SPORTING.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1079, 4 October 1879, Page 2

SPORTING.

WAIT AKI JOCKEY CLUB BACKS. (from our special retobtek.) The Waitaki Jockey Club's races, which ■were brought to a close shortly beiore five o'clock yesterday, proved on the whole highly successful. There was some capital racing, unattended by anything calculated to leave behind any bitterness of feeliutr. The fields yesterday were smaller than was anticipated, but the several events were warmly contested. The weather, which in the early part of the day was very promising, changed during the afternoon in a most unpleasant manner. Just before the last race was run there was a perfect hurricane of wind, accompanied by a heavy downpour of rain, and very little could consequently be seen of the Consolation Bace. The arrangements throughout were almost perfect, avid all concerned are to be highly complimented upon the manner in which the meeting was carried through. The only matter for regret in connection with the races is the fact that many were prevented from attending, owing to the hardness of the times, and that the attendance showed a falling off as compared with those of last year. The following is the conclusion of outreport : CONSOLATION RACE —1 MILE. Unknown, 7st 71b (Budings) ... 1 Chancellor, 9st (T. Allen) ... 2 Libeller, Gst 121b (Taylor) ... 3 Blue Peter and Bobin Hood, the only other nominators, also ran. At the start Blue Peter took up the running, followed closely by Chancellor. Going round the back of the course, Blue Peter began to fall back, and was never afterwards in the race. Chancellor then took the lead for a short distance, but was quickly overtaken by Libeller and Unknown, and they raced together for a few strides. At a quarter of a mile from homo Unknown drew away, and, despite the efforts of Chancellor and Libeller, won the final event of the meeting with something to spare. The victory of the Waitaki horse was loudly cheered. Thus ended a successful meeting in the midst of a heavy downpour of rain, and a start was at once made for the township.