SILVER STREAM RACES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue II, 2 January 1869, Page 3

SILVER STREAM RACES.

(ifybwi otw Special Commissioner.) By good luck Boxing Day proved one of tho exceptional days of the season, beautiful warm weather taking the place of the usual rain and wind. The fineness of the day tempted many to attend the races, but in spite of this the attendance was not equal to that of former years. The road, however, presented quite an. animated appearance, and any amount of eaaft" was done by "young bloods" in white belltopperp, who evidently thought it the Si f ing " to make affectionate enquiries about the maternal relative cf every, one th:y r.ip\ Ttusew:ret eno siest visito-s t > Silverstream ; but there was alfo a gvod sprinkling of " bucinesa Tj>en," wirh bQrsoj-, juecktjes, tiirhtl fty^^fty^gflMflMfe^Abla straw

many of whom were observed going about with hungry faces, apparently unable to raise enough to pay for their dinners. The course was in splendid order ; and tho day's sports came off without a single unpleasant circumstance. Handicap Hurdle Kace of 50 soys. ; entrance, 3 Boys. ; 1 mils hesits, over 4 flights of hurdles. Mr. Maekay's b g Nigger, aged, 10st. 121 b, (M'Kay) 1 1 Mr.TaggaitsbgClown,6yrs,lost(O'Brien) 2 2 Eight started. a good start was effected, and Mr. ; Porster's eh g Charlie rushed to the front, and showed the way over the first hurdle, Nigger, Clown and Harkaway keeping well up with him. At tbc distance he was collared by Clown and Nigger, and his want of breeding began to tell tales, and he hung out evident signals of distress. He persevered gamely, however, and came in a good third, Nigger landing first by half' a length, with a length between third and second. lii the second heat Charlie again made the running, but in crossing the third hurdle struck the top and fell; his rider was crushed under, and although he in a most game manner endeavored to remount, his injuries were too severe to permit of it. Nigger and Clown raced together neck and neck to the straight, when Chance was brought forward with a rush, and the three finished together, Nigger winning by little more than a neck. Maiden Plate, of CO soys. ; entrance 3 soys, ; l£ mile ; weight for age. Mr. "W. C. "Webb's b g Mainsail, 5 yiu, 9st. 91b (Fuller) 1 Mr. J. Hdstie's blk m Little Nell, syrs., 9st. 91b (Owner) 2 German Louis and Little Nell took up the running and c ipun ifc off merrily, with Mr. Webb's gelding in attendance. At the mile post, German Louis made his effort and fell back beaten ; and Mainsail, passing through his horses, came to the front. The finish was splendidly contested by the horse and mare, the former winning by a head. Handicap Trotting Back of SO soys. ; entrance, 2 soys. ; '6 miles and a distance ; optional saddle or harness ; no weight under lOst. lllb. » Mr. Pritchard's eh nj Flora Temple, aged, 50 yds (Mr. H Howell 1 Mr. George Dodson's gr m Lizzie, aged, 3r<o yds (P. Moors) 2 Mr. E. Brown's blk g Melbourne Tommy, aged, 470 yards (driven by Mr, Lang'ey) 3 ; There also started — Bastings' blk g Tommy, aged, scratch ; Poliook's eh g Straggler, 5 yrs, 200 yds ; Brown's br m Maggie, aged, 300 yds.; Dodson's blk g Flatcatcher, aged, 2jO yds ; W. Christie's a m Maggy, aged, £.00 yds. • Owing to Lees not observing the dropping of the flag, Tommy did not get away till some seconds after the others, losing in this way thirty or forty yards. Elora Temple Avas in splendid fettle, and soon left a p.p.c. card withStruggler, Melbourne Tommy keeping a good lead. "When two miles and a half had been done, the chesnut had made an example of the whole field except Melbourne Tommy, and at about half round she collared him, and, passing him, was eased by her rider, and came in an easy winner. Lizzie got second place ; Melbourne Tommy "third. Mr. Bastiugs' Tommy was evidently in bad trim, and broke several times. His rider pushed him as much as possible, but he never had a chance, the mare beating him. by 300 yards at least. The Tjudfsmen's Plate, a handicap of 100 "soys.; 1£ mile ; nomination, 2 soys. Mr. Webb's Mainsail, Gyrs, Sst. ol'o. (Fuller) 1 Mr. Corson'fl eh, m Stonnbird, aged, 9st (Ryan) 2 Lady Ellen and Stonnbird were warmly supported at short odds; and great indignation waa felt at the scratching of Schoolboy, who had been made a hot arkl carried a good deal of ; 'publie money. Hints about "milking" wore common; and one indignant backer, who had been worshipping at the shrine of Bacchus, pulled off his coat, and offered to fight any man for a hundred notes. The flag was dropped to a false start, Welcome rushing away and going right round the course before ho could bo pulled up, thereby |fo*jLtting the poter on his chance of BPPdm'fj; tbe^stakes. A fair start waa^ ith'en offcer Jtf. Stouubird leading, _a ' - * %s the

satiated by excess of amusment of all sorts ; but they by no means satisfy the requirements of those who like tosee a race for the sake of seeing a race, and care nothing about the trimmings. And in the way of trimmings, there was a charming variety yesterday. It is true that the attendance was by no means large, but there was a sprinkling present of those who go to the races for the sake of spending money, and who generally succeed in doing so to their heart's content, by fair means or by foul. Strange to say, the police authorities .were lax enough to let loose on the course yesterday ~a number of those sharpers who prey on the respectable portion of society for their living, and make the weak and unwary their special victims. No doubt the game known in the world of slang as that of "uuder and over " is a mild and pleasant recreation, still wo are not aware that it is allowed to be openly played on any respectable racecourse in the world. That those wbo thrive by it tacitly received a permit yesterday from the authorities is a matter of wonder, perhaps the matter will be seen to at the next gathering in Marcb. Speaking of that reminds us that there is a very sttong probability of tbis meeting proving an unmistakable success, already a large sum of money (variously stated at between £400 and £500) has been subscribed, and there is every prospect of as much more coming in during the next week or two, subscription lists having been issued for the purpose of raising the further funds required. Of courpe, it is not possible between this and March to establish a new racing head-quarters to which the public of Dune-din will be able to get easy and convenient access, It is still to be hoped, however, that active steps will be taken to secure a course within say four or five miles of Dunedin, before this time next year. Of the races yesterday, little can be said. The event of tho day regarded with most interest, was the match of 100 soys. a side, between the trotting horses Tommy and Flora Temple. For a long time the relative merits of these two animals have formed the subject of discussion here, and both have found favor in their turn with the public. Her performance of Saturday established the mare as a strong favorite for the race of yesterday, and the result -pp^ed that she was worthy of the confidence of her backers. After the first half-mile, when Tommy made his first break, she was never called on to trot, and came in the winner in her own time, which, it may be remarked, was decidedly good. The Consolation Race of twenty-five soys. only induced an entry of four, from which the topweight, Clown, was selected as winner. His rider, however, did not manage to get away when the flag was dropped, and the race fell to Mr. W. H. Taggart's Bones, who led all the way round the course, and won easily. Four horses Btarted for the Hack Selling Race, of 15 soys. This race was run in heats, and the first was carried off easily by Mr. Smith's Miss Royal. The two last fell to Mr. E. Pritchard's Deborah, who started for the first heat with a heavy weight on, but afterwards changed her rider. The horse was sold after the race to Mr. Mills for £40, thus realising £25 for the race fund. The second horse, Miss Royal, was also put up to auction, and knocked down for £25 10s. We append a detailed account of the races — CONSOLATION UaNDIOAP. For all lioi'ees beaten dining the meeting. i 5 gnvs. One and a half mile. Mr. W. H. Tuggart'B Bones, 6==t. 101 b. ' (Penrson) 1 Mr. E M. Kenna'a br nj^xSf-urCho Luke 4g^^^»!r!T7. (Kelly) 2 Mr/T!fcfi|!aggart's b g Clown, 6 yrs., Bst. 71bWand Mr. TV. M'Donnell's b g Who'd 'alffhought It, 5 yrs., 6st. 71b., also started, but were not placed. At the draAkftheflag, t!ie horses got welljj^^HhrfHke exception of Clownj^^^^^^^^Bj^the post -oit£enouj^^^^^^^^^^^^^^B^^ the rj£? ally f^.jj I^o j U( j ° , 2>e 3ci H _w£kjboOTny^ok c lead at *j£ HJKeakin^. the second, 3:cain. lv J^ c third, 3nam. 198ec foe y4iSS cut well v -winner. ra.CE oHS boys.; <9vs <Q}\tc\<r\its ; wimttr to .68.") * ■ Mr! A. M'Doin^MK: m Alie%Si^; meeting? 8 rtwrn ••^W« •'••'•' o- affait 3 w In' the firßt ha«| Wbb & eir nil the way rouai §md won Udfcj&p o **" peborah's rider w#> jphangod ,r|*c moat lie&yjVeight 0 I feather, j of tooki^a^d tlie ue^LT" '^ &^^ti£^ufc A Harry-Sourr^Hk f ' -**^^^voceodings. 1