INVERCARGILL RACR MEETING.

Southland Times, Issue 897, 10 February 1868, Page 2

INVERCARGILL RACR MEETING.

BY OTJS SPECIAL EEPOBTEB. » , SECOND DAY FRIDAY. Eain having fallen abundantly during the night, the road this morning was in a state to render the ride out anything but pleasant. Heavy showers were also frequent during the forenoon which considerably damped the ardour of pleasure seekers. The attendance on the ground was consequently not nearly so numerous as on the first day, although the principal events of the meeting were included in the latter half of the programme. The Grand Stand was, however, rather better patronised than it was yesterday, the tickets having been wisely reduced to half-a-crown. The Hurdle Eace being the first on the card, I found them erected when I , arrived, they did appear at all formidable obstacles but were, under the circumstances, quite sufficient to try even a good horse. The course was in a wretched state. The rain not having had time to penetrate far into the earth, formed simply a muddy paste on the top of a hard under crust, admirably adapted to make horses slip. Towards noon the weather cleared off pretty well, and near the close of the day the course was in rather better order, though still dreadfully heavy. About one o'clock, the bell rang to weigh-, when it became a question whether, considering the dangerous nature of the ground, the hurdle race should be run just then, but the owners of the horses expressing their willingness to start, the stewards agreed to let the event come off at once. Four horses were entered for this race, but Black Peter . having been scratched, reduced the competitors to three, of whom, Idle Boy was certainly the favorite. Comet was also well spoken of, provided he took kindly to his leaps, but his known sulky temper told against him in betting. The other horse, Terror, appeared to be but little known, but being ridden by his owner he also obtained supporters. Mr Swale acted as starter, and got the horses well away at once, Terror leading over the first hurdle in good style. Howell's horse came next, and went over beautifully. The Comet also came at his leap, and rose to it willingly enough, but struck heavily, and rolled over and over, landing his rider slap into the middle of a large muddy pool, fortunately without more serious injury than a dirty jacket, and a little mud in the eyes, Lambert mounted him again, and went after the others, but the brute refused every leap and was wisely ' taken off the course at the third hurdle. Eor the first round Terror maintained his position, Idle Boy a safe distance behind, and both taking their fences well. After passing the Stand Howellput his horse out and gradually .crept past Terror, leading over the last "nurale^~and wining as he liked, Terror having come to grief at .his last jump through, slipping as he landed. "Williams was fortunately unhurt, and rode in none the worse of his spill. ■ • '•" HANDICAP HUEDLE RACE. Of 40 soys. Open to all horses. Two and a half mileSj over ten flights of hurdles. . . Mr H. Howell's b g Idle Boy, aged, lOst : (Howell) . 1 Mr E. B. "Williams b g Terror, aged, 9st 71b (Williams) 2 Mr Pollock's b g Comet, aged, 9st 71b (Lambert) 0 Some good racing was expected for the next event— -the Town Plate — as six good horses were entered, and not a little "dissatisfaction was -felt when it became known that the field was reduced to three, through the scratching of Traveller, Arab Eobber, and Firetail. The race was looked upon as lying entirely bebween the brown mare, and Harkaway, bhe latter being decidedly placed . firjSj,, while Skyonian was an outsider. A gopd start was made at the first fall of the lag, Merrimac rushing off with lead, the bay next, and Howell's horse tailing off. rhere was some very good play between ihe first two, during the first mile, but sefore coming to the stand, Bradley's lorse came to the front, and passed with i. good lead. Through some mistake as o the distance, Lynch pulled Merrimac ip, and, although started off again at *nee, she never had a chance of coming ip with Harkaway. Skyonian was Lowhere, although he ultimately took econd place, having pulled up wonder-

fully, and passed the mare before coming into the straight run. Merrimac wii walked in. Her backers were deeply chagrined at her behaviour, having expected much better from her after her success of the previous day. Ido -not think she could possibly have gained the j*ace, but certainly but "for the missapprehension of her jockey she would haVe made it much more exciting, and hot allowed it to go a gift to the Tokomairiro horse. „,-. '.:" „ , TOWN PLATE. Of 60 soxs. Open to all horses j 3 miles, weight for age. . . Mr Bradley's b g Harkaway, agedj lOst lib (Laverty) . , .1 Mr Ho well's eh g Skyonian, aged; lOst lib (Howell) . . ,2. 2 Mr Pollock's br m Merrimac, aged ; lOst lib (Lynch) . . .3 Tor the Ladies' Purse three horses ran, ; : but it was little of a race from first to last, and was won easily by the favourite, a very pretty little chesnut mare from the Popotuna stables, Lady of the Lake,- ;. ridden in fine style by Mr R B. "Williams. Mr Hill's horse, jockeyed by Mr F. White, being the strongest looking animal of the three, had also a good many backers. Skyonian had not recovered his previous defeat. The pace throughout was a pretty fast one considering the weights carried and the state of the ground ; the distance, one mile and a half being done in 3min. 27 seconds. Mr Pollock's mare got inside place at starting and wenii away leading; Play Boy close up and making the running. They lay well together, till within half a mile of the post when Play . Boy showed signs of being pumped and fell hack giving second place to Mr Ho well, who rode his horse with great judgement, and came up fast on the mare after coming into the straight run. William's, however, managed to land the filly a winner by three or four lengths. LADIES PURSE Of 25 soys. Open to all horses. One. mile and a-half. Welter weights. G-eh-tlemen riders. Mr Pollock's eh m Lady of the Lake, 3 y rs V 9st 1 lib (Mr Williams)' .1 Mr Howell's eh g Skyonian, aged ; 12st - 71b (Mr H. Howell) . . . 2 Mr Hill's b g Play 80y, % yrs ; lOst 111 b (Mr F. White) . . . 3 Mr Hamilton's Glendyne, scratched. . The next event was the v SELLING RACE Of 20 soys. Open to all horses. Win-. ner to be sold for 35 soys., any surplus to go to the Eace Fund. To be run off without dismounting. . Distance, once round the course — heats. This was a gift to Mr Napier's horse, Paddy. Mr G-albraith having scratched Black Peter, the only other horse brought to the post was . Comet, who, immediately, on starting, bolted in amongst the tussocks, and refused to go further : he was, hqwever; -at lasjt, . coaxed to canter round in company with^ another horse, so as to give him a chance. in the second heat. At the second start he simply repeated his former manoeuvre, „!:. with a little additional display of bad ? temper, and was consequently walked back to the yard. Little White Had of course nothing to do but sail round at his leisure. After the race, Paddy was put up to auction by Mr Osborne ; but there were no bidders. Mr ; Napier bought him in at £31. The Invercargill handicap, the next " race on the list, and the principal event of the season, created a good deal of speculation. Allander being scratched left five of a field, of whom Firetail wasr the favorite ; being afresh horse, it was thought he would beat Mr Bradley's horse, who had already run a well-con-tested three mile race. Harkaway had, however, a good many backers ; and the result proved their confidence well placed in the game little bay. The Arab Robber, Lady Ellen, and Idle Boy stood about equal. At the start the horses got away well together with the exception of Firetail, who bucked a little, and lost some ground ;— he, however, settled down to his work, and rushed up to his horses, leaving Idle Boy behind, when some capital running took place. Lady Ellen also fell back, yielding to Idle Boy, Meanwhile the other three were lying close together, and going at a slashing pace. The grey also lagged after the first mile, and left the running to the bwo ..bays,, who came on = neck and neck fco £he distance, when Firetail fell back ; . md; gave place to the Arab, who now ,- same up and threatened Harkaway. The ?ace ended in a keen little struggle for irst place, Harkaway winning cleverly- --•'- -sy half a length* Firetail a' good, third, md Xady Ellen, who had overhauled SowellV horse at the distance, coming \ n fourth. This was decidedly the best ■ace run, having been fairly contested rota start to finish. Laverty was loudly :heered,.as he landed the gallant Hark-_ , way a winner. , ,-, . . ; , „ INVERCAEGULL HANDICAP, ,- )f 70 sovs4' with sweepstakes of 4 sovs^ e^ich added. "The-winner of the Town plate to carry 51b extra. Distance two miles.

Mr Bradley's b g Harkaway, aged ; lOst 61b (Laverty) . . . 1 Mr Hamilton's g g Arab Bobber, aged ; 7st 21b (T. White) . . 2 Mr Wentworth's b g Fire tail, 5 yrs ; 9st 41b (Martin) . . .3 Mr Pollock's eh in Lady Ellen, aged ; Bst 101 b (Lynch) . . .4 Mr Howell's b g Idle Boy, aged ; Bst 101 b (Robertson) . . .5 The last important event — the Consolation stakes — brought five horses to the post. Traveller, although carrying the heaviest weight, was at once made the favorite. Arab Robber, also stood high in estimation, the plucky manner in which he contested the three mile race, having raised his reputation considerably. The horses were got well away at the first attempt, and Black Peter, with a feather weight on his saddle, ran away with a strong lead, which he kept till half way round, when Lady Ellen went up and took first place. Traveller and the grey behind, Sultan bringing up the rear. Little White then let the Arab out, and quickly covered his horses, coming in a clever winner, by fully a conple of lengths. For the Hurry Scurry, five horses were entered, but the race lay throughout between Mr Douglas's Norval and Mr Lawry's Eclipse between whom there was a very good spin. Norval, ridden by Martin ultimately won, but has been protested against by the owner of Eclipse. This finished the programme, and there followed immediately a general rush for home. So far as I have learned the meeting has passed off without any accident worth mentioning. Of course there were a few spills, and collisions, but without serious damage, neither did I observe any riotous conduct. To the Stewards I must accord well merited praise for the circumspect manner in which they fulfilled their rather arduous duties, but would suggest that on a future occasion they should make an example of some of the jockeys who are always late of pulling out, by starting without them. Punctuality in this respect would save a vast deal of time. I regret to have to notice, before concluding, an unfortunate occurrence which must be a serious loss to Mr Hill. His promising young mare, Fashion, who ran well yesterday, was being quietly ridden from the course down to her stables, during the afternoon, when sKe gave a shiver and fell dead. As she was not entered for anything, no foul play need be suspected; and it is presumed that disease of the heart has been. the cause of death.