ALEXANDRA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 296, 2 October 1873, Page 6

ALEXANDRA.

(From a Correspondent. ) September 2Gtb, In m,ir_ino; matters there is' very little iof interest to, report, the rain and the Races having interfered to some extent . with the regular course of work, Persons who have, been over the ranges lately, report that there is a greater quantify of snow on the ground than has been seen for several years past, so that there is. every probability that there will not be such a scarcity of water next summer^ as wo have suffered ' from during the last two seasons, and -which proved such a drawback to mining enterprise. • Our Spring Meeting came off very" successfully, the weatherbeing splendid, and the copious rain of the last few weeks preventing; the dust from marring the enjoyment of our holiday. > There was a very fair attendance, and the different events were well contested. Cressidor was scratched for 'the District Handieap^and Wild Manx ; Boy was*made the favorite, and he j justified the confidence of his backers ,by taking the lead and keeping it to ' the finish. The next event was the ;Hack Selling Race, and might be \ termed the comic part of' the programme, being chiefly remarkable for the brilliant riding of Prince's jockey, who managed to fall cleverly off his , horse in each of the» three heats. The first heat was won by Biackbufd * Prince ' running' second and . depositing- his rider in the middle at jtluMfoqirse. In the second heat Priilc&r.e^trie- -k^ first and threw his rider at'thejiid^e, who cleverly avoided punishmoilil by ducking his head. Blackbird and Prince then started to run^ off the deciding hea.tr, and; bets, of ■ half-a.-crown to. a.

would throw his rider the third time. Prince bolted off the course, and as he had no chance of winning, returned leisurely to the stand, when one of the layers of odda openly offered the jockey a bribe of a shilling if he would fall off. To his honor be it spoken, he was just about to reject the offer with the scorn and indignation that it merited, I when Prince (who appeared to be utterly demoralised by his connection with the turf) suddenly made a shallow pretence to jump over the winning post, and then swerving round performed 1 portion of the first set of Quadrilles, and apparently thinking his partner stood in need of a stimulant, he deposited him carefully on his back near the refreshment booth, to the intense delight of those who had laid odds on the third fall. The Spring Handicap was considered a gift to Brunette by a neck for second honours. Manx Boy started again for the Ladies' Purse and won without much difficulty. Cressidor was scratched for the Consolation Handicap, which was won by Kathleen, who also won the Hospital Bace, fop which J§4 7s, bad been collected on the course. The following is the details of the various races. District Handicap, of £12 10s.; second horse to receive £2 10a. from the stakes. Distance, 1 mile. Rivers' Wild Manx Boy, Bst 121 b 1 Wilkin's Kathleen, 7st 101 b 2 Cordon's Turpin, 7**t lglb 3 Hack Selijng Race, of £IQ. Three-qua* ters of a mile ; heata.. Crossan'a Blackbird 1 2* l Wilkinß' Prince 2 12 Gordon's Alice Hawthorne 3 3 0 Spring Handicap, of £20 ; with a, sweep of £1 to go to the second horse. Distance, 14 miles. Rivers' Wild Manx Boy, Bst lQlb, -I Beresford's Cressidor, 7st 121 b, 2 Hazlett's Brunette, 9afc lQlb. 3 Betting, from 2 to 5 to 1 on Brunette. Ladies Pprsk, of 10 soys. I mile. Rivers' Wild Manx Boy, lOst lllh 1 Three others ran, "Won easily, Consolation Handicap, of £5, Three--qua.rteys of a, mile. Wilkins' Kathleen, Bst 71b 1 Gordon's Tu.rpin, Bst 71b 2 Cressidor (9st 61b) scratched, Hosp\TA,t, Race, Wilkin's Kathleen 1