INVERCARGILL RACE MEETING.

Southland Times, Issue 1543, 27 February 1872, Page 3

INVERCARGILL RACE MEETING.

By Playboy. The above annual event has again come off Qn the Wallacetown Course, not, however, I am sorry to say, so satisfactorily to those concerned as one could have desired, chiefly owing to the erratic state of the atmosphere, which was decidedly too humid, and as the Scotch say, " soft," to be pleasant, causing the course, which up to that date had been in splendid running order, to become fetlock-deep in mvd — much to the discomfiture of those " Jocks" who either chose or were compelled to make a waiting race of it. Their own mothers would scarcely have recognised them had they been there on returning to scale. Should the weather, however, have been all one could have desired, I very much doubt if there would have been a very large gathering, owing to the date fixed upon, the races taking place during the busiest time of harvest operations — a fact which should be borne in mind by the stewards on a future occasion.

Mr Henry Mayo's speculation could not have been so remunerative as it should have been, but it is to be hoped his next venture will amply reimburse him for all shortcomings in this one. Whether gaining or losing, however, he is always equally affable and obliging to bis customers.

A slight excitement prevailed at the Club and Prince of Wales on Tuesday evening, that being the night of general entries, which soon subsided, however, on the Btewards making them known, it being seen at a glance by the merest tyro in

racing matters that, with the exception of one or two races, such as the Maiden Plate or District Handicap, the others were foregone conclusions, which ideas were fully carried out by the events as they occurred, and will most assuredly again take place at our next meeting, unless a great improvement in the class of horses brought out to compete against animals like Slander, Lyndon, &c , &c, is effected. Any description of the inspiriting ride to the course would be superfluous. I will therefore proceed to the running. For the Maiden Plate the seven entered put in an appearance, viz., Mr Cochran's Ben Nevis, Mr Malcolm's Neil Gow, Mr Powell's Wee Colleen, Mr White's Rockaway, Mr dear's Little Dick, and Mr Bonner's Sixty-one. Ben Nevis, a powerful, upstanding horse, being favorite, Wee Colleen and Neil Gow being next in favor ; the former, a I neat Bay Camden mare, looking every inch a goer ; but if anything a little too small. After two attempts, a good start was effected, Wee Colleen taking the lead, closely followed by the ruck, Sixty - one bringing up the rear. Tbis position they maintained to within half a mile from home, when Raines, calling on the mare, came away from her horses, winning easily, Ben Nevis second, Tiockaway third. A protest was entered by the owner of the second horse (but afterwards, I believe, withdrawn), against Sixty-one, as having won over £10 advertised prize. The Town Plate, for which three entries were made, viz., Slander, Yatterina, and Maniototo, the two former owned by Mr Walters, and the latter by Mr W. Robinson, proved a gift to Slander, Yatterina being scratched, and Maniototo and Slander having proved paces at former up-country meets, dispelled all interest in the matter. The Ladies' Purse, next on the card, proved if possible a tamer affair than the preceding one, Mr Robinson having two entered, viz., Lyndon and Maniototo, Mr Walters's Slander making up the trio. Lyndon having been scratched, brought the same two together again as for the last event, which would have been a walk-over for the mare, Maniototo merely coming to the post in order to make some p.p. bet good, quickly placed another pony to Mr Walters's credit, much to the disappointment of the halfdrowned lookers on. The District Handicap, the gre&t event of the day, brought all the six entered to the scratch, viz , Ben Nevis, Staekpole, Wee Colleen, Ballet Dancer, Firetail, and Little Dick. This race being essentially a local one, all foreigners were excluded from contending. Great excitement therefore became apparent amongst the oi polloi. When the bell rang to saddle, Firetail, a fine looking horse, a little deficient in bone, especially below the knee, being first favorite, Siackpole, another well known horse finding many supporters, Bea Nevis, Ballet Dancer, Little DL-k, and Wee Colleen at odds. Ben Nevis, a fiery young geutleman with an evident penchant for going, taking a gallop on bis own account for more than half round the course, entirely did away with any chance he might have possessed for the race. A good start was made, the lot slightly headed by Wee Colleen, getting away all of a heap, maintained their positions for the first time round, Firetail bringing up the rear, hard held by J. Bourke, who rode a splendid race, showing good judgment and coolness. Upon reaching half mile from home, Wee Colleen gave place to Staekpole, who for a while looked like winning. Firetail, however, upon being called upon, forged ahead, came away from the ruck, challenged the roan, and passed the post an easy winner, Staekpole second, Ballet Dancer, well ridden by G. Smith, a good third. The Hack Selling Stake was pulled off by Mr Smith's old horse Postboy, in his usual game Btyle, and was bought in by his owner for the sum of £20. This closed the first day's performance, the stewards in the evening making known the weights for Invercargill Handicap, as follows : — Mr W. Walters's Slander, lOst 61b ; MrW. Walters's Yatterina, lOst; Mr W. Larson's Firetail, Sat ; Mr W. Kobin son's Lyndon, 7st 121 b. The weather, contrary to expectations, was an improvement upon that of the previous day. Towards noon, the dark masses of cloud which up to that time had been threatening us with, a second edition of yesterday's issue, gradually dispersed, causing a much larger attendance on the course, not a few being of the softer sex. The Handicap Hurdle Race being the first on the list, and for which three horses had entered, viz., Mr J. Roche's Blackbird, Mr Kelly's Don Pedro, and Mr Kelly's Charlie, proved another great disappointment to the public, the only chance Southland might have had in this race being entirely done away with by Mr Roche's horse coming to grief the evening after entry, whereby his owner was compelled to have him destroyed, leaving the 35 boys. a gift to Mr Kelly, who of course scratched one of his twain, Charlie, Don Pedro walking over for the money. The Invercargill Handicap again only brought two horses to the post, although four entries had been made, viz., Mr Walters's two mares Slander and Yatterina, Mr W. Robinson's Lyndon, and Mr Lawson's Firetail. The former gentleman being anything but satisfied with the weights imposed, withdrew hia mares, leaving Lyndon and Firetail to settle the dispute, terminating in an easy victory for the chestnut, he, starting away with a strong lead, which he maintained throughout, winning easily by several lengths. Upon the bell ringing to saddle up for the Hack Hurdle Race, considerable excitement was manifested, two out of the three horses entered hailing from the district, viz., Mr Lawson's Pope and Mr Powell's New Chum, the remaining one being Mr Kelly's Chance, and was certainly the most interesting affair of the

meet, being closely contested throughout, Pope taking the lead over the first flight, eloselv followed by Chanceand New Chum, passing the stand in this position, New Chum striking rather heavily, causing him to lose two or three lengths, but upon being well pulled together soon recovered his lost ground ; Chance coming to grief at the fourth hurdle, giving Kelly a nasty purl, made it apparently a certainty for Pope, who had hitherto been taking his fences like a bird, unfortunately b.iulked his last jump; New Chum coming close behind, struck heavily, and fell over on his side, giving Chance, who had been remounted, a fine opening, of which Kelly was not slow in taking advantage, getting over the hurdle in good style and winning easily, Pope getting over, but too late, second, New Chum third. The Consolation Handicap brought four horses to try conclusions, which terminated in a good race being won by Mr "Robinson's Maniototo, Staekpole second, Wee Colleen third, Ballet Dancer, whose chance for this race was second to none at the weight, not getting away at the start. Hurry Scurry was won by Mr J. Lawson's Flora, first ; Anonyina, second.