The Race for the Parliamentary Stakes.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XVII, Issue 4062, 8 December 1896, Page 2

The Race for the Parliamentary Stakes.

— r= ♦ ■ • (BY SNARRY.) 11 Well, Snarry, I'm glad to see your tips came off " "Yes, sir ; and I wish you'd 'a bin there to see ib run. As I expected, the four starters were — ! Prohibition, ridden by T.E. Dious. ' Backbiter, ridden by M.E.N. Da city. Publican, ridden by O.V.D. Tippler. Justice, ridden by Dawning Hope. Backbiter was the first to come out, but, as I predicted m my tip, he had completely spoiled any cliance he might have had m. the race by the vice he showed on the training track, and the public would not have him at any price. Prohibition followed, but he went very stiff m his preliminary, and his jockey seemed half asleep, arid could not infuse any life into his mount. Then came Publican, and I saw at a glance he was pretty fir, and hia jockey just about as cunning as they are made. 1 could see he had not suffered from one ot hia attacks lately, and I tell you, when I looked at the propelling power lie has, and remembered the weight old Justice had to carry, I felt a bit nervous, Justice was the last to come out, 'and notwithstanding the fact that his training had been restricted to grooming exercise, he looked very well, and when the old horse stepped out with that firm straight going stride of his and thoroughbred look, a cheer went up that did one gjod ho hear ; for you see the public knew the tremendous weight he had to carry, and their hearts were with him. Well, sir, the rac9 itself is soon told. At the fall of the flag they all got a good start, Backbiter going off at uuch a bat that he was done with at the end of the first quarter of a mile. Prohibitionist, favored by bis lighb weightf then made play, followed by the Publican; old Justice, hard held, lying last. At the end of the first mile, the order was the same, and Tippler tried to kid young Hope by pulling his mount back, m the belief that Hope would let Justice cut after Prohibition. I was watching the youngster, and \yhen I saw he wasn't; to be had, I Bays to myßelf V Good boy. You'll pu'l it off after all." By this time, Prohibitionist was well away, but going slow. Nevertheless, Tippler lut the Publican out after him, Justice at the same time moving up a bit. At two miles, Prohibition was done with, Publioan leading, and Justice gradually making up his ground. At the two and a quarter, the Publican was jusfc ahead of Justice, Tippler riding for all he was worth, and Dawning Ifope sitting as still as a rook, old Justice fighting for his head like all possessed. Two hundred yards iroth home, yt ung Hope ltt the old 'an have his head, and m a couple of strides the rape was oyer, old Juatipe wait 31 ng m the easiest of winners, the Pub'ican second, and Prohi* bitionist a long way off, third. J tell you, sir, it was the moEt popular win we've had for many a day, and when the jock weighed m and the word " right" was given, winners and losers joined m auoh a oheer as might have been heard for miles.