AKAROA STEEPLECHASE MEETING.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 89, 25 May 1877, Page 3

AKAROA STEEPLECHASE MEETING.

The inaugural steeplechase meeting of yesterday was in every way a very great success, and its promoters are deserving of the highest praise for the manner in which the programme was carried out. Notwithstanding the limited, fields, each event was well and honestly contested, and had the notice not been quite so brief, there is but little doubt the number of competitors would have been materially increased. The course selected was on Mr. Inman's run, German Bay, which had been liberally placed by that gentleman at the Club's disposal. Although the course was not all that could be desired, still it was of such a . character that the different events could- be fairly contested, and before another meet no doubt improvements will be made. Roughly speaking, the course is about a mile in extent, being very broken and heavy. The approaches to a number of crossings to the creek were of too steep a .gradient, as the horses had to be pulled in to enable them to get over. The fences to be negotiated were, not of a very formidable character, and with one exception, that behind Mr. Beecher's booth, they were of the frailest nature. There were five in all, three gorse hedges, sub-dividing small paddocks, being in close proximity to each other, while a considerable distance intervened between the other two, they being situated between Mr. Inman's house and the judge's stand. The straight run, although soft, was a favourable piece of ground, a view of the horses being commanded from all points of the course. With the expenditure of a little money, a capital course could be secured for Hat racing. The attendance was good, there being upwards of 400 persons present. . The hill opposite the course . did duty, for a grand stand, an excellent view of the racing being commanded. The variegated colors of the ladies' costumes lending quite a gay and refreshing appearance to the natural beauties of the locality. There were a large number of horsemen in attendance from all parts of the district. The sporting gentry were also fairly represented, no less than three celebreties from Christchurch favouring the meeting with their presence. The peripatetic Ward, with his little game of the " devil among the tailors," was also in attendance, and all appeared to drive a very good business. The refreshment booth was conducted by Mr. Beecher, and.in consequence of the bulk of the spectators favouring the hill for a view of the running, he was hot as well patronised as the quality of his liquors deserved. There was an. almost entire absence of betting, and but very few sweepstakes were drawn.. Mr. Scarbrough acted as judge, and his decisions gave entire satisfaction. Mr. Duxbury's handicaps evidenced good judgment, as the finish of the different races testified. Mr. S. Johnston, as usual, was quite at home in his office as starter, getting his liorses, in nearly every race, well away. We regret, in order to publish a report of the races, in to-day's issue, we will have to considerably curtail our report of the different events. ' The first race on the card was the Maiden Steeplechase of £15. Twice round the course ; weight for age. Entrance, 30s. . Mr. B. Shadbolt's (jun.) eh g Faugh-a-Ballagh, 5 yrs,, lOst 51b, (owner)... 1 Mr, C. Mould's eh g Te Kooti, aged, list lib, (Brown) 2 Mr. B. Shadbolt's (jun.) bay filly Ladybird, 3yrs, Bst, (Wilson) ... ... 3 At the fall of the flag, Faugh-a-Ballagh took up the leading position, and negotiated the first jump successfully, with Te Kooti close in attendance. Ladybird refused to take the leap, and was considered to he entirely out of the race. Te Kooti and Faugh-a-Ballagh successfully cleared the second jump. The third was taken by Te Kooti, who maintained the lead up to the last two jumps, when he fell behind, the game little landing a winner by about, a length and xi-half. Both horses were hard ridden, under spurs.

Akaroa Grand. National Handicap Steeplechase of £20. Twice round the course ; 10 jumps. Entrance, 40s. Mr. Welsh's bay gelding, Charlie, 5 yrs, lOst Bibs, (owner)... ... . ... 1 Mr. B. Shudbolt's (jun.) g gelding, Noble, syrs, 10st81bs; (Wilson) 2 Mr. B. Shadbolt's (jun.) eh g Faugh-a-Ballagh, 5 yrs, lOst 81bs, fowner) 0 For this event the three entries appearing on the card came to the scratch, and the race was considered a certainty for Paugh-a-Ballagh, bar accident. A capital start was effected, Paugh-a-Ballagh in advance, Noble next, and Charlie in the rear. The first jump was successfully got over by all three horses, but on taking the second jump, Charlie's rider turned a somersault, and after kissing mother earth, lost no tim c in remounting, and set out in pursuit of his opponents, who by that time had gained considerable distance upon him. Faugh a-Ballagh was now leading far in advance, and Noble's rider, believing that the stakes were a gift to his employer, was holding his horse hard in, in the meantime Charlie was quickly reducing the distance between himself and the leading horses. Just as Faugh-a-Ballagh was rising to take the fifth jump, he stumbled and one of his legs tripped in the gorse, the effect of which contretemps caused a dissolution of partnership between himself and rider. Before the horse was caught and re-mounted, Charlie, amidst deafening cheers, took up a leading position, with Noble about 50 yards in the rear. Faugh-a-Ballagh was evidentlymaking good ground, but it was clear that his chance had gone by. On entering the straight, Charlie and Noble ran almost a neck-and-neck race till reaching the last jump, when Charlie moved slightly a-head, winning by a bare neck. Mr. Brown was lustily cheered as lie passed the judge's stand. The grey mare ran a very game race.

Consolation Handicap Steeplechase of £10. For all beaten horses entered for either of the first two events; twice round the course. Entrance 20s. Mr. B. Shadbolt's (jun.) bg filly Ladybird, 3 years, (owner) 1 Mr. C. Mould's eh g Te Kooti, aged, (Brown) ..: ... 0 This race needs but little description. Te Kooti rushed off with a lead, which he maintained till reaching the stable at the upper corner of the course, when he baulked at one of the jumps, and bolted off the course. Ladybird then occupied a leading position, which she held to the finish, landing a winner by about 15 lengths. The pot completely boiled over in this race.

Hack Steeplechase of- £5, and the addition of J. J Kissel's prize of whip and spurs ; once round the course. Entrance 10s. Mr; C. Mould's Te Kooti 1 Mr. Kearney's Lucy ~ .*. 2 Mr. Macfarlan's Mac ... , ....... 3 Mr. Barker's Noble 0 Mr. Bobinson's Cluff 0 M. G. Black's Spit Fire 0 Exception wore taken to the entries of Te Kooti and Noble for tliis race, and the stewards invited an expression of opinion from the owners of horses interested, when four voted against their admission. The owners of the " black balled" horses refused to abide by the decision, and decided to run their horses under protest, as they contended that their horses were merely hacks. -Mr. Johnston effected al splendid start. Te Kooti leading, followed by Lucy, Spit Fire third, and Mac fourth. All the horses took the jumps in splendid style. This was about the position maintained to the finish. Te Kooti was the first to catch the judge's eye, Lucy next, and Mac about half-a-length at the rear of the mare. The owners of Lucy and Ma entered a protest against Te Kooti, which will be considered by the stewards this evening.

This event brought a capital day's sport to a close.