Wanganui Steeplechase Meeting.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 536, 22 June 1880, Page 2

Wanganui Steeplechase Meeting.

{By our Special Reporter.)

Tliis meeting, which took place on Saturday last, was the most successful of its kind ever held in Wanganui. On Friday night the weather prospects looked so gloomy that it was feared a postponement would have to be made ; but Saturday morning broke favourably for the business on hand, and when the saddling bell rang at 12 o’clock, fully 1000 persons were assemblcd.on what is acknowledged to be about the best appointed racecourse in New Zealand. The steeplechase course ss 7 as well delined, and although some of the jumps looked formidable enough, yet they were within the compass of any T well schooled “chaser.” The water jump and the stone walls were taken in really good style by most of the horses ; but, strange to say, the latter were refused by soms of the best cross-country horses thie country has produced. There were, however, very few “ refusers,” and they generally 7 mended their behaviour at the second time of asking, indeed, taken all round, the horses were very serviceable animals. A number of accidents took place, but none of a really serious nature, A large number of bookmakers were in the paddock, but they did not appear to do a great deal of betting, owing to the scarcity of money, and the ridiculously short prices they offered. There were two tolalisators at work, and a fair amount of business was done at the one outside the enclosures, but those who patronised the paddock did uot invest much in the instrument placed there, At least a dozen “ Bquatisators” were being worked on different parts of the open ground near the stand, and numerous other racecourse games and racecourse swindles were freely encouraged and supported by the public. The band of the City Rifles discoursed appropriate music during the day, which helped to enliven the proceedings not a little. The indefatigable Secretary, Mr F. R. Jackson, ably supported by his brother officials, carried out their duties admirably. The ball opened with fourteen out of fifteen horses putting in an appearance for the big event, Baron being the absentee. Venture came early to grief, and rather disappointed her backers, as she was first favourite when the flag dropped. After coming down and getting away from her rider, she jumped one of the fences and got in front of several of the horses, and interfered with two of them by cannoning and nearly bringing them down. Loch Lomond, Grey Momus, and Sunbeam baulked at the first stone wall, the latter being first to get out of the difficulty. Otawa made a mistake at the third fence, but being quickly remounted, was soon in a good position again, and when half the distance was accomplished the horses were in this order : Tupapaku and King Don, with Hard Times, Ireland, Ada, and Abolition some distance behind,Matau andEcl ips« a few lengths off, and Sunbeam, Otawa, and General bringing up the rear, Mclvor’s pair not having got over the first wall. No great distance separated the first and last horses. Hard Times and General were the next to fall, and Abolition followed their example at the double opposite the stand. Further on Tapapaku who was running strong and well at the head of affairs with King Don, unshipped his rider and gave Mr Higgie’s horse a good lead. Matau was now seen to be coming, and cries of “ Matau ” were at once raised, but he extinguished his chance at the next fence, leaving Eclipse, Ireland, and Ada to struggle after King Don, Tupapaku in the meantime having been remounted made up a wonderful deal of lost ground in a short distance but only managed to run fourth, Ada and Ireland reversing places and beating Eclipse in the straight run home. King Don was not pushed, but Ada and Ireland ran a good race for second money, Tapapaku just beating Eclipse for fourth place.

A Mr Anderson, of Carlyle, drew the fourth and fifth horses in Mr O’Brien’s consultation.

The Maiden was not without its mishaps, only four out of the nine starters finishing. The winner turned up in Eclipse, who beat Abolition on the straight run bj’ three lengths. Abolition on this occasion made no mistakes, but broke down in the race in one of his fore legs, otherwise ho would have won. Kangaroo fell at one of the fences but ran third, and Suuray, a fine looking animal belonging to Mr Gower of VVlienuakura, finished four, having also been at fault at one of the twenty-six fences. The others, Black Prince, Hamlet, General, Cloud, and Sunbeam, were not persevered with.

The Grand Stand Steeplechase was more exciting and closely contested than the first two events. Venture made the pace but came to giiof at the second stone wall, and Grey Momns, Hard Times, Matan, and Old Ireland were led by Kangaroo for over a mile, when the latter fell in front of the stand. King Don got rid of his rider in the early part of the race. Grey Momus and Hard Times ran neck and neck over the last two fences, Matan in the straight run making a desperate effort without success to catch them. Ireland finished very close up fourth, but Grey Momus had plenty to spare when the winning post was reached. The Consolation proved a capital race, Loch Lomond and Venture having a good struggle for mastery, while Matau and Otawa finished close together a few lengths away. Hard Times, Black Prince, and Sunbeam made mistakes, but the four leading horses jumped beautifully from end to end. Without further preface I give the list of placed horses in each event, with the names of the successful riders:— Wanganui Handicap Stkepecua.se, of 175 so vs. Mr J. Higgie’sKing Don(McElwain) 1 Mr Keith’s Ada (Lyford) ... 2 Mr Jackson’s Ireland (Heaton) 3 Grey Momus, Looh Lomond, Venture, Otawa, Abolition, Matau, Hard Times, Eclipse, Sunbeam, Tapapakn, and General also ran. Maiden, of 75 sovs. Mr McAliski’s Eclipse (J. Munn) 1 Mr D. Scott’s Abolition (A. Campion) 2 Mr Desmond’s Kungaroo(o wner) 3 General, Cloud, Sunbeam, Hamlet, Sunray, and Black Prince also ran. Grand Stand Steeplechase. Mr Mclvor’s Grey Momus (J. Ray) 1 Mr Keith’s Hard Times (Lyford) 2 Mr Davis’s Matau (Edwards) ... 3 Venture, King Don, Kangaroo, and Ireland also ran. Consolation, 30 sovs. Mr Mclvor’s Loch Lomond, list 121bs (J Bay) 1 Mr Keith’s Venture, list 4lbs, (J. Munn) ... 2 Mr Davis’s Matau, lOst 71bs (W. Edwards) 3 Hard Times and Otawa (lOst lOlbs), and Black Prince and Sunbeam (lOst each) also ran.