CAMBRIDGE JOCKEY CLUB. SPRING MEETING.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1440, 24 September 1881, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE JOCKEY CLUB. SPRING MEETING.

President : Every Maclean Esq. Stewards : Dr Waddington, Messrs R. H. D. Fergusson, John Douglas, John Grice, Robert Fisher, Robert Kirkwood, E. Hewitt, Jared Alhvill, F. Rose, A. Isaacs, Hy Asher, A. Raynes. Judge : Lt. -Col. Lyon. Handicapper :Mr W. Percival. r Starters : .Messrs. R. Fergusson and* R. Parr. l Clerk of the Course : Mr F. D. R. Stnale. Clerk of *• the*Scales-:~-Mr~H.™ W-.— Mtjprer- -Hon. Secretary : ? Mr Walter JScott. The 3prmg £Me,£ting joi Cambridge Jockey Club came off on the course at Fanthams on- Thursday,- -and- proved a thorough sucqesa in 'more points than once In the first place," the weather, that most important factor in the success or failure of all out-door sports, was splendid. Clear, . mild spring air, and a sky of fleecy clouds, sufficiently dense to keep away the sunshine, contributed not only to the comfort of th& horses and riders, but to that of the spectators at well. There wa? probably 600 or 700 people on the "course during the day, though the proportion of; the fair sex was small, and was rendered less noticeable by most, of , the ladieß keeping to their carriages "and not, as rit 'the summer meetings, seeking shade under the roof of the Grand Stand. It 'was noticed that among the visitors was a large contingent from the Waipa and Jfomilton districts. The sport provided for the delectation of the assemblage wai good, but, it must be confessed, between the events the time dragged heavily enough. The cause of this was undoubtedly the absence of a band in the enclosure. The under and over tables, and the refreshment booths, while they do to a certain extent partake of the nature of a' pastime, cannot be enjoyed by all, and for those whose tastes were a little to esthetic for such pleasures, nothing seemed" to ' have been provided. The booths were under the charge of Mr Camp, of the T&tnahere Hotel, who with his assistants catered for the wants of his patrons with praiseworthy zeal and wi^h credit, Perhaps the weather was not warm' enough, but there was little or no drunkenness, and no rowdyism whatever. The police werp consequently reduced to the standard of ornaments. The arrangements of the committee weie good, but not perfection. A certain amount of latitude is always allowed but if thore is one which ia unforgivable on a racecourse it is dilatoiiuess, and on Thursday it cannot be denied that a great deal of unnecessary delay took place in starting the different events. In this reservation we accord willing praise to the energetic secretary and those who worked with him, and offer thorn our congratulations on the success of the meeting. The quality of the racing was much above the average seen at country meetings. I tis noteworthy that not a single race was won easily, a fact which speaks highly for the handioapper. Moreover it was pretty evident that the horses were all run on their merits. The favourites were not by any moans the sole winners and were not a lwayi even placed ; but it seoms to 'be an open question whether this was desirable or not, one sporting gentleman being heard to declare that there were too many " boil-overs." The Hurdles was looked upon by many^as a moral 'for Sportsman, but it was by no means a cheap race, and had not Harkaway baulked there is no telling what might have happened. Tho Maiden Steeplechase was a splendid contest between Harkaway and Loafer, Knox riding the old identity to win, and coming very near it. The Spring Haudicap was a grand race. The Duchess started a fast favourite, but thure were many who thought the distance — two miles — too much for her. It cannot be said that there was any idea that Stanley was going to distinguish himself in the way hp did, because great things were expected of Rocket. The iesult, however, was none tho less welcome because unexpected by tho supporters of local talent. The Duchess deceived many people by the poor fight she made, but it is evident that her distance is not two miles. The Cambridge Steeplechase culminated in a most unlooked tor contretemps. Sportsman ana 'larkaway made a close fight the whole distance, and cleared the last hurdle almost nock and neclc, but coming up the stuiight Wilson drew ahead and passed the post well in advance of his opponent, 'ihe clerk of the course called out that the horses had not cleared the last ditch and bank, which is a little insulo of the fl-u course, but Wilson refused to turn Sportsman round until he saw that Harkaway's jockey intended to repair his mistake, when he also Aveut back. B >th hor&es jumped together, but Spoits.rn.in hung a little and HarLiway won by about half a length. The effect of tints change in the order of things, as mi«rht naturally have been expected, induced mingled .surprise, disappointment, and amusement. But if blame is attubu table to any one it is to Sportsman's jockey, Wilson, who ought bv this time to know the steeplechase cour-c. The Stewauls' Handicap was thought to lay between Stanley and the Slander filly, and the finish gave promise of being a very close one, when the former suddenly bolted off the course and allowed Grand Duchess to win, with the filly second, Mr Walters thus secured the wholo of the stakes. Little interest appeared to be taken in the Consolation Handicap. Indeed, the issue was never doubtful. Taking it a 1 together, the quality of the racing was. we repeat, of a very respectable order. 'J here were,, to<^ few starters in some of the evenfs, nptably the liuidle race and the pteepleohase'/bat as in these excellent sport was afforded, the absence of a large field was not greatly felt. The racing season in \Vaikato may be said to have opened under vpry favourable auspices. Appended is a more detailed account of the events:— HANDICAP RVnVLh RACK Of 30 soys. Two miles, over eight flights of hurdles, 3ft Gin high. Mr J. G. Rutherford's eh q Sportsman, 10st lOlbs (Wilson) 1 Mr W. Adam's eh q Harkaway, aged, 11 st, (Taylor) ... ' 2 Mr Gallagher's Rawenata, lOst 51bs was scratched, Berting, 6t04 on Harkaway. A very good start was effected, Sportsman taking the lead. Both hones successfully negotiated the first two hurdles, Sportsman slightly increasing bis lead in the meantime. This position was maintained over the fourth, fifth and sixth hurdle. Corning up to the .seventh hurdle both horses were running close together, but Harkaway, baulking, fell out of the race, Sportsman winning as he liked. Harkaway's Jockey entered a protest against Wilson on the ground of foul riding, which the Stewards disallowed, the evidence being considered insufficient. MitDEtf STEEPMCHASi; Of 20 soys. Once round steeplechase coarse J about lj miles. For horses that have never won an advertised steeplechase exceeding 10 soys. Mr W. Adams, eh q Harkaway, aged, list, (Taylor) 1 Mr Thomas Knoxs eh q Loafer, aged, list, (owner) ... 2 Mr Rutherford's Tommy Dotld and Mr Jukes' b q Saint also fan, Betting even money on Harkaway, 4 to 1 against Loafer. All the.horses except Loafer got away well at the start, Knox apparently having

misunderstood the signal, He, however, caught them up at the first hurdle, which all cleared successfully, and at the quarter was leading by several lengths. Harkaway second and the rest nowhere. The two named cleared the first ditch and bank, at which both Saint and Tommy Dodd came to grief, both riders being unseated, and were thereafter completely out of the contest. The struggle now lay between Hdrkaway and Loater^with the latter slightly leading. The four road fences were taken in grand style by both horses, Hark away especially was well-handled. From this point the race was exceedingly close, the two horses clearing the remaining fences together, but on coining up the straight Harkaway drew ahead and won by a short length after a very determined struggle.

CAMBRIDGE SIRING CUP HANDICAP. Of "to soys, two miles. Mr W. Bond's b.g. Stanley, aged 6st 71b. (Higginson), 1 Mr W. Walter 'B oh. in. Grand Duchess syrs, 7st 51b (McCormack) .. .. 2 Mr J. S. Buckland'B ch.g. Rocket, sjn, 7at. 51b. (McConnaok), 3 Mr Gallagher's Rawenata and Mr McKinnon's O&leleroy also started. The bett&f was slightly m favour of the Duche**. , At 3 o'clock the horses faced the starter and went off well at the fall of the flag. Stanley went to the front. Rocket, Grand Duchess, Rawenata, and Gilderoy following successively. Stanley and Grand Duchess crept gradually to the front, the former still maintaining the lead. Rocket a #ood distance behind \rith Rawenata following. The others were out of it. This order was maintained of the race. Coming up the straight a good race was made between the three leading horses, and Stanley, who never lost his position in the race, passed the winning-post about four lengths in front of the Duchess, Rocket making a fair third: with Gilderoy last.

CAMBRIDGE feTEEI'J.KCHASK. A Handicap of 40 soys ; about three miles, over fair hunting country. Mr W. Adams eh q Harkaway, aged, lOst lOlbs, (Williams) 1 Mr J. G. Rutherford's Sportsman, aged, 13st lib 2 Mr Weatherill's b q Daric also started. The betting was 6 to 4 on Sportsman. This was the most exciting, and undoubtedly the best contested race of the day. A good start was made, the three horses clearing the double together. Harkaway then took the lead with Sportsman following, and in this order the ditch was cleared. This order was maintained over the first road fences, the three hoises jumping splendidly. Coming over the second fences Sportsman w.is slightly in the lead, with Harkaway second, Daric keeping well up. Hark.iway again crept to the front and led over tho fence in the paddock, and having gained on his opponent about five lengths, cleared the fence, coming into tho straight m the same position, Dane still remaining last, and ultimately loosing his chance in the race by baulking at the first hurdle in the last round. After crossing the double, Sportsman took the lead, but was again caught at the ditch, which both went over together. Both went neck and neck to tho road fences. Harkaway was leading crossing the i oad the second time. Sportsman again crept up and with his opponent had a neck and neck race until crossing the fiiht fence inside the paddock which both took together. Sportsman again led a little but was collaredatthe last hurdle, which he crossed in company with his opponent. Both jockeys were now plying whip and spur, and great excitement prevailed among tho spectators, who alternately shouted "Sportsman," "Harkaway.". Coming up tho stiaight the Te Awamutu horbe was pushed to the front, where he kept until passing the winning post about two lengths ahead. It was then discovered that neither horse had ciossed the last fence. They immediately galloped back and cleared itto-gether. Harkaway then got a little ahead, winning by about half a length. Great dissatisfaction was manifested at the result of the lace, especially among the friends of the old Waikato horse. stewards' iundicap.

Of 50 soys. ; U miles. Nomination, 2 soTB, ; acceptance, 2 sov.s. Mr W. Walter's eh m Grand Duchos>s, 5 yrs, 7st 121bs (Dawson) ... 1 Mr W". Walter's blk f, by Hippocampus—Slander, 3 yrs, 6st lOlbs (Taylor) 2 Mr W. J3ond's b q Stanley, aged, 7st 121bs (Willmott) 3 Redeemer, Maori, Rawenata, and Miss Dommett also ran. Mr Walteis declared to win with Duchess. The betting -was in favor of .Stanley. At the fall of the flag the hor&es went off weil together. Stanley immediately assumed the leading position, and on passing the Stand wa3 followed by Rawenata, with Redeemer immediately behind. Going round the back of the Stand Grand Duchess came up alongside Stanley in the fiont, and both horses ran a neck and neck race, the remaining horses keeping well up behind. Coming up the straight Duchess and Stanley were still together, with the Slander filly creeping up behind. Stanley then became the popular horse, the spectators unanimously naming him the winner, but he immediately came to gnef by running off the course Avhen but a few yards fiom home, leaving Grand Duchess in full possession of the fiont position, with the Slander filly not far behind.

CONhOIiATION HAM)K'\P Of 10 soys., for beaten horses during the meeting. Once louncl the course. Entrance, 10&. Mr M. Gallagher's br q Rawenatx, 7st 71bs 1 Mr J. ft. Buckland's eh q Rocket, Sst 7U)s . . 2 Mr D. White's b h Maori, Sst 21bs . 3 Ha^ ing had a fair start the three horses kept v til together for about the first quarter, when Rocket fell a length behind. This position was kept up all round the course until coming up the straight, when Rouket crept gradually forward, disputing the second position with JMaon, and racing Rauenata well for the front. The latter hoise, however, maintained the lead, parsing the post about a length ahead, Maoii being about a length behind. Three cheers were then called for Mr Perciral, the handicapper, for the admirable way in which he had fulfilled his duties, which was warmly responded to, and the visitors then began rapidly to disperse.

An Irishman who had on a very ragged coat was askrd of what stuff it was made. " Bedad, I don't know ; I think the most of it is made of fresh air." Attempted Suicide of Midiiat Pasha. : From Constantinople it is telegraphed that the rumour is generally believed, and the correspondent is disposed to give credit to it, recently Midhat Pasha attempted to commit suicide by opening his veins with a pair of scissors, but almost immediately afterwards it was discovered and his wounds bound up. He was subsequently taken before the Sultan, who expressed regret that he should attempt his death. Midhat, according to the story, replied that life was not worth having, and that he would rather be executed than banished. The only favor he could ask »*• that instead of being hanged, heshotlldhoihpfc.