NORTH OTAGO TURF CLUB RACES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 580, 12 March 1878, Page 2

NORTH OTAGO TURF CLUB RACES.

President—Mr. J. O'Meagher ; Vice-Presi-dent- Mr. G. S. Lintott ; Stewards—the Hon. P. Campbell, Dr. Webster, Dr. Ca'-land, Messrs. M. Studhnlmo, W. J. Steward, A. IT. Maude. <~K A. Sutton, G. M'L-an, R. l.umsden. W. Gardiner, and it. M'Anlv; Judge—Mr. W. J. Steward: Starter—Mr. T. Shalders ; Clerk of the Cdvirse—Mr. R. Smart; Clerk of the Scales —Mr G. R. Taylor : Handicapper— Mr. Sherwin ; Timekeeper—Mr. R. bumsden ; Treasurer. Mr. R. Lumsden ; Secretary, Mr. F. W. O. Grant.

SECOND DAY. Notwithstanding tlie very threatening appearance of the weather last niu'ht. today proved another idoi-ions day for horseracinir- A clear blue sky and a mild sunshine were sufficient to induce numbers of persons bent on amusement to be early astir, and long before the time for commencing operations, many might have been see)i wending their way towards the course, and by the time the first race was started there were a goodly number on the ground. During the afternoon there must have been something like 1500 persons present. As was the case yesterday, the grand stand was well patronised, there' being a large sprinkling of ladies amongst the occupants. The several booths under the supervision of Mr. Maitland again appeared to do a very '/ood business, and the various little swindles again charmed a number of the unwary into parting with a considerable amount of their loose coin. Sub-In-spector Smith had, as was the case yes-, tercbiy, a detachment of police on ground, but their services to be in great About a i first race of _the day i out r to the post. pied F°'^^^^^^^| acceptances^^^^^^H to annoyancej^^^^^^^^H has °J^^^^^^^^|

great long before the time for starting had arrived, and when the horses left the saddling paddock, it became intense. Only four horses accepted, and each of ai those were carefully examined when p; stripped, Fishhook coming in for the ai largest share of attention. He seemed in p better trim than yesterday, and nothing would go down but the Hook, for although a few fancied the chances of Ariel and Hippocampus, not many were prepared to place their money upon either j: of them. Hippocampus did not appear to be in proper fettle, though for a time i he ran very well. His want of breath soon told upon him, and he had to bo - N contented with coining in a decent last. The race, which is fully described below, was the grandest ever witnessed on the i Oamarn course, and was run in, we believe, the fastest time ever done in New a Zealand. Fishhook's victory was exceed- "V ingly popular, as he carried a large a amount of public money. Ray rode the horse grandly, and seldom, if ever, has s a finer piece' of horsemanship been wit- h nessed in the Colony. On entering the o paddock, the horse, rider, and owner f were each vociferously applauded. The t finish was a very close one, for the three e first horses might have been covered with 1 a blanket. This proves how careful Mr. 1" Sherwin had been in framing the handi- s cap. It is seldom that a handicapper t succeeds in bringing horses so close 1 together at the finish as was the case with, c the big handicaps yesterday and to-day. 1 The Flying Handicap also demonstrated the excellence of the handicapping. From start to finish it was a grand race, Fish- } hook winning by barely half a length. c His second victory was very popular, the t public having again placed their money t on him. A Pony Race and the Consola- t tion Handicap were to be run when our J reporter left the course. ' The following is a detailed account of . the running : < Handicap Hurdle Race—7s sovs. (start at 1 12 o'clock), with a sweep of 3 sovs., to < go to the second horse. Nomination, 2 1 sovs. ; acceptance, 1 sov. About 2| i miles. Mr M'Coy's br g Shark, aged, 10st (M'Coy) 1 •; Mr Powell's b g Shillelagh, aged, 9sfc 1 lOIIjs (J. Cotton) 2 Mr Lunn's ch g Merry Monarch, aged, 9st 71bs (Hawkins) 3 Banjo and Theodore started. Eclipse was scratched. Betting : Level money about Shillelagh, 6 to 4 against Shark, 2 to 1 against Banjo and Theodore, 3 to 1 against Merry Monarch. Banjo and Theodore led to the first hurdle, followed by the other three in a heap. At the second hurdle Theodore refused, but all the others safely negotiated the jump. Banjo got a lead of about a dozen lengths, which he maintained till half the distance had been travelled. Shark, Shillelagh, and Merry Monarch closed on him when passing the stand, and at the back of the course Banjo fell back completely beaten. Shark then assumed a clear lead of a couple of lengths, and although Merry Monarch and" Shillelagh each made an effort to catch Shark in the straight, he cantered in a winner by three lengths, Merry Monarch about the same distance behind Shillelagh, poor old Banjo a bad fourth, and Theodore last. Time : 3mins. 2!)secs.' Sellixu Hack Hurdle Race—3o sovs. (start at 12.45 o'clock). Distance, about H- mile. Winner to be &old by auction immediately after the race for £ls. ; Weight, lust, Post entry, £l. Four horses entered for this event, including the veteran Bob Apples. A very good race took place. The lot were sent ; away to a very good start, Miss Tatton at j once taking the lead, with the others in J attendance ; but when half the distance - had been got over Malabar went to the - front, and from that time the result was ■ never a matter of doubt, M'Kay landing Malabar a winner by a couple of lengths. Poor old Bob Apples hurt himself, and limped off the course. The winner was ; put up to auction by Mr. Greenfield, and - bought in by her owner for Lls. - Publicans' Handicap—loo sovs. (start at 1 1.45 o'clock), with a sweep of 2 sovs., to go to the second horse. Nomination, 2 2 sovs. ; acceptance. 1 sov. Nomination i- on same day as North Otago Turf Club 3 Handicap. Distance, 1 ?,- mile. e Mr D. O'Brien's b g Fishhook, 5 yrs, 5 J)st3lbs (O'Brien) 1 t> Mr J. H. Lunn's b m Maritana, aged, ' Csttilhs (Nichols) 2 Mr H. Redwood's b c Ariel, ft yrs, 9sfc 121bs (Matthews )^i Hippocampus also started.^^^Hfl|j^^H Betting : Level moneyab^^^^^^^H ] again^HtgjfjL^gj^^^^^^^^^^H

Oamaru Hospital. Distance, once round. Post entry, 10s. This race brought seven to the post, and after an interesting race, Mistake proving the winner, with Malabar second and Flirt third. Flying Handicap—7s sovs. (atart at 4 o'clock). Nomination, 1 soy. ; acceptance, 1 sov. Distance, 1 mile. Nomination same day as North Otago Turf Club Handicap. Mr O'Brien's b e Fishhook, syrs, 9st fill) (K. Kay) 1 Mr O'Brien's b f Luna, 3yrs, Gst 21b (J. Allan) 2 Mr Mallock's br c Foul Play, 3 yrs, 7st 121b (Clifford) 3 Blue Peter and Izaak Walton also ran. Ariel was scratched. Bettinsr : 6 to 4 on Fishhook, 2 to 1 against Foul Play, 3 to 1 against Tzaak Walton, 4 to 1 against Blue Peter, 5 to 1 against Luna. This was a grand race. The lot were sent away to a splendid start. All the horses raced together to the rails, and at one time they appeared to be all abreast, forming one of the grandest racing pictures ever seen on the course. When entering the rails Bay brought Fishhook away, and won after a desperate race by a short half length. Luna was second, a nick ahead of Foul Play, ttljo occupied third place, beating Blue Peter by half a length. Izaak Walton was a couple of lengths behind Blue Peter. Time—Lmin. i'Oisees.