THE RACES.

Southland Times, Issue 1118, 5 March 1869, Page 2

THE RACES.

(BY OUR OWN HEPORTEB.) ! EIKST DAY. THURSDAY, MARC LI 4th, 1869. .As I intend to give a true and faithful account of the meeting of the Southland Kacing Club, for 18t>9, when brought to a conclusion, I will content myself at present with merely giving the result of each event as it came off in clue conformity with the correct card. I am sorry to say the weather was not as propiiitious as the Fates might have sent it. Astrong north wesf" wind prevailed, accompanied with the usual clouds of dust, which were almost impassable, and reminded one of a sand storm, on a small scale, in the Arabian desert. However, arriving on the course rather after the advertised hour for starting, was soon enough to hear the bell rung, and the . order given to saddle for the first event, which brought to the post all ol the horses entered, aud terminated as follows : — MA.IDEN PLATE, Value 30 eovs. For all horses that have never won au advertised race ; distance, one mile and a half; weight for age. Entrance, 3 soys. Mr Hill's b.g. L'>ehini'ar (Q-. Martin) ... 1 Mr Eljjhiustotie's g.g,. Plover (Gh Cook) i, Mr Hare's b.g. Roekaway (J. Smith) ... 3 As was anticipated, this race proved a one-sided affair, Lochiuvar taking the lead from the jump, which he main tamed thruimiiout, being hard held, and winning in a canter. Good race between second aud third, the remainder failed off. The second item to be discussed was the Town Plate, for which all horses entered a^ain puc in an appearance, and resulted thus : — TOWS PLATE. Value 50 soys. 1 >pen to all horses. Weight for age. Distance three miles. | Entrance, 3 soys. Mi- 11. llowell's Skyoninn (d. Howel!) ... 1 Mi- U: Smiih's Neliy (Jrc.y (y]r. >inillij ... 2 Mr Puliork's tVnelojic (V. K lly) ... ... 0 Mr Hare's i'oalboy (.J. iiiiiili) ... ltt 0 This was the race of the day. Postboy led oif, closely followed by Penelope, Skyonian a fe.v len-ths in the rear, and Nelly Grey acting as whipper in. They ran in ibis order for about 1| u,ih;s when Pem-lnne passed Po.-aboy, ahjoumu improving his pace, JN'elly Gn-y drawiug well up. PostJuy, upon coming round the last time, was pulled up. Penelope being beaten off, Nelly Grey here came up withSkyonian, but although admirably ridden by her owner, was unable to get first past the post, Skyo -iau winning by a length. Next in order came the Novel Race, which hud to be run in heats, and for which the three horses entered started, the result placing them as under: — NOVtL BACK. Value 50 soys. Open to all horses, i Once round the course — heats. To be < run off without dismounting. The win- 1

ncr to be sold for £30 ; any surplus to go to the race fund. Weight for age. Entrance 2 soys. Mr Hare's Rockaway (J. Smith) ... ... 3 1 1 Mr Elphinstone's Plover (R Williams) ...2 2 0 Mr W. Williams' Allauder (W. Williams) 13 0 The first heat was won easily by Allauder ; Smith saving his distance, evidently bent upon mischief for the next round ; Plover a good second. Kockaway won the second and third heats easily. A protest was, however, entered against him as having been distanced in the first heat, and awaits the Stewart's decision. The next on the list was the Ladies' Purse, when our old acquaintance, Postboy, again earned laurels for his owner, being well ridden by H. Hill, Esq. The telegraph showed the sequel to be as follows : — THE lA.DIES* PTJBSE Value 20 so vs. Open to all horses. '. Welter weights for age. Gentlemen I riders ; professional riders to carry 71bs extra. Distauce one mile and a half. Entrance, 2 soys. Mr Hares Postboy (ii. Hill) 1 Mr Hamilton's Glen iyne (G. Cook) ... 2 Mr Ilowell's Skyonian (G\ Howell) ... 3 M1 1 Gerive's Wanderer (W. Evans) ... 4 HACK EACE. A hack race for 10 soya. (heats), brought the large field of eleven to the post, and, after the usual scramble for places, aud one false start had taken, place — seven out of the lot having a spin all the distance on their own accouut — was won by a neat chesnut mare, very well ridden by a promising light-weight. K,ob Koy won the fifrfc heat, but the smart little mare, ridden by young Birchall, won the next two cleverly. This terminated the day sport. When a rush tor home commenced. The wind had veered to the JS. W., but continued to blow with unabated vigour, trying if possible to make itself more disagreeable, and throw more dust in the eyes of the public then ever.