Midsummer Meeting.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4363, 27 December 1882, Page 2

Midsummer Meeting.

The races appointed for the first day of the above meeting were run on the course at Mr Griffiths' paddocks, Parawai, yesterday afternoon. The weather was very threatening in the morning, and two or three light showers fell, but nevertheless a large crowd went out, the busses, cabs, &i.t being filled to overflowing every trip. About half-past twelve the rain began to come down steadily, and continued with but slight intermissions till about three o'clock, when it cleared up, the rest of the afternoon being fine. The wet weather no doubt prevented many from venturing out, still the.; attendance was very good. The grand stand was well patronised, and afforded shelter from the rain to a large number. The various booths and stalls did a good trade during the day. The totalisator, worked by Mr Adams on commissioff from the Club, was also on the ground. Colonel Fraser, president of the Club, acted as judge, Mr Perry as clerk of the course, while Mr Vaugban attended to the scales and Mr Bradley to the starting. Everything passed off very successfully, the only accident, with the exception of two horses I falling, being to a man who was knocked down by Harkaway just before the Hurdle race. He received a nasty cut on I the jaw, but was not seriously injured. The first race was the

Tbial Stakes of 25sovs; distance, f mile. Mr E. Cleary's b g Luckpenny, 9st lib (Quinlivan) ... ... ... 1 Teke Tapaia's b g Diver, 9st lib (native) ... ... 2 —Paramena was scratched shortly before the races, greatly to the disappointment of a number who had backed him. Diver led at the start, but Luckpenny easily overtook him, winning by about three lengths. Totalisator, 99 investors (at 10s each), and 57 on the winner; dividend 15s. Handicap Hubdle Race of 40sovs; distance 2 miles, over 8 flights of hurdles. Mr P. Quinlan's b g Cob, lOst (J. Ryan) 1 Mr O. C. McGee's b g Evening Star, lOst (Williams) 2 MrR. H. Shakespear'schg Harkaway, . list 12lbs (D. Hughes) ... ... 3 Mr J. Gallagher's eh h Chandler, list (D Taylor) ... 0 The course was very heavy and slippery. Chandler took the lead, with Harkaway second, and Cob third. He was well ahead in the first round, but baulked at the third hurdle, and was thus thrown out of the race. The otber three horses jumped splendidly all through. Cob pressed Harkaway hard, but ho had gained a good lead when in taking the seventh hurdle he slipped and fell, the reins becoming entangled in his forelegs. Cob now took the lead, which he maintained to the finish, though Evening Star struggled gamely when coming up the straight. Harkaway's fall was I great disappointment, as he was in capital form, and was safe for first position. Totalisator : 227 investors, 28 on the winner, dividend £3 12s. Thames Plate Handicap of lOOsovs; distance 1J miles. Mr Bobbett's b h Libeller, Bst 71bs (Thorpe, sen ) ... - 1 Mr McGee's eh h Randwick, 9st (R. McGee) ... 2 Mr Bobbett's b g Paramena, 7st 51bs (Thorpe, junr.) ... ... ... 3 Mr Shakespear's b g Yuba Billj 7st 131bs (Fergus) ... 0 Mr Goonan's Barney, sst 71bs (Kelly) 0 Randwick got away first, Paramena second, and Libeller and Yuba Bill behind. Paramena forged ahead, and was leading by a neck when they passed the stand on the first round.Randwiok, who had the inside running, again took first position, but half a mile from home Libeller began to creep up and was soon in the foremost rank. Coming into the straight he and Randwick ran neck and neck for some distance, but a good spurt in. the last 100 yards landed him a winner by nearly half, a length.. Yuba Bill slipped and rolled over in the last round. Totalisator: 249 investors, 76 on the winner, dividend 295. Stewards' Handicap of 30sovs ; distance, li miles. Mr Bobbett's b h Libeller 9st (Thorpe, sen.) ... ... ... 1 Mr Cleary's b g Luckpenny, Bst 41bs (Quinlivan) ... ... 2 Peke Tupaia's b g Diver, 6st 51bs (Dufty) ... ... ... ... 0 Mr Goonan's b g Barney, 6at 2lbs (Kelly) ... ... ... ... 0 Mr Duder's blk h Nigger, 7st (Fergus) 0 This was a good race between Lutkperiny and Libeller, but the latter drew ahead close to the winning post, and won by half a length. Mr Murphy, trainer of Mr Shakespear's horses, lodged a protest against Luckpenny for crossing Nigger at the start; Mr Cleary protests against Libeller on similar grounds. These will be considered by the stewards at 830 this evening. Totalisator : 198 investors, 102 on the winner, dividend 17s.

Selling Hack Race, of lOsovs.; distance, 1 mile ; catch weights ; winner to be sold for 25sovs., any surplus to go to the funds of the Club. Four horses entered, Mr Daldy's Dick, Mr Wells' Crawler, Mr Quinlan's Blaze, and a Maori horse. The native won easily, though hard pushed ia the first part by Dick, The winner was afterwards bought at auction by Mr Darrow for £23. The proceedings throughout the day were very quiet and orderly, there being no disturbances except just before the hack race, when the police arrested a lad for conducting a game of chance. He was marched to the gates, surrounded by a large crowd, and from thence was conveyed to the lock-up. ,