DUNSTAN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 396, 3 October 1874, Page 3

DUNSTAN.

(From our own Correspondent)

The last annual meeting of the Dunstan Jockey Club held in February last, being so far behind former meetings, both as regards racing and in point of attendance, that the idea Beemed to boconie prevalent that the days were past for seeing good racing on the Dunstan course, and very few anticipated that; the meeting held on Friday last would result in the unqualified success that it really was. Certainly|the attendance was not greats which could not be expected, seeing that the Alexandra races were held only the week previous : Jand the Cromwell meeting coming on the week after. The racing, however, was excellent, and appeared to give general satisfaction, the events were well and cloenly contested. There were six entries for each of the handicaps, two horses wore scratched for the first, so that they might have a better chance on the second event, which brought all the horses entered to the post,- thai circumstance coup2ed with the close contests in the races showed that good judgment had been exercised, in handicapping the horses. The Maiden Plate had a field of five, and the Seljipg Race mustered six. Even the Hurry Scurry, though only for five pounds had five or six starters, and was about the best race of the day. I will riot trouble you with a detailed account of the running seeing that the names of the winners have already appeared in your columns. The starts were generally good, .though it was with considerable difficulty that a start could be effected for the Dunstan Handicap at all, Dungiven Lass in her preliminary canter took it into her head to run away with her jockey, galloping about through the flat with him for a considerable time. She got rid of him however, and then quietly waited until *he was caught ; she was led back to the post and with a great deal of trouble the jockey was again replaced, she made off again before he had time to got his foot in the stirrup this time he managed to keep her head up the terrace and was soon able to stop her j elie was again coaxed to the post and got away with the rest in fair style, and considering the very close second 6he made, the opinion was but for her obstinacy at starting she would have had first place. The meeting was not only a success as regards what I havo already stated but was I am told a financial success as regards the Club, a considerable surplus remaining after paying all a fact which I am pleased to record seeing that v itbcars out an argument I touched upon in reference to our last unsuccessful meeting, viz., that local clubs in this district now should either confine themselves to make races to suit local horses, or amalgamate and give prizes sufficient to bring s number of crack horses to compete for them. In taking up this matter again two things I mainly considered necessary to make racing a success, one is to have racing so as to please the greatest nnmber in your locality, the other is that through racing an incentive is given to encourage the introduction of a superior class of horses. The present position of our Jockey Clubs, and the way the programme comes out for the annual meeting, is not cale_iated to do either the one or the other. The prizes they can afford are not sufficently good to attract a number of really good horses, and ordinary hacks are kept back knowing that there will be one or two r superior hacks there, the consequences are that the bulk of the best prizes arc given away for racing which is little better than a walk over. How often has the best prizes of the Bunston Jockey Club, even in its palmy days been gained in this manner, and such always creates dissatisfaction- To aitain the two objects I have mentioned, let loeal'clubs make races for local horses, and the 'late meeting herb, and at Alexandra, and other spring meetings held -here justifies the assumption that these races will be well contested. - But let there be a central club formed, including members of .all but independent of either ; let this association get up an annual meeting and give a few really good prizes, this would fetch good horses to the district, and doubtless some would now and then remain. The local horses would improve by having superior blood brought among them, and our local hurry scurry races would in time bgcome better than our now grand handicaps and town plates. Some will say this is all very well, but you are from the Dunstan, and you want the big meeting there and give it the name of the Dunstan dab. No you may call it by any name you like, but to make it a success I would say have the meetings at different places in rotation; this may look impracticable but take an instance, though it may not be in racing, it is much the same. Racing has done no more to improve the breed of thouroughbreds than agricultural exhibitions have done to improve other stock. And what society in the world has done more for that than the Highland Agricultural Association. To those unacquainted with thia Society, they can have little idea ,pf its functions from the name, but this society has been established many and it*embraces t£e whole of Britain. exhibitions are yearly, and are held in " seven different towns in rotation. The prizes are superior to any other association, and the animals who secure them have gained a, credit for life. So -when an agricultural association based on the principle I state, can attain such great success, how should not a racing ciin> meet with the same.