SPORTING.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1248, 4 October 1884, Page 2

SPORTING.

GERALDINE ft AGES. FIRST DAY. The annual spring meeting held under the auspices of the Geraldine Racing Club commenced last Thursday on the racecourse at Orari. The Club hag been unfortunate as regards weather this year. The racps had been postponed from the Thursday previous on account of bad weather, and although the morning was very hot, a strong, cold sou'wester came up accompanied by drops of rain, and it was thought it would result in a drenching storm. The fear of this had the effect of keeping a great many away. The weather, however, although very cold and disagreeab'e kept up, and no rain fell until between five and six o'clock, when a slight shower came down, leaving a fine evening behind it. Great improvements have been made in the racecourse since we last visited it,-nnd it may now bo considered as second to none. The grand stand has been removed to the west end of the course, where a saddling-paddock, stables, and all ilie other necessary adjuncts of a racecourse have been erected in a most substantial manner. There has also bpen erected a people's stand on the ground outside the grand stand, from which an. excellent view of the curse can be obtained, and beneath both stands have been erected the booths on a very elaborate scale. On the whole the fixings are first class, and a credit to the Club. The new arrangements give a splendid straight run in, »nd the course is consquently all that could be desired. Notwithstanding the postponement and the disagreeable character of the weather the attendance was fair. There was a fair sprinkling of the betting fraternity and the gambling table people mustered very strong. The Geraldine Brass Band contributed the music, and played very creditably considering that it is not yet twelve months since it was founded. About £1260 passed "•>• -; "■■ totalisator during the u.n. },l: U. McKenzie, the Secretary, deserves all the praise we can give him, no less for the excellence of all his arrangements, than for his civil and obliging ways. He is certainly a model Secretary. The races were excellently contested, and, though the fields were not large, some good running was made. The following is a report of the various events : Maiden Hurdle Race of 60 sovs. 10 sovs from the stakes to go to the second horse. For all horses that have never won over 20 sovs. in hurdle races. About two miles, over eight flights of hurdles. Welter weights for age. Entrance, 4 sovs. Mr R. Henry's b g Faust, 10st lllbs (Sheenan) 1 Mr W. Deßenzy's b h Maroon, list (J. Warner) 2

Mr 0. Mathews's b m Mermaid list 51b (F. Simpson) also ran. Mr H. Lunn's Kiag Arthur was scratched. Baulking was the order of the day, and Mermaid refusing the hurdles, the race lay between Paust and Maroon, the former taking a good lead. When nearing the straight Maroon put on a capital spurt, gaining materially on Faust, but did not succeed in overtaking him, and the two horses passed the judge's stand in the above order. In totalisator, £BB ; dividend, £1 Bs. Maiden Plate, ofsosovs., for horses that have never won over 15sovs. of public money. Weight for age. 1£ miles. Entrance, 4sovs. Mr R. Alexander's ch c Cramner, 7st 51b (W. Purdham) 1 Mr J. Pilbrow'sb g Barbary, 9st Gibs (Li. Derritt) 2 Mr P Butler's blk c Talebearer, 7st 51b (A. Smith), and Mr D. O'Brien's gg Gaiters, 9st 71bs (C. Stratford)', also ran. Mr J. Collins's br m Maid of Erin, and Mr J. McKellar's b g Deceiver were scratched.

A good start being effected, Talebearer came to the front, clopely followed by Cramner and Barbary. They kept well together, but towards the straight Talebearer fell behind, with Cramner first and Barbary so closely neck and neck with him that it was considered as Barbary's race, but eventually Cramuer won, Time—2rain. 55seca. In totahsator, £222 ; dividend £l2 10s. G.K.C. Handicap, of 150 sovs. 20 sovs. from the stake to go to the second horse. Nominations, 2 sots. ; acceptances, 5 sovs. Distance, l£ miles. Hon. W. Robinson's b b Vanguard, 9at lib (K. Danitr) 1 Mr P. Butler's b h Tim Whiffle.-, 7st Bil>B (A. Smith) 2 Mr G. Biles' ch m Minerva, 7st 9lhs (W.Sharp; 3

Mr Goodman's b g Billy, 6st lOlbs ; Mr T. Quill's b m Princess Royal, 6st 71b ; and Mr D. O'Brien's Rubina, Bst bib, also ran. After two false starts, the horses went off well together, with Vanguard taking the lead, Minerva second. At the half-mile post Vanguard still led, with Minerva closely following, but not gaining on him, and Billy third. The race was won by a length. Time—fmin. 19secs. In totalisator, £361 ; with £l9O on the winner, dividend, £1 14s. Sires' Produce Stakes, of 60 sovs., with 50 sovs. from owners of sires, added to a sweepstake of 5 sovs. each for starters, to be paid at the scales ; second horse, 20 sovs. ; third horse, 10 sov-\ ; ;md the nominator of the sire of the winner, 20 sovs. from the stake. lf T miles. Colts, B*t 31hs ; fillies and geldings, Bst. Closed with 21 subscribers. Mr J. Clancy's ch g [All Fours, Bs', (11. Derritr) I Mr G. War.i's b f Full H'.nd, B*t, (W. Sharp)- 2 Mr R. Henry's b m Ina, Sst (G. Lang), also ran. Ina was the favorite, but soon after the start she fell behind, leaving the race to All Fours and Full Hand, and a grand race ensued, the former winning by a neck. Time —3min, 25secs. Totalisator, LI 18 on the winner ; dividend, LI 13s. Ladies' Purse, of 140 sovs. Welter weights for age. Gentlemen riders. 1£ miles. Entrance, 3 sovs. Mr P. Butler's blk c Talebearer, 9st 21bs (Mi Bradley) 1 Messrs Cotton and Rodney's ch a; Comet, 12st lib ... (Mr Cotton) 2 Mr H. Lunn's br g King Arthur 12st lib, and Mr J. Pilbrow's b g Barbary, 12st lib, were scratched, and the race lay between Comet and Talebearer, resulting in their passing the winning post as above. In totalisator, LlO3 ; dividend, L2l ss. Hack Race, of 15 sovs., for hacks that have never won over 15 sovs. of public money. Once round the course. Weight not less than 9st. Post entry, 1 sov. Winner to be sold for 15 sovs, any surplus to go to the Club's funds. Mr McLeod's Cigarette ... ... 1 Messrs M.|and C. Hobbs's Tongariro .. 2 Kiclipse, Forsaken, Forest King, Kenny and Maida also ran. A good race ensued, Cigarette being the favourite. In totalisator. £175 ; dividend, £8 15s. Hurry Scurry, for a saddle. Open to all horses that have never won public money. Post entry, 103, to go to the funds of the Club. Catch weights. One mile. Mr H. Coulters' Maida 1 Mr F. Warner's Cabbage Tree ... 2 Mr F. Dierck's Shandy Gaff also ran. This concluded the first day's events. SECOND DAY. The weather yesterday—the second day—was all that could be desired, and consequently the attendance was larger. Everything passed off pleasantly, and the racing on the whole was much better than on the first, day. The following is a report of the various events : Handicap Hurdle Race, of 100 sovs., 10 sovs. from the stakes to go to the second horse. Distance 2 miles, over 8 flights of hurdles. Mr J. Pilbrow's b g Barbary, aged, 9st 51b (Lyford) 1 Mr Sheenan's ch g The Lad, aged, 12st (Owner) 2 Mr D. O'Brien's g g Gaiters, 6yrs, 10st 81b (Owner) 3

Mr R. Henry's Faust and Mr Deßenzy's Maroon also ran. Mr Lunn's King Arthur and Mr Matthews' Mermaid were scratched. An excellent start was effected Gaiters taking the lead for the first lap, when he was passed by Barbary, Hnd subsequently by The Lad, and they came in in the order given above.

Dividend in the totalisator was LI 16s I Hack Hurdle Race, of 15 sovs. For hacks that have never won over 15 sovs. of public money. Post entry. Distance, 1£ miles ; over 6 flights of hurdles. Weight over 10st. Winner I to be sold for 15 sovs., any surplus to go to the Club's funds. Mr J. Forward's Royalty 1 Mr A. McLeod's Cigarette 2 Mr Hobbs'a Our Pony ... ... ... 3 Mr Smith's Maori and Mr Wan>"i\* Cabbage Tree also ran. The race was won easily, owing to the second hcrse not having been called upon in time. Another 10 yards would have altered the places. Geealdine Cup Handicap, of 150 sovs., 20 sovs. from the stake to go to the second horse. Distance, 2 milc*s. Hon. W. Robinson's b h Vanguard, syrs, 83t 121 b (Derritt) 1 Mr Bates's ch g The Poet, aged, 7st 21b (Sharp) 2 Mr O'Brien's blk h Tasman, 6yrs, 9st 91b (Keen) 3

Mr P. Butler's, Tim Whiffler 7st7ibs> also ran- The flag fell to a fair start, The Poet leading, closely followed by Tim Whiffler, with Vanguard thir.l and Tasman fourth. This order was maintained for about half the distance whtni Vanguard passed Tim Whiffler, anil shortly afterwards collared the leading horse. A splendid race ensued between The Poet and Vanguard, but the latter won by about two lengths, Tasman coming in a fair third and Tim Whiffler nowhere. Time—3mins. 48secs. Dividend in tbe totalisator Ll 14s. County Plate, of 60 sovs. 10 sovs. of the stake to go to the second horse. For three-year-old horses, the bonz fide property of persons residing in the County of 3 era] dine for three months before the races, and trained within the County for three months' previously. Distance, 1£ miles. Colts, Bst lOlbs ; fillies and geldings, Bst 71b. Messrs M. and C. liobbs's 1> g Temuka, Bst 81b (B'lackmore) 3 Mr J. Clancy's ch -j All Fours, Bst 71b (Laing) 2 Messrs M. and C. Hubbs's br c Trump, Bst 101 b (Hobbs) 3,

Mr W. H. Walton's b g iSefcon (Crowley), and Mr Evans, b g Chadwick also ran. Mr K. Henry's b m Ina was scratched.

All the field, with the exception of Chadvrick were by Trump Card, and considerable interest was taken in the race. TVmnka on ranking his appearance became Ihe favorite, and he subsequently justified the good opinion formed of him. A splendid start was effected and the horses kept well together for about three-fourtb.9 of the journey. At this point Temuka launched out, and was followed by Tramp with All Fours third by about a lengtb'j' Rounding the turn iato the straight All Pours passed Trump, and put on a good spurt, but it was useless, for Temuka cantered in easily, nevor having been call on to run. Temuka is a horse of .'splendid action and will y<-t be heard of. Klying Handicap, of 60 sovs. Distance, G furlongs. .'■'■■■ ;: - -■ '. '•> >', Mr P. Buyer's b hTim Whiffler, aged, ; 7st 91b ... ... ..;.- (Saiith) 1 Mr Bates's ch m Minerva r 6yrs, 7st lllbs ... ... ... ' (Sharp) 2 Mr-D. O'Brien's b m Rubina, 6yrs, Bst 71bs :..''..; ...(Stratford) 3

Hon. Mr Robinson's Vanguard, Mr Quill's Princess Royal and Mr Goodman's Billy were ; scratched. Tim Whiffler. kept the' lead from the start and won by three lengths. Timerlmin. 19si'cs. . ;••: Dividend in the totalisator L 3 Bs. Consolation, of 30 sovs. For all beaten

horses. Once round the course. Mr O'Brien's Rubina, Bst ... ... 1 Air Butler's The Poet, 7st 91b... .... 2 The Poet led, but, was held hard, and Rubina went to the front. Coming down the straight The Poet was driven, but too late ; the race was won by about a head. Hurry Scurry, for a bridle, whip, and spurs. For horses that have never won public money. The winner of the Hurry Scurry on the first day not allowed to run. Post entry, 10s to go to the funds of the 'Club. Catch weights. Six furlongs. ~.','. Mr Warner's Cabbage Tree ... ... 1 Mr Smith's Maori ... ... ' ... 2 This completed the programme.