THE RACES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 830, 11 December 1878, Page 2

THE RACES.

President Mr. J. O'Meagher ; VicePresident Mr. G. S. Lintott ; Stewards—Hon. R. Campbell, Messrs. M. Studholme, W. J. Steward, Geo. M'Lean, W. Gardiner, A. H. Maude, R. Lumsden ; Judge—W. J. Steward ; Starter—Mr. T. Shalders ; Clerk of the Course—Mr. R.-Smart; Handicapper — Mr. M. Sherwin ;'Treasurer—Mr. R. Lumsden; Secretary, Mr. F. W. O. Grant. The annual race meeting of the North Otago Turf Club was commenced to-day under very favorable auspices, for though occasionally a few drops of rain fell during the day, it was nothing to speak of. The sun shone out brightly, and the gentle breeze tended to render things pleasant. Long before the time for starting the first race people began to congregate on the course, and the knowing ones spent some time in criticising the merits of th« various horses. The two special trains conveyed large numbers of passengers to the course, while many preferred going by road, which for some time was lined with all kinds of vehicles and pedestrians. Still, however, the number on the course was not so large as might have been expected, the attendance when at its greatest amounting to between 900 and 1000. The course was in very good order, though perhaps a little hard. The Club had effected one realy necessary improvement in the way of providing accommodation. A very good stand had been provided for the Press, and for this boon we desire to express our thanks to the Committee of the Club. A commodious stand had also been provided for the convenience of members of the Club. The providing of creature comforts was entrusted to Mr. W. Maitland, of the Commercial Hotel, and Mr. A. Familton, fruiterer, both of whom ajmeared to do a very good trade. Of course the various swindles usually to be met with on racecourses were well represented, and their directors appeared to meet with a great amount of support from the unwary. Never before has there been such a strong muster of " the talent," as the bookmaking freternity are styled ; but they did not have a busy time of it, for the odds offered were short, and the majority of those who speculated preferred indulging in sweeps. The various officers of the Club worked hard to make things go smoothly, and they succeeded in doing so to a very eminent degree. A strong body of police were present, but there was not a great demand for their services. There were one or two matters that should have been attended to by the Ground Committee, the chief being the prevention of people with gaming tables taking up positions in front of the Grand Stand. ' Their presence there was a great source of annoyance to the public, especially to ladies, and we would recommend the Committee in future to have some place specially appointed for these gentry and their swindling games. ; It was fully half-past 12 o'clock before 1 the first race was started. Five stripped for the Maiden Plate—Maid of Honor and Tout crying off. York was a very decided favorite, though Orange Lightning had a small circle of friends, but his short style of going was not admired, while York's free style 'of going was a ' theme of general admiration. The race was not a very interesting one. York took the lead immediately after the start and maintained it to the finish, winning [ easily, hands down, half a length divid- ' ing Orange Lightning and Ratcatcher for second place. Six horses weighed out for . the Selling Race, which was again started ' considerably after the appointed time. Rosemary led from the start, and despite the efforts made by Seven Bells and Zenobia was landed a winner. Barney

and Jack the Flat' were out of the race from the start. Old Exile shaped very well for a time, but had to retire after making an effort to overtake the leader. Then came the great event of the meeting, the Oamaru Grand Handicap, in which considerable interest was taken, despite the fact that no less than six horses were scratched, namely, Templeton, Danebury, Foul Play, Blue Peter, Mufti, and York ; while Lara was not present. There was very little betting on the event, which bore somewhat the appearance of a prearranged aiiair. Maritana was in the pink of condition, and looked fit to run for anvthing. Camballo was nv„ i„x -v., „cis somewhat on condition... '' ,l+ ~;. - .-, • , ~ uno oig side, and the same may be said to some extent of Pinfire. The wliole of the horses were eagerly scrutinised, Mi - , Ray's mare attracting the greatest amount of public notice. Her appearance was really grand, seeming quite a different mare to what she did last year. A grand race took place, Maritana winning, in the good time of 3mins. 12secs., by half a head from Camballo. Nenio ; who had maintained the lead for about a mile, bolted off the course when collared by Maritana. Camballo ran a grand race, coming with a tremendous rush at the finish, and causing the whip to be applied to Maritana. The opinion seemed to be that he made his effort too late, Only three horses . came to the post for the Novel Race, which proved a very hollow affair. The concluding item on the day's programme—the Tradesmen's Handicap—■ was robbed of its attractions, owing to it being reduced to a match between Foul Play and Lady Ellen, the pen being put through no less than seven- of the names on the card. It may readily bo imagined that the public were greatly disgusted with this state of things, and well they might "be, for a more extraordinary proceeding we never saw on any' course. siAiDisN" j>t.v.Tjs—lJ mile, Mr Goodman ? s ch c York, 3 : yr.s, y'st 61bs, (Nichols) 1 Mr Redwood's ch c Orange Lightning, 4 yrs, 9st ... ... ... (Connor) 2 Mr Horsfall's b h Ratcatcher, 4 yrs, 9st (P. M'Coy) 3 Prudence and Minnie also started ; Maid of Honor, Shillelagh, and Tout were scratched. Betting—6 to 4 on York ; even money about Orange Lightning ; 3 to 1 against Prudence ; and 5 to 10 to 1 the others. All the horses except Prudence got away in a line. She refused to leave the post until the other horses had got away a quarter of a mile. She then started, but, of course, had no chance of catching the other horses. But the race itself proved to be one of the hollowest ever seen for a Maiden Plate on the Oamaru course ; York was immediately taken to the front by Nichols, and led for a mile, with Ratcatcher and Orange Lightning racing neck and neck a length behind, and Minnie out of the running. Turning into the straight, York came clear away from Lightning and Ratcatcher, and won, hard held, by six lengths, Orange Lightning beating Ratcatcher by half a length for second place j Minnie a bad third. Time, 2min. glsecs. SELLING R-iCE—IJ mile, • Mr Thomson's b m Rosemary, 5 yrs, Bst 81b (J. Ward) 1 Mr Bourne's b g Seven Bells, aged, 9sfc 41bs (M. Hobbs) 2 Mr R, Fraser's c cm Zenobia aged, 7st 91b (Nichols) 3 Exile, Jack the Flat, and Barney also started. Sir William and Deception were scratched. Betting—6 to 4on the field. The six horses were despatched to an indifferent start at 1.15 pan. Rosemary having all the best and Barney the worst of it. Rosemary was rushed to the front, and led, with Seven Bells second, and Ejdje third, This order was maintained for a hjtile, when Exile retired, and Zenobia went up and raced Seven 1 Bells, these two being two' lengths behind Rosemary, when the horses entered the straight. Although Seven Bells pushed feqsemary pretty hard at the finish, Mr. rhomson's mare won by a short length from Seven Bells ; Zenobia, half a length iway, thirtl, Others nowhere. The winner was put up for sale by motion by Mr. Greenfield, and bought n by the owner for L3O.

OAMARU GRAND HANDICAP 1§ mile.

Sir Ray's b m Maritana, aged, Bst 121b3 (Wattie) 1 Mr Vallance's br g Camballo, 4 yrs, Gst 81bs (Harris) 2 Mr G. Fraser's ch g Pinfire, 4 yrs, 7st 51bs ... ... ... (Boldger) 3

Nemo and King Quail also ran. Templeton, Danebury, Foul Play, Blue Peter, York, and Mufti were acratched ; and Lara did not put in an appearance. Betting—6 to 4 against Maritana, 2 to 1 Nemo, 3 to 1 Pinfire *nd Camballo, and 10 to 1 King Quail.

Punctually at 2 p.m. the-five horses were sent on their to a pretty fair start. Nemo at once made play with Pinfire, and Maritana was well up in th» order named. After a mile had been travelled Nemo bolted for the gate of the course, and thus lost a good chance of winning. Wattie then took Maritana to the front, Pinfire beaten already and dropping back. Camballo then began to go up to the bay mare, and when the straight was entered he was within a length of her. All the way up the straight he gradually crept up, and when the stand was passed Maritana only held the lead by a head. The excitement then became great, and shouts of " Camballo wins" were heard. Three strides from home the two horses were neck and neck. Wattie called on the grand little mare for a final effort ; she responded gamely, and just managed to get her nose past the post before' that of the brown gelding; indeed, so close was it, that many thought it a dead heat. Pinfire was a bad third, I King Quail nowhere. Time—3min. 112 sec.

novel eace—li mile. Mr. A. M'Kay's Jack the Flat (Main) 1 Mr. A. Bell's ch g Exile ... (P. M'Coy) 2 Mr. J. M'Kay's bg Honesty (Wattie) 3 Deception and Sir William were scratched. Betting—6 to 4 against Honesty, 2 to 1 Exile, and 3 to 1 Jack the Flat.

The three were sent away to an indifferent start. Exile, refusing to go, was left some distance behind. Honesty and Jack the Flat raced past the stand together, but after a little more than half a mile, Jack the Flat drew away, and increasing gradually his lead, won with, the greatest of ease. Old Exile made a good effort to make his lost ground, but though he succeeded in passing Honesty, could not get near Jack the Flat. The winner was then offered for sale by Mr. Greenfield, and bought in by his owner for L2O. tradesmfn's handicap—lj mile. Mr Vallance's ch m Lady Ellen, aged, 6st 91bs 1

Mr Mallock's br c Foul Play, 4 yrs, Sst 2 Maritana, Chancellor, Sinking Fund, Blue Peter, Luna, Camballo, and Minnie were scratched.

Betting—2 to 1 on Foul Play. 2 to 1 against Lady Ellen. The pair were sent away together, and ran neck-and-neck for some distance, when Lady Ellen drew to the front, and, despite the application of the whip to Foul Play, won by about two lengths.