PATEA JOCKEY CLUB RACES.

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 62, 13 November 1875, Page 2

PATEA JOCKEY CLUB RACES.

S.'X'OXD Day, Xovk.mh;;i: JOth

The races set down for the second day took place on-Wednesday and no complaint of want of sport could be set out. Tne. weather was all (hat could be desired, an 1 (ho attendance of the lair sex Was nine!) larger than on the iirstday. The attraction of the jumping l races also drew many, who consider galloping over the Hat comparatively lame work to business over limber. The contests were remarkably close and a very good day’s .sport indeed was provided• I’be Hrst es'ent was the Hurdle race for which only three sported silk, Whilefoot being drawn. By an error Flora McDonald was imt down, in lieu of Mr Handley's Flora, but this was quickly discovered and did not interfere with .speculation in the least degree. Probably more money was invested on this race than any other at the meeting, Medora being considered a certainty, what with her known good qualities and the ability of Mr Nicholson who steered her. She balked however at the last hurdle but one, and therefore whether the judgment of the many would have proved sound or nut cannot he known. Flora ran a game mare and fenced well, though,’ oil lire second round, she nearly' came to grief at the hurdle past the stand. Her rider however picked her up well and continued what proved to be a fruitless stern chase. Medora’s fame has been so well established on other Helds, that it is not necessary to say anything about tier further than to say that she shaped well, and till her mischance led her opponents a dance, Oa/.elle is a line horse, one o 1 the best jumpers that we have seen for many a day, and is a credit to the district t that produced him. (Jn his victory we say some ringing cheers were given for Rangitikei, and on his rider leaving - the scale he was carried shoulder high to the refreshment booth. That ho would have won the iaee, in any case, was must probable for he had collared the mare, when she declined taking - further proceedings and was us fresh as paint when pulled up.

The ]lack Hurdle race brought out seven starters, I>ut was won with great case by an unlikely looking scrubber, bight Erostlish. This horse nut only jumped splendidly, but has an excellent t urn of speed, and it would be by no means surprising to see him at the head of affairs in belter coui2>auy than he met on Wednesday. There were two spills at the iirst hurdle, Potto and Corrigan coming to grje-f there, the former on Tomulkceper and the latter on a horse of Mr Erskiue’s. Fortunately no damage was done, and both re noimted snd sailed after the others.

The Jockey Club Handicap brought six horses to the post but Folly was spotted out as the winner by the talent, who on this occasion were nut at fault. Firetail, Minnie, Maid of the Mill, and Flora McDonald also found supporters, Wild Briar alone beingalmostfrieiuliess. Old Firetail was as fit as could bo made, but the groat use (hat was made of him in the early part of the race pumped him out, and though he struggled gamely atlhc finish, the favour! to headed him and won a splendid race by a bare half length. The Forced Handicap was one of the best races of the da}’, there being nolens than ten entries, including the winners, who wore perforce subscribers to the stake* Whitefoot was nearly paying for his oats as he ran second, and might have been first, had he come sooner, or the course been a little longer. Maid of the Mountain did not fulfil the expectations of hei backers, and Resolution was run off’the course. A great deal of discussion arose over this, and a protest, entered by Be* solution’s owner, against the rider of Flora occupied the attention of the Stewards for a long time. It was eventually overruled, the Stewards considering that the rider of Resolution attempted improperly to take the inside running and was necessarily forced outside the course. The decision, we may say, was not regarded with very greatfavour, but as the Stewards were very painstaking in collecting evi. dence, and had far better opportunities of judging Ilian outsiders, there can be but little doubt that their judgment was correct. Flora McDonald ran well, as did Elsie, though the latter has had but little chance having been in training little ever 6 weeks. Gainsborough did not come up to the ex pectations formed of him on the previous day, and though his owner declared to win with him, in preference to Flora, ho was never in the race.

few hack races wound up the day s sport and were well contested. Complaint, in anything but courteous fashion, was made by the lion, secretary of the races, relative to an error in the cards of the second day, some inaccuracies appearing. .The fault lay wholly with that gentleman himself, and it was not at all a bad idea of bis to shunt it on to the printer. It is the duty in the first place of every secretary, honorary or otherwise, to write out the copy for the race cards, and hand it either to the purchaser of the right to sell, or any other person he may depute to receive it. More than that, it is also the special duty of the secretary to see that, when printed, the cards are correct, but in both these respects the secretary of the late races failed to do what his position required of him. It is true that, after great trouble, after the auctioneer and the stewards had been_ appealed to, lie farms ied a few very incomplete particulars to the representative of this paper, th;

remainder of the information being'.obtained from one of (lie stewards am! two of. (lie jockeys, Imt no clean copy was ever supplied, neither did the secretary take the. trouble to see thal (he cards, as printed, were accurate. The stewards, therefore, have only their own officer to blame for any blunders, and it was certainly rather coo! nerve on his part to try and shift the responsibility on to other shoulders. Next year perhaps the club may take the hint, and appoint some other gentleman to the, oflioe, if only possessed of the barest knowledge of racing in liters. The club this year Ins bum particularly unfortunate, in attaching ilseU' to an incompetent secretary. We subjoin a detailed rep >rt of (he various races. mamu: rack. Of -1) so vs. K.itr.unv, 3 so set Distance, 2 miles, over 8 Rights of or lin.iry sheep hurdles, oft 'Jin in, heig.it. Welter weight n

Mr it. Stevens’ b g Gazelle, aged, 12st lib (Campion) ... ... ... ... 1 Mr Jackson’s b m Flora aged, I.2st Hb (Ciiavannes) ... ... ... 2 Mcßae & Nicholson’s b m Mcdora, aged, 12st Ilb (Nicholson) ... ... J

For ibis Mcdora was backed freely against the field, with very few lakers, it being considered a certainty for her, bar accident. Gazelle, however, had a lew friends, and their confidence did not prove to be misplaced; On starting Mcdora at once went to (no front and look a commanding lead, all the three fencing beautifully, Gazelle lying second at a respectful distance, but hard bold, Flora rather hopelessly in the rear, (be pace apparently being too hot for her. The same order was maintained (lie whole journey till coming to (lie last Right of hurdles but one. At ibis point Gazelle had distance between Mcdora and himself to about a couple of lengths and was going as stron’g as a lion. The .mare here ran round the' hurdles and before Mr Nicholson could get her over the other two were too far abend to render her chance possible. Gazelle thou came away and won hard held, in a canter. Flora through Medora’s mistake securing second honours. The winner, on returning to scale, was loudly cheered. HACK HUKDLK RACK. Of 10 sovs. Distance once round the

course. Over 5 Rights of ordinary hurdles, Oft. Jin. in height. Weightier age. Open to all horses that have not run for a slake of 10 sovs, or over. Entrance, 1 sov. This was Avon easily by Mr Edwards’ Frost Fish, beating seven others. The only accidents that occurred are referred to above, JOf'KKY CLUI? HANDICAP. Of 75 sovs. added to a sweep of 4 soVs, and .2 sovs. nomination. Mr Jacksons g g Folly 0 years, Pst (Lloyd) ... ... ... . 1 Mr Mediae’s b g Firotail, aged, Sst 101b (Wright) ... ... ... ... 2 Mr Qninlivan’s b!k f Maid of (lie Mill, 0 years, Gst 111b (Doiialy)' _ ... _ 3 Minnie, Flora McDonald and Wild Briar also started.

This race needs little description. Firetail rushed of with ,a.. tremendous lead which he maintained till nearly rounding the last turn into the straight run in. At this point Folly who had been lying behind came up, challenged the old horse and a splendid race ensued, Folly managing to catch* the judge’s eye first by half a lengthFOHCIJD HANDICAP. Of 25 so vs. Entrance, for winners, 2 so vs. Losing horses allowed to enter at halfprice. Mr Jackson’s 1) m Flora, aged, Bst 1011) (Lloyd) ... ... ... ••• 1 Mr Fraser's hj g Whitefoot, aged, Bst 71 hj (carried 11 lbs over) ... ... ... 2 Mr liandly’s br m Flora McDonald 3 years 7st 4Jbs ... 3 Gainsborough, Rcsol ution,El.sic,Fa!con and Maid of the Mountain also started. This was a good race but unfortunately Resolution was pushed out early in the race and his chance extinguished by the accident. At the straight run in Whitcfoot who had been dying behind came up with a rush, and an excellent race took placeThe marc was never quite readied, however, and won by about a length. A protest was entered by the owner of Resolution against Flora as she forced that horse out of the track, but the Stewards after hearing evidence decided that the rider of Resolution was improperly attempting to take the inside running, and that Lloyd was justified in riding as he did. The result therefore was not disturbed, and Flora got the stakes. A hack race or two wound up the proceedings and so terminated the Patea Jockey Club Spring meeting of 1875.