THE STEEPLECHASE AT OAMARU.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 149, 28 May 1879, Page 2

THE STEEPLECHASE AT OAMARU.

Saturday morning opened with a Scotch mist, and the Racecourse at Awamoa, which is about two miles and a half from Oamaru railway station, presented an uninviting appearance. Rain [continued to fall slightly, but still large numbers of visitors arrived at Oamaru, determined to see and enjoy the excitement of the Steeplechase. However, the gloomy aspect of the morning rendered the postponement of the meeting very probable ; but eventually all doubts were set at rest A special meeting of the stewards took place shortly after 11 a.in., and they decided to go through the programme. This decision was received with the utmost satisfaction by the visitors from Dunedin, Christchurch, Timaru, and other districts, and most of the sportsmen proceeded to the racecourse by railway. Opinions, however, varied as to the wisdom of adhering to tlie programme and expending over £SOO in the steeplechases in foggy weather, where spectators naturally lose half the fun. It must nevertheless be said that had the meeting been postponed till Monday or later, many of the visitors to Oamaru would have been sadly disappointed. There were 13 jumps altogether, most af them being about 4ft. Sin. or 4ft. Gin. in height. The water jump was about 13ft. in width, the brush in the centre being 3ft. high. Mr Neilson said ho regarded tho water jump as a regular trap, and he would not have entered his horses for the steeplechases if he had been aware of its existence. The approach to the water jump was down hill, and the horses then had for an up-hill jump. The princial events —the New Zealand Grand National and the Hunt Club’s Cup were won by Mr Butler’s ch g The Agent. The Maiden Plate fell to Mr Murtagh’s Black Prince, and the Consolation was won by Mr MTvor’s Loch Lomond, the only horse that managed to clear the water jump. The programme was commenced at 1.40 p.m., and finished at 5.15. About 3000 persons were present. We give the events in detail. Maiden Plate, of 100 sovs., with a sweepstake of 5 sovs each for acceptors, to go to the second horse ; nominations, of 2 sovs each, to go to the fund ; weight for age ; distance, 2 miles. Mr P. Bntler’s blk g Black Prince, 6 yrs, 13st 121 b (Murtagh) 1 Mr T. Lyford’s g g Silverstream, aged, 12st 31b (Lunn) 2 Mr J. Calling’s b g Noumea, 4 yrs, list (Armstrong) 8 New Zealand Grand National Handicap of 200 sovs., with a sweepstake'of 5 sovs. each for acceptors, to go the second horse ; nominations, of 2 sovs. each, to go to the fund ; distance, 4 miles. Mr P. Butler’s ch g The Agent, syrs, 12st 71b . f(Hankins) 1 Mr F. Brittain’s b g Royalty, aged, . lOst 81b 2 Mr H. Prince’s ch g Eveisley, aged, lOst 101 b 3 Betting -2 to 1 against the Agent, 3to 1 Grey Momma, 2 to 1 Ta Whetu and Fakir, 2 to 1 Moose and Ivanhoe, and 7 to 1 against the rest. Hunt Club Cup, of 150 sovs., with a sweepstake of 5 sovs. each for acceptors, to go to the second horse ; nominations, 2 sovs., to go to the fund : weight for age ; gentlemen • riders allowed 71bs ; distance, three miles. Mr P. Butler’s ch g The Agent, list 121 b (Hankins) 1 Mr R. M‘lvor’s Loch Lomond, list (Owner) 2 Mr H. Muir’s Lone Hand, list 31b (F. Hedge) 3 Consolation Handicap, of 50sovs., added to a sweepstake of .2 sovs. each for acceptors ; nominations, 1 sov. each, to go to the fund ; distance, 2 miles. Mr R Mclvor’s Loch Lomond, 12st 91bs (Owner) 1 Mr Dempsy’a Erin-go-Bragh, list 121bs (Cotton) 2 Mr H. Muir’s Lone Hand, 12st Gib (Hedge) 3