BALCLUTHA RACES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 211, 15 February 1872, Page 6

BALCLUTHA RACES.

The Balclutha races came off as advertised on Thursday and Friday, the Bth and 9th inst. The weather was magnificent, the attendance of spectators large, and the racing first-class. .There were a number of visitors from Tuapeka, Tokomairjro,' Dunedin, and other places,' on the course both days. ,Qn the first day there were about 300 spectators, 1 and the events of the second day' were' viewed' by fully 500. The grand stand and booth were under the superintendence of Mr.' John Burr of the Farmers' Arms Hotel, whose catering for the public refreshment, judging 'from the patronage he received, • was highly satisfactory. Mr. John M'Ewan lad also a stand on the course, from which he dispensed a variety of the good things of this life. Our colossal friend, Big Harry, appeared in a new avocation — vendor of "krect card of ihe races," his peculiar style of persuasion creating much merriment. Mr. Jas. Davidson was judge; Mr. Robert Barr, clerk of the course ; and Mr. Pollock, starter. Tc is needless to say that these gentlemen ably performed the duties of their respective 'offices. .The racing was good throughout, and in' some cases really splendid, and it "was thfe general impression that all the .horses ran for the stakes. Betting was not indulged in very freely outside the charmed circle, but sweeps found considerable favour, and many were drawn on each event. The course, which was in Mr. : Barr's paddock, was in really first'class condition. ' Altogether, the races may bo considered an unequivocal success, and it is to be hoped that many similar annual meets may take place at Balclutha. Appended is a detailed report of the various events. First Day. Maiden Plate, of 20 soys. ; entrance, £1 103. ; weight for age ; distance, 1| mile ; for horses that have never Avon an advertised prize exceeding £10. •' ' ' Aysou'sj b m Countess, 5 yrs ; 9st 6ilb ■'--•"■'•■ " ((J. Dabinett) 1 Langley's b g S.ilamander Sam, 5 yrs. ; %f " 9stslb; (Oay) 2 Chapman's b in. Camilla, 4 yrs ; Bst f 111 b • (Brosnau) 3 Williams' b h Caliph, 5 yrs ; <M 61b T■ * • ■• - - (owner) 0 The fuv6*nrite for this was Salamander Sam — in fact, nothing would go down but him. Just before the start., however, Countess was fancied. ' Mr. Pollock got tho mob of? on pretty even terms, Camilla showing" to the front, Palipli second, Salamander Sam thhxl, and the Countess last of all. In ihis order they passed the stand for the first 'time, Counters being held in. Sho collared the mob at the stockyard, and increasing her lead at every stride, came in winner by four lengths, amidst the plaudits of the spectators. She was well ridden by young Dabinett, who is quite a novice on the turf, lime — 2min. oOsecs. ' • Handicap Tkoixino Eacs, of 15 soys. ; ■'- entrance 1 , ono guinea ; distance, 3 miles ;'" optional saddle or harness ; no weight undtr 10sC Ulb. Pollock's w m Maggie, aged ; 425 yards ' (W. Pollock) 1 Robinson's bm Modesty, aged ; scratch *• "i -:• ' (A. Mackay; 2 Williams! b g Fjatcatc'icr, aged ; 350 ' - yards - " - (owner) 3 Maggie kept her lead well, and was never collared, winning by 50 yards ; second, and Flatcatcher third. Clutha. Handicap, of 40 soys., with a 1 ■ sweepstake of one guinea ; distance, l£ mile. Walker's b m Slander, aged ; 9st 101 b v ■ • • '' ■ (Erench) 1 Robinson's b g Backbiter, aged ; Ost 5 lib (owner) 2

Jtobinson's eh g Lyndon, a^ed ; Bst 91b H ' ' (Tiny),. 3 .Langley's b m Duchess, fi yrs ; 7.st 6lb 0 O'-Brieii's eh g Kii<Jaro, 6 yrs ; 6st 71b 0 tvnox's eh g Orphan, 6 yrs ; Gsfc 61b 0 - Lyndon sprang to the front at the jump, but was collared by Slander and Backbiter before ho reached- the stand. Duchess camo to grief, having burst a blood vessel. Kildare and Orphan 'about four lengths behind. They kept thab order right to the finish, although Backbiter tried hard, but unavailingly. to catch the mare. Time— ;2m in. 48secs. Hack Race, of 10 acva ; entrance, 103. ; "■'■•' mile heats ; catch weights. ' Jtitclionam'a b g Sandy 13 1 " Dabinett's Betsy Jane 3 12 Gfamecock won the first lieat, but was disqualified for running inside a post, 30 Sandy sgot it.' Be\sy Jane won the |ecorid and Sandy the third heat. ci This concluded the first day's racing.

Second Day. Handicap Hurdle Race, of 20 aov3 ; ''•' entrance, £1 30s ; distance, 2^ miles ; over eight flights of hurdles, 3ft. 6in.

high. Kncx's g g Don Pedro, agod ; 9sb 61b

: " '• • - (Kelly) 1 Schluter'a b g Honest John, aged ; r ~ llot ' , " (M'Kay) 12

O'Brien'3 b g Chance, aijerl ; Opt %'% ' - ' (J. Cotton) 3

Honest John was the favourite, but D,6n Pedro was ranch fancied as he carried such, a light weight. A good $tlj,rt was effected, and the three raced \ip the straigh c ' all' holding. Honest Jo.hn'' and Don Pedro took the first hurdle together, Chance well up. The bon took the lead at the second hurdle, Hoticst John next, and Chance last. Cl^nce fell at the third hurdle, and loait -a\\ show of the race by bolting •vC-itjhonfc his rjder^ Afc tu,e last hurdle &a Do.n was. first over, and' won a

splpndidly contested race by the skin of his teeth. Honest John's rider lost both his irons, or ,he would have won the race. District IiACE, of 20 soys. ,; entrance, £1 10s. ; distance, l\ mile ; weight for age. Open to all horses the bona Jide property of residents within 15 miles of Clutha Ferry, and must have been in their possession one month prior to the race. Pollock's blk g Raven, aged ; 9st 51b (Harrison) 1 Ayson's b m Countess, 6 yrs ; 9st 51b ' (0. Dabinett) 2 Knox's cli g Orphan, 6 yrs ; 9st 51b (Kelly; 3 Williams' b h Oaliph, 5 yrs ; 9st 61b 0 This was a splendid race. Raven and Orphan showed to the front at once, with Countess lying well back, and Caliph behind her. They passed the stand in that order. By the stockyard Countess disposed of the Orphan, but failed to catch Raven, who came in winner by a very small half length. Time, 2min. 59sec. Publicans' Handicap, of 50 sov3. ; distance, 2 miles ; ' nominations, two guineas ; acceptances, £1 10s. Robinson's blk g Backbiter, aged ; Bst 91b. „. , (Tiny) 1 Pritchard'3 b-g Patch, 4 yrs; 7st (J. Cotton) 2 Langloy's b g Salamander Sam, 6 yrs ; 6st (Malone) 3 Walters' b m Yatterina, 6 yis ; 9st 0 Backbiter started off with the lead, closely attended by Yatterina and Patch. They passed the stand in that order, the darkie last. Yatterina was holding hard, but was let out, and soon disposed of Patch. The race now lay between the old black and the mare. Coming up the straight both were flogging hard. The mare, however, beat the old black half a length. Tiny entered a pi-otest against Yatterina on the ground that she ran inside a post. The protest was allowed by the stewards, and Backbiter got 1 the stakes. Time — 3min. 40sec— one of the fastest races that ha.s ever been run in New Zealand. Selling Race, of 20 soys ; entrance, £1 10s. ; weight for age ; distance, 1J mils ; the winner tn be sold for £15 ; any surplus to go to the race fund. Pollock's blk g Raven, aged ; 93t 51b (Hariison) 1 Ayson's b m Counte3s, 6 yrs ; 9sfc 51b (Goodman) 2 Robinson's b g Young Turpin, 3 yrs ; 7st 61b ' (Cotton) 3 Mr. Pollock got the field off on good terms. Raven took the lead, and although the Countess tried all she could do to catch him, she couldn't, and was beaten by a length. Time — 3 mm. 4sec. Consolation IJandioaf, of 10 soys. ; entrance, 10s. ; distance, H mile. Robinson's eh g Lyndon (Pearson) 1 O'Brien's eh g Kildare (T. Cotton) 2 Knox's eh g Orphan (Malone) 3 Lyndon jumped to the front, and won easy.