lengths behind the leader, and his chance was stud to be over; but here he was again put on his mettle, and rapidly ran through everything, being at the turn on Maritana’s quarters, Danebury being third, aud the Hook fourth. A splendid race ensued between the Fund and Maritana. They raced along the straight neck and neck till nearly up to tho stand, when Sinking Fund pat on another spurt and was landed a winner by two lengths, with Danebury a good third, the Hook and Mireille several lengths behind, and Lunglands altogether out of it. Yet there was some talk about jostling and palling in this race among the public, and in an inquiry which was afterwards held by the stewards they disqualified both Sinking Fund and Maritana, and awarded the stakes to Danebury, on the ground that Ray had not declared to win with tho firstnamed horse. Time, 2 min. 48 sec, PUBLICANS* STEEPLECHASE, 01 75 sol’s; about 2 miles.

To Whotumaramara. sued, 13st (W. Hawkins) .. 1 Eversley, aged, list 101 b (A. LyfordJ ~ .. 2 Royalty, aged, lost 71b (T, Lvlord) 3 Sliverstream, aged. 10st Mb(S. O'Brien) .. .. 0 The Lad, 4 years, lost, (J. OTielll) 0

The Lad declared 4lbs over weight. Betting: sto 4 agst Te Whetu and Eversley; 4 to 1 agst Royalty ; 3 to X agst Silverstream and The Lad. Level money was also laid on Te Whetu.

All five horses entered came to the post,

and looked in very fit condition, Te Whetu and Ifiversify especially attracting attentinn. The jumpers got away well together, and the first fence was taken very cleverly by Eversley, followed closely by Silver-dream, with Royalty third. The Lad fourth, and Te Whetu last. Thia order they maintained tor nearly a mile, all taking the hurdles without a mishap, but when opposite the stand in the second round Te Whetu began to show what he was made nf, and rapidly went through the other horass till he became a close partner of Eversley, giving the go by to Silverstream, who fell off considerably. The double hurdle was taken well together by the first two named horses, between whom the race now evidently lay. At the turn Royalty for a moment contested the position with the two leaders, but he soon fell back, and the last two hurdles were negotiated safely by the chestnuts, who leaped simultaneously. Both riders now commeoced flogging, and when at the stand Mr. Nei son’s gelding made a bold push for it, and was victorious by a length apd a half, Royalty a good third, Silverstream fourth, and The Lad a long way in the rear. This was one of the best contested hurdle races ever witnessed on the grodnd. CHBISTOHUBOH FLATS Of ISO sots, sddeii to s sweepstake of 5 sors each. Once ronnd and a distance. Ifemo.Sy s. 7st 4ib(i’. Oiiirs)’ 1 Katator, 3 jrs, 7st 61b (A. Bedding) 2 York, 3 jrs, 6st I3lb (O’onkey) 3 Betting : 2 to 1 agst iVorao and Natator, 6 to i against York. Time, 3min. 3|seos. As Hr. Neilaon scratched Fishhook, only three came to the post for the Plate, and though small in number they promised Cue sport, for they were in splendid form and looked fit for anything. They started from tbs turn, and on passing the stand York had a good lead, Natotor second, and Nemo bringing up tho rear, evidently hard held; they maintained this order and the same relative d stances between each other nutil opposite tho stand, when Nemo seamed to be hopelessly behind, .but his rider now began to wake the brown colt np, and gamely he responded to the invitation, for he rapidly decreased the dist >nce between himself and the leading horse, had soon passed Natator,and bad collared York. At the turn all three were lying shoulder to shoulder, and a grand race took place for chief honors, which wore soen decided by Nemo winning by a couple of lengths, with York several lengths behind Natator. 188 BELLING BAGS. " Of SO sots. Weight fur age Tho winner to be sold by auction mmediately after the race for 400 sots ; <my surplus to go to the funds. If entered to be sold for 300 sots, allowed 71bs ; {or 200 aors, 141ba; f r 100 sots. 21lba; for 50 sots. 231bj. Throe-quirtors of a mile. Sinking Fund, 0 jrs (£100), 7at (J. Allen),. .. 1 Bribery. syrs(£4oo). Bsfe 121b(Matthews).. ~ 2 Ratcatcher. 4 yrs (£200). Bst (Hughes) .. .. 3 Lady of the Lake. 5 yra (£200) .. .. .. 0 Lady Ellen. Mireilie, Nemo, and Seven Bells were scratched. Time. Imio. 12aeo. Betting : 8 to 1 agst Bribery, 4 to 1 agst Ratcatcher, and even money on Sinking Fuad. After a little fiddling at the post on the part of Bribery, the field got off on pretty even terms. Bribery at once assuming the command of affairs, with Lady of the Lake and Sinking Fund close upon her and Ratcatcher in the rear. This position was maintained till tho turn was reached, when Sinking Fund and Bribery under the whip raced bard together, but the latter was beaten by four lengths. Ratcatcher third, and Lady of the Lake last. The winner was bought in by the owner for £145. FLTINa HANDICAP. Luna, Tat 121 b (Bod-er) 1 Chancellor, 7st 13lb (Rid.Ung) .. .. .. 2 Foul Play. 9st (Clifford) 3 Lady Ellen, 7it 51b (Atlon) 0 Betting : 6 to 3 against Chancellor, 6 to 4 on Lady Ellen and Foul Flay, 2 to 1 on Luna. Out of seventeen horses entred all but the four above named were scratched, but this did not prevent the race from being a good one. Chancellor got away at the stare, with Luaa second, and Foul Flay third. At the turn

Luna took things into her own hands and came to the fornt, bat she. dh sot keep it long, for at the rails tbej were all in a ruck, and a rush down th< straight resulted in Lana passing the post t length in front of Chancellor, with Foul Plaj and Lad/ Files a couple of lengths farthei behind. CONSOLATION RACE. The only horses entered for this race wen Chancellor, Mireille, and Lady of the Lake the first-named coming in the winner by three lengths from Mireille, Lad/ of the Lake a gooc third. This event brought the most successful meeting ever known in Canterbury to a close, One of the chief features of the present meeting is the fact of most of the winners being by Tradacer, which speak* volumes in favor of that grand old sire. Everything passed off in a highly satisfactory manner, and the efforts of the indefatigable secretary (Mr. F. Digby), and tbe committee, starter, judges, and all concerned cannot be spoken of too highly. The railway authorities, too, strained every nerve to meet the demands mode upon them for takeing passenger* to the coarse ; and the public are indebted to Mr, Conyers, the commissioner, and Mr Back, the general manager, for the way in which they exerted themselves. On the whole, the Spring Meeting of 1878 is likely t<» be long re* membered in the annals of Canterbury sporting matters.