WANGANUI GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASES.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 119, 31 May 1876, Page 2

WANGANUI GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASES.

(Abridged from the Wanganui Chronicle.) Wanganui Grand National Steeplechase of 150 sovs. ; second horse to receive 25 sovs. out of the stakes ; over 3 miles of fair hunting country. Mr Carroll’s b hj Brigham Young, by Traducer, dam Missie, 4 years, lOst 41bs (Kraaft) • 1 Mr Scott’s hr g Adventure, 4 years, lOst Albs (Higgle) 2 Mr Bullei’s b g Hardy, aged, lOst 10!bs (Campion) ... 3 The following horses also started—Bay Doctor, D«rcas, Bully-for-You, Ireland, Medora, M.P.C., St. Peter, Comet, Satellite, Sultan, and Supple Jack. A good start was effected, Brigham landing over the first jump in a bad style, followed by St. Peter, who gained a full length in the attempt, and immediately went to the front but only to be again •joined by Brigham, the pace being pretty fast. Supple Jack, Ireland, Medora, and M.P.C. followed heading, the ruck, the tail end of which was brought up by Bully for You. Sultan on entering the for the first time made a bad attempt, Christie coming off. This was the first mishap,' all the horses having got over the first three fences very well. . The order the first time past the post was St. Peter and Brigham Young leading, M.P.C., Supple Jack, Adventure, and Medorain a ruck, Satellite, Hardy, and Dorcas m the rear. Coming over the ditch and bank fence Satellite, Brigham Young, St. Peter. Bully for You, and Comet, refused ; Supple Jack, M.P.0., and Adventure, clearing them in fine style. Supple Jack assumed the lead and kept it, passing the post the second time with M.P.G, Adventure, .Medora, Hardy, and Ireland in close attendance. At the Stand the pace was increased, and Medora joined the leader, Brigham Young having fallen back through his mishap, now commenced to make up his lost ground, and passing one by one, ran into a good position, about five being ahead of him going down the back of the course for the last time, Gower on Supple Jack was still in front with Medora on his quarters. Here the fatal accident occurred to Supple Jack, an 1 Medora was left at the head of affairs, M.P.C. having fallen at the post and rails at the back of the course opposite the Stand, Ireland took second place, and Hardy was then lying third, but fell coming over on top of Regand the prostrated jockey of M.P.C. When M.P.C. fell Regand was holding hard, and he said he was too weak to steady the Marton representative. Hardy was soon remounted but was now a long way in the rear. Adventure, who was jumping splendidly

took third place, and as Medora andYreland. both were wrong, got over into the paddock by the cricket ground, and took the premier position. Higgle seeing thaff the?.otherS had gone wrong eased his horse slightly, but had to get moving again as Brigham YoUng, came like a good honest-colt, at his best speed, and overhauled tiie Rangitikei horse just as the cricket ground was reached, both horses clearing the furze hedge together. Brigham had the best condition, and as Mr Scott’s horse conceded 12lbs (over-weight), now stood the beet chance, and came home an easy winner some six lengths in advance of Adventure, who, though beaten, struggled gamely on under the disadvantages named. Hardy had gradually decreased the gap, and finished a good third. Adventure wan the only horse that got round without mishap. Maiden Steeplechase, of 60 sovs., second horso to save, his stakes ; over the same course as the National. Mr Buckridge’s ch g M.P.C., aged, 10st lOlbs, and 121 bs extra (Ralf) ■ ... 1 Mr Stent’s ch in Pet, aged, lOst lOlbs (M'Elwain)... ... ••• -2 Mr Baker’s b g Brilliant, aged, lOst lOlbs (Gower) ... ... ... ... 3 Meteor, Bully-for-You, Comet, Lottery) St. Albans, Blacking, and War Eagle also started. _ Betting in favor of Blacking, M.P.0., and St. Albans. All got away with the exception of Meteor, who hung slightly when the flag dropped. Lottery was first to negotiate the sticks, followed by St. Albans, who pulled Very stiong on the bit to get away; Campion, however, bad him well under command, after the first jump, and held behind Lottery, who ran off, or rather tried to run off, at the third fence, and in doing so threw his rider (Kilgonr) ; who fortunately was not much hurt. This led St. Albans off. Pet, M.P.C., Brilliant, Blacking, and War Eagle cleared the second fence in a good line, Pet striking with her hind legs ; Comet, Meteor, and Bully-for-You bringing up the rear. Pet and Brilliant soon took up the front position, and Campion, re-mounted oh St. Albans, was not long in overhauling the leaders, who went past the post the first time in a ruck. Bully-for-You fell at the fence entering the straight, ahd Meteor baulked at the hurdles erected opposite the stand. Coming down the centre of the course, Brilliant led, but fell at the second jump, giving place to Pet, M.P.C., and Blacking, who, however, at the next jump, came down. Gower soon re-mounted, none the worse for bis fall, and quickly got after the leading horses. St. Albans had by this time succeeded in passing the foremost horse, and, followed by M.P.C. and War Eagle, led past the stand the second time round, pulling double; Meteor, improving his position, lying last, some ten lengths off. Comet having given in, there were now only a half dozen horses who stood any show whatever. St. Albans led over the big gorse fence, M.P.C. second, Brilliant third, Pet and War Eagle close together in the order named, Meteor last. Campion was still holding, but St. Albans made a rather bad, attempt and fell, thus losing what was considered a certainty—* bar accidents—for him when this distance had been accomplished. M.F.G. now had the lead, which ho maintained to the finish —Pet, who fell at the bottom of the course, second, Brilliant third, Meteor fourth. War Eagle fifth, Blacking, who had been caught and mounted again, sixth, and St. Albans seventh. The remainder never finished. The Hack Steeplechase was won by Mr Chavanms’ Stargazer, beating five others.