SPORTING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 355, 27 May 1881, Page 2

SPORTING

ASHBURTON STEEPLECHASES

Tfie annual cross-country meeting of the Ashburton Racing Club took place today. Thp‘ weather wrs fine, but there was a strong, north : west wind, blowing. There was_ a good attendance op the course, the racing was very poor, owing to’ raiahaps and the walks over in two of tliel events. There was a large gathering of the proprietors of games of chance, but business was very slack; The totalisator was'on the course, but did not clear expenses. In the open Handicap the fall of Clarence and the refusal of; Kosciusko made Qnamby’s Victory an easy one. The District Handicap field was rfejduced to two by the withdrawal of Lonehand, and the owner of Why Notpro : tested against the Raven’s starting, on the ground that his acceptance was not in the Secretary’s 'hands aPtHe*advertised time. This was allowed by the stewards, but in the Calcutta sweeps last evening the stipulation that the first horse past the post should take the stakes was made, and the owner of Raven started the horse to give the buyers a'chance tor their money. The two went' to the, post, Ruf only galloped about half a mile,’ and oh passing the post, Raven first, were pulled up. ,

The following are the events: — Ashburton Handicap Steeplechase of 40 sovs, added to sweeepstakes of 2 sovs each for acceptors;. distance ! y about 3 miles: Mr T. S. James’ b h Quaraby, syrs, ‘•list 131bs (Owner) ... ... ... 1 Mr J. H- Bunn's b g Clarence, aged, 12st 7lbs (Owner) ... ' ... 0 Mr H. Muir’s b g Longhand, aged, . ,lOst 51bs (Nichols) ... 0 Mr T. Sheenan’s b h Kosciusko, 4yra, 10st’5lbs (Owner) ’..1 V.. ‘O' The horses were | dismissed on the far side of the course. , Quamby and Clarence went to'.the front at.the fall of the flag, Kosciusko and Loneband bringing up the rear. At the first fence all but Loneband were in company, but Sheenan’s horse lost ground in getting over, and conse-. quently Clarence and Quamby were thejfirst to come in sight. Loneband,-on comingup) baulked, but being persevered with Was got over at the second attempt. .Kosciusko mads up his lost ground on the flat, hut at the double, which all got over, ip safety, again fell to the rear. Passing the stand,- Clarence end Quamby Were racing neck and neck, the colt hard held, Kosouisko four lengths beHind, hand about twenty yards aback, bringingup , the rear. Kosciusko closed on the thujWatei;; jump, arid; the three tQefc.it in; QQnipa.ny, ; c Clarence both stumbled on landing,> throwing their riders, whilst .Koiociuskoi ,ae;,didjalsQ Boneband’,V3Uwi' theyr i

could not' be persuaded over. Quandtgv was quickly but Clarerpfe got away and could Igt be caught, with; Pie result that the Afpttralian'liorse the distance by hitijfcelf, winning ii| ; unjt:way. : None of the others went atouiijj the course. Quamby and Clarence :were equal,favorites in On the '|&talia&tor|£hols were chances on the fetter and 'pne on the'winner, .giving a .t&vidend of L&lds. Stone on hS side, was nastily lacerated by the spur, and was slnt to town to have the wound sewn up. Lunn was not hurt by his fall. -.kto-o' District Handicap of 25 so vs, added, to a sweepstake of 2 sovs for acceptors ; 2 miles ; for district horses only. Mr. S. Saunders’ b g Why Not,

aged ..; ... ... ...wo. Tradesmen’s Prate of 30 sovs ; weight for age ; distance 2 miles. Mr J. H, Lunn’s b g Clarence, aged" ' ... w.o. Farmers’ Steeplechase of 20 sovs ; distance about I|'miles ; weight for age ; for district horses only. Mr S. Saunders’ b g Why Not, "aged, 12s( 31b 1 Mr Hi Muir’s b g Lonehand, aged, 12st 31b (Hedge) ... ... ... 2 The race needs no description. Both horses kept together throughout, refusing the water jump, and getting oyer, the same in company. Why Not came away in the straight, winning as he liked. ’ Hack Steeplechase of 5 ■ sovs; 1 mile ; catch weights; entrance 1 sov.; for district horses only.. ~ Mr B. Nicholas’ chin Cassandra, (Owner) ... ... ••• 1 Mr Smith’s blkg Merlin, (Owner) ... 2 Mr M'Rae’a bjg Baron, (T. Cotton) ... 3 Won easily. Baron fell at the first jump. ADELAIDE BIRTHDAY CUP. [BY'CABLE.] Adelaide, May 26. The race for the Birthday Cup was run to-day, with the following result : Queen’s t. Oop; (handicap), of BOOsovs, with a sweep t>f lO&ovs and gold cup value lOOsovs. One mile and three-quarters, . Mata, 9st 21h; Dead Shot—Raupo ... 1 Progress, 9st . ... ... ..... ... 2 Crystal, 6st 71b ... 1 ... 3 Savanaka (!)st 21b), Suwarrow (Bst 121 b), Odd Trick (Bst 51b), The Vagabond (Bst 21b). Lothair (7st 81b), Pawnbroker (7st), Rothschild (7st), Venus, (6st 61b), Presi-, dent (6st), and ! Rifleman (6st 21b) also ran. Mata won by two lengths. The course was very slippery, owing to the recent heavy rains. ; Mata was sold to-day, shortly before the race, for 800 guineas. The Opinion of “ The Australasian. - Melbourne, To-day. The Australasian to-day, referring to the Birthday Cup, says that Mata’s run-, ning for the race fully justifies ,his disqualification by the Victoria Racing Club after the last Melbourne Spring meeting..