CLUTHA FERRY JOCKEY CLUB RACES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 109, 10 March 1870, Page 4

CLUTHA FERRY JOCKEY CLUB RACES.

[BY OT7B SPECIAL COMMISSIONER.] The abqve races came off on Thuripy^ and Friday in Barr's paddock with considerable success, although the attendance on either day was not what was, expected, no doubt owing to the harvesting operations that were being carried on in the districts around Balclutha. The weather on the first day was all that could be desired, but on the second day, in the afternoon, there were some heavy gusts of wind accompanied with hail aud ram, which made the occupants of the grand stand, and ths course generally, take advantage of the shelter to be obtained in the booths. Mr. John Barr, of the Crown Hotel, h.ad the grand stand and saddling paddock with a booth on the right hand side, while Mr. Hudson, of the Newmarket, had the other. The arrangements with regard to the 'booths &c, were very satisfactory. Of course our old friend, Big Harry, was there with his punching machine, and afforded any amount of amusement to the Clutha, folk. . Beds were at a premium in the township, and your humble servant had to take it out in the stable beside his old steed, Moses. There was an entire absence of that noisy betting which one generally hears around the grand stand, some harmless sweeps were got up, and engrossed the attention of those plucky individuals who were in for 2s. 6d. or ss. There were only four races the. first day, and they passed off without any protest, except one, and that was against Pillan's Bedouin, the winner of the Maiden Plate, for running inside tho post ; the stewards, however, decided in his favour. Mr. Falconer was clerk of the course, and a very efficient one he proved himself. The inevibable dog was there, and nearly go.t killed as usual. For the first event, seven sported silkas follows : — Maiden Plate, of 25 soys. Entrance, 2 guineas • weight for age ; distance, 1£ mile ; for horses that have never won an advertised prise exceeding £10. Mr. A. Lilian's b li Bedouin, 3 years, 7st 121 b, « „ , „.,. ' (M'Kechnie) 1 C. Moore's cn> M r aterwitch, & years, 7st 31b a A. Pillan's c m Queen Bee, aged - - 3. Dabinett's b g Jacket - - . .- . q Langley's c g Kettledrum, 4 years - - a Pollock's, cm. Young Lady of the Lake 3 years 0 Cotton's b m Fairy Queen, 6 years "- - ft The. favourites at sorting were Jacky and Waterwitch ; the mare on starting turned very s.ulky, just as she did at Tuapeka. Mr. Roberts; the starter, got them well off, Wiiterwitch a little behind, Bedouin went to, the front at once and kept it well for the firg,fc round, with Waterwitch and Fairy Queen close on his heels ; in the second round, Queen Bee collared her horses, and the Arab was second till coming to the straight, the plucky little horse passed the Bee, with VVaterwitcb hard after him, and came in a winner by a length amidst the plaudits of the spectators. Time, 3min. 243ec. Handicap Trotting Racf^ of 13- soys. Entrance, 1 guinea ; distance. 3 miles, optional on saddle or harness : no weight under lOse 111 b. Mr. Pollock's Eanger (scratch) - - 1 Langley's King (200 yards) - - .- "^B 2 ; King kept well to the front for the first tvr.o rounds, but as he broke fre^ quently. he lost a good deaj of ground. Ranger trotted we\\ and- overhauled his majesty at the third round, and came in an easy winner by about tw.en.ty- yards. Time, llmin. For the Town Plate there were four entries Town Plate, of 50-sovs, Entrance, 3iguineas ; distance, 2 miles ; weight for age. Pollock's cm. Lady Ellen, aged, - - - 1 Lloyd's b m Beeswing, aged.- - - - . - 2 Howell's Banjo, aged - - - ... 3. O. Moore's c m Waterwitch; , -. -. •0j This was a good race, Waterwitch took the lead, but in the second round, Lady Ellen disposed of her, and assumed the lead, closely followed by Beeswing; in the iun home, Banjo and Beeswing tried hard to come up to her ladyship, but failed ; and Kelly landed Lady Ellen winner by half a length. Time, 4min. 24sec. The last event of the day was. the Hack Race. Hack Eace, of 10 soys. Entrance, 1 aov. : mile heats ; catch weights. Tweedie's Tiny - - • - » 1 1 Pollock's Shepherdess - - - - 2 2 Thomson's Gatherer ..... 0 Moore's Captain Cook . . (h Dabinett's Play Boy. - - . . 0 Eae's Incurable" ...... 0 Tiny took the first and- second heat a. closely pressed each time, by Shepherdess. This race concluded the Ist day's racing.' SECOND DAY. The day's proceedings were commencedi with the hurdle race, fo^ which three, horses started. Handicap Hukdle Race, of 25' soya. Entrance, 2 guineas : distance, 2A miles, over 8 flights of hurdles 3ft. Bin high. G. Williams's b g Fire-eater, aged - • 1 Dabinett's Sir William - - . . .0' Tweedie's b h Pope, aged . q A good start was effected, and. the threes horses took theiifirst two jumps together bu,t at the third hurdle, Sir William and his holiness baulked, and our old hot friend cleared it like a deer, and soon forged ahead, and came in the easiest of winners, by, say the length of the cour3o, Sir William second. The next- event was.the Clutha Handicap. Clctha Handicap, of 60 soys. 2 miles. A. Pillan's b h Bfdouin, 3 years . - ' - 1 Pollock's c m Lady Ellen, aged - . .n. Cotton's b g Hatter, aged - - . .3' Moore, a Waterwitch {scratched) • This was the race of the day; the field got away well together, and the Hatter soon went ahead, with the Arab tslosa after, him, hej? ladyship thought herself too sure of the race, and evidently seemed not in any hurry, as she kept ia the rear till the run home, when she collared the Hatter, but failed to catch the Arab, who came. in a good winner by three lengths. This race made the Bookmakers bite their nails pretty stiff. The way that the little horse took this race ought to get his name up for the Tokomairiro meeting ; he was trained by Mr. Bradley, of Tokomairiro. Time, 4min. 33sec. . ' ' j4 Ladies' Pdbse, of 20 soys. Entrance, J guinea • distance, 2 miles ; welter weight for age. ' Howell's Banjo, aged - . - - • - 1 6. "Williams's Skyonian, aged - t . . 2

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Only two sported silk in honour of the fair sex. Banjo took the lead, closely followed by old Sky., who passed him in the second round, but Banjo soon made on him and passed him, coming in an , easy winner by about six lengths, Time, d-niin. 48sec. District Porse, <rf 15 sovu, Entranoe, one guinea ; distance, 1 mile. Thomson's b g Gatherer, aged . 1 Dabinett's bg, Jackey, aged - - » . 2 Tweedie's b g Touchflint, 3 years •. - . 3 Gatherer took the lead and was never collared The last race on the card was the Con« eolation Handicap. Consolation Handicap, of 15 sovg. Entrance, 1 guinea ; dictance, 1 jmiles. M'Farlane's b m Beeswing . 1 Pollock's gin Young Nelly Gray - - 2 Pradley's c m Queen Bee , « - * 3 After several false starts, Mr. Koberts got his horses off to a pretty fair start, although the grey mare was last in the sheet, Beeswing and Queen B.ee kept abreast for some time, but Beeswing shot ahead and was never touched, and came in a winner by four lengths, Young Nelly Grey second, and the old Queen }ast. This race closed the programme, and take the races all in all, I trust I'll see the like again. It is a pity that S withers race meeting clashed with the Clutha^ as we would have had more horses here had it been otherwise, but all present seemed to enjoy themselves to the full. Sergt Bullen and mounted Constable Albert were on the course, but happily they were not wanted in their official capacity, everything passed off as quietty.