SPORTING.

Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 82, 28 September 1878, Page 2

SPORTING.

GERALDINE RACES. Thursday. Judge, Mr John diamond ; Starter, Mr L. Maclean ; Clerk of the Scales, Mr J. Deans ; Clerk of the Course. Mr W. Helen ; Secretary, Mr D. McKenzie ; Stewards. Messrs J. Kennedy, W. F. Mitchell ; R. Taylor, and Thomas Corbett. Tin's popular country meeting was held under somewhat unfavorable conditions this year as compared with other years. The field in which the races have been held for some years past is now lying fallow, and it might have been thought impossible to run a race in it. The stewards, however, determined to make a course in it, and succeeded, by a liberal use of a very heavy roller, and assisted by a fortunate and copious rain a few hours before the meeting, iu making a very good one indeed. The surface was compact, firm, and springy. A slight disadvantage due to the bareness of the surface was that a horse falling to the rear in the running got an unpleasant dose of dirt iu his face, which, of course, would not act as an encouragement to get closer to the dust-raiser. The dull brown of the upturned soil was not so pleasant and cheering as the bright green of spring turf would have been, but as it seemed as a foil to the beautiful scenery around, we could readily and almost thankfully ignore this. The weather during the first part of the afternoon was all that could be wished. The temperate equinoctial sun shone from a cloudless sky, and a mild nor’-west breeze just served to keep one comfortably cool. As the day wore on the breeze gradually strengthened into a disagreeable strong wind, rendered doubly disagreeable from the dusty state of the ground elsewhere than on the running course. The attendance was very much smaller than on previous occasions. There were very few people on the ground when the bell rung for the first race, but their numbers gradually increased as the time slipped away. Perhaps fears of the nor’-wester —vvnich, though it did not come in strength, threatened to do so—kept several of the fairer sex away, and sympathy with these, the sterner Certainly the flooded state of the rivers prevented the attendance of several who not only intended to be present, but actually started for the course. A large number of vehicles were stopped by the Opihi, their disappointed occupants preferring to lose their sport to risking the passage of the swollen stream. The interruption of railway communica tion with the north must also have had no little influence in this direction. The racing was rather tame, especially in the best races, and very little enthusiasm was evinced about any of the events.

Maiden Plate, of 25 sovs ; weights for jige ; distance, miles. Mr A. Devery’s eh g Agent, 9st 21b, (Wattie) 1 Mr J. Kennedy’s hr g Horseshoe, 9st 31b (Hobbs) 2 Mr H. Lunn’s b g Cannonball, 9st 31b (S. Osborne) 3 Chittington, Maid of Honor, and Flo also started.

Maid of Saragossa was scratched. At the start Cannonball took the lead, closely followed by Fl' l . On coming up to the stand, at the end of the first halfmile, the Agent had got second place, Flo gradually falling back. At the upper turn Flo broke down, and was out of it altogether. At the lower end the Agent was leading, the other four being altogether a few lengths behind him. In coming up the straight Horseshoe pulled out splendidly, but was quite unable to overtake the Agent, who was taking it quite cooly. Handicap Hurdle Race, of 40 sovs; distance, 3 miles. Mr W. F, Neilson’s ch gTe Whetn-

marama, 9st 121 b (O’Brien) 1 Mr R. F. Chamberlain’s b g Ivanhoe, lOst 101 b (Goodman) 2 Mr R. llavenhill's ch g Pakeha, lOst (Owner) 3 Eclipse, Cannonball, Sparrowtail, and Clochctte also ran. Agent was scratched.

Pakeha and Olochette baulked at the first hurdle, and Sparrowtail at the second, otherwise the running for this race was all plain sailing. Ivanhoe and Eclipse led most of the first round, taking the third and fourth hurdles together very prettily, Te Whetumarama and Pakeha close up. On passing the judge on the first round Ivanhoe was leading slightly, the rest being strung out a short distance apart, except Sparrowtail, who was a long way behind. The second round was rather tame. Te Whetumarama gradually made his way to the front, and at the last hurdle led Ivanhoe by a little, Eclipse and Pakeha taking the hurdle together a very short distance behind the latter, Cannonball a. good way, and Sparrowtail a very long way, behind. Mr Neilson had declared to win with Eclipse, but Ivanhoe proved too good for her, and the long Maori-named had to be put to eclipse him. Publicans’ Purse Handicap of 30 sovs'; distance, miles. Mr R. Ray’s b m Maritana, 9st 71b (Wattie) 1 Mr W. F. Neils on’s ch g Te Whetutumarama, 9st 21b (Waddell) 2 Mr W. Swanson’s g g Blue Peter, 9st (M‘Kay junr.) 1 Seven Bells also started.

Seven Bells made a bad start, but soon pulled up to the rest, who passed the stand all abreast. This order was kept to the upper end of the course, when Maritana drew away, and the rest “ tailed out ” a little. All seemed to take it easy down the further side, about six lengths separating the first and last. In rounding the lower end this distance was considerably increased, Maritana first, and Seven Bells, who had never recovered his bad start, last. Maritana won this, a very tame race, without being pushed.

Huruy Scurry Ra.ce, 1 mile ; for hacks that have never won money ; a sweepstake of 10s each. Mr Goodman’s Spotted Boy (Cornelius) 1 Mr M’Quinn s Annie Laurie 2 Four other horses started. Spotted Boy had it all his own way in/ this race, never once being called upon to race by the other horses. Selling Race of 20 sovs. ; distance, 1 mile. Mr D. Denoon’s b g Seven Bells, 9st 71 bs (Hobbs) 1 Mr A. C. Rayner’s b m Medora, 9st 121bs (Wattie) 2 Mr F. Brown’s b m Manilla was scratched. Medora led at the start, and held her advantage till opposite the stand, when Seven Bells rushed to the front, and held that position till opposite the winning post. The winner was immediately after submitted to auction by Mr M‘Lean, and sold to Mr Bourne, of Makildhi, for £2B, Hack Selling Race of 10 fovs., for all hacks that have never won over 10 sovs. of public money. Post-entry Isov. Weight not less than 9st. Winner to be sold for 15 sovs, any surplus to go to the funds. Mr J. A. Craig’s Maori 1 Mr Cooney’s Annie Lanri ... ... 2 Mr Cornelius’ Calaghan 3 The winner was sold to Mr Mitchell, of Shepherd’s Bush, for £2l.

Second Day. The weather on the second day was a great improvement on that of the first, there being scarcely any wind, and the sun’s rays being tempered by a thin layer of cloud. This being considered the principal day, a very much larger number of people assembled. The crowd conducted themselves’very well as far as we could learn, the police found nothing more seriously requiring their attention than the assisting the Club’s officer in keeping the course clear. The races were more keenly contestad to-day, and much more interest was therefore shown in the several events. There were several falls in the Hack Hurdle Race, but no great hurt was received by the unlucky ones. Geraldine Cup Handicap of 100 sovs,, distance, 2-| miles. Mr R. Ray’s Maritana (Wattie) 1 Mr Neilson’s Te Whetumarama (Waddcl) 2 Mr Swanson’s Blue Peter (Mackay) 3 Mr Neilson’s Eclipse (Hobbs) 0 Time 4rain. 16sec.

The Agent was scratched. This race was very nearly spoiled by the starter making a mistake as to the starting point. Had it not been for Maritana being in too much of a hurry, the race would have been started from the wrong flag. On going down to the proper flag, a good start was effected, Blue Peter getting off with the lead. On pasing the stand the first time their order was, Blue Peter, Maritana. Eclipse, Te Whetumarama, the two last close up abreast. On passing the stand the second time, Maritana was leading by about seven lengths, Blue Peter second, Eclipse and Te Whetumarama together, and close up. On reaching the upper turn all four were pretty close together, but Maritana never lost the lead after getting it. At the lower turn Te Whetumarama got second place, and kept it to the finish, but could not reach Maritana, who won easily, hands down. Hack Hurdle Pv.ace of 13 Sova., distance, miles, over six flights of hurdles, weight, not less thanlOst. Mr Brdaley’s Frostfish (Owner) 1 Mr Craig’s Nellie (Owner) 2 Mr Ravenhill’s Brownie, Mr Goodman’s Spotted Boy, Mr Patterson’s Moody, Mr Joyce’s Molly Dodd, and Mr M‘Nair’s Tommy, also ran. At the start Moody and Tommy ran off with the lead, all tailing out to the first hurdle, where Moody came down, and got adrift. Tommy ran hard for the next hurdle, closely followed by Brownie. At this leap Spotted Boy came to grief, his rider soon recovered his seat, but not his chance in the race- At the fourth leap Brownie was leading, closely followed by Frostfish and Nellie. Tommy stuck fast here, and pulled up. Frostfish and Brownie took the fifth flight together, but Brownie came down, and gave second place to Nellie, Molly Dodd baulked, so she was out ol it. At the last hurdle Frostfish had a very slight lead and a good race to the post ensued, without altering their relavive positions, Brownie and Spotted Boy, owing to their falls, came in bad th’rd and fourth. Ladies’ Purse of 25 sovs ; welter weights for age ; gentlemen riders Mr Neilson’s Te Whetumarama (Mr J. A. Craig) 1 Mr Devery’s Agent (Mr J. H. Lunn) 2 Mr Hawkins’ Chiltington Mr Rawuhill) 0 Mr Chamberlin’s Ivanhoe (Gapt Dundass) 0 Tiiis was a splendid race, the last half being keenly contested by the horses placed. The Agent got away with the lead, but was soon passed by Chiltington, Te Whetumarama bringing up the rear. At the stand Chiltington still led, Te Whetumarama and Ivanhoe close together a few lengths behind. On going down the farther side Te Whetumarama pulled up to the Agent, and Chiltington fell back, Ivanhoe falling back still more. At the quarter-mile flag Te Whetumarama got a slight lead, and a hard race ensued, Te Whetumarama winning the best race (hitherto of the day) by only a head, Chiltington a bud third, Ivanhoe a worse fourth.

A match was here arranged between Mr Mitchell’s Maori and Mr Goodman’s Spotted Boy for £25 a side, but the Maori bolted off the course, and Spotted Boy had simply to walk oyer. Hurry Scurry, a sweep of 10s, with whip and spin's, value 30s,Jadded by the Club. Mr Saokey’s Moody (Coates) 1 Mr Saunders’ Ginger (Nicholls) 2 Mr Ormond’s Jenny, Mr Watt’s Darkey, and Mr Kennedy’s Creamy also ran. This race was a very hollow affair, being a give away to Moody. Creamy came down a tremendous fall at half way round, and lay as if killed for some time. County Plate of 25 sovs, 1| miles. Mr Dawson’s Cairn Dhu (Cornelius) 1 Mr Denoon’s Milkmaid (Hobbs) 2 Mr Kennedy’s Dewdrop, Mr Mundell’s Mouse, Mr McNair’s Maid of Saragossa, Mr Wadsworth’s Eva, Mr Perry’s Fanny, and Mr O’Brien’s Eoxy also ran. This was a very exciting race, many changes of place occurring between start and finish. Cairn Dhu, however, could nor be touched, and came in in a most

easy canter. Milkmaid had, during the latter part of the race, pulled up a good deal of ground to get second place. Eva was chief favorite, but she refused to gallop altogether. Consolation Handicap of 1 sov. each, with 10 sovs. added ; one mile. Blue Peter, 9st7lb ... ... ... 1 Chiltington, Bst 101 b ... ... ... 0 Horseshoe, Bst ... ... 0 (The entries had been made and the weights declared, but the race had not came off when our reporter left, and we were unable to obtain any further information about it beyond that Blue Peter won.) ’