INVERCARGILL RACES.

Southland Times, Issue 1713, 11 March 1873, Page 2

INVERCARGILL RACES.

(by our own hepoxteb ) second day. On Friday the weather was again highly favorable, and as the day was observed as a close holiday in town, the attendance on the course was much larger than on Thursday. The first event on the card was the Handicap Hurdle Race, for which only two out of the three entered put in an appearance. Stackpole being scratched, it became a match between the Nigger and the Don, the former being the favorite at odds. After getting away, a gooi race tothe first flight of hurdles took place, the grey leading over by about a L.ngth. This position was held for three parts of the distance round the course, when Nigger overhauled and passed the Don, only, however, to be again repassed, Don Pedro heading the Nigger by about two lengths when passing the stand the second time round. The Darkey however was not to be shaken off, his rider letting him out, he again passed the Don, taking a slight lead, and keeping it throughout, winning a really good race by three lengths. Handicap Hurdle Race of 30 sovs. Open to all horses. Distance, two miles and a distance. Over 8 flights of hurdles, about 3ft 9in. high. Entrance, £2 2s. Mr Ward's Nigger, aged, lOst lib (Taylor) 1 Mr W. Laurie's Don Pedro, aged, lOst lib (W. Pollock) 2 Mr T. Patterson's Stackpole, 9st 4-lbs (scratched) Previous to the next race a meeting of the Stewards took place to make enquiries into a protest which had been entered against Lyndon. Tbeir decision being held over, Lyndon was allowed to run under protest. The bell soon after sounded for weighing out for the Invercargill Handicap, for which six entries appeared upon the card ; two of these, viz., Otameteand Firetail, being scratched, four ouly came to the post. Ballet Dancer, owing to her light handicap, being thought a good thing, was slightly the favorite. After a good start, Lyndon went to the fore at a terrific pace, being at least twenty lengths ahead in the first quarter of a mile, the other three led by Stackpole, Ballet Daueer next, Kurinvao bringing up the rear, keeping well together. It soon became evident that Lyndon had an easy victory in hand, although a slight show was allowed for Stackpole to cut a more respectable figure than hie otherwise might have done. The chesnut however came in an easy winner, hard held, by four lengths, Ballet Dancer third, the Leamington colt, whose girths got under his flanks during the race, bringing up the rear. Inyebcargull/ Handicap of 50 sots., with a sweepstakes of £3 added. Distance, two miles. Entrance, £3 3s. Mt J.Ward's Lyndon, aged, Bst 121bs (Taylor) 1 Mr T. Patterson's Stackpole, aged, Bst 121bs (F. Fyson) 2 Mr F. White's Ballet Dancer, 5 yrs, sst lOlbs (W. Sharley) 3 Mr A. Douglas's Kuriwao, 5 yrs, Bst 121bs (F. Shaw) 4 For the Hack Hurdle Eace four entries were made, Blackbird, Pope, Chance, and Tuturau. Upon coming to the first leap Chance and Pope baulke'd, the other two getting well over. Cbance wat, however,

soon brought again to the hurdles, getting over in good style, and although left a long way in the rear, he managed to recover the lost ground. Pope still refusing was pulled up ; the three other* taking the fourth flight all together, a good race ensued. There wis, however, itill one more impediment in the war,^ at which Chance again baulked, leaving Tuturau and Blackbird to fight it out, the latter winning by a length/ The Trotting Eace, for which six were entered, brought out as usual various styles of horseflesh upon various sorts of pins. In fact the cart, the thoroughbred, and intervening classes of breed, were represented, and after being well warned up, faced the starter, Jumping Jask starting at scr.itch and giving the five others 50 yds. start. Jumping Johnny should have received 500 yards from the others, if the sequel is any criterion, for the further he went, the morß ground he lost, and was pulled up after going two miles. Little Lady taking the lead, kept it the first mile and a half, Creeping Jenny and Jack in close attendance, Jacky Dow slightlf in the reir, the latter, then letting out gradually, collaring his opponents, and eventually winning by five lengths, Little Lidy ■econd, Jack third. Handicap Trotting Race (distance) of 10aov« v with a sweep of £1 ad led. No lea* weight than lOst. lib. Distance, three miles. Entrance, £1. Mr R. W. Williams' Jacky Dow, 60 yards # (Owner) 1 Mr W. Cocbran's Little Lady, 50 yar.ls (M'lntosh) 2 Mr A. Hawkshaw'u Jack, 50 yarls (E. Raines) 3 Others out of the race. The only race now left on the card was the Consolation Handicap, for which six horses were entered, viz. — st. lb. W. Cochran's Little John ... 6 0 J. A. Mitchell's R»b Roy ... 6 6 W. Laurie's Allander ... ... 6 8 H. Hill's Otamete 7 0 F. White's Ballet Dancer ... 6 12 J. Smith's Postboy 6 12 This was certainly the best contested race of the meeting, resulting in favor of that ga-ne oil horse Postboy by half a head, Ofcameto second, Allan ler third, B illet Dancer fourth, the latter two so well up that a blanket would have covered the four. Consolation Handicap of 15 sova. For all beaten horses during the meeting. Distance, once round tha course. Entrance. £1. Mr J. Smith's Poatboy ... I<l. Smith) 1 Mr H. Hill's Otamete ... (F. Fyson) 2 Mr W. Laune's Allander ... 3 A Hurry Scurry, of 1 sov. each, was fot up, for which six horses started, Blackbird, the winner of the Hack Hurdle Race, carrying off the prize. j With regard to the management of I affairs by the stewards and others inj terested, it i9 but simple justice to say that the meeting passed off in orthodox style, and the officers of the Club are therefore entitled to a vote of thanks for their services. The only mishap that came under my notice occurred on Friday, when by some means two equestrians came into rather violent collision, the result being that one horse was so disabled as to be unable to rise, aud had to be destroyed, and the other was seriously injured. Fortunately, the riders escaped without much damage, though severely shaken. In reference to the running in the Town Plate upon the first day of the meeting, I stated certain unpleasant rumors were in circulation. The matter having been considered by the Steward*, the following is the result of their deliberations, which, as will be seen, exonerates the owner of Lyndon from the charge imputed : — Inreroargill, March 7, 1873. Mr J. Ward. Sib, — I am instructed br tho Stewards of the Invercargill Jockey Club to inform you that th» charge against you of having had Lyndon pulled in the Town Plate has not been sustained. You are therefore fully entitled to all stakes won by your horses at the lat* meeting.— Youti faithfully, Q. F. Mabtin, Secretary.