ARAMOHO STEEPLECHASES.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 127, 28 June 1876, Page 2

ARAMOHO STEEPLECHASES.

(Abridged from the Wanganui Chronicle.') Aramoiio Annual Steeplechase, of 120 sovs. ; second horse, 20 sovs, from stakes ; distance, about three miles, over fair hunting country. Weight, 141 bs. over weight for age. Messrs M‘Rae and Nicholson’s Butcher' Boy, aged, list 81b (M‘Coy) ... 1 Mr J. Freetli’s eh g Sultan, aged, 10st 101b (Potto) ! 2 Mr Buckridge’s eh g M.P.C., aged, list 91b (Ralph) 3 Hardy, Flora, Ireland, St. Peter, St. Albans, Blacking, and Mcdora also ran. The betting, what little there was, ranged in favor of Butcher Boy, Hardy, and Mcdora, though little or no money appeared to change hands on the course. Mcdora, whose lame leg was not reliable, came to grief at the eleventh jump, and it is not likely, so Mr Walker informs us, that she will ever again contest turf laurels, as she is now to be reserved for breeding purposes. Her progeny, by Elswick, should be of rare calibre, as they will bear excellent strains of blood on botli sides. The race was slow throughout, and the excitement did not manifest itself in a- demonstrative manner till the finish, which was one of the grandest struggles for supremacy on the turf that has ever been witnessed in the district. Sultan surprised not a few, and gave a sample of speed and endurance, indicative of wind he could have done a few years ago. The jumping throughout was splendid, and many an admiring “ well done,’’ “ admirable,” we heard from frequenters of race, meetings in the other c denies, as with gallant strides the banders were successively cleared. During the first two rounds it was a matter of considerable doubt as to which colors would pass the winning post first, hut Butcher Boy soon settled this suspense by taking up and maintaining a premier position, which Sultan made a brave, though ineffectual effort to wrest from him. At the neck and neck .finish the pent up excitement culminated in loud and prolonged applause, the band striking up with an appropriate air as the jocks were being weighed. Maiden Steeplechase, of 30 sovs., with a sweepstake of 2 sovs. added Distance, about 2 miles. Weight, 141bs. over weight for age. Air Fraser’s ch hj St. Albans, lOst lOlbs (Campion) 1 Mr McKittrick’s b g Comet, lOst 81b (Potto) 2 Mr Baker’s b g Brilliant, lOst 81b (Gower) 3 Blacking, Ireland, and St. Peter also ran ; Hardy having boon scratched. This was another capital struggle, Blacking being a favorite with a good many until near the finish. The frequent changes of position induced the display of considerable excitement, as one competitor after another showed in front, and in ids turn had to retire for a time—again, by the exercise of increased projective stimulus, regaining a position more or less suggestive of ultimate victory. At one time it looked as if the race wore Comet’s, the distance between him and Mr Frazer’s horse lessening rapidly, but St. Albans held his own, Comet lying close, Brilliant third, and Blacking fourth. In tins last event the water jump was splendidly taken, as indeed were all the opposing barriers, and it is a question if the Maiden was not, taking all things into consideration, a more keenly contested event than that for the big money.