WESTPORT JOCKEY CLUB RACES.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 600, 30 December 1869, Page 2

WESTPORT JOCKEY CLUB RACES.

"Westport Ims every reason to congratulate itself upon the success of the first race-meeting held upon the Orawaiti course and under the auspices of the recently instituted Jockey Club. The primary object of the meeting - the affording of substantial sport to the public by bringing together good horse-flesh was thoroughly accomplished. And, so far as we can learu, there was none of the secondary objects of such meetings which was not also served. People patronised coaches, paid tolls, ate, drank, and smoked with a readiness indicative of excellent will, astonishing appetite, and well-replenished pockets. Even the most morbid tastes were satisfied, for two good horses Cossack and Shillelah—were killed, and more than one jockey was " spilled." Fortunately the equine losses were the most serious accidents that happened; and, no doubt, to the owners of the horses they are serious enough. Human legs and collar-bones were on this occasion saved from fracture or dislocation. The only things broken were a few betting men who left the course wiser if not better men. Apparently even hearts, including our reporter's, were unbroken this year, for the barmaid element was chiefly of the order " plain" or of the genus married. There had not this year been a special importation of the fresh and the fair, as there was last season ; and the amorous eye gazed only on faces familiar and fat, or upon others which it would be criminal to covet.

Of courie the weather had a great deal to do with the success of the first two days' racing, as it had to do with the non-success of the third day's sport—not in a racing point of view, but as a public spectacle. Sunday was more of a miserable day than Sunday usually is in Westport, by the persistent prevalence of heavy rain from morning to night. There was a universal prediction that, with such weather, the course would be a swamp, and probably its condition was not favorably affected by such a rainfall, but five or six hours of warm drying weather on Monday morning did wonders, and, in point of condition, the course far excelled expectations. In clearing the ground of the heavy timber, and the more minute impediments to racing, the owner, Mr Jones, had exercised all desirable en-

ergy> an( i had goue to no small expense; and the Jockey Club have really secured to themselves, their heirs, and assigns what will prove to he, after the lapse of a very few seasons, as good a course as can be found on the "West Coast. No doubt, before another season the sharpness of some of its turns will be subdued, as will also the native softness of the soil. The situation of the course, in point of picturesque surroundings and in other respects, is an admirable one The one great objection to it is its inaccessibility without the payment of the toll at the Orawaiti bridge, but that is an objection which is not likely to be urged another year. The abolition of the Orawaiti toll is a subject fairly deserving of local agitation, and before another race-meeting the bridge will, no doubt, be thrown open. This year it was a natural and fair charge, if only as a charge of admission to the race-course, which, necessarilly, has not been provided for the public without private expense. The facilities for reaching the racecourse from town consisted of one of Cobb and Go's coaches, driven by Mr Simpson, and drawn by Bix horses, and of some of Mr Jones's compromises between coaches and farm waggons, drawn by horses in tandem. They were all well patronised. The great majority, however, reached the ground going " Irish tandem " —one foot before the other. On a warm day the walk is a most unpleasant one, and the exercise must have suggested that, as a main thoroughfare, something should be done for it. Either the Government' should form a metal road, or some enterprising practical man such as Tom Jones should, or, at any rate, might expend a little of his exchequer in the experiment of forming a tramway. The only amelioration of the sand swallowed on the road was Mr Gibson's shandygaff, which people were at liberty to drink, when paid for, either within the Miners' Eeßt Hotel, or under the shade of a very rustic leafy bower which " mine host " was Samaritan or silly enough to erect in front of, his house as a shelter for the wearied, the " wet," and the " dry." At the race-course, in the most eligible situation and in the centre of a line of temporary booths, Mr David Emanuel, of the Little Grey Hotel, had erected a spacious and substantial Grand Stand —so substantial that it is intended to remain as a permanent piece of architecture on Mr Jones's ground, and so spacious that, without inconveniencing its accommodation, a considerable increase might be made in the race-going and grandstand patronising population of Westport. On this occasion there was a modesty in the matter of decorating it, as there was in the decoration of nearly all the other booths, but the accommodation and tho shelter were there, and probably that was all that was absolutely necessary. However, places of the kind, picturesquely situated as they were, and on holiday occasions, might be made to partake as much as possible of the prevailing picturesqueness and holidayness, and a few yards of rc-d cloth go a long way towards that consummation. Besides the accommodation and the shelter, there were underneath the Grand Stand an expensive bar and a diningroom, as well as the Stewards' room, in both of which places an excellent table was laid by Mr Emanuel. Behind was the saddling paddock. The other licensed retailers of fluid refreshment were, on the one side, Mr Smyrk, of the London Tavern, and Mrs Mi lis, of the Ballaratandßendigo Hotel. The booth of the former presented to the sight simply the sign " Smyrk's," but the sense of hearing was greeted with a frequent bang which told that the booth contained a shooting gallery —one of the very few " legitimate " entertainments on the ground. True there was a game of " under and over " which our reporter had not the pleasure of seeing or patronising, but he heard only one other entertainment, and that was Mr Henry Bussell or some other vocalist of only inferior powers to Mr Henry Bussell who, undismayed by the din of the shooting gallery, sang in Bussellian style some Eussellian songs. Mrs Mills exhibited, on her signboard, two very green shamrocks of the dimensions of a "monster cabbage," with other national emblems on a less exaggerated scale. On the Orawaiti side of the Grand Stand stood the Albion Hotel with a marvellously modest signboard outside and a showy lady's hat inside, with a pretty head in it. Of the next booth Messrs Grady and Howe were the occupants, and beyond them the peripatetic fruitseller of the district catered for the crowd.

The crowd, we may add, was not a very numerous one on the first day, but on the second there was a considerably larger attendance, and it was a significant fact that it was a crowd possessing a large amount of money which it was disposed to spend freely in " shouting " and in betting. Indeed it is seldom at any provincial meeting 6f-<fche kind that so much money changes hands as changed hands on the Westport race-course on Tuesday ; and a zest was given to the betting or the chances of possessing sweepstakes by the racing being on that day most interesting by its closeness. In this respect there was no fault to find with the running on either day. Last year's meeting at Westport bore no comparison to this, chiefly on that account; and as a whole the present meeting may be said to have been characterised by good racing throughout.

The Starter and Clerk of the Course

were the same as last year—Mr W. Eobertson and Mr John Seaton. Their coats were as red, their buttons as bright, their faces as jolly, their flags as pretty, and their exertions as active as they were on that occasion. In maintaining good order and their own good looks they really " done their level best." The judge was Mr R C. Eeid. He was not such a prominent object as judges usually are at races, but, to the extent of maintaining an appearance of solemnity, he fulfilled his duty admirably. The stewards were Mr T. J. Jones, Mr A. D. Dobson, Mr Isaac Preeth, and Mr John Overend. Great credit is due to them for the prompt and regular manner in which the whole business of the races was managed. Credit for the arrangement of many of the preliminaries is, however, due to Messrs Harris, Franklyn, and Southern, who had resigned, Mr Southern being about to leave "Westport, and Mr Harris and Mr Franklyn having seen reason to resign in consequence of some trifling matter which arose, as such matters will arise, in the completion of these preliminaries. Mr Bullen as Hon. Secretary, and Mr Limbrick as Olerk to the Stewards, assisted in maintaining the perfection of the arrangements. Mr Limbrick also assisted our reporter materially by the accurate record, which he kept. One visitor to the ground during the first day was Mr Q-aul, photographer, who took some views of the Grand Stand and of scenes in the neighbourhood.

The horses which were killed were the property of Mr Forder and Mr Wallace Woolfe. Both were valuahle animals, and wellknown on the West Coast Shillelah as a steeplechaser, and Cossack as a horse of good powers and speed. Shillelagh was killed by a fall, coming to the ground on his head, and so violently that he broke his neck. His rider, J. Rouse, had an ugly fall at the same time, but was fortunately only slightly hurt. In the same race, Gipsy, while making a good show for first place, tripped over the hurdle in front of the Grand Stand, and her rider, Kennedy, was thrown heavily, but he fortunately escaped with a severe shake and a sprain. Cossack " slipped his back " while making an exertion round one of the sharper turns in the course, and necessarily had to be shot. The most successful owner of horseflesh on the course was Mr D. Molony, of Charleston, who had somewhat similar success last year. At this meeting his horse Why Not won the Town Plate of 30 sovs., the Westport Jockey Club Plate of 60 sovs., and the Ladies' Purse of 25 sovs. We have already given a simple statement of the results of the first day's races, but we repeat it, with a fow memoranda on each race : FIRST DAY. Maiden Plate of 15 sovs, added to a sweepstake of 2 sovs each, second horse to save his stake. Ono mile and a distance. Weight for age. Mr Lyons's b.g. Garneboy, aged, 9st 6lbs ; BJjomfield, ■ ... 1 Messrs Suisted Brothers' cm. Dew Drop, syrs, lOst 2lbs j Frasor, 2 Mr Forder's cm. Ladybird, syrs, 9st 131bs; Reeco, 0 Mr Paul's b.g. Tansticker, 4yrs, Bst 11 lbs ; Sunley, 0 For this race Dew Drop seemed to be the favorite, but the " knowing ones" took the field, and were rewarded by Gameboy coming in first by a length. Tansticker fell and appeared to sulk, it being only with difficulty that he was persuaded to resume the perpendicular. Gameboy had tho advantage of being in training for some time, while Dew Drop had only been taken in hand three days before the race. Packers' and Miners' Purse of 10 sovs., added to a sweepstake of 2 sovs. each, second horse to save his etako. Heats— One mile. Catch weights.

Mr Lyons's br.g. Bobby, aged ; Cassells, 1 Mr Maloney's b.m. Monkey, 'aged, Blythe; and Mr Mulholland's cm. Separation, aged; Campbell. Dead heat for second place.

SECOND HEAT. Mr Lyons's br.g. Bobby, 1 Mr Maloney's b.g. Monkey, 2 Mr Mulholland's cm. Separation, ... 3 Bobby, a big powerful horse whose ownor lately made some demonstrations and money with him on the beach, went ahead with elephant stride, but Monkey, in comparison a dwarf, kept close on his flank. In the second round of the first heat Separation closed on Monkey, and there was a good race, Bobby coming in first, with the two others a dead tie. In the second heat Separation made a showy start, and Monkey seemed somewhat pumped, while Bobby seemed safe throughout. Monkey was on his mettle, and made a good ending, Bobby winning only by half a length. Separation, true to her name, separated herself from the others by a considerable distance, and came in third.

The Town Plate Handicap of 30 sots, Two and a half miles. Entry 3 sovs. Mr Molony's b.g. [Why Not, syrs, 9st 61bs; : : ''Bloomfleld ... 1

Mr Woolfe's e.g. Cossack, aged, lost *lb3 ; Cassells Mr M'Ginley's b.g. Robin Hood, 9st 81bs : Blythe 0 Mr Forder's b.g. Yankee Boy, syrs, 9st 41bs; Snnley ... •. 0

There was a good start, Yankee Boy going off too freely, the three others holding well together. Robin Hood and Yankee Boy changed places as leader of the lot, but subsequently Robin Hood bolted, and Yankee Boy fell behind, leaving the race to Why Not and Cossack, which ran closely together in the last round.

Butchers' Ptjesb of 10 sots. Entry 2 sovs. Second horse to Bare his stake. One and a half mile. Catch weights. Post entry. Open to butchers' horses only. Mr M'Ginley's Bones, aged;Blyth ... 1 Messrs Suisted Brothers' Dewdrop, syrsj Sunley ... ~, itl 2 Mr Seaton's Magenta, aged ; Campbell ... 0 Mr Woolfe's Slim Jim, aged ; Fraser ... 0 There was a good start, Slim Jim leading, and the race was a fine one throughout. Occasionally Bones had Dew Drop for a close companion, but held the lead without exertion, and won without much trace of exhaustion.

Handicap Hurdle Race of 20 sotb. Two miles, over five hurdles. Entry 2 sovs. Second horse to save his Btake. Mr Seaton's d. br. g. Black Doctor, aged, 10st4lbs; Campbell l Mr D. M'Ginley'B b.g. Bones, aged, lOst 2lb B ; Blythe ?.. ... 2 Mr Woolfe's b.g. Slim Jim, aged, list 31bs.; Cassells ... ... ... ... o Mr Trimble's b.g. Gipsy, aged, lOst 71bs ; Kennedy ... >i# o Mr Forder's d.br.g. Shillelah, aged, iost 61bs ; J. Rouse. Broke his neck by a fall. Mr .folmson's b.g. Flying Buck ; scratched.

Shillelah led and took his fences well in the first round, but on the second he ran inside the hurdle opposite the Grand Stand and his jockey got thrown, but was soon again ,mounted, to come onlyto greater grief near the next hurdle, where Shillelah had a fatal fall, breaking his neck. Gipsy took the hurdles in fine style, and seemed safe as the winner of the race, but in the third round she struck the bar with her forefeet, and came to the ground, landing her rider on his head. She was immediately mounted by an excited spectator, but not with the result of winning the race; Black Doctor and Bones having it to themselves with flat running where several of the hurdles had been. A protest was entered by Mr M'Ginley against Black Doctor on account of his not jumping the last hurdle in the last round. The decision of the stewards was that the race between them should be run over on Wednesday, when there was a walk over by Bones.

SECOND DAY

Westport Jockey Club Plate of 60 sovs.

Two miles. Entry 5 sovs. Weight for age. Mr Molony's b.g. Why Not, syrß, 9st 41bs; Bloomfield, 1 Mr M'Ginley's b.g. Robin Hood, syrs, 9st 91bs; Blythe, 2 Mr Forder's b.g. Yankeeboy, syrs, 9st 41bs; Reece, ... 0 Mr Wolfe's e.g. Cossack, aged, 9st lllbs ; Fraser, 0 In the first round Why Not and Robin Hood passed the judge's box together, with the others close in the rear. In the next round Cossack fell and broke his back, causing much regret on account of the owner, Mr Woolf e, who was obliged to shoot the horse a few minutes after the accident occurred. Why Not shortly after got the lead and kept it to the finish, winning in good style, with Robin Hood second, and Yankee Boy an indifferent third. The Ladies' Purse of 25 sovs., added to a sweepstake of 2 sovs. each. 1$ miles. Weight for age. Mr Molony's b.g. Why Not, syrs, 9st 41b ; Bloomfield, ... l Mr M'Ginley's br.g. Robin Hood, syrsl 9st lllbs; Blythe, 2 Messrs Suisted Brothers' cm. Dew Drop, syrs, 9st 12Ibs; Fraser, ... 0 Mr Forder's cm. Ladybird, syrs, 9st, 81bs; Reece, o Mr Paul's b.g. Tansticker, 4yrs, Bst lOlbs; Sunley, 0 This was a well-contested race throughout up to within a few yards of the winning post. To that point Robin Hood was leading by a few yards, when Why Not put on an extra spurt, and Robin Hood seemed to become stubborn to the spur, and both came past the post a dead tie. A few minutes elapsed in the saddling paddock when Why Not came out and walked over the course, and was consequently declared the winner. Buller Hurdle Handicap of 30 sovs. 2 miles. Second horse to save his stakes. One event, over five hurdles. Entry 3 sovs. Mr M'Ginley's b.g. Bones, aged, lOst 51bs; Blythe, i Mr Seaton's d.br.g. Black Doctor, lOst 21bs; Campbell 2 Mr Trimble's br.m. Gipsy, aged, list; Crowie ... ... ... ... ... o Mr Woolfe's b.g. Slim Jim, agod ; scratched. Black Doctor and Gipsy each took their first hurdle well, but Bonos made two baulks before succeeding in it. In the second round all hurdles were knocked down Jby one or other of the horses, and the race terminated in favor of Bones, with Black Doctor a close second, and Gipsy a good third. Gipsy was much over-weighted in the race. Consolation Stakes of 15 sovs. .£lO first horse, £5 second. For all horses beaten

at the meeting. 1£ miles. Post entry of 1 sov. Mr M'Ginley's Robin Hood, 5 yrs, lost 41bs; Blythe, l Mr Forder's Yankee Boy, syrs, 9st 51bs; Reece, 2 Messrs Suisted Brothers' Dewdrop, oyrs, 10st21bs; Campbell, 0 Mr Maloney's Monkey, aged, Bst lOlbs ; P. Heron, ... o Mr Paul's Tansticker, 4yrs, Bst 121bs; Sunley, ... , o This was a close contest between Robin Hood and Yankee Boy, and towards the end of the race the former showed his temper when pushed by attempting to shy off the course. Yankee Boy made a good second, and Dew Drop came third. The other two —Tansticker and Monkey—were straggling behind, but put on steam at the finish to avoid being last on the list. THIRD DAY. The third day was as boisterous as the two preceding ones had been beautiful. The rain-fall was the most persistent and heavy that has happened for twelve months past. One result already is a largo flood in the Buller. This may be an index to the state in which the race-course was. The wonder is that it was not more a water-course than a race-course—more fitted for a regatta than for races. As it was, one might have managed to have " paddled his own canoe " over part of it, as might also have been done in Westport streets. Naturally, with such weather prevailing, few attended the races but those officially connected with the racemeeting, or those of decidedly " horsey" tastes. There were, indeed, some enthusiasts, not essentially " horsey," who went for the third time to the course simply because it was the last timo, and because they were so thoroughly pleased with the two first days' sport that they wanted xuore sport of the samo kind, even at the risk of a " soaking." The first event was a walk over by Bones, for the stakes in the Buller Hurdle Handicap ; Black Doctor not putting in an appearance. The following were the other events : Handicap for all beaten horses, of 20 sovs. 2 sovs entrance. 1J miles. Suisted Brothers' cm. Dew Drop, syrs. Bst. .. ... i Mr Forder's br.g. Yankee Boy, syrs, Bst. 2 Mr Forder's cm. Ladybird, syrs, 9st. ... 0 Mr Seaton's d. br.g. Black Doctor, scratched. _ There were strong expression of disatisfaction at the manner in which this race was run, and more than mere insinuations that it was a swindle. If it was so, it was probably the only race during the meeting in which there was not fair competition between men and horses. As a whole the meeting, in that respect, was unusunlly and exceptionally satisfactory. Trotting Match. Sweepstakes of 2 sovs. each, with 15 sovs. added. Two miles. Catch weights. Mr Connolly's b g Wild Irishman ... 1 Mr Bell's Kildare 2 Mr Irwin M'Keelar's g g Bob 3 Mr A. D. Dobson's b m Philis 0

Considering the stato of the course, Hub was a well-contested match. Wild Irishman, however, took the lead early, and, being well ridden by bis owner, Mr Connolly, he maintained it throughout. Hubby Scubby of £lO. Entrance £l. One mile heats. Catch weights. Post entry. All winners excluded. , .. FIEST HEAT. Mr John Maori's Maori; Bly the 1 Mr Seaton's Coquette; Fraser 2 Mr Lyons's Funch; Lyons ... ... 3 BECOITD HEAT. Coquette 2 Punch ... 4 This race was thoroughly well contested between Maori and Coquette. Each jockey did his best, but, with all the exertions that Fraser made on Coquette, Maori proved himself the strongest horse by winning the second heat.