DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB RACES

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 164, 30 March 1871, Page 5

DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB RACES.

t(By our Special Heforie r :) Dunedin Jookey Club Races of 1871 were held on the new course, at Forbury Park, on Thursday and Friday, the 23rd and 24th inst., and were successful in every resptct. The close proximity of the course to Dunedin had the desired effect of bringing together a large attendance of visitors, the number of persons on the course on the first day being estimated at close on 3000. Thursday being also the anniversary of the foundation of the province, it was universally kept as a holiday, and from an early hour in the morning the streets of the city pre sented quite a lively aspect. This was not a little heightened by the arrival during the morning of some three or four hundred Celestials, passengers by the barque Whirlwind from China, dressed in the garb peculiar to their country. Their faces expressed evident astonishment at j the continued rushing to and fro of cabs j and vehicles of all descriptions, and at the extraordinary busy aspect which the city ! presented. In the early part of the day heavy-looking clouds in the sky were portentous of bad weather, but towards noun they cleared away, and although the day did not iurn out brilliantly tine, yet it was genial enough to enable pleasnreseekors to enjoy themselves. Towards noon, people began to leave the city in crowds for the course iv cabs, coaches, express- waggons, and on horseback ; and the short cut to the course, via the suburban townships of Kingston and St Ealda, was lined with those persons who preferred to tramp it. His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by his Honour the Superintendent and Captain Pitfc, patronised the meeting, the viceregal party arriving on the course in a skilfully-handled four-in-hand turn-out, about half-past 12 o'clock. The course was in very fair order, notwithstanding the gloomy prognostications thac it would be totally unfit to race on which had been circulated during the week. Although not by any means in first-class order, yet it may fairly be said that the Forbury Paik Company have done wonders iv the short space of time which has elapsed since they first commenced operations on the swampy ground they had to deal with. The course is level as a bowling green from the starting point to the judge's box, and in the course of a couple of years there will not be a finer racing ground in the colony. The acceptances for most of the events on the card were numerous and gave promise of very excellent sport. JJetting was not indulged in to any very great extent, although a few " fivers " were dropped on several of the races, most notably on the Forbury Handicap, in the first day's programme, Slander the favourite coming in among the ruck, to the entire disgust of her backers, and the prize in which fell to Catapult, owned by Mr. George Coombes, of the Woolshed. Below i append an account of the various events : — Maiden Plats, of 50 soys. ; entrance, 3 soys. ; one mile and a quarter ; weight for age. For horses that have never won an advertised prize exceeding £25. W^b's br f Swindle (W. Hankius) 1 igßtt's eh g Tiger • • (J. Monoghan) 2 Gwriess's br g Oomat - - (Guinness) 3 Cotton's b m Cutsagero .... 0 "Walter's br g Tomboy 0 Stanton's m in Elate 0 Schleuter's b g Honest John - - . - - 0 Nutsford'a Little George .... 0 Payman'a br f Lady Elizabeth - , ■ - 0

Swindle looked well in the saddling paddock, and became a decided favourite for this race ; "and, as the result proved, ■the-cxinffdence in her good qualities was •riot misplaced. After a fair start, Tiger led for a short distance, but was passed by Cutsagero. Abont halfway round the course, Swindle took the lead 'and was never collared, Tiger coming in a good second, about a length and a-half behind. Forbury Handicap, of 120 soys., with a sweepstake of 3 soys. each ; the second horse to receive the amount accruing fiom the sweepstakes ; nomination, 2 soys. ; acceptances, 3 soys. One and a half mile. Coombe's b g Catapult - - (T. Cot.ton) 1 Taggart" s eh g Bobby Burns - (R. Mason) 2 Prince's eh g Sir Tatton - (M. Pearson) 3 Walter's b in Slander 0 Stanton's b m Miss King . . - - 0 Pritchard's Fore top 0 Webb's br ni Taffrail 0 Slander was backed at even for this event, but was nowhere in the race after the first half-mile. Taffrail took the lead for some distance, closely followed by Foretop and Sir Tatt»». Catapult soon after passed the leading horses, and Bobby Burns took second place, and although Mason, on the latter, made a desperate effort to overhaul the bay, it was of no avail, and Cat ipult passed the ju Ige's box about a length and a haffc a-head, Sir Tatton being a good third. Handicap Trotting Race, of CO soys. ; entrance, 2 soys ; three miles and a distance. Optional saddle or harness —no weight under lOsfc. lib. Dodson's gr g Magic, scratch (Ferguson) 1 Coisan's br g Dick, age.l. 2 10 yards( Will iaras) 2 A gift to Magic, who soon made up the 240 yards given tv his opponent Dick. The old horse trotted splendidly, and after passing Dick and taking a considerable lead, the latter was pulled up, leaving Magic to win as he liked. St. Kilda Stakks, of 50 soys. ; entrance, 3 soys. One mile ; weight for age. Prince's blk g Backbiter, aged - (O'Brien) 1 Delamaine's bin Miss Flat - - (Derret) 2 Campbell's eh g Exile - (Gray) 3 Walter's bin Slander - ... - 0 Mo. ten's eh g Sou thern Chief - - 0 A race well worth witnessing, if only for the manner in which Backbiter ran. O'Brien made the pace nearly all the way round, confident in the speed and staj'ing qualities of his glossy Backbiter. Aliss Flat and Exile also ran well, coming in in the order in which I have named them, well up in the race. Selltng Eace, of 50 soys ; entrance, 3 soys. ; one mile and a quarter. Horses cnteicd not to be sold to cnivy 101 b. over one mile, weight for age. If to be sold for LSO, to carry weight for age ; L7O, allowed 7lh«: ; LGO. 14ibs ; UiO, 21H»s. ; L4O. 2811>5.: L3O. 351bs. ; L2O, 42!bs, The winner to be sold by auction, and any surplus to go to the funds. Hazlett's eh m Novice - - (Masw) 1 Thorpe's blk m Little Nell - (Edwards) 2 IFebb's br m Tuffrail - - - (Story) 3 Walsh's eh g TJger - Device's br g P>oh Apples - - - Giant's gr m Nelly Gray - Cotton's br g Flying Childers - Smith's cam in Jenny - Payinan's br f Lady Elizabeth . Some delay ocenrred in the start, owing to the fractionsuess of one or two of the horses. Finally they were despatjhed by Mr. Moore on equal terms. Nelly Gray, Tiger and Lady Flizabeth took the leading places. After a run of about a quarter of a mi!e, Little Nell took the lead, with Taffrail well up. About hnlf-a-mile from the winning post the Dunstan Crack, .Novice, who had b^en lying behind, shot a-head, and after a splendid race with iittle Nell, won by less than half-a-length. Sack Race, of 15 soys. ; open to all horses ; post entry. 1 soy., catch weights ; one mile. Winner to be sold by auction, for 15 soys., any surplus to go to the fund. Eight or nine horses started for this event, which was won by a capital chestnut mare named Lady of the Lake.

This concluded the programme for the first day, and a general start was made for town about half-past five o'clock.

Second Day — Friday, March 24.

Although the course was not so crowded as on the preceding day, yet there was a fair attendance of visitors, about 1200 being present. The day was anything but a bright one, and probably the threatening aspect of the weather deterred many from attending who would otherwise have done so. The various events were well contested ; and those who love the excitement of hurdle racing were gratified by the appearance of four good horses to try their powers in the Handicap Hurdle Race. The Consolation Handicap was a splendid race and alone worth going to witness.

The first race of the day was the Handicap Hurdle Kace, of 70 soys. ; nomination, 3 soys., the second horse to save bis stake. Heats ; one mile and a distance, over five flights of hurdles. Prince's eh g Sir Tatton - - (O'Brien) 11 Grant's eh g Pretender - - (Gray) 2 0 Pritchard's g g Don Pedro (Goodman) 0 2 Schleuter's b g Honest John - - - 0 0 Sir Tatton was backed at even against the field, Honest John being second in public favour. The latter fell in the first heat, but was not hurt by his mishap. Sir Tatton took his leaps throughout in good style, and won the first heat easily, Pretender a fair second. In the second heat, the latter horse came down a burster at the second hurdle, but fortunately neither horse nor rider sustained any injury. Sir Tatton was again landed the winner, with Don Pedro second. Dunedin Jockey Club Handicap, of 130 soys., with a sweepstakes of 5 soys. each ; the second horse to receive tbe a luount accruing from the sweepstakes. Nomination, 2 soys. ; acceptances, 3 soys. One mile and three quarters. "Walter's b m Yatterina - - (French) 1 Prince's blk g Backbiter - - (O'Brien) 2 Stan ton's b m Miss King - (Edwards) 3 Morten's eh c Southern Chief - - - 0 Dels main's b m Alias Flat - 0 Webb's br in Taffrail 0 Taggait's eh h Bobby Burns - - - 0 Taffrail, Yatterina, and Backbiter led off at the start. When about half-way round the course, Bobby Burns went to the front at a rattling pace, but unfortunately he came to the earth with his rider. Yatterina and Backbiter then took up the running, and a determined race for first honours took place between them. Dan O'Brian could not collar the mare, however, French landing her a winner by about a length. Town Plate, of 60 soys. ; entrance. 3 soys. ; two miles ; weight for age. Webb's br f Swindle • - (Hankins) 1 Campbell's cli g Exile - - (TFaddell) 2 Prince's Backbiter • - - (O'Biien) 3 Guiness's br g Comet 0 TPalter'a-b m Yatterina .... 0 Swindle and Exile were the favourites.

The little mare ran splendidly, and the same may be said of Mr. Campbell's gelding ; but the Latter hael no chance against the feather-weight the former h.id to carry. Backbiter was a good third. Publicans' Pdhse Handicap, of 50 soys. ; one mile and a distance. Nomination, 2 soys. ; acceptance. 1 soy. Thorke's Little Nell - - (Edwards) 1 Hazlett's eh m Novice ... (Mason) 2 Coombe's b g Catapult . (J. Cotton) 3 Walter's b in Slander 0 Robinson's eh g Lyndon , 0 Smith's dun ni Jenny 0 After one or two false starts, the horses got well away together. Lyndon and Novice led for some distance, when Little Nell came up with a rush and took the first place, with Novice second. Nell was ridden by Kdwards in capital style, and was landed a winner without the aid of whip or spur. Consolation Handicap, of 50 soys. ; entry, 2 soys. One mile. Sfcanton's b m Miss King . (J. Cotton) 1 Pritchard's eh h Foretop . . (Pears>o:>) 2 Walsh's eh g Tiger 3 Campbell's eh a; Exile 0 Morten's eh h Southern Chief . . .0 De!einaiiie\s b m Miss I'lat . ... 0 Webb's l>r m Taffrail 0 Koliinsoti's eh ;r Lyndon . . . .0 A splendid race from start to finish. The horses were despVcee I by tlu starter pretty easily. After traversing about half ths distance, TafFVail, who wa*runni'ig well, came to ihe ground The others raced well together, Miss King and Fore op leading. In the straight run home, the two last-named horses wire running almost neck and neck, but just bt-fore nearing the judge's box, the farmer put on a slight spurt, and young Cotton landed her a winner amidst great cheering. Hack Race, of 20 soys ; open to all hordes ;

post entiy, 1 s>ov ; one mile. No wMght under 9st. Winner to be sold for Jo soys, and any surp'us to go to the funds. Won by Gazclb. Seven horses started.

The raws were not concluded till after six o'clock ; but it having come on to r.iin about an hour previously, there was not a very large number of persons on the course to witness the last race. As is usual on the return home on such occasions, buggies and cabs were driven along the Forbury road iv a reckless manner, and horsemen dashed hither and thiiher utterly regardless of the consequences that might ensue. The result was that several accidents occurred, although none of them weie <>f such a serious nature as to cause any liusba to be broken. A close carriage, in which were s j /ve>al highlydressed females of the demi-monde c'ass, elated with excitement and chainpngne, cime to grief through the kin^-bolt coming out, the occupants being thrown to the ground with comidei-ah'e violence, and sustaining severe cuts and con(u-i'>ns Mr. :md Mrs. Job W ain were also suiFerfTs by an accident which occurred through their bivjgy coming into coutict with a waggon, Mrs. Wain being severely bruised.