DUNEDIN RACES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 112, 26 March 1862, Page 4

DUNEDIN RACES.

To-day will be the first day of the Dunedin annual races. A very attractive programme has been set forth; the eutries are numerous, and there is every reason to expect that the sport will be good. It will certainly not be the fault of the stewards if the 3 r.ices are not everything they should be. Still less will it be the fault of the course, for it would be difficult to find a better course than that at the West Taieri. As many of our readers may not be familiar with the locality, a short description of the course may not be unwelcome.

The Dunedin Race Course is situate at the West Taieri. about nine miles out from Dunedin, and is approached by the West Taieri Road, one of the main lines of road to the diggings. JThe road to it is very picturesque, but is only metalled for a portion of the way. It is however, by no means a bad road for Otago, and after a few hours dry weather is easy to travel either driving or on horseback, but becomes very slippery in places with a little rain. It is a Goverment road, on a line not regularly m.ide, but yet well defined. The sidings are: cut and the truck made as fiir as is practicable without metnlling. In going to the Race Course from thejroud lies by way of the Halfway Bush, and thence bears off to the left, leaving Flagstaff Hill on right. There is no particular difficulty in any part of the road in moderately dry weather, but it will be necessary for the drivers of vehicles to exercise some caution in attempting to pass others, as the road is in parts rnther narrow, and constructed on sidings, down which it would be by no means pleasant to roll. With ordinary caVe and skill' if the road be tolerably dry, no danger need be apprehended. These.remarks arc inteifded for the benefit of" new chums," old Otagonians will of course know the road.

The course is in first rate order, notwithstanding the very variable weather lately, The ground is perfectly firm, and has a peculiar springy character. It is also a'-perfectly level plain, and there will thus be no interruption to the view of the racing. The distance round the course is exactly a mile and a quarter, but posts have been set marking the starting places for other distances. In front of the grand stand is the "straight running," which is fenced in so as to afford a full view of the finish of each race. The Grand Stand itself, is a very substantial structure intended to accommodate from four hundred to five hundred persons, who from the scats on the sloping top of the building will have a fine view of the course. Booths for the supply of refreshments are also erected alongside the grand stand, and every regard appears to have been had to the comfort and convenience ofthe public. Those who may not wish to take their vehicles out to the course will find accommodation at the refreshment booths. •

With regard to the sport to be expected, we understand that some very good racing may be looked for. For the Maiden Plate there are seven entries ; for the Town Plate there are nine entries ; for the Provincial Cup, presented by S. IS. R. Jones, six entries ; and for the Settlers' Stakes, four entries. A scurry will conclude the day's spefk '■ ; ■

Among- the horses that are entered; three, Othello, Professor, and Falcon are brought over by Mr. Waldock.from Victoria ; Emmeline again is a'Canterbury mare. Mr. Waldoek's three horses have for some days been kept at the Kace Hotel, close to the course, and Mr. Julius's four, Kaurie Gum, Jack, Rob, and Venison, have been •kept at Barr's Hotel stables, so as to allow of their being exercised on the course. It is understood that there is some little rivalry between the Otago owners and those from Victoria and elsewhere, . ■

It is stated that Mr. Anderson's Neil Black entered for the town plate, is dead.

; A rather new feature will be presented with the cards of the races. The indefatigable Thatcher having succeeded in obtaining the authority from the Stewards to print the curds of the races, has graced one side ofthe card with one of his local songs, " The Dunediu loafing society." Doubtless he did not mean the song to be suggestive, but at any rate visitors to the races will find they have something oh their cards to carry away with theni.; . . . . ; :

The following is the programme of to-day's racing:— . ;

; « v >. MAIDEN PLATE. Of ,75' soys. Entrance 3 guineas. For all horses that have never won an advertised prize of more than £10—one and a half miles. Weight for age. Jno. Stephenson, eh g, Poison, b" yrs, 10st71b. Red and white.

(J. :F;. Richardson's g m, Mary Grey, 5 yrs lOst 41b: White and Pink, black cap. * J. H. Nodings g g, Joe, aged, lOst 71b. White, and blue, black cap. •H, M, Clarke's bm, Kate, 6yrs, lOst 71b. Pink. W. Pinkerton's b h Hugo, aged, lOst 101b. White and pink, black cap. ,J. M'Lean's b h'Hotspur, aged, lOst 101b, (Jreen jacket, scarlet cap, ■'.■■• S. Waldock's bg, Falcoa, 6 yrs, lOst 21b. Blue and white. TOWN PLATE. Of 150 soys. Entrance 5 guineas. Second horse to save his stakes. Two mile 3 and a-half. Weight Cleveland's b g Rob Roy, 6 yrs, lOst 21b. White. Thomas N. "White's b mEmmeline, 3yrs, Bstllb. Crimson. , R. Julius' bk h Venison, 4 yrs, 9st 131b. Pink. Donald Grant's b g Rory, aged, lOst 71b. Puce body, pink sleoves. G. F. Richardson's b m Spear Grass, aged, lOst ab. White and pink, blackcap. " ■ Jno. Anderson's b g Neil Black, 4 yrs, 9st 101b., Blue jacket, white cap. F. E. Stewart's b m Deception. 6 yrs, lOst 21b. S. Waldock's bk g Othello, aged, lOst 21b. Blue and white. . ' , "S. Willdock'g be Professor, 3 yr.s, Bst 41b. Black and white, y PROVINCIAL CUP, (Value £100. Presented by S. E. R. Jones, Esq. . ; For all horses. Entrance 5 guineas. Two miles. Welter weights. , Cleveland's br g- Rob Roy, 6 yrs, list 21b. White. T. W. White's b m Emmelinej 3 yrs, 9st lib. Crimson. . R. Julius's b g, Kaurle Gum, aged, list 71b. Pink. F, B, Stewart's b m Deception, 6 yrs, list 21b. S. Waldock's bk g Othello, aged, l}st 21b. Blue and white. J. Waldock's be Professor, 3 yrs, Jfct 41b. Black and white. SELLING STAKES*, Of 50 soys. For nil horses. Entrance two guineas. One mile and a half hent. Weight for age, as Maiden Plate. Horses entered to be sold for £30, to carry'B stone ; £40, Bst 51bs; £50, &st lOlbs; £60, 9st lib; £70, 9st Clbs; £80, Ost Illbs; £90, 10st41bsj £100,10st91bs. R. Julius's c. g Jaok, aged, Bst 2!b (£4O). Pink. R. Julius's b g Hob, 6 yrs, lOst 61b, (£100). Pink ! ■ v : H." Jones's bh Premier, 4.yrs, "Bst 41b, (£40,). Black and white. J. Steplienson's g g Garibaldi, 4 yrs, Bst2lb, (£ lO). Black and white. J.Stephenson's c g Poison, 6 yrs, Bst 71b, (£SO). Red a white: „ ' . . . ". . SCURRY STAKES. Hogskin Saddle nnd Bridle. ~ Post entry 1 guinea. For all untrained horses. One mile and a half. Catchweights. In the absense of any regular betting-room, we find it impossible to give reliable quotations of odds, but at the drawing of the Calcutta sweepstakes at the Commercial Hotel last night, Falcon was made favorite for the Maiden Stakes; Othello, Venison, and Rob Roy for the Town Plate; and Kauri Gum for the Cup.

Mdme Grisi has concluded her farewell tour through the United Kingdom." jOn Saturday, the 21st of December, she made her' last, appearance on the stage, at the Dublin Theatre, in-the character of Norma, producing, a scene of extraordinary excitement ; and on Saturday last, at Brighton, she made her last appearance' in the concert-room. And thus her glorious career in this country is now to be nun-bej-gd (einjong " the things that were.''

~ The Vienn.esij journals relafe a sfory which shows the folly of conirng to i hasty .(•onclusjcn's :—lji ; a wealthy family of Vienna the liusband made his wife a New Year's Gift of a dozen pairs of gloves. Indignant at such stinginess, the lady, as soon as her husband's back was turned, flung the gloves into the fire. Explanations,ensued at table, and whnt was the irascible lady's astonishment on learning that each pair of gloves was wrapt up in a bank-note for 100 florins! ..■'" ■• ..

A double execution took place at Warwick on the 30th of December. One culprit was John Thompson who murdered his paramour at Birmingham, while in a fit of passion. The other .was Beamish, who poisoned his wife at Coventry, under circumstances of horrible atrocity. The latter made no confession, ajid'unlike his fellow-suiferer, exhibited no signs of repentance. The revolting spectacle was witnessed by thousands, many coming ffom the, towns in which the culprits had resided,