CHRISTCHURCH.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2894, 25 May 1878, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH.

Friday.

Steeplechase Meeting.

The Grand National Steeplechase meeting was held to-day. The weather was dull and cold, but the attendance was good. Maiden of 100 soys, weight for age ; 2 miles : Keith's Stockman (Skeniant), 1; Nelson's Sir Tatton (O'Brien), 2; Fisher's Mickey Free (Hankins), 3. Turk and Cannon Ball also ran. Betting : 6 to 4 against Sir Tatton, 3to 1 the others. Sir Taiton led over the first fence, Cannon Ball, Stockman, and Mickey Free close astern, but Micky refusing went out of the race. Sir Tatton increased the lead, and opposite the stand Cannon Ball fell, sustaining a fracture of the collar bone. At the jump, on eateri-?** the straight, Sir Tatton hung a litth, enabling the others to close up. Sir Tatton led oxer the last fence, but fell. O'Brien wa3 not much hurt;, rid.'quickly remounted. In the meantime, Stockman and Mickey. Free went to the froDt, and Stockman won easily. Sir Tatton raced Mickey Free for second place, end beat him by a length. Time: 6mins 27t.ecs.

Hunt Club Cup, 150 soys, weight for age, about three miles. Wilson's Te \vheta (O'Brien) 1; Delamain's Shark (Sheehan), 2; Mackey's Mousetrap (Me Coy), 3; Fraser's Shillelagh (Stevenson), 4. Betting : Even on Mousetrap, 6to 1 Te Wheta, 4 to 1 others. Mousetrap and Shark cut out the running; Shillelagh was third, and Te Wheta fourth. All the horses jumped well throughout. Mousetrap and Shark kept well together till entering the third mile, when Mouse? trap went to the front, Te Wheta closing up. At the bottom of the course'Te \vheta and Shark overhauled Mousetrap, and a fine race up the straight resulted in Te Wheta winning by half a length from Shark, who beat Mousetrap by several lengths. ShilleJagh a good fourth, Don beaten off.

The Grand National Handicap, of 2QO soys; about four miles: Mackey's Mousetrap, list 41b (McCoy) 1; Wilson's Moose, lOst 21b (Matthews), 2; Seabright's Zetland, ICst 31b (Lyford), 3. Eversley, Te Wheta, Shark, Faker Luna, Lie, and Don akv ran. Shillelagh was scratched. Moose made the running with Mousetrap, which took the lead. At the second fence all cleared the stone wall in capital style, Eversley astonishing everyone by the steady way he took his jumps. At the fourth fence he secured second place. Mousetrap maintained a good lead till commencing the third mile, when Eversley closed up, Moose and F?.kir alternately running third, the others tailing off. After passing the stand the second time Te Wheta came up fourth, aod began to get up, but fell at the fence next to the stone wall, and was out of the race. Mousetrap and Eversley raced alo;ig the back of the course at a tremendous pace, and opposite the stand Eversley showed front, but at ,the double Mousetrap resumed the lead. Moose and Fakir both cannoned, both coming down, but they were soon at work again. Mousetrap increased the lead, and entered the straight ten lengths in front of Eversley. The latter baulked at the last jump, and persistently refused to go over, giving Moose fair time to come up. Mousetrap won as he liked. ' Moose beat Zetland by a head for second place. Time: 10 minuie» 18f sees.

This day. The Grand National Steeplechase Club have' decided to hold their next race meeting at Osmani.

A very successful coursing mcoliug was held yesterday. Eighteen dogs entered. Coursing promises to become very popular here. ;i