The Oxford Races.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1635, 28 December 1882, Page 2

The Oxford Races.

The programme of races advertised to come oif on the course at Oxford on Tuesday was carried out with fair success. There were not a& many Europeans on the ground as attended last year, but, notwithstanding the threatening nature of the weather, the attendance could not be called small. There was, however, a good attendance of natives, who were for the most part mounted and in buggies. The course, though somewhat rough, was in very good condition. Mr R. Kirkwood filled the position of htuuli capper and judge, and it is needless to say his services gave universal satisfaction. Mr McManus catered for the public, and his refreshment booth was liberally patronised. The races were for the most part ot an unusually tame nature, and the two principal events of the day, the Hurdles and the Cup, though it was generally expected they would be well contested, were miserable failmes. Norgrove's Pioneer was scratched for the Hurdles, leaving Quilp and Cossack to fight it out. Quilp was, unfortunately, badly mounted, his rider falling off three times in succession, without any apparent cause, and the horse never was in the race after the first hurdle, where he left Cossack to canter home. The Cup was the most ignominious race ever run on any racecourse, indeed, it could not be called a race at all. Robert - the - Devil was scratched, but Mr Ransfield left Little Mita to represent him on the field, the other horses being Pioneer and Sour Grapes, both the property of Mr Norgrove. The three got off with a fair start, Pioneer, with which Mr Norgrove had declared to win, taking the lead. During the first round .Little Mita ran off the course, and did not make a second start. Notwithstanding the fact that Sour Grapes was hard held, he seemed determined to race, whether the owner liked it or not, and it is not at all improbable, had Mr Norgrove not interfered with the jockeys during the time the race was under weigh, Sour Grapes would have won it in spite of all the holding his rider was capable of. HANDICAP HUADLK BACK. Cossack 1 Quilp 2 MAIDEN PLATE. Pioneer 1 Flora 2 Little Mita also ran. In this event the contestants carried five (pounds overMejght. Pioneer won as he liked M.VQJiJ KACp. This event was won by Ransfleld's Creamy, beating Bob, Hunga, and Flora. Had Flora not ran off the course she would most likely have carried off the event. OXFORD CPP HANDICAP. Pioneor ... ... ... I Sour Grapes 2 Little Mita also ran. FOXY RACE. Mitches 1 Nightshade 2 Towseralso ran. SWIiMXG HACK RACE. Vengeance ... 1 Nelly 2 Creamy, Nightshade and Mitches also van, CONSOLATION HANDICAP, Sour Grapes (9st) 1 Little Mita (7st 7lbs) ... 2 Little Mita bolted of the course, leaving Sour Grapes to win as ho liked.